Mt Hutt, Christchurch - Canterbury
By Julian Apse
What you need to know about skiing in the South Island
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From wide open slopes for beginners to heli-skiing for the more experienced, the South Island has epic snow for everyone.
Epic snow for every level
Mt Hutt ski area, Christchurch - Canterbury
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Mt Hutt ski field, Christchurch - Canterbury
By Julian Apse
Treble Cone, Wanaka
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Christchurch - Canterbury
Check out more about Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt ski field
Voted New Zealand's Best Ski Resort, Mt Hutt has wide open terrain suitable for all ski and snowboard ability levels. Plus kids 10 and under ski for free!
Find out moreProximity
- 1 hour from Christchurch Airport
- 35 mins from Methven
- Shuttles go from Methven and Christchurch
Queenstown
Check out more about The Remarkables
THE REMARKABLES SKI FIELD
The famous Remarkables range offers a true alpine experience for beginners and seasoned snow bunnies alike.
Find out moreProximity
- 20 minutes from Central Queenstown
- 1 hour 20 minutes from Wanaka
Queenstown
Check out more about Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak ski field
The closest mountain to Queenstown, the varied trails offer something for everyone, including night skiing at the weekends.
More informationProximity
- 20 mins from Queenstown centre
- The Snowline shuttle bus runs from Queenstown
Wanaka
Check out more about Cardrona
Cardrona ski field
Cardrona has superb, wide terrain spread across three main basins and New Zealand's only cabin-style ski lift 'The McDougall's Chondola'.
Find out moreProximity
- 35 mins from Wanaka
- 1 hour 10 mins from Queenstown centre
- Shuttles from Queenstown, Wanaka & Arrowtown
Wanaka
Check out more about Treble Cone
Treble Cone ski field
With a free surface lift for beginners to far-reaching boundaries for the more advanced, Treble Cone promises plenty of legendary powder.
Find out moreProximity
- 20 mins from Wanaka
- 1 hour 30 mins from Queenstown
- Shuttles go from Queenstown and Wanaka
Christchurch - Canterbury
Check out more about Porters
Porters ski field
The closest ski area to Christchurch, Porters has a short access road, fantastic learner slopes and a mountain of terrain for experts.
Find out moreProximity
- 1 hour 30 mins from Christchurch Airport
- Shuttles go from Christchurch and Methven
Christchurch - Canterbury
Check out more about Mt Hutt
Highlights
- Voted NZ's best ski resort
- Skiable Area: 365 hectares
- Elevation: 2086m
Wanaka
Find out more about Treble Cone
Highlights
- Free beginner surface lift
- Natural gullies and wide faces
- Three licensed cafes
It's easy to get to the slopes
Driving in winter is easy, just hire a car and set off at your own pace. Or, if you don't fancy driving, just sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery on one of the many shuttle buses that will bring you straight to the ski field.
Mt Hutt, Christchurch - Canterbury
By Julian Apse
Drive
Every ski field is accessible by car and driving yourself means you can arrive or leave whenever you want. For more information on driving in winter, click here.
- Mt Hutt: 35 minutes from Methven, 90 minutes from Christchurch
- The Remarkables: 35 minutes from Queenstown
- Treble Cone and Cardrona: 35 minutes from Wanaka
- Coronet Peak: 20 minutes from Queenstown
Shuttle bus
- Hop on one of the regular shuttle buses that run to and from the town centre or pay a little extra and get picked up from your accomodation.
- For more information on buses to and from Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, click here. Find out more about getting to Cardrona here, and for Treble Cone, click here.
FAQ
Before you pack your beanie and gloves, check out our list of must-knows for the southern snow by clicking 'read more'.
Where are the best ski fields?
Fly direct into Christchurch to ski the hidden gem club fields of Mt Hutt and Porters Ski Area (both just over an hour from the airport) or base yourself in Queenstown and discover The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. Drive a little further towards the stunning Lake Wanaka and you'll find Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields.
What are they like for beginners and experts?
Whether you're a beginner or expert, there's snow to suit everyone. Skiing in New Zealand is above the tree line so expect wide open alpine bowls of snow. For the more adventurous, why not give heli skiing a go?
How much is a mountain pass?
The average lift pass price for a day on the hill ranges from around NZ$65 in the club fields to NZ$100 at the more commercial fields. You can hire ski gear in the towns or on the mountain.
What else is there to do apart from ski?
Explore wineries, epic film locations, adventure activities or spoil yourself with a trip to a spa. Check out the top experiences in Queenstown and Christchurch - Canterbury.
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