 Poster: A snowHead
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My brother's thinking of going MTBing/snowboarding for a season in Queenstown. Are there any decent resorts around there?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are several resorts with easy travel of Queenstown. NZ skiing is often compared to Scottish skiing (not that I've skied in Scotland), so resorts are smaller than you would usually visit in Europe....but you can get some really good skiing in.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Sharkymark wrote: |
| My brother's thinking of going MTBing/snowboarding for a season in Queenstown. Are there any decent resorts around there? |
The ski areas of The Remarkables, Coronet Peak (check out: http://www.nzski.com/mountain.jsp?site=theremarkables) and Cardrona (http://www.cardrona.com/) surround Queenstown and are between 20 mins to 45 mins bus ride away. There is no accommodation on the ski areas themselves so Queenstown, for all intents and purposes is the resort. The apres ski is great (mostly Aussies, Kiwis and Japanese), there are a huge number of restaurants and bars and the town is fairly compact so you don't need a car to get around... but if your bro's got a mountain bike....
The ski areas can be summed up as follows:
1/ Coronet Peak - bare, can get very icy and windy, loads of intermediate and advanced terrain. The lift system could do with a bit of updating.
2/ The Remarkables - Feels a lot more protected than Coronet Peak and generally has the better snow and conditions... the drive up is a bit hair raising. When I was there they had built a massive terrain park, whilst there was no half-pipes there were some enormous kickers. Has great off-piste.
3/ Cardrona - I personally haven't been (as it is a little further afield from Queenstown) - so check out http://www.0800snow.co.nz/new_zealand_ski_fields/cardrona_review.asp for a pretty handy review.
I hope this helps. He might also want to consider Wanaka.
cheers,
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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from nz and snowboarded it all.......south of christchurch heading to queenstown on the main road you will access most of the ski areas.............its well worth it and it does not compare to scotland in any way shape or form....go for it
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Ski Sunday a feww weeks ago had a NZ snow park featured - looked good
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I was in Queenstown a couple of years ago for the start of the season - if you need some specific advice PM me.
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Queenstown = Dump
My last visits was 17 & 5 years ago and it was trashy then but even worse on last visit.
How an envioromenataly minded nation like NZ let Queentown develop into the tacky tourist dump it is now is beyond me.
As for the Skiing . Not much to speak of unless you rent a chopper then its great. Best resort skiing to be found is at Treble Cone in Wanaka.
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Thanks guys for the useful info 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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stevec, What is the snow normally like early on in the season, like late June early July? Would it normally have snowed much then?
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mandles1, Not great, or it wasn't when i was there anyway. There was skiing to be had, but it was all high up, and not huge amojnts of snow.
That could just have been a bad season though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sharkymark, Would have thought he'd have had enough of bleak backwater islands totally cut off from reality
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| Sharkymark, Would have thought he'd have had enough of bleak backwater islands totally cut off from reality |
Easy tiger, he's going to NZ, not the UK. 
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kiwi1, the Sharkymarkbreed, originates from The Isle of Wight. Need I explain further 
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You know it makes sense.
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what are the buses like between Queenstown and resort?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Sharkymark, nothing to do with the skiing but there are a couple of good bars in Queenstown, from when we went a few years back
Round the corner from the Minus 5 bar is The Loaded Hog - Queenstown Steamer Wharf, which is a nice bar for a quick drink or two. It also has a huge open fire, which was great when we were there as the weather wasn't that warm and we had just come from Minus 5.
There is a pizza places in Queenstown (Winnies Gourmet Pizza Bar, Upstairs, 7 The Mall), with a unique outdoor feel. This being due to a roof that is opened on huge hinges when the weather permits and equally huge gas burners to keep it warm.
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