GO OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Want to go somewhere a bit different this winter? Whatever type of holiday you’re after, Siobhan Downes has the destination for you.
FOR FESTIVAL FUN, TRY… GORE
New Zealand’s country music capital comes to life in the winter months, with a host of events that draw visitors from all over the country down south.
In June, toes will be tapping at the inaugural Tussock Country festival – a nine-day celebration of country music. Highlights include the iconic Gold Guitar Awards, where you can see the budding talent on display, and Top Paddock, a concert featuring a line-up of local country music stars. Entertainment will also be out in full force on the streets, as part of the “Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking” competition, culminating in a big street party.
Warm yourself up in one of the town’s cosy cafes, and make sure to order the ultimate Southland comfort food, the iconic cheese roll. The Heartland Hotel Croydon is a great option for a stay, located on the edge of Gore in a peaceful rural setting.
FOR A CITY BREAK, TRY… DUNEDIN
Dunedin has never been known for its tropical climate. But that means this is a city where there’s plenty of indoor fun to be had.
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum is right up there with the country’s best museums, and is a fantastic place to get an insight into the city’s unique character. Or head to Otago Museum and check out their new Fashion Fwd exhibition, celebrating the city’s distinctive style.
If that inspires a whole new winter wardrobe, there are plenty of excellent boutiques to check out – Belle Bird, Plume, and Company of Strangers are just a few of the top shops – or you can score designer gems in the city’s well-stocked op shops.
Treat yourself to a stay in the newly opened Fable Dunedin, a boutique hotel housed in an elegant, Victorian-era building. Tuck in beneath a tartan blanket and order yourself a whisky from The Press Club bar and restaurant downstairs.
FOR WINTER SPORTS, TRY… NASEBY
Few people outside of Otago have heard of this tiny town in the Maniototo region, just a two-hour drive from Dunedin, but it boasts some of the best winter sports facilities on this side of the world.
Naseby is New Zealand’s “curling capital”, referring to the sport dubbed bowls on ice. You can give it a go at the Olympic-standard indoor curling rink, which is open yearround. But in the winter, the area really comes to life with an outdoor curling rink, where you can play the game the traditional way, as well as an outdoor ice skating rink, and the southern hemisphere’s only natural ice luge. After a full day of action on the ice, you can warm up by the fire in the Royal Hotel, one of the oldest original pubs in New Zealand.
RELAX BY THE OPEN FIRE AT MANAKAU LODGE, LOCATED JUST 10 MINUTES’ NORTH OF TOWN IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE KAIKŌURA RANGES.
There are plenty of character-packed holiday homes to stay in – look up The Church Mouse, a 100-year-old church that has been converted into a two-bedroom house.
FOR A SEASIDE ESCAPE, TRY… KAIKŌURA
It might seem strange heading to a coastal town in the middle of winter, but it’s the best time of year to experience one of Kaikōura’s main attractions: whale watching.
From June to August, humpback whales leave Antarctic waters and pass by the Kaikōura coastline on their annual migration. These animals are known for their acrobatic abilities, so you might even see them leaping and barrel rolling in the water. With the snow-covered peaks of the Kaikōura Ranges providing the stunning backdrop, the cold will be the last thing on your mind.
For more breathtaking scenery, take a stroll along the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway. There’s a good chance of seal sightings once you reach Point Kean (just be sure to keep your distance).
Relax by the open fire at Manakau Lodge, located just 10 minutes’ north of town in the foothills of the Kaikōura Ranges. This luxury rural retreat has four guest rooms, each with their own en suite, with spectacular views of the mountains and out to the Pacific Ocean.
FOR A HOT SPRINGS HOLIDAY, TRY… TE AROHA
In the late 19th century, the Waikato town of Te Aroha was the most popular spa resort in the country, drawing even more tourists than Rotorua. It’s a less well-known spot these days, but you can still make the most of the mineral springs that flow from beneath Mt Te Aroha. Sit back in a wooden tub and soak in the silky waters at Te Aroha Mineral Spas, or take a dip in one of New Zealand’s oldest thermal spas – the recently restored Number Two Bathhouse.
If you feel like doing something a bit more active, take the three-hour hike up Mt Te Aroha to the summit (or for a shorter option do the 45-minute walk to the Whakapipi lookout). You’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views, with Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Taranaki all visible on a clear day.
Book a room in the comfortable Aroha Mountain Lodge or Hot Springs Lodge. Larger groups can also book out the Chocolate Box, a cute historic cottage that sleeps up to eight.
FOR A RURAL RETREAT, TRY… NORSEWOOD
If you want to experience winter like a Scandinavian, you just need to visit the tiny Tararua town of Norsewood, which offers a little slice of Norway in New Zealand. The town was settled by Scandinavians in the 1870s, and has retained its distinctive heritage, with streets bearing names such as Viking, Thor and Odin. Head to Johanna’s World to see a replica Norwegian log cottage, as well as a troll’s cave – which explains the wooden troll statues hidden around the town.
There’s also the Pioneer Cottage Museum, furnished in a colonial Scandinavian style. For winter gear, head to the NZ Natural Clothing Shop, where you can buy lots of snuggly warm Norwegian-style clothing – this is where the Norsewear brand originated, which is why Norsewood is sometimes referred to as “the place where the socks come from”.
There’s plenty more to do in the Tararua district, so make sure you have a good look around. Highlights include the spectacular Waihi Falls – a real hidden gem, about an hour’s drive from Norsewood – and the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka. For a unique stay, check into the Ormondville Rail Station B&B, housed in a railway station built in 1880.