Photo: Tony Harrington
Major commercial fields in the South Island of NZ
Commercial ski fields are ski resorts that are operated for profit. Ski resorts are managed by companies, etc., and are maintained with snow vehicles and artificial snow machines. It is a commercial facility that offers various services such as a school, updated information, etc.
New Zealand's major commercial fields are famous among Japanese people, and ski and snowboard athletes use them for training, and there are many travel packages for tour companies.
Access from the base town is good, and a shuttle bus is also in operation, so it is convenient for overseas travelers. So, let's introduce 5 popular commercial fields.
Mount Hutt｜Mt.Hutt
Mount Hutt is such a ski resort
Mt. Hutt is famous for having the largest scale and the longest season in the South Island of New Zealand. About 30 minutes by shuttle bus from Methven, the nearest base town,
The altitude of the top reached by the 6-seater chairlift that takes you from the base to the summit at once is over 2000m. An open slope that exceeds the forest limit spreads out on one side. The view of the Canterbury Plain below and the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking.
From long courses with a beautiful panorama of nature, to beautiful grooming tracks, to wild off-piste, the fields are rich in variety and give you a sense of the big scale that is typical of overseas. Many of the slopes are suitable for intermediate difficulty, and the hard-packed slopes are high-speed carving paradise.
It goes without saying that the level of satisfaction for skiers is high, but the difficulty level ◆◆Double Diamond's "Rakai Asador" is a zone where you can enjoy Mt.
Day trips are also possible from Christchurch, the gateway (airport) of the South Island. A shuttle runs every morning (it takes about 100 minutes), so if the weather is nice in the morning, you can go up to the mountain and enjoy the ski slopes. Also, it is a luxurious plan to stay in Queenstown or Wanaka for the main stay and drop in for a day before the return flight from Christchurch.
■ INFO
| Season | June 9, 2023 (Friday) Open to October 16 (Monday), 2023 |
|---|---|
| Basetown & Access | Christchurch (1.5 hours by car) Methven (30-40 minutes by car) |
| lift fee | 1 Day Pass $139 Season Pass: $599 |
| common path, etc. | Affiliated Coronet Peak Remarkables joint pass 3 PEAK PASS $1299 IKON PASS can be used for 7 days including Coronet Peak Remarkables |
■Mountain information
 |  |  |  |
| Top altitude 2,086m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 682m (1,404m) | Average snowfall 4.0m | Sliding area 365ha |
 |  |  |  |
| Longest course 2km | lift/other lift 3/carpet 1 | snow park 4 | View larger course level |
■Trail Map
■ Snow -Forcast (weather/snowfall)
Cardrona｜Cardrona
Cardrona is such a ski resort
Cardrona in the Crown Range, with a base town of Wanaka (approximately 45 minutes) or Queenstown (approximately 1 hour). A hugely popular resort for snowboarders, Cardrona is the only resort in New Zealand with an Olympic-standard 22-foot (6.7m) monster pipe. The terrain park is also very complete with kickers and jib items.
The Winter Games NZ, where the world's top riders gather , is also held, and many national teams and athletes train at Cardrona in the summer. This is also the place where most Japanese locals frequent.
Cardrona's three-sink slopes are wide-scale, with an eight-passenger gondola and four four-passenger lifts. is the gourd. Willow's Basin, opening in 2021, is an off-piste heaven zone. Cardrona, which has a strong impression of Kakin and hard grooming, has a new powder spot, and I have a feeling that freeride enthusiasts will increase more and more in the future.
Captains Quad is popular with skiers. The mid-slope and wide carving is famous as No. 1 in NZ, and being able to enjoy long carving at high speed is truly overseas. There are rocky cliffs and chutes in the center of the ski area, and you can fully enjoy the essence of freeriding.
■ INFO
| Season | June 17, 2023 (Sat) Open-October 15, 2023 (Sun) Scheduled |
|---|---|
| Basetown & Access | Wanaka (35 minutes by car) Queenstown (60 minutes by car) |
| lift fee | 1-day ticket $160 2-day ticket $310 Season pass: $1499 (treble cone and common pass) |
| common path, etc. | Lift ticket + rental package 1 day $192~ (18+ adults) 3 days $456 |
■ Mountain information
| |  | |
| Top altitude 1,860m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 600m (1,670m) | Average snowfall 2.9m | Sliding area 465ha |
| | |  |
| Longest course 2km | Lifts/Others 1 gondola, 4 lifts, 3 carpets, 1 platter | Park 4 Half pipe 2 | View larger course level |
■Trail Map
■ Snow -Forcast (weather/snowfall)
Treble Cone | Treble Cone
Treble Cone is such a ski resort
About 35 minutes from Wanaka, Treble Cone is a resort that represents the Wanaka area. The altitude of the top of the mountain is 2088m and over 2000m, and from the top lift point of 1960m to the base is actually 700m, which is the largest elevation difference in New Zealand's South Island. It is a resort that can be said to have a high degree of difficulty, accounting for 90% of the total.
It is also known as a pioneering resort that set up a 6-seater chairlift for the first time in NZ. Currently, there are 4-seater quads and 2 lifts. The opening is usually late June, which is a little late with snow.
The symbol of Treble Cone is the long course of 4km. Of course, long cruising while looking at the beautiful Lake Wanaka in clean groomed hard pack conditions is exceptional. In addition, the Treble Cone offers the unique enjoyment of being able to approach the summit in one go with the HOMEBASIN EXPRESS, which seats six people, and then take a 10-minute hike to glide across a vast off-piste zone.
Moguls camps are also actively held at Treble Cone, and the Japanese moguls national team trains here every summer.
■ INFO
| Season | June 24, 2023 (Sat) Open to October 10 (Tue), 2023 |
|---|---|
| Basetown & Access | Wanaka (30-35 minutes by car) Queenstown (90 minutes by car) |
| lift fee | 1-day $160 2-day $310 Season Pass: $1499 (Common pass with Cardrona) |
| common path, etc. | Lift ticket + rental package 1 day $192~ (18+ adults) 3 days $456 |
■ Mountain information
| | | |
| Top altitude 2,088m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 700m (1,260m) | Average snowfall 2.9m | Sliding area 550ha |
| | |  |
| Longest course 4km | Lift/other lift 2, carpet 1, platter 1 | Park — | View larger course level |
■Trail Map
■ Snow -Forcast (weather/snowfall)
Coronet Peak ｜Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak is such a ski resort
Conveniently located just 20 minutes from Queenstown, the shuttle bus also operates conveniently. It is the only resort in NZ that has a night game facility, and you can enjoy night games from 16:00 to 21:00 on Friday and Saturday nights, making it a very popular resort.
Although the altitude is relatively low at 1620m, the stable barn conditions are maintained by operating 217 artificial snow machines. The number is, of course, No. 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. There are relatively many slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers, there are bumpy slopes, beautiful grooming slopes, and steep slopes that are worth attacking.
Among them, the steep slope at the top of Cornet Peak is famous. And the back bowl off-piste is a must for freeriders. It only opens when the conditions are good, but on snowy mornings, the first thing you want to do is take the 6-person high-speed chairlift to the top and ski the powder that has accumulated in the bowl. The magnificent scenery overlooking lakes and mountains, including Lake Wakatipu, allows you to experience the rich nature of New Zealand.
■ INFO
| Season | June 16, 2023 (Fri) Open-September 24, 2023 (Sun) |
|---|---|
| Basetown & Access | Queenstown (20 minutes by car) |
| lift fee | 1 Day Pass $129 Season Pass: $599 |
| common path, etc. | Affiliated Mt.Hutt, Remarkables joint pass 3 PEAK PASS $1299 IKON PASS can be used for 7 days, including Mt.Hutt and Remarkables |
■ Mountain information
| | | |
| Top altitude 1,649m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 462m (1,187m) | Average snowfall 1.9m | Sliding area 280ha |
| | |  |
| Longest course 2km | Lifts/other lifts 3, 1 T-bar, 4 carpets | park rail garden | View larger course level |
■Trail Map
■ Snow -Forcast (weather/snowfall)
The Remarkables｜The Remakables
Remarkables is such a ski resort
The Remarkables, located approximately 40 minutes from Queenstown, also operates a daily shuttle bus. In addition to the high altitude of 1943m, the quality of the snow is excellent because it is on the north slope, and you can enjoy exceptional powder riding among NZ ski resorts. The Remarkables has a big gentle slope for beginners at the bottom, and an off-piste area that attracts advanced skiers and freeriders. However, it is characterized by being a mountain that can be enjoyed with great satisfaction.
The extreme hotspot, which is said to be NZ's number one, is Homeward Bound, a vast off-piste area where you can approach with a shadow basin chair that extends from the base. In an area that makes use of the rich natural terrain, you can ski anywhere and how you want, and enjoy the power of our prided fat skis to the fullest. Interestingly, you can slide below the base of the ski resort, and a free shuttle bus will take you to the base. The morning after a snowfall is decided to The Remarkables!
■ INFO
| Season | June 17, 2023 (Sat) Open to October 8, 2023 (Sun) |
|---|---|
| Basetown & Access | Queenstown (45 minutes by car) |
| lift fee | 1 Day Pass $129 Season Pass: $599 |
| common path, etc. | Affiliated Mt.Hutt and Coronet Peak Joint Pass 3 PEAK PASS $1299 IKON PASS can be used for 7 days including Mt.Hutt and Coronet Peak |
■ Mountain information
| | | |
| Top altitude 1,943m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 468m (1,475m) | Average snowfall 3.67m | Sliding area 385ha |
| | |  |
| Longest course 2km | Lift/Other Lift 3, T-bar 1, Carpet 4 | Park 2 | View larger course level |
■Trail Map
■ Snow -Forcast (weather/snowfall)
INFO
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