Great Ski Value For Early-bird Takers

Sun Herald

Sunday June 5, 2005

Debbie Hunter

There are several great deals for the upcoming ski season, and Queenstown has the pick of them, writes Debbie Hunter.

? The Snow Travel Company has seven-night packages to Queenstown, New Zealand starting from $1067 per adult for a family room. Included are return flights from Sydney to Christchurch, seven nights at Mercure Resort Hotel, seven-day four-wheel-drive car hire and all taxes. Kids under 16 stay free. Phone 1300 660 690 or see www.snowtravel.com.au for more packages.

? Ski Queenstown with Qantas and Ski Max from $895 per person twin plus tax from Sydney including: return Qantas flights to Christchurch; seven-day car hire with unlimited kilometres and insurance, ski racks and chains; seven nights at Coronet Alpine Hotel and a five-day Queenstown ski pass for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Pay by June 10 for travel from June 11 to October 9. Vehicle hire does not include an optional insurance excess waiver of $NZ19 ($18) plus GST per day.

? Don't have a passport? Ski Max has five nights at Thredbo's Alpenhorn Lodge, a five-day lift-only pass, three dinners and breakfast daily from $750 per person twin. Pay by June 10 for travel from June 10 to 25. Surcharges may apply for weekends. Phone Ski Max on 1300 136 997 or 9267 1655.

? Escape Travel has Mount Hotham midweek packages from $589 per person twin, which include five nights in the centrally located Arlberg Apartments, breakfast daily, lift passes and up to 10 hours of group lessons. Available June 10 to 30, and September 9 to October 2, and includes daily two-hour group lessons for beginners and a five-day lift pass for all. Phone 1300 556 855 or see www.escapetravel.com.au.

? For Mount Hotham in peak season, five-night packages start at $1639 per adult and $1440 per child for a two-bedroom (six-share) apartment at Chalet Hotham. A studio (two-share) costs $1954 per adult and $1755 per child, while a one-bedroom with four sharing costs $1673 per adult and $1474 per child. Peak season at Chalet Hotham is July 31 to August 27. Two sharing an Arlberg studio apartment over five nights will pay $1717 each ($1518 per child). A one-bedroom unit (four-share) is $1482 per adult and $1283 per child, and a two-bedroom unit (six-share) costs $1430 per adult and $1231 per child. Peak season is July 31 to August 20. Phone 1800 354 555 or see www.hotham.com.au.

? At Falls Creek's The Mim Sodergren Women's Ski Program (August 1 to 5) entices intermediate and more accomplished women skiers. The five-day program is co-ordinated by the Falls Creek Snowsports women instructors who encourage the participants to break out of their intermediate rut. The five days of six hours of instruction (in small groups), video analysis and off-slope seminars costs $955, including a five-day lift ticket, or $779 for skiers with a season pass. Also included is individual assessment, a group photo, apres drinks, an evening women's program dinner and a gift. For snow equipment hire and accommodation options phone 1800 453 525.

? The NSW ski resorts have just become a whole lot closer with news that Regional Express Airlines (REX) will operate year-round daily services between Sydney and the Snowy Mountains from June. Additional flights will be scheduled during winter to cater for skiers. REX will fly a 34-seat SAAB 340 aircraft. Fares start at $129 one-way on the internet, including taxes and charges. See www.rex.com.au.

? A seven-day package at the Station Resort, Jindabyne costs from $859 per adult (six-share) and $659 per child, including daily breakfasts, four dinners and a seven-day Perisher Blue mountain pass. Phone 1300 369 909 to book or see www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/accom /stationresort/index.html.

© 2005 Sun Herald

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