When to Go New Zealand - The climate is generally mild, but you’ll find some variation between the subtropical north and the glacier-dotted south. The warmest months are between January and March, and it’s coolest in July.

Getting There and Around New Zealand - Qantas (qantas.com) and Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.com) fly the approximately 13 hours from the West Coast to Auckland. With scenic shoreline drives and dramatic mountain passes, the country is a road-tripper’s dream. Highways are well marked, and getting from town to town is easy. There are short flights across the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands, and ferries operate regularly between Wellington and Picton. Keep in mind that you will have to switch rental cars when you cross the strait.