New Zealand Ski Adventure - Powder Days - Gate 7
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Powder Days
New Zealand Ski Adventure
AUD $3499/pp
5 Days 14 People Max Skiing Activity Level 3
Experience the best ski fields on the South Island on our 5-day all-inclusive ski
adventure 'Powder Days'!
Christchurch to Queenstown
What a great way to experience New Zealand in the winter months, a ski trip with the best ski fields on the South Island! From the wide-
open terrain of Mount Hutt, to the valley views of the Southern Alps from the Ohau ski field, and all the way down to NZ’s ultimate winter
playground at Cardrona, this 5-day adventure packs in plenty of time on the snow as well as the opportunity to hike near the highest
mountain in the Southern Hemisphere, Aoraki Mount Cook.
Page 1 / 6Highlights
Ski
Mt Hutt Skifield
Ohau Skifield
Cardrona Skifield
Hike
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Explore
Tekapo Springs
Our Active Adventures Assurance
We value loyalty, and appreciate that it goes both ways. So when you book with us we'll make
a few assurances to you so you can book with complete confidence, no matter what's
happening in your life (or the world).
COVID-Ready Certified: Safe Travel for our Guests Travelling Overseas
Active Adventures has received the World Travel and Tourism Council's Safe Travels stamp,
which guarantees you that we'll follow all ATTA and WTTC health and safety guidelines on all
our trips. See how our small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures are perfect to start
exploring again.
Page 2 / 6Powder Days ~ Itinerary
DA Y 1
Arrive Christchurch, drive to Methven
We'll begin our trip in Christchurch in the afternoon with a quick meet and greet to get to know everyone before getting on the road to
Methven. Once we've arrived, your guides will go through a trip briefing, this is your chance to ask any questions and prepare for the
adventure ahead! Then, we’ll all enjoy a delicious welcome dinner and get our gear ready for the following day.
Methven Lodgings, Methven (Dinner)
DA Y 2
Ski Mount Hutt, soak in Tekapo Hot Pools
This morning we'll rise early and head up to Mount Hutt for our first-day skiing! A true alpine experience, Mt Hutt has wide-open terrain
with leg burning runs, monster snowfalls and spectacular views over the Canterbury Plains. You’ll get a full day to enjoy the snow and
views, with lift passes and transportation included. You can bring your own gear, or you can rent gear at the skifield (extra cost applies)
and lessons are available as well. Conditions vary throughout the season, but you can expect good skiing and riding, on and off-piste, plus
scenery that will blow you away! The mountain is home to two great cafes so you'll be able to grab a quick bite amidst your ski runs or sit
down for a lovely coffee or lunch.
After a day in the snow, we'll head south to Lake Tekapo where we’ll experience the total relaxation of soaking in hot water in an alpine
environment 720 metres above sea level! The Tekapo Springs offers three hot pools filled from an underground source near Tekapo, with
temperatures ranging from 36.5 to 38.5 degrees Celsius. Tonight we'll stay at the Peppers Bluewater Resort, set amongst the purest
natural landscape in the heart of the Mackenzie Country.
Peppers Bluewater Resort, Tekapo (Breakfast, Dinner)
DA Y 3
Hike Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Mt Cook, named Aoraki or ‘cloud piercer’ by South Island Maori, is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Directly opposite the mountain,
we have a stunning day hike to the main ridge above Mueller Glacier. It’s a challenging hike, but you’ll remember the view of the glacier
and the surrounding peaks forever! The weather conditions are very important in this area, as it’s a true alpine climate notorious for
sudden weather shifts. If we aren’t able to do the Mueller Glacier hike, or you’d like to take it a little easier, there’s an impressive hike up to
a glacial lake (complete with icebergs!) at the base of the Hooker Glacier. Afterwards, we’ll make our way to Lake Ohau Lodge to enjoy
dinner as we sit outside and watch the sunset on Aoraki Mount Cook. There's also the opportunity to soak in one of their hot tubs on the
deck so make sure you have your swimmers handy!
Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau (All meals)
Hooker Valley Hiking Distance: 9 kilometres (5.6 miles), 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 100 metres (328 feet)
Elevation Loss: 100 metres (328 feet)
Sealy Tarns Hiking Distance: 6 kilometres (3.7 miles), 2-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 650 metres (2,132 feet)
Elevation Loss: 650 metres (2,132 feet)
DA Y 4
Page 3 / 6Ski at Ohau
After a hearty breakfast, we'll head up the mountain for a day at Ohau ski field. Along the access road, the views up the valley to Aoraki
Mount Cook and overlooking Lake Ohau are spectacular with snatched glimpses of the snowfield now and again before opening up to the
full panorama on arrival at the car park. The mountain caters for all abilities with a double chair lift and wide flat slopes at the top, enabling
most intermediates to cruise down the Boulevard very comfortably. There's also some great hiking around the tops for the more
adventurous, with access to the best powder snow and the views are really magnificent and definitely worth the effort!
After our day in the snow, we'll head South, driving through the tussock-country of Lindis Pass to the township of Wanaka. Whether you’re
skipping stones on the lake’s edge or relaxing by the fire at the lodge, Wanaka is a great spot to rediscover simple pleasures. We'll enjoy
our final night together with a celebratory dinner at the Edgewater Resort as we sit and soak in the adventures from the last few days, and
ready ourselves for our last day at Cardrona.
Edgewater Resort, Wanaka (Breakfast, Dinner)
DA Y 5
Ski Cardrona, farewell in Queenstown
Today is our last day skiing so we'll make the most of it with an early start, heading to the Cardrona Valley and up to the Cardrona skifield,
welcomed with genuine Kiwi hospitality to NZ’s ultimate winter playground! Its high elevation and southerly aspect means dry natural
snow is plentiful, and it's further enhanced by snowmaking facilities. Cardrona is the perfect place for beginners and intermediates, with
NZ's only combined gondola chairlift, easy-to-use surface lifts and plenty of wide-open trails spread over three basins. Cardrona is also
home to the NZ Park & Pipe Team and offers the most extensive terrain park facilities in the Southern Hemisphere with four terrain parks,
two half-pipes and a gravity-cross course.
We'll spend the day here, making the most of the snow, and there's a variety of restaurants and cafes on-site for you to choose from if you
decide to have a break for lunch. We'll finish up on the mountain before heading over the Cardrona Saddle to Queenstown where we'll say
our goodbyes and arrive in time for early evening flights.
(Breakfast)
Useful Info
Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?
Most other travel companies charge all solo travellers a single supplement fee. We don't! When it comes to accommodation, our
trip fares are based on a twin-share rate, which means we'll match you up with another person of the same gender to share a
room with. If there's no one suitable to share with, there's no forced single supplement! Having said that, if you specifically
request your own room, you can opt to pay the additional single supplement fee.
What's the maximum group size on this trip?
This trip has a maximum of 14 guests, plus two experienced guides.
Where does the trip start?
On the first day of the trip we'll meet you at the Merivale Manor in Christchurch at 4pm.
Page 4 / 6Where does the trip end?
On the last day of the trip we can drop you off at Queenstown airport (ZQN) in time for the recommended flights below, or
anywhere in Queenstown around 5pm.
What flights would you recommend?
Arrival: Please ensure your flight arrives by 2pm if you're arriving the day of the trip start.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Queenstown any time after 6pm for domestic or
7pm for international departures.
Page 5 / 6General Trip Information
You can find details on recommended flights and fitness, as well as trip start and end in the 'Useful Information' section above.
Availability Accommodation
Once a trip is full, we’ll often add a second departure that You’ll love the interesting places we’ve discovered over the
travels in a different direction (southbound or northbound, years. You’ll visit really spectacular and off-the-beaten-track
referring to your direction of travel upon departure), to ensure locations and stay in comfortable bed and breakfasts, lodges,
the highest level of service on all of our trips and to keep our apartments and hotels for the most part. Keep in mind that
group sizes small. Both trip directions include all the activities the most remote locations have limited accommodation
mentioned, just in a different order, and they work whichever options, but 5-star scenery!
direction you go.
Transportation Outdoor Experience
Since New Zealand isn’t quite small enough to simply walk Our trips allow you to make the most of the New Zealand
everywhere and still see all the highlights in a limited amount backcountry, whether you’re relatively new to hiking or a
of time, we travel in fuel-efficient 20-seat Toyota Coasters and seasoned trekker. Our highly trained and experienced guides
our guides make the journey enjoyable. They’ll introduce you will be at your side, safely guiding you to magnificent places
to some local tunes as well as provide interesting commentary, that you wouldn’t get to on your own. The challenges are
and we pass the time you do spend on the road in a fun, social there, if you’re looking for them, and all we ask is that you be
way, with New Zealand’s ever-changing scenery providing a energetic and in reasonable shape and we guarantee you’ll
feast for the eyes. Our focus, as always, is getting you out of have an incredible time. You don’t have to have been
the vehicle and into the scenery. kayaking to enjoy paddling out on the water and you don’t
need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy most of the rides we do.
In fact, we have so many options available that you don’t
need to ride or paddle at all if you’d rather hike or just laze
around!
We hold all relevant government licenses and permits, have
an impeccable safety record and are certified by
OutdoorsMark, New Zealand’s leading outdoor safety auditors.
So, with all the research, logistics, safety and hospitality taken
care of, you can focus on the most important thing – making
the most of your vacation!
Included Not Included
The fare includes just about everything, specifically: The trip fare doesn’t include flights before or after your trip, or
• All guiding services. We have two guides per trip, a lead 15% NZ government tax. This is your all-inclusive vacation
guide/driver and a co-guide/chef. On our smallest trips, one of and there are no hidden costs. You’ll have a few meals and
our most experienced guides will look after you. drinks to cover, extra activities if you choose them, and you’ll
• Comfortable accommodation for the entire period you are probably feel like tipping your guides at the end of a fabulous
with us. We can also organise pre and post-trip trip, though you won’t need to pull out your wallet every few
accommodation, if you like. minutes on your Active Adventures trip!
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on most days, as indicated, with
many delicious meals prepared by your guides, who are adept
at catering for all dietary requirements. In places like
Queenstown and Auckland there’s a wide variety of
restaurants and we’ve found people prefer to check out the
options on their own. Alcohol is not included, although we do
spring a few drinks here and there!
• All activities described in the itineraries including hiking,
kayaking, biking and rafting, except the optional extra
activities that are available at additional cost.
• All transportation from trip start to end.
• The highest level of service from our guides and from our
experienced team behind the scenes. We’re always here for
you and we always go the extra mile!
Flexibility Itinerary Updates
We’re really flexible and none of our itineraries are written in We update our itineraries annually, so please check our
stone, so if you have a particular interest you’d like to include website for the most up-to-date itineraries and pricing. We
or you need to leave a trip earlier or join later (at an altered make every effort to ensure itinerary accuracy at the time of
fare), just let us know and we can almost always make it printing, though changes may occur without prior notice due
happen. Likewise, all adventure travel requires a certain to local circumstances.
amount of flexibility and we sometimes have to make minor
changes to the accommodation or activities because of
weather and availability, but we have plenty of options up our
sleeve and the experience to keep your trip running
seamlessly.
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