New Zealand boasts about two dozen ski resorts, perfect for families wanting to hit the slopes. Some are large commercial operations with grand lodges, extensive ski schools and sophisticated snow-making equipment. Other are smaller club-operated enterprises, with limited facilities and a welcoming attitude to visiting families.
What’s better than one ski resort on a maunga (mountain)? Two! On the North Island, Mt Ruapehu is home to both Whakapapa and Tūroa.
Whakapapa and Turoa are The North Island’s two major commercial ski areas. The drive between ski fields is roughly 40 minutes and passes are completely interchangeable for both ski fields.
Taupo is the closest major town at about an hour away. In Taupo, there is jet boat rides, thermal pools, indoor rock climbing, geysers and a stunning lake to explore.
If you want to be closer to the action, stay in Ohakune which is accessible by train from Auckland. The kids will have a ball at the historic village of Rangataua with Ruapehu Homestead horse trekking which is catered specifically to young children. Or, set them loose in a quirky vegetable-themed playground at the Okahune Carrot Adventure Park.
Featuring the nation’s highest chairlift and longest vertical slope, Turoa is renowned for its natural playground of halfpipe-like bowls, gnarly kickers and smooth, wide runs. There’s a diverse range of terrain parks to suit all levels, as well as all-day ski lessons for little ones.
Turoa boasts the largest vertical drop of any resort in Australasia and is the tallest ski resort in New Zealand at 2,322 meters high.
Stats: 500 hectares of skiable terrain, 20% beginner, 55% intermediate, 25% advanced.
Ski School: Private and group kids’ lessons are available from age four for skiers and age six for snowboarders.
Babysitting: There is no on-mountain babysitting service available, but there are full day learn to ski packages for kids four years and up.
Terrain Park: Every ability is catered for, with beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain park features.
Ski hire: Rent skis, snowboards and clothing on the mountain, or in the nearby service towns of Ohakune or National Park.
Accommodation: There is no on-snow accommodation. Ohakune, 17 kilometres from Turoa ski area, is the North Island’s major après ski town for a range of accommodation, night life, shops and services. National Park, midway between the two ski areas, also has accommodation.
Transport: There is a park ‘n’ ride service available from Ohakune to Turoa, and from National Park to Whakapapa for $6 return.
Activities for kids: Sleds available for hire, indoor rock climbing.
Whakapapa boasts 550 hectares of skiable terrain, spectacular views from the Sky Waka gondola and the first-timer friendly Happy Valley area. Warm-up with a hot chocolate at New Zealand’s highest restaurant, the architecturally striking Knoll Ridge Café, which is perched 2,020 metres above sea level.
Happy Valley offers the largest learner’s area in New Zealand, which is serviced by a dedicated slower-speed chairlift. Compared to Turoa, Whakapapa terrain offers more narrow, steep shutes for intermediate and advanced skiers.
Stats: 550 hectares of ski lift-accessible and patrolled terrain with 25% beginner, 50% intermediate, 25% advanced.
Ski School: Private and group kids’ lessons are available from age four for skiers and six for snowboarders.
Babysitting: A babysitting referral service is offered for children under four and child mind is available for children aged 4 to 12 years.
Terrain Park: Two multi-ability terrain parks.
Ski hire: Rent skis, snowboards and clothing on the mountain or in the nearby service towns of Ohakune or National Park
Accommodation: There is no on-snow accommodation. Whakapapa village, 6 kilometres from the ski area, offers a range of accommodation from backpacker to luxury. Additional accommodation is available in National Park and Ohakune.
Transport: There is a park ‘n’ ride service available from Ohakune to Turoa, and from National Park to Whakapapa – $6 return.
Activities for kids: There is a sledding area in Happy Valley with its own designated carpet lift. Relax in hot pools and geothermal parks.
New Zealand’s largest concentration of ski resorts sits around the resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. This region is also home to dedicated snowboarding and cross country skiing field, Snow Farm. A little further north, an hour’s drive from Christchurch, Mt Hutt ski field is surrounded by a cluster of smaller club fields.
Coronet Peak is a haven of winter bucket-list activities and kids ages seven and under ski for free. You absolutely can’t miss the Night Ski sessions. Here, you’ll soak in panoramic sunsets before tearing up the floodlit slopes. The resort has a multi-million dollar base lodge and sophisticated snow-making facilities.
Location: 1649 metres above sea level, 18 kilometres from Queenstown
Stats: 280 hectares of skiable terrain, beginner 25%, intermediate 45%, advanced 30%
Ski School: Skiwiland Early Learning Centre takes children from three months up to five years, while Kea Club caters for skiers five-17 years, snowboarders eight-17 years. Packages can include all rental gear as well as lunch
Daycare: Skiwiland Early Learning Centre takes children from two years with a natural progression to Skiwiland ski instruction from three to five years of age.
Terrain Park: Two terrain parks plus kids fun zone
Ski hire: Queenstown offers the added flexibility of returning your rental equipment to either Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or downtown Queenstown Snow Centre, irrespective of where you picked it up
Transport: $20 return per person per day departing from either the Queenstown Snow Centre or selected Queenstown accommodation providers (at an additional cost)
Activities for kids: Sledding and free day lift passes for children aged five and under.
The Remarkables are a north facing, sunny aspect with wide open bowls, vast off-piste terrain and the Homeward Run back-country ski run. The resort offers free day lift passes for children aged 7 years and under.
Just 40 minutes from town, The Remarkables has one of only six Burton Stash Parks in the world, which gets park-loving kids frothing.
Location: 1943 metres, 28 kilometres/40 minutes from downtown Queenstown
Stats: 385 hectares of skiable terrain, with beginner 30%, intermediate 40%, advanced 30%
Ski School: Kea Club caters for skiers four-17 years and eight-17 years for snowboarders. Packages include rental gear and lunch.
Terrain Parks: Three freestyle terrain parks catering to all levels, as well as The Stash Burton signature terrain park.
Transport: $20 return per person per day departing from either the Queenstown Snow Centre or selected Queenstown accommodation providers (at additional cost)
Activities for kids: Introduced in 2018, the whole family will love the $30 sightseeing pass where you take a chairlift to a viewing platform for stunning photos, and ride back down again without having to ski or snowboard.
Cardrona Alpine Resort has terrain for everyone from absolute beginners to Olympic athletes. Nestled high in the Crown Range around 45 minutes from Queenstown and 20 minutes from Wanaka, the resort has a fun-filled family atmosphere and amazing ski and snowboard programs for kids. Snow bunnies as young as three months old are looked after in the Ski Kindy, while Skiwees (skiers from five years) and Lowriders (boarders from seven years) are full-day group lessons, with kids’ multi-day programs the ultimate way to develop skills
Known for its fantastically family-friendly programs and terrain, Cardrona also hosts the annual kids’ festival in September.
Location: Cardrona’s base area is 1670 metres above sea level between Wanaka and Queenstown
Stats: 345 hectares of skiable terrain with 25% percent beginner, 25% intermediate and 30% advanced, and 20% expert
Ski School: Group and private lessons, beginner and achievement packages including lift and rental, Ski Kindy for under-fives, Kids’ Club for five-14. A high performance centre caters for the more advanced. Kids can do ski or board lessons or a combination.
Babysitting: Yes – two licensed centres offering care from three months to five years as well as two Kids’ Clubs for five to 14 years. Bookings essential.
Terrain Park: The Southern Hemisphere’s most extensive terrain parks & pipes with four terrain parks for all levels, two halfpipes (one Olympic/World Cup standard), a gravity cross course & a big air jump.
Ski hire: at the mountain – includes skis and snowboards, boots, poles and executive range as well as clothing and repair service. Dedicated kids’ ski hire area available with ski school programs.
Accommodation: Bookings are essential to nab one of the 15 on-mountain apartments.
Transport: Shuttles run from both Wanaka and Queenstown daily as well as from the Pine Trees carpark (1-kilometre mark on the Cardrona road).
Activities for kids: Skiing, snowboarding, kids’ lunch & dinner menus, snow play (for kids booked into Ski Kindy), gondola rides, tubing (from September).
Known for its expert terrain, congestion-free slopes, long trails and the largest ski area and skiable terrain in the Southern Alps, Treble Cone also sports a race training academy. Wanaka is the closest town to Treble Cone. The resort also has a good beginner area at the base.
Location: Treble Cone base lodge is 1260 metres above sea level (summit peak 2088 metres). It’s the closest ski hill to Wanaka (26 kilometres – 35 minutes).
Stats: 550 hectares of skiable terrain with 10% beginner, 45% intermediate and 45% advanced
Ski School: TC Cat Kids Club caters for four to 15 year olds between 10am-3.15pm daily. Snowboarding lessons are avilable from age six. There are one-hour Kitty Cat Club lessons available for two- to four-year-olds with rentals included. Regular visitors can access a range of development programs and a kids’ camp.
Babysitting: Yes, the childcare centre takes children aged three years and up.
Terrain Park: Man-made park features including the Jazz Intermediate Park and Jazz Kids Trail. There are plenty of natural hits and pipes to enjoy. Treble Cone is renowned as a free skiing and riding mountain.
Rental Equipment hire: Yes, full ski and snowboard equipment available, hire jacket, pants and helmets also available
Accommodation: see above
Transport: Free daily bus services available from Wanaka (bookings essential on the website). Free daily shuttle (no bookings required) operates from the bottom of the ski area access road.
Mt Hutt has has been voted New Zealand’s best ski resort seven years in a row at the World Ski Awards. It has leg-burning runs and an average of four metres of annual snowfall per year. The resort is known for its long snow season, race training facilities and proximity to several club fields.
Location: At the base of the Southern Alps, one hour’s drive from Christchurch International Airport
Stats: 365 hectares (excludes Rakaia Saddle Chutes) skiable terrain, beginner/novice 25%, intermediate 50%, advanced 25%.
Summit height: 2086 metres.
Ski School: Skiwiland Early Learning Centre takes children from three months up to five years, while Kea Club caters for skiers five-17 years, snowboarders eight-17 years. Packages can include all rental gear as well as lunch
Daycare: Skiwiland Early Learning Centre takes children from three months with a natural progression to Skiwiland ski instruction from three to five years of age.
Terrain Park: Five freestyle terrain parks
Ski hire: On-snow and in Methven
Accommodation: Available in Methven, 25 kilometres from the base lodge. Brinkley Resort is great for families.
Methven is a smaller town with plenty of family accommodation and a great vibe. It is 40 minutes drive from the top of the mountain, with a stupendous view over the Mackenzie Basin.
Transport: Available through Methven-based transport companies
The Superpass gives you access to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt. You can also use your Superpass as credits for a range of fun off-mountain activities.
Mountain collective passes can be used for two days at both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.
Both centres offer oodles of child-friendly off-piste activities and a full range of accommodation options – expect to pay a premium for your bed.
Queenstown is the best known and most popular of the ski towns in New Zealand. There are direct flights from Australia to Queenstown, and from the city, the closest resort – Coronet Peak – is just a 20-minute trip. Read: The best things to do in Queenstown with kids
Top end: Millbrook Resort, The Rees Hotel Queenstown or Eichardts Private Hotel
Mid-range: The Rees Hotel Queenstown
Budget: Novotel Queenstown, Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park
Wanaka is smaller but equally as beautiful as Queenstown, and it has a range of great accommodation.
Top end: Whare Kea or Wanaka Luxury Apartments
Mid-range: Edgewater Resort or Oakridge Resort
Budget: Wanaka Hotel
Christchurch is packed with fun things to do for kids. It is under two hours’ drive from Mt Hutt, or 2.5 hours on the dedicated shuttle bus departing the city each morning. Peppers Clearwater Resort is a great family resort in Christchurch. If you drive from Christchurch to Wanaka or Queenstown, consider stopping in Tekapo. The town has hot pools, Instagramfamous lupin flowers and the incredible Church of the Good Shepherd Chapel on Lake Tekapo.
If you are looking for a small ski resort experience, the small, but super fun Ōhau ski resort is family-owned and operated. The affiliated Ōhau Lodge offers integrated early dinners for kids to make friends while parents relax over a drink at the neighbouring bar.
Visit snow.co.nz for a full list of New Zealands ski resorts, along with snow reports, forecasts and live webcam footage, plus news, travel and snow gear details.
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Hi there, based on this article I looked into booking lift tickets and skiwiland ski school & daycare for my kids but unfortunately they’re only offering daycare for children over 2 years old at Coronet Peak. Just thought I’d pass on so you can update your article for others.
Thanks!
Hi Angie,
Thank you so much for letting us know and our apologies for giving you the wrong information! We have updated the post and hope you have a wonderful holiday.