Skiing South Island | 7 Day New Zealand Tour

Kia Ora and welcome to Christchurch. Your tour starts bright and early at 6.30 am at Haka Lodge so we promise no cheesy introductions! With a whole day on the slopes ahead of us, we waste no time in leaving to drive to Mt. Hutt. On the way your guide will make a stop at the ski / board hire shop to collect any equipment required.

Located high in the Southern Alps, Canterbury’s Mt. Hutt Ski Area receives some of the lightest and driest powder in Australasia. A big mountain (365 skiable hectares) with great terrain, this ski field is an awesome winter experience for all first timers and seasoned powder hounds.

There are plenty of adrenalin-pumping black diamond runs on the South Face, presenting extreme skiers and boarders with as many different challenges as they can handle. The wide, open trails provide easy learning for novice skiers and excellent terrain to build on your existing skills.

Conditions permitting, there is also backcountry skiing down North Peak with a helicopter pick-up that drops skiers back at the car park.

Available activities

Ski Clothing Hire $172

Today we take you to Ohau, a remote ski field which can be found midway between Christchurch and Queenstown.

Ohau caters for all abilities, with snow ratings of 20% beginner, 50% intermediate and 30% advanced. From the highest point of 1,925 metres, there is a 400 metre vertical fall to the base via ‘The Boulevard’ (a wonderful ride for beginners on a safe, groomed trail as wide as a highway).

Intermediates can choose the zig-zag ‘Luge’, and experts can push the limits on the ‘High Traverse’ and the ‘Escalator’.

Ohau offers exquisite dry powder snow terrain and gets you off the tourist trail to experience the awesome range of ski fields available in the South Island of New Zealand.

In the evening we drive to Wanaka so we are ready to start day three bright and early.

No extra add-ons available

Treble Cone lies within the heart of the Southern Alps. It has amazing views across the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka.

Treble Cone is the largest ski area in the South Island, with plenty of exhilarating skiing and snowboarding terrain. Spread over three large basins, there are trails to suit all ages and abilities.

From the purpose-built learner area and long, groomed beginner and intermediate trails, to numerous natural half pipes on the upper mountain, challenging advanced runs and ungroomed powder, there’s plenty for everyone.

Treble Cone boasts New Zealand's fastest quad chairlift, so you can enjoy more runs per day than anywhere else. The saddle quad chairlift, offers the highest lift-accessed terrain, longest groomed intermediate runs, and highest vertical drop in the South Island.

Renowned for dry powder, and plenty of it, Treble Cone receives an average annual snowfall of 5.5 metres and has an average maximum snow depth of 3.25 metres.

Its proximity to the Southern Alps means reliable snow conditions and weather, and, just as importantly, its geography means it is protected from the bitterly cold southerly winds.

In the evening, Wanaka is an après-ski haven, with a huge number of places to dine, drink and dance the night away.

No extra add-ons available

Cardrona is renowned among skiers and boarders for inspiring terrain and dry, natural snow. With 320 hectares of wide, undulating trails, open slopes, steep chutes and awesome terrain parks, there’s something here for all to enjoy.

A wide area of the mountain is serviced by chair lifts, so access is easy and queues are rare. Cardrona's three basins offer wide-open spaces and a mix of terrain that's suitable for snowboarders and skiers of all abilities. On-mountain facilities include five cafes, a shop, hire facilities and a workshop.

With over 20 national and international skiing and snowboarding events held at Cardrona each year, we may make slight amendments to our tour itinerary if we feel any events would add value to your Haka Snow Safari experience.

No extra add-ons available

We break up your tour to give you a chance to catch your breath and see Queenstown, take part in some adventure activities, or go heli-skiing. You are welcome to continue skiing or boarding but your lift pass is not included in the tour price.

There are a number of well-recommended heli-ski options - from $995 NZD for 4 runs or $1,350 NZD for 8 runs. These will take you to untouched powder in the area.

A trip to the Milford Sound is likewise a great way to spend the day.

Either way, your bucket list is about to take a serious hit!

Available activities

•  Canyon Swing $229
•  Extreme Jet Boating $145
•  Canyoning Queenstown (October - April Only)$199
•  Nevis Bungy $50 - $275
•  Kawarau Bridge Bungy $195
•  Paragliding $219
•  Horse Trekking at Glenorchy $165
•  Milford Sound Trip $125 - $499
•  Heli-Skiing $995 - $1350
•  Skydiving over The Remarks $339 - $439

Coronet Peak is the oldest and most developed ski area in the South Island. Spread across a broad mountain, the field is wide and sunny with an astounding variety of runs, and the on-field facilities are some of the best around. Everything is designed to ensure you make the most of skiing and boarding.

Everyone can ski like a pro at Coronet Peak - there are dedicated slopes for first timers and long, wide groomed trails with plenty of choice for more experienced skiers. Once you know the ropes, you'll enjoy the vertical off the express quad, or exploring the rolling terrain with plenty of dips and drops for great variety.

For boarders, Coronet Peak is a natural terrain park, full of endless hits and powder stashes.

Exclusive night skiing is available on Friday and Saturdays until 10pm. As the sun sinks slowly in the west, the lights come on and the fun begins.

No extra add-ons available

On offer today for your delight: wide open trails, native Keas, powder snow, spectacular views, sun drenched terrain and unforgettable runs. There's terrain here like you have never seen before, and, if you're prepared to exercise the legs a little, you will discover some of the longest off-piste runs around.

The Remarks (as it’s known to the locals) is set in a vast natural amphitheatre high in the rugged ranges at the eastern end of Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu. Being so far up is a major plus, giving the ski field a long, reliable season – and the north-facing aspect makes it a natural sun-trap.

The highest ski field in Queenstown at 1935 metres, The Remarks has something for everyone as the terrain offers challenges for skiers of all abilities, including one of the most memorable runs in New Zealand: the long, fast sweep called Homeward Bound.

The Remarks is a great place to learn to ski, with a series of sheltered bowls all accessed by chair lifts; nearly three quarters of the slopes are rated beginner to intermediate. There are also plenty of off-piste challenges if you’re more inclined towards the extreme.

The Remarkables ski area boasts a new international standard Super Pipe for advanced level riders and skiers. The 150m long, 22m wide pipe is triple the size of the existing terrain park at the top of Sugar Bowl Basin. The expanded Xbox Terrain and Rail Park and other features, combined with the big mountain possibilities, make The Remarkables the logical choice for the free riders out there.

We ski / snowboard until mid-afternoon, when we then make the journey back to Christchurch, aiming to arrive by approximately 10.30pm at Haka Lodge Christchurch.

You have the option of booking an extra night’s accommodation in Christchurch or extending your stay in Queenstown post tour.

No extra add-ons available