Upgraded slope makes tubing 'snow much fun'

Snow tubing at Alpine Springs will be bigger and faster this winter thanks to modifications to its state-of-the-art snow slope.

The snow tubing park, part of the Alpine Springs complex located on the shores of Lake Tekapo in the Mt Cook Mackenzie region, now features a snow slope 50 metres longer and 5 metres higher than before.

The tubing park is scheduled to open on 3 July for the New Zealand school holidays, but may open earlier thanks to excellent snow cover from recent heavy snowfalls.

Alpine Springs director Karl Burtscher is excited about the latest developments.

“We launched the snow tubing park last year and people absolutely loved it, so we thought we’d make it even better by making it higher, longer and faster. I’ve had a go on the new slope and it’s awesome.

“Snow tubing has been a big drawcard for us, particularly with families because it’s affordable and great fun for all ages. Anyone can do it - you don’t need any experience or expensive equipment, you just sit on the tube and go. We have 30 snow tubes, some slow and some fast, as well as snowmaking and floodlighting to provide the best possible conditions.”

The snow tubing park complements Alpine Springs’ other facilities which include outdoor hot pools, a boutique day spa, a café, and an international size rink for ice skating, ice hockey and curling which converts to an inline/roller skating rink in summer.

“Our aim is to offer an affordable one-stop relaxation and recreation package for visitors and locals all year round,” says Mr Burtscher.

With this in mind, Alpine Springs has also created a new $199 Family Hot Pools Pass. The five-day pass is designed to provide cost savings to families who are high users of the hot pools.

“We get families coming in who want to soak in the outdoor hot pools every day or night of their winter holiday so the new pass is ideal for them - they get excellent savings,” says Mr Burtscher.

In line with the rest of Alpine Springs, which recently picked up a Qualmark Enviro-Silver Award, the Snow Tubing Park has been developed with a strong focus on sustainability. Snowguns are hooked up to the complex’s sustainable, energy-efficient refrigeration and heat regeneration plant which recycles and cools water from the hot pools and the ice rink.

The snow tubing park will operate 10am to 9pm Monday to Sunday during the winter season.

Alpine Springs developments still in the pipeline include private hot pools and a cooler pool for the summer months.

For more information about Alpine Springs visit www.alpinesprings.co.nz.