The Guide of Ski Resorts in New Zealand.

The eight ski resorts that I am going to present to you have in common to be located in tourist areas that are not limited to winter sports. You will be able to easily plan a day of skiing in your itinerary without disrupting the organization of the trip.

With resorts far less crowded than in Europe, you are guaranteed to ski in optimal conditions. The lifts are less numerous than one might wish, but it is rare to queue to borrow them and skiing in New Zealand is definitely a must-do activity!

I have gathered all the useful information for skiing in New Zealand. Plan of the tracks, schedules, ski passes, rental of the full equipment ... I will not leave you all alone at the foot of the ski lifts without information! And if you still have any questions after that, our friend Ben the Kiwi will be glad to help you at the end of the article.

Nicknamed “The large four”, the resorts of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone make it possible to ski while admiring the dream landscapes of the South Island.

The chair lifts leave a little to be desired, but this does not discourage the national teams who come to train on these slopes.

For its part, if the North Island has fewer tracks, their quality is still exceptional.

There are no vertiginous mountains (the relief is less accentuated on this island), but you will slip on the flank of volcanoes, some of which are still in activity!

As incredible as it sounds, the proximity of mountains with the sea allows you to ski in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon! One can even see the sea from the top of some resorts.

Unless exception, it is impossible to find accommodation on the spot at nightfall. New Zealand's ski slopes are deserted by skiers by the end of the afternoon. Fortunately, the surrounding cities serve as a base camp and offer all the services that one could hope of a ski resort.

The problem of accommodation also concerns a North Island which has no equivalent to the splendor of Queenstown or Wanaka (although the charming towns of Ohakune or Whakapapa do better than defend themselves). However, the main advantage of the northern stations lies in their central position, close to d'Auckland or Wellington.

But if you really have the choice, I always recommend skiing in the resorts of the South Island.

The ideal solution would be to plan your stay during the Queenstown Winter Festival to enjoy the atmosphere, the many ice-bars and nightclubs, open even on weekdays.

Make your decision, but beware: ski track classification differs from the one used in Europe.

New Zealand has its own color code and the red one does not exist, for example.

The average daily budget for skiing is about $100. A price reduced to $65 for a single half day and even divided by two for children. You will find that rates are very similar from one resort to another, with minor discounts of $5 to $10 per additional day.

It is often possible to rent equipment at the foot of the slopes, but it is strongly recommended equipping yourself instead in the nearby cities (Queenstown, Wanaka, Ohakune ...) where the prices are cheaper in the large sports shops.

These rates are realist, if you reserve on the Internet (not on site where you would pay a higher price) admitting that your size is still available! Note also that the end of the season often coincides with reductions of 20%

Coronet Peak is a low-lying, south-facing station with acceptable snow cover.

You are, however, guaranteed to ski on all available tracks, the station having invested massively in the snow cannons.

Coronet Peak is a family resort suitable for beginners and weekend skiers.

A beautiful blue track 2400 m long allows to ski at your own pace, and the 280 hectares of the domain even allow to go off-track.

Unfortunately, if the altitude tracks offer the most beautiful views, they are reserved for the best skiers. Many professionals come here to train before the international competitions.

The resort is open from mid-June to early October, from 9am to 4pm.

I particularly recommend you to enjoy the evenings of skiing from July to September: the lighting allows to ski until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday!

From Queenstown, the 18 km road leading to the resort is paved and can be completed in less than half an hour.

One will regret a car park too far away from the slopes and the shuttles not numerous enough.

Run by NZSki, the small resort has only one restaurant, the Heidi's Café, where the large terrace hosts outdoor concerts. Add the nursery and the ski school and you will have already visited the whole the resort! However, and this is an advantage rare enough to be reported, the presence of two hotels makes it possible to book accommodation on site (at significant rates alas).

Smaller than Coronet Peak (its rival near Queenstown), the resort is nevertheless sunnier, less windy and especially snowier (thanks to the altitude).

The 220 hectares of the estate are perfect for a day of skiing, snowboarding or luge.

Advantage for some, but inconvenience for others: the tracks are perfect for beginners and offer a progressive difficulty. It is the ideal resort if you only ski your skis once a year.

But high-level skiers can still enjoy the longest runway in the resort, which offers a one-and-a-half-kilometer descent, and off-track skiing despite steep slopes.

The ski season at the Remarkables begins in late June and ends in mid-October, with traditional opening times from 9 am to 4 pm. It takes three quarters of an hour to get to the ski tracks from Queenstown. The road is not always salty, which sometimes requires the use of chains in the morning when it has snowed during the night.

Stay focused on the road, because the final part of the ascent is done a gravel road that leaves something to be desired. You should not drive a motorhome on this road, and it is better to borrow the shuttle (its price is included in the ski pass) which leaves from the parking located four kilometers from Queenstown on the SH6.

Equip yourself in Queenstown, because if the resort offers a ski-rental service, it is, of course, overpriced. Other on-site facilities include a fast food service, a picnic area and a kindergarten.

Snowy, vast (323 hectares) and very accessible, Cardrona is the reference station for occasional or novice skiers.

Confirmed skiers will find their happiness with excellent black runs, and one is even inclined at 45° and accessible only if the risk of avalanche is discarded!

No picture can do justice to the beauty of the landscape! Cardrona has always been my favorite resort in New Zealand.

The ski area welcomes skiers from June 20 to October 5 from 9 am to 4 pm and has a low capacity with only three lodges and several restaurants (including a Chinese one). For the atmosphere in the evening and to save money, I advise you to book a hotel in Wanaka (at 25 km only) rather than in Queenstown which is too far away.

Warning: The unsealed road leading to the ski resort is the highest in the country and vehicles must often be equipped with snow chains. Prefer the bus shuttles, because the road gives the vertigo and requires an extremely careful driving.

Unlike the neighbor resort Cardrona, Treble Cone and its demanding tracks are not suitable for beginners.

If there are some sections adapted to the learning, the rest of the tracks are too frightening for the skiers lacking practice. However, if you are among the lucky ones who enjoy ski vacations every year since their childhood, this is a fantastic ski resort!

Test the blue tracks before considering the black ones that require a nearly professional level and a good dose of courage.

One can ski in Treble Cone from July 4th to September 28th and from 9am to 4pm on dream tracks, but in mediocre reception conditions. The resort has only a small lodge almost always complete and a restaurant (very pleasant however) where the mountain parrots (kea) come to steal fries on the outdoor tables.

Alas, the last kilometers to cross to reach the ski resortare to be done on a gravel road. Vehicles must be equipped with snow chains if the snowplow did not have the time to clear the way. Don't complicate your life, and use the $10 shuttle departing from the Wanaka iSite.

If you consider the wide variety of tracks and the proximity with Christchurch, Mount Hutt does better than defending itself against the Otago's resorts. An intermediate level is, however, required to enjoy this station.

To the beauty of the landscape (you ski while contemplating the ocean), one must underline the quality of the snow that beats all the records of the country! It falls more than four meters of snow each year on these slopes!

Because the green slopes for beginners are quite numerous, the blue or black slopes that flirt with the peaks (to descend between the rocks) impose a technical level to which few skiers can pretend.

Because it is just two hours’ drive away from Christchurch, the ski resort of Mt. Hutt is very popular among holidaymakers.

Managed by NZSki (like most resorts on the South Island) Mt Hutt welcomes skiers from 7 June to 12 October from 9 am to 4 pm depending on the snow conditions.

The small fast food and the friendly Hutt Base Café are your only options.

The lack of accommodation on location obliges the skiers to descend 25 km lower in the valley to lodge themselves in Methven, a village that only comes alive during the ski season and mostly serves as base camp.

The last kilometers to reach the resort takes place on a gravel road. A road which imposes snow chains in winter and which is so often closed because of snowfall that some New Zealanders have renamed the resort “Mount Shut”.

It is not every day that one can ski on a volcano in activity! In 1996, the station had already closed due to a small eruption. Vulcanologists now believe that Mount Ruapehu will erupt in the years to come ... which should worry you or motivate you according to your character.

The proximity to the sea and the consequent height of the volcano (2797 m) explain the heavy snowfall.

From the top of the slopes, you can see Mount Taranaki (also a ski resort) and the Tasman Sea! A truly spectacular panorama!

Turoa is a resort that one frequents to learn or to perfect oneself. Extreme sports enthusiasts will have to reach the summit at 2322 m to find tracks matching their level. The whole area is very well connected (with respect to the stations of the South Island, it is day and night) with not less than nine chairlifts.

Turoa welcomes you from June 18th to November 7th from 9am to 4pm thanks to its exceptional snow cover and its south-west orientation.

The station is halfway between Auckland and Wellington (a four hours’ drive from the capital and a bit more from the city of sails).

To climb to the station with your own vehicle, and even if the overall condition of the road is correct, you must have snow chains in your trunk to deal with any eventuality.

Using the shuttle is not very expensive (about $10) and it can avoid driving in difficult conditions.

This is unfortunately a classic in New Zealand: the accommodation on location is limited to three lodges, and you will have to leave the resort in the late afternoon.

I recommend booking a hotel in the town of Ohakune rather than at Whakapapa, not only because the number of hotels is more consequent, but especially to take advantage of the shops of ski rental.

On the other hand, you will be spoiled for choice to eat at the bottom of the slopes. Turoa has several great restaurants including the famous “Giant Chair” located 2057 m above sea level and which offers a superb unobstructed view of the volcano.

The massive volcanic eruption of 1996 caused the closure of Whakapapa for safety reasons.

Yes, this is not a joke! The ski resort is established on the slopes of an active volcano, andvulcanologists agree that it could wake up soon.

The ski park is immense, but Whakapapa caters mainly to seasoned skiers.

The forty blue slopes served by fourteen lifts should be enough to occupy you during a whole week!

Beginners can still enjoy some green slopes but will expose themselves to the disappointment not to have the pleasure to see the landscapes of altitude. Under these conditions, there is no reason to come here... Turoa, the other resort on Mount Ruapehu, is just an hour's drive away on the other side and it is far more suitable for occasional skiers.

Whakapapa welcomes skiers from June 29 to October 22 from 9 am to 4 pm.

It seems that all ski champions have opted to come here! Unlike most resorts in the country, Whakapapa is very popular (and sometime crowded), and you would be well-advised to come early in the morning, especially on weekends.

Do I really need to specify that your vehicle needs to be equipped with snow chains in winter if you plan to reach the resort by the road...

But rather than driving on the gravel road, why not taking the cheap shuttles departing from Ohakune and Whakapapa Village?

This is rare enough in New Zealand to be underlined: you can find accommodation in the resort where six lodges awaits you.

However, do not expect to find a vibrant atmosphere when the night comes, even though the resort has six restaurants.

All in all, it seems more judicious to book a downtown hotel in Ohakune or Whakapapa village.

I had originally announced that I would to exclude the smaller stations in this ranking, and with only one hundred hectares to offer to skiers, Mount Taranaki can't compete with its rivals of the North Island. But to attract customers, the Stratford Mountain Club offers packages twice less expensive than anywhere else in New Zealand!

This very aggressive policy on price works and the ski resort of Mount Taranaki is crowded despite the absence of high-end facilities.

If you are a beginner or casual skier, you can forget this resort... Mount Taranaki only offers green and black tracks that are dangerous for skiers who lack training.

Finally, an easy access resort, with a paved road!

But you will have to walk a good twenty minutes to win the bottom of the tracks. Paradoxically, this effort heats the muscles and the station has the lowest number of interventions by rescuers across the country!

The ski season starts on June 15 and ends on October 31 with opening hours from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Abundant snowfall is not essential because the terrain is covered with tussocks, a kind of dense grass that retains the snow (30 cm is enough for a track to be practicable).

Mount Taranaki is not suitable for beginners and there is no ski school on site. Despite the affluence, you will not find any shop on site and you will have to rent your equipment in New Plymouth, the nearest town.

This concludes the presentation of the best ski resorts in New Zealand.

I leave you with Ben for the traditional FAQ.