Poster: A snowHead
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Thinking seriously about going for a month to Sydney and S. Island NZ this coming summer. Has anyone skied Thredbo or NZ? Best time to go? Prime reason for the trip would be to see family, but it seems daft not to visit the slopes a few times while we're 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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Pete, I was in Sydney in August 2001 and there were day trips to Thredbo on offer for around £120 with all gear included (You probably don't want to take ski gear on a trip like that). It was a bad year apparently as I met a few Aussies in Fiji who had gone there instead of skiing.
I really liked the idea of trying it but management vetoed...
How's the weather in Les Arcs by the way? (Yes, I'm fretting!)
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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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Overcast, not cold. The pessimists at meteo fr still reckon it'll snow around 1900/2000 and above Saturday and Sunday, so it could be worse. Warm and sunny afterwards, but just so long as it doesn't rain and the dreaded dry easterlies don't start to blow....
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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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Pete. Thredbo's certainly worth a ski in good conditions. The resort has quite an Alpine feel, and has some worthwhile slopes. July and August would normally be best for snow. Reckon on a 6-hour drive from Sydney.
If you're going to ski NZ, probably best to base yourself in Queenstown and check out some of the local ski fields. I've only seen Mount Hutt, which is not far from Christchurch, but I caught it a month after the winter ended. It has the hairiest access road I've ever seen, and the mountain looked pretty bleak.
By the way, Les Arcs Ski Club has the following blurb about the resort's founder:
"Before the Arc 1600 ski resort was built in 1968, the club gained real momentum under its new name, the 'Arbalète' ski club. Among those to hold the position of Chairman over the years, we would especially like to mention the co-founder of the Les Arcs resort, the much-regretted Robert Blanc."
Not sure about "much-regretted". I suspect this is a French -English translation hiccup!
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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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David Goldsmith, Thanks David! (Yes, a definite Frenchification, the inevitable consequence of eating too many snails and frogs' legs over the years. Will do some juggling with 'mourned' and/or 'lamented' when I next do an update!)
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Thredbo is pretty good. It has the longest runs, and a very pretty village. It and Perisher Blue are both in NSW and within easy reach of Sydney.
August is the "peak" month, a bit like February in the northern Hemisphere. Early September is also a very good bet, again, it's like March. Late Sept, especially in a good season, can be excellent. you get spring snow, but also loads of sunshine.
I'd stay in the village, if you can. Or else, there's accommodation up and down the alpine way, or you can stay at Jindabyne, about 30kms drive. But the village is worth it, good nightlife and it's damn pretty.
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Cheers snowant, David Goldsmith, Chris Bish, bit worried about Thredbo, obviously the odds of a good season are better further south in NZ. Still, cousins in both Sydney and NZ so a fortnight in each sounds good. Now to find the money!
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As David said, go to Queenstown (South Island). I only skied one day at Coronet Peak, right at the end of the season (sept), but Queenstown is the adventure sports capital of the southern hemisphere. White water rafting, the home of bungee jumping, jet boating etc etc It'll keep you busy for weeks, even if the snow isn't great. If the snow is good, then there are several ski areas within travelling distance.
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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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PG, just stick her on the plane, she'll be fine and will love it!!
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