CORONA JOURNEY NO. 39 - NORTH ISLAND WINTER ROAD TRIP
We always keep a close eye on the weather, swell size, wind, etc. while we work, dreaming of the waves we'll see every day. But this winter we've been keeping a particularly keen eye on the weather charts, anticipating a series of very unusual weather patterns.
Snow-capped mountains are a common sight in New Zealand winters, but in the warmer North Island, camping in the snow usually requires a long journey to the southernmost tip of the country. But occasionally, when weather patterns line up just right, temperatures drop below freezing, and storms appear, the North Island can experience the magical low levels of snow we dream of all year. Some years this happens multiple times, and other years it never happens at all. This year, the season started late, and we had almost given up hope.
But somehow, one morning, the forecast suddenly changed, offering one last glimmer of hope. While it didn't look particularly convincing, it was likely our last chance to experience North Island snow before summer crept in. Like many things, this weather opportunity fell on the same weekend as a good friend's wedding. We decided, why not, not drink too much, and headed out later that night. Luckily, we were joined by friends who were just as adventurous as we were, and were excited about the five-hour, sub-zero drive that would begin at midnight.
Join Corona on Journey 39 and go as deep into the snow as possible. Read the full story here: Corona Journey 39 (currently unavailable).