Caroline G

Hi we are visiting N.Z. before settling in Melbourne.

We are touring both islands. We have never been skiing before but would like to have a go. Can you ski in N.Z. during Jan? If so where, bearing in mind we are beginners & have a little one who will be just 3yrs old upon our arrival.

Any advice very welcome.
Thanks....

Markk

Hi Caroline,
Not sure about NZ as I'm not a skier myself, but I do know you can ski in Victoria within 2-3 hours of Melbourne (Mt Buller etc).
Cheers,
Mark

Caroline G

Thanks, Yes that's another reason we chose Victoria to settle. Pretty diverse so plenty to do.

shepslady

Hi Caroline
Although it is not common it has been done but only on the rare ocassion so dont really fancy your chances & wouldnt think it would be very popular with the locals seeing as January falls right in the middle of the NZ Summer

Cindy

Caroline G

Thanks Cindy,

Thought the chances were a bit slim as Summer but worth asking just in case. Just have to scuba & sail instead. Hard life eh?!!!

Know that Auckland is known as the City of Sails & heard that there are some good dive sites especially the Fiordland. Got any advice in respect of those activities?

shepslady

Not nto diving etc myself but have heard the diving in The Fiordlands is supposed to be superb but its a long way from Auckland & heard the water is cold all year round in that area. Dont know if thats a concern or not when your diving Think the Marlborough Sounds is a good area to try with ship wrecks etc if thats what your into. I am sure there are loads of good diving throughout the North Island too so hopefully someone else will be able to guide you a little better than I can.

Cindy

Pompey_Paul

otherwise known as the wet season...........mischief mischief mischief

Hi Cindy

NZ Climber

Yes, it is possible to ski in January, but not this year. Last year you could have but this year, no. The season is over and there are no skifields open at all now. This year, the last weekend in October was the last of the season at Mt Ruapehu in the North Island (all the South Island skifields shut weeks before). Last year, they shut for all of a week or two at the beginning of December and then reopened (in order to turn the winter season into the summer season and make sure that anyone with a season pass couldn't continue to use it all summer). This year the snow was shocking and it's shut. There will be no Xmas or New Year skiing this year

Caroline G

I did see some graphs when looking at ski sites & noticed that the amount of snow fall was very variable. It did look very low this year particularly in comparison to previous years..

NZ Climber

This was one of the worst seasons in a long time, particularly in the south island. Mt Ruapehu had the biggest snow base in the country (again, it did last year too) and it barely topped 2m (and that was with 70cm of snow in one week near the end of the season). Last year it was 3m...

Bizarrely we had more powder days this season than last despite the crappier snow... just lucky i guess.

babybella

And a couple of missing Swedish tourists still to be found!
KAZ :scared:

shepslady

Hi PP
Shame on you for calling summer "the Wet" season, guess it depends on what part of the country or world you come from huh Bet you were one of those delightful little boys who always got caught with their hand in the cookie jar huh

shepslady

swedish tourists??? Not aware of any missing in that area so you will have to fill me in on that. Ben & Olivia are the ones I remember going missing in that area & they were both Kiwis!

Pompey_Paul

If cookie jar is a metaphor?....yep thats me!