getting to a university in the UK from the southern hemisphere

[bomberblitz]

I am student currently studying in NZ and I have plans to go to a university in the UK. However, in the southern hemisphere a typical school year begins in early Feb and ends in early Dec, whereas the school year in the UK begins in early Sep. What is the wise thing to do in this gap between the starting date of uni in the UK, and my high school Graduation date. I've heard rumors that students going overseas would usually study for a period of time in domestic unis, prior to the starting date of the unis overseas.