WINTER IN NEW ZEALAND

As the UK heads into the summer, New Zealand is gearing up for winter. From new heli-skiing retreats to foodie festivals, not to mention visits from the England rugby squad and premiership football teams, there is plenty to keep visitors busy. With balmy temperatures in the north of the country and snow filled fun in the south, it’s a great time for a diverse trip.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE SLOPES…

Keen skiers and boarders can continue their powder dreams with a trip to New Zealand’s 13 snow sure ski fields including key areas in the South Island around Christchurch, Mount Cook, Wanaka and Queenstown, all with dramatic scenery and diverse runs. The North Island holds the country's only skiable volcano at Mount Ruapehu with two commercial fields.

NEW ARO-HA WELLNESS RETREAT LAUNCHES FIRST HELI SKI WEEKS
Skiers and boarders looking for a truly unique alpine adventure this winter can choose from two new heli-ski retreats at New Zealand's leading new luxury wellness retreat, Aro-Ha. Alpine enthusiasts will stay in Zen inspired Aro-Ha on the shores of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy and surrounded by majestic peaks laden with snow. Limited to just ten people, groups will be divided into intermediate and advanced/expert. A typical heli ski wellness day will start with sunrise yoga followed by a paleo fuelled breakfast and four to seven heli ski runs, before a pristine lunch served in the mountain wilderness. Upon return to Aro-Ha, guests will experience a therapeutic massage, a stretch and strength class, nutrition demo and restorative yoga and dinner. Nights are spent in the hot tub and sauna or by the fire sharing ski stories before an early rise to do it all over again.
HOW? Seven day heli ski retreat: 8 - 14 August 2014 from NZ$9975 per person all inclusive including four heli ski days with four runs per day and a seven run upgrade option. Or try the five day heli ski retreat: 6 -10 September 2014 from NZ$5725 per person all inclusive including two heli ski days with four runs per day and a seven run upgrade option. www.aro-ha.com/events/heli-ski-wellness

NIGHT SKIING GETS BIGGER AND BETTER AT CORONET PEAK, QUEENSTOWN
Night skiing at Queenstown’s Coronet Peak is set to be bigger and better this season with double the amount of terrain under lights and new night freestyle features. Work is underway to install approximately 80 new lights on the mountain, adding over four kilometres of trails and doubling the accessible terrain on Friday and Saturday nights. Themed nights throughout the night ski season will be an extra incentive for snow lovers to head ‘up the hill’ including a Clicquot On The Snow event, a singles night and a full moon party to name a few. 
HOW? A Night Ski pass costs £29 per adult, valid from 4pm-9pm or for longer time on the slopes, the Twilight pass costs £52 from 12:30pm-9pm. www.nzski.com/mountaincoronetpeak

A NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CHAIRLIFT DEVELOPMENT AT THE REMARKABLES SKI AREA IN QUEENSTOWN
A multi-million dollar chairlift development at Queenstown’s The Remarkables ski area is taking shape in a project described as “a major engineering feat”. The high-speed six-seater chairlift is part of a substantial investment at the ski area, which also includes road re-alignment, sealing of the lower access road, trail developments, expansion of the snow making system, and extended car parking. Once finished, the Curvey Basin chairlift will carry a total of 63 six-seater chairs enabling up to 2,400 passengers per hour. The lift opens up a further 10.1 hectares of formed trails and together with increased off-piste opportunities, increases the ski area’s capacity by 40%.
HOW? A one-day lift pass for The Remarkables costs from £52 per adult www.nzski.com/mountaintheremarkables

FANCY A FESTIVAL?

ENJOY 'OUT OF THE BOX' FOOD AND WINE AT THE WINTER SERIES F.A.W.C FESTIVAL, 6-29 JUNE 2014
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 set to take place again between 6th – 29th June 2014. 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. Examples of events include 'A Tale of Two Vineyards' where wine experts from Trinity Hill and Martinborough Vineyards take guests on a night of wine tasting and dining.Or guests can warm up with 'Fire It Up', with a four course dinner at Crab Farms, complete with a blazing fire pit and live music as a back drop. One of the most memorable events is spending a day and evening with renowned New Zealand celebrity chef Martin Bosley who will shop with guests at local Farmers Market and introduce them to the local growers, return to the Black Barn Vineyard for lunch and wine tasting and end the evening with an intimate cooking school at one of the luxurious Black Barn Retreats. 
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

QUEENSTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL, 20 – 29 JUNE 2014
This June, The Queenstown Winter Festival celebrates its 40th year as the region's most iconic annual event. The festival, which starts on the 20th June, is the official kick off to New Zealand's winter, running for ten days with 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 20 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. www.winterfestival.co.nz

CHOCOLATE RACING DOWN THE WORLD'S STEEPEST STREET, 12-18 JULY 2014
For an extreme chocolate fix, the small South Island city of Dunedin comes up trumps in its annual Chocolate Carnival, held this year between 12 and 18 July. The event culminates in the famous Cadbury Jaffa race, which sees giant Cadbury Jaffas (balls of orange sugar coated chocolate that have been made in New Zealand since 1931) hurtle their way down Baldwin street – the world's steepest street with a gradient of 1 in 2.86. The excitement starts at the world's steepest street party with two races taking place – each with up to 25,000 Jaffas individually numbered by hand and the first five through the gates the winners.
HOW? To be in the heart of the action stay at the Arden Street House, Lonely Planet Travel Guide’s top choice and just a short walk from Baldwin Street, the Botanical Gardens and Forsyth Barr Stadium. Double rooms start from £51 per night based on two people sharing on a B&B basis. www.ardenstreethouse.co.nz
For festival information visit www.newzealand.com/uk/event/dunedin-cadbury-chocolate-carnival

VISA WELLINGTON ON A PLATE, 15-31 AUGUST 2014
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 15 and 31 August. Foodies flock to New Zealand’s capital for more than 100 different food and drink events, including Beervana – a showcase of the country’s craft beers - and the New Zealand Chocolate Festival. There’s also the Master Class, where foodies can get up close to top international chefs to learn their secrets. Known for its café culture, fine dining and gourmet local produce, Wellington is a foodie heaven.
HOW? The Edgewater Lodge is located in the heart of the city with ocean views of the Wellington Harbour and is one of the lodges the cast and crew of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit stayed at. Rooms start from £95 per night based on two people sharing. www.edgewaterwellington.co.nz
For festival information visit www.wellingtononaplate.com

FOR SPORTS LOVERS…

ADD A SPORTING EDGE TO YOUR NEW ZEALAND VISIT THIS WINTER WITH THE ENGLAND RUGBY AND PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL TOURS
New Zealand's year of sport is set to spring into action with major sporting events on the cards this winter. In June, the spotlight will be on the England Rugby team as they head to New Zealand for their final tour before the World Cup. The series will commence at Eden Park in Auckland on 7^th June, continuing at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 14^th June and concluding at Waikoto Stadium in Hamilton on 21^st June. England will also face the Crusaders in Christchurch on 17^th June, making for an exciting, alternative road trip experience following their progress around the country's North and South Islands. From rugby to football, The Wellington Phoenix will host two English Premier League sides in New Zealand for the first time this July. West Ham United and Newcastle United will play two exhibition matches at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on 26^th July. Auckland and Dunedin will share in the festivities with games featuring the two English Premier League teams also being staged at Eden Park and Forsyth Barr Stadium.
HOW? For information on the England Rugby tour visit www.englandrugbytravel.com
Wellington Phoenix tickets start from £14 per adult. www.wellingtonphoenix.com