Treble Cone
Treble Cone Ski Resort Review
Many South Island skiers will tell you that Treble Cone ski resort has a bit of a culture of arrogance and superiority. However the resort has the right to think they’re pretty good considering the great ski terrain on offer. They must be good because the Powderhounds have given Treble Cone a “
best skiing in New Zealand” award for the terrain!
Other than the terrain, Treble Cone is also renowned for its spectacular scenery. Treble Cone ski resort sits on the side of a steep mountain, and you get the feeling of standing on the edge of the world as you look out across Lake Wanaka and across to Mt Aspiring.
TC Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Treble Cone has some impressive statistics when it comes to size, and we all know that bigger is better! Treble Cone is the largest ski area on the South Island of New Zealand at 550 hectares, and TC has the longest vertical drop at 700 metres.
Treble Cone also has the highest recorded average annual snowfall of the
New Zealand ski resorts, and at 5.5 metres per season, hard-core powderhounds will be pretty happy with what Treble Cone has to offer.
With 45% of the ski terrain rated as advanced or expert, TC also has the highest proportion of black runs in New Zealand (equal with
Craigieburn club field). And the black runs seem more challenging than the average NZ or Australian black diamond run, so there’s plenty of gnarly steep terrain to test any experienced skier or snowboarder.
Intermediate riders also love Treble Cone for its steep leg-burning groomers. Match this with a 6-person express lift, and you are guaranteed to get plenty of vertical under your belt each day.
Only 10% of the terrain is dedicated to beginners. This is adequate, but there are probably better nearby ski resorts for those on the “L” plates. To attract novices, Treble Cone offers first-timer packages that are cheaper than some of the other commercial ski resorts.
Where is Treble Cone?
Treble Cone is located within the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, 26km from the town of
Wanaka (a 30-35 minute drive). The vibrant town of
Queenstown is 90km away.
The 7km access road up to Treble Cone is somewhat harrowing. It’s windy, steep, unfenced and unsealed, and it’s necessary to carry chains. For those who don’t want to self-drive, it’s possible to get a shuttle from Wanaka or Queenstown, or from the base of the access road.
There are plans underway to build a gondola from the base of the mountain up to the day lodge, to remove the necessity of a scary drive. This would significantly improve the quality of the Treble Cone experience and would assist the resort in fulfilling its vision of catering to the upmarket skier.
Treble Cone Accommodation
Like most New Zealand ski resorts, there is no on-mountain accommodation at Treble Cone. Staying in the town of
Wanaka is the best option. Situated on the shores of Lake Wanaka, Wanaka is a chic and stylish town.
Wanaka accommodation is of an extraordinary standard, and in addition to a few resort hotels, Wanaka has a large range of opulent bed and breakfast lodges. For the budget oriented there are also various Wanaka backpackers.
Some skiers also stay in
Queenstown which is a 90 minute drive away from Treble Cone.
Queenstown is a small city located on the picturesque Lake Wakapitu. Tourist activities abound including adventure activities like bungy jumping. The nightlife is also world famous.
Queenstown accommodation options are prolific and range from 5-star resort hotels to backpackers.
Why Ski or Snowboard at Treble Cone?
Treble Cone is renowned for awesome powder days and being a great playground for experts. Be a conehead and go skiing or snowboarding at Treble Cone.
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
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Blue Powder Tours - Snow Travel Specialists
Blue Powder Tours specialise in individual & group tours to your favourite ski destinations in NZ. We have personal experience of skiing at Wanaka / Treble Cone & can tailor a tour to your budget.
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