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Hey Guys- A few questions
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Sorry to be a completely ignorant tool. I've heard some conflicting reports about skiing in NZ. All of my info is from Aussies who I've met at my home mountain in Colorado.
1-I've heard that the actual resort skiing isn't that great and that the only really good skiing is heliskiing. Any truth to this?
2- Also, (again, sorry to be completely ignorant) from what I understand the biggest resorts are on the north island. Is this correct?
3- Are the mountains themselves (not the resort "mountains") bigger on the south island?
4- And finally, how harsh is the weather on the south island in early august? Would backpacking without touring skis and snowshoes still be possible? From what I understand, there are many areas that don't have really harsh winters on the south island.
Thanks for your help. Sorry to sound so stupid/ignorant. I just really don't know too much about NZ.
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The resort skiing is pretty sick.
The BIGGEST resorts are on the north island but the best skiing is in the south island without a doubt.
The Southern Alps run through the south island and they're huge, there are heaps of mountains down thre, some big, some small but they're pretty sick and if you're prepared to hike for it, you'll get some good stuff, tehre is also a lot of good lift-accessed terrain in certain places.
August is okay, there are usually a lot of storms in August though and a lot of snowfall, July is shit, September is your best weather/snow compromise month.
You won't need AT or snowshoes in NZ, AT gear makes it easier to get around but you can walk anywhere as long as you have some crevasse/glacier travel knowledge and equipment. I've been on 7-10 day + trips a bunch of times in the south and walked everywhere as long as you're roped up in crevasse prone areas and you knwo waht you're doing you'll be fine. We don't get the deep, dry powder that you guys do so there's certainly no need for snow shoes.
definitely some sick skiing down here, well worth the trip.
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thanks a bunch man. That is pretty much what I needed to know.
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what is this heliskiing you speak of?
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New Zealand has great ski areas, Aussies are just jealous. South Island has better skiing weather than the North Island, and More slopes to choose from. The best ski slopes are Cardrona, Snowpark (obviously), Treble Cone and Coronet Peak. The best time to ski is Mid July to Late August, as School Holidays mean packed mountains and no bookings available. Good Luck and have fun in New Zealand!!!!
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you get taken up to the top of a mountain in a helicopter, and told to find your own way down. you have a guide with you, and the place gets dynamited the day or morning before to make sure its stable and not going to avalanche when you ski down it.
damn awesome fun, but you have to be quite a good skiier to go on some of the trips. as in, if they think you arent good enough, they wont let you go, just because of what it is.
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the biggest mountain terrain wise is in the north island, but there's more in the south island.
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