With the travel bubble now in full swing, all people currently residing in Australia can take advantage of quarantine free travel just in time for the New Zealand ski season.
The New Zealand ski season is about to start and with the new trans-tasman travel bubble now operational, it couldn't have come at a better time for those of you desperate to get in some serious time on world class slopes. With resorts across the country planning to open most if not all of their lifts and runs, we’ve put together a guide to New Zealand’s top ski and snowboarding destinations.
Queenstown
Flying into Queenstown International Airport is easily the most convenient way for an Aussie to take a ski holiday in New Zealand. The kiwi tourism industry is waiting to welcome you with open arms and with Australian borders still closed for the foreseeable, a winter escape to New Zealand is likely to be your only overseas adventure this year.
From your door to your hotel, the journey to New Zealand will barely take any longer than driving to The Snowys, plus when you get there you’ll be spoiled for choice with a large number of ski fields easily accessible from Queenstown and multi mountain passes that let you ski on a different mountain one day to the next.
Cardrona & Treble Cone
This year Cardrona is opening new terrain with their refurbished quad chairlift. Willows Basin adds 65 hectares of intermediate level terrain and the new chair adds 44% uphill capacity to the ski field as a whole.
Cardrona is a great destination for families. Parents can enjoy a ski together while the kids play in the childcare center or spin corked 540’s in the most extensive terrain park in the southern hemisphere!
Cardrona offers a dual mountain pass with Treble Cone for multi day lift tickets. It’s a longer drive to get from Queenstown to Treble Cone but it’s worth it, especially if you’re looking for some more advanced terrain.
- Cardrona will be open from June till October
- Treble Cone will be open from June till September
- Cardrona's Snow Farm is intending to open from June till September
Coronet Peak, The Remarkables & Mt Hutt
A Three Peaks lift pass services Coronet Peak and The Remarkables both less than an hours drive from Queenstown. Coronet Peak is also offering night skiing until nine o’clock. That’s a long days skiing!
Having a lift pass that accesses multiple ski fields is a great way to make sure that you make the most of every day by allowing you to choose the best ski field based on snow and weather conditions. The same Three Peaks lift pass also gets you access to Mt Hutt.
Mt Hutt is not easily accessible from Queenstown but if you were keen to try their new chairlift, you could consider splitting your holiday. You could land in Christchurch and spend the first part of your holiday at Mt Hutt, then fly out of Queenstown after exploring Coronet and the Remarkables.
- Coronet Peak will be open from June till September
- The Remarkables will be open from June till October
- Mt Hutt will be open from June till October
Flexibility & Choice
Neither of these multi day passes need to be used on consecutive days so you could buy both and alternate between all five mountains during your ski holiday. With this much terrain, there’s no better way to make the most of the winter bubble.
Now you know where to go, it’s time to get the best gear! Here’s everything you need to make the most of your next ski holiday:
