New Zealand’s ski resorts attract thousands of tourists from all over the world. They boast pristine nature, picturesque peaks, and towns with friendly local populations. The other good news is when the ski season comes to an end in the northern hemisphere, it’s just beginning in New Zealand. In this article, you will find the best places for skiing and snowboarding in NZ.
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Canterbury – Mount Hutt
The popular ski resort Mount Hutt is located at the foot of the Southern Alps in the Canterbury area. The resort is known for one of the best snow covers in Australasia. From its fields, you can admire the breathtaking views of the Canterbury Plains and the Pacific Ocean.
Mt. Hutt has a cone-shaped form. Its slopes host fields of diverse levels of complexity. For example, Black Diamond piste is designed for experienced adrenaline riders. You can also enjoy magnificent off-piste riding and newbies can make use of spacious tracks for beginners. For children under 10 years of age, there is the program called Kids 4 Free that includes a free transfer from the international airport in Christchurch, accommodation, meals, free tickets to the Mt. Hutt, and return transfer from Methven.
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Canterbury – Porters
Porters is a ski resort on the South Island that’s located the closest to Christchurch, which makes it the best option for New Zealand self drive tours. Porters is focused on family skiing which means there are pistes for skiers of all levels.
Porters offers breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Coleridge, the slopes of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury Plains, and Christchurch. Children under 7 years can get in for free. The Porters resort also has a world-famous ski school plus equipment rental and repair centers as well as a multitude of cafés and bars.
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Canterbury – Ohau Snow Field
Ohau Snow Field is one of the smallest ski resorts of the South Island. It’s located in the Mackenzie Basin area, near the main watershed of the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook (Aoraki). Snow cover on the pistes of Ohau Snow Field is usually stable, and the weather is favorable for skiing and snowboard riding.
Lake Ohau Lodge offers a variety of ticket discounts. Ohau Snow School organizes skiing and snowboarding classes for students of all ages and levels of training. There’s also a Mountain Goats school and the Ski Racing Academy for children.
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Queenstown – Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak is located just 20 minutes from Queenstown and is a world-class fully-equipped ski field. Snow cannons guarantee high-quality and stable snow cover during the whole season and the maintenance of the pistes is carried out at the highest level. You can also enjoy off-piste riding. Fridays and Saturdays offer night skiing programs and there’s also a special offer for “early birds”.
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Wanaka – Cardrona
Cardrona is a universal resort that has much to offer to riders of any level. With its wide slopes twirled in the funnels of three mountain hollows and a world-class park, Cardrona is a real paradise for skiers and snowboarders. It’s fully equipped for children’s skiing and has slopes specially created for kids up to 5 years.
The “Flexi Fun” program is ideal for parents who visit the resort with their children. Part of the day, young family members can train at the Kids Ski and Snowboard School, where they are able to attend morning and evening ski activities, group classes, and have dinners together.
New Zealand is one of the few places on earth with such drastically changing landscapes. For example, in the morning you can go skiing, then go fishing for trout in a lake, relax on a beach by the ocean after lunch, and in the evening set off on an adventure in the night city. If you’re a ski or snowboarding buff and you don’t want to miss a thing in summer, ski resorts of New Zealand are happily waiting for you to visit!