Below is a list of the major ski fields (and some of the minor) from North to South.

North Island Ski Fields

Whakapapa Ski Area
25% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 25% Advanced
On the north-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa is New Zealand's largest developed ski area.

Turoa Ski Area
25% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 25% Advanced
The highest ski field in New Zealand, Turoa on Mt Ruapehu, offers a variety of terrain to suit all levels and is an excellent family field.

Tukino
65% Beginners, 30% Intermediate and 5% Advanced
Day visitors are welcome at this friendly club field, nestled on the eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu. This is a small field that is well worth a visit. You can also opt for a ski & stay package, for on-mountain accommodation.

Manganui
5% Beginner, 30% Intermediate and 65% Advanced
A unique club field on Mount Taranaki. The lower field is accessed with a T-bar and the upper slopes, which are considerably steeper, are accessed with the nutcracker.

South Island Ski Fields

Rainbow Ski Area
25% Beginner, 55% Intermediate and 20% Advanced
Rainbow is the only commercial ski field in Nelson/Marlborough. Accommodation can be found for all budgets at St Arnaud, which is only 32 km away.

Mt Lyford
30% Beginner, 40% Intermediate and 30% Advanced
A nice all round field, that is close to Kaikoura and Hamner Springs. It is also only 1 1/2 hours drive from Christchurch. It has a terrain park for snowboarders and freestyle skiers. Accommmodation is available at the bottom of the mountain in the log chalets.

Hanmer Springs
10% Beginner, 60% Intermediate and 30% Advanced
A club field close to the thermal resort town of Hamner Springs. It is not a big field but it is made up of three basins and thus has a variety of terrain which has something for everyone.

Temple Basin
5% Beginner, 50% Intermediate and 25% Advanced
Temple Basin Ski Area is a club field that covers a great variety of terrain, spread over four separate basins. Cars are parked at the bottom and then a walk uphill taking 45 minutes, in good conditions, is required to reach the field. The best option is to stay at least one night. This field attracts a good bunch of people which are friendly and down to earth.

Craigieburn
0% Beginner, 55% Intermediate, 45% Advanced
This club field is located right in the heart of the Southern Alps. Accommodation can be booked to stay on the field and sleeps up to 65 people. The mountain is accessed through 3 rope tows.

Broken River
15% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 35% Advanced
Broken River is a club field that also offers accommodation on the field. There are 5 rope tows.

Mt Cheeseman
15% Beginners, 50% Intermediate and 35% Advanced
Mount Cheeseman is the second closest ski area to Christchurch. It's got a great laid back feel that you would expect of a club field and accommodation on the field is available. It has 2 T-bars and a rope tow.

Porter Heights
20% Beginner, 40% Intermediate and 40% Advanced
Porter Heights is the closest ski are to Christchurch. Lifts comprise 3 T-Bars, 1 platter and 1 grip tow. Porter Heights Alpine Lodge is situated just 5 minutes below the ski area car park.

Mt Olympus
10% Beginner, 55% Intermediate and 35% Advanced
Mt Olympus is a club field with 3 rope tows and a beginners tow. There's accommodation on field and this field is famous for trapping the powder snow.

Mt Hutt
25% Beginner, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 25%
Mt Hutt typically enjoys one of the longest ski seasons in the Southern Hemisphere lasting from early June to late October. It is a great family field, with a lot of different terrain to satisfy the family. Mt Hutt has 1 High Speed 6 Seater, 1 Quad Chair, 1 Triple Chair, and 1 Magic Carpet. Mt. Hutt is just over an hour’s drive from Christchurch and a 35-minute drive from Methven.

Mt Potts
Mt Potts backcountry ski field and lodge offers superb skiing and snowboarding on virgin powder slopes that can only be accessed by helicopter and snow cat.

Fox Peak
15% Beginner, 60% Intermediate, 25% Advanced
Fox Peak is NZ's oldest club field and only 36 kms from Fairlie. There's accommodation on field at Fox Lodge.

Mount Dobson
25% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 25% Advanced
Only 40 mins from Lake Tekapo is Mount Dobson. Mount Dobson is serviced by a triple chairlift, T-bar, platter, and rope tow.

Round Hill
20% Beginner, 80% Intermediate
The field is great for families with gentle gradients it is very safe for first timers.. They offer toboggans for hire and 2007 also sees the field offering a terrain park.

Ohau
20% Beginner, 50% Intermediate and 30% Advanced
Ohau is serviced by a double chairlift, a platter and a snow mat. Ohau tends to get great powder and is famous for being uncrowded.

Treble Cone
15% Beginner, 45% Intermediate and 40% Advanced
Only 26kms from Wanaka is Treble Cone. Treble Cone is serviced by 6 seater express chairlift, quad chairlift, nice & easy platter, magic carpet. While Treble Cone offers more intermediate and advanced terrain than any other South island ski area, it also has plenty of groomed green and blue runs, plus a terrain park.

Snow Park NZ
Snow Park NZ is a freestyle mecca for snowboarders and skiers. Featuring two superpipes, a quarterpipe, big kickers, 40+ rails, hits and jumps and more. Snow Park NZ is serviced by a quad chairlift and has accommodation on the field.

Snow Farm
Snow Farm offers over 50kms of expertly groomed trails to a professional standard for your cross country skiing pleasure. There is also a tubing park and accommodation is available on the field.

Cardrona Alpine Resort
25% Beginner, 55% Intermediate and 20% Advanced
Cardrona Alpine Resort, one of New Zealand’s leading ski areas is conveniently located between Lake Wanaka and Queenstown. A great family field and there is accommodation on the ski field. Access is provided by 2 quad chairs, 1 double chair, 3 magic carpets and 1 platter lift for learners.

Coronet Peak
20% Beginners, 45% Intermediates, 35% Advanced
Coronet Peak is a popular field, and is just a short 25-minute (18km) drive along a fully sealed road from Queenstown. 280 skiable hectares accessed by a six seater express chair, an express quad, a double chair, a t-bar, magic carpet and beginner tow.

The Remarkables
30% Beginners, 40% Intermediates, 30% Advanced
The Remarkables is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and great value for families. Three quad chairs, one magic carpet and one beginner tow offer access to the trails and parks. There is a terrain park, superpipe and a tubing park.The Remarkables is a 45-minute drive from Queenstown.

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• posted on 1307236713 1
  Overall Rating: 10.0 / 10

  Below are the predicted opening dates for the majority of the ski fields in 2011 (if conditions are favourable so keep an eye on their websites) Whakapapa -2nd July Turoa -25th June Manganui -awaiting date (check their websites for updates) Rainbow -2nd July Lyford -awaiting date (check their websites for updates) Hanmer -awaiting date (check their websites for updates) Temple -2nd July Craigieburn -2nd July Porters -24th June Cheeseman -awaiting date (check their websites for updates) Mt Hutt -11th June Dobson -1awaiting date (check their websites for updates) Roundhill -39th July Ohau -25th June Treble Cone -23rd June Snow Park -11th June Cardrona -24th June Coronet Peak -(scheduled opening delayed due to warm weather) Remarkables -18th June

• posted on 1275382690 1
  Overall Rating: 10.0 / 10

  Below are the predicted opening dates for the majority of the ski fields in 2010 (if conditions are favourable so keep an eye on their websites) Whakapapa -26th June Turoa -19th June Manganui -awaiting 1 good dump (check their websites for updates) Rainbow -3 July Lyford -June (no date posted yet) Hanmer -3rd July Temple -4th July Craigieburn -July (no date posted yet) Cheeseman -3rd July Mt Hutt -12th June Dobson -1st July (although website states "sooner if we can") Roundhill -3rd July Ohau -26th June Treble Cone -24th June Snow Park -26th June Cardrona -25th June Coronet Peak - 5th June Remarkables -19th June

• posted on 1243220788 1
  Overall Rating: 10.0 / 10

  All that cold weather we have been experiencing has been producing a lot of snow. Many of our famous slopes are looking at opening early this year. Manganui in Taranaki was the first ski field in New Zealand to open for 2009, with opening on May 12th. Below are the predicted opening dates for the majority of the ski fields in 2009 (if conditions are favourable so keep an eye on their websites) Whakapapa -June 27th Turoa -June 20th Manganui -Already Open 12th May Rainbow -4th July Hanmer -4th July Craigieburn -11th July Cheeseman -4th July Mt Hutt -EARLY OPENING 30th May Dobson -13th June Roundhill -4th July Treble Cone -27th June Snow Park -4th July Cardrona -26th June Coronet Peak - 7th June Remarkables -21st june

• posted on 1211326776 1
  Overall Rating: 10.0 / 10

  The weather is getting cooler and the 2008 ski season is almost here. Below is a list of the scheduled opening dates for most of the fields in 2008...(some ski fields could open earlier if conditions are favourable so keep an eye on their websites) Mt Ruapehu (Whakapapa & Turoa) -June 14th Tukino -July 5th Rainbow -July 5th Lyford -June 27th Hanmer -July 5th Temple Basin -July 12th Broken River -July 5th Cheeseman -July 4th Porters -June 26th Mt Hutt -June 14th Dobson -July 4th Ohau -June 28th Treble Cone -June 30th Snow Park -June 13th Cardrona -June 27th Coronet -June 7th Remarkables -June 21st