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Summer has arrived! This also means that winter has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere. If one would like some reprieve from the heat of summer or if one is already pining for the snowfall of winter, then now is the time to head on down to New Zealand.
Winter is also the cheaper time to visit. New Zealand is a very expensive country to visit, so going in the winter is one of the ways to save money. There are also some attractions where it doesn't make much difference if one visits in the summer or winter - like the famous movie set, Hobbiton, on the warmer North Island.
Winters In New Zealand
New Zealand is a stunning country at any time of the year and offers some of the best ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand is a year-round destination with something on offer at any time. Unlike many places in the world, most activities do not cease in the winter - they just slow down.
- Winter: Mild Temperatures
- Summer: Mild Temperatures
- Skiing: New Zealand Is A Skiing Capital of The Southern Hemisphere
New Zealand has a mild maritime climate and so winters are not harsh. All in all the difference between the summer months and the winter months is not all that much (unlike places with a continental climate like Toronto and Chicago).
- Most Outdoor Activities: Offered Year-Round
- Discounts: Offered In The Winter
Advantages of going in the winter include that there are not so many tourists and the prices are cheaper (New Zealand is quite an expensive destination).
Most of the hiking trails (locally called "tracks") are open in the winter. New Zealand winters can be a bit chilly, damp, windy, and dark - more so as one heads south. The southern South Island is the coldest part of the country while the northern North Island is the warmest.
- See: Majestic Snow-Capped Mountain Peaks
The temperatures are mild, so snow is rare - it never snows in much of the North Island (like Auckland), and rarely snows in the coastal regions of the South Island. That being said, the winter is a majestic time with snow crowning the rugged peaks of the many mountains in the South Island and the few volcanic peaks in the North.
Skiing And Snowboarding In New Zealand
The part of the country that receives the most snow is the central regions of both islands - and particularly the South Island. In the winter, the snow-covered landscapes or the still frosty mornings to the backdrop of dramatic snow-covered peaks can look like something out of a fairy tale.
- South Island: The Main Destination For Skiing
Skiing and snowboarding are the main attractions in New Zealand during the winter months. The ski resorts in the country are as dramatic as they are eye-watering. Here skiing is as much soaking the mystical lands that gave rise to Lord of the Ring's Middle Earth and Mordor as it is around skiing itself.
- Season: From Mid-June to As Late As Early November
Main Ski Areas:
- North Island: Mt Ruapehu (A stunning Cone Volcano)
- South Island: Mount Hutt, Queenstown, Wanaka
Most Activities Are Year Round In The Winter
Most activities in New Zealand are offered year-round - just without the crowds. The weather is of course more disagreeable and so that is something of a trade-off.
As most of New Zealand is ice and snow-free in the winter, one can still go golfing, visiting the renowned southern wineries, hot pools, luxury day spas, skydiving, horse riding, hiking, and bungy jumping, whitewater rafting, and many many more. Some activities (like whitewater rafting in Queenstown do shut down for the winter months, but many carry on).
- Tip: Go Ziplining Through the Snow-Covered Pine Trees
One of the year-round activities is to go for expedition cruises in Fiordland in the world-famous Milford and Doubtful Sounds. Considerable savings can be made in the wintertime. The native forests in New Zealand are also evergreen, so they don't look so much different in the summer and winter.
Examples Of Winter Cruise Discounts:
- Doubtful Sound 2 Night Cruise: $799 NZD (USD $523) Per Person Reduced To $639 NZD (USD $420) PP
- Milford Sound Day Cruise: $89 NZD (USD $60) PP Reduced To $69 NZD (USD $45)
- Doubtful Sound Day Cruise: $199 NZD (USD $130) PP Reduced To $159 NZD (USD $105)
So if one is pining for the fjords, New Zealand has them in the winter too.