Skiing & Snow Boarding in New Zealand

New Zealand has some of the best skiing and snowboarding locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Great for those who are looking for an alpine adventure.

For the most comprehensive snow site in NZ check out: www.snow.co.nz

NORTH ISLAND:

Whakapapa and Turoa
Whakapapa Ski Area is on the north western slopes, Turoa Ski Area is on the south western slopes. Mt Ruapehu is home to New Zealand's two largest Ski Areas with 1,800 hectares of serious room to move.

These resorts can be found at: www.mtruapehu.com

SOUTH ISLAND:

The most prominent ski fields in the South Island are Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables. These can be accessed at: www.nzski.com

Mt Hutt - www.nzski.com/mthutt/
Nestled high inside the eastern rim of the Southern Alps is Mt Hutt Ski Area, which receives some of the deepest, lightest, driest powder in Australasia. Mount Hutt is the largest ski area in Canterbury. From the on-piste with a mixture of man made and natural snow to the many off-piste areas with wide open bowls, steeps and shutes. There is plenty of terrain for every level of skier.

Cardrona - www.cardrona.com
A high mountain renowned among skiers and snowboarders for dry snow and wide slopes. Voted New Zealand's rider choice for the past three years.

Snow Park - www.snowparknz.com
Located at Cadrona is Snow Park, New Zealand's first all mountain, freestyle terrain park. Without the boundaries and limitations of conventional Mountain terrain parks, Snow Park has the ability to build terrain which will allow freestyle skiers and Snow Boarders the ability to fully express themselves.

Treble Cone - www.treblecone.co.nz
Treble Cone is renowned for its good snow falls and relentless, unyielding terrain. It seems to fall out of the sky in to the Lake below. Covering 550 hectares, it has more skiable terrain than any other ski or snowboard area in the South Island. With the longest vertical rise in the Southern Lakes and spectacular views over Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring, Treble Cone can claim some of the most exhilarating runs in the country.

Coronet Peak and The Remarkables - www.nzski.com
Queentown's original resort ski area is just 25 minutes from town. Coronet Peak is the most developed ski area in the South Island. It is spread across a broad mountain. There are many ways to get down Coronet through every type of terrain from the wide groomed run called M1, to mogul runs, to wide open back bowls. There is a huge beginners area with chairlift access, which copes with the biggest crowds.

Across the valley lies The Remarkables, Queenstown's true alpine ski area. The Remarkables enjoys three sunny sheltered bowls framed by towering peaks, and is known for its friendly atmosphere and relaxed feel. It's a great place to learn to ski with easy access to learner runs by an easy to use chairlift.

A number of smaller Club Fields exist especially around Arthurs Pass region. These offer some challenging terrain and great back country skiing opportunities.

Craigieburn Valley Ski Area: www.craigieburn.co.nz
Porter Heights: www.porterheights.co.nz
Mt Cheeseman: www.snow.co.nz/mtcheeseman
Temple Basin: www.snow.co.nz/templebasin
Ohau: www.ohau.co.nz
Rainbow Ski Area: www.snow.co.nz/rainbow
Hanmer Springs Ski Area: www.snow.co.nz/area/index.htm
Mt Dobson: www.dobson.co.nz
Alpine Guides heli-skiing terrain: www.heliskiing.co.nz
Harris Mountains heli-skiing terrain: www.heliski.co.nz
Broken River: www.snow.co.nz/brokenriver/

You walk barefoot through the middle of town.