Best Places to Snowboard in New Zealand

New Zealand has to be one of the best places in theserviced by bus. Cardrona is even further away but
Southern Hemisphere to snowboard or ski. With ais host to several competitions and has a large ski
variety of mountains, reports, awesome drivingable area. This one is definitely worth a look if even
roads, and spectacular scenery, it should definitely beonly for one day.
towards the top of countries to visit for your nextIn addition to the awesome snow, Queenstown is
ski trip.host to many bars and clubs due to its tourist nature.
A vast majority of the ski able terrain is situated inA couple of companies organize pub crawls through
the south island, with a large amount of club fieldsvarious venues which is a great way to meet fellow
and several commercial ones. In this article, we willtravelers. There is even a bar made completely of ice
only go into the larger fields as these are the oneswhich is quite expensive, but a cool novelty.
you are more likely to visit as a tourist. Depending onIf the Queenstown party atmosphere thing isn't for
the length of your trip, these club fields areyou, there is another great option. Mt Hutt out of
absolutely worth looking into for a complete changeMethven, near Christchurch, is an excellent mountain,
of atmosphere and conditions - especially when theowned by the same company as Remarkables and
big mountains are closed. On a side note, the bigCoronet Peak. This means that if you have a multi
mountains attract bigger crowds and thereforeday pass, you can use it for a few days in
better parties, if you are into that kind of thing.Queenstown and spent your last few at Mt Hutt on
The first and biggest place to ski or snowboard inthe same ticket. Methven doesn't have much of a
New Zealand is Queenstown. Chances are you haveparty life, but it is right at the base of the mountain
already heard all about it but the people who haveand awesome if you are there with a group or family.
already been there. Queenstown has several largeAnother option is to stay in Christchurch and take
mountains nearby. There is Coronet Peak, the mostthe bus each day, which can add quite a bit of time
popular field in the country, just out of town. If youto your day.
don't like crowds, this probably isn't your place - but itA snowboarding trip to New Zealand is going to be
is the closest. Then there is Remarkables, owned byawesome no matter where you decide to go. My
the same company as Coronet Peak (and thereforepersonal choice is Mt Hutt and staying at Methven,
using the same ticket system). It is a little furtherbecause I have found it to be better snow, crowds
away, still attracts big crowds, but has plenty ofand is so close to the mountain. You may miss out
awesome points especially when the snow is good.on the party atmosphere of Queenstown, but the
Its attractions include massive jumps, a top toboarding is worth it.
bottom run of terrain and a back country run