New Zealand is well-known for its All Blacks rugby team, gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc wine and stunning scenery. Now New Zealand is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for ski vacations.

The first inhabitants of New Zealand, the Maori, dubbed these pacific isles Aotearoa, or “Land of the Long White Cloud” – they knew the snow was good!

Now surprisingly, this tiny island nation in the South Pacific boasts more mountains than Switzerland, which has led to dozens of top-class ski fields popping up, many within one or two hours drive of New Zealand’s major airports and cities.

And the best thing about a New Zealand ski vacation (especially if you chase the winter) - if you live in the northern hemisphere you can hit the powdery slopes in the summer.

Many major airlines operate direct flights to Christchurch, the largest city in New Zealand’s South Island. From London, the flight-time is about 24 hours with a stop-over in Singapore, or about 14 hours non-stop from Los Angeles. The journey takes about three hours from Sydney.

The New Zealand dollar is generally weaker than other Western countries, so your dollar will go further too!

Located on the mid-eastern coast of New Zealand’s South Island, the city of Christchurch is an ideal base to launch your New Zealand ski vacation. From here, the imposing Southern Alps are all within an easy two-hour drive.

There are 10 ski areas within the Canterbury region. The closest of these is Porter Heights. At nearly 2000 metres (6560 feet), Porter Heights offers stunning views of the Southern Alps, good snowfall and an extensive grooming program.

Probably the most well-known of New Zealand ski fields is Mt Hutt. Just a 90 minute drive from Christchurch, Mt Hutt consistently has the longest season of any ski field in all of Australia and New Zealand.

With over 350 hectares of skiing adrenaline, Mt Hutt offers a relaxed and friendly ski area that is suitable for families and beginners, yet still satisfying the experienced snow junkie – a perfect ski vacation for everyone.

Craigieburn, about 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch and located deep in the heart of the South Island’s Southern Alps, is the premier destination for serious skiers. This ski terrain is challenging and not suitable for beginners.

Boasting a 600 metre vertical descent that is often compared to heli-skiing, and known as New Zealand’s largest “off-piste” ski area, Craigieburn is a challenging and rewarding ski area.

Temple Basin covers a wide range of ski terrain spread over four separate basins. Known as one of the best New Zealand ski areas for snowboarders, Temple Basin provides a range of basins for beginners to experts.

Most of the Canterbury ski fields provide accommodation on-site, normally bunk-style accommodation.

Ski vacation accommodation is also close by at Methven, which is just a half hour from Mt Hutt. Bed and breakfast, backpacker and hotel accommodation is all available, making this an ideal place to enjoy the après-ski of your New Zealand ski vacation. Methven also has several ski and snowboard shops if you don’t have your own ski gear.

And when you are ready to take a break from your New Zealand ski vacation, Christchurch is within easy reach of the best the land of the long white cloud has to offer. Whale watching in Kaikoura, wine trails in Blenheim and the breath-taking scenery of Milford Sound, anyone?