Most months throughout the year, the highlight of a trip to Queenstown is centered around hiking Great Walks like the Routeburn track, jumping off bridges, out of planes or barreling down rivers in New Zealand-invented jet boats.
Come winter when the White Gold arrives, Queenstown goes from being a bustling summer resort to an alpine ski village.
Kind of.
See, the thing with Queenstown – as compared with most Northern Hemisphere ski towns – is that it very, very rarely snows in town.
The village sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at just about 340 meters above sea level. All but two or three times throughout the winter, this isn’t high enough for precipitation to fall as snow.
Skiing & Snowboarding in New Zealand…
The New Zealand skiing and snowboarding experience is characterized by trips from town ‘up the hill’ to the ski fields. Forget ski-in ski-out like you’d find in a Colorado mountain town. At the very best, a trip to one of the ski fields near Queenstown will take you 30 minutes – this is assuming:
- A) You have your own transportation and aren’t relying on NZSki’s unreliable bus services
- B) It isn’t snowing as this often results in the ski field access road becoming a big traffic jam (as NZSki bus drivers very often can’t drive in the snow), and
- C) You don’t stop along the way to take in the epic views
While the 30 minute trip to the mountain is tough to get used at first, the trip up from Queenstown to one of the ski fields is a pretty epic experience. Twisting mountain roads, steep drop-offs and stunning views back over Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown are on offer all the way up to The Remarkables or Coronet Peak. And surprisingly … the snowboarding is pretty bloody good.
Later on in the winter, I’ll put together a post with some practical tips for your experience snowboarding on New Zealand’s South Island – for the time being, enjoy these photos from The Remarkables and Coronoet Peak just outside of beautiful Queenstown.
Sunrise at Coronet Peak
This photo was taken early one morning as the sun was just rising at Coronet Peak. The clouds cleared to reveal a Wakatipu Basin completely covered in snow – a once or twice a year event in Queenstown.
The Remarkables
After a solid week of snow, a high pressure system rolled across the South Island and we’ve been granted bluebird clear days.
When the clouds do roll in, you’re very very often above them – a surreal experience. Driving up The Remarks recently, it looked as if it was going to be a cloudy day – until we broke through the clouds and were greeted with clear blue skies.
On Top of the World…
Absolute Paradise
This might possibly be the most spectacular view I’ve seen anywhere in New Zealand … or for that matter the world.
After riding the Shadow Basin chair at The Remarkables ski field, a thirty minute hike up to the ridgeline of The Remarkables moutain range leaves you with this this view.
On the right day, clear blue skies, some low clouds over Lake Wakatipu and snow capped mountains remind you that New Zealand might possibly be the most beautiful place in the world.
Have you been skiing or snowboarding in Queenstown? Leave your experiences in the comments section below.
Backpacking Matt 
I don’t like either sport, but I’d go watch from the sidelines just to see these views. The top of the world pic rocks.
@Lauren Shame we didn’t connect — I could have brought you up there, very easy hike as it’s lift accessed!
Oh wow. That last photo is perfection.
@Amanda Thanks. 🙂
Gorgeous, jealous. That is all.
@Christine Skip Wellington and come down for a board! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the views! @Christine & @Lauren – It’s only a flight away. 🙂 @Amanda, you belong here anyway!
Cool shots, Matt. I was born in India, so windsurfing is more my cup of tea but I will recommend Queenstown to my other ski and snowboard enthusiasts!
The views are simply gorgeous! I can see why you mentioned they might be the nicest you’ve ever seen.
@Nomadic Samuel & @Charu Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the photos. Very keen to give windsurfing a go some time.
Beautiful! I would love to be in Queenstown during wintertime.
@Sofia Next winter come visit! You me and Nathan can shred it up!
Heli-skiing is amazing. Can’t beat it. Here’s my experience – http://youtu.be/k5oiFtpvvwc You feel like you are on top of the world. http://www.pinewood.co.nz/Local+Activities/Snow/southern+lakes+heliski.html
This looks amazing.
Only been to New Zealand for a few days once, in the north island.
Hoping to get back to do it right for a few months at least, with snowboarding in Queenstown very high up in the bucket list!
Does it cost much to learn there?
OMG!! This looks fabulous, thanks for sharing some of those beautiful pictures out here, i loved them. This is an absolute paradise on earth. Nice share..!!
On top of the world, geez the powder looks great! I envy you big time! Congrats on a great blog, bookmarked and followed for future updates!
@Steven Cheers, glad you enjoyed. No snow now…well into summer but the white stuff will be here before we know it!
Have snowboarded on Mt Ruapehu on the North Island, which was pretty cool, looking over into Mordor 🙂 Going to Whistler this winter, but would love to come back to NZ during winter at one point and snowboard in Wanaka and Queenstown. Sure looks spectacular!
Hey Matt, I’ve just come across, by chance, your site – and I’m so glad I have! This will act as a perfect guide for the remainder of the year during my working holiday visa here in NZ.
Currently residing in Auckland to save some money seen as jobs are very easy to come-by here. However, very soon I would guess is best, me and my partner want to head to Queenstown to work/play during the winter. I don’t know anyone specifically who has been a backpacker or worked in Queenstown before, so we’re completely in the dark about what we need to do ahead of travelling there – a friendly kiwi I live with mentioned we really should plan in advance especially if we want work, slope passes and for my boyfriend to begin a snowboard instructor course.
I appreciate you’re really busy, and rightly so, but if you can offer any smidgen of advice where we should be looking/when we should be arriving/if it’s even possible to get work before arriving/is there much work on the slopes (by the sounds of this post… no), then I would be forever grateful? Whilst I love travelling, I’m not blessed with money, so I can’t just follow the fresh NZ wind there without some idea I’m prepared.
Either way Matt, thank you very much for sharing your NZ experience! What a beautiful country this is. Many thanks, Laura 🙂
Hi Laura! My pleasure, glad you’ve found the site useful.
It’s a strange game finding work in Queenstown. Depends largely on the time of the year, but mostly comes down to being in the right place at the right time. You’ll find work sooner or later, the question is which of the two. Right now is the ‘shoulder season’ – no longer summer, winter not yet here, so things are a bit quiet. It’s not the best time to find work, but you certainly could!
I wouldn’t imagine you’ll find any jobs before coming to town. NZ Ski (the company that runs the two mountains in town) hires before the season starts, but I’m not sure if they’re still accepting applications. Hitting the streets with your CV is your best bet!
Feel free to drop me an email with more Qs. Good luck!
How does it compare to Lake Tahoe?