Lake Wanaka

Unseasonable snowfalls, causing havoc in New Zealand’s central North Island, at least have a silver lining for winter sports enthusiasts who’re keen to make the most of spring skiing and snowboarding.

After three days of extreme exploits, American freeskier Ted Davenport, of Aspen (Colorado), has raced away with top honours at the World Heli Challenge in New Zealand.

On the crest of a bumper winter sports season, fresh snow falls and clear days are providing good conditions for skiers and snowboarders as New Zealand shifts into spring gear.

Re-tracing the footsteps of New Zealand’s early settlers across some of the country’s most remote and dramatic landscape has become an annual pilgrimage that will see this year’s Cavalcade journey end with a hoedown in Wanaka, Central Otago.

The record-breaking 2009 winter season that’s kept New Zealand ski resorts humming is set to ramp up as the inaugural 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games get underway this weekend.

Over 200 of the world’s top snowboarders will be on the slopes at Wanaka next week for the Burton New Zealand Open.

Top snowboarders and skiers with a taste for the wild side are preparing to descend on one of New Zealand’s most remote mountainous regions.

Snow has been falling thick and fast in New Zealand in an unseasonably early arrival that spells good news for winter sports enthusiasts.