Taiwan Tours from Australia & New Zealand: Gorgeous Formosa in Seven Days, and When to Go

Taiwan is one of the few places we sell that most travellers first encounter as a layover. Two nights in Taipei on the way to somewhere else, a night market, and home with the impression that they have seen it. They have seen the capital, but Taiwan's character extends well beyond Taipei — the landscapes, historic towns and cultural life elsewhere on the island are usually what make a longer visit worthwhile.

Our Taiwan itinerary is built on the opposite premise: that the island is a week, not a stopover. Here is what that week includes, and when to take it.

Gorgeous Formosa — seven days, and what is in them

Gorgeous Formosa 7 Days Tour departs on Saturdays and runs seven days and six nights, in 4-star hotels or similar, with a private arrival transfer and an English-speaking guide from day three.

The shape is deliberate. The first two days are Taipei and they are yours — an arrival transfer, then a day with a double-decker sightseeing bus ticket, so you can see Taipei at your own speed while the jet lag wears off. The guided section starts on day three and takes in Taiwan's east coast and the Taroko region, then the mountain road to Sun Moon Lake, then Tainan, Kaohsiung and Lukang before returning to Taipei.

What we tell travellers is that the itinerary is really two Taiwans stitched together. The east coast is one of the journey's defining highlights, with sea cliffs, mountain scenery and views across the Pacific, and the Taroko region adds its famous marble gorge. Tainan and Lukang provide a different perspective. Tainan, Taiwan's ancient capital, is rich in historic sites and temples, while Lukang is known for its preserved old streets, traditional architecture and religious heritage. Together they give travellers a sense of the island's cultural history beyond Taipei.

Because the guided portion starts on day three, the itinerary is easy to extend at the front. Travellers who want longer in Taipei, or who are arriving from Japan or Korea, simply add nights before the Saturday start rather than re-cutting the tour.

A note on Taroko

Taroko National Park was badly affected by the April 2024 earthquake, and it is still only partly reopened. Some areas are accessible again, but several of the best-known stops — including Swallow Grotto, the Tunnel of Nine Turns, the Eternal Spring Shrine and the Shakadang Trail — remain closed, and the road through the gorge runs under traffic controls. In practice that means the Taroko day is built around the viewpoints and areas open at the time of travel, and the sights visited depend on current road conditions. We confirm the current arrangements when we quote, so there are no surprises on the day.

When to go, and the two windows worth considering

Taiwan can be visited year-round, but October and November are particularly appealing for travellers looking for comfortable temperatures and generally good conditions for sightseeing. December can also work well, although the weather varies across the island — the north and the east coast do not share the south's patterns.

February and March offer a cooler alternative, with the added attraction of the festival calendar. Northern Taiwan can be cool and wet in these months, so it is worth planning with regional conditions in mind.

Late spring and summer bring different considerations. The plum-rain season typically affects May and June, while typhoons are most likely to disrupt travel from summer into autumn, particularly in August and September. Neither period rules out a visit, but it is worth allowing for weather-related changes to transport and outdoor activities. Whatever the dates, mountain roads and individual attractions can close at short notice, so we check current conditions before departure.

One fixed date worth planning around

The Taiwan Lantern Festival changes host location every year, and the 2027 edition is scheduled for Miaoli County from 20 February to 7 March 2027. It is a major national event — the 2026 festival in Chiayi recorded more than ten million visits.

For travellers who want to attend, it is a good reason to build Taiwan into a February or March trip, and accommodation and transport around the festival areas are likely to be in high demand, so planning early makes sense. For travellers who are not going for the festival, it is still worth knowing the dates — either as a chance to see a major Taiwanese celebration, or as a reason to choose different dates if avoiding crowds is the priority. With the dates already announced, those planning around the festival can start making arrangements well ahead, though it is sensible to check the organisers' latest information before confirming.

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, two weeks before the festival opens. It is Taiwan's biggest family holiday, with an official public holiday from 4 to 10 February. Transport and accommodation can be heavily booked and smaller businesses may close for several days, so it is a week that needs careful planning — travellers can enjoy the celebrations, but should arrange transport and accommodation well ahead.

Getting there from Australia and New Zealand

Taiwan is better connected to this part of the world than most travellers assume. China Airlines flies direct to Taipei from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with Qantas codesharing on its services, and from late October 2026 its Sydney flight runs daily. EVA Air also flies direct from Brisbane. The flight takes around nine hours, depending on the route. From New Zealand there are direct Auckland–Taipei services on some days of the week, with connections through Australia or another Asian hub on others; we will match the flights to your dates.

Taipei is also well placed for travellers combining Taiwan with Japan, South Korea or Hong Kong. Depending on flight schedules, a few extra nights can make Taiwan a natural part of a wider North Asia trip.

Questions we get asked

When is the best time to visit Taiwan? October and November are generally the most comfortable months for a first trip, with December also a good option. February and March are a cooler alternative and carry the festival calendar. The plum rains typically affect May and June, and typhoons are most likely to disrupt travel in August and September.

Is Taroko Gorge open? Partly. Some areas have reopened since the 2024 earthquake, but well-known stops such as Swallow Grotto, the Tunnel of Nine Turns, the Eternal Spring Shrine and the Shakadang Trail remain closed, and access is subject to traffic controls. We plan the Taroko day around what is open at the time of travel.

Can you combine Taiwan with Japan or Korea? Yes, and it is one of the more common ways we sell it. Because the guided section of Gorgeous Formosa begins on day three, nights can be added at the front without disturbing the tour.

When is the Taiwan Lantern Festival in 2027? It is scheduled for 20 February to 7 March 2027 in Miaoli County; the dates were announced as provisional, so check before booking. The host city changes annually, so 2028 will be elsewhere.

Is a week enough for Taiwan? For a first trip covering Taipei, the east coast, Sun Moon Lake and the historic south, yes — Gorgeous Formosa is a highlights itinerary rather than a complete tour of the island. Travellers who want the outer islands, or more time walking in the mountains, should plan on ten days or more.

Where to start

Our Taiwan brochure is a free download and covers the island region by region if you are still deciding, and our Taiwan page lists the itineraries. When you are ready to talk dates, ask your travel agent for a Pack Ya Bags itinerary, or get in touch with us directly and we will build it around your flights.