Suggested accommodation:
The Peaks Motor Inn, Ohakune.
Lift price: Adults $80, children under 6 free.
Packages: Drive-ski includes three days' car hire ex-Auckland, three nights' accommodation, two-day pass for unlimited skiing at Whakapapa, $348pp, twin share.
Mt Hutt, CANTERBURY
Where: 90-minute drive from Christchurch, or 30 minutes from Methven.
What: Offers 10 lifts, six-person speed chair, Magic Carpet, groomer, ski hire, ski school, terrain park, Children's Centre, purpose-built beginner area up to Black Diamond, heli-skiing and a 683m vertical drop.
Suggested accommodation: Brinkley Village Apartments, Methven.
Lift price: Adults $84, students $61, children under 6 free.
Packages: Multi-day anytime pass valid at Mt Hutt, Coronet and/or Remarkables; two-day - adult $154, youth $79; up to nine-day - adult $684, youth $317.
Also consider:
Cardrona's childcare, ski school and Half-Pipe camps, seven lifts, magic learner lift and on-field accommodation. Under 5s free
Treble Cone's natural and manmade terrain, ski school and family friendly Treble Cone Cat Club childcare. Best fields to avoid with kidsAs a general rule opt for elite, remote or midweek.
Mt Potts, MID-CANTERBURY
Where: One-hour's drive from Methven.
What: This field offers elite heli/cat skiing and snowboarding. You can make it either a day-trip from Christchurch or go from the licensed, fully-catered, luxury lodge. The ski area is helicopter accessed for small groups (maximum 14), hire and tuition included, bookings essential.
Suggested accommodation: On-field lodge, $99pp.
Price: Snowcat $399; Heliski $785 for five runs. Extra runs are $99 each.
Also consider:
Invincible Snowfield, Queenstown: This private mountain recreation park has helicopter access only to supreme back-country skiing and boarding. Confident intermediate level and above, enjoy no crowds, no kids, and nothing but snow.
Turoa, Mt Ruapehu: High-altitude groomed slopes with great powder, 11 lifts, terrain park, ski hire, tuition and the largest vertical drop in Australasia. Best fields for snowboarders
The Remarkables, QUEENSTOWN
Where: A 45-minute drive from Queenstown.
What: Three separate areas suit different abilities, including off-piste, terrain park, tube park and half pipe, plus space, views and magic carpet conveyor.
Suggested accommodation: Discovery Lodge Backpackers, Queenstown.
Lift price: Adult $79, student $55, children under 6 free.
Packages: Drive-ski includes three days' car hire ex-Queenstown, two nights' accommodation, plus three-day silver resort pass offering unlimited skiing at Remarkables or Coronet from $262pp twin share.
Also consider:
Coronet Peak, Queenstown: six lifts including express chair, "motorway to mogul' terrain for all disciplines, ski school, hire and grooming and FIS halfpipe.
Snowpark, Wanaka: 20km up the Cardrona Valley, New Zealand's first terrain park is full of innovative and competitive features to lure the adrenaline junkie.
Mangonui, Taranaki: Home of the Stratford Mountain Club where a T-bar, three rope tows access affordable beginner slopes up to steep runs for advanceds.Best fields to avoid crowds
Rainbow Ski Area, ST ARNAUD (voted best small field 2005)
Where: about two hours' drive from Nelson or Blenheim, or 40 minutes from St Arnaud.
What: Rainbow has picturesque views of Nelson Lakes National Park with crowd-free beginner terrain as well as high powder runs and chutes for the advanced.
Suggested accommodation: St Arnaud Alpine Lodge.
Lift price: Adult $55, student $35, learner $38, and under 7s free.
Packages: Learner hire and lesson - ski $93, or snowboard, $107.
Also consider:
Ohau, Twizel: Terrain ranges from wide, gentle slopes to extreme shutes. No crowds, good services including tuition, ski hire, accommodation, grooming and even a chairlift.Best field for beginners
Tukino, MT RUAPEHU
Where: 35km from Waiouru, or 50km from Turangi. You'll need a 4WD to make the last 7km of the trip, past the Base Camp carpark.
What: Open July to October for weekend skiing. Modest facilities but good on-field accommodation, great ski and snowboard terrain with no crowds and a superb learner field featuring 75 per cent beginner slopes.
Suggested accommodation: Tukino Ski lodge
Lift price: Adult $40 Student $25
Package: five-day concession - adult $140, student $100, children under-10 $60. School and group concessions by arrangement.
Also consider:
Mt Hutt: Purpose-built beginner area and Magic Carpet access.
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Best value ski fields:
The following 11 South Island club and private fields can be explored on a single Chill Pass, for affordable crowd-free, groomed and off-piste slopes, a variety of terrain, on-field lodge accommodation and some additional specialties.
Hanmer Springs: Family friendly, has heli skiing, thermal pools nearby.
Porter Heights: Closest to Christchurch, all-ability field.
Mt Cheeseman: Good family and beginner field.
Broken River: Intermediate runs and night skiing.
Craigieburn: Dedicated advanced skier area.
Mt Olympus: Good for advanced skiers and snowboarders, night skiing.
Temple Basin: Night skiing, goods lift, voted top snowboard field, booking essential.
Fox Peak: Good beginner and intermediate terrain.
Mt Dobson: Family-owned field, all ability plus disabled skier lessons.
Roundhill: Snowmaking, ski hire and NZ's longest tow at 1.2km.
Mt Lyford: Newest Chill member, 7 lifts, tuition and fabulous log cabin accommodation
Lift prices: At individual fields the prices range from $45 to $70 for adults or $30 to $55 for students.
Packages: Chill Pass options include three, five, seven, 10 or 30-day "anytime any skifield', $160 for three days to $385 for 10 days.What's new?
Snow Farm, CARDRONA VALLEY
Where: about 45 minutes' drive from Wanaka, or an hour from Queenstown.
What: There are 55km of groomed cross-country trails for beginner to experienced skiers, on-field lodge.
Suggested accommodation: Snow Farm Lodge.
Price: Adult $30, students $25.
Package: Group lesson $30, private one-hour $50, private five-hour $200 and equipment hire $25.
For further information, concessions and specials check out: nzski.com, snow.co.nz, chillout.co.nz
- Detours, HoS
