Photo: Tony Harrington
Current status of New Zealand's South Island snow resorts for the 2024 season
While it's midsummer in Japan in August, New Zealand's snow resorts in the Southern Hemisphere are in the peak season. The 2024 season kicked off at Mt. Hutt on the South Island in early June. June was drier and warmer than average, but heavy snowfall in early July meant that lifts at each resort were operating at full capacity
This winter has been a little colder than usual, so it's hard to call it a heavy snow season! However, the snow resorts on the South Island, the heart of New Zealand skiing and snowboarding, have maintained a stable amount of snow. Incidentally, at major resorts on the South Island, one-day tickets have increased in price by about $10 to $35 compared to last season. (1 NZD = 88.46 yen as of August 2, 2024)
Major commercial fields in the South Island of New Zealand
A commercial ski field is a ski resort operated for profit. The ski resort is managed by a company and maintained with snowmobiles and artificial snow machines. It is a commercial facility that offers a variety of services, including numerous lifts, restaurants, shops, rentals, schools, and updated information.
New Zealand's major commercial fields are well-known and popular among Japanese people, and are used by ski and snowboard athletes for training, and many tour companies offer travel packages. They are easily accessible from base towns and have shuttle buses, making them convenient for international travelers.
Here we introduce five popular commercial fields.
Mt. Hutt
Mount Hutt is a ski resort like this
Mt. Hutt is the largest and most popular mountain in New Zealand's South Island, boasting the longest season. It is about a 30-minute shuttle bus ride from the nearest base town, Methven
The top of the mountain is reached at an altitude of over 2000m by a six-seater chairlift that takes you from the base to the summit. An open slope stretches out above the tree line. The view of the Canterbury Plains below and the Pacific Ocean at its edge is breathtaking
From long courses offering panoramic views of nature, to beautiful groomed runs and wild off-piste runs, the diverse fields give off a sense of the large scale that is typical of overseas destinations. Many of the slopes are suitable for intermediate skiers, and the hard-packed runs are a paradise for high-speed carving
It goes without saying that the satisfaction level for skiers is high, but the difficulty level of the "Rakaia Saddle" is particularly high, with double diamond grade, and it is the zone where you can enjoy the steepest and most powdery slopes on Mt. Hutt, making it a must-see for freeriders
It's also possible to make a day trip from Christchurch, the South Island's gateway (airport). A shuttle runs every morning (taking about 100 minutes), so if the weather's good, you can head up the mountain and enjoy some skiing, and if the conditions aren't ideal, you can enjoy sightseeing in the town. Another luxurious option is to stay mainly in Queenstown or Wanaka, and then stop by and ski for a day before your return flight from Christchurch
■INFO
| season | Opening date: Friday, June 14, 2024 - Sunday, October 13, 2024 (planned) |
|---|---|
| Base Town & Access | Christchurch (1.5 hours by car) Methven (30-40 minutes by car) |
| Lift fees | Single day pass: $165 Season pass: $1075 |
| Common pass etc | Partnered Coronet Peak and Remarkables joint season pass 3 PEAK SEASON PASS $1495 |
■Mountain Information
 |  |  |  |
| Top elevation : 2,086m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 682m (1,404m) | Average snowfall amount 4.0m | Skiing area: 365ha |
 |  |  |  |
| The longest ski run is 2km | Lift/Other lift 3/Carpet 1 | Snow Park 4 | Course LevelView Larger |
■Trail Map
Cardrona
What kind of ski resort is Cardrona?
Cardrona is located in the Crown Range, and its base towns are Wanaka (approximately 45 minutes) or Queenstown (just over an hour). Cardrona has always been a hugely popular resort for snowboarders, and it's the only one in New Zealand with an Olympic-standard 22-foot (6.7m) monster pipe. The terrain park also boasts a wide range of kickers and jibs
The Winter Games NZ which brings together the world's top riders, is also held here, and many national teams and athletes train here in the summer. It is also the most frequented place by local Japanese people.
Cardrona's wide-scale slopes, spanning three depressions, are equipped with an eight-seater gondola and four four-seater lifts, offering superior maneuverability compared to other resorts and allowing for efficient skiing. Willow's Basin, which opened in 2021, is an off-piste paradise. Cardrona is known for its crisp, hard, groomed runs, but with the arrival of a new powder spot, it's expected to attract more and more freeriders
Captains Quad is popular with skiers. Its wide, medium-sized carving runs are renowned as the best in New Zealand, and the long, high-speed carving runs are a sight to behold. The central area of the ski resort is also home to rocky cliffs and chutes, allowing you to fully enjoy the essence of freeriding
■INFO
| season | Opening date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Sunday, October 13, 2024 (planned) |
|---|---|
| Base Town & Access | Wanaka (35 minutes by car) Queenstown (60 minutes by car) |
| Lift fees | Single-day pass $169 Multi-Day Passes The more you buy for up to 7 days, the cheaper the discount. $169 per day Season Pass: $1749 (combined with Treble Cone pass) |
| Common pass etc | Lift ticket + rental package: 1 day $204 (adults 18 and over) 3 days $480 |
■Mountain Information
| |  | |
| Top elevation 1,860m | Elevation difference (base elevation): 600m (1,670m) | Average snowfall amount 2.9m | Skiing area: 465ha |
| | |  |
| The longest ski run is 2km | Lifts/Others 1 gondola, 4 lifts, 3 carpets, 1 platter | Park 4 Half pipe 2 | Course LevelView Larger |
■Trail Map
Treble Cone
Treble Cone is a ski resort like this
Located about 35 minutes from Wanaka, Treble Cone is a resort that represents the Wanaka area. The summit of the mountain is over 2000m above sea level at 2088m, and it is only 700m from the top lift point at 1960m to the base, making it the resort with the largest elevation difference on New Zealand's South Island. Only 10% of the slopes are for beginners, and 90% are for intermediate and advanced skiers, making it a resort that can be said to be quite challenging
It is also known as a pioneering resort that was the first in New Zealand to install a six-seater chairlift. Currently, there are two lifts, one four-seater quad and one quad. The resort usually opens in late June, which means that snowfall is a little late
Treble Cone's signature course is its 4km long run. The course is of course on beautifully groomed hardpack, and the long cruise with beautiful views of Lake Wanaka is exceptional. Another unique feature of Treble Cone is the ability to quickly reach the summit in a six-seater HOMEBASIN EXPRESS, then hike for 10 minutes to explore the vast off-piste area
Treble Cone is also a popular location for mogul training camps, and Japan's national mogul team trains here every summer
■INFO
| season | Opening date: Saturday, June 29, 2024 - Tuesday, September 29, 2024 (scheduled) |
|---|---|
| Base Town & Access | Wanaka (30-35 minutes by car) Queenstown (90 minutes by car) |
| Lift fees | Single-day pass $169 Multi-Day Passes The more you buy for up to 7 days, the cheaper the discount. $169 per day Season Pass: $1749 (combined with Treble Cone pass) |
| Common pass etc | Lift ticket + rental package: 1 day $204 (adults 18 and over) 3 days $480 |
■Mountain Information
| | | |
| Top elevation : 2,088m | Elevation difference (base elevation): 700m (1,260m) | Average snowfall amount 2.9m | Skiing area: 550ha |
| | |  |
| The longest ski run is 4km | Lifts/Others: 2 lifts, 1 carpet, 1 platter | Park — | Course LevelView Larger |
■Trail Map
Cornet Peak
What kind of ski resort is Coronet Peak?
Located just 20 minutes from Queenstown, it is easily accessible and has a convenient shuttle bus service. It is the only resort in New Zealand with night skiing facilities, and night skiing can be enjoyed from 4pm to 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights, making it a very popular resort
Although the resort is relatively low at 1,620m above sea level, it maintains consistently stable slope conditions thanks to the operation of an astounding 217 artificial snow machines, the most of any resort in the Southern Hemisphere. The resort has a wide variety of courses, including many suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers, mogul slopes, beautiful groomed runs, and challenging steep slopes, to please skiers and snowboarders of all abilities
The steep slope at the top of Cornet Peak is particularly famous. And for freeriders, the off-piste slope in the back bowl is a must-see. It's only open when the conditions are good, but on a snowy morning, you can get there first thing in the morning by taking the high-speed six-seater chairlift to the top and skiing down the powder that's accumulated in the bowl. The magnificent views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and other lakes and mountains allow you to experience the richness of New Zealand's natural beauty
■INFO
| season | Opening date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Sunday, September 22, 2024 (planned) |
|---|---|
| Base Town & Access | Queenstown (20 minutes by car) |
| Lift fees | Single day pass: $165 Season pass: $1495 |
| Common pass etc | Joint season pass for partner Mt. Hutt and Remarkables 3 PEAK SEASON PASS $1495 |
■Mountain Information
| | | |
| Top elevation : 1,649m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 462m (1,187m) | Average snowfall 1.9m | Skiing area: 280ha |
| | |  |
| The longest ski run is 2km | Lifts/Others: 3 lifts, 1 T-bar, 4 carpets | Park Rail Garden | Course LevelView Larger |
■Trail Map
The Remakables
What is The Remarkables like?
The Remarkables is located about 40 minutes from Queenstown, and a shuttle bus runs daily. At an elevation of 1,943m, its north-facing slopes guarantee exceptional snow quality, making it one of the best powder ski resorts in New Zealand. The Remarkables is divided into two distinct areas: the large, gentle slopes at the bottom for beginners and the off-piste areas that attract advanced skiers and freeriders. The mountain's unique characteristics include a fusion of these two extremes, making it a mountain that can be enjoyed by skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels and aspirations
Homeward Bound, said to be New Zealand's number one extreme hotspot, is a vast off-piste area that starts with a quick approach from the base of the resort, the Shadow Basin Chair. This area makes the most of the rich natural terrain, so you can ski anywhere and however you like, and enjoy the full potential of your fat skis. Interestingly, you can ski below the base of the ski resort, and a free shuttle bus will take you back to the base. The morning after a snowfall is the perfect time to visit The Remarkables!
■INFO
| season | Opening date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Sunday, October 13, 2024 (planned) |
|---|---|
| Base Town & Access | Queenstown (45 minutes by car) |
| Lift fees | Single-day pass: $129 Season pass: $599 |
| Common pass etc | Joint season pass for partner Mt. Hutt and Remarkables 3 PEAK SEASON PASS $1495 |
■Mountain Information
| | | |
| Top elevation : 1,943m | Elevation difference (base elevation) 468m (1,475m) | Average snowfall amount 3.67m | Skiing area : 385ha |
| | |  |
| The longest ski run is 2km | Lifts/Others: 3 lifts, 1 T-bar, 4 carpets | Park 2 | Course LevelView Larger |
■Trail Map
INFO
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