Skiing in New Zealand South Island

A Vacation to Remember!

If you are heading off to a vacation in the South Island of New Zealand, one thing that you should not miss out on is the snow. There are a lot of fun winter activities which can make your vacation truly exciting and memorable. For example, one of the most loved adventures here is skiing in New Zealand South island.

Truly, skiing in New Zealand South Island will be a great way to spend your vacation with because there are already high end ski areas in this area. For example, there’s the Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Plus, every ski park has its own distinct style. There are also some which offer progressive trails - for the neophytes, intermediate and the veterans. What’s more, such facilities don’t only offer skiing. There’s also snowboarding, snow-making, snow grooming , T-bar lifts, and some cozy dine-and-drink at the strip of cafes and restaurants by that park sides. So really, there’s something for everyone here.

The best time to ski in New Zealand is during the June to October bracket. Most ski parks open in early June; and there are already a lot who accept bookings all year round. Go powder skiing from June to July and when the season peaks at August, go ski your heart out at their snow-filled terrains. Just a piece of advice when booking your ski trips though, avoid the school holiday seasons. That’s usually the time when the parks fill up like crazy.

Now that you know the basics of booking your South Island ski vacation, let us show you the best places to head to for your most awaited trip.


From the Heights of Queenstown

Queenstown is one of the most famous winter destinations in the South Island of New Zealand. It sits by Lake Wakatipu and it is a purpose-built town especially designed to become a tourist attraction. Aside from skiing, you can go bungee jumping, motor biking, jet boating, horseback riding or wine tasting.

Drive uphill Queenstown and you will find Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Many say that the Coronet is best for night skiing, while The Remarkables is best for the extreme adventure seekers; as their terrain is more difficult than those of most ski parks.

Queenstown already houses many upscale restaurants, spas, clubs and cafes. If you’re up for shopping, there’s also a pedestrian mall that has charming fashion boutiques and ski equipment shops.


The Magic of Wanaka

Go further, perhaps an hour away from Queenstown and you will find the peaceful town of Wanaka. Like Queenstown, it is also seated beside a pristine looking lake. Unlike Queenstown, though, Wanaka is not as commercial and cosmopolitan. You can access great food at one of their little cafes or even in their hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Don’t forget to have a bite of their famous carrot cake at the Wanaka cafe.

Wanaka is home to two of the best ski fields in the South Island of New Zealand. First, there’s Cardona. It’s the best family field, as most vacation-goers say. They have a giant toy clock tower and kiddie friendly facilities. One of the most remarkable things that Cardona is known for is their “Magic Carpets”. They realized that only a small fraction of the snowboard newbies really make it to the top tier of the learner’s tow, so they’ve made moving walkways which means no more tangling with the beginners’ T-bar. Cardona is the New Zealand capital for snowboarding. In fact, many nationwide snowboarding tournaments are held here.

Another ski field in Wanaka is regarded as romantic - Treble Cone. Such is so because they say that the place is simply the best backdrop for a romantic postcard. There’s a bright blue lake with little snow covered islands, with the bright blue sky and virgin mountains as the horizon at the back. Like the terrain at The Remarkables, the one here in Treble Cone is also very challenging. Many extreme adventure enthusiasts have already admitted to falling in love with this place.

Mount Hutt

Mount Hutt is located at the northern part of the South Island of New Zealand. Due to its location, it gets the longest snow time often. They say that Mount Hutt is the mid-range ski area when it comes to activity - not as extreme as Queenstown, yet not as sleepy as Wanaka. A good first-visit place for your dream vacation skiing in New Zealand South Island.

There are many club fields in Mount Hutt. Club fields are private mountain patches which are run and managed by exclusive ski clubs. But don’t worry, such fields are open to the public. The most famous fields are Ohau and Temple Basin.  They constantly upgrade their facilities, and they are the top choices for the most adventurous. Mount Hutt boasts of high vertical drops, a great view of the Lake Rotoiti, un-crowded slopes and many celebrity skiers’ appearances.

Truly, skiing in New Zealand South Island is one great adventure. Will you still wait for it to happen? Make it happen! Book your flights and accommodations to New Zealand now!