THERE is a reason I live in Central Queensland. I hate the cold.

There is so much not to like about it. Having to wear socks all the time just to keep your feet warm. Wearing so many layers of clothing you can't put your hands by your sides. The need to wear beanies and scarves that you can never get to stay in place.

Worst of all is the night-time debate about how badly do you need to get out of bed for a loo stop.

So you might wonder then, why I chose to travel to New Zealand in winter.

As the Supermum family was packing a pile of thermal underwear and thick padded jackets, I was starting to wonder too. But here we are. And having a wonderful time at that.

It might have something to do with the roaring fire we are sitting beside, drinking a cup of hot tea and making our plans in the snowy regions in coming days.

I consider our holiday an education for the teenage kids. They have adapted well to the changes around them. They are now as quick to work out how to operate the heating in our various accommodations as they are to work out how to connect to the WiFi.

They have even been excited to have 'electric beds'. (They were talking about the blankets, but I won't burst their bubble).

At the end of it all I hope that they get an appreciation for home.

We might not have hot mud pools and gondola rides but we do have hot weather.

And while I saw in the news CQ was almost the same temp this week as we are experiencing it should be all over by the time we get back. I'm hoping so.

And it's not just because I am looking forward to escaping single digit temperatures. Now those kids are 'educated' they might expect 'electric beds' at home.