Second day in New Zealand and we are heading to Cardrona Ski Fields for some snow.

These fields are meant to be good for beginners and intermediates.  On the webcam, there is snow and the report says it is soft!!!  The fields are about 35kms from Wanaka towards Queenstown, so we join a queue of 4×4 heading up the road and gaze enviously at the amazing views surrounding us.

The last 14 kms of the road is unsealed, windy and muddy, it is overcast so we can’t see the tops of the Mountains.  Then as we drive the last 2 kms the sky suddenly opens up and the fields are right in front of us.  White snow shining in the sun, lifts running everywhere and because the Winter Games are on there are huge jumps down the centre of the hill.

It’s isn’t to crowded, the passes are quite cheap by Australian standards ($110 per adult for a full day).  We are off, first run my socks are to big.  I’m crying by the time I get to the bottom because my feet are so cramped I can’t move and I have fallen over twice.  A quick run into the shop and I find some new funky boot socks ($35) and a new scarf ($40) and meet Will at the lift ready to go again.

The runs are soft, a bit slushy but given how often I am on my arse it is kind of nice to sit on soft snow instead of ice.  After a couple of runs I finally figure out that the little wooden box at the top of the lift is a champagne shack…  Joy.  A glass (or two) of Mumm, looking out across the view, eating my roast pork, brie and spinach roll that I prepared earlier.

A note on food at ski fields, the only place I have ever had good food on the ski fields is Austria.  It was great, warm little restaurant halfway down the hill, roast chicken and veggies, with wine and schnapps.  In Australia, it has improved over the last few years but I still like to take an emergency stash of cheese and maybe a pork pie.  In New Zealand at Cardrona…. it needs work.  Other then the bubbles shack, the other cafe on the hill didn’t sell wine!!!  Seriously we are in NZ!!! the chips were cold and everything else looked like we were in a school canteen, bad lasagna, bad pizza, you get the picture.  Anyway grumble grumble, I was prepared like a nanna and had made a packed lunch so it didn’t worry me 🙂

After the Mumm and lunch we felt slightly more adventurous and headed off on a new route, the route was straight across the Mountain.  The rule was no right turns.  We headed off, did a right hand turn and ended up on an accidental advanced run.  Whoops.  Getting to the bottom there was another bar and Will suggested that maybe I should get a lesson, so that I could keep up with him…. I agreed.

We headed back to base, I found the amazing Akadio and advised her that I wanted to be skiing advanced runs upright within the hour.  She smiled politely and then I tripped over getting into the line for the lift…. Amazingly one hour later and some small technique changes I went down an advanced run without falling over!!!  Happy Days, hats off to Akadio, she is a champion, I didn’t need to ICU chopper.

To celebrate my new found skiing ability we went and met a friend back in Wanaka for drinks.  A locals hide out, a micro brewery by the name of Rhyme & Reason, hidden in an Industrial estate it is great.  Music – not to loud, Bar dog – friendly, Bar staff – great, Beer – great, Sparkling Pinot Gris – great, food – eat before you go, limited menu at the moment.  Drank to much, got home very drunk, ate a yoghurt, went to bed.  Successful day 2 in Wanaka.