Skiing in New Zealand
It's the land where The Lord of the Rings films were shot, a country of such absolutely breathtaking nature that it’s become the stuff of legends in its own right. And this wild beauty extends to New Zealand’s ski resorts. Skiing down volcanoes, enjoying views of the ocean from the slopes, dodging sheep on a regular basis and discovering hotsprings and local flora and fauna on your time away from the slopes... there’s just something special about the land of the kiwis. If you want a truly unique ski holiday in the southern hemisphere this summer, look no further than New Zealand.
Thanks to its excellent snowmaking facilities, New Zealand’s largest ski resort also boasts the longest ski season in the country, from the beginning of June through the end of October. The 2018 ski season starts on June 2 when the first lifts open in the aptly named Happy Valley, at the foot of the Ruapehu volcano. By mid-June, the entire ski area is expected to be open for business, including the beginners’ practice area as well as the snow parks and the more advanced pistes for expert skiers and snowboarders. Whakapapa's ski area reaches an altitude of 2320m, meaning guaranteed snow and lovely views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Skiing in Whakapapa at the foot of Mt. Ruapehu © Mt. Ruapehu
Family-friendly Cardrona is situated on New Zealand’s South Island and has plenty of wide, flat slopes with covered conveyor belts, perfect for beginners and children to try out their first turns. More advanced skiers won’t be disappointed either, with 40km of pistes to explore. The snow parks attract stars from the freestyle scene, who train in Cardrona for the X Games and other competitions. Cardrona’s ski season starts on June 6 this year.
Skiing at Cardrona © Cardrona Alpine Resort
Mt. Hutt
ski resort has 40km of slopes, mainly green and blue, perfect for beginner skiers and snowboarders. Special family rates and free skiing for children under the age of 10 make this the ideal choice for families. With an altitude of 2086m, Mt. Hutt is consistently ranked among New Zealand’s snowiest ski resorts. And on exceptionally clear days, you’ll be able to see all the way to the Pacific Ocean!
The ski area of
Coronet Peak
is just a 25-minute drive from Queenstown, making this a popular choice for short day trips. If you’d rather not brave the drive, the Coronet Peak shuttle bus operates several times a day, ferrying skiers back and forth between Queenstown and the ski area. Coronet Peak has around 40km of mostly green and blue pistes, but the big draw is the night skiing on floodlit slopes, available Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The 2018 ski season starts on June 16.
Treble Cone
is the largest ski resort on New Zealand’s South Island, with thigh-burning runs of up to 4km in length. Among the 22km of slopes are plenty of green and blue runs, suitable for families and beginners. Treble Cone also has a good off-piste offering for expert free-riders who are well-versed in avalanche safety measures.
Are you in ski season withdrawal? Aside from New Zealand, Australia, Africa, South America and Japan also offer skiing during our summer months. And summer skiing is not limited to the southern hemisphere – you’ll find around a dozen glacier ski areas in the Alps that offer a perfectly respectable day on the slopes. Don’t forget your sunscreen, though – these ski areas usually reach altitudes above 3000m and you’ll burn faster than normal!
Skiing in New Zealand
It's the land where The Lord of the Rings films were shot, a country of such absolutely breathtaking nature that it’s become the stuff of legends in its own right. And this wild beauty extends to New Zealand’s ski resorts. Skiing down volcanoes, enjoying views of the ocean from the slopes, dodging sheep on a regular basis and discovering hotsprings and local flora and fauna on your time away from the slopes... there’s just something special about the land of the kiwis. If you want a truly unique ski holiday in the southern hemisphere this summer, look no further than New Zealand.
Thanks to its excellent snowmaking facilities, New Zealand’s largest ski resort also boasts the longest ski season in the country, from the beginning of June through the end of October. The 2018 ski season starts on June 2 when the first lifts open in the aptly named Happy Valley, at the foot of the Ruapehu volcano. By mid-June, the entire ski area is expected to be open for business, including the beginners’ practice area as well as the snow parks and the more advanced pistes for expert skiers and snowboarders. Whakapapa's ski area reaches an altitude of 2320m, meaning guaranteed snow and lovely views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Skiing in Whakapapa at the foot of Mt. Ruapehu © Mt. Ruapehu
Family-friendly Cardrona is situated on New Zealand’s South Island and has plenty of wide, flat slopes with covered conveyor belts, perfect for beginners and children to try out their first turns. More advanced skiers won’t be disappointed either, with 40km of pistes to explore. The snow parks attract stars from the freestyle scene, who train in Cardrona for the X Games and other competitions. Cardrona’s ski season starts on June 6 this year.
Skiing at Cardrona © Cardrona Alpine Resort
Mt. Hutt
ski resort has 40km of slopes, mainly green and blue, perfect for beginner skiers and snowboarders. Special family rates and free skiing for children under the age of 10 make this the ideal choice for families. With an altitude of 2086m, Mt. Hutt is consistently ranked among New Zealand’s snowiest ski resorts. And on exceptionally clear days, you’ll be able to see all the way to the Pacific Ocean!
The ski area of
Coronet Peak
is just a 25-minute drive from Queenstown, making this a popular choice for short day trips. If you’d rather not brave the drive, the Coronet Peak shuttle bus operates several times a day, ferrying skiers back and forth between Queenstown and the ski area. Coronet Peak has around 40km of mostly green and blue pistes, but the big draw is the night skiing on floodlit slopes, available Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The 2018 ski season starts on June 16.
Treble Cone
is the largest ski resort on New Zealand’s South Island, with thigh-burning runs of up to 4km in length. Among the 22km of slopes are plenty of green and blue runs, suitable for families and beginners. Treble Cone also has a good off-piste offering for expert free-riders who are well-versed in avalanche safety measures.
Are you in ski season withdrawal? Aside from New Zealand, Australia, Africa, South America and Japan also offer skiing during our summer months. And summer skiing is not limited to the southern hemisphere – you’ll find around a dozen glacier ski areas in the Alps that offer a perfectly respectable day on the slopes. Don’t forget your sunscreen, though – these ski areas usually reach altitudes above 3000m and you’ll burn faster than normal!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
