new zealand skiing season?
Question by Davo: new zealand skiing season?
I’m from Australia, i am planning to go skiing in New Zealand next winter (2010). I have never been there before. My only available holiday is from 29th Jun to around 15th July.
On the websites, most of the NZ ski resorts say the season starts around 28th June. This is what they say, but i know for example, Australian resorts like Thredbo, say their season starts on first weekend of June, but most of us know that 9 out of 10 years, there won’t be good snow (if any at all) until well into July. Is New Zealand the same?
Is it worth taking the risk of paying for a trip to New Zealand in early to mid July or is there a high risk of there not being any snow and my money wasted?
Thanks for your replies
Best answer:
Answer by Crikey a Wild Ski Bum
New Zealand is the same, it’s pretty much just man-made snow with the occasional light dusting of snow at that point unless they’re really lucky.
Also, I think there’s a kiwi student holiday around the 10th – 20th of July, so it’s extremely crowded. I wouldn’t really bother going til after July 25th unless you want to ski either crappy snow or just one or two runs (sometimes both!). Later August is probably the best time
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I live in NZ. The school holidays next year are from 3 – 18 July. There is normally snow at that time. This year there was heaps of snow at that time. At Mt Ruapehu the risk of booking isn’t the snow cover, it’s the weather. I don’t book in advance there because of 4 days I wasted once waiting for the weather to clear. But if you’re crossing the ditch I presume you’re going to the South Island which is more reliable weather-wise. I recommend you just book. The South Island hasn’t let me down over an extended period. If you want to be on the safe side snow-wise, ski from the 12th to the 15th. Try to avoid the weekends if you can, especially at Mt Hutt or Coronet Peak. Cardrona is a great field for all except the most advanced skiers, and being high it has a long season. Go ahead, book. Most days in July at Cardrona I find myself sitting next to Aussies on the chairlifts.