Ski Queenstown
Suggested Itinerary 2011
- Fly to Christchurch International Airport
- Self-Drive Christchurch to Queenstown (about 6 hours drive)
- 7-nights accommodation in Queenstown
- 6-days to ski and / or explore the other great things Queenstown has to offer (including Wanaka only an hour away)
- Fly Queenstown to Christchurch
- Fly Christchurch International Airport to home
Other Activities to consider:
|
Car Hire ($NZD)
Queenstown is very well set up with buses to / from the airport as well as around town and shuttles to/from the mountains so it is not particularly necessary to hire a car if you fly in and out of Queenstown airport.
However if you want the flexibility to come and go as you please and to check out some of the other local attractions; a car can be very handy (particularly if there is more than one of you it can actually be more economical). The following table shows typical prices (for peak ski season) for weekly hire based on various types of car (from lowest to highest price). Please note a standard car will be OK to get up to Coronet Peak however the road to The Remarkables & Cardona can be very muddy and slippery so a 4X4 or AWD (carrying chains) is advisable.
Car Hire
|
Car Type
|
Cost/week
NZ$ inc Taxes
|
| Budget |
Ford Focus / Toyota Corolla (or similar)
|
204 to 430 |
| Moderate |
Ford Futura / 4wd wagon (or similar)
|
470 to 634
|
AWD (5 seats)
|
Ford Territory (or similar)
|
890 |
People Mover
|
8 seater (or similar)
|
483 to 894
|
Mini Bus
|
10 - 12 seater (or similar)
|
609 to 984 |
We have researched a number of car rental companies and have found that there can be a huge variation of costs and conditions. Many of the larger companies quote what seem to be reasonable rates however when you start to drill-down to get a quote, the addition of costly insurance, extras such as chains and roof racks, taxes etc can add another 20% to 30%.
Here are a couple of links that make searching for the best price very quick (typically the big brands are more expensive however the cars are in a lot better condition with lower kms):
Compare
big brands - Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar & Thrifty:
Oodles Car Rental.
For
budget rentals try:
Ace Car Rentals
Also see our
Getting to Queenstown section for more options.
Queenstown Accommodation
Queenstown has a huge range of accommodation from cheap budget backpackers to incredibly opulant private retreats. The following table provides a few recommendations based on Powderhounds.com personal reviews & research.
Price Range
|
Recommendations |
Ideal for
|
| Budget |
BASE Queenstown
|
Young budget conscious party goers. Located right in town.
|
| Economy |
Blue Peaks Lodge
|
Small families & groups who are budget conscious. Great location.
|
| Deluxe |
Heritage Hotel
|
Couples, families & groups who want a bit more luxury. Resort style facilities.
|
| Luxury |
Queenstown Park Hotel
|
For those who can afford it and want only the best. 3 people max per room.
|
| Opulent |
Azur Lodge
|
One of the finest luxury accommodations you will find in New Zealand. |
See all
Queenstown Accommodation options here
Lift Tickets (2010 prices)
Coronet Peak
|
1-day |
3 of 4
|
5 of 6
|
Adult
|
93 |
255 |
425 |
| Student |
70 |
192 |
320 |
| Youth |
51 |
141 |
235 |
| Senior |
51 |
n/a |
n/a |
| 75+ |
FREE |
FREE |
FREE |
Child
|
FREE |
FREE |
FREE |
| Family |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Remarkables
|
1-day |
3 of 4
|
5 of 6
|
Adult
|
87 |
255 |
425 |
| Student |
65 |
192 |
320 |
| Youth |
48 |
141 |
235 |
| Senior |
48 |
n/a |
n/a |
| 75+ |
FREE |
FREE |
FREE |
Child
|
FREE |
FREE |
FREE |
| Family |
230 |
n/a |
n/a |
Multi-day passes are interchangable for Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.
Airfares & Flights
There are many variables that can affect the cost of airfares. Generally flying in to Christchurch is the most economical optio however several airlines including Qantas and Air New Zealand offer a number of direct flights in and out of Queenstown from Australia. Prices range from around AUD$600 - AUD$2,000 return however buyer beware; the cheaper flights are generally quoted for "seat only" and if you have ski gear you will nead every gram of 2okg so check out the additional cost for luggage. Also be careful when booking a ticket to Christchurch as there are many indirect flights that go via other Australian cities and / or via Auckland. These flights might appear to be cheap but you can lose almost a day in travel time (each-way).
Get the
cheapest flights to new zealand here