From new Aussie flight connections to luxury boutiques and a big change in the ski industry, there’s plenty to lure you to New Zealand in 2025.
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is returning for its third successive season but next year will see Auckland play host for the first time. The multi-continent competition will be one of the first big sporting events to kick off 2025, taking place on 18-19 January. The races on Waitematā Harbour are expected to draw thousands of fans eager to watch national teams battle it out in hydrofoiling catamarans at speeds of up 100 km/h. Picture: Tourism New Zealand
Touted as the biggest project in New Zealand skiing history, Cardrona Alpine Resort will have 150 hectares of new terrain for skiers in 2025. The new six-seat Soho Basin Express chairlift will whisk skiers and snowboarders to playful intermediate and advanced runs, with a mix of groomed and off-piste areas. Wanaka locals will be laughing come winter, as they’ll soon have the country’s biggest ski resort in their backyard.
Whether you’re going for vineyards or adventure, Queenstown will soon have a new luxury hotel for you to unwind in. From one of 15 suites, soak in water and mountain views at ROKI Collection Queenstown, slated to open mid-2025. Located on Lake Wakatipu, the suites feature bathtubs, fireplaces and walk-in robes, and range from one- to seven-bedders. The hotel also has a cocktail bar, a European-influenced restaurant, and - my favourite - a day spa inspired by a Roman bathhouse. Traipse from massage table to sauna to heated indoor pool to jacuzzi for a bliss afternoon. Picture: ROKI Collection
British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood will be celebrated in a new exhibition at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa this summer. Te Papa, in Wellington, will be the first venue to house the touring Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery exhibition when it opens mid-December. The retrospective will include a collection of more than 550 pieces of jewellery from the woman known to have introduced punk into the mainstream fashion industry. The exhibition will run until 27 April, 2025. Picture: Mitchell Sams
Jetstar will be launching three new direct flights to New Zealand next winter - two will connect the Gold Coast with Hamilton and Dunedin, while the third will connect Sydney to Hamilton. The budget airline’s flights from the Goldy will be thrice weekly, while the Sydney service will be up to four times per week. All three services will take to the skies from mid to late June. It will be the first time Jetstar has flown to Hamilton, and Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully says it will make the North Island more accessible.
“The new service will provide cheaper and more convenient access from East Coast Australia to holiday hot spots like Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, as well as bring thousands of tourists to Sydney…” Tully says.
Red wine lovers rejoice - Pinot Noir New Zealand will be back in February after an eight-year hiatus. The festival is touted as one of the biggest celebrations of pinot noir in the world, and for the first time it will be held on the South Island, in Christchurch. The three-day event (11-13 February) will feature more than 100 local producers from eight regions. Tickets are on sale now. Picture: New Zealand Wine Growers Inc
Auckland is getting a hot new hotel with Accor’s TRIBE brand opening a bold boutique early next year. TRIBE Auckland Fort Street will wow travellers searching for somewhere fun and stylish to stay, with the mid-scale hotel made up of 60 compact rooms. There will also be a social hub, where people can meet, work and dine. Adrian Williams, Accor Pacific’s Chief Operating Officer, says TRIBE hotels offer spaces that are smart, stylish and comfortable, but also affordable. The North Island property will be the first in TRIBE’s New Zealand portfolio.
Metallica fans better have their fingers on the pulse with the heavy metal band hinting at concerts in Australia and New Zealand next year. Metallica will be in North America on their M72 World Tour until the end of June, and Down Under dates could immediately follow. The official band website recently announced this teaser: “...North America is not our only stop in 2025, as this year we will return to Australia and New Zealand after far too long away!!! Stay tuned for the full announcement coming VERY soon.” Picture: Jim Bennett/Getty Images
New Zealand will likely attract a whole new generation of fans when a Hollywood film based on the hugely popular Minecraft video game hits big screens next year. The Warner Bros. movie starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge began filming in Auckland in January, and is set to open in cinemas in April 2025. A Minecraft Movie is a live-action adaptation of the game, which is about creating and defending worlds.
Bringing together Māori culture with adventure, fun-loving tour company Contiki is unveiling a fresh New Zealand itinerary. Real New Zealand is a 15-day journey that takes travellers from Auckland all the way to Doubtful Sound on the country’s southern tip. Stops include three of the best - Christchurch, Wanaka and Queenstown - while passengers will learn about Māori healing and music. The first departure is in November, with 2025 dates to follow.
Gourmands will soon be able to taste their way around New Zealand’s impressive wineries and restaurants, with a new rail journey from the north to the south. Great Journeys New Zealand has unveiled its 18-day Flavours of Aotearoa itinerary, which will depart from Auckland and finish in Queenstown. The guided tour will include lunch at a lavender farm, a tea ceremony, wine tastings, and a visit to a chocolate factory. The first tour is in mid-March. Picture: Great Journeys
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