Club Ski Areas

Club ski areas in New Zealand aren’t just for members – anyone is welcome! Clubs are simply ski areas run by members rather than a company. Skiing or boarding a club ski area is an awesome experience as conditions are often exciting and varied, crowds are few and prices low. Just remember that facilities may be less sophisticated than at a commercial field.

Maps

Purchase detailed regional maps of New Zealand at www.terralink.co.nz. Visit www.wises.co.nz for interactive New Zealand maps with address searches and driving directions.

Prices

New Zealand is a good value travel destination, particularly for visitors from Australia, Europe and the USA. A main meal may cost NZ$15 to NZ$45. A night’s accommodation will cost NZ$30 to NZ$300 (or more for the ultimate in luxury!). For a one-day adult lift pass you can expect to pay NZ$40 to NZ$70 at a club ski area and NZ$80 to NZ$100 at a commercial ski area. Ski or snowboard hire generally costs NZ$30 to NZ$60 per day.

Qualmark

Taking the guesswork out of choosing your accommodation, transport or activities, Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality. Operators that carry the Qualmark have been assessed as professional and trustworthy. Accommodation providers are also rated on a star grading system so you know exactly what to expect. To find out more about the ratings or to search tourism operators that carry the Qualmark, see www.qualmark.co.nz.

Season

The New Zealand ski and snowboard season generally runs from June to October. A Southern Hemisphere setting means that the seasons occur in reverse of Northern Hemisphere seasons, and snow is falling here when Europe and America are out of action. New Zealand spring skiing is always a big draw, as great snow combined with warmer air temperatures makes for an awesome day on the slopes.

Snow Responsibility Code

The Snow Responsibility Code is an easy-to-remember list of eight simple rules to ensure everyone’s safety on the mountain. Always adhere to the Code – it’s there for your benefit! See www.acc.co.nz for more information. Rule 1 Stay in control at all times. Ski or ride within your ability and always be able to stop. Rule 2 People below you have the right of way. And when you’re moving across the hill, give way to those moving downhill. Rule 3 Obey all ski area signage. If it says ‘closed’, it means ‘closed’! Rule 4 Always look before you leap! Check the landing before you jump and use a spotter on blind jumps.
Rule 5 Stop where you can be seen by others. If stopping on a trail, move aside to a spot where you can be seen from above. Rule 6 Don’t lose what you use. You must wear a device to prevent runaway skis or boards. Rule 7 Stay on scene. If you witness or are involved in an accident, remain on the scene and identify yourself to the ski patrol when they arrive. Rule 8 Respect gets respect. Treat others as you’d like to be treated!

Travelling in New Zealand

New Zealand is an easy country to get around and its temperate climate means that even when there’s snow on the mountains, you can still get outdoors and enjoy the huge range of other outdoor activities that make the country famous. So wherever in the world you’re from, allow time off the slopes to explore. Brown Bear Ski & Snowboard New Zealand includes regional information about ski destinations and major gateway cities, but for further information be sure to check out www.destination-nz.com.

Visitor Information

Look for the i-SITE! New Zealand has an extensive visitor information network providing free and comprehensive local knowledge. Whether you’re an international visitor or a Kiwi visiting a new part of the country, check out the local i-SITE visitor centre for information on where to stay and what to do. They’ll even help you out with reservations. Head to www.i-site.org for a list of i-SITE visitor centres around the country (and a printable map).

Weather Info

Go to www.metservice.co.nz and click on the ‘Mountains & National Parks – Ski Fields’ link for tailored reports on New Zealand ski areas, entered daily by the ski areas during the season. The MetService offers a mobile service for daily or one-off alerts and mountain condition reports sent directly to your mobile. On the About page, click ‘SMS Texting’ and ‘TXT4SNOW’ for more details. If you don’t have the internet, phone MetPhone Mountain & Ski Info for mountain forecasts (from 7am) and AA highway reports. Calls to these services incur a per-minute charge. MetPhone Mountain & Ski Info phone numbers: Central North Island 0900 999 15; Nelson Lakes 0900 999 02; Canterbury 0900 999 26; Southern Lakes 0900 999 81.

Organisations

Speak to the right people. Canterbury Snowsports Association Information on skiing club fields. Disabled Snowsports NZ Supports people with disabilities. NZ Mountain Guides Association Training to International Federation of Mountain Guides standards. NZ Mountain Safety Council Enhancing safety in outdoor adventure. NZ Snow Safety Institute Courses on mountain safety.

Emergency Services

To call police, fire or ambulance services in an emergency, dial 111.

Website

For general New Zealand travel information, check out www.destination-nz.com.