Voted best all-round southern hemisphere ski resort by Australian publication “Your Money” magazine in 2011, Treble Cone certainly lives up to the hype.
Treble Cone is the largest ski area on the south island boasting a massive 550 hectares of skiable terrain and over 2300 m of vertical. It also has the greatest average annual snowfall in New Zealand at 5.5 metres per season… enough to keep the powder lovers happy! This combined with the steep terrain (over 45% is rated advanced or expert) should prompt a large proportion of smiles and high fives amongst the ranks of even the most discerning skiers.
Photo: Treble Cone, New Zealand by Larry Proser
That is not to say that Treble Cone is a non-starter for the less experienced skier. Quite the contrary in fact! Treble Cone has some fantastic dedicated beginner-only areas, as well as a large proportion of long, comfortably steep groomers for intermediate and advanced skiers alike to hone their existing skills on. It is largely thanks to the fantastic array of terrain on offer here that Treble Cone is now home to a number of ski instructor training programmes.
Aside from the terrain the most unforgettable aspect of skiing up at Treble Cone is surely the view from the top of the mountain. Situated in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Treble Cone looks out over Lake Wanaka; a vast expanse of crystal blue that stretches out as far as the eye can see.
When visiting Treble Cone the majority of people choose to find accommodation in Wanaka, partly due to its stunning beauty but mainly due to the short journey time to Treble Cone (30-35 min as opposed to the 90-min drive up from Queenstown).
While we’re on the topic of driving there are a few essentials that you must know; the access road up to Treble Cone is in one word… terrifying. Narrow, unfenced, and steep it is essential to take care when driving up to resort and snow chains are mandatory. If you’re of the more cautious nature or have a nervous disposition a shuttle service is available from both Wanaka and Queenstown.
While the start to this season was a slow one across New Zealand as a whole, Treble Cone is now completely open and has had a ridiculous amount of snowfall of late with over 1.5m falling in the space of 10 days!
All things considered, Treble Cone is a fantastic resort. The locals are friendly and welcoming, the terrain varied and challenging (in a good way), and the views are just stunning. An absolute must visit resort for any seasoned skier or snowboarder.
About the Author: SnowSkool has been operating ski instructor courses and snowboard instructor courses in Canada, New Zealand, France, and the U.S.A since 2003.
2 Comments
Julia Atkinson
13 years agoTerrifying would not be the word I would use AT ALL! Like all access to NZ ski areas you need to drive up a mountain road to reach the snow. THe road is maintained constantly, graded, cleared of snow, gritted when neccessary. It’s a normal two way width except for one area that is fenced…much like a one way bridge. If you are worried your hands might suddenly get a mind of their own you can take the great shuttle service from the bottom of the hill, but the majority of visitors are happy driving sensibly within the bounds of the road provided. Definitely not something to put you off having such a beautiful and exciting kiwi alpine experience!!
Julia Atkinson
13 years agoPS- Chains are mandatory to be carried….not used daily! Most of the season is chain free for 2wd.
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