December in the Land of the Long White Cloud

As Canadians bundle up to brave the winter holiday season weather in Canada, it’s summertime in New Zealand. The country’s beautiful beaches, fabulous wine regions, world-class or budget-friendly golf courses, biking and hiking are all great reasons to check out Santa Claus in New Zealand.

In place of what Canadians would consider to be a Christmas tree, Kiwis have the pohutukawa tree. This tree blooms a beautiful red flower in December and New Zealanders think of Christmas and summer when they see it. With more than 15,000 kilometres of beaches, New Zealand is a great place to shake off the winter blues and get your feet wet. Experienced surfers looking for big waves should check out the black-sand beach of Piha, just 30 minutes west of Auckland city. Kiwis love to head to the sandy beaches of the Coromandel for the holiday season. At Coromandel’s Hot Water Beach, you can make your own hot tub in the sand with the naturally heated mineral water. (If you don’t have a shovel, local cafés will rent one to you.) If island hopping is more your style, the Bay of Islands has 144 islands and hundreds of untouched white-sand beaches to celebrate the season. Wine lovers can spend time in one (or more) of New Zealand’s ten major wine-growing regions. Wine tours in popular and boutique wineries can be found throughout the country and, no matter where you are, you’re never far from a good glass of wine. The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail offers a 380-kilometre-long, self-driving touring route through the North and South Islands. With more than 230 wineries and 100 cellar doors, visitors never have to worry about getting lost, as the trail is sign-posted with images of grapes on road signs.

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With nearly 400 golf courses in the country, it is easy to find one that matches each player’s skill level, sightseeing itinerary and budget. It is a golfer’s paradise with incredible views, courses that aren’t crowded (New Zealand has the second highest number of golf courses per capita in the world, next to Scotland), and many of the green fees are reasonable. Nearing completion, the Te Araroa (M?ori for The Long Pathway) will be a 3,000-kilometre trail that runs from Cape Reinga, the most northern point of the North Island, to the tip of the South Island at Bluff. One of the longest walking routes in the world, it would take approximately 120 consecutive days to travel it on foot. Of course, it can be broken up into wonderful hour-long, one-day or overnight hikes. Throughout the trail, you can explore the Pacific Ocean, volcanoes, mountains, rivers, lakes and valleys. A cyclist’s dream – Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, showcases a range of incredible scenery and engaging culture spanning over more than 2,000 kilometres. With 18 Great Rides across regions including Rotorua, Gisborne, Waikato, Taupo, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Mount Cook and Queenstown, there are bike rides for all skill levels. Now, the only thing left is to decide what to ask Santa for… Website: Blog: Twitter: