Queenstown is one of the most popular snow destinations in the Southern Hemisphere with lots of outdoor gear shops to keep skiers and boarders happily kitted out. Everything from large tourist focused centers to smaller independent stations. Newbies can start at one of the mega centers in town, whilst experienced powder seekers will naturally seek out the dedicated backcountry gear shops.
Renting in Town vs Renting on the Slopes
All Queenstown resorts have good rental facilities on mountain. If you are skiing at the same resort for a couple of days, they will even store it for you overnight. One of the big pluses of renting on the slope is that if you need to change sizes or something breaks, it can be taken care of on mountain.
Renting in town gives you the flexibility to hit different resorts during your trip. Hit the slopes when you arrive, no need to wait in the rental line. You can get discounts for booking ahead and look out for specials around town like free hire for kids. The only problem is having to lug your gear to the mountain which can be painful if you have little ones who aren't pulling their weight yet.