NZ 2025 Season Is All Go!
And some are saying the best start to the season in years…
Lifts started spinning on Saturday 14th June, and skiers and boarders were treated to a weekend of bluebird skies, incredible views and some of the best early-season riding conditions in recent years – with on-piste riding conditions mirroring mid-winter conditions!
Check out the highlights of opening weekend across Queenstown and Wanaka resorts in Mountainwatch’s Opening Weekend Snow Report below!
Opening Weekend Highlights
Coronet Peak came out swinging with what locals are calling their best start in 4 years. Perfect corduroy runs and snow bases hitting 60cm in spots had riders grinning from ear to ear.
The Remarkables delivered the goods with endless bluebird laps on Curvy Basin. The Alta chairlift and beginner carpets were running smooth, and their opening weekend Rail Jam showcased some serious early-season progression.
Cardrona Alpine Resort was looking fresh with major upgrades – a brand new base building and the game-changing six-seater Soho Express chairlift that is opening up 150 hectares of brand-new terrain VERY SOON. The new T-Bar was in action, with park rats stoked for easy access to lightning-fast laps.
Treble Cone is yet to open, but they provided some updates of 17cm of fresh snow forecast over the next week. Those legendary steep bowls and natural gullies are calling! Open date is at the end of this month on June 27th.
Excited for what’s to come!
There’s still plenty to look forward to across the season, we’ve included some of the things we’re most looking forward to below!
Night Skiing kicking off at Coronet Peak – JUNE 25TH
Nothing beats night laps under the lights at Coronet Peak. A pop-up session was a great taster of what’s to come last Wednesday but the full night skiing schedule kicks off this week (on Wednesday 25 June). More information can be found on Coronet Peak’s website here.
Soho Basin Grand-Opening at Cardrona – JUNE 28TH
Cardrona is about to become New Zealand’s biggest ski resort! The long-awaited Soho Basin opens as soon as there’s enough snow, unleashing a massive 150 hectares of brand-new terrain that’ll bump the resort to 615 hectares total. Get ready for what’s shaping up to be Cardrona’s biggest session ever – this is going to be absolutely epic!
40 Years of Remarkables Celebrations Galore
The Remarkables are celebrating their 40th birthday, and we’re all invited! Join the celebration with epic events running throughout the season, plus a seriously nostalgic campaign that’ll hit you right in the feels. Four decades of legendary mountain memories – and we’re just getting started!
Snow Machine Festival takes over Queenstown – SEPTEMBER 9TH – 14TH
Snow Machine is back in September and it’s going to be absolutely massive! Four days of on-mountain après stages across Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, one of the biggest lineups ever, plus wild side events and adrenaline activities that’ll that your Queenstown experience to the next level.
Can’t choose between a ski holiday or festival? Get both with all-in-one packages starting at just $1,099pp (including accommodation, festival passes, and lift tickets) – but they’re selling fast, so don’t sleep on this!
Still haven’t booked? There’s still time!
We still have a variety of fully customisable package deals for Queenstown, Wanaka, and Mt Hutt. Click below to request your free, no-obligation quote and get planning today!
