ALPINE MID-WINTER CHRISTMAS 2025
Where have I been?
In short, researching a fabulous Alpine Mid-Winter Christmas 2025 Tour!
With great anticipation, Tim and I left our 9-year-old with her grandma in Auckland and flew to Christchurch for a 6-day explorative journey into the south. We spent a night in the city preparing for the first exciting leg of our journey: riding first class in the new Scenic Class Carriage of the TranzAlpine Train to Greymouth the following morning.
This was an exceptional service. The premium carriage has been thoughtfully crafted with accents of Maori design and is light and spacious. The table we shared with two other passengers was traditionally presented like any upmarket silver-service dining experience, including table service. The food was lovely, and sipping our favourite beverage while travelling through Arthurs Pass and absorbing the breathtaking scenery around us was an absolute treat.
On arrival in Greymouth, we travelled north to Punakaiki to marvel at the numerous pancake towers and abundant Nikau Palms. After visiting some nearby points of interest, we made our way down to Hokitika for a late afternoon arrival. We didn’t stay in Punakaiki on this trip, though we plan to stay here for our tour. The Scenic Circle Hotel sits on the coast and is a showstopper for an overnight destination. Sleeping to the wild West Coast waves crashing over the beach is remarkably soothing.
The following day, we ventured back down the coast to our next destination, Franz Josef. En route, we made a detour into the Hokitika Gorge—WOW, this must be seen to be believed. It’s only a 30-minute walk in and out to the swing bridge, and the colour of the vibrant blue glacial water set against the rich green native forestry is something that every Kiwi should witness. We were blown away.
Hokitika is also home to the Treetop Walkway Adventure. This was a soaring surprise. First, we had to walk up a steep hill (they have a golf buggy for those who might find this challenging), then we walked out onto a steel platform that soared above the trees… I felt like a bird walking amongst the leafy tops of giant Rimu’s, and the views over the lake and down to the forest floor were uniquely beautiful from this elevation! The engineering that went into developing the walkway was equally quite astonishing.
We arrived at Franz Josef in the early afternoon, providing plenty of time for lunch and to explore the town at our own pace. The Wildlife Centre has a cute Kiwi and Tuatara display; if you enjoy reading information boards, there are plenty! We then boarded our bus and ventured out to view the famous glacier. The walk-in to view this is on a well-maintained track, about 2km’s return, and includes a slight incline. The reward at the end is a beautiful view up the Franz Josef Glacier.
We later checked in to the Te Waonui Forest Retreat and true to its name the serenity of the bush from our room, provided the perfect backdrop to a restful afternoon. We put our feet up and winked at a book (AKA nanna napped!).
After dinner this evening, Tim and I treated ourselves to a soak at the Waiho Hot Tubs. These glacial water-filled private tubs are seamlessly designed to feel like you’re in the bush. It was a beautiful clear night, and while enjoying our soak, we could gaze up through the pungas to a perfectly framed Southern Cross Constellation. The pools are emptied after each use, and you can take a beverage with you.
We plan to do something differently on our tour: include the helicopter ride up and onto the Glacier if weather permits. Our companion on this trip, James, took one for the team and experienced the full extent of this phenomenon! The result… he was jaw-gapingly stunned by how beautiful and pristine the glacier is and believes it would be a missed opportunity for anyone visiting Franz Josef.
While in Franz Josef, I gathered some leads to establish what other interesting places or locals we could meet when we bring our group through next year. I’ll follow up on these leads now that I’m back, so stay tuned for more when we release the tour. We do intend to slow the pace down and spend two nights here.
I won’t gloss over it; the next day covers a lot of ground… it’s necessary but rewarding! First, we drove past Fox Glacier (stopping to appreciate the stunning view) and continued to the Haast River. Here, we met Lindsay and Myreen Kain and their Jack Russell, Lofty and boarded their enclosed jetboat for a safari down the Haast River. We stopped plenty of times to marvel at the many waterfalls and steep terrain surrounding us, and we were even treated to a few spins – oh what fun! Disembarking, we continued to Wanaka for lunch and then to Arrowtown for a nosey around before arriving in Queenstown. It suffices to say that a dinner in-house and an early night were on the cards this evening.
The following morning, we were up bright and early and whisked away on a bus to Milford Sound. The first couple of hours of this journey were in the dark, and then, as the sky lit up, the commentary from our driver started, and you couldn’t replicate the exacting knowledge of these operators. The drive into Te Anau and then into Milford is A-MAZ-ING. We had plenty of stops, and I filled up the data on my camera with hundreds of incredible landscapes and mountainscapes and multiple photos of the cheeky Kea (my favourite New Zealand bird), who were busy trying to pull the bus apart at our stops.
I thought we had seen it all until we came out of the Homer Tunnel and were greeted by the most insanely beautiful amphitheatre on the other side! I could do this trip 100 times over and never get used to the backdrop and the enormity of it. Milford Sound did not disappoint – it had been raining all morning, and therefore, the waterfalls were full and lush, and the views of Mitre Peak and the surrounding mountains made you feel inferior to nature. We had planned on flying back on a fixed-wing plane; however, we couldn’t control the weather, and our pilot had to retract our arrangement, so we bused back. This provided the perfect opportunity to review and delete the repetitive photos of the last few days and quietly drift away to the beautiful scenery.
A free day in Queenstown was then warmly welcomed. With so much to offer, our fellow travellers were able to join a local operator for a tour that specifically interested them. Tim and I frequent Queenstown often, so we used our time to seek out tour opportunities. We learned that the beautiful Ayrburn Station (just out of Arrowtown) hosts a magical Mid-Winter Christmas Wonderland each July. The property was adorned with the most beautiful Christmas decorations, and I’m so excited to share this venue for a fanciful festive celebration for our tour next year!
Over the day, the temperature plummeted to a chilly 3-deg, so we rugged up warm when we met up later for our adventure on the TSS Earnslaw out to Walter Peak Station. We departed Queenstown the old-fashioned way, with the 111-year-old steamship engines rotating. We sat in the spacious cabin of varnished wood and polished brass while listening to a talented gentleman rolling out some lovely tunes on a grand piano. We soon arrived at the pier of the picturesque Station, walked up to the main lodge, and ate the most beautiful meal. This was followed by a brief farm demonstration, which included a delightful display of a Border Collie dog herding some sheep.
Our research trip then came to a close. We farewelled our fellow travellers and returned home to a very excited daughter and exhausted grandma! I can’t thank my mum enough for the time Tim and I spent together.
There is so much magic to be witnessed on the West Coast and down into Milford Sound, and with a bit of Mid-Winter Christmas fun mixed in, it’s a tour we are super excited to add to our calendar next winter. Stay tuned for the itinerary, which will be out soon.
This tour will be set to run in July 2025. If this story has piqued your interest and you would like to see the full itinerary when available, then contact: nikki@seemoretours.co.nz or phone: 021 990 141.
