Coronet Peak was New Zealand’s first commercial ski resort to open and is popular due to its proximity to bustling Queenstown. Coronet doesn’t receive huge amounts of annual snowfall but makes up for this with great snow cannon coverage. Coronet Peak ski area would be an ideal place to learn or to progress on the intermediate terrain before heading to the more challenging Remarkables ski area. Coronet Peak is the only Queenstown ski resort that offers night-skiing and it is popular with skiers and snowboarders every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the season.

Coronet Peak First Impressions

The drive up to Coronet Peak is impressive and once parked you will find a modern ski resort. The base lodge has everything you would expect at a world-class ski resort. Walking through the base area and up the stairs, you are met by the Coronet Express Chair. Newly installed in 2019, the Coronet Express Chair takes you from base to summit in just a few minutes. After a couple of runs, it is obvious that the piste grooming at Coronet Peak is some of the best in New Zealand. The terrain at Coronet Peak is mostly aimed at intermediates however there are some steeps and a designated beginner area.

Coronet Peak Ski Resort

If you are used to the ski resorts of Europe you may be slightly dismayed when looking at the piste map for Coronet Peak. The Coronet Express Chairlift takes you from the base area to the top of the resort, a mere 460m of vertical drop. One positive is that the Express chairlift is fast so you can lap the terrain pretty quickly.

Coronet Peak has three chairlifts that provide access to its 40km of trails, including one to service the mellow beginner slopes. In addition, there are also surface lifts and T-bar at Coronet Peak. Although the majority of the trails at Coronet Peak are aimed at intermediate skiers and snowboarders, there is some fun to be had to the sides of the pistes should the conditions allow. Pay particular attention to the conditions report as you could easily find yourself with an issue. There are some steep runs around the resort with The Hurdle having a nice pitch.

Intermediates will love the Blue graded pistes of the Greengates Express Chairlift which take you back down to car park number 2. The runs off Greengates Express were quieter so this may be an area to head to get away from the crowds.

First-time skiers and snowboarders will find Little Easy and Big Easy runs the perfect place to practice those beginner turns at Coronet Peak. To have these slopes surfaced by the Meadows Express chair is a benefit to learning at Coronet over nearby Remarkables whose beginners area is serviced by magic carpets.

Coronet Peak Stats

Coronet Peak ski resort is one of two commercial ski resorts in the town of Queenstown on New Zealands South Island. In total there are 40km of slopes to ride at Coronet Peak and some of the key mountain stats are below.

Total Pistes - 40 km

Beg / Int / Adv - 8km / 16km / 16km

Highest Point - 1649m

Base Area -1229m

Coronet Peak Night skiing

Night skiing at Coronet Peak is pretty epic with runs open from the summit to the base area, live music, and competitions. Night skiing at Coronet Peak takes place every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday between 4 pm and 9 pm. Night skiing is the perfect opportunity to watch the sunset over Lake Wakatipu just remember to wear that extra layer.

Coronet Peak Piste Map

Coronet Peak is divided into three main areas. To skiers right you have the Greengates Express chairlift, which has a number of great intermediate and advanced runs that are open during the day but not for night skiing. The main area of the resort is central and covers everything under the Coronet Express chairlift. This area is suitable for all abilities with advanced snowboarders able to access the Back Bowls and beginners heading to Arnolds way direct from the same chair. The final area is to skiers left and consists of some advanced runs only accessible via the Rocky Gully T-Bar.

Lifts At Coronet Peak

At Coronet Peak ski resort there are three chairlifts; Coronet Express, Greengates, Meadows Express, and the Rocky Gully T-Bar. There is also further surface lifts in the beginner area.

Meadows Express is a slow quad chair that accesses the beginner terrain at Coronet Peak. This lift is mainly used for lessons so can become crowded during peak times. From the top of Meadows Express beginners can access Little Easy and Big Easy, two gentle green pistes to practice those turns.

The Coronet Express is the most popular lift at Coronet Peak and takes snowboarders and skiers from the base of the resort to the summit. This lift was newly installed in 2019 and is pretty effective at preventing queues even during peak periods. The Coronet Express is a six-seater chair and also is able to support gondolas.

Our favourite lift at Coronet Peak is the Greengates Express. The Greengates express is a fast six-seater chair that is less busy than the rest of the resort. Laps on the Greengates side can consist of a mixture of blue, red, and black terrain on the same lap.

Coronet Peak Snow Record

Ok, I am going to deliver a pretty disappointing stat here but don’t click away. Coronet Peak receives an average of 2m of natural snowfall a season. This doesn’t quite reflect the quality of snow at Coronet Peak as the resort team does a great job of snowmaking and grooming. The coverage on-piste during my extended visit was good, although the off-piste areas were pretty bare.

Coronet Peak Season Dates

The ski season at Coronet Peak runs from June - September although good years can see it remain open into October. As discussed earlier, Coronet is not blessed with a great amount of natural snowfall so it relies heavily on cold temps and snowmaking.

Coronet Peak Lift Tickets

A Coronet Peak ski pass can be expensive if you do not plan ahead. The most cost-effective way to enjoy a snowboard trip to Coronet Peak is to purchase the 3 Peak Season Pass. The Three Peak season pass offers access to both Queenstown resorts of The Remarks and Coronet Peak as well as Mt Hutt near Christchurch. When brought in advance the 3 peak pass will cost $699 NZD for unlimited winter access.

Alternatively, you can pay by the day however expect to pay upwards of $100NZD per day. For the latest lift pass prices click here.

Travel To Coronet Peak

Getting To New Zealand

With most international flights operating into Christchurch, this may be your best access point to the South Island. If you can, I would highly recommend flights into Queenstown as firstly you have direct access from Queenstown to the resorts of The Remarkables and Coronet Peak, but equally importantly it is one of the most scenic airports in the world. Flying into Queenstown is something I will not forget in a hurry. That being said if Mt Hutt is your only ski goal then flying into Christchurch makes more sense.

Check the latest flight prices here.

Where is Coronet Peak?

Coronet Peak is the closest ski resort to Queenstown and is a short drive from the town center. Expect a 20-30 minute drive, although this may increase after a snowfall. The drive is around 20 km and is on well-established roads.

Accessing Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak is a short drive from Queenstown and with the best access road out of the 3 Peak Pass resorts, driving is the best option. If you don’t have the option to drive then buses do run from various downtown Queenstown locations but I thought the prices were fairly steep. Hitching or rideshare is possible.

Coronet Peak Accommodation

Most people stay in downtown Queenstown which has accommodations ranging from hostels to more deluxe apartments on the Lake. One benefit of staying in Queenstown is that you also have the option to ski at the nearby Remarkables ski area.

During my trip, I split time between the Freedom Camping site at Kawaru Bridge where you are allowed 4 nights within a month.

Coronet Peak Pros

Coronet Peak offers night skiing three evenings a week.
Coronet Peak’s extensive snowmaking ensures the piste retains good coverage even in lean snow years.
Coronet Peak’s new Coronet Express chairlift is fast allowing for quick laps.
A 3 Peaks pass is value for money especially on the early bird deal and includes night skiing at Coronet Peak.
The views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu are worth the chairlift ride in itself.
Coronet Peak Cons
Low annual snowfall meaning Coronet Peak has a reliance on snow-making
Expensive coach transfer from Queenstown so if self-drive isn’t an option consider hitching to Coronet Peak.
With a very short vertical drop crowds can gather at the base during peak weeks. The new Coronet Express chairlift has helped reduce this during busy periods.

Nearby Coronet Peak Activities

Grab A Fergburger

Possibly New Zealand’s most famous burgers there are not many better places to have a post skiing dinner than Fergburger. Be sure to book in advance or be prepared to queue.

Adventure Capital Of The World

If you are taking a day off snow then Queenstown is the place to be. There is an endless list of activities to enjoy in Queenstown with the Shotover Jet Boat and the Skyline Luge particular favourites.

Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand’s longest lake at 50miles in length and is one of Queenstown’s most stunning natural landmarks. There are loads of great ways to see Lake Wakatipu from cruises to scenic lookouts, our favourite a bbq at the beach.

Sightseeing

Coronet Peak has more to offer than just skiing and snowboarding. A trip to the Peak as a foot passenger is a must to take in the views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. From the sightseeing deck you will be able to see the Wakatipu Basin and the spectacular Southern Alps.

Tobogganing

Coronet Peak also offers Tobogganing in its snow play area with toboggans available to rent from the base area.

Coronet Peak Frequently Asked Questions

Which Is Better The Remarkables Or Coronet Peak?

This will completely depend on what you are looking for from your Queenstown ski experience. For us, snowboarding at both was worthwhile and pretty easy to do. The Remarks is great for terrain parks of hiking into off-piste areas whereas Coronet Peak is better for cruising the pistes. Coronet Peak also offers night skiing which is an added bonus.

How Far Is Coronet Peak From Queenstown?

Coronet Peak is 16kms from Queenstown making it the closest resort to the adventure capital of the world. The drive is easy and recommended as the resort buses are a complete rip-off.

Is Coronet Peak Good For Beginners?

The beginner's area under the Meadows Express chair is a great place to learn to ski or snowboard. Coronet Peak has its own ski school with instructors from around the world bringing a wealth of experience. One of the great parts of learning at Coronet Peak is there is green terrain accessible from the summit so beginners can explore the whole mountain.

Coronet Peak Videos

Coronet Peak Links

If you are planning to visit Coronet Peak then here are some useful links that can help you get the most out of your trip. If you want to check the Coronet Peak Webcam and stay on top of the Coronet Peak weather then click here. This link is where you will find the latest Coronet Peak snow information and equally important information about the Coronet Peak access road.

For more general information consider checking out the Coronet Peak Website or their social channels on Twitter and Instagram. If you have any general questions, I would be happy to help so drop them down in the comment section.

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Oct 22 Coronet Peak Ski Resort Guide