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Winter Festivals & Cultural Events

⛷️ North Island

  • Whakapapa – Mt Ruapehu: Largest ski field in NZ, great for families and first-timers.

  • Tūroa – Mt Ruapehu: Known for long runs and spectacular views of the central plateau.

🏂 South Island

Add to your snow experience with these awesome tours and activities!

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New Zealand's Ski Fields: Your Winter Playground

🌌 Matariki, Nationwide (Late June–July) – Celebrate Māori New Year with storytelling, kai, and stargazing across NZ.

🌈 Winter Pride, Queenstown (15–25 Aug) – Inclusivity on the slopes and the dance floor.
🎶 Snow Machine Festival, Queenstown (9–14 Sept) – Ski by day, rave by night

🏃‍♀️ Run The Forest, Rotorua (9 August) – Participate in a winter trail run/walk through Rotorua's unique geothermal and Redwood trails.
🎭 Armageddon Winter Expo, Auckland (31 May–2 June) – A pop culture extravaganza featuring anime, comics, and gaming at the Auckland Showgrounds.
🌇 Auckland Lantern Festival, Auckland (July) – Immerse yourself in a beautiful lantern-lit cultural experience showcasing local and international art.

🎬 Lōemis - Midwinter Festival, Wellington (June) – Lightshows, music, arts and crafts, food and cinema.
🎨 World of Wearable Art (WOW) Show, Wellington (18 Sept–5 Oct) – A fusion of fashion, art, and performance showcasing innovative wearable art designs.
🍽 Visa Wellington On a Plate, Wellington (August) – A month-long culinary extravaganza showcasing the capital's vibrant food scene.
🍻 Beervana, Wellington (August) – A craft beer festival attracting beer lovers from all over.

🧊 The Midwinter Session, Christchurch (2nd August) – Celebrating local, featuring an incredible lineup of food, musicians, and a selection of the finest beers, wines and spirits from the Waitaha Canterbury region.
🏮 Midwinter Carnival, Dunedin (21 June) – A lantern-lit celebration of solstice.
Taupō Winter Festival, Taupō (27 June–13 July) – Celebrate the 10th anniversary with dazzling light displays, live performances, and family activities at the Mercury Light Hub.

 

Add to your snow experience with these awesome tours and activities!
 

Off the Snow Experiences

Winter Travel Tips: Pack Smart, Travel Smooth

Here’s what you need to know before heading out into NZ’s winter wonderland:

Getting Around

  • Flights: Domestic airlines connect major cities to Queenstown, Christchurch, and Rotorua.

  • Car hire: Great for flexibility, but ensure your rental has snow chains (especially in the South Island).

  • Scenic trains: Try the TranzAlpine for breathtaking mountain views.

What to Pack

Clothing:

🧥 Insulated waterproof jacket (down or synthetic)

🧤 Gloves (thermal and waterproof)

🧣 Scarf or neck warmer

🧢 Beanie or thermal hat

🧦 Wool or thermal socks

👕 Base layers (merino or polypro)

👖 Warm pants (fleece-lined or wool-blend)

🧥 Mid-layer (fleece or sweater)

Shoes:

👢 Waterproof boots with grip (for snow or icy towns)

👟 Comfortable walking shoes (for indoors or city days)

Extras:

😎 Sunglasses (yes, snow glare is real!)

🧴 Sunscreen (essential at altitude)

🛷 Swimsuit (for hot pools!)

🔌 NZ power adapter

🏥 Travel insurance (with snow cover if skiing)

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Winter Getaway NZ Activities
Queenstown Wine Tours

Wellington Odyssey Fashion Tour

Discover the ultimate bespoke fashion experience specialising in showcasing local and national designers.

Queenstown Wine Tours

The Marvelous Circus

You are the new performing act at The Marvelous Circus, before you settle in there has been an unnerving discovery.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Dunedin: Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting

Join an interactive guided tour through the Speight's Brewery. Finish with a cold beer in the iconic tasting room.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Auckland: Wētā Unleashed Creative Workshop - Special Effects

Experience what it’s like to be a practical effects artist working on the movies, creating ghastly prosthetic effects for a variety of scenes.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Auckland: Hologate Virtual Reality Gaming Experience

Immerse yourself in the fully-realized future of entertainment with Hologate virtual reality, a one-of-a-kind multiplayer gaming experience with a wide variety of games perfect for friends or family.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Quake City Interactive Exhibit

Engage with seismic history through captivating exhibits and displays that reveal Canterbury's earthquake impact, resilience, and recovery.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Craft Beer Brewery and Food Tour

Explore Queenstown's Best Brews on an Award-Winning Craft Beer Adventure!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Auckland War Memorial Museum Ticket

Immerse yourself in the rich and fascinating history of New Zealand, its nature, and its military, including the stories of those who served for Aotearoa.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Time Tripper Underwater Adventure

Exclusive Underwater Adventure: Dive into Queenstown's only underwater experience at Time Tripper.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Combo Entry to Puzzling World

Check out the iconic, unique, and award-winning attraction that has fascinated people of all ages since 1973.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Fear Factory Haunted House

Enjoy a thrilling experience of fun and scares in the heart of Queenstown at the Fear Factory haunted house.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Creative Workshop: Intro to Sculpting

Learn the magic of sculpting as you bring a three-dimensional character to life with modelling tinfoil and plasticine.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet

Visit a traditional Maori village and learn more about their customs and rituals at an amazing cultural experience, including a tasty hangi feast and dessert.

Queenstown Wine Tours

National Kiwi Hatchery - Kiwi Encounter Tour

The National Kiwi Hatchery Tour is a special opportunity to gain insight into and view this highly regarded conservation centre.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Takapuna: Race Car Simulator

Experience the thrill of driving a real race car with Thrillzone's race car simulator experience. Discover the fun of sudden traction loss, oversteer, rise and rolls, shunts, bumps, and more!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Thrillzone Takapuna | VR Escape Room

Dive into VR Escape Adventures! Escape a lost pyramid, explore the magical world of Alice in Wonderland, fight menacing dragons, and so much more! There's something for all skill levels and ages!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Christchurch International Antarctic Centre

Experience the wonder and magic of Antarctica without leaving Christchurch at one of New Zealand’s best, award-winning tourist attractions.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Weta Workshop Unleashed Tour

Join Unleashed crew on a guided journey through three original movie projects: a creature feature, sci-fi adventure and fantasy epic.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Sky Tower Auckland Ticket

Visit the Auckland Sky Tower and take in iconic landmarks and volcanoes from your 360° viewpoint, the sky tower is the tallest man-made tower in the southern hemisphere.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Queenstown Ice Bar the Premium Ice Lounge Experience

Arctic Elegance: Experience the epitome of sophistication at Queenstown Ice Bar, where a Scandinavian-inspired lounge, crafted from 25 tonnes of hand-carved ice, invites you into a world of crystal-clear architectural marvels.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Thrillzone Multiplayer Virtual Reality

Immerse yourself into the fully realized future of entertainment with Hologate VR, a one-of-a-kind multiplayer gaming experience perfect for friends and family.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Minus 5 Ice Bar Experience with Drink Options

Book your visit to Minus 5º ICE BAR in Queenstown for an Antarctic experience!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Wellington: Te Papa Museum Entry for International Visitors

Te Papa museum entry for international visitors – Aotearoa New Zealand’s national museum. Book your museum entry ticket online and avoid the queue.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Introducing Te Papa Tour

Beginning over one hundred million years ago, join your guide on a journey through New Zealand's rich history and cultures.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Auckland Art Gallery Guided Tour

Engage in an enriching guided exploration of Auckland's premier art institution, the Auckland Art Gallery.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Takapuna: Omni VR - Multiplayer Virtual Reality

Get ready for the ultimate virtual adventure. Run through virtual worlds in our innovative Omni VR. Battle zombies, compete against friends, or brave haunted house; Omni is the ultimate VR experience!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Auckland: All Blacks Experience

Take part in the All Blacks Experience in Auckland and discover a pure New Zealand Experience that provides an introduction to New Zealand culture.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Odyssey Sensory Maze Auckland

As you journey through Odyssey you will experience amazing illusions, lights, sound effects, quirky obstacles and strange sensations that will invigorate and indulge your senses!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Onsen Hot Pools Experience in Queenstown

Treat yourself to the relaxing Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown.

Queenstown Wine Tours

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Ticket in Auckland

Meet with thousands of marine animals from hundreds of species, including sharks, penguins, turtles, and more at Kelly Tarlton's!

Queenstown Wine Tours

Kiwi Park Queenstown Admission Ticket

Observe Kiwis in their natural habitat, showcasing New Zealand's iconic bird at the Kiwi Park.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Thrillzone Indoor Putt 'n' Glow Mini Golf

Transform a game of mini golf into a glow-in-the-dark adventure. Putt through 9 holes lit up by blacklight with glowing art of Queenstown.

Queenstown Wine Tours

Odyssey Sensory Maze Queenstown

As you journey through Odyssey you will experience amazing illusions, lights, sound effects, quirky obstacles and strange sensations that will invigorate and indulge your senses!

Add to Your NZ Winter Getaway - Must-Do Tours and Experiences

Across New Zealand

 

Create a dream itinerary with tours, activities, and experiences provided by our best New Zealand tour operators—select your city destination to get started!

Winter Getaway NZ: Discover the Magic of 
Aotearoa's Coolest Season

As the Southern Hemisphere tilts into its cooler months from June to September, New Zealand transforms into a wonderland of snow-capped peaks, misty forests, bubbling hot pools, and bustling Winter festivals. Whether you're craving alpine adventure or cozy cultural experiences, Winter in Aotearoa is a season you don't want to miss!

 

During this time, the country also celebrates Matariki, the Māori New Year—marked by the reappearance of the Pleiades star cluster. It's a time of reflection, remembrance, and connection, bringing communities together through kai (food), storytelling, and stargazing.

A Tale of Two Winters: North vs. South

The North Island offers a gentler winter, with milder temperatures (10–15°C) and less snow but more rain in the likes of Auckland. Explore Rotorua’s geothermal wonders, soak in hot springs, or wander through Auckland’s art festivals.

The South Island, on the other hand, fully embraces Winter with snowy landscapes, sub-zero temperatures, and alpine magic. Queenstown and Wānaka shine as winter playgrounds with top ski fields, frosted vineyards, and glowing festivals. 
 

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