Hit the Slopes for Winter Sports
New Zealand has a number of world-class ski fields and resorts that offer an incredible snow experience between June and October. Some of the most popular ski resorts include:Queenstown
Home to Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, Queenstown offers fantastic downhill skiing and snowboarding with stunning alpine scenery. There are slopes for all abilities, plus plenty of après ski bars and restaurants.
Wanaka
Treble Cone and Cardrona Alpine Resort are found near Wanaka. Treble Cone is known for its steep terrain while Cardrona is great for families and beginners.
Mt Hutt
Located in Canterbury, Mt Hutt is the highest ski area in the South Island. It receives abundant snowfall and has terrain to suit everyone.
Whakapapa & Turoa
These North Island resorts on Mt Ruapehu have the largest ski areas in NZ. Whakapapa has wider runs that are perfect for learners. Heli-skiing is also popular in winter, allowing skiers and boarders to access remote, untouched terrain by helicopter. Guided tours depart from Queenstown.
Hit the Slopes for Non-Skiing Activities
If downhill skiing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other snow activities to enjoy:Snowshoeing: Strap on snowshoes to explore off-piste areas of ski resorts or hiking trails. Guided tours are available.
Snow tubing: Speed down groomed slopes in an inner tube at designated snow tubing parks at most ski resorts. Fun for all ages.
Sledding: Rent a sled or toboggan and find hills to cruise down. Great for families.
Ice skating: Outdoor ice rinks pop up in Queenstown and Christchurch during winter. Indoor rinks are also open year-round.
The apres-ski activities are just as much fun, too, with popular resorts famous for their bars and restaurants.
Gaming in New Zealand
New Zealand has a few casinos for avid gamers, which are a great night out in winter. Popular casino venues include SkyCity Casinos in Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown, as well as Christchurch Casino and Dunedin Casino. Or you can enjoy playing pokies at a $1 deposit casino in New Zealand online.Sports in New Zealand
New Zealand has a thriving sports culture with a few sports that are especially popular to play in winter:
Rugby Union
Rugby union is deeply ingrained in New Zealand culture and identity. Matches are played year-round but peak in winter from May to September. Head to a Super Rugby match to watch New Zealand’s top regional teams compete or attend a local club game to see grassroots rugby at its best. Hotels and pubs will also screen live matches.
Football (Soccer)
Football is New Zealand’s most participated sport. Come winter, the national football leagues run from April through September. Auckland City FC and Team Wellington are two top clubs to see live matches. You can also watch the Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand's only professional football team, compete in the Australian A-League from April to May.
Netball
Netball is hugely popular with women in New Zealand. The national league runs from March to July, with live games in Auckland and across the country. The Netball World Cup was also jointly hosted by New Zealand in 2019.
Cricket
Cricket is popular in New Zealand, but the season takes place from October to April, so you won’t catch any matches in cricket stadiums in New Zealand during the winter. Domestic competitions like the Plunket Shield and Super Smash league bring provincial and city teams together. New Zealand also has a national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, who compete internationally in Test matches, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 games.
Take in Natural Wonders
Some of New Zealand’s iconic landscapes become even more magical dressed in snow. Here are some winter highlights:Milford Sound: This famous fiord is stunning in winter with snowcapped peaks and eyeshadow waterfalls. You can even see snow right down to sea level.
Mt Cook National Park: Visit New Zealand’s highest peak and enjoy snowshoeing, glacier hiking or just taking in the incredible alpine scenery.
Volcanic Plateau: Ski or snowshoe across the Central Plateau’s volcanic terrain and frozen lakes around Tongariro National Park.
Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier: These West Coast glaciers are impressive year-round. In the winter, guided tours let you explore ice caves and walk on the glaciers.
Cosy Up in Hot Pools
New Zealand has hundreds of naturally heated hot pools and baths around the country. They are even more blissful in winter. Some top spots include Queenstown Hot Pools overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Range, Hanmer Springs, a hub of thermal pools, slides and saunas set in a spectacular alpine setting, and Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools, where you can relax in these steamed pools overlooking the glacier and Southern Alps.Indulge in Winter Food & Drink
New Zealand cuisine shines in winter with hearty, comforting foods and drinks. Be sure to try:Locally caught seafood chowders brimming with mussels, clams and fish. Best accompanied by crusty bread.
Try Maori hangi - meat and vegetables traditionally cooked in an underground earth oven still used today.
Pinot noir and cool climate wines from Central Otago's many excellent vineyards.
Craft beer is hugely popular in NZ. Stop at local brewpubs to sample fresh lagers, ales and stouts.
Gin is also having a moment, with boutique distilleries cropping up across the country.
With hearty food, fine wine and craft beer, there's no better time than winter to indulge your inner foodie in New Zealand.
Experience Seasonal Festivals and Events
Winter sees some fantastic festivals and events take place around the country. The Queenstown Winter Festival has entertainment, concerts, costumes, fireworks and a Mardi Gras party. The World of WearableArt Awards features amazing wearable art creations at the annual show in Wellington. And the Matariki - Māori New Year - is celebrated in June with cultural events to mark the rise of the Matariki star cluster. Lastly, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival features comedy shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from May to June.With so much happening across New Zealand in winter, there's sure to be an event to suit all interests.
Winter in New Zealand has its own special magic - from world-class skiing to cozy mountain lodges, natural wonders, steaming hot pools, seasonal food and drink, and lively festivals. Put on your warm clothes and embrace everything a New Zealand winter has to offer.
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