SKI & SNOWBOARD

Discover New Zealand’s fresh powder and snow-packed adventures

Check it Out!
New Zealand’s South Island offers skiers and snowboarders the chance to enjoy the powder in some of the most remote and magnificent scenery in the Southern Hemisphere. Join us for an awesome adventure that combines some of the best snowfields in the world with the chance to explore the famous Land of the Long White Cloud.

Up, Up, and Away!
SKIWI trips include lift tickets for New Zealand’s best slopes, including The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Cardrona, Snow Park, and Treble Cone. You’ll also take on a few lesser-known snowfields that are normally skied only by the locals. The trip also includes all meals, accommodations, ground transfers, touring, admissions, and sightseeing. Many students bring their own skis or snowboards with them, but rental equipment is also readily available if this option is more convenient.

A Great Group!
Each SKIWI trip will average one staff member for every four students, giving everyone plenty of personal attention and supervision. Not everyone on the SKIWI program is an avid skier or boarder. Participants range from first timers to dedicated snow bums, and we offer basic instruction to all participants at no extra cost. Those more advanced skiers and boarders who are looking for long stretches of untouched powder will have a chance to do some steep and deep helicopter skiing (optional). You can also choose to take a daring luge ride that overlooks Lake Wakatipu.

Our staff will make sure you have the adventure of a lifetime both on and off the slopes! We eat family-style meals and always try to attend events going on around town. Every day in New Zealand is packed full of fun! You might hit the slopes in the morning, and then tramp through the backcountry after lunch. Or you may bungee jump in the morning, and then cruise the slopes that afternoon and evening. You could also spend an afternoon exploring an old mining town or visiting Tibetan yaks on the top of a picturesque mountain. At night, share a toasty fire with friends, swap stories over pizza in a mountain café, or visit a local snow carnival.

Create Your Adventure
The Ski and Snowboard Adventure combines the country’s legendary snowfields with the sights, sounds and people of New Zealand. Each SKIWI week is slightly different. Our knowledgeable staff members will work with your group to combine time on the slopes with optional activities that will take advantage of the country’s stunning landscape and amazing adventure activities. Whether you are an Olympic hopeful, an intermediate snowboarder or skier, or just starting out on the slopes, we look forward to seeing you in New Zealand.

Questions? Contact us at nz@rusticpathways.com.

Itinerary

Day 01- Depart USA
Your group will depart Los Angeles in the evening. A Rustic Pathways Flight Leader escorts all scheduled group flights to New Zealand. The flight across the Pacific will take about 11 hours.

Day 02- In Transit
Today is "lost" as you cross the international dateline. But don't worry too much, you'll get it back on your way home!

Day 03- Welcome To New Zealand
Arrive in the roaring 40*s where you will be met by our on-ground Kiwi staff. You will then head off and get settled into our Rustic Pathways base house looking over Lake Wakatipu with a cozy fire and dinner with new friends.

On the banks of one of NZ’s largest lakes and surrounded by the Southern Alps, our beautiful base house is the ideal home to experience some of the best skiing available. When you’re looking for a break from the slopes there is no shortage of adrenaline inducing activities for you to sample. As the birthplace of bungy jumping, Queenstown is renowned for the countless adventure activities available to its visitors. If bungy jumping isn’t enough for you, skydiving, jet-boating, cable flying or parapenting await. Wanaka sets the scene for a stroll in Mt Aspiring National Park. If this all seems a bit much for you more mellow activities such as ice-skating, bowling, cinematic adventures and scenic tours on the lake are also easily accessible.

Day 04- Time On The Slopes
A full day of Skiing or Snowboarding awaits us today. Depending on conditions, you’ll find yourself amongst the pros at The Remarkables, Treble Cone, Coronet, or Cardrona. Awesome snow, wide open runs and access to some back-country opportunities, make for unforgettable skiing and snowboarding experiences. Our groups travel by four wheel-drive and we generally spend the entire day on the slopes.

Day 05- Queenstown Craft Market and Half Day
Start the day off with a stroll through Queenstown's local market. Vendors come from all over the Otago region to sell their hand crafted goods unique to New Zealand. Lunch is at our base house. This is followed by an afternoon on one of the many ski resorts Queenstown has to offer.

Day 06- Snow Time
A full day of Skiing or Snowboarding awaits us today. Awesome snow, wide open runs and access to some back-country opportunities, make for unforgettable skiing and snowboarding experiences.

Day 07- Skyline Gondola, Luge Ride and Deer Park
This morning we head to the Skyline Gondola and Luge complex which sits high above Queenstown on Bob's Peak, 790m above sea level. The Complex is reached by gondola cableway. Once on top of Bob's peak the luge race is on! Two 800 metre tracks go down through the trees, accessed by Pomagalski chairlift. A scenic track with viewing bays allows a leisurely trip down whilst enjoying the panorama. An advanced track allows the more adventurous to enjoy the challenge of banked corners, a tunnel, bends and dips. You can also take the option of parapenting off Bob's Peak. This is followed by a drive up to Deer Park where there are some incredible views of Queenstown and exotic animals to feed. This is a 'must do' in Queenstown.

Day 08- Optional Activity Day
A full day of skiing or snowboarding awaits us today. Or you can head off on more alternative adventures. Take the opportunity to heli-ski the wilderness of the Harris Mountain Range or go flight seeing around amazing Mt Cook- New Zealand’s highest mountain. Other fantastic options include bungy jumping, sky diving, snowmobiling, the canyon swing……..the list is almost endless.

Day 09- Hitting The Slopes
Today you’ll find yourself amongst the powder at The Remarkables, Treble Cone, Coronet Peak, or Cardrona. Or you can head off on more alternative adventures.

Day 10- Returning Home or Continuing Onto Your Next Adventure
For those staying more than ten days, today is another opportunity to ski or snowboard. It’s also the chance to farewell the members of your group which are leaving, and perhaps pick up a few Kiwi souvenirs for friends and family. New skiers and snowboarders arrive as well, and the journey starts again, as we chase the best conditions around the South Island of New Zealand.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Q: Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
A: No, New Zealand’s tap water is very clean and safe to drink.

Q: Do we need to get visas for this program?
A: New Zealand does not require visas for US citizens. Students who are not traveling on a US passport should check with our office regarding visa requirements.

Q: What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
A: Rustic Pathways base is a fully self-contained house, which is located on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. All linen is supplied with the house.

Q: What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
A: Please consult your family doctor.

Q: What costs are not included on this trip?
A: A: Students will require allowance money for optional expenses such as souvenirs ($100-600) and optional activities. Optional activity costs are as follows:
Parapenting:$140,
Lord of the Rings Tour: $80,
Shotover Jet: $50,
Fishing: $50,
Heli-skiing: $500-700 (Includes 4-6 runs and lunch on the mountain),
Bungee Jumping: $99-150 depending on photo package option,
Skydiving: $140-250 (depending on height and photo/DVD option),
personal phone calls ($5), internet ($3), and optional activities.

Q: Will there be a flight leader to this country?
A: Students traveling to New Zealand leave LAX on our escorted group flight to Fiji and then connect from Fiji to New Zealand. Please note that some of our flights between South Pacific countries may not be escorted flights.

Q: How does this program connect to other programs?
A: New Zealand is located very close to our other South Pacific destinations, making it easy to design a customized South Pacific summer.

Q: How long is the flight to this country?
A: The flight departs Los Angeles in the evening and takes about 16 hours to final reach Queenstown, New Zealand. During your flight take the time to get to know other students on your flight, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival into New Zealand.
.
Q: What kind of food will we be eating?
A: Staff take advantage of the great local fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood available throughout New Zealand. We can cater for most diets, including vegetarian, low-fat and diabetic. Please advise our office of any special dietary needs at the time of application.

Departs Tue	Returns Thu
10 Jul	19 Jul
17 Jul	26 Jul
24 Jul	2 Aug
31 Jul	9 Aug
7 Aug	16 Aug

TOURING + ADVENTURE

COMMUNITY SERVICE

LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

LIFE SKILLS

SKI & SNOWBOARD

Itinerary

HIGHLIGHTS

TRIP DETAILS