Snow Pilgramage

New Zealand is spoilt for choice. 

Well, to be precise, the South Island is spoilt for choice.

If New Zealand is a snow pilgrim’s haven, then the South Island is its Mecca. But don’t skip the handful of slopes on the North Island if you’ve got the time and budget for both islands.

I plan my New Zealand winter pilgrimage with as much diligence as a pilgrim plans their walk on the Camino de Santiago or the Great Ocean Road. But I need to stretch my dollars for all they’re worth. Let’s face it, being a snow pilgrim doesn’t come cheap. Though we do get more bang for our Australian buck in New Zealand, spend a few days in the powder and you still rack up the costs.

So here’s an avalanche of ideas to keep those costs down.

Buy multi-day passes
A good chunk of your cash will go to lift passes but multi-day passes offer better day-to-day rates. There isn’t just one multi-day pass that’s valid at all ski fields (yet!). So, see Treble Cone and Cardrona’s multi-day passes. If commercial fields are still too much, try a multi-day pass at Canterbury’s club fields (you don’t have to be a member!). They’re smaller fields with less flash facilities, but the terrain is great. Most commercial and club fields offer student discounts. 

Hire gear in town
If you’re travelling light, or you forgot something at home, hire gear in town and not on the mountain.

Pack a picnic
Commercial fields have bars or cafés, but dining on the mountain can add up. Instead pack your own nibbles. If you’re dying to eat out for dinner, look for BYO (Bring Your Own Wine) restaurants in town. They’ll charge a small ‘corkage’ fee but your grocery store red or white will save you paying the restaurant vino mark-up.
                                                                                                                                           
Take the bus
Bussing is an inexpensive way to get around. My favourite thing about it? All I have to do is enjoy the landscapes. While busses get you from one ski hotspot to another, they won’t get you up the mountain. Never fear! Most ski areas offer reasonably-priced shuttles (for as little as $15 return).

Book a bed
In New Zealand, you’re not stuck with having to stay on the mountain so backpacking delivers the best (and most social) bang for your budget buck. Most YHAs near ski fields offer amenities like drying rooms, gear storage and tuning stations with added bonuses of roaring fires and/or spa pools. While bonuses vary from hostel to hostel, you’re guaranteed a good price, large kitchens and warm bed. Be sure to book well in advance. YHAs fill up fast.

New Zealand’s slopes can satisfy every snow pilgrim. Not only is there plenty of downhill skiing and boarding but there’s heli-skiing, glacier skiing, Nordic skiing, terrain parks and dedicated beginner areas.

My snow pilgrimage is plotted and underway and I’m standing at my first stop – the crater rim and saddle at Turoa Ski Area on the North Island’s Mt Ruapehu. And it hits me how unique this is: I’m snowboarding on an active volcano. There are so few places in the world for that. 

In a minute, I’ll put my legs to the test and begin the 2,000 metre vertical descent. Then, I’ll head down the mountain and into bustling Ohakune for a hot cuppa. In New Zealand, ski areas are near towns with cafés, bars, restaurants and all the other activities travellers to New Zealand rave about. And I’ll partake – my winter pilgrimage isn’t just about the slopes. But it all takes time and money, so I’m glad I’ve stretched my budget. Now, when I head back across the ditch, I won’t have quite as much money in my pocket but I’ll have a wealth of experiences to carry me through the summer months until my next New Zealand snow pilgrimage.