New Zealand in July or August?

[NewZealandintherain]

My son is working out there at the moment. He’s coming home for Christmas and we’re hoping to visit him next year. The issue is when? Due to my job (teacher) and my other son’s birthday and A levels, the only real time to go is our summer.

I’m not thrilled with the timing as we live in Scotland and get plenty rain as it is! He’s in Auckland so we thought a week in North Island and then fly with him somewhere like Fiji for a weeks holiday. He can then go back to Auckland and we’ll make our way home, maybe with a stopover somewhere. South Island will just have to wait for another time!

Any thoughts? Thanks.

I live in Australia but have been to NZ around that time of year. For me it is very cold! But for someone from Scotland probably not, especially if you stay in the north island.

Fiji is lovely in July/Aug but be aware that NZ and Australia both have school holidays at that time and prices go sky high in both NZ and Fiji. If you can manage to avoid those holidays you will save a lot and resorts in Fiji won’t be as crowded. Note that Australia’s school holidays are set by each state and can be slightly different, so check the calendar for the east coast states - Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria as well as New Zealand.

Weather wise it’s not a great time to be in NZ, but fabulous for Fiji.

Unless you’re absolutely set on going to NZ, I’d suggest you all meet up in Queensland, Aus.

Weather is great in July/Aug and there are so many things to do. (We love Port Douglas.)

That’d be a holiday for you and your son!

Having said that NZ is a beautiful country no matter when you go 😊

Thanks! I think we are set on Auckland/North Island for a week as he’ll not want to take much more than a week off work. We’d like to see where he lives and meet his friends. I’d love to go to Port Douglas though. Issue is we have family in Queensland that we’d feel we’d have to go and visit! Fiji might be less contentious 😂

I’ve been to NZ in August- it was stunning.

Oooh- where did you go?