When it comes to winter sports, New Zealand offers everything from the capital of winter-sport tourism in Queenstown, to the quieter, yet lively Wanaka ski fields, to the remote and more challenging ski terrain of Mount Potts and the Ruapehu Volcano. In fact, there’s a place for every winter sports lover in New Zealand, whatever your ideal style and sport. For both complete winter sport novices to the absolute masters of the ski field, New Zealand really does have it all.
- Queenstown: The Remarkables and Coronet Peak
If you are looking for a ski resort that suits a group with a real range of abilities, Queenstown should be your first port of call. The Coronet Peak stands just a short ride away from the main buzz of Queenstown and is both a stunningly picturesque mountain and an excellent spot for beginners to obtain lessons from experienced professionals in their chosen winter sport. Meanwhile, those wanting to push their existing their skills to the limit can visit The Remarkables. A liberating feeling of freedom awaits atop this peak! Although it’s a little further away from central Queenstown, it’s certainly worth the journey for those wanting the mountainous terrain of their dreams.
- Wanaka Ski Fields: Treble Cone and Cardrona
Again, here’s a location that caters to everybody’s needs and sporting desires. Experienced skiers searching for a breath-taking location to enjoy might want to visit The Treble Cone in Wanaka ski fields. Its view of the vast lake and the small islands below make it an unforgettable sight. In contrast, Cardrona is a winning spot for families wanting the space to help their young sport-lovers to excel. For instance, it uses a specially designed carpet to assist learners to get to the top of the peak, as well as the usual chairlifts (which beginners usually find a little intimidating).
- Snow Park in Cardrona Valley
What to do if you’re neither a novice nor a professional? Snow Park in the Cardrona Valley is for you! It’s often a struggle for those intermediate winter sports lovers to find a terrain to push their skills to the limit but not overwhelm themselves with the steep falls and demanding locations for the Olympians. The Snow Park provides the perfect balance of trying a variety of challenging and thrilling locations without exceptional adrenaline-junkie heights.
- Mount Potts
Since New Zealand is such a popular winter sports resort, some might find it difficult to cope with the large crowds at the more well-known resorts. While many chose to catch an airlift to backcountry locations such as this, since they are more hidden and less accessible than others, this particular spot does still use a snow-cat. However, this doesn’t mean it’s always busy – groups can actually request to have the entire space to themselves.
- Mount Ruapehu Volcano: Turoa and Whakapapa.
Finally, for all those thrill-seekers out there, how does skiing on a snow-dusted volcano sound to you? Upon arrival, you will see that three active volcanoes mark their place in the North of New Zealand: Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, and Ruapehu. However, these natural skyscrapers might not seem daunting to some. So if you want to get up close and personal with them, you will want to check of the Turoa and Whakapapa ski resorts on the Ruapehu volcano – and both the resorts are just as thrilling and exhilarating as the other.
While New Zealand’s is famed for its winter sports popularity among sporting professionals, it really does have a wonderful variety of landscape and resorts to make it suitable for all ages and abilities.
