What's on in Franz Josef, New Zealand through the year

Peak crowds — Summer peak in the village, Summer holidays in New Zealand

• Hazard

  Highway closures in heavy rain

  1 Jan – 31 DecFlood seasonClosures

  There is one road in and one road out, and a big West Coast rain event closes it north or south of the village a few times a year. Check the highway before you commit to a night here. Source ↗

Still on: Sandflies at their worst (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Summer peak in the village (20 Dec – 5 Feb (usually))

Busy — Summer peak in the village

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sandflies at their worst (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Summer peak in the village (20 Dec – 5 Feb (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Holiday

  Easter long weekend

  3–6 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays, and on Good Friday and Easter Sunday most shops must stay shut unless local rules or a tourist-area exemption let them open. New Zealanders make it a long weekend away, so motels, holiday parks and campsites fill. Source ↗

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sandflies at their worst (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Easter long weekend, Anzac Day

• Holiday

  Anzac Day

  25–27 AprNational holidayClosures

  25 April remembers those who served in war. Dawn services are held at memorials in towns across the country, and by law most shops stay closed until 1 pm. When it falls on a weekend the public holiday moves to the Monday. Source ↗

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Easter long weekend (3–6 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Quiet winter months

  15 May – 31 AugOff-season shutdown

  Half the beds in the village sit empty between May and August, and a cold settled high over the coast gives the clearest flying mornings of the year. The catch is how few of them there are.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Quiet winter months (15 May – 31 Aug)

Busy — Term 2 (July) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Quiet winter months (15 May – 31 Aug)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Quiet winter months (15 May – 31 Aug)

Busy — Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Whitebait season

  1 Sep – 30 OctForaging season

  Whitebaiting runs 1 September to 30 October, and every river mouth on the coast grows a line of stands and huts for two months. The patties on the pub menu are the point of it. Source ↗

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whitebait season (1 Sep – 30 Oct)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Sandflies at their worst

  1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyInsects & disease

  Sandflies are here all year and unbearable in the warm months, worst on still overcast days by the river and at the glacier car park. Repellent and covered ankles are not optional. Source ↗

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Summer peak in the village, Christmas Day closures

• Holiday

  Summer peak in the village

  20 Dec – 5 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The village doubles over the New Zealand holidays and the heli-hike slots go weeks ahead. Book the flight for your first morning here, because the second one may be weathered out. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas Day closures

  25–26 DecChristmas & New YearClosures

  Christmas Day is one of the few days most shops must close by law, and many cafes, restaurants and tours shut too. Boxing Day is a public holiday as well, when shops reopen for the sales and the roads fill with families heading off on summer holiday. Source ↗

Still on: Highway closures in heavy rain (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sandflies at their worst (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))