Summer skiing- NZ or S.A.?

I am planning to check out the "other" winter, and am debating between Chile/Argentina and New Zealand. Prices are about the same, logistics look easier for NZ, scenery/skiing maybe better in S.A.? Anyone have experience with both and care to weigh in? Thanks!

No experience of NZ but been to SA twice.

Once to Portillo- Hotel was great but terrain gets boring if you stay at the lifts.Won't go agian.

Once to Las Lenas- Truly a skier's mountain as long as El Marte lift open. Argentina rocks in so many ways. Las Lenas in good conditions is one of the best places in the world to ski but you can get skunked as if a strom blows in when you are there and El Marte closes it can close for a whole week. Dollar goes a long way in ARG.

Heard good things about Bariloche. More of a US type resort. Not easy to travel between Las lenas and Bariloche as distances are huge.

I am currently scheming on how I can get back to Las Lenas this year it was so fantastic ( and I didn't have good conditions)

There are some very informative threads on TGR about SA if you do a search. I found them very useful in planning my trip. Also go to a site called unofficialandes.com

Think Casecadefreak has done some NZ skiing so he may have some info on NZ to compare.

No ski experience in SA, but skied NZ twice (Canterbury region and the Southern Lakes District).  I haven't skied the north island as I've been much more drawn to the spectacular terrain and scenery of the Southern Alps.

Some beta on the southern lakes region here:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=7668.0
As far as backcountry, most of the convenient access is from the lift areas as there are few roads open in winter that are high enough to reach the snow (unless it's a big snow year in the lower elevations).  The access roads to the ski areas in general are an exhilarating experience on their own (exposed, steep, unpaved, and few guard rails).  I found it easy to get around the southern lakes region (ski areas near Queenstown and Wanaka) by bus.
I'd highly recommend checking out the ski club fields (Broken River, etc.) if you don't mind old-school fast rope tows/nutcrackers.  Broken River is about an hour or so drive from the chill town of Methven in the Canterbury region (quite a long distance north of the southern lakes region).  I think I'd check out more of the club fields if I were to head back again sometime. 
Info. on Broken River club field:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=5256.0

Currently in the planning phase for checking out SA this year; still trying to figure out the best way to connect Las Lenas and Bariloche.  Looks like a long bus ride.  Scotsman- have you looked into trying to make a connection between Las Lenas and Bariloche?

This TR should be helpful:

cairnpublishing.com/author/tripreports/w.../bariloche/index.htm

Argentina looks like a lot of fun. I'd sure like to make it down there for some skiing some time soon.

If you go to NZ the Club Fields are were its at and if you want a mian stream resort here is a good comparision Cardrona= Snoqualmie (not alpensmall) Treble Cone= Crystal
If you looking for a good town to stay in head to Lake Wanaka you will not be dissapointed

I am a Kiwi dude living in Washington. I lived and worked in the NZ ski industry for many years down there, on both the Commercial and Club fields. If you decide to go down to the land of the Long White Cloud - Aotearoa - where the "men are brave and the sheep are scared", get in touch with me and I'll point you in the right direction down there.