Tramps near(ish) Christchurch :)

How many days do you have, and are your dates set or flexible? (ie can you rearrange around the weather?). Also what transport will you be taking - public? one car? do you have the option of two cars? or do you need to end up where you started? And do you want to plan to stay in huts (probably advisable given the time of year and your experience level)?

The well-known guidebooks are excellent. Those by Brabyn, Groves, Barrett, Pickering & Smith are at most ChCh bookstores and are totally reliable. Weather is always to be taken seriously, especially in winter. Check with DoC, but foothills peaks such as Mt Oxford are usually no worries on a fine day. Even the lower alpine areas may be OK too, unless early snows are heavy. You will be spoilt for choice!

Carroll Hut on the Kelly Tops requires nothing but walking uphill. Bob's Camp Biv/Pinchgut Hut should be OK depending how much snow is on the foothills. I just did the Jollie Brook / Gabriel Loop which is ok for winter (if rivers are up you can only do the Gabriel side but at least you can get out) if a bit dull. The Casey-Binser Loop should be OK too.