Remarkables

In relation to the scenery, The Remarkables are true to their name. They are one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world due to their spectacular jagged shape and the steep rise from the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The Remarkables ski field is located in the mountain range of the same name, on the South Island of New Zealand near Queenstown.

The Remarkables ski resort, or the “Remarks” as some of the locals call it, has carved itself a niche in the freestylers market. The multiple terrain parks are very impressive, and the new Burton Stash park adds to the variety of opportunities for shredders. The ski area is also very well suited to beginners, and there is some advanced terrain and incredible chutes for extreme skiers to get the adrenaline going, but much of this requires a hike. The ski terrain is smaller than most Australian ski resorts with only 220 hectares and 357 metres of vertical drop, and the resort lacks any decent groomers for cruising or to get up a bit of speed.

The annual snowfall is not remarkable at only 3.7 metres, so for powderhounds, it's just a case of luck to be there on the day after a fresh dump of snow. One of the drawbacks of the resort is the lift layout in relation to the terrain. In order to get around, there seems to be a lot of inconvenient traversing. On the plus side, the terrain is mostly north facing and is protected somewhat from the weather, so it’s great for fair weather skiers.

There is no on-mountain accommodation at The Remarkables. Most skiers tend to base themselves in Queenstown and commute each day. If you are not familiar with driving in the snow, the road up to the resort might be a little daunting as it is unsealed, and there are many areas with cliffs along the side of the road. A less harrowing alternative may be to catch one of the regular shuttle buses that operate out of Queenstown.

The motto of the resort is “where attitude meets altitude”, but this seems a long way from reality. There is absolutely nothing pretentious about The Remarkables. The atmosphere is relaxed and the culture of the resort is probably reflected in its popularity with shredders and families. The skiers and boarders at the Remarks are much more concerned with having fun rather than worrying about image.

The Powderhounds have awarded The Remarkables with the best terrain parks in New Zealand.