New Zealand is ‘Lord of the Rings’ country, a spectacular land of mountainous scenery and wild wilderness. It is also a fantastic destination for skiers, who flock here from around the world. Here’s a guide to some of the best ski resorts in New Zealand, along with details about the season.
The Ski Season in New Zealand
New Zealand has many attractions for skiers. Compared to Australia, there is generally more snow here and higher mountains, and the ski season tends to be slightly longer. The season lasts from mid-June to the beginning of October on South Island, and a bit longer on North Island, lasting right up to the beginning of November in some resorts. This makes it an ideal destination for people in the Northern Hemisphere who cannot wait for December to hit the slopes.
Top New Zealand Resorts
When you visit New Zealand in the winter, there are plenty of excellent resorts to choose from, all of which will provide you with a very different experience from the next. Here is a selection of some of the best.
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka is one of the best ski areas in the world, and is the largest ski terrain in Australasia. It is located on the South Island, and comprises six separate ski areas, making it an excellent base for a skiing holiday. To enjoy the best experience, you can buy the OnePassNZ and get access to all the ski areas, comprising over 2,000 hectares.
Cardrona Alpine Resort
Just half an hour from Wanaka, this resort is popular with beginners and intermediates, and is ideal for families with kids. There are a number of ski schools, and on-mountain accommodation is provided.
Treble Cone
The long slopes and excellent off-piste skiing make this a popular resort. It also comprises the largest ski area on South Island at 550 hectares in size, and there it receives a lot of snow compared to other resorts, with an average of 5.5 metres a season. It tends to be more popular with advanced skiers.
Coronet Peak
This is a good place for learner skiers, and it also has a lively social scene. It is about an hour from Wanaka and is very close to Queenstown, making it one of the most popular resorts on South Island. It is mostly suitable for beginners and intermediates.
The Remarkables
Beginners and families love this resort, which is located in a spectacular setting near to Lake Wakatipu. It is 220 hectares in size, and is only 45 minutes from Queenstown.
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt is located near to Methven, and is known for being an excellent resort for racing. It is popular with beginners and intermediates, but is sometimes forced to close due to poor weather because it is very exposed.
Whakapapa
This is one of two commercial resorts on the North Island, both of which are on Mount Ruapehu, a 2,797-metre active volcano (the other one being Turoa). The ski season here lasts from late June up until as late as the beginning of November, and you will find a good mix of runs here.
Other Resorts
The above resorts represent a selection of the places where you can go to enjoy some excellent skiing. There are plenty more resorts to choose from, including:
– Broken River in the Southern Alps, known for its off-piste skiing.
– Cheeseman, the closest ski area to Christchurch.
– Mount Dobson, which has a great learners’ area and is excellent for both skiing and snowboarding.
– Craigieburn Valley Ski Area in the Southern Alps, which is ideal for advanced skiers and has some fantastic off-piste skiing.
– Mount Olympus, which is small but fun and suitable for all abilities.
Plan Your Ski Holiday in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the best destinations for skiing in the world. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and don’t want to wait for the winter to go skiing, this is the perfect location for some skiing. You can combine your ski trip with a tour of the rest of the island either by hiring a car or campervan or booking a guided package. See the Australia/ New Zealand Central Reservations Office for more details.
As you can see, there are some excellent resorts for all abilities, so take your pick and enjoy a fantastic ski or snowboard holiday in New Zealand.
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