Queenstown Ski Fields: The Complete Guide to Every Resort

Queenstown is one of the world's great ski destinations. Within easy reach of the town centre are two dedicated ski fields, with two more major resorts accessible for those willing to make a longer drive. Add world-class accommodation, a dining and nightlife scene that punches well above its weight, and a calendar of activities that keeps non-skiers and families perfectly happy, and you have a base that works for almost any kind of ski trip.

This guide covers every ski resort accessible from Queenstown: what makes each one worth knowing about, who it suits, and what to expect before you go.

Queenstown as a Ski Base

Queenstown works as a ski base for a simple reason: it combines easy access to the mountains with a full range of accommodation, dining and activities that you just do not find at most New Zealand ski towns. As one of the fastest growing and developing areas in New Zealand there are new activities and attractions appearing regularly, ensuring you always have something new to try. 

Accommodation is available across all budgets, from backpacker lodges to five-star lakefront hotels. The main options are central Queenstown and Frankton with additional accommodation in every suburb. Frankton has developed significantly in recent years and now has its own shopping centre, cafes, restaurants and services, making it a perfectly functional base for your trip. It also sits conveniently on the way to both The Remarkables access road and the highway toward Cardrona, so the drive up is that much shorter.

Beyond skiing, Queenstown has a lot going on. Après ski ranges from lively bars and live music to some genuinely world-class dining. For families, the range of activities grows every season: jetboating, scenic lake cruises, cycling trails, saunas and hot pools, and vineyard tours, with dozens of wineries within 30 to 45 minutes of town. See our après ski guide for more on the Queenstown nightlife and dining scene.

Arrowtown is also worth knowing about. This historic gold rush town sits about 20 minutes from Queenstown and makes a quieter alternative base but still with plenty of options.

One thing that stands out about Queenstown's ski scene is the level of investment that has gone into the mountains in recent years. New lifts, upgraded infrastructure and expanded terrain have all arrived across the region's major resorts, making this one of the best-equipped ski destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Two Queenstown Ski Fields

Queenstown has two ski fields directly accessible from town. These are the natural starting point for most visitors.

Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak is the closest ski field to Queenstown, sitting around 16 kilometres from the town centre with a fully sealed access road. In good conditions you can be on the mountain in 20 to 25 minutes from central Queenstown. It is one of the most accessible ski fields in New Zealand.

The mountain suits a wide range of skiers and snowboarders, with terrain spread across beginner, intermediate and advanced runs. It is a particularly good choice for first-timers thanks to the ease of access and the infrastructure at the base. Night skiing also runs during peak season, making Coronet Peak one of the few New Zealand ski fields where you can ski after dark.

For a full guide to Coronet Peak, including everything from terrain and lifts to getting there and where to hire your gear, read our Coronet Peak ski field guide.

The Remarkables

The Remarkables sits approximately 24 kilometres from central Queenstown, a scenic 30 to 45 minute drive that takes you past the airport and up a spectacular access road into the mountains. The final section of the road is unsealed, which adds to the sense of arrival. On a clear morning, you can rise above the cloud layer in the Wakatipu Basin with the peaks of the Remarkables around you.

The mountain has a more dramatic, high-alpine feel than Coronet Peak. It is well known for its freestyle terrain and its serious advanced runs, but it caters well to all levels. The views from the lifts are exceptional.

For a full guide to The Remarkables, read our Remarkables ski resort guide.

Choosing Between the Two

If you are staying for more than a few days, you do not have to choose. Many visitors ski both mountains across the course of a trip, as the two fields complement each other well. For a head-to-head comparison, read our Coronet Peak vs The Remarkables guide.

Two More Resorts Within Reach

For those who want to explore further, two more major ski resorts are accessible from Queenstown. Both require a longer drive and some additional planning, but they are well worth it if you want variety or a specific type of terrain.

Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona sits roughly midway between Queenstown and Wanaka, reached by driving over the Crown Range Road — New Zealand's highest public sealed road. The Crown Range is a spectacular drive but it demands respect in winter. Snow chains are often required and conditions can change quickly. Once you drop down the other side into the Cardrona Valley, the approach to the resort is via a gravel access road, so you are on unsealed ground for the final stretch regardless of conditions.

Before you reach the resort, you will pass the iconic Cardrona Hotel, a heritage pub that has been a landmark in the valley for well over a century. It makes for an excellent post-ski stop on the way back to Queenstown.

Cardrona is currently New Zealand's largest ski resort, and the scale of the place becomes clear once you arrive. There are five basins, 47 groomed runs, six chairlifts, and 615 hectares of skiable terrain. The most recent addition is Soho Basin, a 150-hectare expansion served by a high-speed six-seat chairlift, opening up significant new intermediate and advanced terrain. The vertical drop is 600 metres.

The terrain parks are a genuine drawcard. Cardrona runs five terrain parks and is widely regarded as having the most extensive park infrastructure in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand's winter freestyle Olympic athletes have long used Cardrona as a training ground, and the halfpipe and jump lines reflect that heritage.

The mountain suits all levels: the terrain breaks down roughly as 20 percent beginner, 35 percent intermediate, 25 percent advanced and 20 percent expert. There are seven on-mountain dining options ranging from a base café to cocktail bars and a pizza restaurant, plus a ski kindergarten for young children. For those who want to stay on the mountain, there is limited on-mountain accommodation, which books out well in advance.

Parking is in one main area at the base. There is also a lower car park earlier on the access road for quick access to certain lifts on the right day. If you would rather not drive the access road, a shuttle service operates from the mountain road and buses can be booked from Queenstown and Wanaka.

For more information visit Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Treble Cone

Treble Cone is the furthest of the four resorts from Queenstown. To get there, you drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka, and then continue for around 30 minutes out of town along the Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road before turning onto the Treble Cone access road, a scenic 7km gravel drive up the mountain. Realistically, you are looking at around an hour and 45 minutes from Queenstown in decent conditions. That is not a reason to rule it out, but it does mean Treble Cone suits those who are specifically seeking what it offers.

And what it offers is substantial. Treble Cone has a vertical drop of 700 metres, with the highest lifted point reaching 1,960 metres. The South Island's longest groomed run, at 4 kilometres, is here. The terrain breakdown skews significantly toward advanced and expert skiing, with 40 percent advanced and 20 percent expert terrain. The Saddle is regarded as home to New Zealand's most challenging in-bounds skiing.

The resort has a reputation for a more exclusive, quieter atmosphere and some of the best off-piste powder terrain in the country. The views over Lake Wanaka from the mountain are among the most spectacular of any New Zealand ski field. Three on-mountain dining venues keep you fed during the day. Parking is at the base, with a free shuttle available from the bottom of the access road, and buses are also available from Wanaka.

Treble Cone suits experienced skiers and snowboarders who want serious terrain and are happy to make the drive. It is quieter than the Queenstown fields on most days, which is part of the appeal.

Cardrona and Treble Cone share a lift pass, so you can buy a combined pass that gives you access to both mountains and decide on the day which one you feel like skiing. For more information visit Treble Cone.

Hiring Your Gear in Queenstown

Whichever mountain you are heading to, hiring your ski or snowboard gear in Queenstown before you go is the most convenient option and the ultimate in flexibility. At Snowbiz, you can collect your rental from mid-afternoon the day before your hire starts, so there is no rushing around on the morning of your first day.

We are centrally located in Queenstown on Duke Street, right next to the ski bus departure point for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. If you are planning a day at Cardrona or Treble Cone, collecting your gear the afternoon before means you can load up and head out early without any delays.

Book your ski hire or snowboard hire online, or come in and see us in store.

New to skiing or snowboarding? Read our complete beginners guide to skiing and snowboarding in Queenstown before you go.

Quick Comparison: Queenstown Ski Fields at a Glance

For getting to Coronet Peak, see our transport guide. For The Remarkables, see our Remarkables transport guide.