Autumn and Spring for New Zealand's South Island still has cold air temps and cold water, just not as brutally cold as Winter. There is an opportunity to transition out of your coldest neoprene setup into something a little lighter. Booties and a hood will still be needed for some of these seasons, but again lighter versions may be best to transition from Winter to Summer if you have the option.

If you have no intention of surfing through a South Island Winter but like to get into the water when things warm up a little, these recommendations may be all you need.

Our Girls Bahia 4/3mm is a solid, warm and comfy suit thanks to it's glued and blindstitched seams (GBS), MeshSkin chest/back panels and SuperGrill liner.

You can also look to some of the boys/unisex suits for further options.. for kids, the only difference between boys and girls suits is the colour, the fits are the same. The Defender 4/3, is the same construction as the Bahia series, so you may consider Defender suits for alternate colourways and chest zip options.

For Booties, the Mutant 3mm Split Toe is the warmest option. Check out the Heat Ninja 3mm boot as a lighter feeling boot if you already have a winter boot such as the Mutant, or the Defender 3mm Split Toe boot for extra durable rock-hopping comfort.

Our top pick for separate hoods is the Psycho 3mm Hood, and the 2mm Sport Cap is a lighter option. Our recommended glove is the Psychotech 1.5mm Glove.

It just depends on what’s most important to you - warmth / flexibility / price.

Check out the winter or summer recommendations for further suggestions if you are leaning towards colder or warmer conditions.