Ski Areas

The Remarkables Ski Area

The Stats:

Elevation: 1943m
Vertical: 357m
Skiable Area: 220ha
Terrain: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 30%

Where:

About 45 mins drive (28km) from Queenstown

What are "The Remarks" really like?

Affectionately known by Locals as "The Country Club", a relaxed but professional atmosphere is apparent at what is truly a high alpine ski area.

The extra elevation over its sister ski area Coronet Peak (the car park is at the same height as the top of Coronet Peak), ensures that snow conditions stay good despite basking in all day sunshine! The ski area is a paradise for beginners, intermediates, freestylers and families. There is also some extremely steep and challenging off piste for advanced and expert skiers & riders, provided you are prepared to walk a bit. The Alta Chutes (a 10 to 20min walk accessed from Shadow Basin) progress from mild, to suicidal. Homeward Bound run (1.5km) descends well below the ski area proper and is akin to a gentle heliski run without the helicopter! A shuttle bus returns you to the ski area. For the adventurous and very fit, the skiing in the Doolans and Wye Creek Basins' is outstanding and occasionally used by heliski companies - you need skins, and MUST check in with Ski Patrol before going as it’s outside the ski area boundary. The Remarks are seldom crowded and kids under 10yrs ski for free. There is a dedicated terrain park in Sugar Bowl for beginners plus 2 other terrain parks so everyone can have a lot of fun. There is also the Ozone Tubing Park for more all-around family fun. The road to the ski area is unsealed and can be "very scenic". Due to its high elevation and true alpine nature, weather conditions can change quickly so it’s always a good idea to make sure your ski bag has gear to handle extremes of weather. Good sunscreen is a must!

New for 2011:

GREAT NEWS for beginners and intermediates - extensive earthworks have taken place over the summer!

Summarising for you - Sugar Bowl - taken out the 'dip' on skier’s right of the lift so that it will now be a lovely gradual downhill slope all the way from the lift to the front face. Alta Chair - major earthworks at Alta Turquoise & Blue opening up pretty much the whole face under the lift, making a super progression for intermediate skiers/riders and providing a lot more space. Shadow Basin - again lots of work opening up the top skiers left slope (which used to be a cat track) to make a 30m wide slope, plus work in the waterfall area below mid-way to increase the easily skiable area for upper intermediate skiers. The end result will be much longer runs as all the terrain along the way will be skiable, and lower intermediates will find that they have a lot more terrain to access, to sharpen their skills and accumulate some good mileage.

More work has also taken place on the access road, which now features even more barriers.

Website: www.nzski.com

Treble Cone Ski Area

The Stats:

Elevation: 2088m
Vertical: 705m
Skiable Area: 550ha
Terrain: Beginner 10%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 45%

Where:

90 mins (via Crown Range) from Queenstown or 40 mins from Wanaka.

What's TC really like?

Aaah, Treble Cone - the mere mention of the name to Kiwis conjures up images of face shots, drop-offs, steep runs and burning leg muscles!

All this is true - and more. Treble Cone is one of the steepest commercial fields (only exceeded by Craigieburn Valley in Canterbury) and as such, attracts many of the country's top skiers and boarders who are keen to test their mettle against the best that TC has to offer. Amazingly, the six seater chairlift (Moro Express) leads not only to magic steeps and the legendary Matukituki Bowl, but also to Triple Treat, a green run that winds its way back to the base! Use the Saddle Chair to access the Boundary Ridge chutes plus the truly fantastic Bullet run. The ski area boundary extends an additional 240 metres up from the top of the Saddle Chair - all that way to the 2100 metre summit. Hikers will experience overload from the 900 metres of vertical skiing to get back to the car park! If your legs hold out from 9am until 4pm, you've done very well indeed. With Treble Cone's reputation as an advanced mountain, it is seldom crowded even on the frequent powder days that draw experts like bees to honey. Indeed, many non-experts avoid it because of its reputation. However, the hearsay should be ignored as Treble Cone has some excellent skiing for all abilities - it's just that the experts might enjoy it more!

Over all, an incredible mountain for advanced skiers, with enough terrain for learners and intermediates to keep them occupied for a few days.

Treble Cone will open on June 23 2011 with an anticipated closing day of October 2 2011.

New for 2011:

TC is introducing a new computerised ticketing system. The barriers at the chairlifts will be able to read your re-usable TC pass without even taking it out of your pocket! You will also be able to track your vertical during the season. The passes are available for sale online. Also exciting this season is the Wanaka 5-Day Pass which can be used at either Treble Cone or Cardrona over 5 non-consecutive days during the season.

Website: www.treblecone.co.nz

Coronet Peak Ski Area

The Stats:

Elevation: 1649m
Vertical: 462m
Skiable Area: 280ha
Terrain: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 30% (including Back Bowls)

Where:

Closest ski area to Queenstown, about 25 mins drive (18km)

What's "The Peak" really like?

More terrain than on most mountains five times the size with a myriad of different ways "down". Even those of us who have skied The Peak season after season, can still find new fun runs and surprises.

It's the 3rd steepest ski area in NZ averaging 27 degrees of pitch. Mostly intermediate and advanced terrain although the beginners slopes have been extended to increase capacity. Previous seasons have occasionally seen 'standing room only' on the beginner slopes. Coronet can suffer from 'Loud Powder' and in springtime due to its low altitude (the base building is at 1200m), it can melt and re-freeze so good edges are pretty handy! The extensive snowmaking provides over 200 fully automated guns which means that coverage is extended over virtually the whole mountain. You want to get there early on powder days as the locals will utilise their First Tracks (8-9am) passes for sure. The off-piste is extensive and wicked! There is night skiing mid-July to mid-Sept which is also great fun.

New for 2011:

The last 3 years have seen tremendous advancements at Coronet Peak, particularly regarding radically increased snowmaking capabilities with over 200 automated snow guns, and the opening of the new enlarged base building. 2010 saw significant upgrade of the 'Big Easy' novice area which included a new state-of-the-art quad chairlift. The Meadows double chairlift was replaced with Poma detachable quad chairlift.

Summer 2011 has seen earthworks at The Peak as well (Remarkables has done heaps of great work), notably the widening of the trail on skiers right of the Meadows, and the provision of a completely new trail "B3", complete with 5 new snow guns, to allow access from the top of the Meadows to the Big Easy area, rather than funnelling people down the lower part of the M1.

Website: www.nzski.com

Cardrona Ski Area

The Stats:

Base Elevation: 1670m
Highest Lifted Point: 1894m
Vertical: 600m
Skiable area: 345ha
Terrain: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 20%

Where:

Approx. 60 mins from Queenstown (via Crown Range) and 35 mins from Wanaka.

What's 'Cardies' really like?

Some mountains claim to have something for everyone - usually erroneously, but Cardrona's claim is bona fide! Ideal for Skiers, Snowboarders - Everybody!

Cardrona, situated on the Crown Range between Wanaka and Queenstown, is an all-round field that boasts four half pipes for snowboarders and skiers. For those who have the attitude, "I believe it when I ski it" - this is the place for you; three large open basins with all kinds of terrain and challenges for every ability. The MacDougall’s chair services a huge and genuine learner’s area with many different lines available. Learners have the option of doing the "Grand Traverse" which entails skiing from one side of the mountain across all three basins and back again - all without scaring themselves! There are some great chutes in the Arcadia Basin where advanced skiers and riders could keep themselves amused all day. Captain's Basin is the epitomy of NZ skiing, a wide open bowl with gently rolling terrain and hugely wide groomed trails with mostly green and blue runs. There is also on-mountain accommodation available.

New for 2011:

Exciting this season is the Wanaka 5-Day Pass which can be used at either Treble Cone or Cardrona over 5 non-consecutive days during the season.

Website: www.cardrona.com

Snow Park

The Stats:

Elevation: 1530m
Vertical: 110m
Skiable Area: 60ha
Terrain: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 30% (including Back Bowls)

Where:

34km (40 mins) from Wanaka and 58km from Queenstown (about an hour via The Crown Range).

What's The Snow Park really like?

A very cool playground for skiers and snowboarders alike. In fact it's also a very cool day out for "spectators" too - you get a fantastic view of the goings-on over the whole park from the base facilities. The Woolshed is ideally placed for viewing and has a good menu, coffee and wine selection. There is a wicked sound system booming out over the park that can probably be heard at Cardrona if the wind was blowing in the right direction!

The park has 100% snowmaking coverage from 33 fully automated guns and was voted '2005 Resort of the Year' by Boarderzone.com Riders' Choice. There are two superpipes, a quarter -pipe, extensive novice terrain, 40+ boxes, rails, hits and a great atmosphere. There is also on-field accommodation.

A real favourite with a lot of the Browns crew.

New for 2011:

Snow Park has introduced new Family Passes for Otago and Southland families. All season passes this year will also have free access to Snow Farm and give you a 20% discount at Treble Cone, Ohau and NZSKI.com resorts. This season there will also be an expanded night riding programme on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Trail Map: Snow Park trail map (PDF, 1MB)
Website: www.snowparknz.com

Ohau Snow Fields

It is only a 20 minute drive from Lake Ohau Lodge to the ski area. There is a bus that leaves every morning from the Lodge , returning at the end of the day. From the 9.6km access road, the views up the valley to overlooking Lake Ohau are just spectacular.

The mountain caters for all abilities. With the installation of the double chair lift a few years ago most intermediates are now able to enjoy the flat wide slopes at the top of the mountain and cruise down the Boulevard very comfortably. There is some great hiking around the tops for the more adventurous accessing some of the best powder snow and the views from there are really awesome and definitely worth the effort!