Queenstown winter trip from Australia: what to plan first

A Queenstown winter trip from Australia starts with three choices: when you go, which ski field suits your group, and what you will do on days off the snow. Queenstown has four main ski areas within about 100 minutes of town, direct flights from Australia's east coast, and plenty to do without skis. This guide covers the plan in that order.

Sources for this section: Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season; Lakes Weekly Bulletin, Muted opening to ski season.

Pick your dates first

Choose dates before anything else, because they drive the price and the crowds. Top 10 Holiday Parks says the Queenstown ski season can run from early June to mid-October, and that July and August usually bring the best snow coverage. It also says school holidays are the busiest times to visit.

New Zealand's Term 2 school holidays run from 1 to 16 July 2023. The Term 3 holidays run from 23 September to 8 October. The Australian holidays are set by each state, so check yours. The airport itself expected 379 flights to arrive in the first two weeks of July.

The 2023 season also started slowly. Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona all opened on the weekend of 16 and 17 June, but with little natural snow only a few runs were open at each. The Lakes Weekly Bulletin reported that The Remarkables could manage only its learners' conveyors on opening weekend. A year earlier, about two metres of snow fell during opening week. Snow varies a lot from year to year, so check each field's snow report before you book lift passes.

Sources for this section: Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season; Queenstown Airport, Queenstown Airport ready for winter holidays (27 June 2023); Lakes Weekly Bulletin, Muted opening to ski season (19 June 2023).

Book your flights from Australia

You can fly straight to Queenstown from Australia. The trans-Tasman route reopened in stages once New Zealand's borders came back. The first flight in 330 days, a Qantas service from Sydney, landed on 23 May 2022. At that time Qantas said it would fly from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and that demand for July and August was very strong. Jetstar and Air New Zealand restarted their Queenstown flights in June 2022, and Virgin Australia planned to follow in November.

By June 2023, Queenstown Airport described Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia as sharing one check-in area, so all three were flying out of the terminal. Timetables change by season, so look at each airline's schedule for your dates instead of relying on a route list from last year.

New Zealand's border has been fully open since 1 August 2022. The rule that visitors must show proof of vaccination ended at 11:59pm on 12 September 2022. Rules can still change, so check the New Zealand Immigration website for what applies to your passport before you fly.

Sources for this section: NZ Herald, Queenstown can't wait to welcome Australians back as borders reopen; Queenstown Airport, Queenstown Airport ready for winter holidays; Mainly Miles, New Zealand scraps on-arrival tests, vaccination mandate, mask-wearing on flights; The PIE News, New Zealand border fully open for international travellers.

Choose a ski field

The three fields nearest Queenstown suit different groups. Top 10 Holiday Parks lists the 2023 planned season dates and drive times below. Dates depend on snow, so treat them as planned, not promised.

Coronet Peak is the closest and the oldest. It was set up in 1947 as New Zealand's first commercial ski area, according to its own website. The Remarkables has terrain for all levels and is 45 minutes from town. Cardrona, over the Crown Range, sits higher than its neighbours, which Top 10 says helps it receive the most snow in the region. It also has large terrain parks. Treble Cone, near Wanaka, is the fourth choice and the largest in the South Island, but it is a long day trip from Queenstown at 1 hour 40 minutes each way.

Coronet Peak and The Remarkables share a Ski Bus from central Queenstown, so you do not have to hire a car. At Cardrona you can drive, take a free shuttle from the Pine Trees car park, or book a bus seat at least 48 hours ahead.

Sources for this section: Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season; Coronet Peak, home page (archived 29 June 2023); The Remarkables, home page (archived 2 June 2023).

Try night skiing or first tracks

Coronet Peak is the only one of the three with night skiing. Its website lists night ski from 4pm to 9pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, on floodlit trails, and calls it the longest ski day in New Zealand. Top 10 says Saturday nights apply during school holidays, so check the night ski calendar for your dates.

The site also lists "First Tracks" from 8am to 9am from early July to mid September. This gives you early access to the Coronet Express chairlift to ride freshly groomed snow, subject to conditions. Both are good ways to fit more into a short break.

Sources for this section: Coronet Peak, home page (archived 29 June 2023); Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season.

Plan days off the snow

You do not need to ski every day. Top 10 Holiday Parks suggests white water rafting, a Shotover Jet ride, a Milford Sound cruise, a winery tour and day trips to Arrowtown and Wanaka. In town it points to the Minus 5 Ice Bar and local cafes. Cardrona also says non-skiers can ride its gondola to the top of the mountain and have a drink at the Vista Bar.

If anyone in your group wants lessons, the ski fields run learner packages. Coronet Peak's Intro to Snow package bundles lift passes, lessons and equipment rental. The Remarkables offers a similar first timer package. All ski fields near Queenstown have rental shops, and Top 10 notes that shops in town are often cheaper than those on the mountain, so compare prices online and book early.

Sources for this section: Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season; Cardrona Alpine Resort, home page (archived July 2023); Coronet Peak home page (archived 29 June 2023); The Remarkables home page (archived 2 June 2023).

The editors will update this guide if schedules change. The address for our editors is on the contact page.

Sources

1. Top 10 Holiday Parks, Perfect guide to the Queenstown ski season: top10.co.nz
2. Lakes Weekly Bulletin, Muted opening to ski season: lwb.co.nz
3. Queenstown Airport, Queenstown Airport ready for winter holidays: queenstownairport.co.nz
4. NZ Herald, Queenstown can't wait to welcome Australians back as borders reopen: nzherald.co.nz
5. Mainly Miles, New Zealand scraps on-arrival tests and vaccination mandate: mainlymiles.com
6. The PIE News, New Zealand border fully open for international travellers: thepienews.com
7. Coronet Peak, home page (Wayback Machine, 29 June 2023): web.archive.org
8. The Remarkables, home page (Wayback Machine, 2 June 2023): web.archive.org
9. Cardrona Alpine Resort, home page (Wayback Machine, 11 July 2023): web.archive.org