Ski & Snowboarding Packages

Winter in New Zealand’s Southern Lakes Region offers far more than a traditional ski holiday. From luxury accommodation in Wānaka, Queenstown and Arrowtown, to guided mountain experiences, private transport and exceptional dining, our local team can help arrange every detail of your stay.

Wānaka sits between two of the South Island’s best ski fields: Cardrona, 34km via the Crown Range, has the best ski school, the best park and has the largest skiable area in the country, and Treble Cone, 18km from town, with the more dramatic terrain, arguably more challenging runs and demanding off-piste action for those who are here for the powder.

Queenstown serves up ski and snowboarding options at The Remarkables and on Coronet Peak. “Remarks” has a huge local fan base for its variety across the ski field and challenging terrain for more advanced skiers. Coronet is popular with beginners and has a reputable ski school as well as some longer runs to keep your legs working hard.

Whether you’re planning to ski Cardrona, Treble Cone, The Remarkables or Coronet Peak, or looking to venture further into the backcountry by helicopter, we’ll help create a winter holiday itinerary that suits your interests and pace. A Release NZ ski package brings the logistics together so the days on the mountain don’t compete with the arrangements around them. We arrange for your equipment to be delivered and fitted by a gear expert, we’ll point you to the best lift passes, organise the right 4WD for the drive up the mountain, and recommend the après ski too. Our Travel Fixer team is your on-the-ground expert.

Family ski packages

Wānaka is a superb base for a family ski holiday. Cardrona’s ski school takes children from about age 3 and runs structured programmes for all ages and abilities. Older children and teenagers who already ski well tend to want to experience a day at Treble Cone, and you’ll love it there too.

Cardrona also has a creche for those who want to keep their youngest warm leaving you free to tackle this enormous snow playground.

Private lessons are available at either field. We’d recommend one for the first morning of a ski week regardless of where you sit on the ability spectrum, particularly if you’re moving from northern hemisphere ski runs to New Zealand all-field terrain for the first time.

Add a heli-ski day

For guests seeking access to New Zealand’s vast alpine terrain, heli-skiing offers a completely different winter experience. A heli-ski day slots naturally into the middle of a ski week, after a day or two on-piste to warm up your legs and find your snow reading.

Departing from Wānaka or Queenstown, heli-skiing provides access to remote mountain ranges, wide-open bowls and untouched snow far beyond the ski field boundaries. Private and small-group options are available, with experiences suited to both experienced powder skiers and confident intermediate riders.

Cat skiing offers another way to access untracked terrain, using specialised snowcats to reach backcountry runs throughout the Pisa Range and surrounding mountains. With fewer people on the mountain and no lift queues, it remains one of the Southern Lakes Region’s most rewarding winter experiences.

These experiences have limited capacity during peak season and are best secured well in advance of arrival. Availability is subject to snow conditions and avalanche warnings. Full detail on the Heli-Adventures page

Cross-country skiing and a giant snow playground

Wānaka truly has something for every snow-loving visitor. The Snow Farm provides access to stunning cross-country skiing terrain and is popular with locals and visitors who seek a different workout in the snow or whose knees seek something other than the demands of downhill runs.

With a full compliment of snow, the Snow Farm is a family-friendly winter playground ready for building snowmen, family snowball fights and sledging on inflatables. Access to this field is almost directly opposite access to Cardrona Alpine Resort and within a 30-minute drive of Wānaka or within an hour from Queenstown or Arrowtown.

A ski week in Wānaka

Day 1: Arrival at Queenstown Airport, collect the 4WD, transfer to Wānaka. Equipment delivered to the property. Early night.

Day 2: Cardrona for private lesson in the morning, if you’ve asked for one, and ski school for the kids.

Day 3: Treble Cone day for longer runs and off-piste action.

Day 4: Rest day – in-villa massage, a Bannockburn cellar door, or a slow walk along the lake. Private chef in the evening.

Day 5: Heli-ski day, booked in advance, weather-dependent. Fallback: Treble Cone.

Day 6: Treble Cone or Cardrona based on conditions, ski school commitments and where you’ve got unfinished business.

Day 7: Optional first tracks session at Cardrona. Return 4WD, transfer to Queenstown Airport.

Holiday homes for a cosy winter ski holiday in Wānaka

Underfloor heating and woodburners ensure our Wānaka holiday homes are warm and cosy for winter stays. Many of our homes also provide drying space for wet gear, and dedicated storage space for skis, snowboards and boots. Most of our vacation homes are within a 30-minute drive of at least one ski field – you really are that close to the snow when you stay with us.

Family homes sleeping six to eight guests Te Moana and Platinum Ridge

Award-winning builds for one-of-a-kind places to stay with your group include Roys Peak Farmhouse and The Brick House

Homes for large groups and multi-generational families include Ridgecrest and Korari House

When you enquire, tell us a little about the make-up of your group and we’ll shortlist two or three homes for you to consider first, save you browsing through them all. Or, if you’ve already find your ideal place to stay in Wānaka, let us know which it is and we’ll check availability against your preferred dates.

Ready to create your ski or snowboarding holiday in New Zealand?

We are too. Beyond skiing, our Travel Fixer team can arrange private airport transfers, vehicle hire, restaurant reservations, private chefs, spa treatments, wine tours, heli-sightseeing, snowmobile adventures and guided outdoor experiences throughout the Southern Lakes Region.

Many of our guests combine time on the ski fields with a broader winter itinerary exploring Wānaka, Queenstown, Arrowtown and Central Otago.

Contact us today to start planning your winter break:

ENQUIRE NOW