Ski & Snowboard New Zealand Fast Facts

Club Ski Areas

You don’t have to be a member to ski on a New Zealand club ski area – anyone is welcome! The main drawcard of club ski areas is the price. For an adult lift pass you pay at least NZ$20 less than for an adult lift pass on a commercial ski area.

Club ski areas are run by club members rather than by a company and slopes are less crowded. Club fields are smaller but offer a more social atmosphere and conditions are still varied and exciting. However, facilities are basic. Although most NZ club ski areas have day lodges, T-bar lifts or rope tows, they might not have snow grooming.

Most club ski areas provide on-mountain ski accommodation, saving you travelling up the mountain on a daily basis. Ski accommodation ranges from budget accommodation with casual restaurants and backcountry huts with outdoor hot tubs with to ski lodges.

New Zealand Maps

Download destination-nz.com regional maps for FREE, or purchase detailed regional maps at www.terralink.co.nz. If you’re after an online address search and/or driving directions visit www.wises.co.nz for interactive New Zealand maps.

New Zealand Recipes

New Zealand is a good-value destination for a snowboard or ski holiday, especially if you’re travelling to New Zealand from the US, Australia or Europe. Expect to pay around NZ$15 to $45 for your après-ski main meal, NZ$24 to $60 per day for full snowboard/ski hire and an average of NZ$30 per day for full ski clothing hire on the mountain. A night’s accommodation starts at around NZ$15 for a dorm bed in a hostel and rises to NZ$300 (or more for the ultimate deluxe accommodation!). In terms of lift passes, a one-day adult lift pass costs NZ$70 to $99 at a commercial ski area or NZ$40 to $70 at a club field. Fine out more about New Zealand's ski areas.

Qualmark

Qualmark, New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality, is awarded to New Zealand accommodation and transport providers and NZ activity operators. Establishments carrying the Qualmark logo have been assessed as trustworthy and professional, and all types of accommodation are rated on a star grading system telling you exactly what to expect. 

New Zealand Ski Season

The New Zealand ski season usually runs from June to October which means that you can hit New Zealand’s ski areas when the snow in America and Europe is long melted. Spring (September till November) is a good time for NZ skiing and snowboarding. A good base of snow combined with warmer air temperatures make for awesome spring skiing.

Travelling in New Zealand

New Zealand’s temperate climate means that you can enjoy a myriad of NZ outdoor activities off the mountains even during peak ski season. If you feel like a day off from skiing, the snowy peaks of New Zealand’s mountains provide a great backdrop for water activities or golfing in the winter sun. Check out the regional pages for detailed information about New Zealand activities on offer.

New Zealand Weather Information

Before heading out to the mountains you should always check the weather. You can find detailed weather reports on New Zealand ski areas and mountains on www.metservice.com. Click on the ‘Mountains & National Parks – Ski Fields’ link to find weather reports on each New Zealand ski area that are updated daily during the NZ ski season.

Another option to get your weather updates is the MetService mobile service which sends either one-off or daily alerts, as well as mountain condition reports, right to your mobile. To find out more about this service, go to the About page, click 'SMS Texting' and 'TXT4SNOW'.

If you’re not hooked up to the internet you can also call MetPhone Mountain & Ski Info. AA highway reports and the latest MetService New Zealand mountain forecasts are available daily from 7am. The MetPhone Mountain & Ski numbers to call are: Central North Island 0900 999 15, Nelson Lakes 0900 999 02, Canterbury Region 0900 999 26, Southern Lakes 0900 999 81. Calls incur a per-minute charge.

Emergency Services

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

Ski Runs Colour Coding

New Zealand ski runs are graded according to difficulty and marked with the colours green, blue and black. Check out what the different colours stand for:
GREEN = Easy. Green ski runs are usually groomed and wide and not too steep.
BLUE = Intermediate. The bulk of runs in a ski area are blue and they’re usually the busiest pistes.
BLACK = Advanced. Black ski runs are amongst the most difficult on a mountain and pretty steep.
DOUBLE BLACK = Experts only! Double black ski runs are exceptionally steep and have obstacles such as trees or drop-offs.

New Zealand Visitor Information

Whether you need information on New Zealand’s mountains or general travel information, the i-SITE Visitor Information Centres, which you’ll find all around New Zealand, are there to help. This extensive visitor information network offers free local knowledge and can help you with reservations. For a list of New Zealand i-SITEs (and a printable map) visit www.i-site.org.

New Zealand Snow Sports Organisations

Thinking of becoming a ski instructor? Interested in mountain safety courses? Looking for more information on professional snow sports in New Zealand? Here’s a list of great snow sports organisations:
Backcountry Avalanche Advisory www.avalanche.net.nz Reports and news on safety in the backcountry and avalanche dangers.
Canterbury Snowsports Association www.skisouth.org.nz Links and information for skiing at New Zealand club ski areas.
Disabled Snowsports New Zealand www.disabledsnowsports.org.nz Supports people with disabilities, helping them to enjoy New Zealand’s slopes and compete on them.
FreeSki Association of New Zealand http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freeski-Association-New-Zealand/111225717937 Governing body of New Zealand freestyle and free-ride skiing.
New Zealand Mountain Guides Association www.nzmga.org.nz Provides training to International Federation of Mountain Guides (IFMGA) standards in New Zealand.
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council www.mountainsafety.org.nz Enhancing safety in New Zealand outdoor adventure activities.
New Zealand Snowsports Council www.snow.co.nz/snowsports Promotes snow sports as leisure activities for all ages and abilities.
New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance www.nzsia.net Training and certifying ski and snowboard instructors since 1971.
Ski Racing New Zealand www.skiracing.org.nz Responsible for the conduct of ski racing in New Zealand.
Snow Sports New Zealand www.snowsports.co.nz The FIS (International Ski Federation) and New Zealand Olympic Committee-recognised national sports organisation representing snow sports in NZ.
Speed Ski New Zealand www.speedski.co.nz Supporting the development of New Zealand speed skiing.

Finf Out More ...

For more information on New Zealand skiing, including mountain accommodation, mountain transport, activities and après-ski, check out www.brownbearski.co.nz.