Five New Zealand ski fields to visit away from the crowds

Queenstown – together with its two main ski-fields, The Remarkables and Coronet Peak – is often referred to as the snow capital of New Zealand. But for an experience that goes beyond the obvious (and avoids large crowds), the South Island has plenty of other choices. Here are five of the best.

Canterbury Club Fields
OK, it’s not for everyone; for starters, there aren’t any chairlifts. Instead, you’ll ride rope tows, dubbed “nutcrackers”. But if you’re looking for a cheap ski holiday that’s as cultural as it is sporty, consider the Canterbury Club Fields. Located two hours west of Christchurch, the drive alone – via high-country sheep farms and scenic mountain roads – is worth the trip. Accommodation and restaurant options are basic at best, but the skiing is world-class, and the experience is old school, in the best possible way.

Ohau
How this place – located halfway between Queenstown and Christchurch – remains a secret is anyone’s guess, but those who have visited attest that it is skiing’s best surprise. Stay at the cosy lodge, owned by the same couple since 1986, with stunning views across Lake Ohau. Meals are served at communal tables and ski stories are swapped at the bar. There’s only one chairlift, but after fresh snow there’s no better mountain in the country. Experts will love the steep terrain, but 20 per cent of the mountain is suitable for beginners.

Round Hill
Round Hill Ski Area is arguably one of NZ’s most overlooked. Owned by a local family, it’s reached via a short drive up a steep dirt road through a sheep farm outside the lake town of Tekapo (which
has a range of accommodation styles), three hours north of Queenstown. From the top are stunning views over Mount Cook and across Lake Tekapo. There are no chairlifts – just T-bars and rope tows – but this is a genuine family-friendly ski mountain, with great beginner terrain, cheap prices,
no crowds and a fun, local vibe.

Treble Cone
This resort, located 30 minutes out of Wanaka, should be NZ’s most famous, but somehow it slips under the radar. The sheer mountain road to get there puts off some travellers, but it’s safe when you take it slowly. At 550 hectares, this is the South Island’s largest ski resort. While its side country and steep runs make it a must for good skiers, it also boasts the most scenic beginners ski area in NZ. The views over Lake Wanaka and across the Southern Alps are spectacular. And it’s always less crowded than Queenstown’s two main resorts.

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Mount Hutt
That this resort is on this list at all speaks volumes about the rapid rise of Queenstown as the ski destination for Australians over the past five years: that other South Island ski destination – Methven – appears to have been forgotten. Just over an hour’s drive from Christchurch, this cute ski village provides a genuine small-town cultural experience, complete with atmospheric bars and restaurants, frequented by more locals than tourists. It’s a short drive to Mount Hutt, which has one of the longest ski seasons in the Antipodes, and some of the best natural snow of any NZ ski resort. It also suits rank beginners to seasoned experts. Like Queenstown, Methven offers plenty of activities when you’re done skiing.

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