Transport
As almost all ski resorts are at the end of forest roads, some of which are steeper (5 to 15 km), having your own vehicle is almost essential for unlimited winter fun. Check the notice boards in backpackers and other hostels or check the Backpacker Car Market, preferably for a combo with four-wheel drive - but good sleeping bags are a must! No matter what kind of vehicle is available, CHAINS are a MUST! If the travel budget does not allow you to have your own car, there is a carpooling website. It is very well organized, so that after a short registration you can choose the rides - if they are offered. This site is very popular. You just have to be flexible with your own schedule. Most trips are offered from Christchurch.
Tickets
It makes sense: conventional ski resorts are "expensive" - about Europe standard upwards, heliskiing/boarding is 'n tick cheaper than in Europe. Club ski fields cost around 40-50 NZD per day. Also look out for cool packages à la: 2 nights and lift pass for very little money. There is also the CHILL-PASS! Only in selected (club) areas, from 3 days. A real bargain! Check the links at the end of the article!
Equipment
If you arrive without your own equipment, it's no problem. You can hire the equipment. Fattys are not yet very common, but can be found (as of 2006). A few names: Ewings, Gnomes, Big Al's etc. or just type "ski hire" into the search engines. In the commercial ski resorts it is no problem to get equipment anyway, you can even hire snow chains for the cars.
AOTEROA Freeride
Basically, you can divide the ski areas in New Zealand into three categories:
1. Commercial areas - (similar to Europe - except for the approaches, which are mostly Kiwi style)
2. Club Skifields - probably the most Kiwi of all
3. Heliski (tours: beware, you're really in the backcountry! Only for the really experienced!)
Most areas are in the hump of the southern armadillo, but rocking the fire mountains of the north is a truly unique experience.
What are club ski fields?
At the end of an arduously climbed forest path, there is a collection of huts in the forest. A fairly thick rope leads from one hut - along a row of posts up the slope. That's the first impression!
Hm, a tractor rattling somewhere ?!? And this is what it looks like: You stay in the huts, buy lift tickets, drink your beer in the evening with the "staff", help in the kitchen or you might even spot a rattling, jacked-up tractor. The ropes described lead from this special hut and are guided uphill on the posts via guide pulleys. May I introduce: The Rope Tow! Some club ski fields already operate their rope tows with electricity, which is supplied by the generator.
Rope tows or nutcrackers are significantly faster than our ski lifts and can melt gloves. Make sure you get a leather overglove. Available from the ticket office. Rent or buy? If you plan to use the lifts for more than 2 days, you should definitely buy them! Pull the leather shoe over the glove and then put your hand in! Now just strap on a belt with a "nutcracker" dangling from it and off you go. How? Discover it for yourself! These CLUB fields were set up by pioneering Kiwis. A club was founded for each area. This club, or rather the members, often struggle to keep these institutions alive. Everyone is welcome! The average tourist may have to grab a shovel to dig out the lift with the staff - then you'll be rocking earlier! No one is better here and that's what makes it so much fun away from the mostly unprepared slopes. It's the people who count, not your wallet, period! Good Old Europe should take a leaf out of their book!
For reasons of time, but above all weather, we were only in four club areas, but Alex Herbert, Kiwi freeskier of the first hour, came up with additional information so that you can find all the important club ski fields below.
