New Zealand's main South Island ski resorts are Mt Hutt near Methven, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables near Queenstown, and Cardrona and Treble Cone near Wānaka, with volunteer-run club fields near Arthur's Pass. The season runs from about mid-June to early October. For 2027, Cardrona has published 12 June to 10 October.
New Zealand’s main ski resorts are on the South Island, in and beside the Southern Alps. Near Queenstown are Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Near Wānaka are Cardrona and Treble Cone. In Canterbury, Mt Hutt sits above Methven, Porters is the closest field to Christchurch, and a group of club fields near Arthur’s Pass offer rope tows and off-piste terrain. The season runs from about mid-June to early October, depending on snow.
| Ski field | Region | Nearest town, drive | 2026 season | 2027 dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronet Peak | Queenstown | Queenstown, about 20 min | Limited opening 29 May (Snow Factory); opened 13 June | Not yet published |
| The Remarkables | Queenstown | Queenstown, about 45 min | Delayed opening; sources differ (13 to 27 June) | Not yet published |
| Cardrona | Wānaka | Wānaka, 35 km, 40 to 45 min | Closed 18 October, last on the South Island | 12 June to 10 October (tentative) |
| Treble Cone | Wānaka | Wānaka, 30 km, 35 to 40 min | Targeted 27 June to 27 September | 26 June to 26 September (tentative) |
| Mt Hutt | Canterbury | Methven, 26 km, about 30 min | About 12 June to 11 October | Not yet published |
| Porters | Canterbury | Christchurch, about 90 min | About 26 June to 20 September | Not yet published |
Checked November 2026. Sources: Cardrona & Treble Cone, Mt Hutt, Destination Queenstown, ChristchurchNZ and Mountainwatch. Some 2026 dates come from news summaries and differ between sources; check each field’s site before you book.
Coronet Peak is Queenstown’s closest field, about 20 minutes from town. Destination Queenstown calls it “New Zealand’s first commercial ski area”. It runs First Tracks from 8 am and night skiing until 9 pm on select nights. For 2026 it added a Snow Factory that makes snow in warm weather, which allowed a limited opening on the lower slopes from 29 May.
The Remarkables is about 45 minutes from Queenstown. Destination Queenstown describes three north-facing bowls, a big terrain park and terrain for every level, from learner slopes to chutes. Destination Queenstown calls it the home of freeride in New Zealand.
Both run ski buses from Queenstown. Bookings for the Remarkables bus need a set departure time and pickup point, and buses can sell out in peak weeks.
Cardrona is 35 km from Wānaka (40 to 45 minutes) and 59 km from central Queenstown (1 to 1.5 hours), up a 14 km unsealed road. After its Soho Basin expansion, Destination Queenstown says it is “officially New Zealand’s biggest ski resort”, at 615 hectares across six basins. The base area sits at 1,670 m. In 2026 it closed on 18 October, the last South Island field to shut.
Treble Cone is 30 km from Wānaka (35 to 40 minutes), with a 7.5 km unsealed road. It has 550 hectares, a 700 m lift-served vertical, a 4 km run and a summit of 2,088 m. Its reputation is for steep, advanced terrain, though it has runs for all levels.
The same company runs both, launched a phone lift-pass app for them in 2026, and runs free shuttles from the bottom of each access road. See things to do in Wānaka for the rest of the year.
Mt Hutt is 26 km, about half an hour, from Methven, and 113 km, about 90 minutes, from Christchurch. The 14 km access road is unsealed and the base area sits at 1,597 m, looking over the Canterbury Plains. You must carry snow chains on the road, and chain hire is available at the bottom. Half the parking is 3 km below the base, with shuttles up.
Porters is the closest ski field to Christchurch, about 90 minutes west, and ChristchurchNZ rates it one of the best places in Canterbury to learn.
The club fields are the Southern Alps’ old-school side: Broken River, Craigieburn Valley, Mt Cheeseman, Mt Olympus and Temple Basin. They are run by volunteers, mostly off-piste, with rope tows and T-bars instead of chairlifts, and no gear hire. Temple Basin, near Arthur’s Pass, has no road at all: you walk up a steep track gaining 400 m, which takes 40 minutes to an hour, while a goods lift carries your gear.
Smaller commercial fields such as Roundhill, Mt Dobson and Ōhau run when the snow allows. Ōhau planned a 27 June opening in 2026 and Mt Dobson 3 July. Check their own sites for the current season.
Base yourself by the fields you plan to ski. Queenstown puts you 20 minutes from Coronet Peak and 45 minutes from The Remarkables, and Cardrona is within reach for a day. Wānaka is closer to Cardrona and Treble Cone, both under 45 minutes away. For Mt Hutt, stay in Methven, which ChristchurchNZ calls a snow-sports hub, about 30 minutes from the field. Christchurch works for day trips to Porters, Mt Hutt and the club fields, all around 90 minutes to 2 hours away.
In 2026, fields opened between late May and early July and most closed between late September and mid-October, so July to September is when everything should be running. June openings depend on early snow: in 2026, a warm June pushed back several openings, and fields leaned on snowmaking until a storm in early July. The 2027 school holidays (3 to 18 July and 25 September to 10 October) are the busiest weeks. For the wider picture, read the best time to visit New Zealand.
Carry chains and know how to fit them. NZTA advises chains on Lindis Pass and Burkes Pass in winter, and the access roads to Mt Hutt, Cardrona and Treble Cone are unsealed. Check the NZTA Journey Planner and the field’s road report before you leave. If you’re touring between fields, our Christchurch to Queenstown guide covers the main highway, and the South Island itinerary has a winter option.
4 hoursPickup included
A private trip from your Queenstown accommodation up to the Coronet Peak ski field for time in the snow, with sledging, gondola rides and food at the cafe paid on the day.
from$200 per group (up to 6)
Check availabilityPrices and ratings were taken from GetYourGuide and can change. Booking through these links supports this site at no extra cost to you.
Roughly mid-June to early October on the South Island, depending on snow. In 2026 a warm start delayed several openings, and Cardrona was the last South Island field to close, on 18 October. For 2027, Cardrona has published tentative dates of 12 June to 10 October, and Treble Cone 26 June to 26 September (checked November 2026).
It depends on what you ski. Cardrona has the most terrain, which Destination Queenstown puts at 615 hectares, and the same source praises its facilities. Treble Cone suits strong skiers, with a 700 m lift-served vertical and a 4 km run. Coronet Peak is closest to Queenstown and has night skiing. Mt Hutt is the pick from Christchurch.
Coronet Peak, about 20 minutes from town by road, according to Destination Queenstown. The Remarkables is about 45 minutes away. Cardrona is 59 km from central Queenstown, 1 to 1.5 hours, and Treble Cone is 97 km, 1.5 to 2 hours. Coronet Peak and The Remarkables run buses from town; Cardrona and Treble Cone run free shuttles from the bottom of their access roads.
Yes. Porters is the closest ski field to the city, about 90 minutes west, according to ChristchurchNZ. Mt Hutt is 113 km and about 90 minutes from Christchurch, or 26 km from Methven. The Selwyn club fields, such as Broken River, Craigieburn Valley, Mt Cheeseman and Temple Basin, are 90 minutes to just over 2 hours away.
Carry them. Mt Hutt requires every vehicle driving its 14 km unsealed access road to carry snow chains, and you can hire them at the bottom of the road. Cardrona and Treble Cone also have unsealed access roads, of 14 km and 7.5 km. On the highways, NZTA advises carrying chains on Lindis Pass and Burkes Pass in winter.
For the South Island and its mountains, February and March are the best months: still summer-warm, February is the driest month at Aoraki/Mount Cook, and NZ schools are back.
Wānaka's best things to do are walks with mountain views: Roys Peak (16 km, closed for lambing 1 October to 10 November), the Rob Roy Glacier Track, Rocky Mountain and Mount Iron.
Arthur's Pass is a 920 m road and rail pass over the Southern Alps, with a small village inside Arthur's Pass National Park, about 2 hours' drive from Christchurch on State Highway 73.
For 7 days, drive Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Wānaka.
The Christchurch to Queenstown drive is about 486 km on the inland route through Lake Tekapo, Twizel and Lindis Pass, and RealNZ puts the driving time at about 7 hours 15 minutes.