Looking for some inspiration when it comes to places to visit in New Zealand this winter? You’ve come to the right place.
Whilst it’s relatively easy to pick a destination to enjoy in New Zealand over the summer months, picking a spot during the winter months is a little more challenging – or at least so it may seem. We say that because we know there are some great experiences to be had all over the country, even when the temperatures are a little cooler and the weather a little wetter.
In fact, New Zealand is definitely a year-round tourist destination. Whilst we may be renowned for our stunning beaches, we also have some world-class ski resorts that are super-accessible no matter your experience level – a big draw card, especially for our Australian friends across the ditch. We also enjoy fairly mild winters up in the North Island and this means you can still experience many of our amazing destinations and attractions, even in the middle of winter.
To prove it we thought we’d highlight 6 great places to visit in New Zealand this winter to add to your diaries for some great times and memories.
1. Queenstown
Queenstown is the most popular destination in New Zealand during the winter months, mainly thanks to the world-class skiing opportunities that you can experience. With four ski fields all within an hours’ driving distance, it’s a great place to base yourself for some winter skiing and snowboarding. When you rent a car with GO Rentals, you also get access to our exclusive GO Play Card with discounts on a huge range of activities and attractions in Queenstown, including ski hire. It’s as easy as one, two GO – simply rent your car, show your keys and start saving! Make sure to take a look at our range of rental cars in Queenstown.
Check out this great photo from one of our GO Explorers looking out across Lake Wakitipu to the snowcapped mountains beyond – beautiful!
2. Canterbury
Canterbury is an awesome place to visit during the winter months. With ski fields located just 45 minutes from downtown Christchurch, it’s a great place for some winter adventures. The nearby Port Hills are also pretty stunning as you can see from this awesome shot captured by one of our GO Explorers in our recent GO Snap Happy competition.
In North Canterbury, another great place to visit is Hanmer Springs where you can relax in the sublime thermal pools and spas, the perfect tonic for a cool winter’s day. And we can’t talk about Canterbury without mentioning the stunning Lake Tekapo – an amazing sight at any time of year.
Grab a car from our Christchurch Airport car rental branch so you can explore more of what the region has to offer.
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3. The Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula is a beautiful place to visit in the winter. On a crisp winter’s day, the colour of the landscape looks amazing! Check out this awesome photos sent in by one of our GO Explorers on a recent trip to the Coromandel – stunning!
Whilst you’re there, make sure you head to Cathedral Cove – just as stunning in winter as during the summer months. A visit to Hot Water Beach is always a favourite too and a chance to warm up in a pretty unique way!
The Coromandel Peninsula Complete Guide
4. Auckland
Whilst Auckland doesn’t get as cold as many parts of the country, it’s still a great place to visit in the winter. We just love the clear sunny days which usually start with a crisp cold morning. A great place to head on a day like that is to the top of Mt Eden where you will get some amazing views back over the city and out to the Hauraki Gulf.
If you need a car, we’ve got 2 car rental locations in Auckland, one in the City and one at the Airport.
Another great photo from a GO Explorer!
5. Tongariro
Another popular destination with skiers, snowboarders and trampers is National Park, Tongariro. Whether it’s skiing down Mt Ruapehu or tramping the Tongariro Crossing, this place is pretty magical in the winter months. Another great photo from Instagrammer Brixton Kiwi.
6. Mt Maunganui
Another great seaside destination in the winter months is The Mount. Climbing to the top on a cold day gives you some pretty amazing views back down over the coastline and the sea and sky put on quite a show with some stunning blues and turquoises during these colder months. Another great shot from Instagram was taken on the Winter Solstice – looks pretty good to us!
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Tauranga/Mt Maunganui Complete Guide
We’d love to know your favourite place to visit during the winter months and definitely share some of your awesome pictures with us! You can see more wonderful winter pics from around New Zealand at the #winternz and of course, you can check out all of our amazing GO Snap Happy competition entries on our Facebook page each month where you can vote for your favourite.
Related Posts
- Experience the Tongariro Alpine Crossing This Winter
- Free Hot Pools In Rotorua – Where To Relax For Free This Winter
- Snowplanet – A Ski And Snowboard Paradise All Year Round
Book a vehicle for this trip
We recommend:
Intermediate 4×4
Toyota Rav 4
Updated: 9 June 2022
