The Northern Hemisphere is renowned for skiing incentives and groups but why not look at an exciting alternative Down Under in Australia and New Zealand?!

The beauty of heading down under to the Southern Hemisphere is that you can combine skiing with visits to other iconic destinations with glorious sunshine overhead. New Zealand ski slopes are not far from the international airport of Queenstown, whereas the ski slopes in Australia are 3 hours from Canberra and 6 hours from Sydney. If you have a skiing group interested in these destinations, contact Keri Davis from downunder dmc.

SKI NEW ZEALAND: (Season is July-September)

It is best to base yourself in Queenstown in the south-eastern region of Otago, and transfer to the ski slopes each day. Located only 15 minutes from Queenstown airport, we recommend the ski resort Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa. It has 82 luxurious rooms and suites, meeting and gala dinner facilities for 100 pax, two restaurants, a luxury So Spa, and a Jazz Lounge. Queenstown has 4 fantastic ski locations:

• The Remarkables Ski Field: 45 minute transfer, superb views over Queenstown, extensive levels of ski slopes, packages and lift passes are exchangeable with Coronet Peak.
• Cardrona Alpine Resort: 1h15min transfer, great lessons and slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers, family-friendly, snow-making capabilities.
• Coronet Peak Ski Field: 25 minute transfer, great skiing for all levels and family-friendly, packages and lift passes are exchangeable with Remarkables, lower elevation can affect snow reliability, great party atmosphere with Friday and Saturday night skiing.
• Treble Cone Ski Field: Breathtaking views over Lake Wanaka, challenging off-piste trails, best for experienced skiers, 700m slopes, less crowded, 1h30min transfer means advanced ski groups should consider staying in Wanaka.

Apres ski is when the fun really begins with cosy wine bars, friendly pubs, and buzzing nightclubs. Known as the “Adventure Capital of the World”, Queenstown is also a spectacular summer incentive destination. Popular winter activities are cruises on Lake Wakatipu, dramatic jet-boating adventures, day trips to Milford Sound, gondola rides to Bobs Peak, Queenstown craft beer tours, wine tours in the Gibbston valley, bungy jumping, underwater jet ski rides on Hydro Shark Attack, indoor skydiving at iFly, soaking in the Onsen hot tubs and Lord of the Rings tours.
TOP TIP: Time your visit during the Queenstown Winter Festival in July sometimes referred to as “The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party”.

SKI AUSTRALIA: (Season is July-August)

Thredbo Ski Resort is set in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park and it offers the best skiing and snowboarding in Australia. It is a 2h30min transfer from Canberra airport (or 6 hours from Sydney). It’s good for beginners and has long runs and challenging off-piste for the advanced ski enthusiast. It has 14 lifts and 50 runs with the highest point being 2037 m above sea level. Its longest run is the Crackenback Supertrail which is 5.6 km. There are also the ski slopes of Perisher Resort nearby.

We suggest staying at the boutique Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa, located 15 mins from Thredbo village. It has 46 rooms split between mountain chalets and lakeside apartments, two restaurants, a heated indoor pool and sauna, trout fishing, mountain biking, archery, and meeting and gala dinner space for 80 pax. Also popular is the Thredbo Alpine Hotel with 65 rooms and meeting/banquet facilities for 200 pax.

Other winter activities in Thredbo: Ride the Merrits Gondola to 1665m, enjoy a ski-in ski-out lunch or take the passenger snowcat for a 4-course dinner and wine experience on the slopes at Kareela Hutte, swim at the heated indoor leisure center pool, witness the Supertrail flare run and fireworks on Saturday nights, backcountry alpine touring, snowshoeing, tobogganing, tubing, bobsled rides and 30 places to relax, drink and dine in Thredbo.

Combine your skiing trip with stays in the iconic cities of Melbourne and Sydney or visit sub-tropical Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Come winter or summer, Keri Davis and his team at downunder dmc in Australia will craft a memorable getaway for your incentive group, corporate meeting, or luxury family holiday to Oz or NZ.