New Zealand Ski Trip 2025: An Unforgettable Adventure

During the last school holidays, forty students and three staff members were lucky enough to embark on an unforgettable adventure to New Zealand. Touching down among snow-capped mountains in Queenstown, the group was greeted with picture-perfect weather.

The first four days were spent in Wanaka, where we skied at Cardrona for three full days. For many students, it was their first time seeing snow, so lessons were essential—and the learning curve was steep but fast. By the end of Day 1, most were confidently chasing down Mr Johnson on the slopes.

Epic skiing, snowboarding, snowman building, snowball fights, gondola rides, and summit walks quickly filled our days. There were plenty of laughs, especially thanks to some brave but clearly out-of-their-depth students (and staff!) crashing out in spectacular fashion.

Our time in Wanaka ended with some relaxed sightseeing around the charming town, including a trek to the famous (though, according to some, underwhelming) Wanaka Tree, followed by a mind-bending few hours at the ever-fascinating Puzzle World.

Next, we wound our way back to Queenstown for four more days of adventure. We were lucky enough to squeeze in one more day on the slopes at Coronet Peak, followed by an exhilarating jet boat ride and some friendly competition racing each other on the luge after another stunning gondola trip overlooking Lake Wakatipu.

A highlight for many was dinner at a spectacular mountaintop buffet—easily the most impressive buffet we've ever seen. Students surprised Mr Johnson with a fake birthday song and present to thank him for organising the trip, which sparked plenty of laughs and warm moments.

The rest of our time in Queenstown was spent exploring local food spots and shopping for souvenirs. Of course, no school trip would be complete without a few challenges—namely, a stubborn holiday bug—but even those affected pushed through and made the most of their time.

All in all, what a trip! Gorgeous weather, unforgettable activities, and an outstanding group of students made it a journey to remember.

The New Zealand Ski Trip will return in 2026! See Mr Altieri for more details.