Work A Ski Season at Remarkables or Coronet Peak

Getting to Queenstown

Flights

If arriving internationally, Christchurch on the South Island is the closest major international terminal. However, Queenstown also has an international airport (ZQN) for flights arriving from Australia.  Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas fly from Australia while Air New Zealand flies internally in NZ.

Buses

The bus from Christchurch to Queenstown takes around 8 hours and prices range from $NZ50 – $NZ100. It is a good idea to book early to get a cheaper fare.

InterCity Coachlines runs buses around New Zealand and can take you from any of the major cities in New Zealand to Queenstown. See www.intercity.co.nz

Naked Bus is another bus service that runs from all the major towns on the South Island to Queenstown and may offer a cheaper price if you compare in advance. See nakedbus.com

How is the Terrain at Coronet Peak?

Opened in 1947, Coronet Peak was New Zealand’s first ski resort. Coronet Peak has NZ’s longest ski area opening hours and is the only commercial ski area to offer night skiing. It is the busiest resort on the South Island, so the crowds are larger than at other resorts, but the lift infrastructure seems to handle the crowds reasonably well.

Coronet Peak is best for intermediates, with a number of good cruisers. The mogul runs are plentiful at Coronet Peak. However, like most NZ resorts, there is only a small skiable area (280 hectares), with a small vertical drop (481m), which compares to most resorts in Australia.

Coronet Peak has some nice backcountry access in addition to its four main lifts. If you are keen on hiking to find powder there is always a new stash to be found. Remember to carry avalanche safety gear if you are going into the backcountry. Coronet Peak is the better of the two resorts in terms of backcountry.

However, the lack of trees can mean poor visibility on certain days, though the weather tends to be a little better than at resorts further north.

Coronet Peak also has NZ’s most extensive snowmaking system which helps to build up the early season base. The average snowfall is just 2m at Coronet Peak. Underneath, however, the terrain is mostly grass tussocks, which means fewer rocks to hit even when the base is low.

Night-skiing is possible from early July until mid-September, Friday and Saturday nights from 4pm until 9pm. This includes the terrain park which is open under the ‘Park after Dark’ and also includes the giant air bag on which to practice tricks.

Mountain Stats:

• Terrain: Beginner 25%; Intermediate 45%; Advanced 30% (including back bowls).
• Elevation: 1649m
• Vertical drop: 481m
• Skiable area: 280 hectares
• Lifts: 1 high speed six seater, 2 express quads, 1 T- Bar,  and 4 surface conveyors.
• Operating hours: 9am – 4pm each day during the season.
• Longest run: M1 – 2.4km
• Average snowfall – 2m

Choice Runs

From an insider’s perspective, the Exchange is very nice on a powder day. You take the Coronet Express chair, head down the M1 and cut left after the first corner. There are plenty of natural jibs to hit as you go down the run.

How is the Terrain at The Remarkables?

The Remarkables has a more relaxed atmosphere, and is home to a a better terrain park and freestyle terrain, as well as dedicated learner facilities. It is a smaller ski area than Coronet Peak and attracts more of the families and kids than Coronet Peak, as the in-bound is much more suited to beginners than Coronet Peak.

However, there is some excellent backcountry terrain at The Remarkables if you like to hike. If you are an advanced rider, you will likely spend most of your time at The Remarkables in the backcountry (or in the terrain park if you like park riding).

In-bound terrain is made up of three north facing bowls which tend to be sunny. Due to their enclosed nature, the resort has fewer closed days than other resorts further north in New Zealand.

Average snowfall is around 3.5m, which is higher than at Coronet Peak. There is snowmaking on the terrain park and under the Alta chair.

In addition, the scenery at The Remarkables is truly stunning, and it is one of the most photographed areas of New Zealand.

Mountain Stats:

• Terrain: Beginner 30%; Intermediate 40%; Advanced 30%.
• Elevation: 1943m
• Vertical: 357m
• Skiable area: 220 hectares
• Lifts: 1 high-speed six seater, 3 quad chairs and 3 surface conveyors.
• Operating hours: 9am – 4pm each day.
• Longest run: Homeward run – 1.5km.

Choice Runs

From an insider’s perspective, Toilet bowl on The Remarkables is very nice. It is a 30 minute hike from the top of Sugar Chair. Drop down the back side to enter into an open powder bowl. There is then a short hike back up to the road.

Chutes is at the top of the Shadow Basin Chair from where you cut left. A 15 minute hike leads to some steep chutes, and if you hike higher you will find even more untracked couloirs. The higher chutes lead you to a hike over the frozen lake, otherwise you can traverse back onto the runs.

The Homeward Bound runs don’t require hiking but are more popular as a consequence. To get there, take the Shadow Basin Chair and then head right off the top of the chair. The run takes you down to the road where a bus then picks you up to take you back to the base.

Season Dates

The season usually opens in late June and runs until early October, snow dependent.

Queenstown Town Vibe

Queenstown is a sophisticated and savvy, cosmopolitan yet casual, town, with something for everyone. Whether it’s adrenaline-pumping, heart-thumping action attractions, a relaxing winery tour, or a scenic hike through the natural and unspoiled hills surrounding Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown has it all. It is certainly the biggest winter party town in New Zealand and is one of the bigger winter party towns in the world – there are over 40 bars in town. The many pubs, clubs, cafes, bars and restaurants ensure that the town is alive during the whole winter. Queenstown is a year-round extreme sports town that attracts adventure people and the people are generally very laid back.

There are buses to take you up to the mountains, but many people also hitchhike up to the mountains, especially on their days off.

How to Get a Job?

Recruitment for NZSki is done via the website www.nzski.com/employment

When you apply, you will select a preference for the mountain with which you wish to work (Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or Mt Hutt). NZSki regularly receives more than 4,000 applications before each season, so make sure you put a strong effort into you application in order to make it to the interview stage. You can put in a second choice option in case you are not successful in your first choice of resorts.

Of the two resorts, Coronet Peak is probably the more popular, due to the shorter time it takes to get to work and home each day, and the more easily accessible, steeper terrain that is available to tackle when you get a ride break. Terrain park lovers might prefer The Remarkables though.

Recruitment opens in early February each year. Some of the most common roles are Rental Assistant, Lift Operator, Custodian/Cleaner, Food and Beverage Attendant, Guest Services & Ticketing Assistant, Ski/Snowboard Instructors, Ski & Snowboard Techs and Bus Drivers. See Jobs Available at Mountain Resorts for a description of ski resort jobs.

Interviews

If your application is successfully shortlisted to interview stage, you will be required to attend an interview. For some roles a face to face interview are compulsory. Face-to-face interviews start to take place in Queenstown from mid-May onwards each year.

Pay Rates

Entry level roles start from $16.50 NZD/hour, which is minimum wage in New Zealand. For roles that require more qualifications, skills and/or experience the rates will be higher.

Many staff pick up a casual second job in town at one of the many bars and restaurants. There are over 40 bars in Queenstown, although many of these will not hire in advance as there is no need due to the numbers of walk-up applicants each season.

International Applicants

The staff is usually very diverse with employees from all over the globe.

However, New Zealand Immigration has very strict rules in place regarding visa sponsorship to which NZSki must adhere. In previous years, NZSki have been able to sponsor only about 8% of their staff for visas, so you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a job if you can provide your own work visa. See Work a Winter Snow Season in New Zealand for further information on New Zealand’s working holiday visas.

Australian citizens are legally entitled to work in New Zealand with no visa necessary.

The roles that may be considered for sponsorship are the more highly skilled roles and you will need the appropriate qualifications and experience to be eligible. Without exception, NZSki cannot sponsor applicants with a job offer that have no SnowSports industry qualifications or experience.

For information about the various types of work visas that may be available to you depending on your personal circumstances, refer to www.immigration.govt.nz for details.

Bunac is a company that offers work abroad programmes. It is open to UK/Ireland and US citizens www.bunac.org

Ski and Snowboard Instructors

To be considered you will need to have a minimum of NZSIA / SBINZ / PSIA level 2 or equivalent with 3 seasons teaching experience. In all cases, whether it be a working holiday or sponsorship visa, you must supply evidence of your work visa before you can commence employment. It is best if you can upload this into your application as soon as you get it.

Photo: Hitting the terrain park at The Remarkables

Staff Perks

• Free Season Pass for four mountains – lift access to Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt, The Remarkables and Ohau ski areas for full-time employees
• Free transport to work everyday, and on an ‘as available’ basis on your days off
• Free qualifications, training and development through the NZSki-U program
• Free group skiing or snowboarding lessons
• Free or heavily subsided functions throughout the season – BBQs, sports competitions, night ski, tubing, end of season party.
• Free or heavily subsidised helmets (role dependent)
• Free season passes for the family (permanent crew & HODs)
• Free access to the Employee Care Programme, for those times when you are finding things a bit tough
• Free tea, coffee and hot chocolate in the staff rooms
• Free uniforms
• Free or discounted day passes for your Friends & Family (returning crew)
• Discounted staff lunches
• Discount on season passes for the family (returning crew)
• Discount on day passes at other ski areas around NZ – up to 50%
• Discount on food & drinks at mountain cafes and restaurants
• Discount in retail stores
• Discount on rental equipment and workshop repairs
• Discount on rates at our other companies – Ultimate Hikes, Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook
• Discount in retail shops, cafes, gyms and activities in Queenstown and Methven

Being a part of the crew means you will also receive free departmental training to help you do your job. You will also have access to the NZSKi-U internal training programs to help you develop your professional and personal skills.

NZSki-U offers:

• 25 different qualifications available to everyone, depending on the role and the level of development you want which are nationally recognised across multiple industries and valued in the SnowSport industry internationally.
• A combination of workplace training and self-paced learning
• Ski & Snowboard assessments
• Avalanche awareness workshops
• Qualifications up to Level 5 are free, and the Bachelor of Applied Management at degree level is partially funded

How to Find Accommodation for the Season?

No staff accommodation is provided. Staff live in Queenstown, and you will need to arrange accommodation yourself. While you are looking for a place to live, the www.blacksheepbackpackers.co.nz is a hostel with a good atmosphere and is not too expensive.

You can expect to pay around $150-200NZD/wk for accommodation in town. It is possible to get a group together and head to a real estate agent in town. They will set you up with a place that is not too expensive. Queenstown rentals are most expensive near the centre of town.

Accommodation Resources

• The Lakes Weekly is a local newspaper that comes out once a week and is free. Pick up a copy around town or visit the website www.lwb.co.nz

• Mountain Scene is another local newspaper with online classifieds including rental properties www.scene.co.nz

• www.trademe.co.nz is a New Zealand online marketplace which may sometimes have rental listings for Queenstown. This may also have people selling second hand cars which can be useful for getting around.

• Queenstown Accommodation Centre is a property agent that has rental properties in town www.qac.co.nz/

• Resort Rentals is another property agent in town www.resortrentals.co.nz/

• Hoamz is a property agent servicing Queenstown and Invercargill www.hoamz.co.nz

• Executive accommodation is also a property agent in town www.executiveaccommodation.co.nz

www.queenstown.com has further information on the town of Queenstown

Other Accommodation Tips

There are two towns on the outskirts of Queenstown, Arrowtown and Frankton. If you don’t mind a quieter vibe and have your own transport these are both good options for accommodation.

The supermarket in Frankton is the best value for groceries, which means having a car is helpful if you are living in Queenstown, though the bus runs out to Frankton frequently throughout the day.