Well kind of. We've had a pretty changeable summer so far in New Zealand, but there have been some moments that might appeal to those still stuck in a cold snowy winter in the Northern Hemisphere!
Takapuna beach is a very handy inner city beach, it was heaving with people on the weekend...
Papamoa beach in the Bay of Plenty has been in the news a lot lately with the Greek vessel Rena aground on Astrolab reef, leaking tonnes of fuel oil in to the ocean, despite this it looked pretty nice the day we were there...
Campbells bay, another inner city Auckland beach (stand-up paddle boarding is big this year)...
And a 15 minute ferry ride takes you to Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcanic cone in full view of the city...
...where we dragged the kids over the craggy lava fields up to the crater rim for great views back to the city...
Followed up by lava cave exploring with a flat torch (must remember to take fresh batteries next time) then visiting some of the historic holiday huts (we call them 'baches') along the shore, this top one has been preserved by the Rangitoto Historic Conservation Trust, and is open to the public for a fascinating look back at life in the early part of last century...
... then back home on the bus. I couldn't leave this cute little guy out, he was having a great time with his trucks in the sand at Takapuna...