If Coronet Peak is Queenstown's most accessible ski field, The Remarkables is its more dramatic counterpart. Slightly further from Queenstown, and a higher elevation, it has a genuinely mountainous feel that sets it apart from anything else in the region. The Remarkables rewards those who make the trip. The views from the lifts, the quality of the freestyle terrain, and the access to serious advanced runs make it a favourite for a broad range of skiers and snowboarders.
We have been sending customers up there for years, and this guide covers everything you need to know before you go.
The Remarkables Season Opening
The Remarkables typically opens in mid-June and runs through to around mid-October, making it one of the longer seasons of the Queenstown ski fields. The slightly higher altitude and more mountainous terrain means it holds snow well into spring, which is why the season extends a little further than Coronet Peak's.
Exact opening and closing dates shift slightly each year depending on snow conditions, so check the official website closer to your travel dates for the confirmed season schedule. For a breakdown of what to expect each month, our best time to ski in Queenstown guide is a good place to start.
Getting to The Remarkables
The Remarkables is approximately 24km from central Queenstown, around a 45-minute drive. The road is sealed for most of the journey, but the last section of the access road is unsealed, which adds to the mountain feel but does require more care in icy or snowy conditions. If you are not confident driving on unsealed roads in winter conditions, the ski bus is genuinely the better option.
As you wind up the access road, you really feel like you are climbing into the mountains. The views open up on the way, and early in the season there is a good chance you will arrive above the cloud layer, looking down over the Wakatipu Basin as you rise above the airport with the tops of the mountains rising above the clouds around you. It is one of those moments that makes the drive worthwhile on its own.
Car parks
There is a main car park at the base building with a short walk up to the entry. If the main car park is full, there is a secondary overflow car park nearby. Car Park 4 is further down the mountain and requires a shuttle bus up to the base building, so it is worth getting there early to avoid it on busy days.
On peak days, a carpooling policy applies. On carpooling days, cars with fewer than three people will be directed to Car Park 4. Carpooling up is a good habit regardless, and the ski bus from Queenstown drops you directly at the base building door.
Ski bus
The dedicated Remarkables ski bus departs from Duke Street in central Queenstown and from the Frankton hub. If you are driving part of the way, Frankton is a convenient place to switch to the bus and avoid the access road entirely. The bus drops you right at the base building, which is a genuine advantage over arriving by car on a busy day.
The Mountain at a Glance
The Remarkables has more terrain than many visitors expect, with a layout that suits everyone from first-timers to experienced backcountry skiers.
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Vertical drop: 468 metres
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Skiable area: 385 hectares
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Terrain: 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced and expert
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Lifts: 4 chairlifts, 4 conveyor lifts
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Facilities: Restaurant, cafe, 2 bars, rentals department, ski and snowboard lessons
From the lifts you look directly up at the crags of Single Cone (2,319m) and Double Cone (2,307m), the two dramatic peaks that define the Remarkables skyline. During the ski season, Lake Alta — a small alpine lake tucked into the natural amphitheatre below the peaks — is typically frozen solid. The combination of the rocky crags, the frozen lake, and the open bowl terrain gives The Remarkables a feel that is unlike any other ski field in New Zealand. If you look familiar with it, that is because Lake Alta was used as a filming location during Lord of the Rings.
The car parks at The Remarkables also serve as a starting point for ski tourers heading out of bounds and climbers accessing the peaks above. If you see people heading off with packs and avalanche gear, that is what they are doing. Out-of-bounds terrain at The Remarkables is serious alpine country. Do not venture beyond the ski area boundary without the right equipment, the right skills, and a solid understanding of the conditions.
If you need any gear there’s a shop in the base building where you can buy ski and snowboard helmets, packs, gloves, socks and other essentials - as well as some cool Remarkables ‘swag’ like t-shirts and patches.
Terrain for Every Ability
Beginners
The Remarkables has a great beginner area right in front of the large base building. There are two large learning areas served by four enclosed conveyor lifts, with the conveyor tunnels sheltered from the wind and elements. The beginner terrain is genuinely wide and spacious, which makes a big difference when you are learning your first turns and need room to make mistakes without feeling boxed in.
The progression pathway is well thought through: conveyor carpets lead naturally into the easier chairlift terrain and on to the wider mountain from there. First-timer packages are available combining a learner pass and group lessons.
If you are new to skiing or snowboarding and want some background on what to expect, our beginner's guide to skiing in Queenstown is a good place to start. And sorting your hire gear in Queenstown the day before means you arrive at the mountain ready to go rather than spending your first hour in a rental queue. Our ski hire guide explains how that works.
Intermediate
The intermediate terrain at The Remarkables is well serviced by three fast high-speed chairlifts that keep queues moving. The Curvey Basin Chair is the classic intermediate lift, a high-speed 6-seater that takes you up into the main bowl where you can access the majority of the blue runs. From the top, the views across the basin are exceptional.
Most intermediate skiers and snowboarders will find plenty to explore across the mountain without feeling limited.
Advanced and Expert
The Shadow Basin Express has been a significant upgrade for advanced skiers at The Remarkables. The high-speed 6-seater replaced the old lift in 2024, more than halving the ride time and increasing capacity considerably. From the top, the back chutes — including the Elevator and Escalator — are now accessible with a short bootpack hike. These are serious runs that demand respect.
The advanced terrain at The Remarkables is genuinely challenging. If you are planning to ski the chutes, check in with ski patrol on conditions before you go. Just because it is inbounds does not mean it is straightforward.
For advanced skiers wanting the full picture on how The Remarkables compares to Coronet Peak for challenging terrain, take a look at our Coronet Peak vs The Remarkables guide.
Lift Passes and Tickets
The Remarkables offers a similar range of passes to Coronet Peak, with one notable difference: there is no First Tracks early morning session available here. The mountain opens at 9am for all skiers.
For full details and current pricing visit the official passes and packages page.
Pass types available include:
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Single day passes for a full day on the mountain (9am to 4pm)
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Afternoon passes from 12:30pm
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2-hour passes for a shorter session
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Multi-day passes for longer stays
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Lesson packages combining a day pass, group lesson, and equipment hire
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First Timer Packages for beginners covering the learner area, instruction, and rental gear
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Season passes (3 Peak Pass) giving access to The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Mt Hutt
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Spring passes from 1 September through the end of the season
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Parent Pass shareable between two guardians
Children under five ski and ride free.
The Base Building and Facilities
The base building at The Remarkables is large and well equipped for a full day on the mountain. There is a spacious outdoor area overlooking the beginner terrain, which is ideal for watching younger family members on the snow while staying warm with a coffee.
As with Coronet Peak, sorting your hire gear in Queenstown before you head up is something we always recommend. The mountain has a rental department for those who need it, but picking up from us the day before means no queues and a relaxed start to the morning. Book your hire here.
Dining on the Mountain
The Remarkables has a full food and beverage setup to keep you going through a long day.
The main restaurant offers a daily changing menu with a good range of hot food options. The cafe covers the essentials — coffee, snacks, soups, and the kind of food you want after a morning on the mountain.
During the season, the Ice Bar opens on the slopes with snacks and drinks alongside some of the best views on the mountain, looking down across the valley. It is a larger setup than the ice bar at Coronet Peak and is open through most of the season on good days. You can’t miss it if you look left when going up the Curvey Basin Express lift.
Snow Parks and Events
The Remarkables has one of the best snow park setups in New Zealand, with three parks at Sugar Bowl catering to every level:
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Beginner park — entry-level features including small boxes and jumps, a great place to take your first steps into freestyle
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Intermediate park — a full slopestyle setup with multiple lines and a progression of jumps and rails
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Expert park (The Stash) — a unique concept park built using natural wood features and terrain-integrated construction. It is one of only a handful in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere
All the parks are accessed from the Sugarbowl Express lift.
Events are hosted throughout the season across the parks, and The Remarkables also hosts extreme freeride events where you can watch skilled skiers and riders taking on the mountain's most dramatic terrain. Check the events calendar on The Remarkables website at the start of the season.
Night skiing is not available at The Remarkables — that is a Coronet Peak exclusive in Queenstown — but the events programme here has its own appeal.
Local Tips
The Ice Bar viewpoint. Stop at the Ice Bar during a run for a drink and snack and take in the view down across the entire valley. On a clear day the panorama is exceptional.
Hike to the Shadow viewpoint. From the top of the Shadow Basin Express, a 20-minute walk takes you to one of the finest viewpoints in the entire Queenstown area. On a clear day you can see down the full length of Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak, across to Jack's Point, and out towards Queenstown itself. The hike is straightforward but the terrain back down requires confident skiing or snowboarding. If you are not comfortable on your skis or board, leave your gear at the start of the walk and head up and down the same way. It is worth the effort either way. For confident skiers or snowboarders you can ski down from the viewpoint back to the trails.
Early season above the clouds. If you can get up there on a clear early-season morning, there is a genuine chance you will be above the cloud layer looking down over the basin. This is not something you can plan for, but it happens regularly enough in June and July that it is worth knowing about.
Access road in bad conditions. The last section of the access road is unsealed. On heavy snow or icy days this requires care. Make sure your car has snow chains and, more importantly, that you know how to fit them before you need to. If in doubt, take the bus. Tailbacks on the access road on peak days can be significant, particularly if chains are being fitted so do consider carpooling. Booking your space on the bus sidesteps all of that.
Carpool or take the bus. Carpooling rules apply on busy days with a minimum of three people per vehicle. Beyond the rules, it genuinely helps keep the access road moving. The ski bus from Duke Street drops you directly at the base building, which is a better start to the day than waiting in a car park queue.
Before You Head Up
The best days at The Remarkables start with the right gear, sorted the night before in Queenstown.
At Snowbiz, we are based in the CBD at the Station Building on Duke Street, a short walk from the ski bus stops that run directly to The Remarkables. We stock sport and performance hire packages for skis and snowboards, all serviced and tuned before every rental. Pick up the day before, skip the mountain queues, and get straight onto the snow.
Check availability and book your hire before your day on the mountain.
