Mt Cook / Mackenzie
If driving between Christchurch and Queenstown, the region offers everything from glacier skiing to remote backcountry snowboarding. Mt Dobson and Fox Peak close to Fairlie, and Roundhill, near the turquoise blue Lake Tekapo, are perfect for family ski adventures with plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain to explore.
Continue south and Ohau Snow Field, near Twizel, is known just as well for its exceptional terrain and snowboarding facilities as it is for its apres-ski parties.
Expert skiers/boarders may like to experience some true alpine skiing and get onto New Zealand's longest glacier - the Tasman Glacier, or perhaps try heli or fixed wing skiing some of the remotest mountain slopes in the Southern Alps. Some other winter activities worthy of a mention are Ice skating or soaking in hot pools at Lake Tekapo also the area’s clear winter nights are perfect for spectacular stargazing tours.
