Ski New Zealand Coronet Peak or The Remarkables? Which resort is right for me?

Skiing in the southern Alps is a MUST HAVE on your bucket list for every ski season worker, especially the instructors and ski enthusiasts among us.

Whether you’re here on holiday or you plan to work and head to the snow on your days off, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are two fantastic mountains to explore. Over the few seasons I’ve worked at NZSKI as an instructor I’ve spent a fair amount of time at both mountains skiing with a vast diversity of clients and I can honestly say that both mountains offer something for everyone. However, I of course have my favored mountains depending on how you like to spend your time up the hill.

Coronet Peak

The Remarkables

MOUNTAIN ACCESS

Both mountain resorts are easily accessible by car or bus from the centre of Queenstown and surrounding accommodation too. Coronet Peak (CP) is about a 20 min drive and The Remarkables (RM) 45 mins, of course subject to snow levels and road conditions.

THE PROGRESSION AT EACH MOUNTAIN

I’m new to mountain sports.

As a beginner on the hill, you’ll want to take a lesson. I highly encourage it as this way you’ll learn the right way. You’re less likely to fall over and much more likely to enjoy the sport. While beginner lessons are available at both mountains, the learners' areas are quite different.

CP learners area is out of the way of the main green run. This means you’re less likely to encounter speedy skiers zooming close past you when you’re trying to gain confidence.

CP has two conveyor lifts which are not covered. If the weather forecast is showing high winds, you may enjoy the relief of the tunnels at RM in between your runs. That being said, CP in general does not receive the strong winds that RM can.

At CP the step from carpet 1 to top carpet is significant and the bottom carpet is shorter than Tahi first carpet at RM. I’d like to note however, that in general first timer skiers at CP progress from activities on the flat, to the first carpet within their first morning and are ready to go up the top carpet in the afternoon, some being able to go up the chairlift in the afternoon of their second day or third day.

RM also has a smaller ‘shortie’ carpet for younger kids and those more cautious and needing more practice at the very basics. So if you know you’re a cautious person who needs time to practice the very basics before going slightly further up the hill, perhaps RM is for you.

The Novice (Level 3a)

Once you are able to stay balanced, stop (in a wedge) and control your speed through turning on the top carpet at CP, your instructor will most likely take you up the Meadows chairlift. At the top of the chairlift you will go straight, taking ‘little easy’ which is a gentle path around the corner instead of the slightly steeper wider slope straight down (snowboarders may choose this as it is nice and wide).

The awesome advantage of learning to perfect your wedge turns/ C turns at CP is that the slope is all yours. You do not share it with more advanced skiers and riders. It is nice and flat so you don’t need to worry about skiing off the edge or navigating rollovers or bowls.

For those becoming more adventurous but not quite ready to try something steeper, ‘the big easy’ from Meadows chairlift has plenty to entertain. On the right hand side of the top part you will find some entry level jumps/ rolls perfect for children. The slope bens to the right with a fabby side hill to practice your side slips and a safe place to wait for slower friends. This side hill connects to a Kat track which runs to join ‘gentle annie’ and off the left hand side of which are some perfect areas to try some short off-piste terrain.

As you ski further down the big easy, there are fun sidehills to roll around and some mini jumps near the snow machines. So much fun to be had!

On the opposite side of the top of the top cartet at CP you will find the box and rail park (Kaizer carpet) home to a nice beginner progression jump or two too!

At RM the next step is up the next tunnel conveyor (Rua). Rua is slightly steeper than Tahi and it is split into two sides, one side is perfect for practicing speed control, increasing speed and gaining confidence before you take the big step up to Alta chairlift. On the other side is a box and rail park.

Progressing to intermediate (level 3b)

At CP once you’re confident turning down ‘the big easy’, your next step is to increase your speeds and try something slightly steeper. At CP the perfect intro is down ‘gentle annie’ as it joins the big easy, so you can end your run doing confident turns on something cruisier. To get to gentle annie you'll turn left at the top of Meadows chair and

Next at CP you’ll head straight down the ‘lower M1’, a nice blue run that sets you up for being able to ski down the main M1 run from the top of the Coronet Express chairlift.

Adventurous intermediates (level 4)

CP’s main blue runs are slightly steeper in parts than those at Remarks but it is very marginal and if you can ski down the main M1 at CP you will be able to ski down from Curvy at RM.

The advanced skier/snowboarder (level 5+)

The ability to ski the more interesting and challenging slopes at both mountains is totally dependent on snow levels. But the nice thing about CP is that a few cm’s go a long way since the mountain is covered in grass and tussock unlike RM that requires more snow to cover the rocks in the off piste. Even on major pow days, RM is known to have a significant number of people leave the mountain with various core shots in their skis and snowboards after trying some of the popular off-piste areas.

At CP one of the things I like the most is the pure amount of skiable square metres the mountain has to offer once it has decent snow coverage. There are sooo many different routes down from the same chairlift. WIrth natural half-pipes, bowls, roll overs, lips, bumps, side walls, moguls, you name it, CP has it. Backbowls, chimney, exchange and upper, lower wall street and ego alley are my favourite areas to explore with advanced and expert skiers.

RM on a good snow day is home to some impressive expert terrain too but the best runs require small hikes. They are also known for being slightly more challenging too. Hike the Alta shoots, on a POW day ski down homeward and get picked up on the roadside, hke to the peak above Curvy chair and ski the hidden valley into the doolans ( be sure to arrange a pick up with a friend from the road).

For those of you who love to ski Park. The Remarkables has a great progression park from the sugar bowl chairlift and an awesome medium line too.

Night ski

If you like the sound of finishing work and still being able to head up the mountain for your mulled wine and get some turns in, then CP should be your mountain of choice. NZSKI also put on regular DJ and live music events throughout the season to liven it up. Order a delicious pizza, pair it with a mulled wine and hang out at the fire pits with your mates for a wintery vibe.

First tracks

At CP you can beat the crowds by purchasing a first tracks pass and ski from 8-9am on coronet express or greengates. Beautiful fresh groomed runs, what a plus! A few locals choose to take advantage of this and ski before going to work! Night ski is only at CP.

The vibe

Unique to CP, over at the T-bar lift there is a gorgeous little cafe hut called ‘heidi’s hut’ where you can enjoy a hot coco, cold beer and a yum as pizza in the sun out on some deck loungers while you watch the racers speed down the hill. The perfect place to head if half of the group is lagging a bit.

Getting lost. At RM all of the slopes lead in to the base building whereas at CP, greengates and T-bar lifts are away from the main base building meaning if you are a group of capable adventurous intermediate skiers it is super important to know where you are meeting and/or heading to next as it can be tricky when you loose the group and don’t know where to go- some of the more difficult runs come off of the main blue too (dangerous mistakes can be made if you don’t take care in knowing where you're going).

I have a child under the age of 5. Where is best for them?

CP hands down is the better choice of mountain if you have a little one who you'd like to enjoy the snow while you get out on the bigger slopes. CP has a special kids centre called skiwiland operated by trained ECE teachers for children under 5yrs. Your child will make friends, play games indoors and have time outside to play in the snow. Ages 3+ have their own yard in skiwiland where they are taught how to put on their ski gear and slide on their skis in the snow in the morning and afternoon. All children at skiwiland get a morning, lunch and afternoon short break and quiet time/ naps are possible upon request too. Having worked in this department myself I cannot praise it enough, the kids have so much fun!

While it is still possible to book your under 5 into private ski lessons at RM, the area and package deal you get at CP’s skiwiland is unbeaten.

If you’d like to have fun as a family with your little one’s off of skis, CP also has a fun sledge track and sledges available for hire from the retail shop.

CP also has gondolas on the main coronet express lift with a gorgeous view point at the top. Another great activity to do with your kids who aren’t quite ready to ski down the main blue run from the top! Simply ride the gondola back down again!

Overall I personally find Coronet a more fun and explorative mountain to ski. Each run just keeps giving and you never have to worry about skiing over a hidden rock or gravel. The progression is fun and nurturing for the beginner and less confident skier while offering awesome challenges all over the hill for the more advanced. Also I find that it is easy to avoid the crowds at CP without having to go off piste. I can still enjoy some carving runs without worrying about people cutting me up or needing to slow down for anyone.

If it isn’t already abundantly clear that my favourite mountain is Coronet Peak, I’d love for you to come and join me to find out for yourself!

I hope this article has helped you to decide where is best to try first and of course I urge you to visit both mountains if and when you get the pleasure to visit Queenstown in the winter season.

Happy Skiing

TheSkiNomad