Why Winter Might Just Be New Zealand’s Best-Kept Secret
There’s a version of New Zealand that most visitors never get to see. No queues for Milford Sound. No crowds jostling for the same Instagram shot at Lake Wānaka. Snow-dusted mountain ranges glowing in the low winter light. Thermal pools that feel even better when the air outside is crisp. That version exists every June through August, waiting for travellers willing to look past summer.
We’ve partnered with Everything New Zealand, the country’s leading experiences platform, to bring you a guide to the best winter adventures across the South Island. They know the experiences inside-out. We know how to set you up with the perfect base. Together, we’ve curated this guide for adventure seekers, families, and couples who want to make the most of the colder months.
All experiences linked in this guide are bookable directly through Bachcare partnership here.
Hit the Slopes: Skiing & Snowboarding in Queenstown and Wānaka
Ask any local where to spend a New Zealand winter and they’ll say the same thing: the mountains. The South Island’s ski fields are world-class, and unlike some overseas resorts, they haven’t been overwhelmed by mass tourism – yet.
Cardrona Alpine Resort is the go-to for families and beginners. Its wide, groomed runs and learner zones make it the most accessible ski field in the region. If you’ve never strapped into a board or snapped on skis before, the Cardrona Beginner Ski or Snowboard Package (from $249) is one of the best introductions to snow sport in the country, combining lessons, gear hire, and a lift pass in one.
For experienced skiers and boarders after steeper terrain and fewer people, Treble Cone near Wānaka is the answer. It has the highest skiable vertical in the South Island, and on a clear day, the views across Lake Wānaka are extraordinary. The Treble Cone Ski Field Lift Pass & Rental starts from $247 and can be sorted before you arrive, so you’re first on the chairlift.
For something truly unforgettable — the kind of thing you’ll describe at dinner parties for years — there’s heli-skiing. The Classic Four Runs Heli-Ski from Wānaka (from $1,595) drops you onto untouched backcountry slopes via helicopter, with a mountain guide and no one else around for miles.
Milford Sound in Winter: More Dramatic, Far Less Crowded
Here’s something the brochures don’t tell you: Milford Sound is more dramatic in winter. The rainfall that visitors worry about is precisely what creates the hundreds of mesmerising waterfalls that cascade down the sheer rock faces. The light is lower, softer, and more cinematic. And with visitor numbers significantly down on summer, you can stand at the bow of a boat and just take it in.
Everything New Zealand has curated a range of options here depending on your travel style. The Milford Sound Small Boat Cruise (from $169) is a bestseller for good reason, with smaller boats getting closer to the waterfalls and wildlife. For a premium experience, the Milford Sound Business Class Day Trip from Queenstown (from $699) combines gourmet dining with transfers, so you can sit back and let someone else handle the driving.
If you want to make a real occasion of it, consider the Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly with Glenorchy Air (from $789). Flying in over the fiord gives you a perspective that the road simply can’t match, especially in winter when snow caps every peak in sight.
Adventures That Don’t Stop for Winter
One of the best things about New Zealand is that the adrenaline doesn’t hibernate. The rivers run hard in winter, the jet boats still through the gorges, and the bungee platforms are open all year. If anything, doing these things in the cold adds something.
The Shotover Jet Boat (from $199) is Queenstown’s most iconic adrenaline experience: 95km/h through canyon walls with centimetres to spare. The 134m Nevis Bungy Jump (from $395) remains the highest in New Zealand, and in winter, the valley below is carpeted in frost.
For something slightly less heart-stopping but no less impressive, the Dart River Wilderness Jetboat from Glenorchy (from $319) takes you deep into the braided glacier rivers of the Mt Aspiring National Park. The scenery here, especially in winter light, is cinematic. Fans of a certain trilogy will recognise it immediately.
For a bird’s-eye view of it all, the 25 Minute Queenstown Helicopter Flight (from $385) offers a taste of the winter landscape from above. For something longer, the Mt Aspiring Explorer Helicopter Flight from Wānaka (from $950, including two alpine landings) goes further still – perspectives that simply don’t have an equivalent on the ground.
Queenstown’s New Wellness Wave
After a few days chasing thrills, Queenstown has somewhere for you to come back down. Alongside the bungee jumps and ski lifts, a quiet wellness movement has taken hold, and it’s exactly what you want after a day on the mountain.
Watershed’s Floating Sauna & Lake Plunge (from $65) is one of Queenstown’s newer additions: a wood-fired sauna floating on the lake, followed by a plunge into the water. It’s already one of the most talked about experiences in the region.
Couples will love Bathe by Aluume’s Private Hot Pool (from $95), a private soak with mountain views, perfect for winding down after a day of adventure. For something more accessible, the Riverside Sauna & Cold Plunge on the Kawarau River (from $35) pairs a wood-fired sauna with a Wim Hof-approved cold plunge in the river.
Important note: Most sauna and ice bath experiences operate a 16+ or 18+ minimum age policy. Check individual listings for details before booking as part of a family trip.
Food, Wine, and Something Slower
Not every day of a New Zealand winter holiday needs to be action-packed. Some of the best moments come from slowing down: a long lunch at a Central Otago vineyard, a cruise on a historic steamship, a glass of Pinot by the fire.
The TSS Earnslaw Cruise & Walter Peak Garden to Table Experience (from $159) is one of the most quintessentially New Zealand experiences you can have. Board a century-old coal-fired steamship, cross Lake Wakatipu to a high-country farm, and sit down to a meal made from produce grown on-site. In winter, with the mountains snow-capped and the fire going, it’s something else.
For wine lovers, the Queenstown Wine Tour by Altitude Tours (from $265) covers Central Otago’s finest Pinot Noir producers with a knowledgeable guide. The Wānaka Boutique Wine Tasting Tour (from $289 for two) takes a more intimate approach, visiting smaller family-run producers in the Wānaka basin.
For wine lovers, the Queenstown Wine Tour by Altitude Tours (from $265) covers Central Otago’s finest Pinot Noir producers with a knowledgeable guide. The Wānaka Boutique Wine Tasting Tour (from $289 for two) takes a more intimate approach, visiting smaller family-run producers in the Wānaka basin.
Your Home Base: Bachcare Holiday Homes Across the Region
This is where Bachcare comes in. Every experience in this guide is better when you have the right base — somewhere with a proper kitchen for pre-ski breakfasts, enough space for the whole family to spread out, a fire to sit around after a cold day on the mountain.
Bachcare’s collection of holiday homes across Queenstown, Wānaka, and Fiordland give you exactly that. Whether you’re a group of mates chasing the slopes, a family looking for something more spacious than a hotel room, or a couple wanting a private retreat with mountain views, there’s a holiday home for that.
Ready to Plan Your Winter Escape?
Browse Bachcare’s winter holiday across the South Island, then pair your stay with Everything New Zealand’s full range of experiences.
All experiences mentioned in this guide are bookable directly through Everything New Zealand’s platform via our partnership link, so you can sort your accomodation and your adventures in one place. Know where you’re staying, what you’re doing, and arrive ready.
Exclusive Bachcare discount: Use code BACHCARE at checkout on Everything New Zealand and save 13% on your experiences. The code isn’t case-sensitive — just drop it in at the payment step.
About Everything New Zealand: Everything New Zealand is New Zealand’s leading experiences booking platform, connecting travellers with handpicked tours, activities, and adventures across the country. All experiences featured in this guide were recommended by the Everything New Zealand team based on their insights into what resonates most with family and couple travellers visiting New Zealand in winter. Experience prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Links in this post direct to Bachcare’s partnership page on the Everything New Zealand platform.
