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When booking a Queenstown ski pass for your snow holiday, you have many options to choose from. Flexible Queenstown lift passes valid at multiple ski fields give skiers the chance to sample the best runs in the region. Meanwhile, Coronet Peak’s famous night skiing requires a separate lift pass.
We break down each of the lift passes available for your Queenstown ski holiday to make planning easy and straightforward.
Read on for more information.
When planning your Queenstown ski holiday, the first decision you need to make is which ski fields you plan to visit.
Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are the two closest ski fields, each less than an hour’s drive from downtown Queenstown. These resorts share a single lift pass–the flexible Queenstown NZSki Pass.
Meanwhile, you can also reach Cardrona and Treble Cone from Queenstown. However, these require a different ski pass–the Wanaka Cardrona and Treble Cone Pass. Most skiers choose to stay in Wanaka to ski at Cardrona and Treble Cone, as the drive from Queenstown to each ski field is approximately 1.5 hours.
NZSki owns both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, so most ski products are valid at both mountains. For example, lift passes, rental equipment, and most lessons can be redeemed at either ski field. In downtown Queenstown, the Snow Centre offers booking, check-in, and equipment collection/return services for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Rental equipment can be used interchangeably between the two mountains.
We recommend checking in and collecting your ski gear at the Snow Centre upon arrival in Queenstown. This will save you from waiting in long lines on the mountain. When you check in, your ski products will be loaded onto an electronic card valid for the duration of your ski holiday. This electronic ski pass gives you access to the lifts.
The flexible NZSki Pass is also called the Queenstown Superpass.
You can redeem your Superpass credit for off-mountain activities and meals with certain operators. For example, if you choose not to use one of your lift pass days due to poor weather, you can use that credit towards other Queenstown experiences rather than losing money. Enquire at the Snow Centre for participating operators, as these change from year to year.
Valid at both Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone, the Wanaka Cardrona Alpine Resorts Pass gives skiers the chance to sample twice as many slopes. As with the Queenstown NZSki Pass, most ski products can be redeemed at either mountain.
To check in and load ski products on your electronic Wanaka ski pass, visit Cardrona’s office in either Wanaka or Queenstown. You can also check in on the mountain when you arrive for your first day of skiing.
The Wanaka Cardrona and Treble Cone Pass cannot be redeemed for credit at off-slope retailers.
Trying to save on your Queenstown ski holiday? Hunt down the best ski deals with these discounted Queenstown ski pass options.
Book your ski holiday far enough in advance, and you can save big with early bird deals.
Children ages 8 – 17 ski at a discounted rate with child lift passes.
Seniors (ages 65+) and students (ages 18+, enrolled full-time in a New Zealand or Australian tertiary institution) receive a discount as well.
Children ages 5 and under and seniors ages 75+ ski free of charge. However, you will need to collect a complimentary electronic pass from the office to access the lifts. You will need a photo ID to prove your age.
If this is your first time skiing, start off with a learner area lift pass to tackle the basics on the learners’ slopes. A surface conveyor carries new skiers to the top of the learner area.
At Cardrona and Treble Cone, the learner area lift pass also includes a single ride up the main ski lift at any point during the day.
If you choose a Learn to Ski package for your holiday, your first day of lessons will include a learner area lift pass.
September ski holidays mean warmer weather off-slope, spring snow conditions, and heavily discounted lift passes. All four Queenstown resorts offer spring ski deals from September 1st, usually with free days of skiing added to multi-day passes.
September ski pass deals change from year to year, and sometimes aren’t announced until midway through the winter. If you want to take advantage of these deep discounts, wait until August to book your September ski holiday.
Season passes typically cater to locals. However, if you plan to spend ten or more days skiing in Queenstown, these can work out to be more cost-effective than multi-day passes. This is especially true if you book an early bird season pass.
For an even deeper discount, the September pass acts like a season pass valid from September 1st. If you ski 6 or more days, this Queenstown ski pass more than pays for itself.
In July and August, Coronet Peak remains open until 9pm every Wednesday and Friday. Night skiing is an iconic Queenstown experience, drawing locals and visitors to watch the sunset over the Wakatipu Basin and cut tracks on the floodlit runs.
The night skiing pass is separate from the Queenstown NZSki Pass. Either book an individual night ski pass or upgrade your day pass to a Twilight Pass for access to the slopes from 9 am – 9 pm.
If you don’t ski but want to experience the snow, book a sightseeing lift pass to enjoy epic views and deep powder. These lift passes offer a single return ride on the main ski field lift.
At Cardrona Alpine Resort, you can enjoy a refreshment at the outdoor bar located at the top of McDougall’s Chondola! And at Coronet Peak, a viewing platform provides a spacious area to take in the views over the Wakatipu Basin.
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