Winter can be icky here, and it's normal to want it gone. But no matter what, there's NO excuse for not getting out-and-about. Many outdoor activities can be practiced year-round in New Zealand, especially on the North Island where the only seasonal activities seem to be water sports.
So how do you get through this sometimes yucky season? I'll give you my four faves for winter.
1. Hot springs. This one should be obvious. I like to couple it with #2, which is
2. Trail running. So, a few weekends ago I was up in Rotorua (hot springs central) and went on a lovely trail run up Rainbow Mountain. I've learned that dual-use walking and cycle trails are great for trail running because if a bicycle can go up it, chances are I'll be able to run up it. Trail running in New Zealand is world-class but some hiking trails aren't practical or possible to run up for me because they're too steep. Pick a mountain bike/walking dual-use trail and "you'll be right" (as they say here)...just keep an eye out for the bikers. Then after the run, head to a free natural hot springs like Hot and Cold Pools (just down the road from Rainbow Mountain, next to Wai-o-Tapu). Yay! Running is better in cold weather anyways.
3. Paddleboarding. Now I know most people give up water sports in winter, but I stay quite warm in my sealskin wetsuit. However I don't do SUP yoga in winter, because I really don't want to fall off. A few weeks ago, I paddled out to the carvings on Lake Taupo on a flat calm day. (Pic below). Pretty rare for Taupo!
Winter is a bit more troublesome for outdoor activities because it requires more gear and more attention to the weather, and there are shorter daylight hours so it's not quite as much fun to go hiking and camping. But at the same time, you can have gorgeous summery days in the middle of winter. There's no absolute rule that says that you can't enjoy summertime activities in winter if you're willing to be a little bit tough about it. When it's hailing and howling (like it was last weekend) it's hard to get motivated, but for the most part, "winter" here is really like "spring" or "fall" most other places and can be a great time to be active. So unless you absolutely need to have snow to be happy, enjoy the year-round outdoor playground that is the North Island of New Zealand! Oh, and buy an electric mattress pad if you want to experience true luxury in winter. Once you do, you'll wonder why this is not a "thing" in the US!