New Zealand

The ski season runs from late June to mid October, however the best snow conditions are usually July and August. For the best value trip, September is the time to travel as prices are low, resorts aren’t crowded and if you’re lucky you’ll see some of the best views. The mountain bike season kicks off in September and goes for the entire summer. 

You can ski on both the North and South Islands in New Zealand, however the most popular resorts are those located around Queenstown and Wanaka on the South Island.

It depends on which ski resort you are visiting and if you plan to travel before/after skiing. On the South Island, Queenstown Airport is best to access the resorts around Queenstown and Wanaka or Christchurch Airport to access Mt Hutt. On the North Island you can fly into Auckland to access Turoa and Whakapapa resorts. If you are hiring a car and travelling around you might look at flying into one airport and out from another.

Most resorts in New Zealand have a good selection of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain and most resorts require a drive to the mountain each day. If you are interested in other adventure activities and nightlife then Queenstown would be our suggestion or if you are after something a little quieter, Wanaka would be best suited. Anywhere you go in New Zealand is picturesque, the people are friendly and the food is good so you can’t really go wrong.

Australians do not require a visa to enter New Zealand as there is a travel agreement allowing citizens to live, work and play in either country indefinitely, lucky for us!

Our quotes are very flexible and can be tailored to suit your needs. The only requirement is that you book a portion of your ski resort accommodation through us, the rest you can decide to do yourself. We would suggest booking add ons through us as we have over 15 years of experience and we get some great deals.

You are not required to book your lift passes in advance, however you can often save money when early bird deals are available. Another benefit of pre-booking is that they are pre-paid meaning more spending money for your holiday.

We would recommend pre-booking rentals and lessons as these can book out over peak periods. It also saves you time by being organised and having them prepaid allows you to have more spending money on your trip.

There are endless activities to do in New Zealand, from adrenaline pumping bungy jumping to scenic drives and wine tours. We recommend leaving a couple of days free so you can experience some of these. Just let us know when booking and we can include a reduced number of lift passes in your quote.

If you have suitable equipment that you are comfortable with, we would recommend bringing it with you as there is nothing worse than ill fitting boots. Just be aware that some airlines have baggage restrictions on weight and size so be sure to check before purchasing flights.

You won’t suffer altitude sickness as the resorts in New Zealand are relatively low, compared to other ski resorts across the world. If you were to stay at the peak for extended periods of time you could have some acute symptoms but it is highly unlikely.

Some people like the convenience of having their own car, you can pick up from the airport and have the freedom to do what you want when you want. However the roads to the ski resorts can be intimidating for some and if you are not used to mountain roads you may want to leave it to the experts. There are airport shuttles and taxis as well as mountain transfers which will pick you up from your hotel, making this option stress free. If you are looking for the best value option don’t forget to factor in hotel parking fees and petrol.

Childminding is available at most ski resorts across New Zealand, however some resorts have an age limit of 4+ years so be sure to check this out before booking. Babysitting services can usually be arranged through your hotel concierge if you fancy a night out.

Depending on where you are travelling to, the temperatures can vary slightly however are relatively mild, for a ski resort. During the winter months of June, July and August you can expect a low of around -5 degrees and a high of 10 degrees in the day. September and October are warmer with sunny days and crisp nights.

Most resorts have a good amount of easily accessible off-piste skiing/snowboarding to explore. However if you are looking for a real adventure there are endless backcountry tour companies and guides, including heli-skiing trips and overnight tours.

Paying for things in New Zealand is easy as most Aussie debit and credit cards work the same as they would back home. It is always recommended to carry some cash with you, in case your cards are lost or damaged.

We require a $300 per person deposit within 5 days of confirming your package, this is in addition to any flights which need to be paid in full before they can be ticketed. The balance is due 40 days prior to your departure, unless otherwise specified. We accept bank transfer or credit card payments, however there is a surcharge for credit cards.

Flights can be included in the package, however they do need to be paid in full before they can be ticketed and the price locked in. Alternatively you may prefer to book your own flights with points or an alternative airline/route.

Your $300pp deposit is non-refundable as this is used to secure your package with suppliers. Some flights can be refunded with a cancellation fee however this depends on the airline’s fare rules. We suggest taking out travel insurance as soon as you have paid your deposit to cover you against cancellation.

We do offer a specific snow related travel insurance and would be happy to provide you with a quote. We just need to know your date of birth, complete travel dates and contact number.

Your travel vouchers will be sent via email 2  weeks prior to departure, these will have all the necessary information for your trip including hotel details and emergency contacts.

If you need assistance you can call the Liquid Snow Tours office in Sydney or if out of hours we will provide you with an emergency contact number. However you shouldn’t have any issues.