Tuesday, July 26 to Sunday, July 31, 2021 (with optional weekend in Tahiti, from Friday July 22)
We're building a stunning opening to our trip for those who are traveling from North America, with exclusive airfare on Air Tahiti Nui and a 2-night stay at the 5 star waterfront Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa. With overwater bungalows, a tropical dinner with live native dancers and musicians, and the chance to swim with dolphins... this weekend will be unlike anything SKI BUMS has ever hosted before. Space is limited; sign up begins this week.
Come see a whole new side of the world. On our trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, you'll join an exclusive room block during this year's wildly popular Gay Ski Week New Zealand, with five nights of host hotel accommodations, four days of skiing and riding, transportation to and from the slopes and all-access event passes to all the Gay Ski Week NZ events. What's best, you'll be attending the week alongside the BUMS -- full of all the fun you'd expect on any SKI BUMS trip. This is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that you'll never forget. Join us!
Double or single occupancy in premium rooms, Novotel Queenstown, the official NZ Gay Ski Week host hotel. It's a comfortable, well-appointed hotel in downtown Queenstown.
4 day all-access ski pass for use at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona, or Treble Cone. You may use them where and when you want; SKI BUMS will coordinate trips for our participants.
Our passes include complimentary use of the Pink Bus, a chartered ride between the host hotel and the four ski areas. We'll ride alongside other attendees of the NZ Gay Ski Week.
5 night hotel stay, all access pass to the Gay Ski Week NZ events (Tuesday through Sunday), 4 days ski lift pass, Pink Bus shuttle transportation, exclusive SKI BUMS meetups & events for our members
Air transportation to Queenstown, ground transfer between the hotel and the airport, equipment rental, meals / drinks
$1449 NZD for double occupancy
$2099 NZD for single occupancy
Take note: Our trip is priced in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). When you pay for this trip with any major credit card, you'll be given an exchange rate by your credit card company. (US credit cards usually give very good exchange rates.) Google "1449 NZD in USD" for current market rates.
Full payment is due at signup. View our cancellation policy for this trip >
$2099 NZD for single occupancy
Take note: Our trip is priced in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). When you pay for this trip with any major credit card, you'll be given an exchange rate by your credit card company. (US credit cards usually give very good exchange rates.) Google "1449 NZD in USD" for current market rates.
Full payment is due at signup. View our cancellation policy for this trip >
Space is limited. Only those who sign up via the SKI BUMS website may join our exclusive room block, or participate in our members' events during the week.
We recommend arranging your air transportation to arrive in Queenstown by 5 PM on Tuesday. The week ends with a goodbye brunch / lunch on Sunday; you may depart anytime that day.
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP
Any world traveler knows that New Zealand is a magical place -- it's the sort of destination everyone should visit at least once. With the SKI BUMS are along for the fun, you're set for a vacation you'll never forget!
Any world traveler knows that New Zealand is a magical place -- it's the sort of destination everyone should visit at least once. With the SKI BUMS are along for the fun, you're set for a vacation you'll never forget!
If you've ever been to a gay ski week, you surely know that there's a whole lot of fun to be had -- but it's more fun if you show up with friends. When you join the SKI BUMS trip to Gay Ski Week NZ, you'll have an instant group of friendly, extroverted skiers & riders who joined SKI BUMS for the same reason everyone does: to meet people.
From beginning to end, you'll have a built-in community-within-a-community, ready to hit the slopes alongside you and build the kind of memories that all SKI BUMS trips are famous for.
From beginning to end, you'll have a built-in community-within-a-community, ready to hit the slopes alongside you and build the kind of memories that all SKI BUMS trips are famous for.
SKI BUMS will always be loyal to our first love -- skiing and snowboarding -- and we'll have four days at the local ski resorts near Queenstown to make all our snow-loving friends back home a lil' jealous (while they're sweating through the final days of July). Your lift tickets are good for any of the four ski resorts, and you can visit whichever you like. SKI BUMS will host treks each day to the hills. As always, we'll help you meet other skiers & riders who enjoy the same terrain you do.
In the evenings, the schedule for Gay Ski Week NZ features an exciting array of social events -- including a pool party, a bowling night, an all-girls party and a comedy night! The SKI BUMS package includes an all-access pass to all the events from Tuesday through Sunday; you'll have the chance to kick back with skiers & boarders from New Zealand, Australia and beyond.
Additionally, we'll be hosting special SKI BUMS events (lunches, après-skis, etc) exclusively for our members, so you'll always be able stay connected. If you'd ever like to break away and do your own thing, there's room for that, too.
In the evenings, the schedule for Gay Ski Week NZ features an exciting array of social events -- including a pool party, a bowling night, an all-girls party and a comedy night! The SKI BUMS package includes an all-access pass to all the events from Tuesday through Sunday; you'll have the chance to kick back with skiers & boarders from New Zealand, Australia and beyond.
Additionally, we'll be hosting special SKI BUMS events (lunches, après-skis, etc) exclusively for our members, so you'll always be able stay connected. If you'd ever like to break away and do your own thing, there's room for that, too.
SKI BUMS puts many hours into providing well-researched, intelligently designed itineraries to give you the kind of vacation you'll never forget. Here are some answers to the most common questions on traveling to New Zealand for a winter trip.
Q. What kind of conditions and weather can we expect in late July?
A: Late July is the beginning of the peak season for the ski resorts on the South Island of New Zealand. Because the resorts near Queenstown sit at a lower altitude than many resorts in Europe or North America, it's rare to experience bone-chilling cold spells, even in peak season. The climate is probably most similar to the American northwest; the end of July / beginning of August brings the most consistent winter temps to the mountains in the area -- with highs in the 20's Fahrenheit -- while the weather down in town is more temperate and comfortable, where average highs reach about 55° F.
Q. How large are the ski resorts? How do they compare to North American resorts?
At 1,359 acres, Treble Cone is the largest, most challenging resort on New Zealand's south island. It's more than twice the size of any ski resort in the North American East, yet smaller than most major resorts in the West. With a 2,296 foot vertical drop and a full 50% of its terrain marked for advanced skiers & riders, those who are looking to get their shred on will probably find the most fun here. The most popular resort is Coronet Peak, in large part because of its closer proximity to Queenstown. Although it's got a shorter vertical drop of 1,378 feet, its off-piste and back bowls reward intrepid explorers.
Cardrona and The Remarkables are the smallest of the four, with programs and terrain that specifically appeal to families. By all accounts they're fun resorts to serve up a rewarding one-day getaway, but they're on the smaller side.
In short, the four ski resorts on our all-access pass offer a great variety, and with our special passes, you can ski any resort you like on any day. Beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers and riders should have more than enough terrain to explore!
Q. How does the time change / date change work?
When you're flying from the USA. you cross the international date line on the way to New Zealand. For example, you could fly on Sunday night yet land on Tuesday. The islands in French Polynesia occupy the same time zone as Hawaii; those who opt for our stopover in Tahiti won't cross the date line until they fly from Tahiti to NZ.
Q. SKI BUMS welcomes skiers & riders all skill levels -- but does that apply to your summertime trips, too?
Absolutely. As we've seen on our trips to Bariloche, Portillo and Valle Nevado, we expect to have a great variety of BUMS who enjoy easier terrain, those who are stronger intermediates, and those who like to push the limits. We do not expect many total newbies on this trip, so if you're brand new to skiing / boarding, shoot us an email for an honest set of expectations.
Q. What kind of conditions and weather can we expect in late July?
A: Late July is the beginning of the peak season for the ski resorts on the South Island of New Zealand. Because the resorts near Queenstown sit at a lower altitude than many resorts in Europe or North America, it's rare to experience bone-chilling cold spells, even in peak season. The climate is probably most similar to the American northwest; the end of July / beginning of August brings the most consistent winter temps to the mountains in the area -- with highs in the 20's Fahrenheit -- while the weather down in town is more temperate and comfortable, where average highs reach about 55° F.
Q. How large are the ski resorts? How do they compare to North American resorts?
At 1,359 acres, Treble Cone is the largest, most challenging resort on New Zealand's south island. It's more than twice the size of any ski resort in the North American East, yet smaller than most major resorts in the West. With a 2,296 foot vertical drop and a full 50% of its terrain marked for advanced skiers & riders, those who are looking to get their shred on will probably find the most fun here. The most popular resort is Coronet Peak, in large part because of its closer proximity to Queenstown. Although it's got a shorter vertical drop of 1,378 feet, its off-piste and back bowls reward intrepid explorers.
Cardrona and The Remarkables are the smallest of the four, with programs and terrain that specifically appeal to families. By all accounts they're fun resorts to serve up a rewarding one-day getaway, but they're on the smaller side.
In short, the four ski resorts on our all-access pass offer a great variety, and with our special passes, you can ski any resort you like on any day. Beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers and riders should have more than enough terrain to explore!
Q. How does the time change / date change work?
When you're flying from the USA. you cross the international date line on the way to New Zealand. For example, you could fly on Sunday night yet land on Tuesday. The islands in French Polynesia occupy the same time zone as Hawaii; those who opt for our stopover in Tahiti won't cross the date line until they fly from Tahiti to NZ.
Q. SKI BUMS welcomes skiers & riders all skill levels -- but does that apply to your summertime trips, too?
Absolutely. As we've seen on our trips to Bariloche, Portillo and Valle Nevado, we expect to have a great variety of BUMS who enjoy easier terrain, those who are stronger intermediates, and those who like to push the limits. We do not expect many total newbies on this trip, so if you're brand new to skiing / boarding, shoot us an email for an honest set of expectations.
The folks at Gay Ski Week NZ call them "Champagne Rooms," -- they're the best rooms on the property, and we've got a block of them at the official host hotel.
Select single or double occupancy, and plan to rest your head in style.
Select single or double occupancy, and plan to rest your head in style.
We're happy to set you up with a roommate; on most SKI BUMS trips, half our participants sign up without a roommate in mind.
Planning your arrival & departure
Tuesday and Sunday are official travel days, so we'll have a light schedule. Plan to be in Queenstown by 5 PM Tuesday.
Want some extra help planning your air travel? Send a message via our Contact Us page, and a SKI BUMS trip leader will get back to you within 24 hours.
Tuesday and Sunday are official travel days, so we'll have a light schedule. Plan to be in Queenstown by 5 PM Tuesday.
Want some extra help planning your air travel? Send a message via our Contact Us page, and a SKI BUMS trip leader will get back to you within 24 hours.