Aussies love heading over the ditch to ski and board in New Zealand. It’s close and easy to get to; the pricing is reasonable; and the resorts offer some second-to-none terrain for any kind of snow lover.
Whether it’s your first or your fifteenth time, Queenstown is always a favourite and has earned itself a serious reputation as the place to be this winter season.
If you’re still tossing up your winter destination, here are the eight reasons you’ll love Queenstown, plus the deals to get you there with the team at MySnow Holidays.
1. The trans Tasman bubble is open!
Is there a better reason? With the world being closed off to Aussies, and New Zealand being the first to open, there’s so much excitement around the ability to get on a plane again and discover another country – especially after a 2020 winter season spent longingly watching what the Kiwis were up to.
Many east coast cities in Australia offer up direct access to Queenstown, and the flight is only about three hours, meaning you can easily board a plane in the morning and be enjoying a wine by the lake by the time the sun is setting in the afternoon.
2. The variety of slopes
Forget having to ski at the same ski field all week long. Queenstown allows you to choose from not one but four different resorts all within a day’s trip:
- Coronet Peak – 20 minutes from Queenstown, with plenty of varied terrain that looks over some of the most beautiful views New Zealand has to offer and the most fun night skiing to be found Wednesday through to Friday.
- The Remarkables – 40 minutes from Queenstown, with three north-facing bowls to ski and explore, and no less than eight different terrain parks from mini shredders to experts covered.
- Cardrona – an hour from Queenstown, with a Chondola (combined gondola-chairlift) plus four terrain parks and fun, cruisy groomers and a new chairlift and more terrain this season.
- Treble Cone – 1.5 hours from Queenstown and some of the more challenging terrain to be found in the country for those who like to ski hard and play hard. Did we mention the prettiest Lake Wanaka view from a ski resort in the world?
Thanks to the NZ Ski pass, you can get a combined pass for Coronet Peak and the Remarkables, choosing which you’d prefer to ski at on any given day. Then add in visits to Treble Cone and Cardrona both accessed on the one combined lift pass for the two, to mix it up throughout your ski week.
3. The convenience of access
Queenstown is a popular ski town for a reason. It’s serviced by an international airport that’s just minutes away from the centre of town. And once in your accommodation, nothing is too far away, whether you’re after world-class restaurants outside the door or shuttle buses to the ski resorts or an off-the-snow activity.
4. The off-the-snow
Speaking of things to do off-snow… there’s something to please everyone in town.
Adrenaline junkies will love sky-diving, bungy jumping or jet boating through the river. Families can take a spin on the luge, trying to bust out of the escape room or ice-skating on an indoor ice-skating rink.
For day trips, why not head to Arrowtown to explore a charming gold rush village with hidden restaurant gems; check out Wanaka’s beautiful lake and vibrant artisan village; or take the stunning lake side drive to Glenorchy for an ice cream at Mrs Wooly’s General Store.
Or just relax. Take a walk on a sunny morning, lapping up the beautifully fresh winter air in Queenstown Gardens. Book in for an après-ski massage or a soak at The Onsen Hot Pools.
The best thing about Queenstown is that new things are always popping up all over the place, so you never know when you’ll stumble on a haunted house, a new store or a happening restaurant.
5. The incredible deals
With everyone ready to flock to the other side of the ditch, now’s the time to jump onto deals that will cover your accommodation, brekkie and lift tickets for your 2021 trip to the snow.
MySnow Holidays is offering up packages from just $699 per person. That includes five nights at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, right in the heart of town; plus a daily buffet breakfast, a three-day lift pass and even free changes with their Piste of Mind policy (see what they did there?). Find out more about the deal here.
6. The food
Oh the FOOD. Some of the world’s best burgers, steaks, pizzas, pastas, bakeries and seafood can be found here, with every possible cuisine accounted for.
Try fine dining at Rata Dining, the famed Fergburger, pizzas at The Cow and even Polynesian at Blue Kanu. Be sure to book ahead for your favourite picks, and get the Opentable app to get 50% off the food bill for between two to four people with a whole heap of participating restaurants, like Jervois Steak House and Winnie’s Gourmet Pizza Bar.
7. The drinks
On second thought, forget the food. Your centrally located accommodation means you can dive into the best bars that Queenstown has to offer. Start at Red Rock, Queenstown’s oldest bar, for a few drinks; have a turn on the mechanical bull at Cowboys; then finish up your evening at Winnies, where the roof opens up to the sky, making for an spectacular experience when it happens to be snowing in town. Plus heaps of hole-in-the-wall hidden bars to discover along the way.
8. The views
With glorious Lake Wakatipu on show right in the middle of town, and surrounded by mountain scenery, you’ll arrive in Queenstown and never want to leave.
To see the best of the best, take the Skyline Gondola up to the top during the day to see the best views of the lake, even enjoying dinner while looking over the twinkling lights of the most picturesque resort town going.
Ready to go to Queenstown? Find Queenstown packages from just $699 per person with the MySnow Holidays team here, and get planning.
