Winter Wonderland in New Zealand
Published in The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2019:
https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/travel/winter-wonderland-in-new-zealand
Video viewed over 35,600 times on ST Facebook, and over 3,900 times on Youtube, and much more on ST website
I am trudging up the ski slope, watching the sun cast its golden hue on the serrated, snow-capped Southern Alps.
“Lovely blue skies we’ve got today,” a staff member remarks. “And 8cm of fresh snow.”
A rosy-cheeked little girl, decked in a psychedelic one-piece snow-suit, adeptly skis by me.
I almost feel inspired to clip into skis, but the time to upstage her with my magnificent dearth of moves is not now.
Today, it is not about the best skier or snowboarder, but the wackiest antics in the snow.
I am at Cardrona Alpine Resort for the quirky Queenstown Winter Festival, which heralds the start of winter in New Zealand with fire- works, comedy, live music and, as I am about to witness, hilarious winter shenanigans.
A cacophony of barks erupts. Hardy dogs and their owners trundle down the ski slopes towards the finish line, repeatedly sliding and tripping in chaotic heaps.
At the dog-barking competition, a Border Collie adorably hits a high note on cue, once its owner brandishes his smartphone playing the song Royals by Lorde.
But the judges decide that is singing – not barking – and the rules are clear: If a dog does not bark on cue, the owner must go on all fours and bark on its behalf. Owners gamely comply, to rapturous cheers.
At the suitcase race, human competitors slide down the mountain on brown vintage luggage.
An auburn-haired woman, cheeks flushed with adrenaline, loses steam halfway. “This is harder than it looks,” She says, panting and catching my eye. We burst into chuckles.
“Go for it,” I yell as she barrels downhill.
A flurry of snow dusts my cheeks later, as I sneak a final look at beginner skiers navigating the gentle learner runs.
Experienced skiers and snow-boarders are gaining momentum, swishing euphorically down the slopes.
I descend the mountain in a car, watching the crowds dissipate, and consider how New Zealand is a fitting destination to fulfil one’s mid-year winter wanderlust.
The country is typically frequented in the warmer summer months.
But as I discover, winter ushers a fascinating variety of experiences across both islands in New Zealand, from intriguing festivals and exceptional skiing to ice-capped peaks and gurgling geothermal features, all nestled amid stunning landscapes.
Scarce crowds and lower off-peak prices are the icing on the cake for a wintry adventure in New Zealand.
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