Bucket List Destinations in Australia & New Zealand

Morning

Assuming you arrived the night before and stocked up on beauty rest, it's time to get to the mountain and get after it. Find the T-bar lift and head to skiers' left. This area is typically less trafficked, and, on a powder day, you can hunt fresh stashes as the sun rises high.

Afternoon

Located at the base of the Rocky Gully T-bar, Heidi's Hutt is a local Après secret that slings gourmet pizzas, pasta, breakfasts, and soups, all prepared fresh daily. Settle in and refuel with a special selection of local Amisfield wine and craft beer.

After lunch, it's time to take it up a notch. Head to the summit and find your way into the notorious Back Bowls. Being south facing, these bowls tend to hold snow well, so you'll want to be prepared for both awe-inspiring views and leg burning runs.

MORNING

A Veuve soaked night means breakfast first. Grab a coffee and quick bite from the charmingly idiosyncratic café, Yonder, before heading south from Queenstown to catch the first chair swing around at 9 am. Once on the hill, head directly to the meticulously crafted terrain parks for an early morning jam session. The Burton Stash park is particularly coveted by the freestyle scene.

AFTERNOON

After spending the morning with air under your feet, it's time to take in the views. Bump up the Shadow Basin quad and set out for the short hike up to the Look Out, where you'll find northern views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Selfie snapped, turn around and cut left down to the extensive lines found in Shadow Basin, where some of the more expert terrain is located.

MORNING

Start the day with one of the many cafe options in Methven, or, head to Mt Hutt and fuel up at the Sky High Café or the Sixteen10 Coffee Bar. Nourished and ready for some turns, the vastness of Mt Hutt awaits. The broad face of this mountain acts like a baseball glove, pocketing stashes of powder when the snow falls. In fact, the expanse of this terrain invites several days of exploration after a weather front, for those who can swing it.

AFTERNOON

In-between laps on Mt Hutt's wide-open groomers, head to Huber's Hutt and raise a glass to toast the local legend, Willie Huber. This on-mountain après hot spot is named after Willie, who spent an entire winter in a tiny hut in 1972 while assessing the on-mountain conditions before assembling its very first ski lift.

Wrap up New Zealand on a high note and make the short hike out and up to the Rakaia Saddle Chutes, located at the end of the Virgin Mile Ridge. These steeps and deeps can hold fresh snow for days after the latest snowfall. However, this expert only terrain is signed well, so be sure to check the signage and ensure that this area is open before venturing out.

Morning

Affectionately known as "Melbourne's Mountain," Mt Buller is known for being an excellent spot for first timers, and it's where many Australians get their first taste of snow. That said, with over 300 hectares of skiable terrain, there is something to appeal to all levels of ability. Warm up on the comfortable cruisers of Bourke St and Burnt Hut Spur, then get the legs burning with the challenges of runs like Chamois.

AFTERNOON

Get your camera and head to the summit lookout, sitting at 1780m. Snap a photo for your Sothern Hemisphere bucket list book and then connect Fanny's Finish, Zwier's Zig Zag, and Wombat Bottom Road to link together one of the longer runs at Mt Buller. Along the way, keep an eye out for wild wombats and echidnas as these local natives are often found crossing from one tree grove to the next.

MORNING

First things first, let the entire valley know that you've arrived by heading to Thredbo's highest lifted point and giving the Community Bell a ring. From there, carve through the native gumtree groves while descending The Supertrail — Australia's longest, widest, most vertical, and most iconic run.

AFTERNOON

Explore the mountain and get some local tips by taking advantage of Thredbo's free Toyota Mountain Tours. These guided two-hour tours leave at 11 am daily from the Gunbarrel Express lift and are perfect for intermediate to expert skiers and boarders.