Spring; the perfect time to travel Australia and New Zealand
The Southern Hemisphere spring is an ideal time to travel in Australia and New Zealand
With the promise of warm sunny days and clear cool nights, the Southern Hemisphere Spring (September – November) is an ideal time to travel right across the lands Down Under. Whether you’re planning to sail the Whitsundays, hike Tasmania’s breathtaking trails, cycle between Hawkes Bay chardonnays, fish wild rivers for trophy trout or see wildflowers in full bloom, the Southern Hemisphere Spring months offer some of the most ideal conditions to combine them all.
Top 10 Things We Love about Spring travel in Australia and New Zealand
1. See flowers in full bloom
The spring months deliver rainbows of colour with flower festivals across the region and fields of wildflowers bursting into bloom. From the Sydney skyline dotted with Jacaranda blossoms to Western Australia’s endless carpets of wildflowers, Spring delivers exceptional travel experiences for photographers and garden lovers alike. In New Zealand, the Christchurch bluebells, daffodils and cherry blossoms are now coming into bloom, whilst lupins in all shades of lilac and lavender line Lake Tekapo from late Spring and throughout the summer months offering up unbeatable insta-opportunities.
2. Enjoy perfect hiking weather
From the Tasmanian wilderness to the rich red South Australian outback and the technicolour Tongariro geothermal lakes, spring’s mild days and wildflower filled fields provide the ideal conditions to enjoy any of the many wonderful walks and multi-day hikes that we can offer luxury travellers right across Australia and New Zealand. (Most of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’ operate October through to April, contact our Travel Design team to match you with your ideal track).
3. Land a trophy trout
New Zealand’s rivers officially reopen for fly fishing in Spring (1 October – 30 April), making the coming months some of the best for hooking a trophy brown trout. Ask us about some of the spectacular heli-fishing day trips and multi-day lodge-based fly fishing experiences that we can curate for luxury travellers (complete with an expert ‘fish whisperer’ by your side who knows all the secret places that fish like to hide!). Equally, on the other side of the Tasman, we can hook you up with rewarding fishing adventures in the picturesque rivers and lakes of Tasmania.
4. Marvel at migrating whales
From coast to coast, Perth to Sydney, scan the horizon for migrating humpbacks and their playful newborn calves as they make their way back to Antarctic waters for the summer. It is not uncommon for whales to call into Australia’s east coast beaches to really put on a show (or for a truly bucket-list worthy encounter, dive into the deep to swim with these majestic creatures as they cruise along Western Australia’s spectacular Ningaloo Coast, July-October).
5. Fall in love with the Fiordland spring waterfalls
Spring showers and melting ice, create thundering waterfalls and spectacular rainbows. It is also a great time to spot Fiordland Crested Penguins (their nesting season runs July – November). Ask us about incorporating a scenic heli experience or an escorted multi-day cruise to explore the region’s most fabulous far flung reaches with your New Zealand springtime vacation.
6. Spot beautiful birds in Kakadu
As billabongs and waterholes shrink and wet-season migrants make their way to Australia’s Top End, the Australian spring months are some of the best for spotting a rich array of birdlife. The region is home to more than a third of Australia’s bird species: thirsty finches, magnificent Magpie Geese, Kingfisher and Jabiru to name only a very few. Cruise the wetlands by airboat or spend the afternoon in a stunning treetop hide to really get up close and personal. We have dozens of birdwatching itinerary suggestions for luxury travellers heading to Australia’s Top End.
7. Enjoy the fabulous flavours for which our wine regions are renowned
Sip sauvignon blanc in the sunny vineyards of Marlborough or cycle between wineries to sample signature Hawkes Bay Chardonnays. As the vines begin to green, local wines are served to complement fresh seasonal and regional produce as restaurants, luxury lodges and cellar doors right across New Zealand and Australia celebrate the fresh flavours of Spring.
8. Sail the wonderful Whitsundays
Clear skies and calm seas, warm days and low humidity combine to create the ideal cruising conditions for a luxury sailing holiday (skippered or bareboat, luxury cruiser or sailing yacht) in the wonderful Whitsundays. Beat the day-trippers to Whitehaven Beach and find your own private piece of paradise as you explore the hidden bays and untouched beaches that line the 74 (mostly uninhabited) tropical islands of the Whitsundays.
9 . Gaze up at the Milky Way
Whilst the winter months are best known for star gazing, the warmer clear Spring nights offer the perfect conditions to sleep under the stars (check out the fabulously comfy swags on your private balcony at Longitude 131, or ask us about exclusive heli-swag luxury travel experiences in South Australia’s breathtaking Flinder’s Ranges). The lucky may still even catch the technicolour displays of aurora australis (the Southern Lights) in September’s spring skies.
10. Go glamping
As winter nights thaw and before the heat of summer hits, now is the ideal time to get out about to explore Australia’s big nature; and what better way to get close to it all (without leaving any of our creature comforts behind!) than with one of Australia’s gorgeous glamping getaways. From Ningaloo Reef to the Great Barrier Reef, South East Queensland to the New South Wales South Coast, the Red Centre to Tasmania, we can help you find your contentment!).
Time to spring into action:
From the tropical North to the temperate South, Australia or New Zealand, Spring is the time to beat the summer heat and the festive season peak. These months (September, October, November) offer pleasant travelling conditions across the continent and offer the ideal time for Northern Hemisphere travellers wishing to combine a range of destinations across the region.
Our Travel Designers have boundless great itinerary ideas to make the most of all that spring has to offer the luxury traveller to Australia and New Zealand; and right now we also have dozens of special offers that entice locals to get out and explore their beautiful backyards.
Whilst Australia and New Zealand borders remain closed to international visitors for now, it is never too early to start planning for 2021 travels. With plenty of clean fresh air and wide open spaces (that naturally lend themselves to sublime social distancing!), we are confident, that when travel is allowed to resume, our destinations will have even greater appeal than ever before.
Start planning your personalised Australia / New Zealand luxury travel experiences today, because we all need something to look forward to and the anticipation of adventures ahead is also a rewarding part of the journey.
Contact: ausdesign@southern-crossings.com (Australia), nzdesign@southern-crossings.com (New Zealand and South Pacific) to start designing your ideal spring travels in Australia and New Zealand.
