Skiing and Snowboarding in New Zealand: Find Your Best Ski Field

Are you wondering where to ski and snowboard in New Zealand? You have come to the right spot.

As parents of former Jr National team ski and snowboard athletes, we have been to just about all of the New Zealand ski resorts.

From Queenstown in the South Island to National Park in the North, there are several great options for skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand, and we can help you pick the right one for you.

Snowboarding and skiing in New Zealand are popular with both domestic and international travellers. New Zealand ski resort’s reputation includes uncrowded runs, plenty of gentle family-friendly slopes, wide-open bowls, and no trees.

Add to that world-class training facilities and a high percentage of world champions from such a small country and it’s easy to understand why snowboarding and skiing in New Zealand are so popular.

Compare the bigger New Zealand ski resorts

The table below gives you a quick look at the country’s larger snow fields. It includes typical open dates, but it’s always weather dependant. Therefore we have given you a link to each field so you can verify it is open on the day you want to ski or snowboard in New Zealand.

Traditionally, New Zealand ski resorts are daytime venues. Most visitors to the area revel in the après ski of off-mountain ski towns and make the daily drive from either Wanaka (Cardrona or Treble Cone), Queenstown (Remarkables and Coronet Peak), Methven / Christchurch (Mt Hutt), or Ohakune (Whakapapa or Turoa).

South Island Field	Skiable area	Lifts	Terrain
Cardrona Mid June to Mid Oct	345 hectares	7	Beginner – 25% Intermediate – 55% Advanced – 20%
Treble Cone Late June to Late Sept	550 hectares	5	Beginner – 10% Intermediate – 45% Advanced – 45%
Remarkables Mid June to Mid Oct	220 hectares	7	Beginner – 30% Intermediate – 40% Advanced – 30%
Coronet Peak Mid June to Mid Sept	280 hectares	8	Beginner – 25% Intermediate – 45% Advanced – 30%
Mt. Hutt Mid June to Mid Oct	365 hectares	4	Beginner – 25% Intermediate – 50% Advanced – 25%

North Island Field	Skiable area	Lifts	Terrain
Whakapapa Late June to Mid Oct	1050 hectares	11	Beginner – 25% Intermediate – 50% Advanced – 25%
Tūroa Late June to Late Oct	500 hectares	6	Beginner – 20% Intermediate – 55% Advanced – 25%

What you need to know for skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand at each of the larger fields

Whether you are a skier or a snowboarder, there are several amazing options for your next New Zealand snow holiday. Here are the major ski resorts.

We also included a list of some of the smaller ones below.

Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona is a family-friendly environment perfect for all ability levels with loads of wide-open trails. As our former home away from home for 19 months (over 5 winter seasons), we are biased towards Cardrona.

The dedicated beginner hill welcomes newcomers, while daredevils head straight to NZ’s most extensive terrain park or the 22-foot Olympic superpipe. Here, our girl’s frequently found themselves practising alongside world-class athletes.

Cardrona features the country’s most successful snow sports training centre and is where girls trained here and both are former Jr. National champions.

What makes Cardrona truly unique is that it is the only ski area with accommodation on the mountain. With fifteen self-contained apartments and a restaurant that stays open late to accommodate guests, Cardrona is setting a new trend.

Ski pass: Avoid the queues and purchase in advance with options for single or multiday passes, lessons, equipment hire, and transport to the mountain. Reserve your Cardrona ski/snowboard packages here.

Driving tips: If you self-drive, be aware that the 10km access road from the valley to Cardrona is unpaved and often requires snow chains. Drivers unfamiliar with snowy mountain roads may want to take a shuttle available from either Wanaka or Queenstown.

Where to stay: Wanaka or at Cardrona.
Note that in extreme weather the Crown Range road closes, making it a long bypass drive from Queenstown. Check road conditions before you go.

Treble Cone Ski Area

The largest ski area in the South Island, Treble Cones’ vertical rise of 700m offers challenging fun and loads of dry powder. It’s the ideal choice for intermediate and advanced skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand.

Catering to everyone, Treble Cone has an excellent beginner programme for both skiers and snowboarders.

Treble Cone is located at the southeast end of the Southern Alps, just 30km from Wanaka. I love it for its impressive views while the rest of our family returns for the dry powder, challenging black runs, off-piste options, and New Zealand’s longest groomed intermediate run at 4km.

Ski pass: Treble Cone

Driving Tips: The final 7km of the access road is unpaved. While it rarely requires snow chains, carrying them is still advised.

Where to stay: Wanaka

The Remarkables Ski Area

Just a 45-minute drive from Queenstown, The Remarkables is the full package. All ability levels can enjoy a day of skiing or snowboarding followed by an evening of Queenstown fun. Relaxed and friendly, the atmosphere at The Remarkables will keep you coming back.

Loved by experienced skiers for both black diamond and a 1.5km ‘in-bounds’ backcountry run, The Remarkables also has a progressive network of terrain parks and an award-winning snowboard and ski school.

Ski pass: Bundle and save. Reserve transport and ski pass (single or multi-day) with optional gear rentals.

Driving tips: Much (13km) of the windy road up to The Remarkables is unsealed. You can reserve your shuttle from Queenstown.

Where to stay: Queenstown

Coronet Peak Ski Resort

If you are looking for a long day on the slopes, Coronet Peak is for you. It’s the first to open in the morning and the only slopes offering Wednesday and Friday night skiing. Featuring the largest snowmaking facilities, they are the most likely to be open when nature doesn’t cooperate.

Often called a roller coaster terrain, Coronet Peak is both fun and challenging, with options for all ability levels. And, if you get tired, there is often live music on the heated decks.

Ski pass: Bundle and save. Reserve transport and ski pass (single or multi-day) with optional gear rentals.

Driving Tips: A sealed road will bring you to Coronet Peak, so self-driving is a good option. However, if you prefer. You can reserve your shuttle from Queenstown.

Where to stay: Queenstown

Mt. Hutt

A 90-minute drive from Christchurch, the ski fields at Mt. Hutt are at the foot of the Sothern Alps. Located a bit more than 2,000 metres above sea level, it is the highest ski area on the South Island. As a result, it typically has the longest ski season from early June to late October.

A family-friendly ski resort, it caters to all ability levels, from beginners through to those brave enough to tackle the double black diamond run on the south face of the mountain. And it’s been named by the World Ski Awards as New Zealand’s best ski resort for the past eight years.

Mt Hutt is the only New Zealand major ski field on this page that I have not personally been to; however, one of our children competed here. They say that on a clear day, the magnificent views from Mt Hutt extend from the Pacific Ocean across the Canterbury Plains to Aoraki Mt Cook.

Ski pass: Mt. Hutt.

Driving Tips: The road up to the mountain is steep, unsealed near the top, and often requires snow chains. Therefore, even many New Zealand drivers prefer to take the ski shuttles either from Methven or Christchurch.

Where to stay: Methven

Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu

Whakapapa is New Zealand’s largest ski area, featuring a volcanic terrain covered with plenty of big basins and wide runs. It is also home to the country’s largest and most technically advanced gondola and the country’s premier beginner facility in a self-contained dedicated area.

Located on the northern slopes of Mt. Ruapehu, Whakapapa is fun for all abilities. It is one of the few, if not the only, places in the world where you can ski on an active volcano.

Note: Both Whakapapa and Tūroa are covered by a single ski pass.

Driving Tips: The access road is sealed, and there is plenty of car parking. A shuttle bus is also available.

Where to stay: Ohakune.

Tūroa on Mt Ruapehu

Located on the southwestern slopes of Mt. Ruapehu, Tūroa has a long season and is the place to go for spring skiing in New Zealand. It is probably best known as being home to the longest vertical descent in Australasia at 720m.

Tūroa has a dedicated terrain park as well as some amazing natural features offering challenges and fun for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. These include kickers, wide-open slopes, a natural halfpipe, and challenging terrain created by old lava flows.

Note: Both Whakapapa and Tūroa are covered by a single ski pass.

Driving Tips: The access road is sealed, and there is plenty of car parking. A shuttle bus is also available.

Where to stay: Ohakune

Smaller snowfields in New Zealand

Above, we featured all of the larger New Zealand ski fields. Here are some of the smaller ones, a few of which are club fields that are also open to the public. New Zealand club fields typically have accommodation on-site and are often only open to club members.

• South Island skiing and snowboarding
  • Snow Farm – the place to go for cross country skiing. (Wanaka) – Click here to check for discounts at Snow Farm.Roundhill – small family-friendly ski field for all ability levels. It even has a terrain park. (Lake Tekapo)
  • Mt. Dobson – club field open to the public for all ability levels. (Lake Tekapo)
  • Mt. Ohau – small family-run commercial field for all ability levels. (MacKenzie High Country)
  • Craigieburn Valley – privately owned and best for the more advanced athletes with challenging skiing and plenty of powder. (Canterbury)
  • Mt Cheeseman Ski Area – A family-friendly club field open to the public (Craigieburn Ranges – 99km from Christchurch)
  • Hanmer Springs Ski Area – privately owned club field best for intermediate skiers. (Hanmer Springs)
• North Island skiing and snowboarding
  • Tukino – a family-friendly ski field with heaps of activities. (Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park)
  • Manganui Ski Area – a no-frills club field that we hiked up to in the summer. (Taranaki)

Indoor skiing and snowboarding at Snowplanet

Good news if you’re in Auckland. New Zealand’s only indoor snow dome is a short drive north over the bridge. At Snowplanet, visitors can ski, snowboard, or tube regardless of the weather in a consistent -5°C. There’s even a beginner’s area as well as a small terrain park. The main hill is 200m long.

Get Snowplanet discounts here.

General information on skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand

Regardless of where you choose to ski or snowboard in NZ, there are a few things you should know.

• New Zealand is located in the southern hemisphere; therefore, winter runs from June to August.
• A note about winter weather and the ski fields. We found the weather in Wanaka and Queenstown to be the most consistent, nearly always offering at least one field that was open on poor weather days. Similarly, at National Park, if one field is closed, the other is often open. However, at Mt. Hutt, there is only one option.
• Most New Zealand ski fields are open from late June until early October.
• Unlike many other countries, in New Zealand, most people stay at après ski towns and commute to the mountain for their day of skiing.
• Snow chains (or 4WD vehicles) are often required when driving the access roads to or from NZ ski resorts. More than once, it began snowing while we were on the mountain, and chains were required to get home. We recommend carrying chains in your vehicle so you don’t get caught out and have to buy an overpriced option just to get back home.
• Looking for what to do when you come off the snow? We have complete guides for Queenstown, Wanaka, and Christchurch.

Which is your favourite ski field? Where will you go skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand?