Snowboarding And Skiing At The Remarkables, Queenstown, New Zealand
This blog was originally published in August 2016 and updated in August 2021.
The first thing you notice about The Remarkables is the incredible vista. The rock faces, jutting mountains, and bowls will get you amped before you've even parked the car! NZSki, who own Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables, have made significant upgrades to The Remarkables ski field since 2016 which has really improved this already fun mountain. With the large, modern base building, two 6-seater express chair lifts (Shadow and Curvey Basin), and two covered conveyors (a.k.a magic carpets), it's easy to see why The Remarkables is so popular.
OVERLOOKING QUEENSTOWN ON THE DRIVE UP TO THE REMARKABLES
PROBABLY THE MOST SPECTACULAR SUNRISE WE’VE EXPERIENCED
MOUNTAIN STAT'S
Elevation: 1943m, 468m vertical drop
Skiable Area: 385 hectares
Lifts: 2 high-speed six-seater chairs, 2 quad chairs, 4 surface conveyor lifts
Terrain: 30% beginner / 40% intermediate / 30% advanced
Average Snowfall: 3.67m per annum (excl. snowmaking)
Snowmaking: Beginners’ area, Alta Green, Casterway, Gotham City, Curvey, Turquoise, Waterfall, and terrain parks
Operating Hours: 9am to 4pm
GETTING TO THE REMARKABLES
Remarks is located on the South Island of New Zealand, in the Otago Region. It is easily accessible from Queenstown via an access road which is sealed for 3/4 of the way up (9km sealed road and 4km unsealed road). For the uninitiated, New Zealand ski field access roads can be rather daunting consisting of narrow roads bordering vertical drop-offs, and steep, switchback corners. If you’re not a confident driver, consider the bus transport options listed below. And if you are driving, The Remarkables encourages carpooling - you’ll need 3 or more to park at the very top (otherwise you’ll be directed to car park 4 and provided with a free shuttle to the base building).
Tip: Winter Driving In New Zealand
The Remarkables is 28km (45 minutes) from Queenstown centre, and only about 25 minutes from Frankton and the airport.
If you don't have a car, the Ski Bus running from Queenstown starts early, runs regularly to the mountain, and has many pick-up points along the route to The Remarkables, including the bottom car park. See below for all the pick-up points.
NZSKI SKI BUS PICK-UP LOCATIONS
ACCOMMODATION
The Remarkables ski field doesn’t offer any ski-in-ski-out or on-field accommodation but there are plenty of accommodation options in Queenstown and Frankton.
LIFT PASSES
As NZSki operates Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt (approx. 2 hrs from Christchurch), and The Remarkables ski fields, a season pass is available that will cover all these mountain resorts. If you’re planning a New Zealand ski holiday and intend to ski or snowboard for more than 7 days, it makes sense to get the early bird season pass (around $700 at the time of writing compared to a single day pass of $139 or a 3-day+ multiday pass at $99 per day). For a detailed up-to-date price list, visit the NZSki website.
You can prepurchase your lift ticket in Queenstown at the NZSki Snow Centre at 25 Shotover Street or if you already have a pass, jump online to recharge. It’s nice to be prepared rather than line up with everyone else at the ticket booth on the mountain.
FOOD AND FACILITIES
The main base building is where most of the action happens. On the lower level, you’ll find a well-stocked retail shop (which offers a 10% discount for season pass holders), ticket booths, guest services, storage lockers and the rental department.
The upper level is where you eat and drink. There are 3 areas you can choose your food from, including the cafe which has great coffee and freshly made treats. There are very large areas to sit, both inside and out (front and back - the back, overlooking the valley is amazing on a bluebird day).
And talking of bluebird days, if the sun is shining drop into the Ice Bar which is halfway down the Centurion run, just off Curvey Chair.
ICE BAR - JUST OFF CENTURION RUN
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SKI OR SNOWBOARD AT THE REMARKABLES?
The Remarkables offers something for everyone. From a large beginners area at the base, a great mix of groomers, to challenging chutes and ungroomed bowls like Mid Station and Homeward/Outward, it’s pretty hard to beat Remarks.
With a little snow, Remarks really starts to shine because the off-piste riding is amazing. The Homeward Runs and the Alta Chutes will satisfy your thirst for bowl riding and if you don't mind hiking, you'll be rewarded with some world-class and challenging terrain. When riding Homeward Bound, you'll end up below the lowest lift but a free, regular shuttle will soon have you back at the base. If you want the Homeward experience to last a little longer, hike to the peak and drop in much higher up than the standard traverse. Ride the ridgeline further to Outward Bound if the conditions allow - you’ll end up down near car park 4.
If the snow conditions allow, and you don’t mind earning your turns, hike 30-40 mins from the top of Sugar over to Toilet Bowl. You’ll be rewarded with a massive bowl of untracked powder. The top can be a little sketchy, with thin coverage and rocks but once past this, it’s floaty, carving heaven. Please check with ski patrol first as there are avalanche risks and terrain traps to look out for.
And for those who love terrain parks, you won't be disappointed with what The Remarkables offers. It has an amazing park setup and design, with plenty of progressive jumps and rails. Remarks is also home to the Stash Terrain Park which can't be beaten on a powder day for ridable cliff drops, wooden rail features, wall rides and the infamous Hut!
We've had some awesome days at The Remarkables – hitting park jumps, overcoming the fear to ride off 'The Hut' and shredding Homeward Bound were definitely highlights!
There are also some excellent ski and snowboarding camps available at The Remarkables. Jen has attended Snowbroads in the past and really enjoyed it - read all about her experience here.
If you're looking for varied all-mountain skiing and snowboarding, you will leave The Remarkables very satisfied. And if you're not afraid to hike a little, the amount of extra terrain will not leave you wanting.
Have you been to The Remarkables and want to share some insight? Or do you have any questions? Hit me up in the comments below. (Make sure you click on 'subscribe via e-mail' to be notified when we write back).
Happy riding!
Mick
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Mick is a lover of speed runs and hitting every feature on the mountain. Ex road bike and motocross racer with plans to dabble in mountain bike racing. Spends a lot of time looking at fast cars and bikes. Jen’s instagram model and selfie camera holder due to long arms. Sometimes an optometrist.
