Is ski/snowboard gear cheaper in NZ?

Browns Ski Shop, on Shotover St in Queenstown is supposed to be the business, and The Snowboard Workshop on the same street again is very good i've heard.
Queenstown is tiny (which it more than makes up for in being just amazing) so you shouldn't have any hassle finding it.

Im not a skier/snowboarder, going for my first trip soon. So i don't know what'd be reasonable for gear.
I am a mountainbiker and i know for fact that bikes in New Zealand, (at the time i was there 2007) are dirt cheap compared to here, I bought a XC Bike for €1500 here when i got back, if I had have bought it in Queenstown i would have saved about €500, so based on that I'd say most sporting equipemnt would be along the same lines.

Enjoy Queenstown its amazing and I'd urge you to try "the Ledge" bungy jump when your there. Superb! In fact try everything you can there.! Because anything you can thing of that involves the word extreme ..can pretty much be done there.

bobtjustice wrote: »

Browns Ski Shop, on Shotover St in Queenstown is supposed to be the business

Backed that, there's plenty of places to get your gear, but browns are by far the best bunch and also very friendly and helpfull, in my experience.
I got there on day after the opening of the ski season in 2006, due to a blizzard the whole town was shut down the day before, i had to stay a night in christchurch and get a coach up the fallowing day, just made it better tbh, but anyway; The fireworks had just started out side and even though we were in the middle of renting out gear, they offered us the time to go out and watch the fireworks going off, and were staight back with us when we came back in.
Reasonable prices and a good range.
Definitely recommend them.

bobtjustice wrote: »

Enjoy Queenstown its amazing and I'd urge you to try "the Ledge" bungy jump when your there. Superb! In fact try everything you can there.! Because anything you can thing of that involves the word extreme ..can pretty much be done there.

Seriosuly, anything with the word extreme is with in a few miles of the town.
I didn't get a chance to do a bungy and i'm still kicking myself over it!

What i did get to do was a thing called "the swoop", which is bassicly climbing into what looks like a sleeping bag, and being dangled 100m over the ground, then it is up to you to pull a chord which releases you, at which time you free fall for a few seconds before the rope catches on and whippes you back up into the air, in a "superman" type manner.
You swing back and forth high and fast for a while before they stop you.

Great fun if you dont get the chance to do a bungy.



As far as i know, the Nevis is the biggest bungy in the world?


You'll love Queenstown, i've travelled a lot, and its my favorite places in the world.
Great fun both day and night.

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm contemplating staying for the season in NZ from June - August - I've an open ticket so I'll see!

Don't just contemplate, DO!

Apart from that, where to ski depends on your level of ability.
AFAIK there's three places around QT, but the two main ones are Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. My personal favorite would be The Remarks, not as many people, higher elevation, imo better snow and terrain.
Good for learners up to more experienced riders, a good laugh all round with some stunning views.
The bus jouney up in terrifying(sp?).
Anyone will tell you that, no joke, but it is more than worth it.
And sure the bus driver does that rout about ten times a day every day, so you know its safe.

Coronet Peak i think would be great if you are only beginning, its a lot more family bassed and has a lot more to offer in terms of progressing.
i can't say much for the more advanced slopes as i didn't get a look at them but i have heard good things about them.
Bus jouney up is nothing compared to the one up to The Remarks, its a sealled road with less cliffs and its not as steep.
Not as high up as The Remarks, the snow is great all the same.


Really, you can't go wrong either way. Just try them both out and decided.
Sure if you're there for the season, do a week in each and you'll really know which you prefer.

Both offer night sesions as well i think.

Usefull links:
http://www.nzski.com/mountain.jsp?site=theremarkables
http://www.nzski.com/mountain.jsp?site=coronetpeak