Jules Lund is a long-term reporter for Channel Nine's Getaway show and the host of the Logies. He's also an avid snowboarder and outdoor adventure fan with an ongoing love affair with New Zealand. We've asked him to contribute his travel tips and stories for those thinking of heading over the ditch for a bit of winter fun this year.

We asked Getaway's Jules Lund for his do's and don'ts for a New Zealand winter holiday:

• DO fly Air New Zealand into Queenstown if you're going there. They have a navigation system that they've put in which means they can land even when there's low cloud at the airport, which there often is. So you won't end up getting diverted and having to spend three hours in a coach getting there. And Air New Zealand is one of my favourite airlines anyway — I just got back from America flying with them, and it was amazing, great films, great service, smart, contemporary.
• DO get a lesson from an instructor, no matter what standard you are already. They can always take you to the next level, help you break bad habits you can't even see, and in a couple of hours you will be better than you were that morning. It's well worth the money.

• DON'T get dehydrated during the day, which is very easy to do even though it's so cold. Drink plenty of water while you're on the slopes, so that when you get to the end of the day you've still got enough energy to go through to when the bar closes…
• DON'T try and economise and think you can get around the Queenstown or Wanaka ski areas on public transport. Hire a car or a van (but vans are a bit dodgy on those winding icy roads). There are heaps of companies over there so it works out pretty cheap, and it's so good to have your own transport, so that you can go around and check out all the awesome places, stop and take photos and admire the views, and explore the area a bit more than you could do if you were stuck with public transport.
• DO bring a waterproof camera, even if it's one of those little disposable ones. You want to be able to pull it out and take heaps of photos on the slopes without worrying about dropping your good camera on the snow and ruining it.