Jingle all the way to Snowplanet for family Christmas fun

Kiwi families dreaming of a white Christmas will have their wishes come true this year as Snowplanet, New Zealand’s only indoor snow resort, brings Santa to the slopes and kicks off the ho-ho-holiday season with a festive market day.

Santa will helicopter his way to Snowplanet on Saturday 1 December and take residence in a frosty, glistening grotto in the snow. Families can have their Christmas photo taken with the jolly fellow and enjoy a day out together.

Snowplanet Christmas Market Day
Holiday market stalls, bouncy castle, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and helicopter rides.
Date:     Saturday 1 December
Time:     10.00am – 2.00pm
11.00am – Santa arrives by helicopter
Venue: Snowplanet, 91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland
Cost:      Entry to Christmas Market Day is FREE, activities additional.

Snowplanet Santa in the Snow Grotto
Have your family Christmas photo taken with Santa in his snow grotto. Don’t forget your winter woollies.
Dates:   Saturday 1 – Sunday 2 December
Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 December
Saturday 15 – Tuesday 25 December
Time:     10.00am – 2.00pm
Venue: Snowplanet, 91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland
Costs:    $15.00 per person
*Price is per child, additional children in photo are $5.00 each. Includes one photo and a special gift for each child. Parents are free. Additional photos are $5.00. Snow gear can be hired for $10.00 with Santa on the Snow entry.

For more information visit www.snowplanet.co.nz/santa-in-the-snow

SNOWPLANET FACT SHEET

• Snowplanet is New Zealand’s first and only all year indoor snow resort.  It was opened on the 5th March 2005 by Helen Clarke.
• Snowplanet is located only 20 minutes north of Auckland, off state highway 1.
• People of all ages and abilities can enjoy themselves at Snowplanet.
• At Snowplanet you can ski, snowboard, tube, toboggan and take a ride on our ski bikes!
• Our snow slope is 202 meters long and 41 meters wide, with 50cm of real powder snow.  It includes a beginner’s area, contoured tubing and tobogganing track and a Terrain Park with jumps & rails.
• Fresh snow is kept cool at a chilly -5 degrees Celsius!
• Snow guests can hire everything they need to experience the thrill of snow sports; clothing, gloves, helmets, equipment, etc.
• There are changing rooms and lockers available to allow customers to get snow ready.
• Snowplanet’s Restaurant & Bar offers a panoramic grandstand view onto the slopes. A full menu is available throughout the day and the bar is fully licensed.
• There is no charge for spectators and guests who wish to view the action on the slopes from the Restaurant & Bar, and there is no requirement for you to purchase food and beverages either.
• Snowplanet offers a variety of ski or snowboard lessons to suit all ages and abilities. This ranges from personal instructors, group lessons and performance training to our after-school programme and school holiday programmes.
• Bookings are not required if you are thinking about visiting Snowplanet. However, if you want to have a lesson, bookings are highly recommended as limited places are available. Please phone (09) 427 0044 to make a booking.
• Snowplanet accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club Cards as forms of payment.
• The Snowplanet Rental department features world-class rental equipment from Salomon and Burton. The smallest size ski boots we stock is a child's size 10, and smallest size snowboard boots is a size 11.
• We do not specify a yougest age for kids to be able to experience and feel the snow. This is left to the parents discretion, however we recommend that you do not take infants that cannot walk out onto the snow.
• The snow dome has a capacity of 250 people and features two pommel lifts on either side of the dome to transport skiers and snowboarders to the top of the slope. There is also a beginner’s slope, which is served by a magic carpet/travelator lift to transport learners one third of the distance up the slope.
• Our world-class terrain park includes a variety of rails, jumps and jib features to challenge even the most experienced snow sports athletes.
• Fresh snow is produced approximately three nights per week at various times to ensure that we have an adequate snow base and to ensure our terrain park is maintained to the highest possible standards. Our snow is groomed every night by our maintenance team to ensure that the snow is always in the best possible condiition and ready for you to carve it up!
• The objective of Snowplanet was to bring snow to the city, and make skiing and snowboarding more accessible to everyone.
• We have around 120 staff at Snowplanet, and are open 365 days of the year.
• Snowplanet took 15 months to build, and 50,000 cubic meters of dirt was moved during the construction.
• Check out our website for more information www.snowplanet.co.nz.  Life’s more fun on Snowplanet!