New Zealand Skiing Guide: Does New Zealand ski to the South Island or the North Island?
: Choose South Island or North Island
1. Snow season and snow conditions
National Day skiing is more suitable for North Island.
The snow fields in New Zealand are basically shaded by trees, and the weather is relatively changeable, but besides, there are some differences between the snow conditions and the snow season. Turoa Ski Resort and Hua Kapapa Ski Resort, the two major ski resorts in the North Island, are located in the ruapehu Mountain area in the middle of the North Island. The characteristics of no tree shelter and changeable weather are more obvious in volcanic terrain. The snowfield is surrounded by wind, so it is difficult to store new snow, and the quality of snow is sometimes wet.
In terms of snowfall, although the snow season in the North Island is a little later than that in the South Island, it starts in the middle and late June, but because of its stronger snow-making ability, the snow season in the North Island ends later than that in the South Island, usually until the end of October or even the beginning of November. For travelers who want to ski during the National Day holiday, North Island is also one of the few choices in the world.
2. the topography and scale of the snowfield. Enthusiastic snow lovers and mountain skiers prefer North Island.
The scale of the North Island ski resort is larger than that of the South Island. Among them, Hua Kapapa Ski Resort with 67 ski trails is the largest ski resort in New Zealand, and Tulova Ski Resort has the highest drop of 722 meters in Oceania.
Unlike the towering Alps in the South Island, the unique volcanic landform of the North Island Ski Resort makes the terrain of Tulova and Kapapa Ski Resort very rich. Skiers of all levels can find their favorite areas, from the flat accumulated snow trails to the natural U-shaped groove terrain. In addition, the rich experience route brought by the North Island volcano terrain and the more selectivity brought by the distribution of various ski resorts around the North Island volcano are also the reasons why wild snow lovers and mountain skiers prefer the North Island.
3. Convenient
Skiing in the North Island is suitable for self-driving and public transportation in the South Island is convenient.
Snow resorts in the north and south islands of New Zealand generally lack mountain accommodation facilities, so travelers usually live in small towns near the snow resorts. When you go skiing in the North Island, you usually choose Ohakune at the foot of the volcano, while in the South Island, you usually choose the more lively Queenstown or Wanaka.
if you go skiing in the north island, most people will choose to drive by car. It takes about 5 hours to drive from Auckland or Wellington. Therefore, many travelers will consider combining road trip with skiing. Passengers who want to go skiing in South Island can transfer directly to Queenstown, which saves the trouble of long-distance self-driving and snow driving.
4. Price
Compared with the price of ski resorts, there is little difference between North Island and South Island. However, due to the fact that all kinds of accommodation prices in Aokuni, North Island are generally cheaper than those in Queenstown, South Island, it may be more cost-effective.
distribution of mainstream ski resorts and clubfields
There are more than 2 ski resorts in New Zealand, which are located in various areas of the North and South Islands. However, because many ski resorts exist in the form of clubs, there are seven relatively mainstream ski resorts in the South and North Islands, namely Turoa Ski Resort in the North Island, Wakapapa Ski Resort in Kapapa, Corone Peak Ski Resort in the South Island, Ray Macaba Les Ski Resort, Kadrona Ski Resort and Tribble Cone Ski Ski Resort in the South Island.
1. South Island | Crown Peak Ski Resort
For skiers who are looking for excitement, the rich terrain of Crown Peak snowfield can also make them find some challenges. Although the altitude of the snowfield is relatively low, it is difficult to store snow. However, a small amount of snowfall combined with funa can meet most of the requirements of snow suppression, but it is not easy to slip into wild snow.
Skiers who are marked as underworld or double black high-grade roads, as well as mushrooms or rugged terrain, can have fun by combining freestyle movements with terrain.
It should be noted, however, that one of the problems in low-altitude snow fields is the continuous circulation of frozen snowmelt, and the snow trails will catch up with the ice from time to time. Unfortunately, the Crown Peak Ski Resort also has a nickname called Concrete Peak.
In addition, if you want to seize the opportunity to have fun or experience skiing at night, ru is also a good choice
2. South Island | Sanduishan Ski Resort
Sanduishan Ski Resort, the most beautiful holiday resort in New Zealand, is their holy land for travelers who want to enjoy wild snow.
Not only does the South Island have the largest wet and slippery area, the largest snowfall and the largest number of gangsters, but the magnificent scenery of Lake Wanaka is also commendable.
Compared with the underworld in other snow resorts, the snow trails in Sandui Mountain are narrower, steeper and more difficult to walk. What is more challenging is countless rich wild snow terrain, cliffs, ridges, gullies and even natural U-shaped grooves. It will be fun if we catch the abundant snowfall.
For cross-country and wild snow lovers, they move all the way from the home basin to the saddle basin, and naturally come to their amusement park with fewer and fewer snow trails.
However, it should be noted that the snow-making facilities in Sandui Mountain are far from other snow fields. When the snow conditions are poor, bad situations such as ice and grass exposure also occur from time to time. So for beginners and novices, this is not a suitable place.
3. North Island | kapapa Ski Resort
Kapapa Ski Resort, with 62 snow trails and a sliding surface of over 55 hectares, is the largest ski resort in New Zealand. The base station at the foot of the mountain is also well built. In addition to ticket sales, ski schools, equipment rental and other facilities, there are shops, restaurants and bars, which are relatively complete.
It belongs to a polarized ski resort, which is friendly to novice and advanced players. It's not as good as the skiing in Tuloa, where there are so many exercises, which are suitable for friends who want to advance. Happy Valley, a large independent novice area in Kapapa, not only opens in early June every year, but also ranks first in New Zealand.
as far as I'm concerned, I'm more interested in the challenging terrain in Kapapa, China. Both the marked mafia and the wild snow areas outside the boundaries of a large number of snow fields have left a good impression on people. In addition, the scenery here is even more beautiful in Biturro, and Kapapa is my first choice of snow resort in the North Island.
4. About club courses
Club courses all over New Zealand are more popular venues for pure skiers. Club venues are owned and operated by different ski clubs, and are usually open to the public except members.
Mangnui and Tukino in the North Island are located in Taranaki Mountain and Ruapehu Mountain respectively, while the Craigiben Valley, Broken River, Cheeseman Mountain and Olympus Mountain in Canterbury are the most famous in the South Island.
For skiers who want to experience authentic club venues, the best choice is Canterbury in the South Island. They can choose to stay in Methven, a ski town on the South Island, or simply live in a club venue. On snowy days, members may not want to remove snow and close roads, and dozens of people can contract a whole mountain of good snow. After skiing, everyone plays the guitar and chats in the hot tub. Everyone around you may have amazing stories and enjoy an atmosphere completely different from that of a commercial ski resort.
There are roughly two kinds of people in this world, those who like winter and those who don't. People who hate the cold choose to hide in the southern hemisphere for the summer during the Spring Festival, but we insist on going to New Zealand for the winter in sweltering August.