Independent ski field operators at Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, Snowpark, Snowfarm, Ohau, Mt Dobson, Roundhill and the Porters Ski Area have launched OnePassNZ an interchangeable pass that gives skiers and snowboarders access to the partner ski fields.

The new pass will provide tourists with access to a massive 2230 hectares of lift-serviced terrain, andcan be used to rent gear or for ski and snowboarding lessons. OnePassNZ holders can also use it to buy dinner at restaurants in the surrounding areas and at a number of other local off-mountain attractions.

Treble Cone Marketing Manager Nigel Kerr says OnePassNZ is a win-win for all tourists, regardless of whether they hit the slopes every year or whether they’re new to skiing and snowboarding.

“OnePassNZ has been designed to give tourists everything they need for a memorable winter holiday,” he says.

“It’s ideal for anyone who enjoys flexibility as well as a raft of show options and experiences because it allows skiers and snowboarders to seamlessly move from one mountain to the next.”

The new OnePassNZ initiative has already drawn praise from local tourism bodies.

Lake Wanaka Tourism General Manager James Helmore says the OnePassNZ co-operative will "be huge" for the area.

“It gives consumers ultimate flexibility and freedom of choice and allows them to travel with confidence,” he says.

“From a destination standpoint, having a ski and activity pass that offers both snow and off-mountain activities is brilliant and is just what consumers need to enjoy everything the central South Island has to offer, not just great skiing," says Helmore.

Additionally, OnePassNZ will help to create a better awareness of the emerging Tekapo hub, which services the three McKenzie ski areas, and links Christchurch and Wanaka through the central South Island, helping to resurrect the skiing road trip.

OnePassNZ gives visitors access to the best skiing and snowboarding the country has to offer, including the longest runs in the South Island at over 4kms, the only two permanent superpipes in New Zealand and the most comprehensive children’s programmes and facilities.