CAN’T WAIT FOR THE EUROPEAN SKI SEASON TO START?

As the UK heads into the summer, New Zealand is gearing up for winter. With Coronet Peak skifield the first to open in the country last weekend, and the Queenstown Winter Festival just around the corner, there is plenty to keep visitors busy. Keen skiers won’t be disappointed, as New Zealand’s Southern Alps have already been blanketed with a huge dump of snow.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE SLOPES

THE REMARKABLES SKI AREA OPENS A NEW BASE LODGE
The Remarkables, one of New Zealand’s biggest mountain ranges and skifields in Otago, South Island, will open a new ski area base lodge this winter season, offering visitors an easier experience on the slopes. Designed by Michael Wyatt, one of New Zealand’s leading architects, the base lodge will include a new restaurant, ticketing areas, rental and retail shops as well as easier access to the recently opened Curvey Basin lift. Expansive decks will also open up around the building, offering panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin and the Southern Alps. 
HOW: An adult ski pass for The Remarkables is NZ$169 per day. For more information visit www.nzski.com/queenstown

NEW WILDERNESS SNOW ADVENTURES BY QUEENSTOWN SNOWMOBILES
For those looking for something a little different on the slopes, New Zealand has just launched Queenstown Snowmobiles, offering wilderness snowmobiling experiences. The tours will offer visitors exclusive access to trails and back country riding, by helicopter only, as well as views of Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and even Stewart Island on a clear day. Starting from Glacier Southern Lakes, the two-hour guided tour takes visitors on a helicopter ride over the Remarkables Mountain Range, Hector Mountains and across the Nevis River Valley before landing on the base of the Garvie Mountains. Guests are then lead on snowmobiles through the backcountry, along the central most inland mountain range in New Zealand, reaching an altitude of up to 6,000 feet above sea level.
HOW: For more information visit www.queenstownsnowmobiles.co.nz

FANCY A FESTIVAL?

QUEENSTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL, 19^th – 28^th JUNE 2015
The Queenstown Winter Festival, which starts on the 19^th June, will be the official kick off to New Zealand's winter. The festival will run for ten days and will feature live music, comedy shows, markets, sporting and alpine events and street parades; all bringing the iconic lakeside adventure capital of New Zealand to life. Don't miss the free opening party at Earnslaw Park on 19^th June with concerts and fireworks and the stunning backdrop of Lake Wakatipu.
HOW: The Queenstown Winter Festival runs for nine days with many free events. For more information visit www.winterfestival.co.nz

ENJOY 'OUT OF THE BOX' FOOD AND WINE AT THE WINTER SERIES F.A.W.C FESTIVAL, OPEN UNTIL 28^th JUNE 2015 
F.A.W.C! Food & Wine Classic is a boutique food festival featuring a delicious selection of seasonal food and wine events, which is held twice a year throughout Hawke's Bay and will take place from now until 28^th June 2015. Being the premium producer of some of New Zealand's finest wines, Hawke's Bay is the perfect setting for the event, also claiming the name 'the food bowl of New Zealand’. Guests can enjoy a foodie weekend featuring all of New Zealand's finest, from local lamb to BBQ fondue and not to mention Hawke's Bay full-bodied Chardonnay by the roaring fires. Different events include ‘Food For Thought’, where guests can test their taste buds with the chance to blind taste food, wine, beer and cider. Guests can warm up with 'Fire It Up', enjoying a four-course dinner at Crab Farms, complete with a blazing fire pit and live music as a backdrop. Try ‘The Scent Of It’, taking part in a traditional wine tasting but only focusing on the aroma and smell rather than taste.
HOW: The Food & Wine Classic festival runs over four weekends and prices vary based on specific events. Prices can start from as low as £11 per person for one event. www.fawc.co.nz

PEAK TO PEAK, 1^st AUGUST 2015
Where else can you ski, mountain bike, kayak, run and road bike all in the same day? Peak to Peak, one of New Zealand’s biggest winter multi-sport events will take place 1^st August and attract competitors from all over the country. The race is 44 kilometers long and competitors will be challenged to ski, mountain bike, kayak, run and road bike from the top of The Remarkables to the top of Coronet Peak.
HOW: Entry costs from NZ$60 per person. For more information visit www.southerntraverse.com/Peak2Peak

VISA WELLINGTON ON A PLATE, 14^th – 30^th AUGUST 2015
Wellington celebrates its status as the culinary capital of New Zealand with two weeks of gastronomic delights at the annual Visa Wellington on a Plate held between 14^th and 30^th August. Known for its café culture, fine dining and gourmet local produce, Wellington is a foodie heaven. Visitors can enjoy more than 100 different food and drink events, including Beervana, a showcase of the country’s craft beers, as well as the New Zealand Chocolate Festival. The Master Class allows foodies to chat to top international chefs to learn their secrets.
HOW: For festival information visit www.wellingtononaplate.com