No filter was needed when Twizel resident Lynlee Officer snapped these stunning pictures of a hoar frost during her afternoon walk with her dog.
The photos taken in Canterbury on Saturday show Lake Ruataniwha, the surrounding trees covered in white tips and snow-capped mountains in the background.
At a chilly -6degC, Mrs Officer said there "wasn't much point in hanging out the washing" when the pegs were covered in frost too.
Her photos have received a lot of attention on social media.
"I saw the frosts Auckland was getting, the thin layers of sleet on cars, so I took the pictures down here on my walk," Ms Officer said.
"I've had the tourism office ringing me and all these friend requests on Facebook because I put the photos up. I had no idea they would get this response."
A MetService spokeswoman said hoar frosts occur when the air has become so cold it can no longer hold on to moisture.
Needle-like ice crystals form by direct condensation at temperatures below freezing point.
"It's been warmer than usual this winter, but we'll still be seeing these frosts mainly in inland South Island."
When temperatures drop below -6degC, severe frosts are expected.
Dunedin airport chilled
MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said Dunedin Airport temperatures plummeted to -7.4degC before dawn on Saturday, the lowest temperature recorded at any MetService weather station in Otago and Southland at the weekend.
The temperature was the lowest at the airport this year.
At the airport today, a balmy low of 0degC was forecast.
