NZ/Australian Summer Ski Trip Advice

butteredpretzel

butteredpretzel

Active member
Hey NS fam,

I'm planning on taking a week or two to ski in either NZ or Australia this summer and I was hoping to get some advice on which area would be best.

Which has a better park setup, Cardrona or Perisher/Thredbo? I've seen awesome edits from both areas, but I'm wondering what people suggest. What is the best time of summer to visit for the most developed terrain parks?

Where would I stand to have the most fun as a 23 year old traveling by myself?

I'd definitely be staying in a youth hostel wherever I end up going, and I'd prefer to travel to a place where I have the best chance of hanging out with similarly-aged locals or traveling Americans.

Finally, if anyone has any tips for traveling down under or suggestions for things to do while I'm there I'd love to hear them.

Much appreciated!

-ButteredP
 
Cardrona anytime through august you are garunteed to have a good park. Multiple jump lines of carying sizes, tons of rails 2 pipes potentially a 80something ft booter.

Wanaka the town where you'd stay is beautiful, like seriously breath taking.

I can't talk for perisher or threadbo as i haven't been but cardrona is super rad, and New zealand is a sick country!
 
If you're coming from north america, go to NZ

Going to Aus is like going to the east coast from the west

NZ = real mountains. Plus you can stay in either wanaka (more chill but prettier) or queenstown which has tonnes of partying australians at all times
 
13822539:JibbaTheHutt said:
Cardrona anytime through august you are garunteed to have a good park. Multiple jump lines of carying sizes, tons of rails 2 pipes potentially a 80something ft booter.

Wanaka the town where you'd stay is beautiful, like seriously breath taking.

I can't talk for perisher or threadbo as i haven't been but cardrona is super rad, and New zealand is a sick country!
Click to expand...

Solid advice. Wanaka and NZ in general is amazing. Park at Cardrona will be good all the way to closing day in October. We have had all the parks open on closing day for the last 8 years that I have been here. Not as warm as Aus so things hold up pretty good in spring. I would say Cardrona has the best park overall but I am obviously biased.
 
Australia not worth it unless you just want to shred some decent park. In which case, from what I understand, thredbo & perisher are good. Victorian ski areas are meh.

In NZ, Cardrona is where you go to ski park (and to a lesser extent, Remarks?)

But park is stupid, so don't do that.

If you want real skiing.. on real snow with real skis and real mountains an real realness..

Treble Cone & Remarks if you're a bitch and need chairlifts or the club fields if you want the good shit (Craigieburn, Mt Olympus, Temple Basin, etc) For those, bring your climbing harness, because you'll be riding some hardcore nutcrackers all day, and they're way more comfy to ride with a harness rather than the strap they give you.

Also, you have Ruapehu on the north island, which has some sick terrain, but expect some mother fucking ICE.

Case & Point: https://vimeo.com/107386712

Either way, the southern hemisphere is a giant ball of ice with no big trees to mitigate wind (Even in So. Murica). Learn to use your edges, and sack up or stay home down here.
 
Australia has trees. Perisher the pick in Aus for park. It's bigger than thredbo too but really disorganised (I prefer thredbo overall)

13823645:DingoSean said:
Either way, the southern hemisphere is a giant ball of ice with no big trees to mitigate wind (Even in So. Murica). Learn to use your edges, and sack up or stay home down here.
Click to expand...
 
If you are hostelling in Wanaka, its usually hard to get to the hill without a ride. Try joining fb groups to get a rideshare but be prepared that there will be days where no one will offer you a ride. Also, if you have the cash, you can always take the bus back to town.
 
+1 for nz

If you come you should definitely check out the smaller 'club Fields' which have on mtn accommodation relatively cheap.

If your keen im at mt cheeseman most weekends ($35-$90 per night including food)

Living costs in qtown and wanaka are massive, and fuels more expensive than the usa, so expect to be broke in a few days)
 
Hi all,

Borrow the thread.

Also going to NZ in September for skiing (first time) for 14 days. Only fix is Craigieburn at the moment.

Is it possible to rent ski and skins in the area of Christchurch or shall I take own gear (approx 500 us dollar extra on flight).

Maybe do heli-skiing if there is leftovers in the budget or is it a must and were?

@Dingo Sean regarding climbing harness does this work or?
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1554/2851/products/651068_lava_momentum_front__web_2048x@2x.jpg?v=1497870656

all the best and thx

zingo
 
13823986:zingo said:
Hi all,

Borrow the thread.

Also going to NZ in September for skiing (first time) for 14 days. Only fix is Craigieburn at the moment.

Is it possible to rent ski and skins in the area of Christchurch or shall I take own gear (approx 500 us dollar extra on flight).

Maybe do heli-skiing if there is leftovers in the budget or is it a must and were?

@Dingo Sean regarding climbing harness does this work or?
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1554/2851/products/651068_lava_momentum_front__web_2048x@2x.jpg?v=1497870656

all the best and thx

zingo
Click to expand...

Presuming your the adventures type, there a great route from temple basin(small ski field) down to the mingha deception route(aka goat pass) and yhen a walk put to the road. Alternatively you can drop off the back of cragieburn/br and go down to Cass saddle in good snow. Good luck finding a good set of touring gear to rent tho, wither bring your own or expect to have to buy.

Heli is real expensive, and not woth it in unless you go more southern

I know of a few fun routes if your keen to know more
 
For those looking at buying gear, usehttps://trademe.co.nz/search/category=391

To find your gear, as retail costs a ton,

And for skis, the condtions are so variable, go for a stiff pair between 90-110 mm waist for general stuff. Bring as much gear as you can, and save some cash.

The majour outdoor retailer in nz is www.torpedo7.co.nz

That should give you an idea of retail prices.

If any of you come to chch, i can give lifts n shit.
 
13824023:dropimg said:
For those looking at buying gear, usehttps://trademe.co.nz/search/category=391

To find your gear, as retail costs a ton,

And for skis, the condtions are so variable, go for a stiff pair between 90-110 mm waist for general stuff. Bring as much gear as you can, and save some cash.

The majour outdoor retailer in nz is www.torpedo7.co.nz

That should give you an idea of retail prices.

If any of you come to chch, i can give lifts n shit.
Click to expand...

Thx a lot for the info really appreciate it.

Sorry no adventure person,only need a good flow then I ski that's it.

Looks like the retailer do the safe side of brands and gear.

Here in Scandinavia we go to the local store or order it from
https://www.sport-conrad.com/ orhttps://www.sport-bittl.com/

Anyone doing kite-skiing?

Here is a good ski movie done by Norwegian.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6087964/?ref_=nv_sr_2

If you have some more info of good places pls share.

All the best zingo
 
13823956:dropimg said:
+1 for nz

If you come you should definitely check out the smaller 'club Fields' which have on mtn accommodation relatively cheap.

If your keen im at mt cheeseman most weekends ($35-$90 per night including food)

Living costs in qtown and wanaka are massive, and fuels more expensive than the usa, so expect to be broke in a few days)
Click to expand...

Yeah, if I was going to do NZ on my own dime I'd definitely just head to Cheeseman, buy the one ride ticket (like $5 or something?), and skin sidecountry all trip, with maybe a day at Porters and a day at Temple.
 
13823656:auski said:
Australia has trees. Perisher the pick in Aus for park. It's bigger than thredbo too but really disorganised (I prefer thredbo overall)
Click to expand...

Sorry mate.. but gum trees are more bushes than trees. They do nothing to retain snowpack or deflect wind. Also, they don't grow much above 1700-1800m so they do nothing.
 
theyre obviously not as good as a tall conifer but a few days of wind and low visibility in NZ will have you wanting anything

I'm going to NZ in a month BTW.
 
If anyone is considering going to AUS/NZ definitely wait a few weeks before booking. I live in AUS and we are having one of the slowest starts to a season in 20 years. Not saying the whole season entirely is going to be bad, however could be a late start. Definitely keep checking the long range snow forecast before booking!

i'm heading over to NZ at the start of August so hopefully they will get a few good dumps before then.

But yeah, i'd definitely look to come late season as opposed to the next few week so that there is a better chance of good snow.
 
13824021:dropimg said:
I know of a few fun routes if your keen to know more
Click to expand...

Possible to get a update of the snow-situation in the area.

The abstinence begins to become untidy for my environment

All the best

zingo

**This post was edited on Jul 11th 2017 at 5:04:32pm
 
For those wondering - Its currently bucketing down in Aus/NZ.

Over the past few days all Aus resorts have received 40-50+ cm. Over the next week, there is an estimated 50+ cm to come.

Cold temps have allowed for snow making (not really needed at this point), but should be good for a number of weeks assuming temps stay cold which I dare say they would.

NZ is in the same situation. On the south island about 20cm has fallen in the past few days, with the same cold front expected to hit in the next few days after it hits Aus. So quite a bit of snow to be added. No danger of rain or hot temps so NZ looking good.
 
13825920:dropimg said:
Just jad real sendy pow day at treble cone, will be a good season.

More snow is still on the way.
Click to expand...

Can add, had a pretty loose day at coronet peak sending natural hits in next to no vis, pretty loose to say the least. Tomorrow should be hopefully a little clearer so should be good and friday looks good too
 
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