While Australia is famous for its stunning beaches, rugged coastlines, and spectacular hiking trails, it’s not particularly well known for skiing or snowboarding. The country has a handful of ski resorts, with Perisher and Thredbo being the two largest. Located around 6½ hours southwest of Sydney by car, they offer a convenient weekend escape, but few would consider them world-class destinations. Lift tickets can be expensive, the terrain is relatively limited, and snow conditions can be unpredictable.

For that reason, many Australians head overseas for their snow adventures. Japan, Europe, and New Zealand are the most popular choices, and from Sydney, New Zealand is by far the easiest to reach. A direct flight to Queenstown takes only about 3½ hours, making it an ideal destination for a long weekend or short holiday.

Arrival in Queenstown, NZ

Our flight departed Sydney at 8:30 a.m. Although the flight itself was short, a small delay and New Zealand’s two-hour time difference meant we arrived in the early afternoon.

After collecting our rental car, we made one important discovery: if you’re planning to drive to the ski fields, make sure you rent an AWD or 4WD vehicle and carry snow chains. Chains are mandatory whenever road conditions require them, and they’re often checked before you’re allowed to continue up the mountain.

We picked up the car around 3:30 p.m. and stopped in Queenstown for a late lunch before heading to the slopes. Even with only a brief visit, it was obvious why Queenstown has such a great reputation. The streets were buzzing with visitors, and the town was packed with restaurants, cafés, and lively bars.

We ducked into a small Asian restaurant where I ordered a steaming bowl of spicy beef ramen. It was rich, warming, and exactly what I needed before spending the evening out in the snow.

Night Skiing at Coronet Peak

Our first stop was Coronet Peak, which offers night skiing from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The resort is only about 19 kilometres from Queenstown Airport, and under normal conditions the drive takes just over 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, “normal” didn’t seem to exist in Queenstown.

Traffic through town was surprisingly heavy, with long queues of vehicles crawling through the narrow streets. It felt as though the entire town was trying to leave at the same time. Once we escaped the congestion, however, the drive became far more enjoyable as the road climbed steadily through a seemingly endless series of switchbacks toward the mountain.

By the time we reached the resort, darkness had fallen. The ski runs were illuminated by bright floodlights, transforming the mountainside into a glowing white landscape against the night sky. It was a spectacular sight.

I was so eager to get on the slopes that I completely forgot to take any photos.

We spent the next five hours skiing and snowboarding until the lifts closed at 9:00 p.m. Night skiing was an unforgettable experience and a fantastic way to begin the trip.

Wanaka – A Relaxed Base for Skiing

After leaving Coronet Peak, we drove just over an hour to Wanaka, where we stayed at the Wanaka Luxury Apartments.

The accommodation was excellent. The apartment featured a fully equipped kitchen, making it easy to prepare meals after skiing, while the fireplace created the perfect place to relax each evening.

Wanaka Luxury Apartments – Bedroom

Wanaka itself quickly became one of our favourite towns in New Zealand. Situated on the shores of Lake Wānaka and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it has a relaxed atmosphere that contrasts nicely with the energy of Queenstown. The lakeside walking paths, cafés, and local shops make it an enjoyable place to spend time, even when you’re not on the mountain.

Wanaka

Lake Wanaka

Cordrona Peak

Most of our skiing was at Cordrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand’s largest ski area, with over 615 hectares of skiable terrain spread across five distinct basins.

Cardrona offers something for everyone, from wide beginner runs to challenging terrain parks, jumps, and off-piste areas. If you’re interested in freestyle skiing or snowboarding, the terrain parks are among the best in the Southern Hemisphere.

Our favourite areas were Captain’s Basin and Soho Basin. Both offered enjoyable terrain, reliable snow cover, and spectacular views across countless snow-covered mountain peaks stretching toward the horizon.

We visited in early July, near the beginning of the season, so some of the lower areas—particularly Valley View—were fairly icy. As a result, we spent most of our time exploring the higher basins where conditions were noticeably better.

Cordrona – Soho Basin

Cordrona – Multiple Terrain Parks and jumps

Final Thoughts

New Zealand exceeded our expectations as a ski destination. The scenery is breathtaking, the mountains are dramatic, and the skiing offers plenty of variety.

While Queenstown has an exciting atmosphere and excellent restaurants, we found the traffic surprisingly frustrating, especially during the busy ski season. If you’re planning several days on the slopes, I’d strongly recommend staying in Wanaka instead. It’s more relaxed, easier to get around, and provides convenient access to Cardrona, which was easily the highlight of our trip.

If you’ve skied resorts like Vail, Whistler, or the European Alps, you’ll notice that New Zealand’s mountains are different. The runs are generally shorter, the terrain is more open, and there are fewer tree-lined trails. However, what New Zealand lacks in sheer size, it more than makes up for with incredible alpine scenery, friendly towns, and the convenience of being only a few hours from Australia.

For anyone living in Sydney and looking for an easy overseas ski holiday, it’s hard to beat a trip to Queenstown and Wanaka.