Make the Most of Your New Zealand Winter Holiday

Winter in New Zealand is different from many parts of the world, where they lie under snow for months on end. Apart from the peaks of our Southern Alps, and the North Island's small group of volcanoes - Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, snow very rarely sits anywhere for more than a few days at a time, even in the depths of winter.

New Zealand has a temperate climate - which means it doesn't get excessively hot in summer (most of the time) and equally, doesn't get incredibly cold in winter, despite the fact that it's the last populated country en route to Antarctica.

The southernmost parts of the South Island can certainly feel the bite of southerly winds blowing up from the Ice, but overall, New Zealand is an easy place to spend a holiday - no matter what time of year it is.

Having said that, there are some key things to remember if you plan on having a wonderful winter holiday in New Zealand.

There may not be snow on the ground, but there will be plenty of rain, possibly hail from time to time, and occasional fog.
There will also be a high likelihood of frost, especially if you are anywhere from Lake Taupo south. The great thing about frosty days, is that almost without exception, they turn into a beautiful blue sky, sunny day once the icicles have thawed.
So pack warm clothes and head for the places you can really enjoy the best of winter outdoors - the snow fields and skating rinks.
Make sure your hire vehicle comes with chains if you are headed anywhere near the mountains - and make sure you know how to put them on the car or van.
Try to plan your driving so you are travelling during daylight hours - and remember it gets dark by about 5.30pm in mid-winter.

Skiers and Snowboarders Welcome

New Zealand is very well endowed with great ski areas - most of them in the South Island, including the largest ski area with the longest season in Australasia, Mt Hutt. In all, the province of Canterbury has 18 ski fields, if you include the commercial fields of Hutt, Porters Pass, Mt Lyford, Round Hill, Mt Dobson and Ohau, as well as a range of club fields and heli-skiing opportunities.

Further south, Queenstown and Wanaka are the dominant players, boasting Treble Cone and Cardrona at Wanaka, and Coronet Peak and the Remarkables in Queenstown.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about all of these ski fields is that they are at most a day's drive from the furthest north, to the furthest south. So you have plenty of options within driving distance should one field be closed.

A great way to follow the best snow conditions and combine your transport and accommodation into one, is to hire a six berth campervan and get a group of your friends together for the trip. You can park at the bottom of the ski field road and take a shuttle up to the top, or with fields like Coronet that have fully sealed roads all the way up the mountain, you can easily drive your campervan up to the carpark, so it can act as your base for the day's activities.

If you are hiring a campervan for your winter holiday, make sure you check out these winter driving tips from the New Zealand Automobile Association - and most importantly, remember that in New Zealand we drive on the left hand side of the road!

To buy ski passes and get all the information you need to plan your trip, visit ski-newzealand.co.nz for information and prices on ski areas throughout the South Island, gear hire packages and more.

Skiing and snowboarding are not the only fun winter activities to be had in the South Island - outdoor ice-skating is another option.

For the full winter wonderland experience, you really can't beat the South Island's Lake Tekapo mid winter. Not only do you have a great learners ski field at Round Hill, there's the Southern Alps backdrop all around, the stunning aqua coloured water of the lake, and the perfect combo of skating rink and hot pools at Alpine Springs and Spa. Local teams play ice hockey on the rink and it's a favourite for recreational skating with travelers too. This great facility also offers snow tubing, for anyone who wants winter fun with absolutely no prior experience required.

There are plenty of other activities to be enjoyed on a crisp winter's day too - a few rounds of golf on some of the world's most beautiful golf courses, doing the winery tours, which are to be enjoyed year round and of course enjoying the many cafes, bars and eating establishments around the country. If you are planning a trip to NZ in winter, the Tourism New Zealand website is a great place to start.

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New Zealand Tourist Attractions and Adventure Activities - The Ultimate Holiday Destination

New Zealand is a country that offers a very diverse range of tourist attractions and adventure activities. Long and narrow, we have endless kilometres of coastline, with beaches of all kinds - long and sandy, picturesque bays over hung with our gorgeous silver green ,red flowering pohutakawas, and the stony South Island West Coast beaches, just perfect for rock hounds. Beautiful lakes dot the landscape, and fiords dent the coastline. The many rushing rivers carve their way through the hills, and magnificent mountains .

Water Sports

It is little wonder that New Zealand is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. Water sports of every kind, from the most exhilarating adrenaline pumping extreme sports, to the more sedate such as swimming with dolphins, whale watching or fishing. Whether river based sports such as white water rafting, or sea based such as surfing or kite boarding, there is a comprehensive list.

Mountains

Our mountains offer a different selection of equally nerve wracking options, along with the more usual but popular snow boarding and skiing. Heli skiing is popular with skiiers wanting to try something a little more demanding, while those chasing the dream of climbing as many peaks as they can, are drawn to our many demanding mountain challenges.

Wind

Being exposed, we have our fair share of wind! While the views for air sports are magnificent. Wind sports are numerous, and

* parasailing

* kite boarding

* hang gliding

* hot air ballooning

and all those activities requiring a sail and wind, are found in major tourist destinations, all around the country.

Bush

Our bush is unique to New Zealand, with lush, green sub tropical growth -ferns, tree ferns, and a huge range of trees native to New Zealand, many over a thousand years old. The kauri is the king of the forest. These great spreading trees form a canopy, in our many tiered bush.

Tramping and Hiking

Tramping and hiking are very popular pastimes, and there are tracks that range from a few hours to a few days to traverse, with rivers and streams, waterfalls , alpine plants, springs and magnificent mountain and coastal scenery. The most famous is the Milford Track, with several other well known tramps ( the New Zealand term for hiking) in the same area -Greenstone, Routeburn, and in the northern part of the South Island the Heaphy Track. In the North Island, the most popular day walk some suggest in the world , certainly the Southern Hemisphere, is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This 17 kilometre trek is in Lord of the Rings territory or Mt Doom!

Miscellaneous

Personally, I would not have said New Zealand was a natural for sports such as cycling. We have a lot of hills! But those who are keen, give it a go. There are many wonderful mountain biking locations. Camping, is very well catered for. Our beautifully situated golf courses attract golfers from around the world. Trout fishing, and deep sea fishing are other activities, that bring people from far and wide. The rich and famous find they can escape into the wilderness, here Down Under and often slip in and out quietly, for a break from their high profile lives.

Culture

If culture is more your thing, we have plenty to keep you intrigued. The traditional Maori culture and lifestyle, is a unique experience. They came in their canoes from Hawaiiki over 800 years ago. Rotorua, with its thermal geysers, mud pools and fascinating scenery, is the best single town to embrace all things Maori. Most traditional Maori culture is found in the North Island, where the majority lived.

History

Our historic centre is found at Waitangi in Northland. It was here New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840.New Zealand history being relatively new. Our "old" buildings are the cause of some amusement to visitors from Europe and countries where old, is older than even New Zealand when the Maori first arrived!

Museums and Art Galleries

Museums and Art and Craft Galleries are scattered around the country. New Zealander's are creative and innovative people. Perhaps this sprang from the pioneer spirit, or perhaps from our isolation. But we do many things a little differently. Which is why our fashion designers, have become well known internationally for the originality. Te Papa in Wellington is the official National Museum. The Auckland War Memorial Museum is also an excellent more traditional, museum. Maritime museums, kauri museums, technology museums, car museums - they are many, and varied, featuring different aspects of New Zealand history.

Gardens

New Zealander's love their gardens and there are many open to the public. Ranging from tropical gardens in the north to cooler climate gardens with glorious spring flowers, there is real variety. In part due to the climatic and soil variations. In spring and summer there are many annual garden tours.

Wine and Food

If you are looking for internationally acclaimed wines, New Zealand has those too. We are fortunate , with such a variable climate and soils, to have many wine areas, each tending to specialise in varieties best suited to the area. With over 400 wineries, the choices are numerous. Many New Zealand wineries also have excellent restaurants. Food and Wine - what a holiday! And I can promise, once you have become hooked on New Zealand coffee, you will suffer withdrawal symptons when you go home!

Music

New Zealand has excellent music and our local productions, and concerts are well worth experiencing. Not only are there the more traditional concert venues, but many outdoor concerts are held in vineyards, parks, and gardens. Some are sponsored by local councils and free. If you are here at the right time you may enjoy a great New Zealand musical event. Auckland has several big free concerts over the summer, where up to 200.000 people attend. So check at the Tourist Information Centres.

With scenery to thrill and excite the senses, photographers and artists have a never ending array of ever changing subjects to inspire as they record their New Zealand holiday.The New Zealand landscape is like little bits of many countries, all rolled into one ultimate treasure. It really is the ultimate holiday destination!

You will be able to read more detailed information on the many and varied activities activities that you can experience in New Zealand at http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com

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