Top 10 cool things to do in autumn in Aotearoa

Escape the end of summer blues and head into nature this autumn. The autumn months in Aotearoa New Zealand are a great time to get into nature and explore our beautiful environment when the weather is mild and the changing colours of the season are hard to beat.  

Autumn provides an opportunity to connect with the whenua (land), the foundation for health and wellbeing in Te Whare Tapa Whā. This is the Māori model of health that helps us consider our health as a whare with four walls:  

• taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing) 
• taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing) 
• taha tinana (physical wellbeing) 
• taha whānau (family and social wellbeing) 

Whenua sits below our whare. When we feel a strong connection to the whenua, it allows us to feel physically, emotionally and spiritually strong. Whenua means connection to the soil, rocks, plants, animals and the people inhabiting the land. 

Here are some ways to connect with your whenua in autumn around the country.

1. Explore the Aotearoa New Zealand wilderness  

The New Zealand landscape is up there with the best in the world, and we have it all on our doorstep. Get a group of friends or whānau together and go out on a hike in nature – the diversity of tracks across our national parks and reserves means there’s something for everyone, no matter what part of the country you live in. With regular clear skies and a moderate climate, autumn is a great time to pack a bag and spend some time connecting with nature – especially now the summer crowds have gone. If you have contents insurance with MAS, your items are automatically covered if they are damaged, lost or stolen while you’re travelling domestically. Learn more about the walks and hikes around Aotearoa.

2. Give yourself a wellbeing boost 

After a busy summer, and before the colder months ahead, autumn is the perfect time to get your wellbeing in check. Get outside while the weather is mild and absorb the sun’s vitamin D while you can, remember to drink plenty of water, and boost your immune system by getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food. Even perhaps have a go at a new type of exercise – 30 minutes of yoga or Pilates from the comfort of your own home is a great start, and good for the mind as well as the body. MAS’s wellbeing hub, Āki provides some free tips and ideas for nutritious food to eat, as well as exercise challenges to motivate movement. It’s free for MAS Members to join. 

3. Reevaluate your financial plans  

Autumn can be a good time to set some financial goals. Do you want to start saving for a house deposit or an overseas holiday? Do you want to pay off debt? Writing down your goals and making a plan of how you will achieve them helps embed these goals and gives you a better chance of meeting them. Writing a realistic budget will also help you stay on track. Don’t forget to update your contents insurance if you think you may be over your limit with new items. Have a read of this handy article which explains three surprising reasons why contents insurance is important for students. And try MAS’ Contents Insurance Calculator to find out if you have enough cover. 

4. Consume a balanced diet 

As we come into slightly colder weather, it’s easy to reach for fast food, treats and sweets as our bodies need more energy to keep warm. However eating well can help protect our immune system and get our body ready to fight off any winter bugs. Shopping for seasonal fruit and vegetables is often the best, and cheapest way to shop – if you eat seasonally it can also reduce your grocery bill. Food that has been harvested at the optimum time also means its nutritional content is at its best. Think about making some salads, stews or soups with pumpkin, kale, kumara and carrots, which are all in plentiful supply in autumn.

5. Get stars in your eyes

As our nights get longer, our skies get brighter, and this time of the year becomes one of the best times to stargaze. As Aotearoa has plenty of rural space away from light pollution, it makes it the ideal place to see the stars. We’re home to two internationally-recognised dark sky reserves: Aoraki Mackenzie and Wairarapa, which make these among the best places in the world to see the sky. But no matter where you are in the country, get together with some friends or whānau and take a 20-minute drive outside the city with a blanket, a warm jacket and a pair of binoculars and get to know the stars yourself. 

6. Clear out the wardrobe 

As we enter a new season, it’s a good time to take a look at your wardrobe and clear out some old clothes. There are many op shops around to donate clothes or sell them online or through a consignment store to get a bit of extra cash for garments you never wear anymore. Upcycling clothing and textiles is also starting to gain popularity in Aotearoa. Every year in New Zealand, 175,000 tonnes of textile waste goes to landfill. Icebreaker has launched a great initiative where people can drop off their old, unwanted clothing for recycling. Macpac is doing the same – just look out for any ReLooped bins in Macpac stores countrywide. 

 7. Capture the golden colours of autumn 

This country produces the most beautiful scenery all year round, but the most photogenic season has got to be autumn. While you don’t have to go far to find these amazing scenes, here are some special spots to visit to secure the best autumnal photos. Modern smartphones have high quality cameras meaning you don’t need to invest in expensive camera equipment to take stunning shots. Here are some tips for taking the best smartphone photos. 

8. Give yourself a refresh on the history of Aotearoa 

Taking a wander around your local museum is a great way to rediscover your own history, and those of your ancestors. From science to art and beyond, museums have a bit of everything. If you don’t live near a museum, the ​​Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has Collections Online, a digital collection of information on almost 800,000 artworks, objects and specimens from Te Papa’s collections. From dinosaurs to contemporary art, people and places, you can browse for hours while discovering the rich history and culture of our country.  

9. Start volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, and to give back to the environment and people – it can also be a great addition to your CV when you graduate. If you’re a student studying in New Zealand who is actively contributing or participating in a group, association, community activity or volunteer programme for the benefit of others, you can apply for one of two MAS Here for Good scholarships each quarter. The individual scholarship recipient receives $1,000 to help towards study or living costs, and the group scholarship recipient receives $4,000 to help towards operational costs. There’s a huge variety of community groups and charities that are seeking willing volunteers to help. It could be a one-off project such as a neighbourhood or beach clean-up, or an ongoing commitment of an hour or two each fortnight or month. Find a cause you can get behind and offer up your services. Do Good Jobs and Seek Volunteer are two places you can look for local volunteering opportunities – or reach out directly to groups or charities doing work you care about. 

10. Make your life more sustainable

We’ve all heard the idea of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ – but sometimes too much focus is on the recycling element, and not enough on reducing the amount we consume, and reusing what we can to give items a longer life. Not only is reducing our carbon footprint good for the environment, but it can also help you save money. To reduce the amount of soft plastics you use, look to take existing containers to a refillery to stock up on things like rice, flour and lentils. Some supermarkets also allow you to bring your own containers to fill at their deli, meat and seafood counters (they just need to be clean and undamaged.) Invest in a reusable coffee cup and lunchbox and make it a point to take it with you to university. Many cafes offer a discount if you bring your own coffee cup, saving you valuable dollars over time. Reusabowl are accepted at eateries across Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch, which is a great way to eliminate packaging waste when you buy lunch.