Busy & comfy in New Zealand
SOUTH ISLAND
On the west coast, in the township of Okarito, Te Wa Whakata is now open, with seven cabins by the Okarito lagoon. This is the biggest untouched wetland in New Zealand, and guests are right in it.
NORTH ISLAND
In Auckland, the Radisson RED hotel is due to open later this year, with 325 rooms and what will be the city's biggest rooftop bar, called Reattachable Rooftop.
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Herald Sun
12 hours ago
- Herald Sun
I tried the best new additions to New Zealand's snowfields
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A ski holiday in New Zealand offers more than the terrain parks of Cardrona and the cocktail bars of Queenstown, more than free mountain shuttles and apres DJs, Fergburger and Cardrona Hotel. As great as they all are, it's time to expand your thinking on skiing and snowboarding in the South Island thanks to new terrain, glacier skiing, and a resort that's a firm locals' favourite. Here are three ways to play during a Kiwi winter. Snowboard Cardrona's new Soho Basin A decade in the making, Cardrona snow resort near Queenstown has added an extra 150ha to its skiable terrain with the new Soho Basin. Located over the back of the resort, the terrain is for intermediate skiers and boarders, with a huge amount of playful off-piste slopes sandwiched between groomers. The area is serviced by the new high-speed six-seater Soho Express chairlift, with the ride out leading back to intermediate runs around Captain's Express, or wide beginner runs at the front of the resort. The expansion means Cardrona is now New Zealand's biggest ski resort, taking the title from Whakapapa in the North Island. Also new to Cardrona is the Noodle Bar, a sophisticated Asian restaurant where you can enjoy bao buns and sip on saké while taking in great views of the slopes. The new Soho Basin at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Picture: Jennifer Ennion Glacier skiing in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park If you want to be whisked in a helicopter to remote slopes in order to slide down them, you'll need to be an adept rider, but in the Mackenzie region, Alpine Guides offers a wonderful introduction to back-country adventuring with their Ski the Tasman day tour. You'll still need to be an intermediate skier but that's more about dealing with variable snow conditions than the pitch of the glacier, which is mostly mellow. Hire equipment from Alpine Guides' Mount Cook base, and then meet at nearby Mount Cook Airport for a briefing on how to use an avalanche beacon and to get kitted out with a harness in the case of a crevasse rescue. With a handful of others, you'll board a helicopter and take in the beauty of the Tasman Glacier, before enjoying two runs of between seven and 10km. The experience, which starts at $NZ1495 ($1370) per person, also includes ski touring to check out the topography, and a hearty lunch on snow. Skiing the Tasman Glacier in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Picture: Jennifer Ennion Snowboard with Kiwis at Mount Hutt One of the biggest selling points of skiing and riding at Mount Hutt is that most visitors are New Zealanders from Christchurch (90 minutes away) or Methven (30 minutes away). Mount Hutt, the main ski resort in Canterbury, is far less touristy than its Queenstown competitors, however the access road is gnarly so take it slow and carry chains. As for the terrain, it's ideal for intermediates and advanced riders, with an epic ridge line you can drop off. For kids, there's a wide beginner trail, a fun tunnel, and a dedicated beginners' base area. Mount Hutt is known for its wild weather – that's strong winds and lots of snow – but my advice is to embrace the adventure. After all, we get plenty of blue-sky days in Australia, right? If you need a break from the weather, head to Opuke Kai, a cosy restaurant with a fireplace, located above Mount Hutt's main cafe and espresso bar. When you're off the hill, soak the afternoon away at the blissful Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa, in Methven. The solar-powered pools are a sanctuary that includes an adults-only retreat with a swim-up pool bar and cold plunge, as well as a family area, cafeteria and day spa. The modern facility is a popular spot with locals and skiers, so book your timeslot in advance. Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa, in Methven. Picture: Ashleigh Vermak How to get to the South Island skifields Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin all fly regularly from eastern Australia to Queenstown and Christchurch. Hire a car at the airport, as well as snow chains, even if you book a 4WD. You will be required to carry chains along alpine routes, and if there is fresh snow on the road you will probably need to use them. Cardrona has a great video on how to fit chains on the blog section of their website. Shuttles run to the resorts from both Queenstown and Christchurch, while Cardrona has a free shuttle from the mountain's base, and Mount Hutt has free shuttles from mid-mountain car parks. The Observatory Hotel in central Christchurch. Where to stay When visiting Cardrona, stay at the boutique Mt Rosa Lodge, perfect for couples wanting to mix skiing with sightseeing and romance. For Ski the Tasman, you'll want to stay two nights at the Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki/Mount Cook, a great base for hiking and heli-skiing. For Mount Hutt, stay at The Observatory Hotel in Christchurch and day trip to the resort. The 2025 ski season This year, Cardrona is open until October 5, while Mount Hutt is open until October 12. For the best value, buy the multi-day ski pass for Cardrona, which also allows you to ride neighbouring resort Treble Cone, and the more days you book the cheaper the day rate becomes. For Mount Hutt, buy a Superpass, which also allows you to ride at Hutt's Queenstown siblings The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. The Ski the Tasman experience is offered until September 30, 2025. Groups only go out in fine weather, so be flexible with your travel plans in case you need to ski a different day. The writer was a guest of Tourism New Zealand. Originally published as I tried the best new additions to New Zealand's snowfields
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Busy & comfy in New Zealand
In Southland, South Island, Southern Discoveries' new one-hour Te Anau Farm Tour shows guests what life on the land is like. The farm tour includes friendly animals, watching sheepdogs work and a Kiwi-style morning tea. It combines with a two-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise. It is from NZ$315 per person for the three-hour combination of the two. SOUTH ISLAND On the west coast, in the township of Okarito, Te Wa Whakata is now open, with seven cabins by the Okarito lagoon. This is the biggest untouched wetland in New Zealand, and guests are right in it. NORTH ISLAND In Auckland, the Radisson RED hotel is due to open later this year, with 325 rooms and what will be the city's biggest rooftop bar, called Reattachable Rooftop.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Meltdowns and stares: What I learnt taking kids on a luxury cruise
It's December 25 in Livorno and, like our fellow passengers in Amphora – the a la carte restaurant onboard Windstar Cruises' Star Legend – our family of four is settling in for a fancy Christmas dinner. Dressed in our festive finest, my husband and I sip champagne while our nine- and seven-year-old daughters draw as we wait for our starters to be served. So far, so good on our decision to swap Christmas at home in France for a small-ship Mediterranean cruise. We're on day three of our seven-night sailing from Rome to Barcelona and we have all adapted to the luxuries of life onboard with alarming speed. I wish I could ask Father Christmas for this evermore. That is, until my youngest takes offence when I stop her from taking her cardigan off. In protest, she slams her forehead into her fine-china place setting in front of her, before starting to wail at her usual high volume. The commotion stops conversations around us. A crew member swiftly comes to her side, removing the tableware from her reach. I don't need to look up to see the knowing glances passing between people nearby. My smugness has evaporated, replaced by a blush that quickly deepens: Windstar's minimum age is eight years old, and we've been granted an exception to bring her on the cruise. She is, right now, demonstrating exactly why that limit has been set. While few cruise lines explicitly ban children (Viking and Virgin Voyages being the most notable examples), not all of them offer Disney and Royal Caribbean-style bells and whistles. At the smaller end of the cruise ship scale, Windstar and its like among other premium and luxury lines welcome younger guests (the age limit varies per line) but they don't have any dedicated kids programming as such.
