Mt Cook Mackenzie hosts hot events and cool winter fun

Winter starts with a bang in New Zealand’s Mt Cook Mackenzie region this year with a host of crazy events on and off the snow.

Ohau is kicking off its winter season this Saturday (26 June) with some swashbuckling fun. There’s plenty of on-mountain action as the ski field opens and then all ‘buccaneers’ are invited back to Lake Ohau Lodge for a Pirate Party knees up with music from the Scurvy Dogs.

Also this Saturday is the Blades of Glory Ice Disco at Lake Tekapo’s Alpine Springs - a night of family fun with funky music and great prizes for costumes and ice routines. Then on Sunday (27 June) brave souls are invited to don their bathers and take an ice plunge into Lake Tekapo before competing in a curling shootout on the ice rink – still in their bathers.

Mount Cook’s Hermitage Hotel is adding sparkle to the season with its new Winter Ball on Saturday 31 July. Guests will enjoy canapés and bubbles followed by a delicious three-course dinner, then dance the night away to the funky jazz sounds of the Tim Driver band - all in a magical winter wonderland.

The infamous Ohau Hooley and Irish Winter Olympics is also on 31 July. There will be all sorts of shenanigans up on the ski field during the day and the evening’s knees up promises to be a good ‘craic’ with Mac Black Velvet playing at Lake Ohau Lodge.

Up at Roundhill ski area, skiers will be sharpening their edges for the giant slalom-style Karl Burtscher Snr Memorial GS Race on 31 July which celebrates the man, life in the mountains and a love of winter sport.

There’s plenty of action on the ice at Lake Tekapo throughout the winter months. Alpine Springs cranks up fun for all the family every Friday night, with an ice disco featuring DJ Johnny followed by local ice hockey games which are free to watch. And if Friday’s ice disco isn’t enough there’s always the late night disco on Saturdays! Don’t miss some top level ice hockey action on 16-18 July as current Erewhon Cup holders the Mackenzie Bull Tahr clash with some of the country’s top players.

On 7 August, Roundhill is busting out the music, passion and some decidedly dodgy fashion for its ‘80s day. Skiers and boarders are invited to pull out their best lycra pants, fluoro sweatshirts, leg warmers and blue eyeshadow – the more tragic the better!

Roundhill also launches a new extreme event on 14 August - the Chinese Downhill on ‘The Wall’. Using the new Heritage Express Rope Tow, which accesses some of the biggest terrain in Australasia, racers will experience the speed and thrill of challenging big mountain terrain in an event that’s not for the faint hearted.

Over at “Ohoo”, people will be donning their kilts for the annual Highland Games and Scottish Night on 14 August. There’ll be haggis, porridge, bagpipes and caber tossing and the chance for people to ‘highland fling’ their lassies round at the ceilidh to the infectious tunes of the Mac Black Velvet Band.

For serious big air don’t miss Roundhill’s ‘Central Park – Slopestyle’ on 21 August where skiers and boarders test their skills on a purpose-built 50ft jump. Roundhill will also host the CHILL Grom-fest in the Central Park terrain park on 11 September.

An annual favourite, the Ohau fancy dress SnowBall is on 11 September and the party continues the following day with people and costumes galore up the mountain.

The winter season rounds off at Ohau’s Hot Dog Day on Saturday 3 October. Snowlovers are invited to celebrate the end of the season ‘retro-style’ with fluoro one piece suits, skinny skis or early snowboard and ride just like they did in the good ‘ol days.

For more information about events or winter holidays in the Mt Cook Mackenzie region visit www.mackenziewinter.co.nz.