Skiing NZ
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Has anyone here done much? I haven't ridden here since I was at Uni, 20 years ago.
In particular, has anyone spent time at the North Island ski fields? Is Ohakune a fun place for family to stay? (I had a wicked time there as a 20yr old working at Turoa for a season). Is it easy to get up the hill every day with shuttles etc or do you need your own vehicle with chains etc? And Turoa or Whakapapa?
Looking at spending between 2 weeks and 4 weeks somewhere in late June if it all opens up again
Any advice appreciated!
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Has anyone here done much? I haven't ridden here since I was at Uni, 20 years ago.
In particular, has anyone spent time at the North Island ski fields? Is Ohakune a fun place for family to stay? (I had a wicked time there as a 20yr old working at Turoa for a season). Is it easy to get up the hill every day with shuttles etc or do you need your own vehicle with chains etc? And Turoa or Whakapapa?
Looking at spending between 2 weeks and 4 weeks somewhere in late June if it all opens up again
Any advice appreciated!
Is Turoa usually open in June? I thought it was usually the last to open??
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@Hooroo that's why I'm here mate, I know nothing!!!
I can't back this up as I haven't been up Ruapehu in decades as now do south island only for Skiing.
Something in the back of my mind tell me it doesn't get going until July. Can't back that up though
Why only South Island now? Is it the snow, weather , or apres that makes you get on a plane there?
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@Hooroo that's why I'm here mate, I know nothing!!!
I can't back this up as I haven't been up Ruapehu in decades as now do south island only for Skiing.
Something in the back of my mind tell me it doesn't get going until July. Can't back that up though
Why only South Island now? Is it the snow, weather , or apres that makes you get on a plane there?
'D: All of the above.
Selection of fields and Central Otago going ons. Love it down there.
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@Hooroo that's why I'm here mate, I know nothing!!!
I can't back this up as I haven't been up Ruapehu in decades as now do south island only for Skiing.
Something in the back of my mind tell me it doesn't get going until July. Can't back that up though
Why only South Island now? Is it the snow, weather , or apres that makes you get on a plane there?
'D: All of the above.
Selection of fields and Central Otago going ons. Love it down there.
We also sometimes go to Mt Hutt due to distance to parents farm.
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@Hooroo that's why I'm here mate, I know nothing!!!
I can't back this up as I haven't been up Ruapehu in decades as now do south island only for Skiing.
Something in the back of my mind tell me it doesn't get going until July. Can't back that up though
Why only South Island now? Is it the snow, weather , or apres that makes you get on a plane there?
'D: All of the above.
Selection of fields and Central Otago going ons. Love it down there.
It is amazing alright . Even though we only did the direct route in the end, the drive from QT to Geraldine was just spectacular.
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Turoa.
It is expensive to get up in the shuttle.
The field owns the shuttle, and they make a mint out of it.
Fine for a weekend, crippling for 2 weeks.
They do chain fittings on days it us compulsory to have chains. If the day is chains advised, eg ok to go up in AWD without chains then no assistance fitting. They prefer u to use the expensive shuttle.
Easy to hire chains in village. But better off by far to hire a 4WD / AWD for your fortnight.
For kids/family. There is an indoor climbing place for a closed day fun. Waiouru army museum. Tookanu hot pools worth the drive If mountain closed. After that struggling for activities that aren't outdoor (hiking and mountain biking))
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If its u and your boys then combining with a Wanganui river canoeing trip would be good. 3 day trips from Ratehi holiday camp, with kayaks , barrels, and pick up / drop off included.
But if includes your wife and if she's a bit prissy, then probably wouldn't reccomend. Middle of winter ....
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If its u and your boys then combining with a Wanganui river canoeing trip would be good. 3 day trips from Ratehi holiday camp, with kayaks , barrels, and pick up / drop off included.
But if includes your wife and if she's a bit prissy, then probably wouldn't reccomend. Middle of winter ....
and what about if @voodoo is a bit soft too??
The canoeing sounds awesome but in the middle of Winter, I would be giving that a slow sidestep.
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If its u and your boys then combining with a Wanganui river canoeing trip would be good. 3 day trips from Ratehi holiday camp, with kayaks , barrels, and pick up / drop off included.
But if includes your wife and if she's a bit prissy, then probably wouldn't reccomend. Middle of winter ....
and what about if @voodoo is a bit soft too??
The canoeing sounds awesome but in the middle of Winter, I would be giving that a slow sidestep.
So, would I, tbh.
But the 3 day trip starts from below the rapids. So get wet or as dry as you want. But in a ravine the whole time, so cold I would assume even when dry.
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I haven't skied at the North Island fields in years - but, my North Island friend who goes occasionally isn't keen on them due to the crowds. A factor to consider.
I think even a lot of the South Island fields struggle to have good snow in June these days, so if you can go later conditions will probably be better - but who knows - a good storm can change everything.
If you were going to do four weeks, I'd think hard about doing the South Island fields. We often stay in Ashburton and ski Mt. Hutt/Porter Heights and then head to Twizel to ski Ohau - or alternatively stay in Wanaka and Q'town with Treble Cone, Cardrona, Coronet and the Remarkables giving lots of options.
I'd imagine accommodation prices will be pretty sharp this year.
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I haven't skied at the North Island fields in years - but, my North Island friend who goes occasionally isn't keen on them due to the crowds. A factor to consider.
I think even a lot of the South Island fields struggle to have good snow in June these days, so if you can go later conditions will probably be better - but who knows - a good storm can change everything.
If you were going to do four weeks, I'd think hard about doing the South Island fields. We often stay in Ashburton and ski Mt. Hutt/Porter Heights and then head to Twizel to ski Ohau - or alternatively stay in Wanaka and Q'town with Treble Cone, Cardrona, Coronet and the Remarkables giving lots of options.
I'd imagine accommodation prices will be pretty sharp this year.
This, do this! ^
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@Hooroo With four weeks you could comfortably do both those options - and some of the South Canterbury fields as well, which I think @Crucial knows lots about and can make better recommendations than me.
Absolutely and you can stay in Methven etc which for a short space of time is lovely. In fact in four weeks, I would do a few nights in Kaikoura and ski that field too (I have never done so before). You could tick off a heck of a lot of the fields down there and experience a myriad of scenes and things.
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@Hooroo When I was younger, fitter and under more time pressure we did a couple of road trips down from Nelson - one where we skied at Rainbow, drove to Hanmer that evening; skied at Amuri drove to Ashburton in the evening... The other we stayed in Kaikoura for a night, skied Mt Lyford and drove on to Ashburton that evening.
Lyford is a nice setting - not sure I'd want to spend a week there. Amuri's main tow was (and I suspect still is) an old nutcracker - so hard work.
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Cheers fellas. I've always been under thebm impression that everything was better ski wise down south. In fact we currently have a week at Wanaka booked in July with a view to ski Cardrona (booked pre-Covid).
But after spending 6wks down that way, I was hoping you'd all say that the North has improved massively and is now just as good...but appears not!
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The lifts at Turoa have improved massively. Have had the 6 seater for about a decade, and supposed to have a gondola for this season. Gondola means can stay open on windy days, so less days with closed mountain. Don't now what lockdown will have meant for that.
But will always be better snow and less changeable weather down Otago.
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The problem with North Island ski fields is limited options and SHITLOADS of people. When (well IF) you get a semi decent day then every man and his dog will be there. It's chaos.
For past 4 or so years we've done our family winter break in ohakune and a fair bit of skiing and snowboarding but last August we went to queenstown instead and wow so much better. Much quieter on the mountain due to better ratio of people to ski options. I think I would prob stay in Wanaka tho next time.
