Out & About with kids - Skiing the Globe with kids

SKiiNG

THE GLOBE

BREAKING THE ICE

First timer’s guide

PARK CITY, USA

Park and ride in three resorts

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Resort rundown

JAPAN

Powder paradise

presents ...

AUSTRIA | CANADA | USA | WHAT TO WEAR | INTERSCHOOLS | NEWS

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB

WH ERE KIDS 12 YR S & U N DE R SKI & REN T F RE E !

TOWN PLAZA SUITES

DELTA WHISTLER VILLAGE

BONUS! 40% OFF ACCOMMODATION

849*

$

$

445*

From per adult & Includes: - 7 nights in Two Bedroom Condo - 6 day Whistler Blackcomb ski pass Valid for travel 2 Jan – 7 Feb 2013

per child

CRYSTAL LODGE

BONUS! STAY 7, PAY 6 + 20% OFF

1085*

$

1355*

$

$

955*

per child

685*

BONUS! 50% OFF ACCOMMODATION

1419*

$

$

1019*

From per adult & Includes: - 8 nights in Two Bedroom Suite - 6 day Whistler Blackcomb ski pass Valid for travel 2 Jan – 12 Feb 2013

Call SKIMAX 1300 136 997 email skimax@skimax.com.au visit skimax.com.au or see your local travel agent 2

per child

WESTIN RESORT & SPA

BONUS! 15% OFF ACCOMMODATION From per adult & Includes: - 7 nights in Two Bedroom Condo - 6 day Whistler Blackcomb ski pass Valid for travel 2 Jan – 12 Feb 2013

$

From per adult & Includes: - 7 nights in Two Bedroom Suite - 6 day Whistler Blackcomb ski pass Valid for travel 2 Jan – 12 Feb 2013

W I N T*Conditions E R 2apply.

0 1 2Prices are based on per adult & per children (minimum 2 adults & 2 children per family, children must be 12yrs & under). Children 12yrs & under ski & rent FREE on a one-to-one basis with a paying adult. Book & pay by 31 Aug 2012, except Westin which is book & pay 30 Jun 2012. Valid for travel dates specified above, surcharges may apply during www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au peak periods and school holidays. Prices are subject to availability and may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. A credit card fee of minimum 1.5% will apply. Airfares are not included. For full terms and conditions contact Skimax or visit www.skimax.com.au. Lic No. 2TA4787. Photo courtesy of Anastasia Chomlack / Bonny Makarewicz, Tourism Whistler.

per child

SKIING THE GLOBE

CONTENTS 12 18

BREAKING THE ICE . . . . 6 Where, when and how

THE KIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 What to wear

AUSTRALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Local heroes

NEW ZEALAND . . . . . . . 18

36

38

Deep south

USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Park and ride

CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sun Peaks

JAPAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Powder paradise

AUSTRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Innsbruck is gold

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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EDITOR

LET IT SNOW Publisher Elisa Elwin Snow & Ski Editor Helen Hayes helen@hayestack.com Editor-in-Chief Aleney de Winter aleney@oawk.com.au National Sales Manager Colleen Hinch colleen.hinch@gmail.com Design Gadfly Media

T

here are a lot of important ‘firsts’ in the snow. The first time you see it, feel it, throw a snowball and build a snowman. Then there’s the first time it actually snows, and the first time you successfully ski down a slope. These memories will be indelibly stamped in the happy part of your brain. There are many wonderful ski resorts in the world that offer magical experiences in the snow. We can’t cover them all, but we have come up with a selection of resorts and destinations in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Austria and Japan that are family friendly, fun filled and fabulous. All that we need now, is snow …

Helen Hayes Snow & Ski Editor

Published by 50a Central Avenue, Mosman NSW 2088 0413 770 550 Cover image Cardrona Alpine Resort Disclaimer The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2012 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

THE WORK IS THERE ALL YEAR. ’ THE SNOW ISN T.

5 day ad lift pass juult st

85

$

per day Let’s face it. Between the kids, shopping and housework, you were ready for a break two weeks ago. So why not start planning your getaway now? With peak season 5 day adult lift passes $85 per day and 5 day kids passes under $43 per day, there’s no excuse not to.

chuckasnowie.com.au

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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HOW TO

ice

BREAKING THE

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SKIING DOWN A RUN WITH YOUR CHILDREN, YAHOOING AND YEHAAING ALL THE WAY BEFORE MEETING AT THE CHAIRLIFT TO GO UP AND DO IT ALL AGAIN. THE BEST BIT IS THAT KIDS WILL NEVER TURN DOWN A SKI HOLIDAY. SO IF YOU HAVE NEVER, EVER BEEN ON A SNOW HOLIDAY WITH YOUR KIDS, NOW IS THE TIME…

When and where to go If you are on a tight budget, you can save by going to the snow in the value season; early or late in the season. Most resorts open in early June with cheaper lift passes and accommodation available for the first few weeks, and then again in the last few weeks leading up to the season closure at the beginning of October.

That’s because the snow can be a bit hit and miss during those times. Peak time is roughly between June 22 and September 3, and you’ll pay more if you go then.

For complete beginners, or ‘never, evers’, Snow Australia has some excellent deals at all Australian resorts at www.snow-australia.com. Check it out and save.

Once you know when you want to go, then work out where. Do you want to stay on snow for the whole snow experience, or stay in town and drive to the snow each day? Staying on snow is easy, if you need a rest or have a young one who needs a nap, you can just toddle off to your room with no fuss and bother. All the resorts have great websites that will allow you to compare and see which one ticks all your boxes. Do a bit of research then take the plunge.

Hire or buy?

You are going to the snow! So now you need to get the right gear. Hiring is

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

the way to go and it’s always good to borrow jackets and pants, gloves and goggles from friends if you can. Just make sure they fit properly. Borrowing ski boots is a no no, as your child will surely come home with black toe nails and bruised shins. It’s best not to borrow helmets either.

You can hire in your home city, or in snow towns en-route, which is great for hiring clothes and helmets to fit.

For boots, skis and snowboards, it’s better to hire at the ski resort you are visiting so you can have them adjusted or switch boots if necessary.

Lifts and lessons Your family will learn better and faster if you do lessons, so bite the bullet and book lift and lesson tickets for all of you. It’s best if the kids go with other children and you go with adults.

Everyone will be happier. After lessons, you can all meet up and ski together to see how you have all progressed.

Consider half-day lessons for younger children, so they can have a rest in the afternoon.

Thredbo (MyThredbo), Perisher (MyRide), Falls Creek and Hotham all have e-ticketing, so you can register online for your pass, then book lift tickets, lessons and in some cases hire gear well in advance. You pick up your passes when you get there, and then can reload them online when you want to.

Helpful tips

• Hire a locker (if available) and leave your skis, poles and boots in it at days end.

• Hire or buy apres ski boots to walk around in when you’re not skiing. They are warm, comfortable and won’t slip.

• Take some masking tape and a texta to the snow so you can write your names on your skis or snowboards. It makes it easier to find your skis in racks outside busy restaurants or cafés, and also stops other people taking them by mistake.

• Always use the drying room at your accommodation to dry jackets, gloves, neckwarmers and ski pants.

• Make a snowman complete with carrot nose, hat, scarf, eyes and mouth and take a photo of all the family with it.

Above: Throwing snowballs at Falls Creek Below: Olivia Willis ready to hit the slopes

THE FIRST TIME THE WILLIS FAMILY FROM SYDNEY HAD THEIR FIRST SNOW EXPERIENCE AT PERISHER. LYNNE AND SCOTT TOOK THEIR TWO CHILDREN, JORDAN AND OLIVIA, PLUS SCOTT’S PARENTS. “We went to The Man from Snowy River Motel and it was fantastic. Its location and the fact we could park underneath was great - especially as we had Scott’s mum and dad with us. At night the kids could eat and be entertained in the kids club leaving us adults to eat in peace but still have the kids close by.

We organised lessons and they were great for all of us. We took the halfday lessons and that suited us as the

kids were exhausted and cold and had had enough by then. Having the magic carpets to take the kids up higher was good, so they didn’t have to worry about chairlifts until they were good enough to go on them. A good tip that we were told was to stash the kids’ pockets with some energy snacks just to keep them going.

It really helped. We all loved the snow holiday, and are planning to go again this winter.”

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Ready to

WEAR

TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL SNOW HOLIDAY, THE KEY IS HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FROM TOP TO TOE. HERE IS OUR GUIDE TO BEING WARM AND LOOKING GOOD.

WEARING …

It’s all in the layers when it comes to being warm in the snow and when you’re talking about children, being warm is the key. If kids are cold, they are miserable and when they are miserable the whole family’s holiday is affected. Worse still, one bad experience might turn kids off the wonderful world of snow for life.

So, you will need a base layer of thermal pants, thermal shirt and thin woollen socks. Add a long sleeve shirt and/or a fleece, waterproof ski pants and ski jacket, a helmet, good quality gloves or mittens – mittens are better when it’s really cold – a fleece neckwarmer and you’re good to go. Sometimes in Australia you only need three layers, but it’s always better to go with more and take something off, rather than freeze.

SHIRTS AND THERMALS Icebreaker uses the finest merino wool to produce thermal underwear, shirts, fleeces and socks. A great mid-layer is the long sleeve Crewe shirt, RRP: $139.95. The leggings are excellent, as are the Tech Tops, another mid-layer option. RRP: $169.95

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

PANTS Burton’s Cyclops pants are rugged, warm and weatherproof and can be extended by two inches, ready for that next growth spurt. RRP: $129.95. XTM’s Pluto Pants are waterproof and made of a breathable fabric. RRP: $69.99

SKI SUITS JACKETS Arguably the most important piece of clothing, jackets can keep you toasty warm and provide a home for all your bits and pieces. For girls, Burton’s Melody Jacket ensures warmth even on the coldest day. RRP: $229.95.

XTM has a huge range to choose from with a good suggestion for boys being the Angle Stripe Jacket, retailing for $119.99 or for youngsters, the Mika jacket, RRP $99.99

For infants, a ski suit can be the way to go as it is warmer. Look at XTM’s Papoose suit, with double zip up front for easy entry and nappy changing. RRP: $69.99

GLOVES Gloves are really important and if your child tends to get cold fingers, purchase inner gloves as well. KAOS has some fun designs that look good and do the job, such as the Tiger Creature Mitt.

RRP: $40 or the Choke Junior Glove for discerning girls. RRP: $40

THE KIT

GOGGLES The Sidekick Goggle from Smith Optics features dual-lens construction which helps prevent fogging. RRP $39.95. Anon’s Youth Tracker is helmet compatible and has good ventilation. RRP $79.95

APRES BOOTS It’s worth buying your kids apres ski boots to walk around in when they’re not skiing or boarding, as they keep feet toasty warm and are safer than slipping around in runners. KAOS has the Kids Kicker Boot with a removable felt lining, fleece collar and Velcro closure. RRP: $90

BOARDS

USING …

SKIS Rossignol has been producing excellent kids’ skis for years and do it very well. Beginner to intermediate level girls love the Princess ski, while boys might fancy the Radical J. RRP: From $299. Older boys go for the Scratch Pro or Sprayer Pro twin tips to show off in terrain parks.

Burton’s Chopper board for boys and the Chicklet board for girls, make it fun for even the lightest riders to master balace and board control. RRP: $249.95

BOOTS Dalbello has a selection of ski boots for kids including Scorpion, CX, Menace, and Gaia, with three different sizes. RRP: $185 for Gaia 2. Burton’s Zipline snowboard boots are built to keep kids on their feet all day. RRP: $229.95

HELMETS Red’s Avid Grom helmet is lightweight and easily adjustable to provide protection on the snow or at the skatepark. RRP: 99.95.

Smith Optics has the Galaxy Goggle/Cosmos Junior helmet integration pack, which ensures that the helmet and goggles fit together perfectly. RRP: $129.95

From left to right: Dalbello action; Red Avid Grom helmet; Smith Optics Sidekick goggles; Burton Melody Jacket; Rossignol Princess skis; Dalbello Gaia 2 boots; Kaos Choke gloves; XTM Papoose suit

STOCKIST INFO Anon Optics: www.anonoptics.com Burton: www.burton.com.au/ dealerlocator Dalbello: Via www.sportrade.com.au Icebreaker: www.icebreaker.com KAOS: www.kaossnow.com Red: www.redprotection.com Rossignol: www.rossignol.com Smith Optics: Ph (02) 6639 5555.

XTM: www.xtm.com.au

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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SLOPE TALK Australasia

Thredbo’s Lantern shines The Lantern Apartments Thredbo has some brilliant snow season specials including a three nights for the price of two deal that includes a two-day lift pass. Plus for each paying adult, one child will receive a comparable Thredbo lift pass, lessons and equipment hire absolutely free from June 1022 and September 3-October 1, in conjunction with Blue Powder Tours.

The Lantern Property Group has several accommodation options for families in Thredbo, including the Lantern Apartments, Lhotsky Apartments, Snow Stream Apartments and now manage the new Elevation Penthouse Apartments. Book early and save on equipment hire, lift passes and lessons and keep watching the website for more deals throughout the season. www.lanternapartments.com.au.

Heavenly Hermitage A bonus for any ski holiday in New Zealand’s South Island is a few days at the magnificent Hermitage Hotel at Aoraki Mt Cook. Situated in the shadows of the majestic Aoraki Mt Cook, the Hermitage showcases nature at its best. This spiritual mountain, at a lofty 3754 metres, dominates the landscape and is simply mesmerising, whether looking from your room or through the floor to ceiling glass at The Alpine Restaurant.

There is plenty for kids in winter, the highlight being the incredible Glacier Explorers Tour on the Tasman Glacier late in the season, where you can get up close to icebergs. Take a hike in this idyllic wilderness, or go for a helicopter flight. The Tasman Valley 4WD and Argo tour is also great for families, as is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, located in the hotel. Have a look through the Museum, and check out the new kids’ movie Tycho to the Moon, in the Planetarium. www.hermitage.co.nz

Try it all at Lake Mountain Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is the closest ski resort to Melbourne, just two hours drive away. It’s ideal for beginners and families, who want to enjoy some snow play but don’t want to commit to one of the bigger resorts. Kids will love tobogganning on the six runs, snowshoeing, tubing, snowman building and snowball throwing, and can also have a go at cross-contry skiing. Lake Mountain is the premier resort for cross-country skiing in Australia, with 37 kms of well-marked and groomed trails to suit beginners, intermediates and advanced. The resort has a ski school, ski hire and a kids club in school holidays. www.lakemountainresort.com.au

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Methven’s magic deal If you’ve ever contemplated skiing at Mt Hutt, this is the time, because the ski village of Methven is offering the unbelievable Methven Kids4Free deal for winter 2012.

An hour from Christchurch, and 35 minutes from Mt Hutt, Methven will offer every child under ten free travel to and from Christchurch Airport and Mt Hutt, free accommodation at selected properties and free meals at particapting restaurants when accompanied by a paying adult. The icing on the cake? Kids ten and under also receive a free day lift pass at Mt Hutt.

Don’t miss this chance to discover lovely Methven, and experience the excitement of Mt Hutt. www.kids4free.co.nz

NEWS - AUSTRALASIA

INTO

interschools

FOR KIDS THAT ARE INTO SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING, THE INTERSCHOOLS SNOWSPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS ALLOWS THEM TO COMPETE FOR THEIR SCHOOL. AND COMPETITORS OF ALL LEVELS CAN TAKE PART.

I

t’s simple. Your child’s school enters a team, or individuals into the relevant age group at the regional championship, with the best kids making it through to the State and then National Championships.

There are seven disciplines: Alpine, Skiercross, Freestyle Moguls, Snowboard Giant Slalom, Snowboard Cross, Cross-Country Relay and Freestyle. Age categories range from division 5 for year 4 and below, up to division 1 for years 11 and 12.

The events are hugely popular, with the NSW Championships usually attracting over 7000 entries! To find out more about the Interschools SnowSports Program, visit the website – www.interschools.org.au.

INTERSCHOOLS EVENTS IN 2012 4-7 July: Travelplan Ski & Westpac Northern NSW Championships, Thredbo 11-14 July: Travelplan Ski & Westpac Sydney Championships, Perisher 15-20 July: Jarvis Subaru SA SnowSports Championships, Mt Buller 25-27 July: Subaru ACT/Southern NSW Championships, Perisher 12 August: Subaru Victorian Cross Country Championships, Mt Buller 26-31: Subaru Victorian SnowSports Championships, Mt Buller 21 August: Westpac NSW & ACT Cross Country Championships, Perisher 23-26 August: Subaru NSW State Championships, Thredbo 5-9 Sept: Subaru Australian Championships, Perisher

First timer Nadia Jones has been skiing since she was two and competed in Interschools for the first time in 2011. “I wanted to try interschools because I love ski racing but the only competitions I had done were small and not very competitive,” said Nadia. “I wanted to try something slightly more advanced but also something that had my level of experience.”

Nadia competed in moguls, Skier X and Alpine, and said: “My first interschools experience was nervewracking and scary but it was also a lot of fun because I knew a lot of the other competitors there. I loved it because it is fun pushing myself to be better.”

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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NO PLACE LIKE

HOME AUSTRALIANS ALL LET US REJOICE, FOR WE HAVE PLENTY OF SNOWFIELDS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND SNOW IN ONE PLACE, FUN IS SURE TO FOLLOW.

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WINTER 2011 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

AUSTRALIA

T

he Australian Alps might not be quite as big as the Rockies in North America or the Alps in Europe, but they are more than big enough to deliver a sensational ski holiday.

While Tasmania does have some downhill skiing at Ben Lomond and the ACT has some cross country skiing, the mainstream ski resorts are all in New South Wales and Victoria.

While it took us a while to become known on the grand stage that is the Winter Olympics, winning our first medal in 1998 with Zali Steggall, Australia was at the forefront of skiing back in the 1860s. Three Norwegians, in Kiandra for the gold rush, established what is now the oldest ski club in the world – the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club. The Club conducted races from the 1880s and in 1908, ran the first international race carnival in the world, won, incidentally by the USA. These days our resorts, like our skiers and boarders, are world class. Our snow sports schools are excellent, with our instructors in demand in the Northern Hemisphere due to their teaching skills and fun attitude.

Most resorts cater to all skill levels, whether absolute beginners or into double blacks. Resort facilities are fantastic, hire equipment top class and there are plenty of other activities both on and off-snow that appeal to families. Dog sledding, tobogganing, tubing, ice skating, snow shoeing … all brilliant fun.

All our resorts are different, and each family has different needs, so Out & About with Kids has put together a way of comparing resorts, so you can pick and choose what you want. One thing is for sure; once you have taken your family on a snow holiday, you will all want to go again … and again.

Left: Jumping for joy at Perisher Above left: Milo mites at Hotham Above right: Lessons at Mt Buller

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN RESORT

ROUND-UP AUSTRALIANS ALL LET US REJOICE, FOR WE HAVE PLENTY OF SNOWFIELDS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND SNOW IN ONE PLACE, FUN IS SURE TO FOLLOW.

Above: Learning at Charlotte Pass Right: Happy skiers at Thredbo

NSW Resorts CHARLOTTE PASS

PERISHER

SELWYN SNOWFIELDS

“We love Charlotte Pass because it is more personal, not too big but the skiing is great.”

The Westwoods, Maitland.

“Perisher is our favourite resort because it is so big with so many different areas to ski in. The kids are never bored and don’t want to ski anywhere else.” The Waltons, Orange.

“People think Selwyn is just for beginners but we are advanced skiers and we still love going there.”

The Millers, Canberra.

Elevation: 1765m. Highest lifted point is 1955m.

Location: 8 kms from Perisher Terrain mix: 30% beginner; 50% intermediate; 20% advanced Number of lifts: 6 Terrain Park; Two. Freestyle Terrain Park and Charlottes Play Park.

Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: Creche for ages three and up Accommodation: On snow Highlight: Location, night skiing and did we say location?

Website: www.charlottepass.com.au

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

Elevation: 2054m Location: 6 hours from Sydney Terrain mix: 22% beginner, 60% intermediate and 18% advanced Number of lifts: 47 Terrain Park: 5 plus superpipe and rider X course.

Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: Creche from 6 weeks Accommodation: On snow Highlight: Tube Town, the MyRide reloadable e-ticketing system and amount of runs Website: www.perisher.com.au

Elevation: 1614m Location: 2.5 hours drive from Canberra Terrain mix: 40% beginner; 48% intermediate; 12% advanced Number of lifts: 11 Terrain Park: Yes Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: For kids over 18 months Accommodation: Off snow, in Adaminaby or Talbingo Highlight: Value for money Website: www.selwynsnow.com.au

THREDBO

FALLS CREEK

“We love everything about Thredbo, from the village to the lessons to the skiing. It’s very cool, in a good way!”

The Stone family, Manly.

“If all holidays were as easy and as much fun as a ski holiday at Falls Creek, our family would be very happy.”

The Andrews family, Melbourne.

Elevation: 2037m Location: 6 hours from Sydney Terrain mix: 16% beginner; 67% intermediate; 17% advanced Number of lifts: 13 Terrain Park: 5 plus Monster Bag Jump.

Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: Yes for kids from 6 months Accommodation: On snow Highlight: Flare run, fireworks and the MyThredbo e-store Website: www.thredbo.com.au

Elevation: 1780m Location: 4.5 hours from Melbourne Terrain mix: 17% beginner; 60% intermediate; 23% advanced Number of lifts: 15 Terrain Park: 4 Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: Yes, from 8 weeks Accommodation: On snow Highlight: The Night Show Spectacular and night skiing Website: www.fallscreek.com.au

If you are driving to Perisher or Thredbo you will need to enter the Kosciuszko National Park. The daily rate for 2012 during the ski season will be $27 a day, so it’s probably best to buy an annual pass for $190. It will be valid for one year from the date of purchase and will allow entry into all National Parks in NSW. You can buy the passes at the entrance to the park on the Alpine Way, or at the Snowy Region Visitors Centre in Jindabyne.

Looking for more than just a ski holiday?

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Prices from $295 per night based on a gold mountain view studio including breakfast* Price based on June 2012.

Checkout our fantastic winter deals.

www.lakecrackenback.com.au Bookings 1800 020 524 | reservations@lakecrackenback.com.au

15 minutes along the Alpine Way, next door to the Skitube

Highest Segway Tours

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Day Indulge @ the

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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AUSTRALIA

MOUNT BULLER “Buller is so beautiful and has something for everyone, from the beginner runs on Bourke Street to the fun runs like Chamois. And the kids always do the indoor rock climbing when they want a break from snowboarding.”

The Griffiths family, Geelong Elevation: 1780m Location: 3 hours from Melbourne Terrain mix: 20% beginner; 45% intermediate; 35% advanced Number of lifts: 23 including the new Bonzer Chairlift Terrain Park: 3 plus a half pipe Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: On snow Highlight: Night skiing and the toboggan parks Website: www.mtbuller.com.au

MT BAW BAW

HOTHAM

“My kids love the terrain parks and the fun jumps and rails in them, like the VW.” The Wallace family, Albury

“We go to Hotham every winter and we just love the views, the skiing and always go across to Dinner Plain. We also love the fact that we can fly there, rather than do the long drive.”

The Allen family, Sydney.

Elevation: 1562m Location: 2.5 hours from Melbourne Terrain mix: 25% beginner; 64% intermediate; 11% advanced Number of lifts: 7 Terrain Park: 9 Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: No Accommodation: On snow Highlight: Toboggan parks and big air jump Website: www.mountbawbaw.com.au

Elevation: 1845m Location: 4.5 hours from Melbourne Terrain mix: 20% beginner; 40% intermediate; 40% advanced Number of lifts: 13 (incl. Dinner Plain) Terrain Park: 4 Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: On snow Highlight: The new e-store, dog sledding at Dinner Plain and the fireworks Website: www.hotham.com.au

LAKE MOUNTAIN ALPINE RESORT “Last year we took the kids to Lake Mountain so they could play in the snow and see if they liked it. They rode toboggans, made snowmen and then talked us into doing a cross country ski lesson. We all loved it so much we went back twice more.”

The Harris family, Melbourne.

Elevation: 1480m Location: 2 hours from Melbourne

Terrain mix: All cross country - 16% beginner; 67% intermediate; 17% advanced Number of lifts: 0 Terrain Park: 0 Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: No Accommodation: In Marysville Highlight: Over 30 kms of cross country trails to explore Website: www.lakemountainresort.com.au

Opposite from top: Mt Baw Baw, Hotham, Falls Creek Above: Lake Mountain

cOmplete packageS | accOmmOdatiOn | lift paSSeS | Ski hire | Online quOteS | unBiaSed adVice

Organising a family ski holiday doesn’t have to be complicated.

Ski ‘n Save can create the holiday that is right for you and your family.

www.snowholidays.com.au

1800 020 622 WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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WINTER 2011 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

NEW ZEALAND

KIDS IN

KIWILAND KIDS ARE WELL CARED FOR AT A CHOICE OF GREAT SKI FIELDS IN NEW ZEALAND.

T

he Land of the Long White Cloud is also the Land of the Long White Runs. Ski at Treble Cone, Cardrona, Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak or The Remarkables and enjoy a world of white, overlooking idyllic lakes with a backdrop of jagged peaks.

Most of the skifields are on the South Island, with two clinging to the sides of the mighty Mt Ruapehu, an active volcano south of Rotorua.

For families wanting to learn to ski, the major resorts all offer fantastic ski schools. For families who are seeking black runs, off-piste skiing and sheer drops, there are plenty of skifields to cater for you. In some, like the Remarkables and Treble Cone, there are several areas where you can hike up, then let gravity help you down ‌ straight down.

Apart from some apartments at Cardrona, ski resorts in New Zealand do not offer accommodation, so skiers drive up to the ski fields from the nearest town. The choice of restaurants and activities really adds to a family holiday, and if the weather is not great, choose just to stay in town for the day. Stay in Queenstown to ski at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, Wanaka to ski at Treble Cone or Cardrona, and Methven to tackle Mt Hutt.

Each town has plenty of family-friendly accommodation, things to do and places to dine, usually with a roaring fire. Wherever you stay, you will have an unforgettable family snow adventure.

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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NZ RESORT REPORT

CARDRONA “Wow! Cardrona really blew us away with its amazing ski school set up. Loved the various areas, loved the private lessons and the kids really got into the terrain parks. We highly recommend it.” The Kermode family, Bega.

Elevation: 1860m Location: 35 minutes from Wanaka, an hour from Queenstown Terrain mix: 20% beginner; 55% intermediate; 25% advanced Number of lifts: 7 Terrain Park: 3 plus 2 half pipes, a superpipe and Gravity X course Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: 15 apartments on-snow, or stay in Wanaka Highlight: The Snow Sports School and the terrain parks. And check out OnePass.

Website: www.cardrona.com

CORONET PEAK “We had never skied before and found the Coronet Peak experience really easy. The

Above From left: Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt, Cadrona Below: Treble Cone

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MyPass e-ticket system meant we could organise everything from lessons and lift tickets before we even left home. And the lessons were so good, the kids learned very quickly.” The Brown family, Sydney Elevation: 1649m Location: 20 minutes from Queenstown Terrain mix: 25% beginner; 45% intermediate; 30% advanced Number of lifts: 8 Terrain Park: Yes Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: Queenstown Highlight: So close to Queenstown and has night skiing Friday and Saturday Website: www.nzski.com/coronet

MT HUTT “It was a very pretty drive and Mt Hutt delivered some amazing runs that were almost as good as the views.

Great food, lovely people and loved Methven. We will definitely go back.”

The Harris family, Wee Waa Elevation: 2086m

Location: 35 minutes from Methven, an hour from Christchurch Terrain mix: 25% beginner; 50% intermediate; 25% advanced Number of lifts: 4 Terrain Park: 2 Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: In Methven Highlight: The Kidz4free offer.

Check it out at www.kidz4free.co.nz Website: www.nzski.com/mthutt

THE REMARKABLES “Everything about The Remarkables is exciting, from the drive up to the incredible runs and fun terrain parks that allow the kids to progress. The best thing is that kids under 10 ski free.”

The Hayes family, Sydney.

Elevation: 1943m Location: 45 minutes from Queenstown Terrain mix: 30% beginner; 40% intermediate; 30% advanced Number of lifts: 7 Terrain Park: 3 plus half pipe

Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 months Accommodation: Queenstown Highlight: The Ozone Tubing Park and the view from the Lookout Website: www.nzski.com/remarkable

TREBLE CONE “Some of the world’s best ski teams train at Treble Cone so we were a bit worried it would be too hard for us. We sent the kids off for lessons so they would be in good hands and they came back talking about all the black runs they did. We loved everything about Treble Cone and we are going back this year.”

The Brooks family, Adelaide Elevation: 2088m Location: 35 minutes from Wanaka Terrain mix: 10% beginner; 45% intermediate; 45% advanced Number of lifts: 4 Terrain Park: Yes Snow Sports School: Yes Child care: From 3 yrs Accommodation: In Wanaka Highlight: The runs, the vibe, the views Website: www.treblecone.com

ER T H G U LA

Ski towns METHVEN Methven is a very pretty town and is an hour’s drive from Christchurch. Apart from Mt Hutt, there are other ski and snowboard areas within two hours.

There is plenty of accommodation in Methven and we can recommend two places for families. Ski Time Villas has modern villas and apartments or lodge accommodation, while the Brinkley Resort offers top quality studio hotel rooms and serviced apartments. The piece de resistance is Shackleton’s Bar and Grill.

WANAKA This idyllic lakeside town is the place to stay if you intend to mostly ski in Treble Cone or Cardrona. It’s beautiful, and has a huge range of accommodation available.

We can recommend Edgewater Lake Wanaka or the Archway Motels, which is walking distance from shops and restaurants.

Wanaka is also home to some fabulous off-snow activities including Puzzling World and Wanaka River Journeys – a jetboat tour that is so much more than just an adrenaline rush.

QUEENSTOWN The queen of the south, Queenstown is truly magnificent. With snow-capped mountains on both sides, a pristine mirror-like lake, restaurants and cafes with crackling fires and a plethora of fantastic places to stay, it doesn’t get any better.

We recommend Peppers Beacon, which is walking distance from town and with brilliant views over the lake. Peppers Beacon has 83 hotel rooms, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and a fivebedroom penthouse on offer. The Rees is another standout, with its architectural apartments simply stunning. Push-button blinds and gas fire are big hits, as is the massive balcony, from which we watch planes flying in over the lake and the daily light show, when the sun rises and falls over the Remarkables.

Must-dos in Queenstown include visiting the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views, bungy jumping and the luge tracks, as well as the ZipTrek – zipline tours that you will never forget. And after a day’s skiing, book in for a soak at the Onsen Hot Pools, which has glass screens that open up so you can enjoy the view while you soak.

IS

E E FR

10 S D I K E AR AND SO AND UNDhuErcR h, N Z S R ristc tay, Eat h A C E m S o Y er e fr nd und ur driv

1 ho ars a inter . transfers Only a e kids 10 ye free* this w ountain r r e d o & aily mng businesses. rs e sf n is wh and Ski f a irport tr articipati

free a e info and p also get th & under ee.co.nz for all s yr 0 1 fr *Kids ww.kids4 Go to w

For more info and to book your family holiday go to

NOVO7962

www.nzski.com

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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TRIED AND TESTED

NEW ZEALAND

Cardrona capers

THE HAYES FAMILY LOVED CARDRONA SO MUCH IN 2010, THEY WENT BACK FOR MORE IN 2011 We chose Cardrona because … it has such beautiful, wide groomed runs and plenty of different areas to ski in.

The resort was … excellent. It was a fairly easy drive from Wanaka and we had lovely views over the valley.

We stayed at …Edgewater Lake Wanaka in a two-bedroom apartment.

It was very comfy and had divine views over the lake.

The snow was … everywhere. We loved sking down in Captains Flat.

Fantastic runs that we could have done all day – and did!

Our top tip is … Get a private lesson.

Alex did a private snowboard lesson and was going up the lifts in an hour.

The best bit was … skiing with the kids. Just awesome fun.

The kids loved … tackling the terrain park to get some air.

Find out more at … www.cardrona.com

AUSTRALIA

Thredbo … we like it!

THE WALES FAMILY OF COFFS HARBOUR VISITED THREDBO LAST SEASON WITH KIDS NICHOLAS (11) AND MICHELLE (13), AND DISCOVERED THE TOP OF AUSTRALIA. We chose Thredbo because … we heard that it had an exceptional ski school and that the village had a number of great family-friendly restaurants. That meant we wouldn’t have to cook.

The resort was … fun! Michelle picked up snowboarding and Nicholas skiing quite quickly. We skied together in the afternoons and really enjoyed it.

We stayed at …a lodge that we booked

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through the Thredbo website. It was huge and because there was plenty of space, we all had room to relax.

The snow was … dumping. The kids were so excited to wake up the first morning and see the table outside covered in snow.

Our top tip is … Get lessons for all the family. Once you all know how to do it

you can have many years of skiing together.

The best bit was … watching the flare run on Saturday night. It was beautiful.

The kids loved … everything. And we loved that they were asleep much earlier than usual!

Find out more at … www.thredbo.com.au

Care, activities, lessons and FUN! 4 dedicated kid’s centres (for 3 mths -14 yrs) An easy drive or bus ride from Queenstown or Wanaka Check out our kid’s site www.Cardrona.com/KIDS For more information, to buy your lift passes, rental, or to book your kids in for heaps of fun, come and see us at either:

35 Shotover St, QueenStown, or 18 Dunmore St, wanaka www.cardrona.coM

www.onepassnz.com

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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SKI

WORLD

THE

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INTERNATIONAL

THE WORLD REALLY IS YOUR OYSTER WHEN IT COMES TO SKIING.

T

here are many advantages to skiing in the Northern Hemisphere, the main one being that families can ski for longer thanks to our long summer school holidays. Local kids are at school so there are no queues. And if you go in December, you can have a magical white Christmas.

Apart from wonderful skiing and boarding, it’s fantastic to enjoy the different cultures and in some cases, stay in ski villages that really are like something out of a fairytale.

Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland are Europe’s top choices, but there are many other countries such as Norway, Poland and Russia that have wonderful ski fields. Russia’s Sochi is hosting the next Winter Olympics. Canada and the USA have some of the best ski resorts in the world, with South America starting to attract more Australians as more direct flights are added.

In Asia, Japan is far and away the most popular place for Aussies. The benefit of a ski holiday here is that it is a relatively short flight compared to North America or Europe and there’s no jet lag involved. Then there’s the powder snow, brilliant food and fascinating cultural attractions, Book early and you can also take advantage of good deals, and in some places, it’s even worth buying a season ticket if you are planning on staying more than 10 days.

From left: Whistler Creekside, Canada at dusk Below left: Stuben, Austria Below right: Sun Valley, Idaho sleigh ride

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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SLOPE TALK International

Club Med Sahoro number one Club Med Sahoro has just been named the number one hotel in Asia by TripAdvisor. These awards are judged by ratings given by those who have stayed at the property, and as such are highly coveted. Sahoro is Club Med’s all-inclusive ski resort on Hokkaido, Japan and has excellent snow that caters to all levels. Your package will include accommodation, childcare and kids club, ski lift passes and group ski/ boarding lessons, and full board throughout the stay including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Club Med Sahoro even has a heated indoor pool which is fantastic for those with kids who need a break from the snow. The property has just undergone a major renovation and is rated as a 4-trident property, ensuring an even better holiday. www.clubmed.com.au

Captivating Courchevel Courchevel is one of the world’s best ski resorts attracting many A-listers, including Posh and Becks’ clan. Courchevel has the esteemed Famille Plus label, which guarantees a high level of services for families.

Courchevel has five linked villages; Saint Bon and Le Praz – both founded in the 16th Century, 1550, 1650 Moriond, and 1850. You’ll need more than a week here to explore, as Courchevel has well over a hundred runs with 62 lifts. Courchevel is also part of the largest linked ski area in the world – the Trois Vallées, which has over 600kms of skiable terrain. Highlights for families include the Family Park, which is a big beginners-only area, the Indiens piste and the Village des Enfants ski school, where kids can learn to ski from 18 months old. As for accommodation, the choice is staggering. www.courchevel.com

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All in the family at Sun Peaks Sun Peaks Resort in Canada has the perfect snow holiday for kids that like some racing action and fun activities and parents who want some grown-up things to do. The seventh annual Sun Peaks Family Cup, fully endorsed by Interschools Australia, is on from January 2 to 16, 2013, and for the first time, will overlap with the Winter Okanagan Wine Festival. Kids will love the gate training sessions, race series, Kookaburra Cup cross-country ski comp, obstacle course, mountain marathon and the big one, the Family Cup, where families don their national colours and race for their country. Plus there’s moonlight snowshoeing and s’mores, an evening descent by lantern, first tracks breakfast, tubing and more. Kids of all levels and ages can take part, with the expert training ensuring everyone goes home a much better skier or boarder. www.sunpeaksfamilycup.com

Skimax’s wonderful Whistler Skimax is offering a sensational deal for families wanting to experience Whistler’s winter wonderland. The package includes seven nights accommodation at the Delta Whistler Village Suites, a six-day ski pass and ski rental for two adults and two children under 12. All from $2115.

Book and pay before 31 August 2012 and head off to Whistler between 21 November and 19 December 2012. Whistler is one of the world’s great ski destinations and will meet your expectations. Visit www.skimax.com.au.

NEWS - INTERNATIONAL

Jackson Hole is jumping Australians are jumping into Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with numbers of Aussie visitors rising over the 2011/2012 season. It could be becasuse of its proximity to Yellowstone and Teton

National Parks, or it could be because of its colourful western history, but mostly, it’s because Jackson Hole is an unbelievably good ski resort. Next winter, it will be even better with more

intermediate terrain on the Casper trail network and a new high-speed quad chair to service it. While Jackson Hole is famous for its advanced runs, it has plenty of beginner terrain and the Kids Ranch is excellent for kids from 18 months to 17 years. Another bonus is the Nastar race course, which is a blast for people of all ages. For family accommodation, check out the skiin Snake River Lodge & Spa in Teton Village. It has up to 40 per cent off accommodation for next ski season if you book before July 31 – some blackout dates apply. www.jacksonhole.com

WHISTLER

Canadian home swap WHEN THE MCCARNEY FAMILY DECIDED TO EXCHANGE SUN FOR SNOW THEY FOUND SWAPPING THEIR SYDNEY HOUSE FOR A CANADIAN SKI CHALET WAS AN EASY AND CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO A HOTEL STAY. Why did you choose Whistler?

We chose Whistler due to it’s location as we were travelling in North America and wanted to include it as part of our trip to Disneyland and New York. We also wanted a white Christmas with lots of opportunities to ski.

Who did you use for your home swap?

We used Homeexchange.com Was it your first one?

This was our second home exchange.

The first was to Ireland and arranged through a friend who had relatives wanting to come to Australia.

What was the house like?

The house had everything you could want in a ski chalet. It was very modern with lovely big windows looking out to the snow. The kids had their own level with a playroom and

bedroom. There was a large front yard, perfect for building igloos and snow men. We also swapped cars and their car was conveniently parked at Vancouver airport upon arrival. The home was five minutes drive from Whistler Ski Resort.

Did you have much interaction with the family?

We started contact with the family through the website and swapped emails for several months before the actual exchange. We both asked a lot of questions and told each other what we could about our communities. We spoke on the phone a couple of times as well. We have been in contact since. We were all very happy with how it went and would do a home swap again.

What did you like about Whistler?

Whistler is a great place for a family

vacation. The snow was fantastic catering to all levels to keep everyone in the family happy. The kids loved the ski school - lots of Aussie instructors too which was nice for them. The village atmosphere was lovely, great food, lots to do and easy to get what you need. There is also an indoor play area free for kids to run around, do craft and kill some time away from the snow. Even with two and a half weeks, we still didn’t get to do everything we wanted to. Next time we will try to fit the tube park, dog sledding and the Ziptrek in.

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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PARK

RIDE

&

WITH THREE WORLD-CLASS SKI RESORTS WITHIN A TEN-MINUTE DRIVE, UTAH’S PARK CITY IS NIRVANA FOR FAMILIES, AND AS HELEN HAYES AND HER FAMILY DISCOVERED, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

P

ark City is a thriving town about 35 minutes drive from Salt Lake City, which is a short flight from Los Angeles. It’s an historic silver mining town, and Park City’s Main Street is the prime example of how to blend the old with the new, with a thriving dining and shopping scene at home in the heritage buildings.

But the main appeal of Park City is its proximity to Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. All are family friendly, have excellent ski schools, and are covered in what the Utah locals say is the “greatest snow on earth”. You won’t get any argument from me.

Deer Valley No wonder this resort has been named the top ski resort in North America an unprecedented five years in a row by the readers of America’s Ski magazine.

It is luxurious, magical and so, so easy. It offers free ski storage, ski valets to help you from the car, and nothing is a problem. Even organising hire gear was easy. We did it online with Skibutlers.com and just after we arrived, the guys delivered our gear to our room, tweaked the boys ski boots and were off.

Deer Valley is a ski-only resort, with six mountains to ski on, over a hundred trails and 21 chairlifts. We are there early in the season and although some of the areas are not open yet, we absolutely love it. We explore the runs on Little Baldy Peak, Flagstaff and Bald Eagle Mountain, and can’t stop raving about how well groomed they are and how good the snow is.

The highlight for the boys is doing the Nastar racetrack, set up on Bald Eagle Mountain and open to the public. We all do it and let me tell you it is a buzz, starting in proper race gates and hurtling (OK, in my case more like dawdling) around the poles and down the finish line.

The ski school caters for kids of all levels from age three to 18 as well as adults. For those with young babies, there is child care for kids from two months. It is an impressive set up with a great deal of attention to detail.

We stay at the Lodges of Deer Valley in a very roomy two-bedroom condo.

It is extremely comfortable with a full kitchen, washing machine, dryer, lounge room and wonderful beds.

Special experiences: Take the kids to Daly’s Pub at the Montage Deer Valley.

It has ten-pin bowling, pool, video games, amazing food and big TV screens.

Book in for the seafood buffet at the Snow Park Lodge. Don’t miss Fireside Dining at Empire Canyon Lodge, where chefs cook different dishes at separate fireplaces. Afterwards, take a horse-drawn carriage in the snow. Under the stars and in the snow, it is perfect.

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UTAH, USA

The Orange Bubble Chair at The Canyons Resort.

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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UTAH, USA

Park City Mountain Resort The Canyons This resort has been named “Best Family Vacation” by Ski magazine, and for good reason. It has eight peaks, nine bowls, 114 trails, three terrain parks and the Eagle superpipe to fly on.

For kids that like doing tricks, Park City Mountain Resort is manna from heaven. My boys disappeared into the Three Kings terrain park, so we explored the runs off Bonanza, Payday, Crescent and King Con. Thank goodness that the night skiing wasn’t up and running when we were there or we never would have seen the kids!

To ensure quick learning for children, Park City Mountain Resort has the Signature 5 program for six to 14 year olds, guaranteeing no more than five kids per class. For younger kids, aged three and a half to five, it’s Signature 3.

Kids learn fast and make new friends, without being lost in the throng.

Make sure you take the kids to spot the snowbugs. These fun bug critters can be found at the marked adventure alleys around the resort.

Special experiences: Alpine Coaster is a speed ride that is a blast for thrillseeking kids and terrifying for parents!

Also try the Flying Eagle Zip Rider.

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This place has a fun vibe to it that is infectious. It’s huge, with 182 trails on nine mountains, as well as five bowls, six halfpipes, terrain parks and a ski beach complete with deckchairs.

The coolest thing at The Canyons is the Orange Bubble chairlift. It has heated seats and a bubble that you can pull down. It is so bright and cheerful it makes you want to ride it just for the sake of it. We love the runs off the Tombstone Express, the Sun Peak chair and the Saddleback Express.

My favourite is the run down Another World to The Drop, whereas Josh loves the black glade runs near Painted Horse. Alex loves Transitions, while Matt flies down Doc’s Run. We stay at the Hyatt Escala Lodge and after a day on the snow, we relax in the heated pool, grab a ‘smore kit and cook them around the firepit.

Special experiences: Check out the annual Santa Skis Free day. It’s a lot of fun to see the men in red out and about.

Do the ziptour, have lunch at the Lookout Cabin and a massage at the Golden Door Spa at the Waldorf Astoria. Bliss!

Left: Park City skiing From top: Main Street, Park City; Kissing a snowman; The Canyons

FAST FACTS GETTING THERE For transfers from Salt Lake City to hotels in Park City go to www.allresort.com

ACCOMMODATION Deer Valley – Lodges at Deer Valley; www.deervalley.com The Canyons – Hyatt Escala Lodge; www.escalalodge.hyatt.com Salt Lake City – Grand America Hotel; www.grandamerica.com

MORE INFORMATION Park City Chamber; www.parkcityinfo.com Deer Valley – www.deervalley.com Park City Mountain Resort – www.parkcitymountain.com The Canyons – www.canyonsresort.com

®

EXPERIENCE JACKSON HOLE THIS WINTER WITH A ONE-STOP FLIGHT FROM SYDNEY TO JACKSON, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF A FAMILY VACATION IN JACKSON HOLE.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) is the ski destination of a lifetime.

Located deep in the northern Rockies, yet just a one-stop flight from Sydney, Jackson Hole is in the heart one of the most treasured landscapes in the world: the greater Yellowstone. The wide open space and roaming herds of elk and bison set the stage for a visit to this old western outpost, where the shops and restaurants reflect our frontier heritage.

Hole offers an incredible skiing and snowboarding experience. Families enjoy acres of gentle slopes in our uncrowded beginner terrain. A number of terrain parks including Four Burton Stash Parks, dot the mountain, serving as a gathering place for some of the most progressive young skiers and riders in the country. New in 2012, Casper Quad Chairlift and run enhancements in this favorite intermediate area, will quickly it make a family favorite. The legendary Aerial tram gives access to the longest continuous vertical drop in the US and miles of cruising and off piste terrain. Huge bowls and endless woods blanketed by meters of fresh snow make a trip to Jackson Hole the high point of any skier’s career.

The Skiing

By Night

Home to some of the deepest snow and most expansive terrain, Jackson

Jackson by night covers the gamut from relaxing by the fire after a

The Mountain

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

massage, to award winning restaurants, to entertainment with the kids. On Christmas, watch Santa rappel out of the tram and join the festivities in the Village Commons. Don’t miss dinner at Couloir at the top of the Gondola, a perfect night to take advantage of ‘Kids night Out’ (an evening for kids only at the Kids Ranch) with our energetic Kids Ranch staff. Stay in a condominium and enjoy the amenities of home with the convenience of slope-side lodging.

Getting Here As the only destination resort in the northern rockies offering a one-stop flight from Sydney and Melbourne, Jackson Hole could not be easier to get to. The resort is just an easy 20 mile drive from the airport, so from landing to arriving at your accommodation is quick and easy. Find out more and make your reservation right now at www.jacksonhole.com/australia

USA

Like

to WIN Like us on

STARS and ON STRIPES SNOW THE USA HAS MORE SKI RESORTS THAN YOU CAN POKE A SKI POLE AT AND HERE ARE SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FAMILIES.

Wyoming JACKSON HOLE Jackson Hole features two big mountains delivering a massive ski and snowboard experience right in the heart of cowboy country. Between them, Apres Vous and Rendezvous offer 116 trails and 13 lifts, with a superb snowsports school ensuring quick progression. With recent investments in grooming, snowmaking and lifts, the experience for all skier types has improved with plenty of groomed and ungroomed terrain to suit everybody. Terrain: 10% beginner; 40% intermediate and 50% advanced. There is a halfpipe, two terrain parks – one for beginners and one for advanced as well as Four Burton Stash Parks. www.jacksonhole.com

Idaho SUN VALLEY Sun Valley set the bar for other American ski resorts providing a full snow experience. There are two mountains: Dollar Mountain, which is perfect for beginners and intermediates; and Bald Mountain, which turns it on for intermediates to advanced.

There are 19 lifts accessing 76 runs, as well as some spectacular terrain parks. There are lessons for skiers and boarders of all ages and off snow, strap on skates and try the Olympic ice rink.

Terrain: 36% beginner; 42% intermediate and 22% advanced. www.sunvalley.com

*Conditions apply please contact Mogul Ski World for details

LIC31304

mogulski.com.au

1800 335 724

reservations@mogulski.com.au

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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USA

From left: Steamboat, Snowmass & Heavenly

California

Colorado

HEAVENLY

ASPEN SNOWMASS

Overlooking the beautiful Lake Tahoe, Heavenly is well named. It’s the largest resort in California with 1942 hectares of skiable terrain, 97 trails and 30 lifts.

Kids are VIPs here, and they will love learning to ski and board with trips to the enchanted forest, visits from Ripperoo the dog and loads of hot chocolate! Terrain: 20% beginner, 45% intermediate, 35% advanced. It has five terrain parks catering to beginners up to advanced and has childcare for children from six weeks. www.skiheavenly.com

MAMMOTH Mighty Mammoth Mountain delivers a giant experience for families, with 150 trails serviced by 28 lifts. Apart from unbelievable skiing and boarding for all, kids will adore letting loose in Woolly’s Adventure Summit Tube Park and Snow Play area. Plus you can go dogsledding, do a snowcat tour and go snowmobiling. Mammoth has really good lift ticket deals, including the Parent tag team ticket. Terrain: 25% beginner, 40% intermediate, 20% advanced and 15% expert. It has nine parks and pipes for those who dare. www.mammothmountain.com

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Aspen has four mountains - Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass and like kids, they all have their own personality. Snowmass is consistently named one of the top resorts in North America for families, offering an abundance of ski-in/skiout apartment-style accommodation.

Snowmass Mountain is known for its wide-open, groomed long runs, and kids love the three terrain parks.

The 91 trails would happily keep all ability levels busy and the Elk Camp Meadows beginners area, is exclusively for learner skiers or riders. The showpiece for families at Snowmass is the Treehouse Adventure Center, home to the Snowmass Children’s Ski School. Terrain: 6%, beginner; 50%, intermediate; 12% advanced and 32% extreme. www.aspensnowmass.com

STEAMBOAT Family-favourite Steamboat is famous for its glades and tree skiing - complemented by an easy, laid-back atmosphere and genuine western-style friendliness. Steamboat’s Kids Ski Free™ program, available all season with no black-out dates is phenomenal.

Ski clinics begin at age 2 with childcare programs available for children from 6 months old. Off the snow, tackle snowshoeing, horseback riding, tubing or soaking in Steamboat’s famous hot spring pools.The Kids Ski Free™ program is on offer for the 2012/2013 Season – Kids Ski and Rent Free to 12 years with a minimum five-day adult purchase. Terrain: 14% beginner 42% intermediate 44%, advanced.

There are two terrain parks. www.steamboat.com

TELLURIDE Telluride is another western gem with a fascinating mix of history and natural beauty. The town is stunningly beautiful and has been classified as a National Historic Landmark District, thanks to its mining heritage and cowboy past. It was here that Butch and Sundance robbed their first bank. The town is connected to the Mountain Village by a free gondola. The mountain offers terrain for all ages and levels, with 125 named trails accessed by 18 lifts and is now being noticed by Australian families. Terrain: 23% beginner, 46% intermediate, 31% advanced/expert. www.tellurideskiresort.com

family Ski deals!

Experience the world’s best family-friendly ski resorts, with SENSATIONAL EARLY BIRD SPECIALS. These exceptional ski resorts have renowned snow school programs to suit every age and ability. With a wide range of terrain, fantastic snow, and first rate kids’ facilities, your family can expect memories that last a lifetime!

Ski Canada

Ski Japan

ASPEN / SNOWMASS

WHISTLER

NISEKO

EARLY BIRD

EARLY BIRD

EARLY BIRD

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FREE days with Lift Passes, Rental and Adults and Kids Lessons.

Luxury hotels up to 50% off.

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Kids Ski FREE and Rent FREE to 12 years.

Luxury hotels and apartments up to 30% off.

Lift Passes Ski 7 Pay 5.

STEAMBOAT

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SUN PEAKS EARLY BIRD

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Ski – Rent 7 Pay 6, 9 Pay 7, 14 Pay 8 and 20 Pay 12.

Kids Ski and Rent FREE to 12 years.

BIG WHITE / SILVER STAR

VAIL / BEAVER CREEK

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DISCOUNTED Epic Season Pass from $644 per adult and $331 per child.

Luxury hotels and apartments up to 30% off.

Ski-in/Ski-out accommodation up to 4 nights FREE. Lift, Lesson, Rentals up to 4 days FREE. Kids Ski FREE to 12 years.

BOOK EARLY for excellent deals on all major airlines. Bookings already heavy – don’t miss out!

FREE WORLD’S BEST SKI HOLIDAYS BROCHURE

Call or email us for a copy of our 2013 brochure for full details of our available deals.

Early booking and other conditions apply to all offers. Kids ski and rent free require adult purchase of equal duration. Free days or nights require minimum purchase. Contact us for details.

Call 1300 754 754

TPN27343

Ski Colorado

email ski@travelplan.com.au visit www.travelplan.com.au WINTER 2012 35

www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au Offices in Sydney and Melbourne. NSW Licence No 2TA000270 and VIC Licence No 30167.

CANADA

Oh Canada

EVERYTHING ABOUT CANADA IS WONDERFUL; THE PEOPLE, THE SCENERY, THE CITIES AND MOST DEFINITELY, THE SKIING.

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB The biggest resort in North America, Whistler is much more than just a ski resort, it’s a big ticket destination.

Two hours from Vancouver, Whistler Blackcomb has over 200 runs connected by 37 lifts on two big mountains, with three glaciers and 16 alpine bowls on offer. Forget just going for a few days – you’ll need at least a week if not two. The snow school is at the forefront in teaching kids to ski and snowboard, with incredible facilities.

Stay in Whistler village or at Creekside for ski-in ski-out accommodation, with fantastic restaurants in abundance. The ZipTrek tour is highly recommended and don’t miss the amazing fire and ice show on Sunday nights. There are five terrain parks, a superpipe and a snow cross track, and two magical tree forts to explore. Childcare is available from newborns up. The season runs from mid-November to late April, or

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

even late May. Terrain; 20% beginner (15% Blackcomb), 55% intermediate, 25% advanced (30% Blackcomb). www.whistlerblackcomb.com

SUN PEAKS Warning … Sun Peaks is addictive for families. Its small ski-through village is like something out of a fairytale and its three mountains deliver a big punch of snow fun for skiers and boarders of all levels. The 11 lifts service 122 trails, including 12 gladed areas, with green, blue and black runs waiting at the top of every mountain. Choose the beautiful groomed runs or head through the trees; it’s all stunning. Sun Peaks is home to Nancy Greene – legend Olympic skier, senator and all round great lady, and you can ski with her. Nancy takes tours around the resort most days. It has terrain parks for all levels, two alpine bowls, and the kids will love the tube runs, ice skating, sleigh rides and dog

sled tours. Terrain: 10% beginner, 58% intermediate and 32% advanced. www.sunpeaksresort.com

SUNSHINE VILLAGE Situated in the overwhelmingly beautiful Banff National Park in Alberta, Sunshine Village delivers a ray of sunshine to those that do want a bit of skiing with their Banff experience. The resort has 12 lifts servicing 107 runs as well as gladed runs on three mountains, and the season runs from early November to late May. There are gentle runs for beginners right up to extreme runs that are scary enough to curl hair. The Rogers Terrain Park is huge, with more than 50 features to jump, slide and ride on. Terrain: 20% beginner, 55% intermediate, 25% advanced. www.skibanff.com

SILVER STAR Silver Star Resort shines bright in the ski world in more ways than one. It has won many awards and has a unique Victorian-inspired village that is very colourful, with the rainbow hues a striking contrast to the brilliant white of the snow. The resort’s focus is on family, with a raft of activities to enjoy when you finish skiing for the day. Go snowtubing, ice skating, try ice hockey, go on a snowmobile tour, indoor rock climbing, enjoy movie nights, family bingo or the fireworks show, all very close to the many ski-in, ski-out accommodation options. There are 115 marked trails, a new beginner terrain park, snowcross course and the Telus terrain park for the more experienced.

Terrain: 15% easiest; 40% intermediate, 35% advanced and 10% extreme. www.skisilverstar.com

Big THRILL

Opposite page from left: Whistler & Silver Star Above: Big White

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S BIG WHITE IS LOCATED NEAR KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND HAS LONG HELD GREAT APPEAL TO AUSSIE FAMILIES. THE NICHOLAS FAMILY FROM SYDNEY HEADED TO BIG WHITE FOR A HUGE ADVENTURE.

We chose Big White... because we wanted to go to a resort in Canada that was great for the whole family. We were told Big White had awesome powder and was fantastic for kids (Gemma, 14 and Bryn, 11). We also heard about the Australian Snowsports Camps (www.snowpro.com.au) which we enrolled our two children into.

This was the deciding factor of going to Big White, knowing our kids were going to be in an intensive snowboard/ski camp was a big bonus.

The resort was …incredible. Big White exceeded our expectations. The staff were very accommodating towards the children, were friendly and helpful and went out of their way to help us. The resort was so childfriendly that we let our kids snowboard and ski or go to the night activities on their own. There was something planned every night for the kids. They went tubing at the adventure playground and ice skating on the outdoor rink.

We stayed at ... Stonebridge and it was very well appointed and perfectly positioned within the resort. The added bonus was it had a hot tub on the balcony which was a great way to unwind as a family and talk about our day. The position of the condos made it very easy for us to go out every night and come in during the day if we needed to. Having good accommodation really made the holiday.

The best bit was … the Australian Snowsports Camps. They gave us peace of mind. Knowing the kids were in a nurturing and friendly environment every day was great, they learned much more than they would have in normal ski school. Also Big White had great restaurants.

The kids loved …everything! Bryn loved the powder snow and Telus Park – a cool snowboard terrain park.

More information: www.bigwhite.com

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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JAPAN

Powder FINGERS THE LOWDOWN ON SKIING JAPAN FOR FAMILIES

JAPAN IS A REAL DRAWCARD FOR SKIING FAMILIES, AND IS BECOMING EVEN MORE POPULAR. FOR FAMILIES PLANNING THEIR FIRST TRIP TO JAPAN, IT CAN BE CONFUSING KNOWING WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR, SO OAWK ASKED DALE GOULDING FROM DEEP POWDER TOURS FOR HIS THOUGHTS‌ What can the first time skiing family expect to be different in Japan?

Japan is a wonderful ski destination for Australian families to visit. You have a unique culture that dates back hundreds of years, the food is delicious, it is a very safe destination and the close proximity to Australia makes for ease of travel.

A seven-night stay is very achievable.

What would be the top three resorts that attract Australian families and what makes them so popular?

Definitely Niseko on the North Island caters very well for families with the largest selction of quality apartments of any ski resort in Japan, excellent facilities that include English ski schools and ski rental, all the restaurants have

English menus, a great alpine village similar in size to Thredbo that is located immediately at the base of the lifts and easy access from the local airport. Also close to Niseko there is Rusutsu that also caters well for families and on the mainland Appi is a purpose-built ski resort that targets the family market. All these resorts have kids ski schools and deals that include free lift tickets for kids.

What about if a family has never skied before and wants to learn. Which resort caters best for that?

Niseko for all the reasons I have listed above, the ski runs at the base of the lifts are all suitable for first time beginners and the snow quality makes skiing easy, no icy patches! This season Japan had a record season with up to 16 metres of

quality snow falling in many of the top resorts.

At the other end of the scale, which resort would you recommend for an expert family?

The resorts that suit experts would be Niseko due to the abundance and quality of powder snow and the Nagano region on the mainland, that incorporates Shiga Kogen, Nozawa and The Hakuba Valley which was the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics and home to Steven Lee an Australian Olympic skier.

Is the language barrier difficult? And what about food? Do most resorts offer western meals that would appeal to kids?

You shouldn’t find language to be a problem throughout mainstream Japan these days, including all the major ski

Above: Be happy at Appi Opposite page: Sledding at Niseko

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

resorts and of course Tokyo and other major cities. The Japanese are very helpful people and will do all they can to make your stay as comfortable as possible. The food is superb throughout the country and it provides kids an opportunity to try something different, but if western food is a must then the major resorts cater for that as well.

When people you have booked come home from Japan, what is the thing that stands out for them?

It is always the snow quality and abundance of snow that amazes very single traveller once they have visited Japan. They are equally impressed about the culture of the people and how well they were looked after. Japan is truly a unique ski experience that every family should enjoy at some point.

Deep Powder Tours Ski Holidays have been booking ski holidays to Japan for over 18 years. Visit www.deeppowdertours.com

JAPAN’S SKI

SMORGASBOARD HOKKAIDO NISEKO Niseko is the best known ski region in Japan and with good reason. You can ski at one of four resorts, Hirafu, Hanazono, Annupuri and Niseko Village, all of which are interconnected which gives your family 48 kms of runs accessed by 38 lifts. The range of accommodation is excellent with the Niseko Hilton Village highly recommended. Kids will love the Hanazono Adventure Park with snowmobiling, tubing and ziplining. Terrain is 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced. It does have a terrain park and half pipe, childcare is available in the village and the season runs December to April. www.Niseko.ne.jp/en

RUSUTSU There are three mountains to enjoy at Rusutsu – East Mountain, West Mountain

and Mount Isola, with 37 runs accessed by 19 lifts. The annual snowfall is over 14 metres so and there is plenty to do with the kids away from the slopes, including dog sledding, snow rafting, horseriding, tubing and snow rafting. It’s spectacular, uncrowded and has plenty of terrain

JAPAN FAMILY SKI SPECIALS

Japan offers great family ski opportunities with fantastic snow, a unique culture and its close proximity to Australia. These featured ski resorts have extensive kids ski programs.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS, FREE NIGHT SPECIALS AND KIDS SKI FREE! NISEKO SKI RESORT

RUSUTSU SKI RESORT

APPI SKI RESORT

• Save up to 30% on apartments • Pay 5 and get 7 day lift pass • Kids ski FREE in March

• Stay 7 and only pay for 6 nights • Kids lift pass and rental FREE • Adults lift pass FREE stays over 3 nights

• Stay 7 and only pay for 6 nights + extra 15% discount on accommodation • Kids lift pass FREE

* The specials are a summary of what is available and Early Bird booking conditions do apply. Please contact our office for full details.

Phone Website

1300 305 451

www.deeppowdertours.com

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

39

JAPAN RESORT REPORT

for all levels – 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30 % advanced.

It’s well located too, just 90 minutes from the Sapporo International Airport and an hour from Niseko. www.en.rusutsu.co.jp

TOMAMU Tomamu is heaven on a stick for families with fantastic snow, plenty of fun things to do and the incredible Viz Spa House, complete with massive indoor wave pool. Kids will love Nipo Town, where they can practise skiing, play and do some sledding in a fun setting, and will love tackling Adventure Mountain, a story-based ski trail where they must do some set tasks while fighting off the Chokkari Genie.

Visit the incredible Ice Village, and enjoy some wonderful activities such as riding on the banana boat, snow rafting, have a snow picnic and more. www.snowtomamu.jp/english

HONSHU HAKUBA Hakuba is located about three hours north west of Tokyo and has impressive

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

credentials, hosting the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. This region has a gobsmacking nine ski resorts with 139 lifts servicing more than 200 runs. It’s tiring just to think about it.

Take your pick of Sanosaka, Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Happo One, Iwatake, Minekata, Tsugaike, Hakuba Norikura, and Hakuba Cortina, with Hakuba 47, Goryu and Happo One the main picks for families, thanks to children-specific areas with magic carpets, roped off areas, as well as many half-pipes and terrain parks. Recommended accommodation includes the Ridge Hotel, which is owned by Aussies and was originally built for members of the Japanese Imperial Family to stay in during the Olympics. www.hakubatourism.com

SHIGA KOGEN Shiga Kogen, in the stunning Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, is another giant region with 21 interlinked resorts all linked by one superpass, 75 ski lifts and more than 80 kilometres of ski slopes. It is the granddaddy of them

all and is in fact, Japan’s largest resort with its longest run a dazzling, knee-trembling six kilometres. There are five ski schools, terrain parks, half pipes and two day care centres for littlies from three months, with terrain to suit absolute beginners up to the most advanced. Shiga Kogen hosted the womens’ downhill, slalom, giant slalom, snowboarding and paralympic events during the Nagano Olympics, and is open from December to May. Don’t miss seeing the snow monkeys at the Jigokudani hot-springs. www.shigakogen.gr.jp/english/

APPI Located about three and a half hours from Tokyo on the Shinkansen bullet train, Appi is known as a great resort for families. The Family Park is a separate area for kids to learn and play in with tube and sled runs. The ski and snowboard school has English speaking instructors and for terrain hounds the Salomon Snow Park caters for beginners and intermediates. The two mountains – Mt Maemori and

ASIA

ASIAN

FUSION

JAPAN IS NOT THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE ASIAN SKI MARKET, WITH KOREA AND CHINA BOASTING SKI OFFERINGS.

YONGPYONG, KOREA This resort is the leader of the snow revolution in Korea and has been since it was established in 1975.

Located in the Gangwon province, two and a half hours east of Seoul, YongPyong has 31 slopes with 15 lifts, a terrain park, ski school, ski rental and plenty of accommodation. The views from the top of Dragon Peak are astonishing and the night skiing is magical, going up to midnight for those who simply can’t get enough. www.yongpyong.co.kr/eng

CHINA YABULI Mt Nishimori offer 21 runs with 18 lifts, with other activities including night catski tours and snowshoeing.

There is childcare for kids from age one. Terrain: 30 % beginner; 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. www.appi.co.jp/foreign_country/ english/winter/about/index.html

Currently the biggest ski resort in China, Yabuli Ski Resort is around 200 kilometres east of Harbin. It offers downhill and cross-country

skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tobogganing (the longest toboggan run in the world) and an allweather mock skiing park. There are around 20 ski trails of different levels, including China’s longest intermediate ski trail at three kilometres called A1, three ski fields for beginners, one night hill for adults, a skiing entertainment area for children, and the Tianyin Lake Ice Fairyland. Five magic carpets have been installed for beginners and children. The Skiing Special Train leaves daily from Harbin Railway to the resort. Accommodation for families is at the Club Med Yabuli, which delivers the world-class Club Med experience in this unique resort. www.clubmed.com.au

From left to right: Big air at Appi, Niseko views, Nightskiing at Zao, Happy family at Appi, Yongpyong in Korea

ZAO The village of Zao Onsen is in the Tohoku region and is growing in popularity with Australians. It has a monster run of 10-kilometres, but has plenty of runs for beginners as well. Zao is best known for its Snow or Ice Monsters; when the fir trees are covered with snow then freeze into weird and wonderful shapes that look quite bizzarre. To have a close up look, ski down the Juhyo-gen run, and ride the Ropeway cable car up at night to see the Snow Monsters all lit up. It is a phenomenal sight to see them illuminated by coloured lights.

Afterwards, relax in one of the many hot springs the town is famous for. www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/index.html

WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

41

Friendly, Family, Fabulously !

APPI is located in latitude 40°N where world's famous ski resorts such as Austria's Arlberg and USA's Aspen. It occupies 282 ha in the magnificent setting of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, near the northern most point of Main Island in Japan.

It is not much different with traveling to Niseko or Hakuba from Tokyo, and the easiest way to APPI is via train and bus. The Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Morioka takes about 2.5 hours, and there is a bus that goes directly from Morioka to APPI Hotels (50 min). APPI is on the Mt. Maemori (1305m) and Mt. Nishimori (1328m), and most slopes are facing north side that keeps snow conditions well because of lesser direct sun hitting on slopes during the day. Plus, APPI’ s Aspirin Snow (light and fine snow flakes) makes skiers and snowboarders enjoy riding from mid December till early May. Ski-in and ski-out is available with a handful of extended runs that start high on Mt.

facilities in the hotel are usable.

Maemori including the longest run, Yamabato Run

APPI resort is a friendly family resort and has a wide

(5.5 km) for beginners, finishing to the hotel APPI

range of additional features including nature

Grand and at the entrance to the food court. The

experience programs such as snowshoeing and

large scale of 21 different terrains is similar to

night CAT snowmobile tour, private ski and

Europe's and America's resorts for all levels of skiers

snowboard lesson instructed by English speaking

and snowboarders. The lemon gold APPI Grand

instructors. APPI Family Park is conveniently situated

Hotel, which many foreign guests comfortably stay,

in front of the Hotel APPI Grand, the fenced off park

is rather distinctive and provides a delightfully high

provides buckets of fun for kids. In addition to lots of

standard of accommodation, a very extensive range

playground equipment, the park has magic carpets

of facilities, and exceptional service. All rooms are

to service tubing, tobogganing, and a ski area. A

Western style and room types include a range of

collection of Kamakura igloos are also enjoyed as a

twin rooms, family rooms and semi-suites. There are

popular lunch spot for family groups. For more

the bars and restaurants, swimming pool, gym, hot

information, please visit APPI English website:

spring, rental centre and shops under the same roof.

www.appi.co.jp.

APPI Grand Villa3 is popular among families because

English signs are well-provided in all facilities, and

Japanese Western guest room is spacious and

the staff is very friendly... Don’ t Worry, Be APPI!

For reservation, please contact the following travel agencies. ・Asia Escape Holiday : 1800 462 254・Deep Powder Tours : 1300 305 451・Experience Japan・Japan Holidays : 07 3300 2396 ・Japan Package (Pitt Travel) : 02 9264 7384・JTB Australia : 1300 739 330・Liquid Snow : 1300 454 784 ・Nippon Travel Agency : 02 9275 9645・Saizen Tours : 07 5564 0133・SkiJapan.com : 1300 137 411・Ski Max : 1300 136 997 ・Snowscene : 1300 754 286・Travel Japan By HIS : 1800 802 552・Travelplan Ski : 1300 754 754

appi.co.jp

AUSTRIA

CITY OF

GOLD

VISIT INNSBRUCK, IN AUSTRIA, AND YOU CAN BE IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN ONE MINUTE AND SKIING AT SEEGRUBE 25 MINUTES LATER. IT IS A BUFFET OF RESORTS … JUST DIG IN.

S

urrounded on three sides by massive mountains ranges, Innsbruck has serious snow pedigree. It has hosted two Winter Olympics – in 1964 and 1976 – and the first ever Youth Olympics this year. The Olympia SkiWorld Pass gives access to nine ski resorts, delivering 300 kms of runs. There is something for everyone. For beginners, Kühtai and Mutterer Alm are perfect, while intermediate families will be very happy at Kühtai, Patscherfkofel Mountain near

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

Igls, Mutteralm and Axamer Lizum.

Expert riders and sliders will want to tackle ther runs down from Seegrube on the Nordkette, Stubai Glacier, Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum.

Kids can even ski many pistes for free, or at special discounted rates. If, for example, one parent purchases the OlympiaWorld Skipass which is valid for all nine skiing areas in the region, children under six receive their pass for free. A free shuttle bus carries skiers to each resort. Other resorts also have kids ski free offers.

The terrain parks are awesome and even if you don’t want to have a go, go up to Seegrube on the Nordkettenbahn cable way, and watch the experts in action at the Nitro Skyline Park, then settle back in Cloud9 for a drink, and to take in the views over Innsbruck.

The snow sports schools are experts at teaching kids in a fun way, and when

the skiing is done, go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, tobogganing, ride in a bobsled, go horseriding in the snow or just make snowballs and enjoy being in this beautiful part of the world.

As for accommodation, there are many wonderul places to stay that will give you so much more than bed and breakfast. The beautiful village of Igls is a tram ride from Innsbruck, accesses the Patscherkofel and has the best ski school around – Snowsport Igls. Stay at the Sporthotel for unbelievable service.

In Kühtai, the AlpinLodges are exquisite and in the mornings, fresh hot bakedbread and pastries are delivered to your room. You could even stay the night in an ice igloo. And for somewhere more central, take your pick of the many hotels in Innsbruck.

MORE INFORMATION Innsbruck Tourism – www.innsbruck.info

Ski the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck

INNSBRUCK TOURISMUS GRAFIK h.a.

from $ 760 per person, 7 nights half board, 6 day ski pass!

For the Alpine way of life Innsbruck, the Capital of the Alps and its surrounding ski resorts with 300 km of slopes guarantee unbeatable skiing for everyone. You can take your pick of staying in the 800 year old city of Innsbruck or in one of its charming ski resorts like Igls, Mutters or Kühtai each with its own Tyrolean character. Choose the regions you’d like to ski or have all 9 with an “Olympia World Ski Pass”.

For the best ski deals in town please contact: SNO’n’SKI 1300 766 754 info@snonski.com.au WINTER 2012 45 Innsbruck Tourismus, phone +43 512 59 850, office@innsbruck.info, www.innsbruck-packages.com www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

SAFETY

USING YOUR

HEAD

WHEN PLANNING A SKI HOLIDAY, HERE OR OVERSEAS, BE SAFE RATHER THAN SORRY. OAWK HAS THESE SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE SURE YOUR HOLIDAY IS REMEMBERED FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS …

Safe driving If you are driving to the snow, there are some things you need to do before you leave. You’ll need to add anti-freeze to the radiator. Check your windscreen for any cracks and if you find any, get them repaired. Otherwise, the cold weather will turn a little crack into a giant spiderweb in no time. Check tyre pressure and carry an ice scraper to help clear snow and ice from the windscreen in the morning. If you are parking your car at the snow and leaving it for a few days, lift the wipers off the windscreen so they don’t freeze on. Also, don’t use the handbrake – chock your wheels with a rock. When driving, turn on your lights, drive slowly, leave plenty of room between you and the car in front, and avoid driving at dawn or dusk.

Why? Because this is when you’re more likely to encounter black ice – ice that you can’t see – and if you’re driving in the NSW or Victorian snowfields, kangaroos.

Chains If you are going to be driving to skifields, you must carry chains. In Australia and New Zealand, there are chain bays on the side of the road where you can stop and fit chains if there is snow on the road ahead. If you have never fitted chains before, or haven’t done it in a while, ask the place you are hiring from to show you how. Some places, like Jucy Rentals in Christchurch, New Zealand, show videos on how to fit them. Pay attention! We didn’t and then, when we had to fit them, my husband and son spent the good part of an hour lying in mud and slush trying to work out how to do it.

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

Whistler Inset: Smith Optics Helmet

Helmets Everyone should wear a helmet when skiing or snowboarding and it’s gratifying to see most people doing so. Helmets these days are super light, help prevent and reduce head and brain injuries and keep heads warm. If you’ve had a stack and your helmet has a ding in it, replace it. Take your children with you when you are buying a helmet so they can be fitted correctly. The helmet should be positioned low enough in the front to protect the forehead and not leave a goggle gap, but not so low as to push the goggles onto the nose. Another tip is to take goggles with you when purchasing a helmet to make sure they integrate well together. Or better still, Smith Optics have the Galaxy Goggle and Cosmos Jr helmet pack for that very reason.

And mums and dads, set a good example by wearing helmets too. Your heads are just as important!

Insurance We’ve all heard the horror stories about people being injured on an overseas skiing holiday and not being covered. You cannot afford not to obtain insurance for all the family. Call up insurers and ask

questions. If your child likes terrain parks make sure the coverage includes injuries incurred doing jumps. If you like going out of bounds make sure you are covered.

Heli-skiing? Make sure you are covered. And what if there is no snow and you want to postpone. Will you be covered? And what happens if you have to cancel your trip? The Hardiman family from Sydney was all set to fly to Japan in December when the dad snapped his Achilles tendon. The family had to cancel the trip but fortunately their insurance covered it. Otherwise it would have been an expensive exercise with no holiday and very unhappy kids.

1cover will cover unused lesson fees and lift tickets if you are injured or sick and can’t use them. They also cover hiring new gear if yours is stolen or damaged. Insure and Go has special winter sports travel insurance that even covers off-piste skiing. Plus, dependent kids under 18 are covered free on One Trip or Annual Multi Trip policies when they travel with you.

So shop around, ask questions, purchase the right travel insurance and you will be able head off on your family ski holiday knowing you are covered. And that is totally worth the effort.

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hire receives ns: g adult equipment Terms and conditio 12; Each full payin 20 t to 14 years; 5 Oc 1 are p ds” Se 2 “Ki s; *9 - 22 Jun and 2 adults and 2 kid on sed r full paying ba pe ge ild ch cka e Pa on one free kids hire; ski free limited to d an y sta s al offers per Kid eci ; sp apply nus booklet with Certain arrival days may apply; One bo es arg ch sur al me adult; Child change ilability; Subject to family; Limited ava

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WINTER 2012 www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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OF

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S R A E 30 Y SERV

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to WIN Like us on

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*Conditions apply please contact Mogul Ski World for details

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