New Zealand - where to go in June

[bdenny4]

Looks like a friend is getting married in June in EN ZED.
Gonna book a week in total for the wedding in the Malborough District (wine country) and then some days on the snow down south.

Where should I go for the white stuff in En Zed in June?

Cheers

[Dr D]

grass skiing

a bit early tongue.gif

[SA]

Yeah, a bit hit and miss I'd have thought.

That said I've had decent snow in the 3rd week of June before. At Coronet Peak and Remarkables.

[The Frog]

Depends what date in June. The skifields over there usually open a week or two later than in Oz. Coronet Peak usually gets the snowguns on pretty early and are first to open. You could get lucky if they get an early dump but just like here June is always a bit dodgy.

[Xena]

They don't call it 'concrete peak' for nothing though!

[skibum]

Mount Hutt usually has snow earlier than the mountains around Queenstown / Wanaka

[bdenny4]

Yep, hopefully the wedding will be late June.
Still I know my choices will be limited, but you never know
Never even been to NZ before

[chunky]

Yeah Mt Hutt would be my pick for June. Supposedly its snowmaking is quite extensive.

[KT]

make it 3 weeks! attend wedding then drink lots of wine (hmmm.......wine) for a week then snow for another 2~ :D

i think concrete peak was the first to open the last couple of years~

[pow pig]

Mt Shutt might actually be Mt Open! Late June is dodgy, but you may get it good. Don't book, but make a call closer to the date. You'll get some turns in somewhere, but you may have to hike...

Heli skiing would be the most reliable option, but most don't start until July. But you could email Hugh at HMH (hmh@heliski.co.nz) and ask if they'll give you a ride in June if the snow falls early. They're based in Wanaka.

Also try Southern Lakes Heliski in Q'Town(info@southernlakesheliski.co.nz) or Alpine Heliski (ski@alpineheliski.com)

[ 19.02.2009, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: pow pig ]

[Donza]

I wouldn't book a thing.
Besides a subie hire car.
Oh there is skiing in marlborough too.
http://www.skirainbow.co.nz/

What part of Marlborough is the wedding?
I spent nearly every summer holiday there until my teens.

[bdenny4]

Don't have the exact details or date as yet, so maybe hiring the car and playing it by ear does sound rather sensible.
Can't get any more than 5 days off as I am already taking 2 weeks in August to do Hotham and P.

[Princess]

Our trip was booked today graemlins/woohoo.gif 2 weeks in August again. 4th trip - love the place!

[The Frog]

Queenstown I take it?

[Princess]

Wanaka.

[chunky]

NIce. Do you spend most of it at Treble Cone or will you head up to Cardona as well?

[Princess]

Mostly Cardrona. Will do a trip to TC and SP also. Although we don't generally plan ahead - just make a decision that night based on conditions then organise shuttle. Works for us.

[chunky]

Sweet! I haven't been to NZ since 1995. I know I have to correct that soon. Both times I have been, I have spent more time in Queenstown. I like the idea of basing ourselves at Wanaka and giving that a go.

[Princess]

Last year was my first time to Wanaka so dragging the others with me this time. We're spending a couple of nights in QT before flying home.

You will be shocked at the change in QT chunky - I was last year and it was only a few years between trips. You know the Wilson multi story car parks you see in the city - they were building one of those there. Sad.