The Powderhounds awards for the best skiing in Queenstown provide an indication of what we view as the top Queenstown ski resorts and the best Queenstown heli skiing. We’ve broken the best Queenstown ski fields by terrain for different ability levels, snow and other factors such as proximity to town. Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are definitely considered Queenstown ski resorts, and Cardrona seems to claim to be part of the flock despite being a little further afield (60 minutes drive). Treble Cone is more of a Wanaka ski field than belonging to Queenstown (it’s a 90 minute drive) so we’ve referred to it in brackets.

Best Queenstown Ski Resort

• Overall best ski resort in Queenstown (based on a variety of factors): Cardrona
• Powder hound field (based on advanced/expert terrain, snow quality & quantity, and lack of people riding off-piste): (Treble Cone), The Remarkables
• Best beginner ski resort: all 3 Queenstown ski resorts are fantastic for beginners but if we had to choose then Cardrona
• Best intermediate terrain: Coronet Peak
• Best advanced terrain: (Treble Cone), The Remarkables  
• Best expert slopes: (Treble Cone), The Remarkables (mostly hike-to terrain), Cardrona (if you don’t want to hike)
• Best off-piste: (Treble Cone), Cardrona
• Most uncrowded: they’re all very busy - (Treble Cone), The Remarkables
• Lift infrastructure: Coronet Peak
• Best terrain park: Cardrona, The Remarkables

Snow

• Best snow: (Treble Cone), Cardrona

Other

• Cost: all of the Queenstown ski resorts are rather pricey compared to the rest of NZ
• Best family resort: all 3 of the Queenstown ski fields are very family oriented but if we had to pick - Cardrona
• Closest to Queenstown: Coronet Peak
• Best access road: Coronet Peak
• Best day lodge: The Remarkables
• Best views: Coronet Peak

Best Queenstown Heli Skiing

• Top heli skiing in Queenstown: Harris Mountains Heliski

For more information on how we rate the Queenstown ski resorts compared to others in New Zealand, see the Powderhounds’ New Zealand ski resorts ratings. For more info on the NZ heli ski operations, see our best New Zealand heli skiing page.