An essential family-friendly guide to New Zealand ski resorts

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. Visit snow.co.nz for a full list, along with snow reports, forecasts and live webcam footage, plus news, travel and snow gear details.

Fast facts

North Island

Mt Ruapehu hosts the North Island’s two major commercial ski areas, Whakapapa and Turoa. Taupo, the closest major town, is about an hour away. The drive between ski fields is roughly 40 minutes and passes are completely interchangeable for both ski fields.

Turoa

Turoa is known for its wide, open runs and boasts the largest vertical drop of any resort in Australasia. Its also 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

Whakapapa’s 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.

South Island

New Zealand’s largest concentration of major commercial ski areas 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 hours drive from Christchurch, Mt Hutt ski field is surrounded by a cluster of smaller club fields.

Mt Hutt

Mt Hutt has wide-ranging terrain. It’s 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

Transport: Available through Methven-based transport companies

Queenstown and Wanaka

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.

Accommodation Queenstown:

Top end: Millbrook Resort or Eichardts Private Hotel
Mid-range: The Rees Hotel Queenstown
Budget: Novotel Queenstown

Accommodation Wanaka

Top end: Whare Kea or Wanaka Luxury Apartments
Mid-range: Edgewater Resort or Oakridge Resort
Budget: Wanaka Hotel

Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak has a multi-million dollar base lodge and sophisticated snow-making facilities. Kids ages five and under ski for free.

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

The Remarkables are a north facing, sunny aspect with wide open bowls, vast off-piste terrain and the Homeward Run back-country ski run. Offers free day lift passes for children aged 10 years and under.

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

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).