Winter in South Island, New Zealand

New Zealand borders are still closed to tourists but we do see light at the end of the tunnel, so in anticipation of when this may happen I decided to take a bit of a tour of my new country to share what is waiting for you when you can visit again.

Travelling in New Zealand in July means experiencing a winter wonderland. Arriving early in Christchurch we had a short wait for our shuttle to pick up our rental car, with an online check-in service available to be completed beforehand. Our vehicle was ready and waiting for us with no additional paperwork waiting for the road trip ahead.

A day in Christchurch was the start of this journey. A vibrant, beautiful city with so much to offer. Even with many buildings still under repair from the 2011 earthquakes the beautiful parks, graffiti on the buildings and state of the art library is not to be missed. Hungry? Stop in for a burger and fries at Shaka Bros or head into the market next door for your choice of food yumminess. And for dessert - Waffle Haus will make sure you will not leave without your sweet tooth being satisfied.

Tip: Before heading out on a road trip in New Zealand, be prepared to not be in a rush. Most of the motorways are single lanes with an 80-100 km/h speed limit with many interesting stops along the way.

Our first destination from Christchurch was to head to Mt Cook in Aoraki National Park, a comfortable 6-hour drive with a lunch stop at Faerlie's Bakehouse for their famous pies a visit to the Barkers shop in Geraldine for a taste of all the products they have to offer and a moment to take in the breathtaking beauty of Lake Tekapo. Our accommodation for the night was at the Hermitage Hotel where every room has a view of the majestic Mt Cook. Be sure to pack in your walking shoes as you have the choice between hiking trails varying between 1-8 hours to various Glaciers and viewing points. If you want to extend your visit you may want to take a helicopter flip or even skydive over Mt Cook.

Our next stop would be Queenstown (a trip to South island in the winter would not be complete without this visit). This beautiful town is situated on Lake Wakatipu, at 80km long and spanning 291m2 it is the 3rd largest lake in New Zealand. With crystal clear waters you have a myriad of activities to choose from whether it be renting jet skis, take a Jet Shotover boat or a semi-submersible shark ride. Land lovers will not be disappointed. A visit up the Gondola promises you the most amazing views of Queenstown and the Remarkables mountain ranges and just for fun, try a bit of luging - great fun for all ages. On our 2nd day we decided to try on a bit of snowboarding, lessons and rentals were easily bookable in town and a half hour bus ride had us arriving to enjoy a day in the powder.

Your rental gear is collected on arrival in a quick and easy system and be sure to rent some ski pants and gloves to keep warm and dry. A visit to Queenstown would not be complete without grabbing a burger at the infamous Fergburger and a donut or breakfast bagel from Balls & Bangles.

With numerous wine farms in the area and Milford Sound, a day trip away ensures you carve enough time in your itinerary to make the most of your time here.

South Island does have something to offer everyone, we only experienced the very tip of the iceberg and I cannot wait to go and explore the West Coast, Sounds and many of the smaller towns in more detail.

When borders re-open, I highly recommend that New Zealand be on that bucket list.