Australia vs New Zealand

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The snow in NZ is usually better but Australian skiing is a different experience. You can stay on the mountain and walk to the lifts, whereas you have to drive up the mountain every day in NZ because there's no accom up there. That also means there's awesome nightlife, especially at mt buller.
 
It's like PA vs. Vermont. But with cooler people who can't dance and less -30 days.

If you go to NZ from the US, you'd be crazy not to heli. Cheap as chips mate!
 
depends what you want

NZ, awesome touring and hiking, great backcountry terrain wise (not nec snow wize), great parks, great nightlife, beautiful country, cheap heliskiing

Aus, pretty flat, almost every afternoon is a slushfest, pretty good parks, more expensive, tree skiing!

I live in Australia btw and have skied NZ the last 3 winters with the odd week in perisher/buller

planning on buller this year though
 
Can't speak for NZ, but Aus can be suprisingly good after a dump, unique gumtrees hold the powder well and although no where near Japan or Canada in lightness standards and the sheer amount, it is still worth getting up early for.
 
Having just finished doing back to back seasons in NZ, Aus, n Japan. From snow point of view NZ is a little better, terrain wise NZ is miles ahead with proper mountains. From nightlife perspective both are equally epic.

Bottom line is NZ has better/varied terrain conditions, better pipes, better parks (at least from sheer number of hits), plus Qeenstown is a blast party town. However Buller, Falls Creek, n Thredbo have amazing ski in ski out accom though and great parks too (just a little shorter than NZ).

From my experience NZ was better. I skied 100+ days in NZ and 120+ in Aus. Also its more expensive to ride in Oz then NZ.
 
This.

I'm Aussie and I agree. Snow wise, Australia will be better 1/3 of the time, NZ will be better the other 2/3. Terrain - NZ has REAL MOUNTAINS, Australia has rolling hills. NZ north island and Canterbury region in the south island are particularly sick.

Australian alpine areas are heavily protected too, so forget about sleds, helis, etc.

NZ resorts are far less developed though. They're small (Remarks may have 3 lifts?), have shitty non-detachable double chairs, etc. You also need to drive up to the mountain every day for most places; Treble Cone, Snow Park and Cardrona would be maybe 30 min from Wanaka roughly, Remarkables and Coronet the same from Queenstown.

Terrain parks - pick your resort in either country. Cardrona and Snow Park in NZ, Perisher and maybe Falls in Australia

I'll do a couple of weeks in NZ this year and a handful of weekends at Thredbo
 
Also, consider the exchange rate if your from the US. Australia is probably the most expensive place in the world to ski at the best of times, and with our dollar buying 110 US cents, it's going to cost you even more (long term it's usually around 80)

If you're doing a season, NZ
 
i teach in thredbo and more often than not people show up to lessons in jeans, have had people wearing suit jackets, witnessed people trying to put their boots on while still wearing trainers, people walking alone the pavement or down stairs with their skis still on, its like gaper day, everyday.
 
OP: If you are really picking to go to one of these places to ski...you'd be insane not to pick NZ.

The mountains: Australian mountains are a bitch to get to, and like I said...they're the poconos. They are also very expensive. NZ mountains are more the size of VT mountains and are all above the tree line. Now it is better skiing on average than Vermont, but don't go there thinking they are WC mountains. You will get asked the question "You're American?! Why'd you come all the way here to ski?" at least once anywhere in Oceania.

The Moolah: AUS is pretty expensive. To ski. To party. To do anything. The exchange rate is not too good either. NZ has a better exchange rate and is overall cheaper. Skiing and heli are REAL cheap. On top of that, a slab (case) of beer in AUS is at least $32 AUD...for shit. I once saw a case of Corona there for $72. The beer is also kind of lacking. TUI >> Tooheys.

The people: Australians and Kiwis are awesome. Some of the best people I've ever met come from these two countries...and they'll do fucking anything for ya. Cheers to them! The only difference is probably loudness and attitude. If you blaze, Kiwis are more your speed.

The women: Don't go there for the local women. Find a Swede or Sudamericana

Fly into Queenstown. Fly out of Christchurch. Hit the ski clubs. Hike Ohau. If you're into park tap the Remarkables and obviously Snowpark.
 
i would definitly not call wanaka's night life epic.

every thing closes super early...

if you want a good night life in the summer go to les 2 alpes.

otherwise i ve never been to australia, so i cant compare, but NZ skiing is fun. it s definitly a whole experience, and going there is like making a dream come true. (at least it was for me)

the parks are really good, especially cardrona for jumps.

dont hesitate to pm me if you have questions about NZ
 
Yeah so do I and the little questions inside the cap. My mates and I when pregaming would play the rule that if someone got the question right when you opened a new one you right you drank 'to the T' - made for many a great night.
 
I always preferred speights questions to be honest,

and nah, not to the T, finishing your drink is way better ha.
 
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