Hit the Slopes: Queenstown Ski Season Kicks Off 14 June
The 2025 Queenstown ski season opened on 14 June: Coronet Peak's best start in years, The Remarkables' 40th winter, and what was new at Cardrona.
Winter arrived in Queenstown right on cue in 2025. On Saturday 14 June, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables opened their lifts for the season, and they opened to some of the best early season snow in years.
Whether you are a regular who has been counting down since October or a first timer who has never clicked into a binding, opening weekend is the start of the best part of the Queenstown year. And it is a season that rewards having your own car from Evolve Rentals, because the best ski day is the one where you get to choose the mountain on the morning.
When did the 2025 ski season open in Queenstown?
Coronet Peak and The Remarkables both opened on Saturday 14 June 2025. Early reports described some of the best opening conditions in recent years, with on piste snow more like mid winter than mid June.
Coronet Peak opened with bases of up to 60cm in places, and locals called it the mountain's best opening in four years. Night skiing there was set to start on 25 June, which is one of the great Queenstown winter experiences in its own right.
What was new at The Remarkables in 2025?
A birthday. 2025 was The Remarkables' 40th winter, and the mountain marked the milestone throughout the season. On opening day the terrain included Curvey Basin, Alta and the learner conveyors, with a rail set up in the learners' area for anyone keen to get their park legs back early.
It is known for wide runs and its terrain parks, which makes it a favourite with families and freestyle riders alike.
What about Cardrona and Treble Cone?
Cardrona started its 2025 season with a new base facility and the new Soho Express six seater chairlift, which opens up a whole new area of terrain in Soho Basin, with the grand opening set for 28 June. Treble Cone, the steeper and more serious of the two, was expected to open on 27 June.
Both are on the Wānaka side of the Crown Range. The drive over the pass is one of the most spectacular in the country, and chains must be carried on the Crown Range from May to October, so add a set to your booking before you head that way.
Which Queenstown ski field should you choose?
It depends on who is skiing and what the forecast says. Coronet Peak is the closest to town and the one to chance when the weather is uncertain. The Remarkables suits families and park riders. Cardrona and Treble Cone are worth the longer drive on a clear day.
Our guide to choosing a Queenstown ski field goes through each mountain, the drive to it and what the terrain suits, so you can match the field to the day.
Tips for the start of the season
Book early. Winter weekends, school holidays and powder days fill up fast, from lift passes and lessons to accommodation and cars.
Carry chains and know how to fit them. The ski field access roads can call for chains, and conditions change quickly in June. We are happy to show you how they go on before you set off, which is a much better place to learn than a cold roadside.
Layer up. A June morning in Queenstown is cold, a June afternoon in the sun on the mountain can be surprisingly warm, and the difference fits in a backpack.
Plan something for the days off the hill, too. Our guide to scenic winter drives from Queenstown covers the best of them, none of which need a four wheel drive.
Getting the car sorted
In Queenstown, we bring the car to you. Nobody else in Queenstown does that. Someone from our team meets you where you are staying, walks you round the car and hands over the keys, and the skis go in the back before you have finished your coffee.
For the following winter, see our 2026 ski season guide. Whichever season you are here for, book your car with Evolve Rentals early and be on the first chair while everyone else is waiting for the bus.
FAQs
When did Coronet Peak and The Remarkables open in 2025?
Both opened on Saturday 14 June 2025, with some of the best early season conditions in recent years.
When did night skiing start at Coronet Peak in 2025?
Night skiing at Coronet Peak was scheduled to begin on 25 June 2025.
What was new at Cardrona in 2025?
A new base facility and the Soho Express six seater chairlift, opening access to Soho Basin, with a grand opening on 28 June 2025.
Do you need snow chains to drive to the ski fields near Queenstown?
The ski field access roads can require chains in winter, and chains must be carried on the Crown Range from May to October. Chains can be added to your Evolve booking.