The Remarkables
Ski 385 hectares across three alpine bowls from 1,475–1,943m, with the Southern Hemisphere's only Burton Stash, 45 min from Queenstown.
Season 2026
Opens
13 June 2026
Closes
11 Oct 2026
Days open
120
Annual snow
3m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
The Remarkables is a big-mountain ski area set high in one of the world's most visually striking alpine ranges, rising sharply from the southeastern shore of Lake Wakatipu just 45 minutes from downtown Queenstown. The resort spans 385 hectares across three sheltered mountain bowls between 1,475m and 1,943m, with a 468m vertical drop and 46 runs graded 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced.
The Remarkables mountain range is one of only two in the world that runs directly north to south, and the ski area's horseshoe-shaped bowl layout provides natural protection from prevailing weather while catching generous afternoon sun on the base-area deck. Average annual snowfall of 3.67 metres — the highest of any resort in the Queenstown region — is supplemented by 158 snowmaking guns covering all key trails and terrain parks.
The resort hosts the Burton Stash, one of only six in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere — a terrain feature designed in partnership with Burton Snowboards using natural materials integrated into the mountainside. Two additional terrain parks and a dedicated freestyle zone in Curvey Basin round out a strong freestyle offering. The Remarkables has also been selected to host the Freeride World Tour Academy, recognising the quality of its steep, natural big-mountain terrain.
The resort is operated by NZSki alongside Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt, with all three covered by the 3 Peak Season Pass. The Remarkables is also accessible on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective, and NZSki offers a unique Parent Pass — a shared day ticket for two parents to take turns on the mountain while the other stays with the family.
468m
Vertical
46
Runs
951 acres
Skiable
3m
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
46 runs across 951 acres skiable
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Terrain split
46
runs
46 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 30%
Intermediate18 runs · 40%
Advanced14 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit The Remarkables
The Remarkables operates from mid-June through to early October, with the 2026 season running from 13 June to 11 October. The resort's higher elevation relative to neighbouring Coronet Peak — base at 1,475m versus 1,187m — delivers both heavier natural snowfall and better snow preservation, with an average of 3.67 metres per season excluding snowmaking contributions.
The most reliable conditions fall between mid-July and September, with base depths at their peak through August and September. The resort's sheltered bowl terrain holds snow well even during warmer spells, and the extensive snowmaking system ensures key runs remain in good condition throughout the season window.
Spring skiing in September and early October offers warmer days, softer snow and thinner crowds. The afternoon sun that floods the base area and lower bowls makes late-season sessions particularly pleasant, with the deck outside the base lodge a popular spot for soaking up the views across to Coronet Peak and the Wakatipu Basin.
New Zealand school holidays in July typically bring the highest visitor numbers. The three-bowl layout helps distribute skier traffic, and the combination of covered learner conveyors at the base and high-capacity six-person chairs on the upper mountain keeps the system moving efficiently even on busy days.
Season 2026
13 June 2026
Opens
11 Oct 2026
Closes
120
Days open
3 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to The Remarkables, and where to stay
The Remarkables sits 24km from central Queenstown, accessed via the Remarkables Road — a route that begins on sealed highway before transitioning to an unsealed mountain road for the final kilometres up to the base area at 1,475m. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes from town, and chains may be required on the upper access road during and after snowfall. Several car parks are staggered along the approach, with a shuttle service running between them and the base building.
Daily ski bus services operate from Queenstown's Snow Centre at 25 Shotover Street, with hotel pick-ups available en route. Carpooling incentives give vehicles with three or more passengers access to priority parking closer to the base. MyPass kiosks are located at Queenstown Airport (beside baggage claim), the Snow Centre in town, and on the mountain.
Queenstown Airport is the nearest gateway, approximately 30 minutes from the base of the access road, with domestic connections from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and direct international flights from Australian east-coast cities. Wānaka is roughly one hour away, and Invercargill approximately two hours to the south.
The base building houses a fully licensed restaurant and bar, a café, a retail shop, rental department, snowsports school and the Skiwiland childcare centre. The striking visual backdrop of the Remarkables range — sheer rock faces, glacial cirques and the towering Double Cone summit at 2,319m above — makes the drive up and the views from the ski area among the most dramatic of any resort in Australasia.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near The Remarkables, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Alps Snow Forecast: Up to 64 cm Headed for the High Glaciers as the Snow Line Drops
The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.
20 Oct 2026
Four Dead After Avalanche Near Ski Portillo in Chile
A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.
18 Oct 2026
Europe Ski Resorts Open Now: What Is Skiable in Mid-October 2026
Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.
14 Oct 2026
Zermatt Plans World Cup Downhill Return on the Gornergrat for 2028
Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.
14 Oct 2026
Mt. Rose Begins Snowmaking for the 2026-27 Season at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.
13 Oct 2026
Utah Ski Resorts 2026-27: What’s New at Alta, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and More
Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.
13 Oct 2026
Mt Hutt Invests NZ$12 Million in Base Area, Tripling Its Sun Deck
Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.
11 Oct 2026
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
The Remarkables Lift System
Eight lifts serve The Remarkables' 385 hectares, led by three high-speed six-person chairlifts. The Curvey Basin Express and Shadow Basin Express access the resort's upper intermediate and advanced terrain across the two main riding bowls, while a third six-seater services additional upper-mountain zones. The Alta quad chair handles progression terrain between the learner area and the main ski field, and the Sugar Bowl quad accesses the terrain park precinct.
Four surface conveyor lifts — three fitted with covered galleries for weather protection — serve the dedicated beginner zone immediately above the base building. The covered conveyors are a significant feature for learners, eliminating the need to negotiate chairlift loading during the early stages of progression and keeping first-timers comfortable in variable weather.
The snowmaking network comprises 158 automated guns covering the beginners' area, Alta Green, Casterway, Gotham City, Curvey, Cross Fall, Serpentine, Turquoise, Waterfall and all terrain parks. Combined uplift capacity sits at approximately 9,400 persons per hour, and the resort's bowl layout means traffic disperses naturally across the mountain rather than bottlenecking at a single summit point.
NZSki has signalled plans for a further major expansion into the adjacent Doolans Basin via a proposed 230-metre tunnel, which would approximately double the skiable area to around 900 hectares and open up significant new advanced and expert terrain on the mountain's southern aspect.
7lifts across 3 types
2
6-Person Chairs
2
Quad Chairs
3
Surface Lifts
The Remarkables lift system
The Remarkables is served by 7 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More The Remarkables intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.