Southern Lakes including Queenstown and Wanaka
Free and Independent
"Simply Remarkable". So the Queenstown by-line goes and the Remarkables certainly are. In the days when snow and ice ruled the world one particular glacier starting somewhere around Glenorchy ground out a nice little valley - which has now filled with water and is called Lake Wakatipu. At what is now called Queenstown the glacier ran into a stubborn piece of rock and was forced to do a 90 degree turn to the South - and that is how the Remarkables were formed.
So this is a bit if a special issue, an experiment if you will, exploring in detail .... The Remarkables.
Evan "let's ski the front" Bloomfield
>================ The Remarkables are Open
Saturday 26 June will see the opening of The Remarkables snow area in Queenstown. The new snow making system has ensured that there is a great mix of natural and machine made snow on the Alta trails for the novice and beginner. Mix in a bit of machine tilling from the mighty Kasbohrer's and you are left with some great wide open trails finished with those smooth corrugations that make you feel so good. A great spot for the family with young kids. Uncrowded gentle slopes and a nice big learners area just in front of the impressive day lodge. Last year the Remarkables opened in July 12 so things are looking good for a big season.
If you are an advanced or expert skier then don't expect to be swooshing your way down the chutes in to Lake Alta this weekend, not quite yet. But if you are a family with novice and beginner snow testers then The Remarkables is looking good!
For all the inside info online from nzski.com on The Remarkables click here.
>================ SnowCam and Snow Reports
Hamish and the team up at The Remarkables pump out the daily snow reports around 6.30 am each morning. Hamish's wife Nicky isn't so keen about that because it means Hamish is getting out of bed at 4.45am most mornings! Hamish say a crisp mountain sunrise quickly clears the cobwebs - I believe him!
This year The Remarkables have installed a fab new snowcam. This sits in Hamish's office and looks up toward the Alta and Sugar Bowl Chair and updates every hour.
So if you want to check out the latest snow fall, see what facilities are
operating or take a close up look at the current conditions surf on over to
The
Remarkables snow report from nzski.com
The KiwiNewZ RemarkableCam punches out quite a nice image as well. Taken from Coronet Peak this shot often sits above any valley cloud and is a nice "up the guts" view of The Remarkables. I was quite surprised to see that this is our most popular SnowCam shot!
>================ North facing and great for the family
The Rastus Burn as it is officially known is a lovely little valley that faces North sitting high up in the Remarkables range - the Maori's know it as the Kawerau's. It is a great family field with easy access to the Alta double chair and the handle tows.
The super dooper value family deal this year is that children 10 and under go free. That is not a miss print. The Novice day pass for an adult is $35 and for a child from 11 to 16 or still at high school $20.
And for the toddlers ( and the parents ) the crèche caters for kids 2 years and over ... don't worry mom, you get a free pager just in case the proverbial hits the wall.
>================ SKeas at The Remarkables
One of the special things about having lunch at The Remarkables is the entertainment.
This weekend local muso Noel Coutts will be playing a few sets around lunch time, setting the scene to relax into the mountain environment and when Noels isn't there you can be sure that one of the local Keas will come and say gidday. Cheeky, cocky and with heaps of character these mountain parrots are the real locals.
Please don't feed the Keas, chips and chocolate give them a beak ache!
Recent Snow falls
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Base
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Top
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4 June
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5cm
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07 June
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10cm
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15cm
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13 June
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10cm
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19 June
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6cm
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8cm
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>================ Remarkable statistics
The highest point of the Remarkable is the twin peaks standing tall at 2 324m ( 7 625 ft ) with the highest lift on the field at 1 935m. The vertical drop is 357m. 30% of the terrain is suitable for beginners, 40% for Intermediates and 30% for Advanced. The average snow fall is 3.1m and there are 2 quad chairs, 1 double chair and 2 beginner tows. It is 50 minutes drive from Queenstown.
>================ Remark in our Guestbook
Have you been to the Remarkables? Make sure you sign the KiwiNewZ Guestbook , let us know where your from and tell us a little Remarkable snow tale!
>================ Subscribe
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>================ Contact Details
Evan Bloomfield fx
+64 3 442 8342
PO Box 2125
Queenstown 9197
AOTEAROA
© KiwiNewZ, 1999