South Island, New Zealand · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Coronet Peak
Ski 280 hectares just 20 minutes from Queenstown, with night skiing, First Tracks and NZ's largest snowmaking system.
Season 2026
Opens
13 June 2026
Closes
4 Oct 2026
Days open
113
Annual snow
2m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Coronet Peak is Queenstown's closest ski area and the oldest commercial ski field in New Zealand, first opening in 1947 with a single rope tow. The resort spans 280 hectares of skiable terrain on the southern flanks of the 1,649m peak, seven kilometres west of Arrowtown and just 20 minutes by sealed road from downtown Queenstown. The mountain rises from 1,187m to 1,649m with a 462m vertical drop across 32 runs — 14% beginner, 34% intermediate, 25% advanced and 27% expert.
The terrain is characterised by its rolling, undulating profile — often described as roller coaster skiing — with open faces, natural gullies and back bowls that reward confident skiers willing to explore beyond the groomed trails. Northern Hemisphere race teams regularly use Coronet Peak as a southern-season training base, and the mountain is the home field of local Queenstown skier Alice Robinson, a World Cup giant slalom winner.
Coronet Peak is the only resort in the Queenstown region to offer night skiing, with floodlit runs open from 4–9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays plus select Saturday nights from late June through early September. Combined with a First Tracks programme offering exclusive early access from 8–9am, the resort delivers the longest ski day in New Zealand — up to 13 hours of on-snow time.
The resort is operated by NZSki alongside The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, and all three mountains sit on a shared Superpass and 3 Peak Season Pass. Coronet Peak is also included on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective, making it accessible to international pass holders without a separate ticket purchase.
462m
Vertical
32
Runs
692 acres
Skiable
2m
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
32 runs across 692 acres skiable
Coronet Peak spreads 32 runs across 692 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 34%, with 4 beginner runs to find your feet and 17 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
32
runs
32 runs across 4 grades
Beginner4 runs · 14%
Intermediate11 runs · 34%
Advanced8 runs · 25%
Expert9 runs · 27%
Time it right
When to visit Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak typically runs the longest season of any non-glacier resort in New Zealand, with the 2026 season operating from 13 June to 4 October. The new Snow Factory extends activity even earlier: from 30 May 2026, the learner slopes and a dedicated snow play zone will open for beginners, families and snow tubing, making Coronet Peak the first New Zealand resort to open for the 2026 season.
Average annual natural snowfall is approximately 2 metres, but the resort's comprehensive snowmaking system — capable of laying half a metre of cover across all main trails — means conditions are far less dependent on natural falls than at higher-altitude, non-snowmaking fields. The south-facing aspect helps preserve snow quality, and world-class grooming ensures piste conditions hold up even in variable weather.
The most reliable snow window runs from late July through August, when natural snowfall peaks and base depths are typically at their deepest. Spring skiing through September offers warmer days and fewer crowds, though the lower elevation means the season can tighten if conditions turn mild.
Night skiing runs from late June through early September on Wednesday and Friday evenings, with additional Saturday sessions during the July school holidays. The floodlit sessions draw a strong local crowd from Queenstown and are widely regarded as one of the region's signature winter experiences, with views across the illuminated slopes to the lights of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu below.
Season 2026
13 June 2026
Opens
4 Oct 2026
Closes
113
Days open
2 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Coronet Peak, and where to stay
Coronet Peak sits just 18km from Queenstown on a fully sealed access road, making it the most accessible alpine ski area in the Southern Lakes region. The drive takes around 20 minutes from central Queenstown, with no chains required on the sealed road in normal conditions — a notable advantage over most other New Zealand ski fields, which typically involve gravel access roads.
Multiple shuttle bus services operate daily from Queenstown's Snow Centre, with hotel pick-ups available en route. The resort's proximity means it works well as a half-day activity, easily combined with Queenstown's other winter attractions. Arrowtown, the historic gold-mining village, lies just seven kilometres to the east.
Queenstown Airport is the nearest gateway, approximately 30 minutes from the resort, with domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and direct international services from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The resort is also accessible from Invercargill (approximately two hours) and Dunedin (approximately three and a half hours).
The base area houses a large purpose-built lodge with restaurants, a bar, Cafe 1200, the iconic Heidi's Hut mid-mountain dining stop, and the Skiwiland childcare centre catering for children aged two to five. A retail shop, rental department and snowsports school round out the on-mountain facilities, and a new Heidi's Hot Tub provides a post-ski soak beside the hut.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Coronet Peak, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
18 July 2026
Lift tickets
Ikon / Mountain Collective9 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 16–64
Adult Daily Superpass
NZ$105up to NZ$159 peak
Full mountain access to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt with one flexible pass. Experience Queenstown's closest ski resort with New Zealand's longest ski day, world-class snowmaking, and iconic night skiing just 20 minutes from downtown Queenstown.
Buy passChild 6–15
Child Daily Superpass
NZ$60up to NZ$99 peak
Child Superpass for Coronet Peak providing access to three premier New Zealand ski resorts. Children aged 6-15 enjoy discounted access to Queenstown's famous night skiing and roller coaster terrain.
Buy passChild 0–5
Children 5 & Under - Free
Free
Free skiing for children 5 years and under at Coronet Peak. Young children ski free with paying adult, perfect for families experiencing Queenstown's premier ski resort and New Zealand's home of night skiing.
Buy passAdult 16–64
Learners Area Pass
NZ$105up to NZ$130 peak
Beginner-focused pass for Coronet Peak's learning terrain including surface conveyor lifts from 9am-4pm. From 12:30pm includes access to Meadows Express chairlift. Perfect for first-time skiers at Queenstown's closest resort.
Buy passAdult 16–64
Night Skiing Pass
NZ$60up to NZ$75 peak
Queenstown's bucket list winter activity! Night skiing at Coronet Peak from 4-9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays plus select Saturday nights during school holidays. Experience the magic of skiing under lights with Queenstown's city lights below.
Buy passAdult 16–64
First Tracks Pass
NZ$40up to NZ$50 peak
Exclusive early access to Coronet Peak from 8-9am with sunrise over the Wakatipu Basin. Join a lucky few to carve untouched corduroy before regular operations begin. Available daily from late June to mid-September.
Buy passHalf-day passes
Adult 16–64
Afternoon Half-Day Pass
NZ$105up to NZ$130 peak
Half-day afternoon access to Coronet Peak from 12:30pm to 4pm. Perfect for late starters or combining with morning activities in Queenstown. Experience the famous afternoon light over the Wakatipu Basin.
Buy passMulti-day passes
Adult 16–64
Multi-Day Superpass (2-7 Days)
NZ$200up to NZ$300 peak
Flexible multi-day Superpass for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt. Choose from 2-7 days with increasing savings for longer passes. Perfect for extended Queenstown ski holidays with maximum flexibility.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 16–64
3 Peak Season Pass
NZ$899up to NZ$1,199 peak
Unlimited season access to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt. The ultimate New Zealand skiing experience with access to diverse terrain across Queenstown and Canterbury regions, plus night skiing at Coronet Peak.
Buy passCoronet Peak lift tickets & passes
Coronet Peak is currently open for the 2026 season through Oct 4, 2026. Lift tickets are available for daily and multi-day visits.
Day passes start from NZ$40, with peak rates up to NZ$159.
Lift tickets FAQ
How much does a Coronet Peak day pass cost?
Coronet Peak day passes range from NZ$40 to NZ$159 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Coronet Peak lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Coronet Peak lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Coronet Peak, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Coronet Peak lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Coronet Peak - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Coronet Peak lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Coronet Peak offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Coronet Peak directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Coronet Peak.
More Coronet Peak intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.