Winter
When the southerly winds make the two-day journey from Antarctica to New Zealand and blanket the Southern Alps and Central Plateau with powder snow, winter has officially arrived. It gets cold but seldom does the daytime temperature in the main towns and cities drop below 5°C (41°F). The July school holidays see families head to the mountains for world-class skiing and snowboarding while others might take a mid-year break in Fiji. But for most of us, the short days and long nights lend themselves to a whole range of indoor activity.