New Zealand a better alternative to boarding Aust?
| Poll: where would you rather board this year? Total Votes: 19 |
|
|---|---|
| NSW | 4  |
| VIC | 2 |
| NZ | 13 |
Hi guys,
I just wanted to get your opinions on the pros and cons of boarding NZ compared to say Thredbo or Perisher if you are based in Sydney.
I love travel and last year I was spoilt by Hakuba and Lake Louise. I found the whole experience boarding OS compared to locally ten million times better. Aussie slopes are crazy expensive and the conditions are often sketchy (depending on the season… I guess I’m just hurt by last years season). I found Hakuba much more affordable (including flights), the overall experience was better (better slopes, more variety, great powder days, amazing accommodation and hospitality, and the food!!! So much better than the overpriced prison slop you get at down under.)
However I am so addicted to snowboarding that I can’t let a winter go by even if I’m saving for the next Northern Hemisphere season! I have never boarded New Zealand before I’ve heard mixed opinions, some love it some hate it so I just want to find a bit more about it… is it worth flying over the ditch? How do the conditions, prices and overall experience compare to NSW slopes?
(sorry if this has already been asked I’m new to this forum and couldn’t find it when I searched ^_^)
Hey AshStix, welcome to Boardworld! 
It really depends on the snow conditions. Some seasons it’s better to be in Australia, others it’s better to be in New Zealand. You can get spoilt or disappointed in either country. Overall I think New Zealand has better terrain and more options (heliboarding / catboarding for example). Lift passes and accommodation are cheaper in New Zealand. Also the towns of Wanaka and Queenstown are awesome! There’s so much to do over there.
New Zealand is definitely a great place to visit. I had such a great time over there but I did get lucky with the snow. This season they have been struggling with snowfalls. Hopefully things pick up for them.
sweet thanks for that!! Yeah I’ve been to Queenstown in the summer. Crazy adrenalin addicted town haha loved it ^_^ I’ll have to check it out when the snow’s good by the sound of things.
nz by far. but at the moment it is dogsh!t.
NZ by a long way. Heaps of stuff to do even if the snow is poo…and snow park can run entirel son man made snow so u can ride there everyday anyway! So much cheaper. My mate just spent 3 days in perisher and spent $700. I’m going to NZ for two whoe weeks and it’ll be about $1400. and its so damn beautiful.
NZ by a long way. Heaps of stuff to do even if the snow is poo…and snow park can run entirel son man made snow so u can ride there everyday anyway! So much cheaper. My mate just spent 3 days in perisher and spent $700. I’m going to NZ for two whoe weeks and it’ll be about $1400. and its so damn beautiful.
I went to NZ for 2 weeks and it ended up at about $2500. Thats with no Bungee Jumping…
$1400 is hella cheap when you pay $400 for flights alone (christchurch) and $1300 for a season pass (or $91 per day on the mountain. = $910 for 10 days boarding).
flights to christchurch $260 return. (coulda been 220 if I booked a bit earlier - last year we got a flight to QT return as well incl for $380) Two weeks accom in a house in wanaka $280, Rental car 2 wks - $125, 10 days adult at snow park is a bit less than 600, although if you’re a student its more like 430…This time we’ll probably have a day or two at cardrona, remarks or TC so maybe bump it up to 800 for lift passes. Plus food and petrol maybe $250?
maybe I underestimated a bit maybe 1600? won’t be anymore than that 1700 on the wayyyy outside. Bringing food to the hill saves you heaps and so does having simple tastes. I don’t drink much (if any) so there isn’t any cost there. Traveling cheap is so damn satisfying!
Yea, your flights are heaps cheaper than what we paid.
Also snow park seems a really good deal, main problem I got is the non-park people that come with lol.
And 125 for a rental car is a bargain. You will have to give links to everything you booked, I may need to hit it up for next year lol 
NZ season starts later than Australia’s every year. It finishes later as well and often runs until November.
From what I hear the snow quality in resorts isn’t that much different and on pow days it’s very difficult to get to the resorts.
Everywhere in the world is cheaper than Australia.
Hey Tj isn’t $125 what you paid all up for your last snow trip?
NZ season starts later than Australia’s every year. It finishes later as well and often runs until November.
From what I hear the snow quality in resorts isn’t that much different and on pow days it’s very difficult to get to the resorts.
Everywhere in the world is cheaper than Australia.
Hey Tj isn’t $125 what you paid all up for your last snow trip?
Haha, for a day… with someone else chipping in…
I just paid $129 for accom for 2 with 1 x 1 day lift pass at Thredbo!!!!! If that ain’t CHEAP, then I don’t know what is!!!!!
We are goin to the Shred in Sept and payin $137 per day that includes lift pass, daily serviced accom (on snow, as opposed to havin to drive, put chains on, wait in traffic, worry about blood alcohol limits, road closures etc etc….) cooked breakfast every day and 3 x 2 course gourmet meals!!!!!
You can ALWAYS find a bargain no matter where ya go, NZ or AUS!!!!!! So price can be a factor that holds no argument in the decision!!!!
I think that the biggest diff would be the lack of on snow accom and the lack of Tree Runs at NZ, as compared to Aus!!!!! The selection of facilities such as Snow Park, Heli Boardin etc etc is the draw card for NZ!!!!! It all depends on what ya want to get out of ya winter stint!!!!
Snow conditions can be fickle in either place!!!!! I have heard that NZ is also prone to goin o Wind Hold a lot more than Aus, as the resorts are higher and therefore above the protection of the tree lines!!!!!
care to share how you scored such cheap accomo/lift tickets heheheh
i know the station can be booked for 6 people 110 a night but requires perisher tickets
I have been to the NSW ski fields and the Queenstown/Wanaka ski fields. In terms of snow and terrain they are both different. Nz has no trees, but instead has steeper, faster runs. In Aus you have tree runs which are heaps fun after a big snow storm. The thing that seperates these two places for me is Queenstown itself. The place is booming all year round. The night life is really great. I get accommodation for $22 NZ a night which is also a plus
care to share how you scored such cheap accomo/lift tickets heheheh
i know the station can be booked for 6 people 110 a night but requires perisher tickets
Just gotta keep an eye pealed for a bargain!!!!! They ALWAYS pop up!!!!!
Mostly Last Minute and/or Early Bird Deals!!!!!
care to share how you scored such cheap accomo/lift tickets heheheh
i know the station can be booked for 6 people 110 a night but requires perisher tickets
Just gotta keep an eye pealed for a bargain!!!!! They ALWAYS pop up!!!!!
Mostly Last Minute and/or Early Bird Deals!!!!!
\
Exactly. Flights to Queenstown from Melbourne were on sale in Jan/Feb. Return for $260 with 23kg baggage, meals and entertainment.
That’s probably the best time to book these things.
NZ have no accommondation on the snow fields and to me this is a big disadvanage.I dislike having to travel a 100k a day to get a few runs. I can get that at Jindabyne