• Scout Loves & Scout Tips
• Scout Review
• Coronet Peak Accommodation
• Getting There and Around

• When To Go
• Facts & Figures

Scout Review

If you’ve spoken to anyone who has skied in New Zealand, they’ve probably experienced Coronet Peak. At just 20 minutes from Queenstown, it’s one of the country’s most popular resorts and it’s easy to understand why. The mountain has some of the most extensive lift and snow-making facilities in New Zealand and it’s well suited to beginners and intermediates. A huge base-area lodge has ample bar and dining zones, including an outdoor deck with several food options. The buses stop just outside and inside it’s organized and well resourced – everything you need is right there including lift tickets, rentals, shops and ski school.

Coronet Peak doesn’t get much snow, just 2m on average a year (hence the excellent snow-making facilities). Like all ski areas in New Zealand, there are no trees so the slopes are exposed and sometimes the weather can make conditions treacherous. But the views are fantastic and when the snow’s good, this mountain can dish up some super fun skiing.

Coronet Peak’s not huge, but the layout means a skier can easily explore different runs without getting bored. On a powder day, venture to the Rock Gully T-bar area where there are fewer crowds. It’s often used as the training area for overseas ski teams so it can be a fun place to watch excellence in action. Just watching them is enough to make you exhausted, and there’s no better place to recover than Heidi’s Hut, a European-style warming hut and restaurant at the bottom of the T-bar with delicious pizza and pasta – some of the best on-mountain dining in New Zealand.

Coronet Peak Accommodation

The only accommodation at the base of Coronet Peak is in private lodges. There are plenty of options in Queenstown just 20 minutes away, and a few in Arrowtown, about 15-20 minutes.

Scout does not sell New Zealand ski packages. This is an information only page.

Getting There and Around

Compared to other ski resorts, the drive to Coronet Peak will seem like a piece of cake. A paved (yes paved!) road turns off the Queenstown–Arrowtown road and winds its way up to the resort. Several car parks are serviced by a shuttle bus that runs on constant loop to the base area. There are various companies operating shuttle buses from Queenstown to Coronet which is a much easier way to travel, though there can sometimes be a wait at peak times.

When To Go

Coronet Peak has the longest season of all the New Zealand resorts, opening in early June and ending in the first week of October. The most reliable skiing is in late July and August.