The New Zealand Powder Highway is a new product and itinerary designed to attract Australian ski and snowboard fans to take in the very best snow experiences the South Island has to offer.
The New Zealand Powder Highway starts in Christchurch, before heading south to New Zealand’s much-loved Mt Hutt, meandering through the McKenzie’s ski areas and Mt Cook before ending in Queenstown the South’s heart of snow sport with its famous four areas of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone.
The idea is simple. Fly into Christchurch Airport from Australia, and hit the Powder Highway to explore the best of the South Island’s ski fields at your own pace.
Last week, New Zealand’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist, Nico Porteous teamed up with Christchurch Airport and the South Island’s regional tourism organisations to launch New Zealand’s Powder Highway at Kia Ora SOUTH events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Nico Porteous won a Bronze medal in the Freestyle Halfpipe at the Winter Olympics in 2018 when he was just 16. He won Gold in the same event in Beijing in 2022.
Christchurch Airport’s General Manager of Trade Development, Scott Callaway said “We showcased the New Zealand Powder Highway to nearly 200 ski travel specialists across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
“They were excited – saying it’s fresh and new and will be popular with Australians wanting to embrace the ski season after two years of closed borders.”
“Pre-COVID, around 20,000 Australians would cross the Tasman to ski in the South Island. We know many are desperate to come back and the New Zealand Powder Highway gives them a new reason to fly into Christchurch and make the most of all the South has to offer.
“A key highlight of the New Zealand Powder Highway is the opportunity to ski the Tasman Glacier on Mount Cook – that really captures imaginations and it’s great to be able to shine a light on some of our unique snow experiences,” said Callaway.
A SOUTH* initiative, the New Zealand Powder Highway was developed by the gateway to the South Island, Christchurch Airport, in partnership with three key regional tourism organisations – Christchurch NZ, Mackenzie Region and Destination Queenstown.