Updated: 14 Jul 2008

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Introduction

We compare prices for lift passes, season passes and equipment hire at New Zealand's major ski fields.

Millions of dollars have been spent on new developments at ski fields over the past few years - including chairlifts, snow-guns, cafes and retail complexes.

These bigger and bolder developments have led to bigger and bolder prices. We look at what you're up for for a day or season on the slopes.

Lift passes compared

If it all goes to plan, some 1.4 million lift passes will be sold this year - enough to cover the population of greater Auckland. 100,000 of them will be bought by overseas visitors who'll pump $340 million into our economy.

Day passes

Prices of lift passes at some fields are comparable to the world's glamour resorts. Treble Cone charges NZ$99 for a day pass whereas St Moritz charges NZ$87. However, nearly every mountain field offers a student discount on day passes (Ruapehu and Roundhill are the exceptions). And every mountain will drop the price for secondary and primary school pupils, although the age range varies from field to field.

Often, children under the age of six and senior citizens over the age of 75 ski for free. In addition, senior skiers over 65 will receive discounts at several fields.

Guide to the table

Lift passes are for full access to all lifts for a day on commercial fields during peak season. Prices are as listed on ski fields' websites.

• In most cases Adult means older than 17 or 18 (most skifields offer discounts for adults over 70).
  A at Snowplanet, anyone over 12 is an "adult".
  B discounts for adults over 65.
  C discounts for adults over 60.
  
  
• Youth and child ages vary considerably from field to field. Check individual websites for more details. We have noted child ages in brackets. An age range (eg 6-12) means the Child price is different from the Youth price; a single age (eg 6+) indicates the price is the same for both Child and Youth. Ages are inclusive (eg 6+ means 6 and over). Children younger than the stated age have free access to lifts.

Not your usual ski fields

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You don't recognise some of the ski fields in our tables? Snowplanet is an indoor ski slope. Waiorau Snow Farm is a cross-country ski venue. Snow Park is a terrain park for tricks. Mt Potts is New Zealand's 16th commercial ski field. The ski areas at Mt Potts are accessible by helicopter and you're charged on the number of runs you want to do. We haven't included it in our table.

Other lift pass options

Multi-day passes

The value of a good multi-day pass is two-fold: it'll save you waiting in queues at the beginning of the day and it should save you money.

Strangely, sometimes a multi-day lift pass doesn't work out cheaper. The Remarkables snowfield even has a deal where a two-day lift pass works out to be $6 more expensive than two single-day passes, although it can be used at Coronet Peak.

Savings elsewhere are minimal: Mt Hutt's two-day doesn't help (although the three-day pass will save you $9 all up). On Ruapehu, you save $3 per day on a two-day pass and $4 per day on a three-day pass. Treble Cone's three- and five-day passes make more sense. You'll save $14 and $19 per day respectively.

Conditions on the slopes can change dramatically in a couple of hours. That makes it almost impossible to predict whether you can ski on the fourth day of a four-day pass. Several ski fields offer flexi passes where you're allowed to ski four of any six days or two of any three.

Many of the major South Island ski fields fall under the NZ Superpass, which allows you to swap a day on the mountain for another activity if the weather is foul. Ask if your multi-day pass is flexible. It isn't? Then check whether there's a "cash-in" point if the weather packs up.

Season passes

The value of these will depend on the field. Next year keep an eye on "early bird" sales and snap them up around February and March. The savings made on these purchases are significant. For example, an early-bird season pass to Cardrona's ski fields was $515 before 18 March. It'll cost $1245 now that the season has started. At that price, you'll need to ski 16 days to break even.

Most ski fields are still offering season passes (although the variety of deals is now limited). Some passes are still worth considering. Ruapehu's $719 season pass gives unlimited access to Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields. That's excellent value when compared to, say, Cardrona's $1245 peak-season pass.

Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt, the Remarkables and Ohau snow fields all fall under the NZSki season pass. For $1499 you can ski unlimited days at any one of the four fields, but it'll take around 18 days to break even. At $1299 you can buy a Queenstown ski pass that allows full access to Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Ohau snow fields (around 16 days to break even).

Package deals

There are often three or four package deals available at each ski field. Nearly all include lessons of some description. Only Cardrona and Treble Cone offer a simple lift pass/rental equipment option, which will save you $13 and $21 respectively. The rest are various combinations of rental equipment, lessons and lift passes.

Kids' programmes are also offered at most commercial ski fields during the school holidays, although they vary in length and price between fields. Ruapehu's holiday programme includes four hours of lessons every day, for five days ($299). At the luxurious Treble Cone, you can sign the kids up for a five-hour programme that includes a supervised lunch, lift passes and full equipment hire ($133).

If you can't bear being without the kids for an entire day - or you're just scared they'll come back better than you - you'll find shorter two-hour programmes are also offered. The ones at the three NZSki Limited ski-fields - Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Mt Hutt - are around $40 per lesson.

Hiring and buying gear

Beginners

Most people shouldn't buy gear until they've spent a season or two on the slopes. You can hire from all the commercial ski fields, and four of the ten club fields: Rainbow, Hanmer Springs, Mt Cheeseman, and Temple Basin (but you must book in advance at Temple Basin).

For snowboarders, wrist guards are generally free with your hire (although a refundable deposit of around $10 may be required). You can also hire from sports shops close to the slopes if you want to avoid queues once you get up the mountain. By hiring from a sports shop, you also get more opportunity to choose what type of gear you want. If the shop doesn't stock it, then head around the corner to the next one.

Snowplanet, Mt Dobson and Snow Farm are the only commercial ski-fields that offer a student discount on rental gear: $4 on average. Secondary and primary school students are better catered for with most fields offering a slight discount on full rental prices, although the age range varies among fields. Hiring gear for consecutive days can also drop the price slightly.

Intermediate

If you're somewhere between "beginner" and "advanced", there are two rental options worth looking out for:

• Several major commercial fields (for example Whakapapa, Turoa, Mt Hutt, Treble Cone, Cardrona, Coronet Peak, and the Remarkables) now offer performance rentals. So, rather than hiring basic equipment, you can take out a selection of skis or snowboards to trial. It's a good option if you're considering buying your own gear. Performance packages cost an extra $15 on average for skis.
  
  
• Whakapapa, Turoa and Treble Cone offer season-long rentals. That means you can spend a season learning to ski or snowboard on consistent, familiar equipment. Whakapapa and Turoa give you the option of buying your skis or snowboard at the end of the season. Season-long rentals cost between $205 to $370 at Whakapapa and Turoa depending on what you want to hire. Treble Cone is more expensive at $375 to $600.

Buying equipment

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It's worth considering buying your own equipment if you head to the slopes regularly. You might be lured up the mountain more often if you don't have to worry about hiring gear.

Boots should be the first item on your shopping list. Boots aren't as specialised as skis (one type of boot will be suitable for a range of ski types). You'll be able to avoid uncomfortable rental boots for seasons to come. Likewise if you're a serious snowboarder, the first item to buy is boots. That way you can try out various boards and bindings in comfort.

Skis and snowboards

Take your time when buying skis. By hiring you can try out a variety of different ski styles, avoid the costs associated with shipping your skis from one field to another, and ride the latest innovation in ski technology. Before you buy keep an eye out for demo days when companies let you trial their products on the slopes.

The same applies to snowboards when you're starting out. Opting for a season-long hire means you can find out what sort of board will suit your weight, height, shoe size, and board-riding style.

On-mountain costs compared

We compare the cost of hiring a full set of equipment on commercial fields.

Guide to the table

On-mountain costs are based on hiring a full set of equipment on commercial fields. It may be possible to hire individual items for less. Snow Park does not have equipment for hire/rental. Prices are as listed on ski fields' websites.

• In most cases Adult means older than 17 or 18.
  A at Snowplanet, anyone over 12 is an "adult".
  
  
• Youth and Child ages vary considerably from field to field. Check individual websites for more details. We have noted some child ages in brackets. Where no age is shown, Child prices are the same as Youth prices.
  B also depends on boot size - check with ski field.

Clothing

Many snow bunnies will head to the slopes this year dressed in tartan snowboarding pants and jackets with faux-fur collars. Feel free to join in. Otherwise, some basics are:

• a woollen beanie
• thermal underwear (long-johns and singlet)
• a warm tracksuit top or jersey - preferably not cotton
• a waterproof jacket
• thick socks
• sunglasses or goggles
• waterproof trousers or leggings.

Some "modern" innovations make life more comfortable on the slopes. Snowboard pants are waterproof, thick and more durable than your average tracksuit pants. You can hire them (along with snowboard jackets) from most major commercial fields for between $25 and $35 a day.

Gloves and goggles have also improved markedly over the years. Gloves made specifically for the slopes are waterproof and durable; and proper goggles are often fog-resistant. Ohau aside, no commercial fields hire gloves, and few hire out goggles for reasons of hygiene. But you can pick up a basic pair of gloves and goggles for around $20 and $40 respectively.

Finally, don't forget your sunscreen.

Report by Luke Harrison