New Zealand in April: what to expect

April is mid-autumn in New Zealand. Days are still mild in the north and cool in the south, but the big change is the nights: inland and alpine towns drop close to freezing, and the first frosts arrive in Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin. Daylight saving ends in early April, so sunset comes about an hour earlier and you lose evening driving time.

Expect changeable weather rather than settled sun. A front can bring four seasons in a day: warm nor'wester, then rain, then a cold southerly. The West Coast and Fiordland stay wet — rain feeds the waterfalls but can close roads with slips. Nelson, Blenheim and the Wairarapa are usually the driest, sunniest options.

April sits in the shoulder season: cheaper than January and February, busier than May. The exception is the Easter break and the two-week school holidays that follow it, when domestic travellers fill Queenstown, Wānaka, the Coromandel and the main campsites. If your dates are flexible, travel after the school holidays for the best combination of weather, space and price.

Rental cars, campervans and Cook Strait ferries are the things that sell out first. Great Walk huts switch to lower off-peak rates from late April (check dates), but some services and shuttles start to thin out towards May. Accommodation in the main towns is easy to find outside the holiday weeks.

The month's calendar is built around Easter and Anzac Day, both of which move the crowds and close some businesses. Autumn food and wine events run in Marlborough, Hawke's Bay and Central Otago, and the Arrowtown autumn colour is at its best late in the month.

The South Island is the strongest pick. Central Otago and Arrowtown turn gold and red, days are crisp and clear, and the crowds of summer have gone. Queenstown still runs its adventure activities, and the drive over the Crown Range or through the Kawarau Gorge is at its best. Further south, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula are cool but workable, and the Catlins stays quiet.

On the West Coast, expect rain and check road conditions before driving to Franz Josef, Fox Glacier or Haast. Milford Sound is wet and dramatic; the road can close after heavy rain. In the north, Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel still give mild beach days, and the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay are dry and pleasant for wine country. Tongariro and the volcanic plateau are cold and can see early snow — check before walking.

Pack for four seasons in one day and for cold nights. Layers, a waterproof shell and warm mid-layers matter more than a heavy coat. If you are driving alpine passes or walking in the south, add a hat, gloves and a warm base layer. Sunscreen and sunglasses are still needed: autumn UV is lower than summer but not harmless.

March is warmer and more settled, and is often called the best month for the South Island and Great Walks. May is cooler and quieter, with lower prices but shorter days and thinning services. If you want summer weather, aim for February or March; if you want snow, come in July or August.