Cold outside, fire going, something good on the table — Hurunui knows how to do winter.
There is something about winter that makes a good meal beside a fire feel even better.
Across Hurunui, cafés, wineries, lodges and restaurants turn colder days into an excuse to slow down, settle in and stay a little longer.
Here are a few places worth building into a winter trip.
Nor'Wester Café
In Amberley, Nor'Wester offers the kind of relaxed country stop that works equally well at the beginning of a road trip or halfway through one.
Homemade food, local ingredients and a warm interior make it particularly inviting when the weather outside has turned cold.
Order something substantial, find a place near the fire and forget about the highway for a while.
Pegasus Bay Winery and Deli
Further north in Waipara, Pegasus Bay brings wine country into the winter equation.
Visitors can create a platter from the deli's seasonal selection, add a bottle of local wine and settle into the surroundings.
The fireplace gives the winery a very different atmosphere in winter compared with the warmer months, making it an easy place for a long, slow stop.
Mt Lyford Lodge
If you have spent the day in the snow, Mt Lyford Lodge delivers exactly what you want afterwards.
The rustic mountain setting, hearty food and fire make it a natural base for a winter evening.
There is no need to dress the experience up too much. Sometimes the best part of a ski day is simply being warm again.
Fire & Ice
Back in Hanmer Springs, Fire & Ice sits opposite the thermal pools and combines generous meals with an easygoing atmosphere.
Two large fireplaces make it a particularly appealing winter stop, whether you have spent the day skiing, walking, soaking or exploring the village.
Hurunui's winter food scene is not about rushing from one reservation to the next.
It is about warmth, local flavours, good company and having somewhere comfortable to wait while the temperature drops outside.
Sometimes that is all a winter getaway needs.