Easy as 1, 2, 3 Ski!

For Australian visitors, it’s never been easier to plan winter holidays in New Zealand.

New Zealand is pulling out all the stops for our Australian neighbours – travel in NZ has never been easier. It’s as simple as booking a flight, finding a place to stay, and arranging a ride – 1, 2, 3 ski!

1. Fly: Several airlines fly from Australia to the South Island directly. Queenstown Airport recently started welcoming its first international after-dark flights. Within three hours, Australian travellers can be in Queenstown, with easy access to four major ski fields. The night flights mean visitors can spend their daylight hours on the slopes, rather than in an airport, making it even easier to visit for a weekend.

From Christchurch International Airport (New Zealand’s second busiest airport), it’s only a few hours’ drive to Mt Hutt, Porters and the Mackenzie region.

2. Stay: Queenstown, Wanaka, Christchurch and the Mackenzie region all offer a wide variety of accommodation, whether you’re looking for something special or simply a cheap place to crash between runs.

 

Don’t forget there are a lot of house rentals available, too. Bookabach and Holiday Houses, for example, offer house rentals ranging from magnificent villas to cute apartments, with prices starting as low as $95 NZD per night for a two-bedroom chalet. (They often feature winter holiday deals, too.) Enjoy a home away from home with useful amenities like a washer/dryer, your own kitchen (great for saving money on meals), and a lounge to relax in at the end of the day.

3. Drive: Rental car companies love offering winter travel deals. Omega Rental Cars is partnering with Cardrona to offer customers 15% off ski lift passes. Jucy has a Ski4Free deal with up to six consecutive days of free skiing at Treble Cone for every Jucy hired. Avis offers a 2-for-1 Cardrona lift pass when you rent from Christchurch or Queenstown for more than one day.

Make sure to shop around – Christchurch and Queenstown airports’ websites both list regional rental car companies. And make sure you get to your destination safely: don’t forget to check the road and travel conditions before you head out.