New Zealand

[P C Headland]

The only time you'd need to book accomodation at that time of the year would be Easter. If you're in a camper van, don't worry at all, you'll always find somewhere.

 

[ian leeden]

the best time for fall colours in the South Island is the last 2 weeks in April and the first week in May.
My favourite time for photography is in July when you get the most amazing hoar frosts in and around Central Otago and South Canterbury.
In the summer months you get long daylight hours but the best light is early and late and nearer the winter these early and late periods are a bit longer.
Winter weather conditions can occur anytime from May to November in the south but most of the time you can get around without 4WD although when its bad you`ll need chains as well on a 4WD.
September to November is a good time to go as the worst of the weather is over and there is still a lot of snow on the mountains.
If you want information on any particular area I might be able to help.

 

[jeroldharter]

Thanks for all the advice!

Here's another question, If I go to NZ, mostly the South Island, through March and April 2008 do I need to book all my accommodations in advance or can I just "wing it" and drive around and pick places to stay at the spur of the moment? I know that in the western US I could safely travel almost anytime except the summer or major vacation times and find a wide selection of accommodations as I drive, I'm hoping that NZ would work like this as well.

We winged it. If you have a couple of things that you definitely want to do, like a Milford Track hiking for example, or staying in the first hut of an alpine track, you might try to book that ahead. But if you are flexible, there is always the next thing to do nearby.

In regard to the weather on the south part of the South Island: the forecast is always "mostly fine" which means any thing from a rainy gale to bright sun. It changes all the time. When we were there, we worked in walking distance from the hospital and on one "mostly fine" afternoon we walked home and watched our metal garbage can bounding down the street in the wind.

Try to set aside some time for excursions like Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound cruises and black water rafting on the west coast (I think it is near Greymouth). A relatively easy backpacking trip that we enjoyed that is different from the usual is the Banks Peninsula track near Christchurch. No matter how much time you have, you won't have enough so the other advice is to pick out a few things you must do/see and be flexible with the rest.