ABOUT NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand is an Island Nation located on the southwest
corner of the Pacific Rim. It boasts some of the most
spectacular scenery anywhere in the world. The country
is comprised of a network of islands. The two major islands
are the North and South Islands separated by Cook Strait.
The remaining islands surround the North and South Islands
spreading over a considerable expanse of ocean. New Zealand's
unique climate and topography means it can offer visitors
any range of experiences from sub-tropical through to
the most extreme of alpine adventures.
During
the winter months the 24 ski areas and 12 heli-ski operators
offer some of the best alpine
experiences anywhere
on the planet. The ski and snowboard season lasts from
early June through to early October. Mt Hutt located in
Canterbury however often opens in mid to late May. New
Zealand provides a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding
areas varying from the Resort experience offered by Queenstown
through to the "Backpacker" experience offered
by the Club owned and operated ski areas in the Canterbury
region.
Super
pipes, rails, boxes, hits and off-trail powder freedom
are waiting for you on
New Zealand’s stunning snowfields.
Whether
you’re a complete novice or a hardened boarder
in search of big air, there are dedicated terrain parks
that offer a full range of challenges that are sure
to test your
courage.
When you stop to catch your breath, the scenery will completely
fill your head. The North Island fields are on a live volcano
and the South Island mountain ranges look out across green
lowland valleys and clear blue lakes.
Experienced
snow boarders looking for the ultimate freedom ride should
check out the many professional
heli-boarding
operators. They’ll take you to the best pure powder,
high up in the mountains.
The
lights at Coronet Peak let you ride on into the dark
- perfect for a late start after a big
night out. Queenstown
and Wanaka offer all manner of adrenalin stimulating adventure
activities, so you’ll find yourself in some great
company in this beautiful part of the world.
THE GEOGRAPHY
In both islands, New Zealand has geography with the required
altitude and attitude to deliver great snow sport experiences.
Tectonic forces at work in the South Island have created
the Southern Alps, a range of mountains 550 kilometres long
that’s being forced eternally skyward. Already more
than 3,700 metres tall in places, these mountains are still
growing at a rate of seven millimetres a year. In the North
Island, volcanism can take the credit for some massive snow
sport opportunities. Mount Ruapehu, the largest of three
huge volcanoes that form Tongariro National Park, reaches
to nearly 2,800 metres above sea level.
While every field is unique, they all offer recently upgraded
facilities and terrain that ranges from easy-going beginners
slopes and learners' areas specifically dedicated to novice
skiers. Or, if you want a mountain all to yourself, heli-skiing
will take you to remote slopes and glaciers far from the
reach of road transport.
When your muscles
need a day off from the slopes, there’s
plenty to do in the local resort towns nearby the ski-fields.
Take a blast in a jet boat, swing from a bungy or use your
currency advantage to shop up a storm. At night, off-mountain
après ski energy keeps bars and clubs going until
the small hours.
QUEENSTOWN
During the colder months Queenstown transforms into a winter
wonderland where visitors and locals alike relish the enviable
lifestyle and spectacular environment. Originally a goldminers’ settlement,
this stylish resort town is framed on all sides by breathtaking
mountain ranges. Come winter these same mountains call
skiers and boarders to their peaks.
Ski The Remarkables’ three sunny bowls, marvel at
the big mountain alpine vista and take on the finger chutes
for lunchtime sundeck bragging. This season a new magic
carpet makes it easy for beginners to tackle the challenge
of the slopes, and with three in total, there is plenty
of room to spread out. For riders there is nowhere else
in the Southern Hemisphere where they can do ‘The
Stash’ - a new terrain park located at The Remarkables.
Think Coronet
Peak and think wide ego skiing, think steeps and deeps
and think back bowls for the truly serious. Coronet
Peak is the local’s choice, where the early birds
schuss before work and visitors wonder how they can leave
the mountain’s diverse terrain at all. This season
the introduction of over 140 snow making guns means there
will be expanded coverage. But the really big news at Coronet
Peak is the new base facility which was completely rebuilt
over the summer to practically double its previous size.
Coronet Peak is the only ski area in New Zealand to offer
night skiing.
Itching for
more? Two words - heli ski. Choppers access Southern
Alps terrain you’ve previously only met
in your sleep. The ultimate adventure for advanced skiers
and boarders, heli-skiing provides an opportunity to access
some of the most pristine steeps available.
WANAKA
Over the Crown Range from Queenstown is Wanaka, a lakeside
town that serves several ski areas. Cardrona, located
between Queenstown and Wanaka, is loved for its wide
open spaces, terrain park and family atmosphere. The
newly installed highspeed chairlift will mean less time
in queues and more time on the slopes.
Treble Cone
has some of the longest runs in New Zealand and is a
great field for intermediate/advanced skiers and
riders. Wanaka also has Snow Park, the Southern Hemisphere’s
first mountain resort for freestyle boarders and skiers.
METHVEN
In
Canterbury, just 60 minutes drive from Christchurch, is
Methven - an amazing space for a perfect
winter holiday.
There’s plenty too for an off-mountain day or two.
Snowy mountains and green valleys - Methven itself is seldom
under snow for more than a few days each winter - which
means walking, golf, horse riding, fishing and hunting
(in season) are on offer in winter. Methven represents
heartland New Zealand - an amazing space to just be and
marvellous air to breath. After the day’s exertions,
each evening you can return to Methven where the après
ski is relaxed and fun with plenty of excellent restaurants,
bars and entertainment.
Mount Hutt rules supreme in the Methven
area with more than 365 skiable hectares. It’s
a big mountain with all kinds of terrain and every facility
a snow sports enthusiast
could want. Mt Hutt has recently enhanced its Mini Terrain
Park which is designed to make progression from novice
level through to intermediate terrain riding as easy and
as much fun as possible.
MACKENZIE
COUNTRY
On the eastern side of the Southern Alps
are the friendly boutique fields of the Mackenzie Country
- Roundhill, Ohau
and Mount Dobson. Turquoise glacier-fed lakes, magnificent
alpine scenery and reliable snow cover make these mountains
particularly popular with families.
MOUNT
RUAPEHU
Ruapehu boasts New Zealand's biggest, longest and highest
ski areas and gets the most snow. There are two ski areas
that can be accessed with one lift pass. Whakapapa on
the north-western flanks of the mountain has New Zealand's
premiere dedicated beginners' facility as well as a huge
variety of groomed intermediate and advanced trails and
two excellent lift-accessed back-country areas. Turoa
on the south-western side has an abundance of wide groomed
trails, New Zealand's only lift-accessed glacial skiing
and three terrain parks. On the back of successful upgrades
in the 2007 season which saw an increase in capacity
and snow, Turoa's developments for this year include
a new childcare centre and improvements to its beginners'
area.
