New Zealand offers some of the most scintillating and interesting skiing in the world! The terrain of the Southern Alps is infinitely varied with multiple aspects and facets. The mountains here offer everything from massive faces with a huge vertical, to narrow couloirs and gullies. Capping this off are some sunny volcanoes to ski in the north.

The skiing here is remote, and apart from nearby the ski fields, it can be rare to see another touring party. This isolation adds to the appeal of our pristine wilderness, unfettered by crowds. It allows the ski tourer to use their own judgement and skill to reconnoitre the routes. But the remoteness also lends a level of seriousness . Rescue can be a long, long way away, and so self reliance and overall judgement are required. A rescue beacon is a good item to carry.

Apart from around the ski fields, the level of ski technique and fitness required is quite high. By this I mean the average NZ ski tour is more challenging than the average tour in the US or Europe or Japan. Many ski tours require some level of mountaineering experience. There are some routes on here that are strictly ski mountaineering. And by ski mountaineering I mean you might require two ice axes!

So it can take a little time to master the NZ conditions. But once understood, limitless opportunities beckon. All aspects from North to South faces, East to West are skiable. Steeps, basins, drop offs, cliffs, ridges, buttresses, tongues of snow, huge snaking glaciers…you name it.  And all skiing is above the tree line!.

The snow in NZ is varied. No, it’s not powder like Japan or Utah. Most storms come with associated winds, most commonly from the SW. This tends to strip the ridges and deposit snow in the gullies. In a day’s skiing it is usual to ski everything from powder to windslab, corn to sastrugi. Ski tourers in NZ become jacks of all trade. This is not to say that powder can’t be found; it most certainly can if you are in the right place at the right time. And believe me, the views and stunning topography more than make up for the lack of regular ‘light and dry’. A good up to date source of information on snow conditions is www.avalanche.net.nz . This website has updated snow pack analysis, broken down into several regions. Besides avalanche conditions, the website also notes a condition somewhat peculiar to the Southern Alps : ‘slide for life’ conditions. Wind stripping and melt freeze can create conditions where a fall cannot be arrested. I suggest that this often more of a hazard than avalanches.

Skis – we tend to ski at around 100mm underfoot as they perform well on hardpack. Ski crampons are mandatory on many trips as ridges can be windswept back to firm hard snow. A Black Diamond ‘ Whippet’  ski pole with self arrest pick, or similar, can also give a little peace of mind with the long runouts. Pin touring bindings (eg Dynafit, Marker Kingpin etc) seem to be the rigueur de jour; boots are a personal choice. But bear in mind many approaches can be long. Access via some of the large Canterbury rivers and moraines can be quite a bash and so will require additional footwear (tramping shoes etc). The damage caused by hours of tramping on rocks is not worth the damage it causes to your expensive touring boots. See next section re helicopter access!

There are lots of great tours available on this site, which begin (or end) at a Ski area. It is very important that you click to read this page of information regarding this

 In fact, it can be cheaper to use a helicopter than accept the wear and tear on gear that the approaches can cause. Helicopters are reasonable in cost, and commonly used by ski tourers for access/drop off. Helicopter charge out rate is around $2000 per hour for a 6 seater, and many flights are in the 20 minute range. A heli flight up to the glaciers tend to be more expensive, but if you are after a cheaper flight (around the cost of a lift ticket) then look at the tours that are close by a helicopter base (Glentanner, or Aspiring Helicopters for example).

The ski fields tend to open on Queens Birthday Weekend (yes, that’s right, Queen of England) and close about the end of September. Ski touring often kicks off by mid June and runs right through late November with spring skiing on the glacial neves, or silky corn skiing on Mt Ruapehu in the North Island!

Helicopters, bikes, 4wds, jetboats, ski lifts or ‘a la pied’ are all options for accessing ski touring spots. Whatever it takes. The West Coast is mostly National Park allowing full public access. Access in the eastern areas is quite restricted due to being farm land with no access rights in NZ. Some organisations are trying to help with these access difficulties in NZ, namely Federated Mountain Clubs, Fish and Game NZ, and Walking Access NZ. Websites that show public and private land are Walking Access NZ (Wams) DoC has a website showing the extent of the National Parks bordering on Conservation Land