Whats the best ski field in NZ?

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frankie

I live within driving distance to 10 ski fields in the south island - don't listen to those who say the northern ones are better, that's a load of crap - i've done them and they're too crowded (they have less ski fields up north and WAY more population to service)

The best fields are club fields - you need to be a member to ski there. I like temple basin, but the whole field is basically ranked expert with marginal intermediate slopes.

If you want piste with crowds, chairlifts and all the accesories then go to Queenstown - but most international teams from the northern hemisphere (on their of season, our peak season) don't use the commercial fields for this reason - plus they lack good area of expert ranked slopes

The more rustick fields use nutcracker tow ropes - which they crank up to about 3 times the speed of a chairlift which means you get more skiing in once you get the hang of it

The direction of snowfall is also important - a good flurry from one direction will fill some ski fields but maybe not one faced in another direction

For this reason I like the fields around Canterbury - there's usually always 6-7 with a good base

I would say Temple Basin, Cheeseman, Cragieburn, Cardrona, Treble Cone, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak

Porter Heights is very close to Christchurch and sometimes opens first. You can get some wierd skiing at Dobson, Ohau, Mt Olympus, Round Hill and Mt Potts - more club fields in Canterbury. Mt Olmypus has the dodgiest roads on planet earth though

If you're coming to New Zealand for a ski trip NO ONE goes to the north island - that's why Christchurch and Queenstown both have international airports

Lizzie

The "best" depends on what your expectations are. I've skied at Turoa and Whakapapa and hated it. I grew up skiing in Colorado though and was spoiled for spectacular powder and weather. The ski fields on Mt. Ruapehu are very icy, no trees, difficult to tell what is a trail and what isn't (all white). Plus, the weather turns in a heartbeat.

I never got to the South Island, but have heard the skiing there is marginally better, especially by Queenstown. Good luck and make sure your skis or board is tuned and the edges are sharp. :)

James

whakapapa / mt reapehu is pretty good and in the south island hitup some of the privately owned ski hills in Queenstown. There is some sick back country on the South Island but the tows are pretty sketch, and nobody even knows what a gondalla is?!?

Driver T

Two main ones in the North Island - {Whakapapa and Turoa} both on Ruapehu, but 5 altogether (3 on Rupapehu and 2 on Egmont). Egmont ones are Stratford and North Egmont.
In the S I there are many. The most popular ones are at QT, being Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Cardrona. Out of Wanaka there's Treble Cone, and others are Mt Hutt, Dobsons, Rainbow, et al.
The best - well, Turoa, Whakapapa, Mt Hutt, Cardrona, Remarkables and Coronet, but not necessarily in that order.

Luke L

Whakapapa and Turoa

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