New Zealand In Winter: 15 Best Things To Do & Where To Go

Planning a trip to New Zealand in winter? You’re in for a treat!

Having lived here these past 29 years – living in the North Island but frequently travelling to the South Island, I would thoroughly recommend a trip here in the colder months.

The South Island is blessed with snow in lots of areas. The North Islanders flock to volcano Mount Ruapehu – the tallest summit on the island – which has two ski-fields on it. North of the mountain does not get the snow, but does boast a bunch of natural hot springs – if you know where to find them. (Is there anything better than soaking in hot water on a cold day?!)

And then, if you’re neither a skiing nor a hot tub fanatic, we still have beautiful beaches and bush that can be enjoyed year round. The options are endless!

New Zealand In Winter

Before I start rattling off ideas for your New Zealand winter holiday, it’s worth mentioning when exactly you’d want to go. Our best months for the snow are July, August and September. For us, that’s mid to late winter, and the beginning of spring.

Come earlier, and certain places will reward you with beautiful autumn colours – (and often stable, crisp, autumnal weather in the South Island). However, you may be disappointed if the snow has not yet fallen. We had to forego skiing in Queenstown one year as we went in the last week of June .. and the snow fell the day we flew out.

Conversely, come too late into our spring – October onwards – and you may find that the snow is a little less powdery and more on the icy side. (In the past, skiing in October was fine on Mount Ruapehu, but the last couple of seasons have been short ones and, again, the group I was with had to find other activities on last year’s ski trip as the mountain was too rocky and no longer covered enough in snow.)

What Is The Weather Like In New Zealand In Winter?

Our weather is getting harder to predict and more and more variable, but you take the good with the bad. Our winters generally have more rain than our summers. We are in the Southern Hemisphere, which means the more south you go, the colder it gets.

July is our coldest month. The towns near our skifields in the north are likely to be breezy and around 3°C to 9°C (which is 38°F to 49°F). Our geothermal district of Rotorua generally experiences temperatures of 6°C to 11°C at its coldest (which is 43°F to 52°F), and our more southern gems in the crown, like Queenstown and Wānaka, generally experience temperatures of -1°C to 8°C (which is 30°F to 47°F).

15 Best Things To Do In New Zealand In Winter

There are lots and lots of options if you plan to visit New Zealand in the winter. Here are my top 15 activities to add to your winter itinerary to enjoy the season to its fullest:

1. Soak away the winter blues

Warm up from the cold weather by soaking in hot, mineral, geothermal waters, in either our natural springs, or our man-made pools that are heated by those underground hot springs. New Zealand has so many of these areas, and the stretch between Taupō and Rotorua (an 80 kilometres, 50 miles, or a one hour drive) is called the Thermal Explorer Highway because of it. Use either town as a base for visiting these hot springs, or head south to Hanmer Springs or Tekapo for the best South Island hotspots.

There are also great hot pool options in Queenstown, Taranaki, Methven and Tokaanu (use National Park Village or Whakapapa as a base for visiting Tokaanu as it is a small settlement and a bit of a one-hit wonder, whereas there is comparatively lots more to do in Whakapapa or National Park Village). Plus, all of these locations have an abundance of other cold weather activities, not just hot pools – a win!

➡️ Rotorua has a lot going on under the surface – why not jump on a tour of some of the best hot springs?

2. Hit the slopes

We have lots of skiing and snowboarding options in New Zealand.

If you are travelling through the North Island, your best option is to pay Mount Ruapehu a visit, and use National Park village as a base, which is nearly equidistant to both Whakapapa, which is the village at the foot of the northern facing slope, and to Ohakune, which is the town at the foot of the southern facing slope.

(Or, you can pick one and still make the drive over to the other side if you change your mind! Sometimes skiiers prefer Whakapapa, with its abundance of windier, narrower, tracks, and snowboarders prefer Turoa, with its wide, open tracks and natural half-pipes.)

Tāranaki may also be worth a visit as Mount Tāranaki has a smaller and cheaper skifield, Manganui Ski Area, but it is not open as frequently as Mount Ruapehu and they are much more reliant on there being adequate snow to be able to enjoy it fully. (I have been trying to go for a couple of seasons but have still not been able to time it with their snowfall.)

If travelling through the South Island, you are best to use Wānaka, Queenstown or Methven as a base. From Wānaka and Queenstown, which are not far apart (68 kilometres, 42 miles or a one hour drive), you will have access to Cardrona Alpine Resort, The Remarkables Ski Area, Treble Cone Ski Resort, and Coronet Peak Ski Area. From Methven, you will be as close as is possible to our largest ski area, Mount Hutt Ski Area.

And if you are after smaller, and perhaps less crowded, ski resorts, Kaikōura (with the Mount Lyford Ski Area) and Tekapo (with the Roundhill Ski Area and the Mount Dobson Ski Area) might be a better fit.

➡️ Heading to Queenstown but can’t choose between Coronet Peak Ski Area or The Remarkables Ski Area? This three day package includes passes for both, and airport transfers, and food, and accommodation! Sorted!

3. Try something new: snowshoeing

Snowshoes – these are a little shorter than a ski, and designed for ease of walking across snowy hills and trails. It’s a unique alternative to your usual snow sports, and it is offered at Snow Farm in Wānaka.

Undoubtedly one of the best way to explore the many trails of the Pisa Range, and a fun addition to your winter bucket list that you may not have tried before, snowshoeing can allow you to get off the beaten path in a way thats more difficult on skis or snowboard, (and you can of course trek across flat fields, which is just a pain when skiing or snowboarding)!

It’s also a great group activity as people’s pace is more likely to be matched, and the range of ability across the group is not going to be as large – it’s just like hiking, but in the snow, afterall!

➡️ New to snowshoeing? This tour will include your pick up and drop off, all your equipment, as well as a guide to show you the best of the Pisa Ranges!

4. Go skiing at night

Something a little different – hitting the slopes once the sun has gone down! This is offered at Coronet Peak Ski Area, so if this is something that’s on your list, Queenstown is the place to visit. After dark, the slopes are illuminated for skiiers and snowboarders alike. After the day-visitors head back to the bottom, night-time snow-bunnies can head on up for five hours of freezing fun.

This is a great option for those with limited time, as there is so much to do in Queenstown. This way, the days can be spent exploring, and the nights can be your chance to squeeze in a snow fix before bedtime. You’ll be up there early enough to catch the sun setting over Lake Wakatipu as well, which has got to be one of the most magnificent sights. Truly a travel-hack to maximise your time here.

➡️ Queenstown company Going Blue offer shuttle services from the town to Coronet Peak. Be sure to go from here to their website to make sure it is the night-ski shuttle you book!

5. Take an alpine rail journey through the alps

New Zealand’s Southern Alps run nearly the full length of our largest island, the South Island, and cutting through the middle of them is one of the best ways to get right in amongst them.

One way to do this is to jump aboard the TranzAlpine Railway, a scenic train trip that will take you from Christchurch on the east coast, over to Greymouth on the west coast – and back again, if you would like. It is five hours across and five hours back, and very scenic the entire way.

When I did this trip, it was July, which meant that all the mountains we wound through were absolutely covered with snow, and all the paddocks, too. It was so beautiful, and a really good option for a day trip from Christchurch, as well a lovely way to see Arthur’s Pass Village, which is in the middle (which would otherwise have been a 148 kilometres, 92 miles, or a two hour drive in).

➡️ This link will allow you to book the journey east (Christchurch to Greymouth) if you are wanting to just go one-way! From Greymouth you will be in an excellent position to rent a vehicle and drive south down the coast through glacier country.

6. See if you can spot the Aurora Australis (the Southern Lights)

I don’t know many people who have seen the Southern Lights (maybe because I am a North Islander) – so don’t come with high expectations of seeing the Aurora Australis, but the possibility is definitely there if you are in the right place at the right time. To give yourself the best chance of seeing them, visit our Southland region – get yourself into either the Catlins Coastal Area in the south east corner of the South Island, or out onto the Otago Peninsula, or right down to Stewart Island (an hour’s ferry ride from Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island). Being in these locations will all improve your chances of seeing the Southern Lights.

Another option is to take an Air New Zealand dreamliner aircraft from Christchurch Airport, which will fly you right down towards Antarctica accompanied by astronomers and astrophotographers who help advise you of what you are seeing and how best to photograph it. Just note that this special trip is something that only gets offered in September and would sell out fast.

➡️ While it’s never guaranteed, seeing the Aurora Australis is most likely when with a guide, in the right part of the country, at the right time. Booking a tour like this one will improve your chances!

7. Watch whales migrating north to warmer climes

New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, which means whales go north in winter for warmer waters. This migratory period coincides with our colder months, and although sperm whales can be seen year round, in Kaikōura specifically, on the east coast of the South Island, the area just off the coast forms part of the Humpback Highway in winter, so your chances of being able to see humpback whales migrating north increases.

This is also the time of year when you are more likely to see baby whales with their mothers, and it is just easier to spot whales in general, what with not having to go as far offshore (which means you can maximise your viewing time if you are headed out on a boat for the day). If this is a bucket list item for your winter holiday, include Kaikōura on the itinerary.

➡️ Prone to seasickness? Try a whale watching tour from above! The whales are tracked and they get to see not just the sperm whales but the migratory whales, too, in season. (Families with under-threes: the plane is your only option.)

8. Soak in a geothermal mud bath

A geothermal mud bath is something that is uniquely offered at Hell’s Gate in Rotorua, so add Rotorua to the itinerary if this is something you’d like to do. It’s not everywhere in the world you can do something like this, so do consider it!

The mud bath is geothermal, meaning the mud has been heated beneath the earth’s surface, made possible by Rotorua’s geothermal location. The water and mud have a lot of healing properties – black mud is recommended for arthritis and rheumatism, white mud for burns, and grey mud, for exfoliating the skin.

Visitors to Hell’s Gate can also be guided around to view the hot lakes and bubbling mud that is present in the geothermal reserve, and to experience the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, and to cool off and (clean off) in a plunge pool afterward. Quite the day out!

➡️ Book Hell’s Gate mud spa here!

9. Take your pick of beautiful alpine walks

There are lots of alpine walk options in New Zealand, but two of my top recommendations would be the three hour, moderately easy Hooker Valley Track, and the overnight Mueller Hut hike, both found in Aoraki (or Mount Cook) National Park.

The Hooker Valley Track is a favourite with many because it is only 10 kilometres return (6 miles) and graded ‘easy’ by the Department of Conservation. The trail is located right in the Southern Alps and leads out to Hooker Lake. Even wheelchairs and prams will be able to easily get to the first lookout and back. You may hear or spot avalanches at a distance, and you will pass icebergs, a glacier, and alpine lakes on the way, so it is an awesome little excursion, obviously best done in winter.

The Mueller Hut Hike is not far away, and is also 10 kilometres return (6 miles), but considered ‘advanced’ by the Department of Conservation. It starts at Mount Cook Village and winds up to the Sealy Tarns (tarns are mountain ponds). The hut at the top has water, lighting and cooking gas, and it is worth making a stop for the night, so that you can make the most of being in the area.

Although the track is open year-round, it is important to read the Know Before You Go sections on the Department of Conservation website and consider hiking it in spring instead, if you do not quite have the experience required.

For those less experienced in alpine environments, November or early December are recommended times when the weather is warmer, but the snow is likely to still be on the ground. And you do want the snow, for those beautiful shots with that famous red hut contrasting against the landscape.

➡️ If you’ve come straight to Queenstown, but are still wanting to fit in the Hooker Valley Hike, use this full-day return trip tour that includes guide, snacks and water!

10. Admire the night sky at the only international dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere

Stargazing can be beautiful year round, but what with Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park and the MacKenzie Basin both coming under the umbrella of the Aoraki MacKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, I’d recommend adding stargazing to your winter bucket list if you are already in the region for winter. The nights are longer, and you won’t have to stay up as late, either.

There is limited light pollution here and this has earned it its spot as one of eight International Dark Sky Reserves – and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere – making it the best place to view the Milky Way and Southern Cross, constellations that you can only see from our half of the globe.

If in Aoraki, Mount Cook Station is the place to go, and if in Tekapo, Dark Sky Project is who you want to be in contact with. (You can even have a soak in Tekapo Springs at night and take in the skies from there!)

➡️ An alternative to going up Mount John for stargazing is to visit Cowan’s Observatory, which is located in the township of Tekapo, using this guided option, so that you can identify what you are seeing in the sky!

11. Try your hand at curling

Another thing to add to your winter activity list is to try out the traditional winter sport of curling, something there is not often opportunity to do in many other parts of the country.

Tekapo Springs offers this activity at their ice rink, which is perfect if you are already in the area. It’s a great group or family activity, as everyone can play, and it is easy to learn. It’s one way to stay warm in cold weather, and can actually be a good workout. It also doesn’t consume the whole day, as skiing and snowboarding tend to.

There are weekly competitions in the evening, which are social and fun, or the option to enjoy it during the day, too, if you are just learning. You couldn’t find a more picturesque spot to learn, however, and so doing some curling makes for a good addition to your winter itinerary.

You can also try curling at the Maniototo Adventure Park in Naseby, Central Otago, which is the only rink in the Southern Hemisphere which is actually just for curling. They also have an ice luge and offer ice skating, too.

➡️ No vehicle? No problem. If you’ve found yourself in Queenstown but still wanting to pay a visit to Tekapo, a two day tour like this one can take all the hassle out of it.

12. Ride your bike, from the mountains to the sea

Another activity I would recommend for winter would be to cycle part of, or all of, the Alps2Ocean cycle trail, which runs from the Southern Alps out to the ocean on the east coast of the South Island. Naturally, the alpine parts are very scenic in winter, and arguably the best leg to do is Section One – from Aoraki (Mount Cook) to Braemar Road, or the Alternate Section (which splits off in another direction) – from Tekapo to Twizel.

Section One is only 35 kilometres (or 22 miles) and is graded ‘easy’. It’s necessary to helicopter across the Tasman River for this section, however, and this is at additional cost. In good weather, this part of the trail will afford you magnificent views of our tallest mountain, Mount Cook, turquoise coloured alpine Lake Pukaki, and the Tasman Glacier.

The Alternate Section – which is the part I have ridden – starts at Tekapo and carries on to Twizel. It is graded ‘easy’ but is a 55 kilometres (or 34 mile) stretch, so it is much longer. You will still get awesome views of Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki, and be treated to views of Lake Tekapo, which is an equally dazzling shade of turquoise, and not having to helicopter makes it far more affordable.

➡️ Cycling not as appealing as a helicopter ride? Opt for just the helicopter landing on the Tasman Glacier instead of crossing the Tasman River for an experience that is going to make everyone at home jealous!

13. Go ice skating

Ice Skating would be another of my recommendations for this list of activities with which to build your winter itinerary. There are indoor rinks around the country, but for the true experience, pick an outdoor rink, either in Alexandra, Naseby, or in Tekapo, where you may already be staying for to the plethora of cold weather activities on offer there (and in the surrounding Mount Cook National Park area).

Tekapo Springs has its own ice rink where you can not only go curling, but ice skating too, and with the hot springs and the lake right next door, what more could you want for your pick of iceskating spot? The ice rink also has an open fire to warm up by, for when your muscles need a break.

Alexandra is a little more south east of Queenstown, if that is where you have based yourself, but you’ll likely be going through it if you are headed to the Catlins Coastal Area anyway, so Alexandra IceinLine Rink could be worth adding to the list, or the Maniototo Adventure Park in Naseby, which is further east again. Alexandra’s IceinLine rink is the largest outdoor ice skating rink in the Southern Hemisphere! You don’t need to book, but you do need to visit before the middle of August, which is when they close.

➡️ This day trip includes return transport to Tekapo from Christchurch, taking the hassle out of having to drive, as well as a drive up Mount John, a visit to neighbouring Lake Pukaki, Geraldine Cheese Factory and includes your Tekapo Springs entry, where you can skate.

14. Engage in a bit of heli-tourism

Heli-tourism is a term that encompasses all those wonderfully thrilling activities undertaken by helicopter, including heli-hiking (when you helicopter up somewhere and hike back down), heli-skiing (when you ski back down), and even heli-biking!

For your winter trip, consider heli-skiing. This is offered in Methven, which is the base for Mount Hutt, and offered in Aoraki (Mount Cook), as well as Queenstown and Wānaka and their respective slopes. This is a sport suited to those at intermediate level or higher, but if this isn’t you, you can engage in some heli-hiking (or even just the helicopter flight and glacier landing only) on Fox and/or Franz Josef glaciers in the south west corner of the South Island, and Tasman Glacier, too (which is Mount Cook, so more central).

➡️ To look at some of the many, many heli-tourism options available to you, check out this Viator link with many of the glacier packages listed in one place.

15. Go sledding with huskies

My final winter recommendation for you is not just something from the movies – you can real-life it too: riding a sled and being pulled by huskies in the snow!

This activity is uniquely offered at Under Dog New Zealand, situated in Cardrona, which is between Queenstown and Wānaka. The picture above is taken at Timberline Racing Siberian Huskies Kennel and Tours in Taupō, but they only offer the chance to watch the sledding, whereas at Under Dog, you yourself can be pulled along on the sled.

This is an epic choice of winter activity that takes place in some of our most epic landscapes, and suitable for most abilities, too.

➡️ This Viator link is the best place to book a tour with Under Dog New Zealand.

Best Places To Go In New Zealand In Winter

There are lots of places in New Zealand that would make an excellent base for your winter holiday. Each of them are naturally very beautiful, and while also lovely in warmer months, they’re best experienced in the colder months.

Here are a few recommendations of towns and regions you should consider for your winter holiday. Each has something special about it that can only be experienced in the winter. Whether you pick one or two – or try to do them all, travelling to these will ensure you see New Zealand showing off on the things that make the cold season here so unique and special.

📍 The Thermal Explorer Highway

A trip down the Thermal Explorer Highway will ensure that you are able to enjoy the best of the Bay of Plenty’s hotspots, from Rotorua’s free geothermal swimming hole, Kerosene Creek, to Taupō’s equivalent at Otumuheke Stream. There’s also another (very large) hot pool, accessible for a koha (donation) called Waitangi Soda Springs, that I really enjoyed when I was in Rotorua.

Basing yourself in Rotorua will also mean you are in close proximity to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve, if you fancy a hot mud bath, but also have the choices of the Blue Pools, the Polynesian Spa, the Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools, Wai Ariki Hot Springs, and Waikite Valley Hot Pools, if you’d prefer a paid hot pool.

Taupō is only an hour’s drive south of Rotorua (80 kilometres, or 50 miles), so a very doable side trip, where you will find Spa Thermal Park (that’s the free hot pool area), and paid options like Taupō DeBrett’s Spa Resort and Wairakei Terraces. It’s also a reasonable spot to base yourself if you have your sights set on snowsports at Whakapapa Ski Area on Mount Ruapehu. It’s only 90 minutes drive, or 104 kilometres, 64 miles, from Taupō to the base of the mountain.

Head south again (the highway runs all the way down to Napier) into the Kaweka Forest Park for hot pools Mangatutu Hot Springs and Mangatainoka Hot Springs – but these involve a bit of a hike up the Te Puia Track, so prepare for an overnighter in the bush (in a hut) if you are making the pilgrimage.

I would recommend using Rotorua as your base for your Thermal Explorer Highway holiday:

Budget Option: Rock Solid Backpacker’s Rotorua
This backpacker’s accommodation is an excellent choice for those wanting to spend $43NZD 🇳🇿 ($25USD 🇺🇸 ) to $50NZD 🇳🇿 ($29USD 🇺🇸 ) on a dorm room. It adjoins an indoor climbing facility, The Wall, and if you stay here you can get a discount and enter and climb for only $12.50NZD 🇳🇿 ($7USD 🇺🇸 ) . The front desk can also secure discounted activities if you need some help booking things to keep you occupied.

Mid-Range Option: Capri on Fenton Motel
Winner of the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best Award in 2023, Capri on Fenton offers affordable mid range accommodation on Fenton Street, the main street in Rotorua, so an excellent location. The best part is that every room has a private hot tub. They are a pick up and drop off location for any visitor who has also booked a Māori hangi (underground oven) experience, and they offer barbecue facilities at the motel also, if you are eating in.

Luxury Option: On The Point
This luxury retreat on the lakeside will set you back upwards of $900NZD 🇳🇿 ($527USD 🇺🇸 ) a night, but for the price tag, you will have the option to enjoy a book from their library and sit by the fire, enjoy the food cooked by international chefs at their restaurant, or pick a pampering experience from their spa menu.

📍 The Alpine Pacific Touring Route

A trip to Canterbury in winter is a great idea, as there are several great winter activities throughout the region. The Alpine Pacific Touring Route is a triangular shaped route done by road, that links Kaikōura, Hanmer Springs, and Christchurch city.

In the northern part of Canterbury, on the eastern coast of the South Island, is Kaikōura, where you’ll definitely want to stop if whale spotting is on your list. This is a great time of year to not only see sperm whales or baby whales with their mothers, but humpback whales too, travelling up the Humpback Highway (there’s an underwater canyon off the coast).

From there, it’s a two hour drive inland (130 kilometres, or 81 miles) to Hanmer Springs, which is a geothermal hot spot with a lovely thermal resort – they have 22 different pools! It’s best enjoyed in cold weather, so make the stop and spend some time soaking in the mineral waters.

Mount Lyford Ski Area is also in the area – a smaller skifield, but a less populous one, too.

Canterbury also makes the list as a good base for a winter holiday due to it’s major skifield – the country’s largest – Mount Hutt Ski Area. The gateway to the Ski Area is the alpine town of Methven, which is an hour’s drive inland (95 kilometres, or 59 miles) from the city of Christchurch, which is where I’d recommend basing yourself, if you want to be able to get in a day or two on the slopes (remember to factor in time to get up the mountain, too), but also be within a couple of hours of Hanmer Springs and Kaikōura, so that you have those as options for a side trip.

Christchurch city is also where you catch the TranzAlpine Railway from. So expect some driving with a Canterbury winter holiday, due to the region being so big, but nevertheless, it’s a great region to base yourself in for winter.

Here are some places you can stay in Christchurch. There’s something for every budget.

Budget Option: Tasman Holiday Park
Tasman Holiday Park is an extremely convenient place to stay, because unlike many other holiday parks, this one is right in the heart of the city. With tent sites, caravan sites, and cabins, this is a really great place to stay for the budget conscious traveller. We parked stayed here in a motorhome in 2022 and found the camping spaces really pleasant and the facilities good. Unpowered tent sites can be secured for $42NZD 🇳🇿 ($25USD 🇺🇸) and powered, tarsealed sites for caravans and campervans go for $59NZD 🇳🇿 ($35USD🇺🇸) .

Mid-Range Option: City Centre Motel Christchurch
City Centre Motel Christchurch is a well located, affordable motel, suitable for the traveller who is after comfort. Rooms start at about
$130NZD 🇳🇿 per night ($77USD 🇺🇸) and they have both studios and apartments available. Their wifi is strong, and Netflix access is offered too! Central city attractions are within close walking distance and you’re just ten minutes drive from the rail station if you are looking to board the TranzAlpine Scenic Railway.

Luxury Option: Observatory Hotel
The Observatory Hotel is an elegant hotel in central Christchurch in an 1800s building, so full of character and thoughtful interior design. They have a gym and a lounge, daily breakfast included, and a variety of individually designed rooms. Their premier room is up on the top floor with a beautiful bathtub and skylights. It goes for $799NZD 🇳🇿 ($475USD 🇺🇸) per night.

📍 Mount Cook National Park – including the Mackenzie Basin

Mount Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin do fall into Canterbury Region too, but they’re further inland, so Christchurch city is not the best base for you if the activities you want to line up for yourself are further into the alps.

The south Canterbury town of Twizel is the gateway to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, which is where you’ll need to go to access walks like Mueller Hut and the Hooker Valley Track. Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, which are in the Mackenzie Basin part of the national park, are two very stunning, very blue alpine lakes and are just breathtaking with the snowy Mount Cook in the background.

This is very much on the Alps2Ocean cycle trail, so consider spending a day on the trail riding through this beautiful part of the country. Section One and the Alternate Section from Tekapo to Twizel are two of the best sections in winter, being the most alpine and scoring the best mountain views.

Tekapo is a great base for you if you have intentions of ice skating, soaking in Tekapo Springs, skiing at Roundhill Ski Area, or curling at the ice rink. The whole area is an international dark sky reserve so definitely set aside some time for stargazing. It’s not as far south as Southland Region, but in winter people do get lucky with spotting the Aurora Australis, or the Southern Lights, from Mackenzie Country, so keep an eye out for that glow on the horizon, too. Facebook groups offer lots of tips and updates about when you are likely to spot the Aurora and alerts are posted on good viewing nights, so do join one or two of these public groups.

Here are some accommodation options for your stay in Tekapo, which is just over an hour’s drive (104 kilometres, or 65 miles) from Mount Cook Village.

Budget Option: Haka House
Haka House is located on the shores of Lake Tekapo with great views over the lake. The views aren’t the only great part: budget travellers will appreciate that you can get yourself a bunk bed in an eight bed dormitory for just $55NZD 🇳🇿 ($32USD 🇺🇸 ), making it a truly affordable way to stay in quite a highly touristed spot. They have a burger bar onsite and a deck with a barbecue, if you want to bring your own food and eat really affordably.

Mid-Range Option: Lake Tekapo Village Motel
For those after a little more comfort without too much more of a price tag, look no further than Lake Tekapo Village Motel. They have two bedroom studios and suites available for the $250NZD 🇳🇿 ($148USD 🇺🇸 ) per night range, and they have a laundry, wifi and parking onsite, all for your convenience.

Luxury Option: Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo
At Peppers Bluewater Resort, you can secure a hotel room for two with killer views for between $270NZD 🇳🇿 ($160USD 🇺🇸) and $370NZD 🇳🇿 ($220USD 🇺🇸) per night. They are in a central location to the village and have an onsite restaurant if you do not feel like venturing out. Breakfast is included and rooms are well designed. For the traveller looking for a little bit of luxury and a relaxing stay by the lake, this one is for you.

📍 Queenstown-Lakes District

The Queenstown-Lakes District is a subsection of the Otago Region in the South of the South Island, and this district encompasses Queenstown, obviously, and Wānaka, as well as smaller settlements around Lake Wakatipu. The major lakes are Lake Hāwea, Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wānaka.

The area makes the cut (easily) as one of the best areas you could spend your winter break. Between Queenstown and Wānaka (and Cardrona, in the middle of the Crown Range that separates the resort towns) you have Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone Ski Area, the Remarkables Ski Area and Coronet Peak Ski Area – all for snowboarding and skiing.

Coronet Peak alone offers night passes, for your chance to ski or board at night.

Cardrona is also home to Under Dog New Zealand, where you can ride a husky led sled, and Snow Farm NZ, which is where you can participate in snowshoeing.

Queenstown has a few places where you can go and take a hot soak, but the most famous is Onsen Hot Pools, located just at the bottom of the Coronet Peak Skifield. Private cedar tubs overlook the beautiful Shotover River and surrounding valley and patrons can choose whether they would like to soak at daytime or at nighttime with candles lit for the most romantic setting. You only have to glance at their instagram page to see what a magical place it is.

Queenstown and Wānaka both make great bases for your winter holiday to the district. Here are some accommodation options for Queenstown, which is a little bigger, a little busier, and with a little more on offer.

Budget Option: Nomads Queenstown Hostel
I can recommend Nomads from personal experience! This hostel is in a great location – while many other hostels are further up the hill and involve an uphill walk back from the waterfront, Nomads is at the level of the lake, just further along toward the end of the restaurants, so only involves a short walk back to your accommodation after a meal out. The front desk staff are so friendly and always ready to help you book an activity.

Mid-Range Option: Sherwood Queenstown
I can recommend this from personal experience, too! The Sherwood rooms are lovely. A studio for two will often cost between $200NZD 🇳🇿 ($117USD 🇺🇸 ) and $300NZD 🇳🇿 ($176USD 🇺🇸 ) a night, although costs in Queenstown are very seasonal.

The Sherwood is a little further up the Frankton Arm, away from the lake, so 5 kilometres (3 miles) away from downtown Queenstown, meaning an hour’s walk, or a 10 minute drive down if you have a car. It’s right on the bus route (Goldfield Heights Bus Stop) and this is an excellent way of getting around town, as it is so cheap and easy to navigate. (Look into getting a pre-loaded Bee Card for the bus system!)

Luxury Option: Peppers Beacon
There are so many luxury places to stay in Queenstown! Peppers Beacon is right there in terms of location, with lakeside views of Lake Wakatipu from its suites. It is less than a kilometre from downtown Queenstown, so a very easy walk along the waterfront to get to all the main restaurants. Suites go for upward of $300NZD 🇳🇿 ($176USD 🇺🇸 ) per night, depending on what specifics you are after, and your group size.

📍 ‘Glacier Country’ – a section of Westland Tai Poutini National Park

‘Glacier Country’ is the unofficial term referring to the area spanning Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier in the southwest corner of the South Island – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Westland Tai Poutini National Park spans much more of the region, and glacier country is just a little slice of it down at the bottom.

Canterbury Region, with Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and its easy access into the alps, is great for snow adventures, but I’m recommending the glaciers at the bottom of the West Coast Region for ice adventures.

Base yourself in Fox Glacier, admire both glaciers from down the bottom, and then pick one to helicopter to the top of for a completely out-of-this world experience.

Settle for a scenic helicopter ride, or opt for one with a glacier landing. If you really have a feel for adventure, choose a package that will allow you to undertake a heli-hike.

There’s also lots of little walks in and around the two villages that will afford you picturesque mountain views, and there’s a cycleway called the Fox Glacier South Side Cycleway, if you wish to undertake that, too. It’s 7 kilometres long, or 4 miles, and a great way to get some awesome views of the glacier.

Fox Glacier Guiding also offer full day packages for those who want to try ice climbing. They have really professional guides and you don’t even need ice climbing experience! This is yet another remarkable way to experience one of our most accessible glaciers.

Fox Glacier Village is the smaller of the two (Franz Josef Village is a half hour drive away) and you could base yourself at either, but here are my accommodation recommendations for a stay in Fox Glacier:

Budget Option: Ivory Towers
Ivory Towers Hostel is really one to consider if you are on a budget, with shared rooms of six single beds costing only $32NZD 🇳🇿 ($19USD 🇺🇸 ) per person per night! Rooms with more privacy are available at slightly more cost. The lodge is a warm place with a roaring wood fire, a sauna and a hot tub, with views up to the glacier and down to the sea, and a great social setting for those looking to meet other travellers.

Mid-Range Option: Bella Vista Motel
For those after the comforts of home but with an affordable price tag, consider staying at Bella Vista Motel. Located in the village of Fox Glacier, this motel offers studios and family units for between $100NZD 🇳🇿 ($60USD 🇺🇸) and $180NZD 🇳🇿 ($107USD 🇺🇸). Staff can help you arrange an activity up on the glacier, which can be so helpful when you’ve just arrived and are overwhelmed by all the choices on offer!

Luxury Option: Te Weheka Boutique Hotel
Te Weheka is an elegant little hotel in the village of Fox Glacier. Each room has plenty of space to relax in, a balcony, and breakfast included from the onsite restaurant. Hotel rooms start at $475NZD 🇳🇿 ($7USD 🇺🇸). This is a very comfortable place indeed to spend your time at Fox Glacier.

Visiting New Zealand: FAQs

Now that you have come to know a bit more about what makes New Zealand so special in the winter, let’s plunge into some of the most frequently asked questions.

Is New Zealand worth visiting in winter?

Yes! For some special experiences, like watching humpback whales migrate north to warmer waters, or skiing or snowboarding, or having a shot at seeing the Southern Lights (the Aurora Australia) you will only want to visit in the winter! We have geothermal areas from which lots of natural hot springs have popped up, and, while these can be enjoyed in the summer, too, who wants to sit in a hot pool on a hot summer’s day? I would argue for visiting these in the winter, too, when they can be enjoyed with a hot beverage!

How cold is New Zealand in winter?

It can vary, depending on the area! The North Island is closer to the tropics, and the South Island is closer to the Antarctic, so it is the North that is warmer and more mild than the South.

The towns near our skifields in the north are likely to be breezy and around 3°C to 9°C (which is 38°F to 49°F). Our geothermal district of Rotorua generally experiences temperatures of 6°C to 11°C at its coldest (which is 43°F to 52°F), and our more southern gems, like Queenstown and Wānaka, generally experience temperatures of -1°C to 8°C (which is 30°F to 47°F).

Is New Zealand still pretty in winter?

Absolutely! Arguably New Zealand in some parts are the prettiest in winter. We are well known for our mountains, our glaciers and our alpine lakes, which are all gorgeous at this time of year. The snowfall we experience only adds to the magic of some of these locations, and to make sure you really experience the wow-factor on your visit, I would recommend allocating the most time to our glacial and alpine regions, and getting amongst some of the activities above that are extra special, or, in some cases, only possible, in the winter.

Does it snow in New Zealand?

Yes! Not so much in the North Island, and not so much in our coastal areas – of which we have a lot! However if you hang about in our mountainous areas, the inland regions of the South Island and the Central Plateau of the North Island in particular, you won’t be disappointed. I would recommend visiting Queenstown and Wānaka, Mount Ruapehu and Methven in particular, to experience our snow.

This is New Zealand in the winter, and everything it can offer! We may be far away from the rest of the world but we are well worth making the trip, particularly for some of our more unique experiences that can only be had in our corner of the world.

It may be a bit of a journey to get down here, but many tourists combine a New Zealand trip with a trip to Australia or the Pacific Islands, so there are options for maximising your time in this part of the world – just save enough time to see us so you can leave with no regrets!

Whether you pick and choose from the options above, or decide to do them all (which is so doable!), enjoy the planning and .. see you on the slopes!