Year after year, while Europe is getting ready for summer, sun and beach vacations, the ski resorts south of the equator kick off their winter season in June. In this post, we're looking south and showcasing some of the ski areas in South America and Oceania. And to get the inside track, we talked to local experts to find out what to expect at each resort.
Argentina: Winter vacation "at the end of the world"
Cerro Castor holds a very special record: It is the world's most southern ski resort! Situated in the midst of Tierra del Fuego National Park (which roughly translates as "fire land"), the resort offers skiers and snowboarders some quite astonishing views. The resort opened in 1999 and has, thanks to its location, a virtual snow guarantee. Seasons here even last up until mid-October! In total, Cerro Castor maintains around 30 kilometres of terrain and operates eleven lifts. One highlight of the resort and a must for all proficient skiers is the "El Cóndor" run. It begins at the highest point in Cerro Castor at 3,467 ft (1,057m) and leads you all the way back into the valley to a height of only 639 ft (195m).
The resort Las Leñas is often described as the St. Moritz of the Andes. This exclusive resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders to the so-called Valle de Las Leñas (which translates as "firewood valley"). The 29 slopes here extend all the way up to 11,253 ft (3,430m), which also makes Las Leñas the highest ski resort in Argentina. From the summit, skiers can enjoy a quite unbelievable 360° panorama of the Andes' eye-catching volcanoes. As 60% of the trails are marked as easy or even very easy terrain, beginners have a huge selection of slopes to choose from. All these runs are perfect for honing your skiing skills. The comparatively small amount of black-marked slopes (some 5%) shouldn't keep experts from visiting Las Leñas though. The ski resort is a popular destination for freeriding and it's not hard to see why. The Marte lift offers access to diverse terrain, famous for hundreds of steep couloirs and exciting drops.
Chile: enchanted lakes and sun-blessed slopes
In the very heart of the Andes, the resort Valle Nevado extends up to 9,842 ft (3,000m). Due to its location, the resort is blessed with plenty of snow coupled with 85% cloudless days! With an area covering 890 ha, it is one of the largest resorts in the country and forms the ski network "Tres Valles" together with the neighboring resorts of La Parva and El Colorado Farellones. Valle Nevado is known for its modern facilities and innovative approach, which is why it should come as no surprise that in 2013 it introduced Chile's very first gondola lift. The resort also offers heliskiing - with the stunning panorama of the impressive nearby mountains before you, you'll reach slopes offering descents of up to 6561 vertical feet (2,000m).
Portillo is the oldest ski resort in South America. Established during the 19th century, Norwegians settled in the area and worked as engineers here. The first lift was built and installed in the 1930s. Nowadays, Portillo is a resort offering some 500 ha of terrain and 35 slopes in total. The surroundings are magnificent: every now and then you'll have a view of the crystal clear lake Laguna del Inca. According to legend, the ghost of an Inca resides in the lake.
We asked Greg Fitzsimmons for more info! |
Snow-Online.com: What's unique about Portillo? Which slope is the most challenging run? Which are some of the best places for beginners? Is there a run with the best panoramic view? Tell us about the best spot for enjoying a break! |
Australia: Skiing with an extraordinary backdrop
The slogan at Mt Hotham is "Aim Higher" - an apt claim for a resort where the slopes extend up to a height of 6,053 ft (1,845m). This makes it one of the highest resorts in all of Australia. The location is a little unconventional: most of the slopes run beneath Hotham Village, which is only about 328 ft (100m) down from the eponymous summit. The descents at Mt Hotham are perfect for advanced skiers and experts: 80% of the 245 ha area are classified as intermediate or hard. Freeride fans also have a great amount of space to enjoy some untouched powder, too. From the top station of "The Orchard" lift, a snowcat departs every 15 minutes (depending on the weather) to take winter sport enthusiasts to the best deep snow areas for free!
With an area of 450 ha, Falls Creek is one of the largest resorts in Down Under. High above Rock Valley Lake it serves up unusual but incredible scenery for skiers and snowboarders. With 60% intermediate terrain, the resort is perfectly suited for advanced skiers. In addition, the resort provides four terrain parks, which helps attract the freestyle ski and snowboard crowd.
We asked Jo Prothero for more info! |
Snow-Online.com: What’s unique about Falls Creek? Which slope would you say is the most challenging run? Is there an area best suited for beginners? Tell us about the run with the best panoramic view! |
New Zealand: mountain fun Kiwi style!
The Remarkables is one of the three ski resorts in the area around Queenstown. The town is situated on Lake Wakatipu and is known throughout New Zealand as the capital of adventure and tourism. The Remarkables stretches out over an area of 265 ha and offers a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Various sun-blessed descents run along the hillside of Double Cones and beginners, advanced skiers and experts will all find enjoyable runs here. Since this season, The Remarkables has been part of The Mountain Collective. This fascinating network offers a ski ticket which allows access to twelve of the most renowned ski resorts worldwide.
We asked Craig Douglas for more info! |
Snow-Online.com: What’s unique about The Remarkables? Which slope would be the most challenging run? Tell us about the best photo location! Where is the best après-ski location? What's your insider’s tip? |
Even though most of the resorts in New Zealand are located on the South Island, the largest NZ resort is actually on the North Island: Whakapapa. At Mt Ruapehu – an active (!) volcano – you have more than 1,000 ha of mountain to explore. Not only is that an insane amount of terrain, it is incredibly varied as well. Should this diversity still not be enough, you could always head on over to the neighboring slopes of Turoa, which are located just a little further south on Mt Ruapehu.
We asked Crystal van der Heyden for more info! |
Snow-Online.com: Why should you visit Whakapapa for skiing? Where should you start your ski day? Where is best to ski in the afternoon? Tell us about the run with the best panoramic views! What can you do after the lifts close? |
