New Zealand Ski Season Dates

Winter 2023 

New Zealand’s winter season begins in June and goes through to August. Most of our snow falls in the mountainous areas, like the Central Plateau on the North Island and the Southern Alps on the South Island. During this time, New Zealand becomes a major skiing destination in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting visitors from across the globe.

Across the South and North island, ski season starts in early June and runs through to late October or early November. Most of the best ski fields in the country are within a 2 to 3 hours drive of the nearest major airport, making our ski areas highly accessible.

If you’re a winter sports enthusiast, you’re in for some fun! If you’re a beginner, New Zealand is one of the best places to experience skiing for the first time. We've had so much snow this year – we haven't seen a start to the season like this in over a decade! All this snow will set us up for a memorable New Zealand skiing and snowboarding experience!

Ski Fields Opening and Closing Dates

Below are the ski season dates for some of New Zealand’s major ski areas. Do note - these dates are subject to change depending on the snowfall and snow conditions of each ski field at that time. Therefore, we recommend you check in with the ski resort you plan to visit before your planned ski trip.

North Island Ski Fields

Ski on an active volcano that’s home to New Zealand’s largest commercial ski field, boasting unique terrain and stunning views.

Mt Ruapehu

• Whakapapa: July - 15 October
• Turoa: July - 15 October

South Island Ski Fields

The South Island’s three main skiing regions feature world-class ski schools with accommodation close to where the ski action is.

Canterbury

• Mt Hutt: 9 June - 16 October
• Mt Cheeseman: 1 July - Early October
• Porters Alpine Resort: June - Early October

Queenstown

• Coronet Peak: 16 June - 1 October
• The Remarkables: 17 June - 8 October

Wanaka

• Cardrona Alpine Resort: 17 June - 15 October
• Treble Cone: 24 June - 1 October

Start planning for this ski season in NZ now! Make your booking so you can enjoy epic slopes and alpine resorts on your New Zealand ski holiday. There's a lot of snow on our mountain peaks to look forward to!

Save Money with Omega’s Ski Season Saver!

We all know that skiing and snowboarding are expensive endeavours. However, working out how much money an NZ ski holiday will cost can be daunting.

Firstly, you have travel expenses – flights and transfers aren’t cheap when you have a carload of family members to bring along. Then you have accommodation, food, drinks, entry passes, lessons – not to mention ski gear. It all adds up rather quickly!

At Omega, we recognise this and want to help you get more bang for your buck. Why purchase ski gear when you only use it a few days a year? Renting is an affordable alternative and will help shave down the cost of your New Zealand winter holiday. Showbiz and Browns Ski Shop are our South Island Ski Partners. They provide the highest possible quality in ski, snowboard, boot, and clothing hire in New Zealand, making the rental process as easy as possible.

And to make things even better, when you present your Omega Car Rental Key Tag at the point of sale, you’ll receive a 15% - 20% discount on all rental equipment, including ski clothing hire.

Wintertime in New Zealand is a great time for skiers and snowboarders to travel to escape your daily routine, and there's never a shortage of things to do. Make your travel plans with Omega Rental Cars - we have been providing modern rental vehicles with fantastic service and great prices for almost three decades.

We look forward to seeing you this skiing season in NZ! You will always be greeted with helpful and professional service; it’s the Omega way.