Best Ski Resorts in the Southern Hemisphere

With so much good skiing to be had in Europe and North America, resorts in the southern hemisphere don’t get a great deal of publicity. This is a shame because there are several that offer good quality skiing for beginners and experts alike.

There are other pluses, too. If you make the long journey to Chile or Argentina, for example, you are rewarded with a Latin American culture that makes a refreshing change from European resorts.

The cost and inconvenience of travel to the southern hemisphere may be off-putting, but once there you will find that the reasonable prices of essentials, such as ski passes and lessons, can come as a pleasant surprise after the USA and Europe.

Here are UK Net Guide’s recommendations for the best ski resorts below the equator.

Portillo, Chile

Portillo is the oldest and best-known resort in South America and a popular choice for dedicated skiers. It’s about an hour from the capital, Santiago, and is perched 10,000 feet up in the Andes.

The USA’s ski team have trained here, and the 200kph barrier was broken on the resort’s steep slopes. There are nearly 16 miles of runs that are not only for the expert skier; beginners and intermediates are also catered for.

Find out more at www.skiportillo.com

Las Lenas, Argentina

Set on the slopes of the Andes in the province of Mendoza, Las Lenas is one of the best places to ski in Argentina. It has 21 miles of slopes, and there is a good mix of terrain for all abilities, including challenging steep runs for experts.

Las Lenas has a ‘buzzy’ feel to it, which compensates for the difficulty in getting here.

The resort is more than 24 hours by road from Buenos Aries, meaning an internal flight is advisable. Find out more at www.laslenas.com

Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is the country’s adventure sports capital. The ‘reversal’ of the seasons here – their winter is our summer - means it’s a good getaway for anyone missing the snow during the northern hemisphere warmer months.

The advantage of coming here is that you don't have to rely on glaciers for your sport. Queenstown's skiing is on the Remarkables mountain range and Coronet Peak, between 30 and 45 minutes out of town by car.

The ski areas are not very extensive by Alpine standards, but there are some good steep challenging runs for experts.

Visit www.queenstownnz.co.nz for more information.

Falls Creek, Victoria, Australia

The mountains above the town of Mount Beauty, Victoria, have been a magnet for skiers since the turn of the 20th century. However, it was not until 1960 that the first lifts were built and the ski station of Falls Creek was born. In the last 40 years this purpose-built winter resort has grown in size. Today it is the biggest in Victoria, with almost 100 trails and around 50 miles of piste.

Unusually for Australia, Falls Creek is a car-free, ‘ski-in ski-out’ resort. You can ski from the door of all of the resort's lodges.

It shares ownership and lift passes with the resort of nearby Mount Hotham, which enables skiers to enjoy an even greater variety of terrain.

Visit resort’s website at www.fallscreek.com.au.

Find great holiday bargains to these and other resorts across the World. Remember to get some ski insurance for when you go.