Air time... Mount Ruapehu.Credit: Tommy Pyatt
Eight of the country's fields have joined to give skiers access to 2230 hectares of combined terrain, writes Craig Tansley.
The new OnePassNZ covers Cardrona, Treble Cone, Snow Park, Snow Farm, Ohau, Mount Dobson, Roundhill and Porters ski fields. The pass can be loaded with credit and used to take lessons, for meals, for key off-mountain attractions and to rent gear so you don't have to carry equipment from mountain to mountain. Almost all South Island ski areas are now covered by one of two passes: either OnePassNZ or NZSuperPass (for Coronet Peak, Mount Hutt and the Remarkables). See onepassnz.com; nzsuperpass.com.
Children 10 years or younger can ski, sleep, eat and travel for free this year at Methven and Mount Hutt. Land transfers from Christchurch airport are also covered. See kids4free.co.nz.
Cardrona has increased the size and accessibility of its learner area, has more chairlifts than any other South Island resort and will host the best skiers and boarders in the world competing in the FIS Freeski World Cup (August 20-22) and FIS World Cup Halfpipe (August 24-26). Cardrona is also introducing a new radio-frequency ticketing system this season. See cardrona.com.
More than 45,000 people are expected to attend Queenstown's Winter Festival, from June 22 to July 1. In its 38th year, the festival hosts international and local musical and comedy acts, a mardi gras, street parties and ski and snowboard events. See winterfestival.co.nz.
Treble Cone has a new fun park, full of entry-level features for skiers aged four to 13. Treble Cone has also made changes to runs, with Easy Rider widened to aid a skier's progression from the beginner chairlift to Treble Cone's six-seater. See treblecone.com.
Some of the best snowboarders and skiers in the world perform death-defying jumps at the Remarkables resort during the weekend of September 1-2.
The event is in conjunction with the resort's first Big Air contest, providing spectators with plenty of thrills. Queenstown's Parklife Invitational takes place a week earlier, on August 25. See theremarkables.co.nz.
The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Mount Hutt have invested in high-end skis and snowboards, so avoid excess baggage charges this season by leaving snow gear at home.
Mount Hutt and Coronet Peak are expected to open on June 9, the Remarkables on June 16, Cardrona on June 22 and Treble Cone on June 28.
On New Zealand's North Island, Mount Ruapehu's Turoa resort has opened more of its famed eastern slopes and south-east basin terrain with a new Nga Wai Heke chairlift. It's now an easy ride out of the Triangle and Glacier terrain - the best place to be on powder days.
Lift ticket prices for Whakapapa and Turoa remain among the cheapest of NZ resorts. If purchased online, daily lift tickets cost from $71 an adult, $43 a child. Weekend passes cost from $134/$81. A half-day for beginners on Whakapapa's Happy Valley is $32/$19.
Turoa opens on June 16, Whakapapa onJune 23 and both resorts are skiable into October, the longest season in New Zealand.
See mtruapehu.com.
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