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    1. Home
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    5. South Island

    Your Complete Guide to Skiing in South Island

    Practical insights on 18 ski resorts across South Island, with honest reviews and planning advice for your next ski trip.Southern Alps glacier skiing with dramatic mountain scenery.

    Why Choose South Island for Skiing?

    Live Webcams

    What Makes South Island Special

    • ✓Southern Alps
    • ✓Glacier skiing
    • ✓Dramatic scenery
    • ✓Queenstown adventure

    Best For

    • •Glacier skiing
    • •Adventure activities
    • •Dramatic Alpine scenery

    Peak Season: July to September

    18 Ski Resorts in South Island

    From beginner-friendly slopes of Mt Lyford through to the advanced terrain of Awakino • Live webcams available

    18
    Resorts
    82
    Total Lifts
    443
    Total Trails
    11,556ac
    Skiable Area

    Filter & Sort Resorts

    Showing 18 of 18 resorts

    Awakino

    Awakino

    Weather Today:
    Overcast2°C
    3
    Lifts
    22
    Trails
    124 ac
    Resort Size
    1,450m
    Base
    1,880m
    Summit
    430m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    10%
    30%
    60%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Broken River

    Broken River

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow-2°C
    6
    Lifts
    25
    Trails
    432 ac
    Resort Size
    1,420m
    Base
    1,820m
    Summit
    400m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    5%
    50%
    45%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Cardrona

    Cardrona

    Weather Today:
    Overcast1°C
    7
    Lifts
    38
    Trails
    988 ac
    Resort Size
    1,260m
    Base
    1,860m
    Summit
    600m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    25%
    25%
    30%
    20%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert
    Coronet Peak

    Coronet Peak

    Weather Today:
    Overcast5°C
    9
    Lifts
    32
    Trails
    692 ac
    Resort Size
    1,187m
    Base
    1,649m
    Summit
    462m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    14%
    34%
    25%
    27%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert
    Craigieburn

    Craigieburn

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow Showers-1°C
    3
    Lifts
    25
    Trails
    988 ac
    Resort Size
    1,308m
    Base
    1,811m
    Summit
    503m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    55%
    25%
    20%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert
    Hanmer Springs

    Hanmer Springs

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow Showers-1°C
    3
    Lifts
    15
    Trails
    128 ac
    Resort Size
    1,459m
    Base
    1,769m
    Summit
    310m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    10%
    60%
    30%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Mt Cheeseman

    Mt Cheeseman

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow-2°C
    3
    Lifts
    15
    Trails
    124 ac
    Resort Size
    1,540m
    Base
    1,874m
    Summit
    334m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    15%
    40%
    45%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Mt Dobson

    Mt Dobson

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow Showers2°C
    3
    Lifts
    14
    Trails
    988 ac
    Resort Size
    1,600m
    Base
    2,030m
    Summit
    430m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    25%
    50%
    25%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Mt Hutt

    Mt Hutt

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow Showers-3°C
    5
    Lifts
    26
    Trails
    902 ac
    Resort Size
    1,403m
    Base
    2,086m
    Summit
    683m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    25%
    50%
    25%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Mt Lyford

    Mt Lyford

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Heavy Snow Showers-2°C
    5
    Lifts
    20
    Trails
    445 ac
    Resort Size
    1,249m
    Base
    1,750m
    Summit
    501m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    30%
    40%
    30%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Mt Olympus

    Mt Olympus

    Weather Today:
    🌧️Slight Rain Showers2°C
    4
    Lifts
    18
    Trails
    148 ac
    Resort Size
    1,430m
    Base
    1,880m
    Summit
    450m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    10%
    55%
    35%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Ohau

    Ohau

    Weather Today:
    Overcast1°C
    2
    Lifts
    15
    Trails
    309 ac
    Resort Size
    1,425m
    Base
    1,825m
    Summit
    400m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    20%
    50%
    30%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Porters

    Porters

    Weather Today:
    🌧️Slight Rain Showers2°C
    6
    Lifts
    21
    Trails
    704 ac
    Resort Size
    1,302m
    Base
    1,980m
    Summit
    678m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    15%
    50%
    30%
    5%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert
    Rainbow Ski Area

    Rainbow Ski Area

    Weather Today:
    Overcast3°C
    5
    Lifts
    15
    Trails
    124 ac
    Resort Size
    1,540m
    Base
    1,760m
    Summit
    220m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    25%
    55%
    20%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Roundhill

    Roundhill

    Weather Today:
    ❄️Slight Snow Showers3°C
    4
    Lifts
    20
    Trails
    1359 ac
    Resort Size
    1,350m
    Base
    2,133m
    Summit
    783m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    20%
    45%
    35%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Temple Basin

    Temple Basin

    Weather Today:
    Overcast2°C
    3
    Lifts
    36
    Trails
    791 ac
    Resort Size
    1,493m
    Base
    1,923m
    Summit
    430m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    25%
    50%
    15%
    10%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert
    The Remarkables

    The Remarkables

    Weather Today:
    Overcast3°C
    7
    Lifts
    46
    Trails
    951 ac
    Resort Size
    1,475m
    Base
    1,943m
    Summit
    468m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    30%
    40%
    30%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Treble Cone

    Treble Cone

    Weather Today:
    🌫️Foggy1°C
    4
    Lifts
    40
    Trails
    1359 ac
    Resort Size
    1,260m
    Base
    1,960m
    Summit
    700m
    Vertical
    Trail Difficulty
    10%
    45%
    30%
    15%
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced
    Expert

    Planning Tips for South Island

    From Our Research

    Queenstown is adventure capital - book accommodation early

    How It Compares: Higher altitude and more reliable snow than North Island

    Planning Questions

    Best time to ski in South Island?
    July to September typically offers the best conditions. Check individual resort pages for specific timing and current snow reports.
    How do these resorts compare globally?
    Higher altitude and more reliable snow than North Island
    What is the best ski resort in South Island?
    For beginners, Mt Lyford offers excellent learning terrain, while Awakino provides the most challenging slopes for advanced skiers. Check our detailed resort profiles below for specific recommendations.
    Can I ski multiple resorts in South Island?
    South Island has 18 ski resorts. Check individual resort pages for information about multi-resort passes and connections between ski areas.