Five of the best small New Zealand towns to visit in June – Stuff

Hibernating is so 2020/2021.

With snap lockdowns a thing of the past (all going well), nows the time to make the most of the frigid weather thats set in. Think congestion-clearing walks, early-bird snow sessions, Matariki feasts and glasses of red by roaring pub fires.

Some of New Zealands small towns are at their most vibrant in winter, fizzing to life as visitors in search of snow and their famously good food and wine descend. Others find a peace and quiet that eludes them at other times of year, making them perfect for a rejuvenating low-key break.

Here are five of the best to visit this June. Let us know your winter small-town picks in the comments.

READ MORE:* 100 epic ways to enjoy winter in New Zealand * Winter wonderlands: Where to see the best scenery * New Zealand's most iconic mountains to see before you die

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Cardrona nails the cute alpine town vibe.

With snowy mountains, an old-school pub and scenery that wouldnt look out of place in the Scottish Highlands (especially if you stumble upon the distillery), this old gold rush settlement packs the best of the New Zealand winter into one photogenic wee package.

And we do mean wee. Theres not much more to Cardrona than its famous ski fields and pub, but theyre so good they simply must be experienced at least once and every winter ideally.

Set to open on June 11, Cardrona Alpine Resort caters for skiers and snowboarders of all levels across its 565 hectares of terrain, offering such a good time that, as one of its T-shirts says, its been promoting sick days since 1980. The mountain also happens to be a mini culinary mecca, with eight cafs and restaurants on offer. Quickly replenish expended calories at Captains Pizzeria (perhaps with a glass of local craft beer), head to Mezz for sophisticated aprs-ski fare, or sip hot chocolate or champers on a beanbag overlooking the Southern Alps and Wakatipu Basin at Vista Bar.

Another excellent way to get active is to take a horse trek through the snow-sprinkled hills of the high country (theyve already had a good dumping this year).

The Cardronas high country pub trail will see you ride through a working merino sheep farm and tussock country with spirit-lifting views of the Crown and Pisa ranges before tieing your horse up outside the legendary Cardrona Hotel for a beverage in the beer garden. If youre feeling lazy or dont like horses, opt for a quad bike adventure instead.

Stephen Heard

Horse trekking in Cardrona.

Established in 1853, the Cardrona is one of the oldest hotels in the country its cute but basic-looking clapboard facade belying the quality of the food and comprehensive drinks list. Look forward to traditional pub grub with a local twist. Think lamb burgers with mint salsa verde and cheeseburger spring rolls.

Pass Bradrona the infamous bra-strewn fence raising funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation to find yourself at Cardrona Distillery, which transforms locally sourced alpine water and foraged ingredients into award-winning single malt whiskey along with gin, vodka and liqueurs. Take the 75-minute tour to see the grain to glass process first-hand and taste a selection of spirits, or simply pop into the cellar door to pick up your tipple of choice.

BROOK SABIN

The Sky Waka gondola will take you to New Zealands highest cafe.

Get a head start on the snow fiends wholl flock to the Mt Ruapehu ski area when it fully opens in July by visiting in uncrowded June.

Open this month, Happy Valley is considered one of the best spots in the country for beginner skiers and snowboarders its long, gentle slope is ideal for finding your extended feet. If that sounds too much like hard work, book a one-hour sledding slot through Happy Valley Rentals for $29 per adult and $15 per kid aged five to 17. The carpet lift means you wont even have to walk to the top.

Nearby Meads Wall a short walk from the bottom of the Rangatira Chairlift is a free alternative. Its a popular spot for sledding and snowperson building when theres enough of the cold white stuff (and, at the time of writing, snow was forecast).

Snow or no snow, its worth riding the Sky Waka New Zealands longest gondola to New Zealands highest cafe, where you can grab a coffee or lunch with a primo view of The Pinnacles.

Lorna Thornber/Stuff

The Tama Lakes Track is an easier alternative to the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

If the weather gods refuse to play snow ball (or they do and youre comfortable trudging through the slippery stuff), there are some top tramping tracks to try out. Tama Lakes Track a quieter, easier alternative to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is truly deserving of the term hidden gem. Also located within dual World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, it offers similar scenery including sensational views of surreally coloured lakes and mounts Ruapehu and Nguruhoe minus the thigh-burning ascents.

If the bank balance allows, treat yourself to a night or few in Chateau Tongariro which, oozing old-school elegance, should make you feel like Kiwi royalty. Come evening, enjoy a cocktail in the roaring twenties-style lounge complete with roaring fire before sitting down to a chteaubriand dinner beneath sparkling chandeliers. And save time for a soak in the heated al fresco plunge pool.

Stewart Nimmo/Stuff

Explore the ice caves and arches of Fox Glacier on a heli-hike.

Not just a one-hit wonder, theres far more to this tiny town than its eponymous glacier.

One of New Zealands prettiest lakes (the mirror-like Lake Matheson), tramping tracks showing off the surrounding glacier-carved landscape and cosy lodges with a European ski resort vibe are among the other reasons to stick around.

Scenic flights are a popular way to check out 12km Fox Glacier, with some also taking in Franz Josef Glacier and Aoraki/Mt Cook. To get on the ice, try heli-hiking or ice climbing with Fox Glacier Guiding. The four-hour flying fox heli hike, which costs $499 per person or $1600 for a family of four, will see you chopper in to a remote stretch of Fox Glacier near Victoria Falls and don crampons to explore an ever-changing landscape thatll make you feel like a character in an IRL version of Frozen.

For free and eco-friendly glacier viewing, take a hike. The 2.6km (one-hour) return Te Moeka O Tawe Valley walk will take you past ancient moraines that cover dead ice left behind by the retreating glacier to within 500 metres of its terminal face. The 20-minute River Walk Lookout Track is an easier and fully accessible alternative or, if youre feeling lazy, just take a scenic drive along Cook Flat Road.

Eventually, youll reach Lake Matheson, where the 4.4km loop track will soon have you seeing double. Continue to the end of the 21km road to find remote Gillespies Beach, where the Tasman Sea appears to meet the Southern Alps. From here, a three-and-a-half hour return walking track leads to still more secluded Galway Beach with its resident seals.

Reflection Lodge, with its views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman reflected in a private lake, is a picturesque place to retire to.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Food and wine are always a focus in Havelock North but, in June, they take centre stage.

Food and wine are always a focus in this Hawkes Bay town, but theyre pretty much the reason for being in June.

The winter version of the Food and Wine Classic (F.A.W.C), which runs until June 26, features more than 40 events showcasing the best of the regions best.

Many events have sold out, but at the time of writing, you could still get tickets for a workshop at Farmhouse Kitchen Cooking School featuring a three-course lunch, a morning tea with cookbook author Nici Wickes at Black Barn Vineyards, and a fig tasting culminating in the traditional piping-in of the figgy pudding at The Figgery Cafe.

In other parts of the region, youll find a truffle-hunting mission followed by a four-course lunch matched with local wines, a fondue and wine session, and walk-up event featuring two for $15 tacos filled with the likes of slow-roasted pork belly, ajo blanco and pineapple salsa paired with you guessed it wine.

If youre worried about piling on the pounds, head up Te Mata Peak you can see all the way to the Mahia Peninsula and Mt Ruapehu on a clear day. Alternatively, get on yer bike and hit the Hawkes Bay Trails. Conveniently, the 200km network of mostly flat trails connects many of the best cafs, restaurants and wineries.

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A popular summertime playground, Akaroa is just as pretty and certainly more peaceful in winter.

Its not quite Chamonix, but theres more than a touch of the small-town French Alps vibe in this historic Banks Peninsula settlement particularly when theres a sprinkling of snow on the hills.

Akaroa Dolphins operates its two-hour scenic cruises year-round, offering an opportunity to see one of the worlds rarest dolphin species in the wild; and Pohatu Penguins will be happy to acquaint you with the Cantabrian branch of the Australasian Little Penguin family on their sea kayaking and 4WD tours.

Self-isolaters and stargazers might like to linger a little longer at Pohatu Penguins and book a night in the onsite cottage, tree house or gypsy wagon get 20% off stays between June 1 and August 31 when you book on its website and enter the code Relax22.

The 1250-hectare Hinewai Reserve, a privately owned ecological restoration project, and three-hour return Childrens Bay walkway (aka Rhino Walk) are great for defrosting legs and feet, and you can warm your heart at Shamarra Alpacas, where you can cuddle what are surely the cutest farm animals in existence on a property with priceless harbour views. You can stock up on winter woollies there too - jerseys, scarves, beanies and blankets are among the items on offer made from soft alpaca wool.

Pretend youre in Gaudis Barcelona in the sculpture garden of the Giants House and, if the weather turns, take cover at Akaroa Museum spread across the historic Langlois-Eteveneaux cottage and the old courthouse and custom house.

With its French and Mori heritage, food is naturally a focus, and harbourside restaurant Ma Maison is set to combine cuisines from both cultures in a five-course degustation menu to mark Matariki on June 22. The Grand Hotel, meanwhile, is hosting a hng and stargazing session on June 24. Its enough to tempt even this sloth out of hibernation. The sourdough starter and streaming services can wait.

Where are your favourite winter small-town picks? Let us know in the comments.

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Five of the best small New Zealand towns to visit in June - Stuff