New Zealand Ski Areas Announce New Developments For 2009 Winter Season (01-Mar-09)

NZ Ski, March 1, 2009 - Queenstown's ski areas of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables

Queenstown’s ski areas of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, plus Canterbury ski area Mt Hutt have announced new developments for the 2009 winter season including upgrades to children’s facilities, rental equipment, access roads, snow groomers, and base lodge amenities.

Famous for its family fun environment and multiple terrain parks, The Remarkables ski area 40 minutes from Queenstown, will introduce free transfers to and from town with any lift ticket purchase, and big news for those on a self drive holiday are the new barriers being strategically placed along 3.6kms of the access road. This initiative will give confidence to those not familiar with driving on New Zealand’s high alpine mountain roads.

Up on the slopes skiers and boarders will find the ground level of the base building at The Remarkables fully renovated, with improved children’s facilities and easier access to the Guest Services department, while two new snow groomers will enhance surface conditions in the parks and on the trails. 

Building on from last year’s $30 million dollar investment in a new base facility and world class snowmaking system, Coronet Peak ski area only 20 minutes from Queenstown, has continued to invest for the 2009 season. Two new state-of-the-art snow groomers have been purchased to improve on-trail conditions, while the dedicated children’s ski slope will be doubled in size and feature a new 24 metre Sun Kid surface conveyor lift, designed for very young beginners.

Both The Remarkables and Coronet Peak fully licensed Skiwiland Early Learning Centres will be upgraded this season to cater for babies as young as three months old, and the Snow Sport School at both mountains has added new full day kids ski school programs for 6 to 17 year olds from 10am to 4pm, with lunch included.

Mt Hutt ski area in the Canterbury area outside Christchurch, has also improved facilities and programmes for children, and will see the addition of an entirely new ski rental system designed by Head, promising to deliver better skis faster for those renting equipment.  Mt Hutt will also add to its fleet of snow groomers with three new bigger machines, plus new snowmaking compressors to help produce more snow and improved trails.

While the ski areas are not scheduled to open until the June long weekend, early bird deals have been launched by Australia’s leading ski wholesalers with holiday packages discounted for early bookings and payment by 30 April. 

Contact your travel agent or ski wholesaler: Value Tours 1300 361 322, Ski Max 1300 136 997, Ski Express 1300 130 524, Alpine World 1300 138 311.