Ski the Southern Alps
Freeride, ski touring & split-boarding
The best backcountry ski destinations in New Zealand
The Best Freeride, Ski Touring & Split-Boarding Adventures in New Zealand
The Best Freeride, Ski Touring & Split-Boarding Adventures in New Zealand
Discover the Ultimate Backcountry Experience in the Southern Alps
New Zealand’s Southern Alps are a paradise for freeriders, ski tourers, and split-boarders seeking untouched powder, thrilling descents, and remote backcountry terrain. With exclusive 4WD access, private heated huts, and heli-assisted options, these adventures offer an unparalleled way to explore the alpine wilderness.
Freeride & Big Mountain Skiing
For those who crave steep lines and deep powder, New Zealand’s backcountry delivers. Our freeride adventures take you to untouched alpine basins, towering peaks, and exhilarating descents, far from the crowds of ski resorts.
Top Freeride Destinations:
⛷️ Cass Valley Freeride – Remote, rugged, and packed with thrilling terrain.
🏂 Erewhon Hut, Potts Range – Steep couloirs and wide-open powder fields in a breathtaking setting.
Ski Touring & Split-Boarding Expeditions
For those who love the freedom of the backcountry, ski touring and split-board adventures offer an unforgettable mix of exploration and challenge. With heated private huts and diverse terrain, these journeys provide the perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
Top Ski Touring & Split-Boarding Destinations:
🏂 Cass Valley Ski Touring – A multi-day adventure with great terrain and endless options.
⛷️ Two Thumb Range – A ski touring classic, perfect for all levels. Stunning views across Lake Tekapo.
Heli-Assisted Backcountry Adventures
Maximize your time in the mountains with heli-ski touring and heli-splitboarding, accessing remote peaks and untouched snowfields with the ease of a helicopter drop-off. Spend the day touring remote backcountry terrain and untouched slopes with your experienced ski guide. From high-alpine glaciers to hidden valleys, these experiences offer the best of New Zealand’s backcountry skiing and riding.
Why Choose a Guided Backcountry Adventure?
✔ Exclusive Access – Remote locations, private land, and uncrowded terrain.
✔ Heated Private Huts – Stay warm and comfortable in our fully equipped backcountry huts.
✔ Expert Local Guides – Professional IFMGA & NZMGA qualified ski guides, safety-focused, and passionate about the mountains.
✔ Technical Equipment – Alpine Recreation provides quality, modern ski touring and avalanche rescue equipment free-of-charge.
Your Next Backcountry Adventure Starts Here
Whether you’re after steep freeride lines, scenic ski tours, or heli-assisted backcountry descents, New Zealand’s Southern Alps offer the perfect setting. Get ready to explore the best freeride, ski touring, and split-board adventures in the country!
Articles
Features and editorials about The Best Freeride, Ski Touring & Split-Boarding Adventures in New Zealand
Off the Grid in the Cass
Four days of backcountry ski touring from Lady Emily Hut
We’d barely seen another soul since turning off the Tekapo highway.
Winter in the Cass
An ode to Falcon’s Nest Hut
A poem about ski touring at Falcon’s Nest Hut in the Cass Valley.
Erewhon Awakening
Five Days of Ski Touring in the Heart of the Rangitata
We meet in the warm, timbered lounge of Mt Potts Lodge as a southerly storm slaps against the windows.
Antarctica
Ski Touring Adventures on the Ice
As we made our first anchorage, our guide encouraged us to get our ski gear together quickly for a late afternoon ascent of Banco Island, and our first, warm-up ski…
Above Worry Level
Mid-winter ascents of Elie de Beaumont and Mount Tasman
A gripping account of two high alpine winter ascents in New Zealand’s Southern Alps — Elie de Beaumont and Mount Tasman — made during a perfect mid-winter weather window. A family expedition filled with glacier travel, summit challenges, breathtaking scenery, and reflection on the contrast between everyday life and the magic of the high mountains.