News
Published: 10 July 2027 | Reading time: 6 min | Category: Snow Travel
For most of us, New Zealand is the move when Australia's season takes a slow start. It's close, it's easy, it's affordable, and Queenstown in peak season is one of the best snowboard destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. The resorts are bigger than anything we have here. The terrain is more varied. The town itself is world class. And the whole thing is so much more straightforward to organise than people think.
Why New Zealand
The Queenstown region sits in the heart of the Southern Alps. Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are both running, and Cardrona — now New Zealand's largest ski area after its expansion into Soho Basin — is open across its 900 hectares. Treble Cone, sitting about 80 minutes from Queenstown with a 700m vertical drop, is the one for experienced riders who want uncrowded terrain and proper natural faces.
The Resorts: What You're Actually Riding
Cardrona — New Zealand's biggest mountain
Over 900 hectares of skiable terrain, some of the best terrain parks in the Southern Hemisphere, a well-maintained mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain. About 60 minutes from Queenstown or 25 minutes from Wanaka. This is where Olympians train and first-timers learn to link turns on the same day.
Treble Cone — for riders who want the real thing
550 hectares, 700m vertical, long uncrowded groomed trails and steep natural faces. About 80 minutes from Queenstown and 30 from Wanaka. Less busy than Cardrona, more serious terrain, genuinely spectacular scenery.
Coronet Peak — the locals' mountain
25 minutes from Queenstown, reliable snow, night skiing on select days. Great for days when you want to hit the mountain for the afternoon and be back in Queenstown for dinner.
The Remarkables — the view mountain
45 minutes from Queenstown. Bowl riding, a good park, and the kind of views that make you stop halfway down a run. Combined with Coronet Peak on the Queenstown Superpass, these two cover everything you'd want from an all-mountain week.
A Week in Queenstown from $799pp
This is the part that surprises most people. A full week in Queenstown — accommodation, lift passes, breakfast every day, group dinner and airport transfers — starts at $799 per person excluding flights.
Oz Snow Adventures has been running Australian snowboarders to Queenstown since 1999. They operate out of Reavers Lodge in central Queenstown — their own property, with their own crew on the ground. Not a booking website that hands you off to strangers.
Included from $799pp:
- 7 nights accommodation at Reavers Lodge (central Queenstown, all ensuite)
- 5-day lift pass for Cardrona or Treble Cone
- Complimentary breakfast daily
- Group dinner night
- Return Queenstown airport transfers
- In-house customer support and local host on the ground
Want to ride Coronet Peak and The Remarkables instead? That package starts from $1,039pp. Peak season (19 June to 31 August) adds $100pp. September deals return to $799pp — if you can travel in September, do it.
Gear hire available at Reavers Lodge: snowboard and boots from $32 per day, or $159 for 5 days.
Check dates and get a quote from Oz Snow Adventures →
The Flights: Shorter Than You Think
Melbourne to Queenstown is about 3.5 hours direct. You're closer to Queenstown than you are to Perisher from Melbourne. Flights booked a few weeks out run $250 to $450 return. Add that to the $799 package and a full week in New Zealand can come in well under $1,500 all up — less than a week of on-snow accommodation in Thredbo.
Queenstown Is a Proper Holiday
World-class restaurants, bars, the lake, bungee jumping, jet boats, hiking. You can ride 5 days and spend 2 doing something completely different and still feel like you got your money's worth. The après is legitimate. The food is genuinely good. It's a destination that also has incredible snowboarding nearby — that changes the energy of a snow trip completely.
What to Pack for New Zealand
- Waterproof shell jacket and pants — NZ weather is unpredictable, a shell over layers beats an insulated jacket you can't vent
- Mid layer (fleece or lightweight insulated jacket)
- Merino wool base layers
- Helmet (always)
- Goggles with interchangeable lenses — bright sun to flat light in the same run
- Waterproof gloves
- Après footwear — you'll be walking around Queenstown every evening
- Your own boots — comfort over rental every time
Come into the shop at 435A Bridge Rd, Richmond before you go.
Check dates and get a quote from Oz Snow Adventures →
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Contact our team →
Last updated: 10 July 2027 | 435A Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121 | 03 9421 2293
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Queenstown is 3.5 hours from Melbourne — closer than Perisher — and the resorts are bigger than anything in Australia. Cardrona is now New Zealand's largest ski area with over 900 hectares. Treble Cone has 700m of vertical and uncrowded terrain. Queenstown itself is a world-class destination with restaurants, bars and activities that make it a proper holiday rather than a resort-only trip.
Cardrona is the pick for most riders — 900 hectares, terrain parks the Southern Hemisphere trains Olympians in, and excellent intermediate and advanced terrain. Treble Cone suits intermediate to advanced riders who want uncrowded terrain and a serious challenge. Coronet Peak is 25 minutes from Queenstown and great for afternoon riding. The Remarkables has excellent bowl riding and views. A Queenstown Superpass combines Coronet Peak and The Remarkables across one pass.
From $799 per person for a week with Oz Snow Adventures including 7 nights accommodation at Reavers Lodge, 5-day lift pass, daily breakfast, group dinner and airport transfers. Flights add $250 to $450 return from Melbourne. Total for a full week of snowboarding in Queenstown can be well under $1,500 per person all in — less than a week of on-snow accommodation in Thredbo.
Melbourne to Queenstown (ZQN) is approximately 3.5 hours direct. Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide also have direct services. Queenstown Airport is right outside town — you're on the mountain or in the resort in under an hour from landing.
Oz Snow Adventures is a Queenstown-based snow travel operator that has been running Australian riders to New Zealand since 1999. They operate Reavers Lodge in central Queenstown — their own property with their own crew on the ground. They offer packages from $799pp including accommodation, lift passes, breakfast, group dinner and transfers. Not a booking website — a team on the ground who runs a genuine operation.
NZ conditions change fast — pack a waterproof shell jacket and pants (not a heavy insulated jacket), a mid layer you can remove, merino base layers, helmet, goggles with interchangeable lenses (bright sun to flat light in the same run), waterproof gloves, and good après footwear for Queenstown evenings. Come into our Richmond store before you go and we'll help you pack right for NZ conditions specifically.
