Preparing for a Ski Season in New Zealand

There’s a lot to think about when you’re packing up and heading off to New Zealand for the winter, it’s not as easy as throwing your skis/board in a bag and heading to the airport.

Thorough preparation can help make your winter one you’ll remember forever! Here’s a schedule to follow to help you get everything done in time:

Dec-Feb: Decide you want to spend a winter in NZ! Buy your flights as soon as possible so you can get the cheapest deals on offer. The best towns to spend your NZ winter are Queenstown and Wanaka as these are the liveliest and have the most mountains to ski/ride. Your options are to fly in to Christchurch and catch the bus down (6 hours, cheapest option), buy/hire a vehicle or get another flight to Queenstown. And don’t forget to buy travel insurance that includes winter sports!

March: Hopefully you’ve decided by March that you are heading to the Land of the Long White Cloud so you can buy a cheap season pass. Most resorts offer big discounts for their season passes if you buy them early so check out their websites. It’s also a good time to book your accommodation. There are only a few lodges/backpackers that will let you stay long term (for about $25 - $30 per night) so you need to contact them now! Otherwise you should arrive in early June to find a room for rent - check the local notice boards. Bring some references too.

April: It’s time to start getting in shape. Most people will ski/ride for 5-6 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. For some reason a lot of tourists think they can handle this even though in their normal lives they rarely exercise and spend most of their time in an office. Let me tell you – they can’t handle it! After the second day their legs will be like jelly and they start to have accidents. Don’t let this happen to you, join a gym or play some regular sports. Try to get the legs strong and fit. Endurance exercises are best.

May: Hopefully you’re a bit fitter now and watching lots of skiing/boarding dvds. I find it helps to put all your gear on (including skis/board) while you watch!

June: The ski fields open this month so it’s time to pack. The weather will hopefully be cold and snowy most of the time but in NZ we get quite a few warm days too. The best outerwear to buy is just a shell – it’s wind and waterproof but not thick. This way you can wear as many layers as you need underneath but when it gets warm you can strip down and not overheat. For layers underneath, make sure you have thermals and a fleece or two.
Other things you will need – goggles, beanies, helmet, gloves, long socks.
Get your skis/board tuned and ready for action. Sharp edges and a fresh wax are a must.

July: You should be here by now! Start off by skiing/riding a few hours a day and exploring the mountain. Don’t overdo it in the first week, you have plenty of time and don’t want to ruin it by injuring yourself straight away.

July: October: Skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding, skiing/riding! You’re having a great time and improving out of sight! Take lots of photos and put them on Facebook to make all your friends at home jealous. Encourage them to get out of the office and join you!!!

October: Fly home a bit depressed because you are leaving so many of your new best friends. Stay in touch with them so you can plan next winter and rent a house together. Get your skis/board waxed and tell the people at the workshop to leave it on so the base and edges stay protected over summer.

November: Book flights to Japan so you can do it all over again from December to April!!

Written by Matt Phare of Snow Trainers

Now check out our guide to the best ski resorts