New Zealand Travel Forum

Dear all,

Me, my husband and our 5 year old son is visiting New Zealand (south island), for the first time for a very short 6 days visit first week of November.

My questions are:
1. Will there be a place where my son can still play in the snow? He has never seen snow before. Better yet is there any ski resort thats still opened?
2. Our itenary is as below:
D1: Arriving in Christchurch, afternoon.
D2: Drive to Mt Cook, stay overnight there
D3: Drive to Te Anau, stay overnight there
D4: Drive to Milford Sound, and back to Queenstown, overnight Queenstown
D5: Queenstown... possibly play in some snow???
D6: Flight from Queenstown
Do you think that its too heavy for a 5 year old kid?

Thanks sooo much.

I'm sure there will be snow in the mountains, but I have to admit, if you want to see snow in November, the northern hemisphere might be a better bet. I grew up near Erie, PA, and we almost always had snow in November -- sometimes even in October!

The skifields will be closed in November. You might still stumble over snow in the mountains but you would have to walk quite a bit, and you do not have time for such hikes. If you are unlucky/lucky you can still experience late snowfalls, especially on the Milford Road. But rather do not hope for it, as it might keep you from getting to M. Sound.

The solution would be to go on a scenic flight with Air Safaris from Lake Tekapo or Mt. Cook Village (Glentanner). They have flights with glacier/snow landings.

The drive back from Milford Sound to Queenstown might be too much for a 5 year old, it is a very long day: At least 2 hours from Te Anau to Milford Sound, 75 to 90 min boat tour, walking around, etc., stops along the road, at least 4 hours drive from M.S. to Queenstown. You have to judge yourselves.

Thanks for the info...

I am considering staying in Te anau back from milford sound. If we were to stay in Te Anau for another night I was thinking on going to the Glowworm cave. Do you think that the steps are too steep for a five year old kid?

Again, thanks..

The steps are not steep at all, and there are only very few on the boardwalks from the ship to the info centre and the cave. Inside the cave you first walk on boardwalks (nearly in the dark) and then get on a small boat which they pull through the glowworm caves along ropes.