Many adventurers will agree – New Zealand is on their bucket list. Whether for a working holiday visa, the best road trip in the world, or just wanting to frolic in the fields pretending to be a hobbit – this is the place to be.
New Zealanders are very protective of their land, culture and landscapes. The number of working holiday visas is very limited to a certain number for most countries, and well, let’s be honest, flying to literally the other end of the earth takes certain commitment as well. But if you’re up for the challenge, New Zealand is ready to reward the persistent ones with the best landscapes on this planet.
South vs. North Islands
Most of the information and advice regarding New Zealand is divided into two categories – North and South Islands.
In a nutshell, both islands are out-of-this-world incredible and have their own attractions. However, if you are limited on time and love mountainous adventure, go to the South Island.
If New Zealand is regarded as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is the local municipality for adventure. The options for activities and opportunities are limitless. You could literally be on a stunning helicopter ride, fly down the trails on a mountain bike or sip a glass of local wine in a fancy restaurant all within one day.
Queenstown is also the gateway point to Fiordland National Park and its most famous attraction, the Milford Sound. It’s a kind of place that makes you wonder whether the matrix is real.
3-4 hours’ drive from Queenstown is Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park, where Sir Edmund Hillary was training for his alpine adventures. And even if your heart and soul are already full after playing in the snow all day, don’t go to bed (or bar) just yet. Because Mt Cook National Park is also a Dark Sky Reserve and you can do some of the best stargazing in the country.
Winter is actually the best time to visit the west coast of the South Island. While it is considerably colder than in the North Island due to the mountainous terrain, you can expect mostly dry and clear days. If you ever want to visit a glacier, this is your golden opportunity.
Where to go skiing
Skiing season in New Zealand runs from mid-June to late September, with best conditions in July and August. In general terms, the ski experience will be more like the one in Europe rather than the United States or Canada. Most ski resorts have a couple of dozen pistes with varying difficulty and 3-5 lifts.
On the South Island, Ski Resorts are centred around Queenstown and Wanaka. The Remarkables in Queenstown is more of a North American-style resort and is perfect for those who want to experience freestyle skiing. Choose Coronet Peak if you want to try night skiing (who needs après ski anyway). In Wanaka, Treble Cone offers the largest and most advanced ski area on the South Island, while Cardrona Alpine Resort is most popular with families and groups of friends with mixed skill levels.
On the North Island, you will find ski centres around Mount Ruapehu. Whakapapa is the largest ski area in New Zealand with incredible volcanic landscapes, and Turoa is known for good snow conditions, located on the southern side of Mount Ruapehu.
Important to note that most ski resorts are situated above the tree line, which means incredible panoramic views and open landscapes in all directions. Better yet, you can enjoy the same landscape from a bird’s-eye view with heli-skiing. Few locations across New Zealand offer private guided tours where skiers can explore untouched slopes and terrain with superior snow quality. Is it pricey? Yes. Should you put this on your bucket list? Hell yes.
In Summary
The question should not be whether to get a visa for New Zealand, but when. Every single turn in this country will reward you with incredible views without a doubt. And if you happen to be on the west coast of the South Island in August while skiing off-piste – you have struck a gold ticket.
