The Remarkables

Character

The Remarkables operates on a different register from most ski resorts in this catalogue. It is not about scale — 220 hectares and three bowls do not compete with La Plagne or Sölden on terrain metrics — and it is not primarily about village character, because the village (Queenstown, 34km away) is effectively the ski resort's town. What The Remarkables is about is setting: the fault-block ridgeline that defines its skyline, the view down to Lake Wakatipu from the upper lifts, and the geological drama of a mountain that formed through fault displacement rather than volcanic or glacial processes. Combined with Queenstown's unrivalled après-ski infrastructure and the Southern Hemisphere timing that gives the resort a ready market of northern hemisphere winter-season skiers in their summer months, The Remarkables occupies a distinctive position in the global ski landscape.

Terrain

Three bowls distribute the ski area across 220 hectares of predominantly south-facing terrain between 1,622m and 1,943m. Alta Bowl is the main groomed area, with gentle to moderate pistes accessible from the base lifts; Homeward Basin provides more challenging intermediate and advanced terrain; Shadow Basin, opened more fully after the 2021–22 Deep South Chair installation, holds the most snow-retentive north-facing terrain and provides The Remarkables' best conditions for later in the season. The terrain distribution (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced) reflects a resort equally weighted toward progression skiers and experienced intermediates. A dedicated beginners' area at the base with magic carpet access provides the first-day experience; the upper bowls reward those who progress beyond it.

Snow & Conditions

New Zealand winters are variable by nature: the South Island's exposure to the Roaring Forties wind systems brings storms of varying intensity throughout the June–October window, and annual snowfall averaging 3.67m can arrive concentrated or spread. The resort's south-facing bowls preserve what falls better than north-facing terrain, and Shadow Basin's north-facing aspect (within the broader south-facing range) holds snow longest as the season advances. More than 100 snow guns supplement natural snowfall on lower runs, allowing the resort to open on schedule even in low-snow years. The ideal snow conditions typically arrive in mid-July through August when cold storm cycles are most frequent. Base depths can be thin in early June or October; the mid-season window is the most reliably excellent.

Lifts & Mountain Access

Eight lifts — two detachable six-seat chairlifts, two fixed-grip quad chairs, and four magic carpet conveyor lifts — serve the three bowls from the base area at 1,622m to the upper lifts at 1,943m. The two high-speed detachable chairs (including the Deep South Chair added in 2021–22) are the resort's main traffic movers; the fixed-grip chairs serve secondary terrain. Four magic carpets in the beginner and mid-mountain areas provide access for learning skiers and those building confidence. Lift infrastructure is appropriately matched to the resort's 220-hectare scale; queuing is not typically a problem except on New Zealand school holiday peak days. The base area car park, shuttle bus drop-off, rental facilities, and ski school meeting areas are consolidated on a compact flat below the loading ramps.

Village & Accommodation

There is no slope-side accommodation at The Remarkables — accommodation is based in Queenstown, 34km away. Queenstown offers New Zealand's widest range of ski-town accommodation, from budget backpacker hostels to boutique lakefront hotels and luxury lodges at the Millbrook and Queenstown Hill end of the market. A hire car or the NZSki shuttle bus is required to access the mountain each day. This structure — mountain resort plus 30-minute drive to a full-service town — mirrors the pattern of Coronet Peak (also operated by NZSki) and is the established model for Queenstown skiing. The town's concentrated restaurant scene, nightlife, and adventure activity infrastructure function as the resort's après-ski zone, making The Remarkables plus Queenstown a complete ski-town package even without slope-side accommodation.

Getting There

Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) is a high-frequency domestic and international airport operating year-round. Seasonal direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, and Auckland make it one of the most accessible mountain airports in the Southern Hemisphere. Hire cars are available at the airport. NZSki's shuttle service from central Queenstown to The Remarkables and Coronet Peak runs on fixed daily schedules during the ski season and is bookable online. Combining a New Zealand ski trip with time at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak (21km from Queenstown, ski conditions permitting) makes logistical sense as both are served from the same Queenstown base.

Pricing

Adult day lift tickets at The Remarkables are priced at approximately NZD 120–165 (2025/26 season; roughly $72–99 USD at current exchange rates), reflecting the Queenstown premium market. Multi-day passes and NZSki combo passes covering both The Remarkables and Coronet Peak on a single ticket provide better per-day value. Hire car or NZSki shuttle bus costs add to the daily budget for those accommodating in Queenstown. Equipment hire and ski school are available at the base and priced in line with New Zealand market rates. The SkiNZ season pass covers The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Mt. Hutt and represents the best per-day value for visitors planning an extended New Zealand ski season.

All price references are editorial estimates for the 2025/26 southern hemisphere winter season. Current season prices may differ; verify at the official resort website before booking.

Atmosphere & Dining

The Remarkables' on-mountain atmosphere is good-natured and outdoors-oriented: the base lodge and mid-mountain facilities serve the day's skiing without pretense, and the Queenstown crowd (mix of domestic New Zealanders, Australians, and international visitors from Europe and North America) brings a relaxed ski culture that is less formal than European resorts and more varied in experience level than specialist powder resorts. On-mountain dining is available at the base area food court and a mid-mountain café — adequate and unpretentious. The real après-ski action is in Queenstown town, where the density of restaurants, bars, and tourist experiences per square kilometre is among the highest of any ski town in the world. Fergburger, the Queenstown institution, is worth the queue.

Expert Tips

Book the NZSki combo pass if visiting both The Remarkables and Coronet Peak — conditions vary significantly between the two resorts through the season (Coronet Peak opens earlier and has more snowmaking; The Remarkables holds snow better mid-season) and flexibility between the two is valuable. Shadow Basin via the Deep South Chair holds the best snow late in the season — in September when many front-facing slopes are softening, Shadow Basin's aspect keeps conditions firmer. The view from the top of the Outpost chair at 1,943m on a clear morning — with Lake Wakatipu 800m below and the Queenstown skyline visible — is genuinely among the best in Southern Hemisphere skiing and worth timing to arrive at the top by 9:30am before cloud fills the valley.

Editorial Scores