Ready for a Snow Tour? Book your 2017 NZ Snow Package now!
If your resolution for 2017 was to be more adventurous, we’ve got just the thing for you.
This year is the perfect opportunity to tick that box by hitting the slopes in the coming winter. Whether you’re an experienced skier/boarder, or a beginner who would like to feel the refreshing mountain air through your hair – 2017 is the time to book in a Haka snow tour.
These are not empty words. Our snow tours have been very well reviewed in the past, so you know that your time up the mountains will be well worth the visit.
Our selection of tours will take you to a range of kiwi mountains (see details below), all quite different, but breathtaking in their own right. This means that every day of your tour is refreshingly different, and you definitely won’t get bored during your time here!
To top it off, many of these fields are based in NZ hotspots Queenstown and Wanaka – arguably the most stunning regions in the country. The views from the top of the peaks are hard to beat.
The best part of our snow tours though, is that we cover all bases. If you book with us, we’ll sort the lift passes, accommodation, transport, breakfasts and lessons (if you feel like them). This takes out a whole lot of the planning and thinking involved in booking a snow tour.
From a convenience perspective – what Haka Tours offers is unrivalled.
The 5 Haka Snow Tours
1. South Island Snow Safari
The South Island Snow Safari is a popular one, as it’s a mid-length tour that gives you a great taste of the southern slopes without running the risk of tiring you out.
This tour takes 7 days, and you’ll be taken to 6 different mountains, so no 2 days are the same! Starting in Christchurch, you’ll pay a visit to the nearby Mt Hutt, followed by the lesser known Ohau. The gorgeous Treble Cone and Cardrona with it’s perfect snow are next, before a free day in the famous Queenstown. Finally on day 6 you’ll hit up Coronet Peak and a trip to The Remarkables fills up your final day. That evening you’ll be whisked back to Christchurch to finish up the tour.
And we haven’t even mentioned the extras. On the drive (which is spectacular in itself), we’ll stop at the shores of the beautifully blue Lake Tekapo and stop in at the local hot pools (your ticket already included in the tour). If you’re feeling up to it – you have the option to dabble in a bit of night skiing!
2. Ultimate Heli-Tour
The Heli-Tour is perfect for those who want to get off the beaten track. This tour is guided, but reserved for the more experienced skiers and boarders – intermediate to advanced ability.
Over 7 days, you’ll be taken deep into the back-country of 3 different mountain ranges. Think some of the longest, deepest heli-runs in the southern hemisphere! On day one you’ll depart Christchurch for the Arrowsmiths. Day two you’ll find yourself at Mt Hutt, before Mt Cook on day 3 (NZ’s largest mountain!) The remainder of the trip is spent heli-skiing/boarding in Wanaka, trekking through the snow of Treble Cone and relaxing in Queenstown.
If carving up some untracked powder sounds like heaven, the heli-tour is for you.
3. South Island Snow Odyssey
The Odyssey is for those that can’t get enough time in the powder. This whopper of a tour is 12 days, so you can be sure you’ll leave NZ satisfied you experienced the best of the kiwi snow. The terrain is exciting but also challenging, so this tour is also suited for intermediate and advanced skiers/boarders only.
Departing from Christchurch, the 9 days on the slopes includes visits to 8 different ski fields: Porter Heights, Mt Olympus, Temple Basin, Craigieburn, Broken River, Mt Dobson, Ohau (x 2 days) and Treble Cone. Three free days are spread among Tekapo, Wanaka and your return to Christchurch.
If you truly want to make the best of a New Zealand winter, and you’ve got a whole lot of pent up energy in ya, choose the Snow Odyssey!
4. Queenstown Snow Fix
This tour is perfect if you just want a taste of the kiwi slopes but don’t have a heap of time to spare. For a quick 4 day tour, Queenstown certainly isn’t a bad place to be!
On top of a free day to explore all that the adventure capital has to offer, you’ll head over to Cardrona, hit up the breathtaking Remarkables and spend a day up Coronet Peak. All 3 fields are popular among locals and tourists alike – and when you’re there you’ll see why!
For a “fun-size” tour, consider getting your 2017 Queenstown Snow Fix!
5. NZ Dirt and Snow Tour
Our newest tour and a wee bit different, the NZ Dirt and Snow Tour combines the best of two worlds. If you’re at home on your snowboard, but also atop a mountain bike, this combo was made just for you. It’s also a tad different as you’ll instead be visiting the slopes of the North Island.
The trip takes you to the popular Turoa and Whakapapa ski-fields. The views from the top of the mountains are again amazing, but the drive up the mountainside is something else entirely. From the Haka bus, you’ll get great views of the thick native forest as you drive through it – a truly beautiful region.
It’s also got an element of adventure, as there’s plenty of time on tour to take part in an array of other adrenaline-pumping activities such as skydiving, bungy-jumping and jet boating.
If you want to try a bit of everything this winter, try out the NZ Dirt and Snow Tour!
The Big Ski-Fields of NZ*
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt stands apart from the others, as it’s a gem of the Canterbury region – but it’s definitely one of the best. To start, the views are breathtaking. One way you can see the pacific ocean and the other, the southern alps.
It’s also one of the best for a long lasting snow season. Mt Hutt reaches an impressive altitude of 2086 metres, and its south-facing basin with many snow-guns (75 to be exact) mean that you can be sure the powder is perfect.
Cardrona
Cardrona is one of the best in accommodating a variety of skill levels. There are a tonne of runs to choose from, and that’s if you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced.
Cardrona doesn’t skimp on snow either – this field is home to a modern and innovative grooming system so you can carve up the powder to your heart’s content. Feel like getting a bit more technical? There’s an impressive pipe for you to show off, which also happens to host the NZ Olympic Park & Pipe team.
Of course, let’s not forget the views. We’re in the Otago region now – possibly the most beautiful part of the country.
The Remarkables
The Remarkables might have been named as such due to their impressive size when admired from the ground, but it might have also been owed to the views you get from the top.
The Remarkables offer a sight to behold. From the top, you can look down onto Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown with the snowy mountains all around.
The terrain itself is varied and makes for some exciting runs. But like Cardrona, all skill levels are catered to. If you’re a learner, this might just be the field for you.
To top it off, there’s a new base building and chairlift. Only the latest and greatest for international guests!
Treble Cone
Treble Cone is great if you’re in the mood to go “off-piste.” There’s plenty of fabulous terrain off the beaten track – but even the beaten track itself offers long, groomed, uncrowded runs. If you want some space to yourself (the boundaries of the ski-field are immense), Treble Cone is the way to go.
The park itself has the longest vertical rise in the Queenstown-Wanaka region, and like the others, the views offered are spectacular.
Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak is possibly the most popular field in the region. It’s a handy distance from Queenstown, with paved roads and state-of-the-art facilities.
The field is huge, and snow consistently good throughout winter. Coronet boasts the largest fully-automated snow-making system in the country, so you can worry less about hitting rock and more about taking in the sights.
A world-class field, operating since 1947 – you know Coronet Peak is a safe choice for a great time on the snow.
Turoa
Looking now to the North Island, Turoa is the ski-field on the southern side of Mt Ruapehu. With Haka, visits to this field are limited to the NZ Snow & Dirt Tour.
On Mt Ruapehu, tussock seems to find its way further up the mountain, meaning the terrain is much more varied up in the North. This (combined with a whopping 25 lift-accessed black runs) makes for a great experienced-skier/boarder field.
NZ’s highest chairlift “The Highnoon Express” is also here, providing a massive 772m descent back down the mountain. Think less time sitting on a chair, and more time doing what you came for!
Whakapapa
Whakapapa, which sits on the northern side of the same mountain, holds the medal for the largest ski-field in the country. While Turoa is great for experts, Whakapapa is fabulous for those starting out.
The beginners area (named Happy Valley) is entirely separate from the rest of the field, which means you can go at your own pace and be confident that you won’t be in the way of any more experienced skiers.
If you want to take your time, then hop on our bus to Whakapapa!
* Info courtesy of skiandride.nz, and mtruapehu.com.
Let Us Be Your Guide!
We’ve given you the run down on the various Haka Snow Tours on offer, and the popular ski-fields of NZ. Now the important question: who will lead you on your snow tour and show you the fields for yourself?
Check in here for a rundown on the amazing Haka guides that’ll do it all for you. All our guides are experienced, friendly and confident they can show you an amazing kiwi winter!
“I’m keen to do a Haka Snow Tour, what should I bring?”
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There you have it. Hopefully this article has got you thinking about doing a snow tour with us for the winter of 2017.
Haka Tours is the simple choice for a satisfying season on the slopes!
2 Comments
Hi
I am keen to consider skiing in NZ in 2018.
My family has 6 people, 2 of whom are expert skiers, while the other 4 are beginners (including my 3 sons aged 14, 12 and 10 and myself)
What would be your advice for a mixed group like this?
Is June a good time to ski in NZ?
Thanks
Hi Terence,
thanks for getting in touch with us!
Haka Snow Tours caters to people 18 and over only, but we can advise you to go with our sister company NZ Snow Tours (http://nzsnowtours.com), who have a wide range of options suitable for families like yours! You can get in touch with them through nzsnowtours@yahoo.com
And late June, but also July and August, are great months to ski in NZ since the Ski areas are getting lots of fresh snow during this time!
Cheers!