The snowboarding season in New Zealand starts in late June or early July and lasts for roughly three months. It can definitely be an expensive hobby, but don't get piste-off. Here's how to snowboard New Zealand on a budget.
Head to Queenstown
The best place to head if you're low on cash is
Queenstown. The club fields in other regions can be expensive, but the numerous options in the vicinity mean Queenstown has packages and prices to suit everyone.
Viewed as the heart of New Zealand's premier ski and snowboarding region, you can snowboard in three good areas from here — Cardrona, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. The Snow Park is also great fun for budget boarders.
Hire your equipment
It can cost a fortune to buy all your own snowboarding equipment and thankfully, snowboards are readily available to hire. They're usually quite competitively priced, especially around the ski and snowboarding hubs, like Queenstown.
To hire snowboarding gear, including suitable clothing, you'll need to budget up to $80 per day.
Browns Ski Shop in Queenstown (open from 7am to 9pm daily) are pretty much the pros when it comes to hiring out gear. They've been renting, delivering and even collecting snowboarding equipment for 30 years. A board and boots will cost $46 and a jacket and pants will cost $35 per adult, per day.
Buying gear on the cheap
If you're buying your own snowboard, it's best to shop around before you arrive, although it's possible to find cheap, second-hand equipment in the area. Check the local message boards in supermarkets and hostels, and have a look at sites like
eBay before you fly. Keep in mind that whatever you find, you'll be investing from $300-$500 to start, depending on the quality of your board.
What will I need?
- Board: Choose the right one for your style: are you a beginner? Do you want to freeride? Etc. Ask the experts to help determine your perfect ride.
- Bindings: If you're learning, you'll need a basic set of snowboard bindings with a base plate and ratcheting straps. You can upgrade later if you need to.
- Boots: High or low style, snowboarding boots should be roughly one size bigger than your usual shoe size. Snug, but not tight.
- Extras: Loose waterproof pants and jacket, goggles or sunglasses for UV and snow protection, a hat, a helmet, gloves and long socks. That'll do, shred head.
Go with a package deal
Companies like
Value Tours make skiing and snowboarding affordable by offering package deals. These guys offer a one-day pass in The Remarkables, including the beginner lift pass, a lesson and the rental of your snowboard for $93. Group lessons including all equipment are $48 (with other packages available as well).
Drive yourself crazy
It's a good idea to surf the net for
self-drive packages, too. Sometimes, getting a 4- or 5-day deal including car hire, accommodation and ski-field passes works out cheaper than paying for each individually. Equipment and clothing hire is usually extra, but more often than not it's offered at a discounted rate.
Look for free passes
Sometimes you can get a free snowboarding pass when you book accommodation in a nearby area, or hire a car. For example,
Juicy Rentals are giving away a free 'adult all lifts day pass' for Treble Cone Ski Field in Wanaka for each day a vehicle is hired from them between July 1 and September 30, 2011. If you're planning a road trip and need a camper van, factor in any special offers the hire companies are giving away at the time.
Accommodation
Campsites and hostels are best if you're on a budget. In Queenstown,
Black Sheep Backpackers is one of the friendliest cheap-o accommodation options, and has a stellar location (and a hot tub). Dorm rates are $27 per night per person.
Pinewood Lodge offers dorm beds for $28 per person per night. There are also
a number of campsites in the area, with spots from $20 per night.
The I-SITE Visitor Centre can help with any snowboarding bookings and enquiries when you get to Queenstown. (Clocktower Building, Shotover Street, 8am-6pm daily, tel (03) 442 4100).
