We have been hunting down the best snow in the mountains for over 20 years so its only appropriate we have a ski package called The Snowhunter, a multi day ski, snowboard or telemark safari travelling to three or four of the finest ski clubs in Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. This will give you time to get the feel of club style skiing and time for your guide to get to know your ability and give you an experience never to be forgotten.

New Zealand club fields are regarded as the best off piste terrain accessible from a lift opening up thousands of possible runs. Hunting down the best snow involves mountain skills and knowledge of the backcountry. The BDS guides pass on their knowledge and introduce basic backcountry skills so you can experience terrain you might not ever find on your own.

First things first ... you will need to master the art of riding the ropetow with a nutcracker before ou are indulging in the back basins. BDS have designed a harness and a technique to simplify this task. You will also be outfitted with in an avalanche transciever and instructed on how to use one. If you have your own backcountry gear such as a shovel,probe,pack and transciever then we reccommend for you to bring it.

To cope with the New Zealand weather BDS has cooridinated with the The Burn Alpine dinner, bed and breakfast and The Ryton high country station to host our snowhunters. Both The Ryton and The Burn are amazing places to stay as they are nestled in the foothills of the Craigieburn range, making it very convienient for your guide to make a decision which clubfield has the best conditions for snowhunting before you sit down to a cooked breakfast. All rooms are heated with bedding and towels provided. For more info take a peek at our links page.

Lock and load we are ready to Snowhunt... Bookings are designed for people of the same group and generally the best month for a snowhunter safari is September, as the days are longer and the snowpack has had time to settle opening up more backcountry terrian. However weather in NZ is a fickle thing and can change at anytime , so other times of the winter maybe just as spectacular.

BDS can put together an safari to suit your holiday schedule and all bookings are subject to availabilty. A Snowhunt can start with two people of the same group.

During the Hunt you can look foward to the following...

• Pickup and return to the Christchurch airport or your canterbury destination
• Transport everyday in 4x4 trucks to the club field with the best snow conditions
• Your guide checking the snow conditions and weather to decide which is the best to hunt for the day ... before you sit down to a hearty cooked breakie
• Daily 4x4 safari up the Mts access roads
• Instuction the use of a ropetow and nutcracker safley and effieciently (there is method behind the madness) you can look foward to our custom designed harnesses to make riding the tow easier
• The club fields opening the door to amazing backcountry and your guide will pass on basic skills for the terrain ourside of the boundaries whilst hunting down the best snow with you.... its not only for experts
• Your own avalanche tranciever to use during the safari, if you have your own bring it along
• Lift passes and lunches are also provided everday
• Dinner, bed and breakfast with a heated room, linen and epic sourroundings
• All mountain guiding or instruction to suit your ability
• Access to: phone, internet, fax, laundry, ski tuning and drying room
• Great memories and tied legs

back