What is the snow linke on Mt Ruapehu, North Island , New Zealand.?

Question

I am planning a skiing holiday this july and want to know where the best place to go skiing in NZ is and what the snow is like.

Answer 1

Check out the sites below - they should give you the information you are looking for.

New Zealand skiing probably offers the best the Southern Hemisphere has to offer and although the areas are smaller than in Europe, the backcountry skiing is spectacular.

Whakapapa at Mt Ruapehu is the largest resort in the country. 200 miles from Auckland in the North Island, it has 20 lifts, including a high-speed quad and regularly gets late-season snow.

Heading to the South Island, Mount Hutt is only an hour's drive from Christchurch and 40 mins from Methven. With 4.5m average snowfall per year, the lively approach road is worth taking on for the chance to try out the excellent terrain out the back of South Face. The resort has a good record as being one of the first to open in the Southern Hemisphere.

Further south is Queenstown, New Zealand's self-proclaimed Xtreme sports capital. From here Coronet Peak, Treble Cone and the Remarkables are all within a short drive, plus there's rafting, bungee jumping and a massive number of bars to keep you occupied. Advanced skiers will want to check out The Remarkables for some great backcountry skiing, while Treble Cone is probably the most challenging field in the area with some excellent steep terrain.

The breathtaking scenery, Kiwi hospitality and the sense of isolation you get in Wanaka make it less a tourist destination and more like a typical resort. Treble Cone is still close, but Cardrona is the closest resort.

There are over 20 ski fields in New Zealand. As well as the major stations, Natives reporter, Tom Greenall, has visited and given us his impressions of some of the smaller fields like Craigieburn, Porter Heights and Mt Lyford.

For more detail on all the the main ski areas, check out Zoe Watson's report on working seasons in NZ

When To Go

Most resorts open up in early-June and are in full swing by July. The season runs until mid-October, although up in the North Island there's often still snow late-on.