With the coldest parts of winter behind them, Queenstown and its surrounding slopes – The Remarkables and Coronet Peak – are leaning all the way in to those longer days and optimal conditions. Spring has always had main character energy in New Zealand with late season snow storms.
The crowds on the slopes are non-existent, the snow is soft and more playful, and there’s plenty of terrain on offer thanks to a run of recent storms that rolled through and topped up the snow across both mountains. New Zealand is clearly mother nature’s favourite child this antipodean season.
While the Aussie skiers cry into our waterproof jackets, mourning the 2026 spring skiing season we’ve missed out on, our friends over the ditch in Aotearoa are busy having a ball. If you’re feeling like you didn’t get enough turns in through the Aussie season, it’s really not too late to jump over and make the most of the favouritism.
Here are our insider tips for booking one last adventure before the resorts close in October.
You don’t need any more than a long weekend
But Snowsbest, I don’t have any annual leave left, we hear you cry. And we know, because all skiers and snowboarders have the same problem: our hearts lie with getting back to the mountains as much as physically possible rather than slogging away at a desk.
This is why Queenstown is optimal. You don’t need a week off because you might be able to get away with a single day off. Hop on a Friday flight out of Sydney/Brisbane/Melbourne/the Gold Coast, land in Queenstown in time for après.
Speaking of après, did we mention the ski-in Aperol Ice Bars at both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, which will be pumping (weather dependent) for the rest of the season. Think Italian beach club but right in the middle of the mountains, promising a “spritz that’s colder than your ex’s heart” paired with unbeatable views. Vibe.
As for the rest of your weekend: roll into more laps through Saturday/Sunday, with evenings spent traipsing around town and making the most of everything that’s to love about the Queenstown après scene this season (click here for our latest guide to all the hot spots as of winter 2026, from bathhouses to speakeasy bars).
Fly back last thing Sunday on a 4.30pm flight and you’re back at work first thing Monday, all buzzed from the fresh laps you found, still dreaming of those slopeside aperols…
But what are conditions like?
As of this week, The Remarkables is the locals’ top pick: an upper snow depth of 130cm, with almost 2.4m total snowfall over the season and all 35 runs and four parks open. And with Snow Machine winter music festival currently pumping for party time across the mountain, expect DJs to be spinning right now while the lifts are turning.
But Coronet Peak isn’t far behind, with all 38 runs open and their two terrain parks ready to go. The base is healthy and the snowpack is beautifully firm for groomers in the morning, softening up in the afternoon as the sun does her thing. The Snow Machine DJs are also there, all the way until September 13.
Spring skiing at either resort comes with a side of perks right now, just for scanning your lift pass. The Spring Shred Challenge has kicked off as of September 1, and it’s basically free stuff for doing what you were going to do anyway, with a freebie handed out every three days.
Ski your first three days and get a free regular hot drink of your choice; ski six days and enjoy a pie and coke; ski nine days and score $25 MyPass Money to spend in the retail stores, cafés and restaurants, or an NZSki product; and finally, at 12 days, you nab yourself a free Ski or Snowboard Tune in the on-mountain workshop to use on your much-loved gear.
Cheap as mountainside hot chups
Best news yet. If there was ever a time to nab the best value of the whole season, it’s now.
As of September 1, Spring Passes are on sale with five, six, and unlimited day options starting from just $100 NZD a day, or about $85 AUD per day. You can choose your days at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, or even venture over to Mt Hutt in Canterbury.
There’s also the Superpass, which gets you skiing from $120 NZD a day (the most you’ll pay is $180 NZD for just one day, which is less than $150 AUD).
Fully flexible, it offers access to 12 ski areas across the country (including fab under-the-radar resorts like Ōhau and Roundhill), or you can swap ski days for other adventures should plans change: the stunning Tekapo Springs, the Methven golf course (widely regarded as one of the country’s best), Insta-worthy Watershed Saunas on the edge of Lake Whakatipu, jet boating, bungy, the list goes on…
Still open through the school holidays
Good news for families and anyone squeezing in a last-minute trip. Both mountains are open right through the spring school holidays, so there’s no need to rush or juggle term dates to make it work.
- Coronet Peak’s closing day: 4 October
- The Remarkables closing day: 11 October
That gives you weeks of runway left to plan a trip, whether it’s a quick solo mission, a couples getaway, or the whole family piling along for one last hurrah before the lifts stop turning for the season.
How to book on in
If you’ve been sitting on the fence about one more trip across the Tasman, consider this your sign. Spring at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables is ticking every box right now; quick flights, fresh snowfall, bargain passes, freebies just for showing up, and not to mention spritz o’clock.
Start by clicking here to shop spring passes for Coronet Peak or here to shop spring passes for the Remarkables.
