Queenstown's four ski fields compared: dates, passes, buses
Two mountains twenty minutes from town, two more over the Crown Range. The dates, the pass prices and the bus fares side by side, so you can pick the right one for the day you have.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 15 September 2026 · Corrected 15 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: Coronet Peak is closest (16 km, night skiing) and The Remarkables has the bigger terrain; both cost $180 a day on the NZSki Superpass and $36 return on the Ski Bus. Cardrona is the largest field in New Zealand, an hour away, from $184 a day, and Treble Cone is the expert’s mountain with the shortest season. Orbus does not go to any of them.
The four fields, side by side
| Field | From Queenstown | 2026 season | Adult day pass | Bus from Queenstown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronet Peak | 16 km, about 20 min | 13 Jun to 4 Oct 2026 (Snow Factory early opening 29 May to 12 Jun) | $180 adult (Superpass) | NZSki Ski Bus $36 adult return | Night ski Wed and Fri 4pm to 9pm, 24 Jun to 4 Sep 2026 (finished for 2026); First Tracks 8am to 9am, 29 Jun to 20 Sep 2026 |
| The Remarkables | 24 km, about 35 min | 13 Jun to 11 Oct 2026 (lifts opened 27 Jun after snowfall) | $180 adult (Superpass) | NZSki Ski Bus $36 adult return | Three terrain parks, freeride chutes; the Doolans expansion is proposed |
| Cardrona | 54 km, about 1 h | 26 Jun to 18 Oct 2026 (extended from 11 Oct) | From $184 adult single day; multi-day from $120 per day | Cardrona bus from Queenstown $45 adult return ($20 spring price from 1 Sep); free mountain-road shuttle from The Pines car park | 615 ha, NZ's largest ski area; biggest terrain park in the Southern Hemisphere |
| Treble Cone | Beyond Wanaka, about 1 h 30 min | 27 Jun to 27 Sep 2026 | From $184 adult single day (shared with Cardrona) | Cardrona and Treble Cone bus from Queenstown $45 adult return; free mountain-road shuttle | Off-piste terrain and NZ's longest groomed runs |
Prices are the adult figures published by the operators on the retrieval date; children, students and seniors are cheaper and online purchase discounts apply. Season dates are the operators’ published dates and every one of them is subject to snow.
Which one, for which day
- Half a day, or a first day: Coronet Peak. Twenty minutes from town, wide groomers, the First Timer package, and the only night skiing in New Zealand.
- Snow is falling and you want terrain: The Remarkables. Bowls, chutes and three parks, 24 km from town with the Ski Bus also picking up in Frankton.
- A full day and the biggest choice: Cardrona. 615 hectares, the park and pipe capital, an hour’s drive or the $45 bus. Book ahead in the July school holidays.
- Steep, off-piste, experienced: Treble Cone, with the shortest season (closes 27 September in 2026) and the longest groomers.
Getting up the hill without a car
Orbus covers the basin, not the mountains. NZSki’s Ski Bus leaves 9 Duke Street from 7:30am for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, $36 return for anyone 6 and over, $15 for children 3 to 5, free under 2; Remarkables buses also pick up at Frankton from 9:45am, and returns start from 1pm and 1:30pm. In the 2026 night-ski season (1 July to 4 September) the Night Ski bus ran from Duke Street at 12pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm on night-ski days. Cardrona and Treble Cone run a Queenstown bus with multiple pickups, $45 adult return ($20 on the spring price from 1 September), and a free mountain-road shuttle from The Pines car park for drivers who would rather not do the access road.
The same coach seats, and Cardrona’s pass-plus-transport packages, are also sold through Klook. The prices below are what klook.com showed on 2026-09-10 and are not always cheaper than the operator’s own; compare before you book.
Transport to Coronet Peak
Seasonal · return coach from Queenstown
From NZ$49 per person on Klook, price checked 2026-09-10
We earn a commission if you book through this link.
Transport to The Remarkables
Seasonal · return coach from Queenstown
From NZ$49 per person on Klook, price checked 2026-09-10
We earn a commission if you book through this link.
Cardrona ski packages
Seasonal · lift pass with the Queenstown bus
From NZ$184 per person on Klook, price checked 2026-09-10
We earn a commission if you book through this link.
Cardrona first-timer ski or snowboard package
Seasonal · lesson, rental and lift
From NZ$249 per person on Klook, price checked 2026-09-10
We earn a commission if you book through this link.
Driving: chains may be required on all four access roads when signposted; rental firms hire them, and the car guide covers when a rental earns its keep.
Questions people ask
Which ski field is closest to Queenstown?
Coronet Peak, 16 km and about 20 minutes from the town centre. The Remarkables is 24 km, Cardrona is 54 km and about an hour, and Treble Cone is beyond Wanaka, around an hour and a half.
When does the Queenstown ski season run in 2026?
Coronet Peak 13 June to 4 October (with an early Snow Factory opening from 29 May), The Remarkables 13 June to 11 October (lifts opened 27 June), Cardrona 26 June to 18 October after an extension, and Treble Cone 27 June to 27 September. All dates depend on snow.
How much is a day lift pass in Queenstown?
NZSki's Superpass for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables is $180 per adult day in 2026. Cardrona and Treble Cone start at $184 for a single adult day, dropping to $120 a day on multi-day passes and $105 a day on the spring pass from 1 September.
How much is the ski bus from Queenstown?
The NZSki Ski Bus to Coronet Peak or The Remarkables is $36 return for adults (6 and over), $15 for children 3 to 5, free under 2, leaving 9 Duke Street from 7:30am. The Cardrona and Treble Cone bus from Queenstown is $45 adult return, $20 on the spring price from 1 September.
Is there a public bus to the ski fields?
No. Orbus does not go up the mountain roads. The ski areas run their own paid buses from central Queenstown, and Cardrona and Treble Cone add a free shuttle from their base car parks up the access road.
Can you ski at night in Queenstown?
Yes, at Coronet Peak, in season: in 2026 Night Ski ran 4pm to 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 July to 4 September, plus Saturdays 11 and 18 July, with a dedicated Night Ski bus from 9 Duke Street. It has finished for the 2026 season and returns next winter.
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Sources: Coronet Peak (opens in a new tab), The Remarkables Ski Bus (opens in a new tab), Cardrona and Treble Cone, getting here (opens in a new tab), Cardrona lift passes (opens in a new tab) and Snowfall.co.nz, 2026 opening dates (opens in a new tab), retrieved 3 September 2026. Season dates and prices are the operators' published 2026 figures; 2027 dates and prices will be re-checked when announced, usually in April. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.