Australian Visitors Invited to Experience Winter Differently

In market until 30 June, ‘Winter Different’ encourages Australian visitors to think differently about their winter getaway, soaking up all the adventure, relaxation and unique experiences the chilly season has to offer in New Zealand’s picturesque Central South Island.

With key partnerships including Webjet and Snap Rentals central to the winter-focused marketing campaign, visitors can make the most of their time in wider Canterbury and West Coast with more than 150 exclusive deals on accommodation, hospitality and activities.

A celebration of the Central South Island as a whole, the campaign is a collaboration between regional tourism organisation ChristchurchNZ with neighbouring RTO’s including Development West Coast (DWC), Destination Kaikōura, Visit Hurunui, Venture Timaru, and Mackenzie Tourism to boost visitation across the board.

“The funding received via the regional tourism boost fund has enabled us to work in collaboration with other regions across the Central South Island, to welcome Australians during the shoulder season,” said DWC destination and tourism manager Andrew Aitken.

“The ‘Winter Different’ theme is very deliberate as it provides a great platform to highlight regions and experiences that aren’t typically on an Australian visitors list of ‘must-dos’. We’re excited to work in partnership with other areas of the central south, to bring further visitors to our shores over the winter.”

The campaign includes a dedicated website to showcase the very best of the Central South Island and the many deals available.

“Christchurch and the wider Canterbury and West Coast region has something for everyone in winter – with skiing on easy-to-reach slopes, breathtaking night skies for star gazing, and an energetic city with a thriving cuisine scene at the heart of it all,” says ChristchurchNZ head of visitor economy Kath Low

Funding for the campaign was awarded from the Regional Tourism Boost fund, spread across six initiatives to drive international visitor numbers across the country. ChristchurchNZ received $600,000 from MBIE to drive visitation to Canterbury and the West Coast regions from Australia.