Skiing with Kids in Australia & New Zealand

En route to Mt Buller - 26 August 2012

Here is a round-up of day-pass discounts provided to young kids and older children at skifields around Australia and New Zealand.

KIDS

Generally speaking, you can start out on the slopes with kids at the age of about three and they can ski or ride for at least a couple of years for free.

From the age of around five or six they can then ski at about half price until they are about 14 years old (but interestingly up to 17 at most places in NZ).

My awards for the best deals on daily rates go to The Remarkables and Mt Hutt where kids ski for free up to age 10, and Mt Buller which extends the youth rate to Year 12.

Don't forget: first-timer and beginner tickets are usually much cheaper than all-resort day tickets and can be bundled with other services like equipment rental and lessons. These are always the best deal for starting out with kids at the snow.

Even experienced kids usually get discounted ski and board rental too.

En route to Falls Creek - 18 August 2012

Look for family packages that bundle adults and kids together in one deal as these can offer further savings.

Now, I haven't covered tertiary students who may also get discounted passes, and often special deals for certain days of the week - so check with your friendly resorts! At many NZ skifields, Australian students with cards can get the local student rate.

Australia

Falls Creek and Mt Hotham - Young children up to the age of 5 ski for free at Falls and Hotham. Children 6-14 years pay half price (that's A$55). A once-off A$3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Buller - Children 4 years and under ski for free at Buller. Kids aged 5-14 pay A$61 (you will need a A$5 B-Tag). The good news is at Buller, this kids rate also applies to older children up to Year 12.

Perisher - Perisher is yet to announce day-pass pricing for 2013, so check the website in the next few weeks.

En route to Mt Hutt - 19 September 2012

Thredbo - Little ones 4 years and under ski for free, while kids aged 5-14 get a discount to A$64 (less if you prepurchase the passes online).

New Zealand

Rainbow - Kids up to age 6 ski for free, then from 7-17 years lift tickets are priced at NZ$35.

Mt Lyford - Children up to 5 ski for free up at Lyford. Children from 6-12 years pay NZ$20, and when they're 13-17 they'll pay NZ$35.

Mt Cheeseman - At the Cheese, children up to 9 years old can ski for free, while those 10-17 pay NZ$39 for a day pass.

Porters - Kids up to 6 ski for free. Children up to 17 pay NZ$44 per day.

Mt Hutt - Children all the way up to the age of 10 ski for free. Those aged 11-17 will pay NZ$51 for a lift ticket.

Mt Dobson - Children up to the age of 4 ski for free. Those aged 5-17 pay NZ$44 for a day on the slopes.

En route to Mt Dobson - 21 September 2012

Roundhill - Little ones up to the age of 5 ski for free. Those aged from 6-12 years pay NZ$36, and those aged 13-17 pay NZ$46 for a day pass.

Ohau - Children up to the age of 5 can ski for free. Those aged 6-17 pay only NZ$32 for a full day on the ski field.

Treble Cone - Young kids up to the age of 5 will ski for free at TC. Those aged 6-17 get a day pass for NZ$48.

Cardrona - Children up to the age of 5 ski for free. Those aged 6-17 pay NZ$49 for a day pass at Cardies.

Coronet Peak - Kids up to age 6 ski for free at CP. Those aged 7-17 pay NZ$54 for each day's lift ticket.

The Remarkables - Children all the way up to the age of 10 ski for free. Those aged 11-17 pay NZ$51 for a day riding Remarks.

Skiing for Seniors in Australia & New Zealand

Did you know that, once you get to a certain age, you can ski for free at most ski resorts? The good news for seniors - whether you've been skiing for 50 years or are just a beginner - is that there are a bundle of fluffy white benefits for you up in the cool, clean air of the mountains.

Here is a round-up of day-pass discounts provided to seniors aged 65 and over by skifields around Australia and New Zealand. In my next post I will do something similar for kids!

[Pictures are mine and cover some highlights from a brilliant 2012 ski season.]

Mt Hotham July 2012

SENIORS

In summary, there are benefits for you whichever mountain you choose. You'll be able to ski for free earlier in Australia compared to the major ski areas in New Zealand, but while you're still aged 65-69, the daily lift prices will be cheaper in New Zealand.

It would definitely also be worth checking out senior season ticket prices for season-long discounts at your favourite mountain in Australia and New Zealand. These offer some great deals for those blessed with the energy and the leisure time.

Seniors also get discounts on equipment rental and lessons at Falls Creek, for example, so make sure you check with your mountain when you're booking a package. You may even get discounts at retail establishments on-mountain for food and drink, at Mt Buller, for example.

Check the websites for all the benefits. You'll never know what you may find. Like at Porters during the 2013 season there is a masters "learn to ski" package designed for those 50+ who have not skied before and want to tick it off their bucket list. The NZ$105 package includes introduction, one-day learner lift pass, equipment rental, beginner ski instruction, complimentary apres coffee or house wine, and a certificate of achievement.

Mt Buller August 2012

Happy skiing to all you seniors, and maybe I'll see you on the mountain this year!

"We've got quite a good following of regular seniors at Cheeseman - we always know that Ged and Gini are out skiing when we smell Ged's pipe smoke around the mountain!" - Mt Cheeseman Ski Area

Australia

Falls Creek - Over 70s ski for free at Falls, with seniors aged 65-69 paying half the adult price (A$55) for one-day lift passes. A once-off $3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Hotham - Over 70s ski for free, and seniors aged 65-69 get half-price Hotham lift passes at A$55 for a one-day pass. A once-off $3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Buller - Over 65s get a one-day pass for A$61, and over 70s ski for free (you will need a A$5 B-Tag).

Ohau September 2012

Perisher - Over 65s pay around 40% of full-price tickets and Perisher will announce pricing for 2013 shortly, so check the website in the next few weeks.

Thredbo - Over 65s pay A$64.

New Zealand

Rainbow - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$35 for a day pass.

Mt Lyford - Over 70s ski for free.

Mt Cheeseman - Over 75s ski for free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$39 for a one-day pass.

Porters - Over 75s ski for free. Seniors pay NZ$44 for a one-day pass.

Mt Hutt - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$51.

Mt Dobson - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$37.50 for a day pass, with over 70s skiing for free.

Mt Dobson September 2012

Roundhill - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$37.50 for a day pass.

Ohau - Seniors over the age of 65 years pay NZ$39.50 for an all day lift pass.

Treble Cone - Seniors aged 65-69 pay NZ$54 for a day ticket, while 70yrs and older can ski for free.

Cardrona - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$50.

"We definitely get a few - there’s even a local crew of them who call their group 'one ski in the grave'" - Treble Cone Ski Area

Coronet Peak - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$54.

The Remarkables - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$51.