By Liam Naden
New Zealand Travel Expert, about.com
Recent investment in the Coronet Peak ski area has made it one of the best places in New Zealand for skiing and snowboarding. It is the oldest commercial ski field in New Zealand and opened in 1947. Due to its proximity to Queenstown it is one of the most popular ski resorts in the country.
Coronet Peak Location
Coronet Peak is one of
the closest ski resorts to Queenstown. It is 18 kilometers/11 miles
northeast of the town and just 7 kilometers/4.4 miles west of Arrowtown.
The ski area is on the southern side of the mountain (1,649 meters
high) and has commanding views of the Remarkables mountain range,
Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
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Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain and Runs at Coronet Peak
Coronet
Peak has some of the best terrain and runs in New Zealand, covering 280
hectares. It is a mix of Beginners (25%), Intermediate (45%) and
Advanced (30%).
Coronet Peak Facilities
In 2008, $30 million was spent to create state-of-the-art ski facilities.
The base building area has three dining options, a
cafe, a restaurant and an outdoor lunch bar. Away from the base, at the
bottom of the Rocky Gully T-bar lift is another restaurant called
Heidi's Hut; this serves Italian cuisine and is also open in the
evenings. A meal here can make for a memorable night out, with an open
fire and panoramic views down to Lake Wakatipu and the lights of
Queenstown.
Coronet Peak also offers full rental gear, a number of
shops and of course toilets and changing rooms. Free wi-fi is also
available in and around the base building.
When to Visit Coronet Peak
The
most extensive system of snowmaking in New Zealand means that Coronet
Peak has one of the longest seasons of any field in the country. It
generally runs from mid June until mid October.
New Zealand school
holiday periods and weekends are the busy times, where there will be
queues for most lifts. The rest of the time it can feel positively
quiet, so if you have the option, visit mid week outside the holidays.
Getting There
It takes approximately 20 minutes to drive from Queenstown to Coronet Peak.
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access road up the mountain is one of the best of any ski resort in New
Zealand. The entire road surface is sealed and the gradient is
relatively easy. This makes it driveable even for motorhomes, campervans
and buses. Chains are not always required, although should be carried
just in case. The alternative to driving there is to catch a
shuttle bus from Queenstown, These depart regularly throughout the day
and have many collection and drop off points, including many of the
hotels. The Snowline Express leaves from the Queenstown Snow Center in
the middle of town, every 20 minutes during the peak times. The cost is
$15 return per person ($30 per person for hotel pickup, although this is
subject to availability.
Accommodation
The
best place to stay is Queenstown, which has a huge range of
accommodation options. There are also a few places near Arrowtown. At
peak times, make sure you book your accommodation in advance as
vacancies can be scarce during these times.
- Queenstown Accommodation, including Rates and Bookings
- Arrowtown Accommodation, including Rates and Bookings
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit to Coronet Peak
Coronet
Peak is a world-class resort and has some of the best skiing and
snowboarding in New Zealand for all levels of ability. A few tips to
make your experience more enjoyable are:
- Check the weather report daily. Conditions can change quickly so make sure you know what you are in for. A snow report is posted at around 6.30am daily on the Coronet Peak website.
- Take your sunscreen. The New Zealand sun is very harsh, even on cloudy days. Don't spoil your holiday by getting burnt.
- Ski to your level. There are runs for all level of ability at Coronet Peak. Choose a slope that matches your skill level and be safe.
- Take in some of the other sights and activities of the Queenstown area. Queenstown is known as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand and there is an amazing selection of things to see and do. If the weather turns bad, or you feel like a break from skiing or snowboarding, there are many other fun ways to occupy your holiday in Queenstown.
