In photos: New Zealand shivers through a classic winter storm

Storm force winds were blowing through Cook Strait, with an average wind speed of 110kmh and gusts to 140kmh being recorded at Brothers Island.

Wellingtonians were greeted by strong winds and cool temperatures on Wednesday morning as the cold front from the South Island moved north.

Dunedin City Council warned the city's residents on Wednesday morning of widespread snow, saying road travel should be avoided where possible.

A layer of snow covers the ground while light sleet falls early on Wednesday morning in Frankton, Queenstown.

Snow was falling in Dunedin as a band of freezing weather moved up the country.

Snow was falling thick and fast in Tekapo on Tuesday.

Snow falls at Castle Hill in Canterbury on Tuesday night.

Snow across the South Island has blocked mountain pass roads delaying or preventing delivery of The Press and Marlborough Express to some parts of the south.

Snow falls in Fairlie on Tuesday afternoon. John Wilson from Downer explains to drivers the road is closed.

Arrowtown wakes to a freezing morning.

Milton the dog was keen to get home from the paper round in Dunedin on Wednesday morning.

Flying in a blizzard en route from Hokitika to Christchurch.

Springfield wakes up to several inches of powder.

Dunedin's Saddle Hill was -2 degrees Celsius at 7.30am on Wednesday.

The Mt Alford angus in Methven were keeping close for warmth.

Snow was falling in Fernhill, Queenstown early on Wednesday morning.

With the skifield closed, Charlie and Louis Oliver get amongst the deep snow at Porters Alpine Lodge.

Dozens of cars were stuck on Dunedin's Stuart St as snow fell to sea level in the city.

Snow was falling in Fernhill, Queenstown early on Wednesday morning.

The Kaikorai Valley in Dunedin, looking a little slushy.

Kowai Bush looked cold as charity at 8am on Wednesday.

A snowy Tekapo on Wednesday morning.

Hanmer Springs takes on an Arctic look.

A chilly Lawrence police station on Wednesday morning.

Almost 3 inches (7cm) had fallen in Brockville, Dunedin, Peter Frew reported.

Getting proof of the snow in central Queenstown.

Bagel the beagle takes a pause from frolicking in the snow at Hanmer Springs.

It's a white out around the lake at Hanmer Springs.

Cars get towed along Stuart St in Dunedin.

Summerhill in North Canterbury is cloaked in snow.

The wintry scene in Otago.

Overnight snow in Te Anau will make hard work for posties.

Gore wakes up in a bluish hue.

Waikaka, Southland, just as another slurry was arriving.

A snowy scene at Fairlight.

Making the most of the snow in Dunedin.

Dunedin, wearing its winter coat.

Taking a stroll in amid the snowflakes in Tekapo.

The dubious job of fitting chains to cope with the icy conditions, pictured near Tekapo.

The view in Queenstown.

Kit Oliver takes his toboggan out for a spin at Porters Alpine Lodge.

Harry Oliver jumps in the bath at Porters Alpine Lodge.

A striking contrast of colours at Arthur's Pass.

Snowed in at Arthur's Pass, it was the perfect chance to do a bit of exploring.

Snow forced the closure of State Highway 7 on the Lewis Pass on Tuesday morning. (file photo).

A ghostly image from Arthur's Pass.

The chilly scene from Tekapo.

Loki the white shepherd enjoying his first snow at work in Gore.

After a fall of snow, Lake Te Anau merges with the land, giving the impression this yacht has been left high and dry.

Road crews clear snow through the Lewis Pass.

A very icy Lewis Pass, which was closed to traffic due to the snow.

Travellers fit chains to their vehicles in Fairlie before heading on their way.

Snow reaches sea level in Dunedin.

A roadblock west of Springfield on SH73 on Wednesday.

People wait west of Springfield for SH73 to reopen.

A hardy soul in Wellington dares to go outdoors with an umbrella.

Do you want to build a snowman? Well, someone beat you to it. Aaminah Ahmed took this shot in National Park during a family road trip from Palmerston North back to Auckland.

One-year-old Isobel gets her first snow experience in Ohakune, which wouldn't have been complete without the breakfast staple of peanut butter on toast.

A kea plods through the powder at Arthur's Pass.

A picture-perfect scene in Swannanoa in North Canterbury.

Rural Post still gets through the snow-covered Te Tipua hills.

Snow falls thick and fast on the outskirts of Ohakune.

At least one car didn't escape unscathed in Burkes Pass.

Snow made driving along the road between Gore and Winton a challenge.

This woman didn't let a bit of snow stop her from exploring Springfield, Canterbury.

Siblings Blake, 9, and Brianna Taylor, 11, take part in snowball warfare in Springfield.

Springfield sheep munch on grass.

Canines check out the powder in Centre Bush, Southland.

Hardy passengers on the Interislander watch the ferry cut through the swell in the Cook Strait.

The Interislander Ferry heads out from Wellington into heaving seas, en route to Picton. Were you on a Cook Strait ferry during the storm? Email us at newstips@stuff.co.nz.

Charlie the lab-cross plays in the snow with Ben the greyhound in Oxford, North Canterbury.

Te Haroto marae, at the summit of the Napier-Taupo Road, with snow falling steadily.

It was a glorious start to the day in Birchwood, near Ohai.

Mahinerangi, inland from Dunedin, was an Instagrammer's paradise.

Beau and his granddad, Mick, take a walk in the snow in Oxford.

A truck rumbles through the Lewis Pass, SH7, on Wednesday.

The snow in Fairlie, South Canterbury on Wednesday morning.

KiwiRail's Tranz Alpine train turns into the polar express through Sheffield, Canterbury.

Cold comfort for builders working on this Te Anau house.

Snow is causing trouble for motorists in Canterbury and across the South Island.

A man, a boy and their dog walk through snow in Sheffield, Canterbury.

Deer play in the icy conditions near Methven.

A winter wonderland at Burkes Pass, South Canterbury.

Cattle during heavy snow in a paddock outside Methven.

The snow's well and truly arrived near Taihape.

Ultramarathon runner Paul Stevens took this photo in the Tararua Ranges this morning between Rocky Lookout and Mountain House on the foothills of Mt Holdsworth.