Not everyone looks forward to the winter months in New Zealand, but it is the time of year where you can truly experience some of the best Aotearoa has to offer. From the mountains transforming with snowy peaks to relaxing in hot pools with snow falling around you, there are amazing experiences to be had in every corner of the country.
If you are needing some inspiration to plan your next adventure, here are 5 reasons to plan a winter holiday in New Zealand:
Cheaper, Fewer People, Less Traffic = More Fun!
Winter is one of the best times to travel around New Zealand. As it is the low season. You will welcome feeling more relaxed with less traffic on the roads, fewer people at attractions, cheaper rates on campervans and not as many people getting in the way of those photos.
You will really be able to appreciate New Zealand by getting to relax and take in all the amazing sights without all the hustle and bustle the comes with the summer months.
Winter Wonderland
New Zealand in winter has some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery on planet earth. When the rugged mountains get their winter makeover, driving through back country roads or taking a relaxing walk on any number of trails will leave you with amazing natural scenery to take in and capture to show your jealous family and friends.
A must do is going to see the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the west coast of the South Island where you will get to see rivers of ice flow from the Southern Alps to near sea level.
Skiing and Snowboarding
A New Zealand winter holiday wouldn’t be complete without getting your family or friends to hit the snow on one of the country’s famous ski slopes.
There are some of the world’s best ski trails to be discovered in New Zealand. How does skiing or snowboarding on the side of an active volcano at Mt Ruapehu in the North Island sound?
If you’re staying in the lower South Island you can take your pick of four of the best ski fields, from the Remarkables or Coronet Peak near Queenstown to Cardrona or Treble cone near Wanaka; you will have a hard time deciding where to start.
If that isn’t enough snow for you there is always Mount Hutt right in the middle of the South Island which is part of the awe-inspiring Southern Alps which is also home to New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook.
Rugby – The national game!
We couldn’t talk about a New Zealand winter without bringing up the country’s national game. Rugby is a big deal here and the only way to see how big it is, is by getting to see the most famous team of them all in action – The All Blacks. If you are unable to get to a game, the next best thing is to head along to a pub or bar near you and cheer along with the locals.
Hot Springs
After a day of sightseeing and skiing, you may need to warm up and relax for a bit. Luckily New Zealand is home to a number of natural thermal pools where you can give your body a rest and warm up. If you are lucky enough to be here when it is snowing, you can take a dip in the hot pools while snowflakes are falling all around you. There are too many to list here but one of our favourites in in Hanmer Springs, the home to one of our parks – Alpine Adventure Holiday Park.
The best way to see and do as much as you can during winter is by hitting the road and staying at one of the friendly Family Parks in New Zealand, where you will be perfectly placed to get in on all the action. To start planning your next adventure visit www.familyparks.co.nz
