Hi, i'm planning a 6 - 8 week drivearound tour for next Feb/March, and I'm wondering if it matters which island we start on. Is it better to be farther south in Feb?

I would usually suggest starting South and heading north.

The South Island evenings will be noticeably cooling in March while north Island evenings will be warmer.

Yes, the South Island is usually busy, but the pandemic effects will no doubt linger re international travel.

The North Island has riden on the back of wonderful weather this year. The beaches have been hot-spots, and the North Island has many more beaches that are very accessible to the public.

I suggest that you start out on the North, and then enjoy the autumn colours of the South during March. It gets colder on the South Island early into autumn (March - April).