Skiing in December in New Zealand

Can you ski in New Zealand in December?

No, you cannot ski in New Zealand in December. The New Zealand ski season ends in October, so by December the fields have been closed for two months and the southern hemisphere is moving into the warmth of early summer. The commercial fields around Queenstown and Wanaka, Cardrona, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone, along with Mt Hutt in Canterbury and the Mt Ruapehu fields in the North Island, are all shut with bare alpine basins above their access roads. There is no lift served skiing anywhere in the country this month.

This often surprises northern hemisphere visitors, for whom December is the start of the ski season and the run up to a Christmas on snow. In New Zealand it is the opposite: December is the start of summer, when Kiwis head to the beaches and lakes rather than the mountains, and a New Zealand Christmas is a warm weather one. The Southern Alps in December are a hiking, climbing and tramping landscape rather than a skiing one.

If you want to ski over the December holidays, you have to look north. The Alps, Japan and North America are all opening into their winter and building toward the Christmas and New Year peak. New Zealand simply is not an option until the southern winter returns in June. December here is best spent planning that winter trip or enjoying the country's superb summer.

Why is there no skiing in New Zealand in December?

The reason is the southern hemisphere calendar combined with a snowfall driven season. New Zealand lies well south of the equator, so December is the start of summer, the equivalent of June in the north. The winter snowpack that the commercial fields depend on has long since melted from the open basins, daylight is at its longest, and alpine temperatures are mild. There is nothing to ski on and nothing to open.

New Zealand also has no developed summer glacier skiing. The country relies entirely on seasonal snowfall and cold weather snowmaking at its commercial fields, all of which need winter conditions to operate. Unlike a handful of high Alpine glaciers that can run limited summer turns, no New Zealand field has a glacier lift network, so once the winter snow goes the skiing stops completely. By December the fields are firmly in their off season, focused on summer maintenance and, in some cases, summer activities rather than snow.

The upside of this strict seasonality is the very thing that makes New Zealand worth the trip: it offers winter when the northern hemisphere has summer. Travelers chasing a second winter come in June to September. December is the far end of the off season, the wrong time to ski but a wonderful time to visit for everything else.

When does the New Zealand ski season actually run?

The New Zealand ski season runs through the southern winter, roughly mid June to early October. The Queenstown and Wanaka fields generally open in the second half of June, snow permitting, with Mt Hutt in Canterbury sometimes opening earliest of the major fields. Most areas close in early to mid October, with several of the marquee fields wrapping up around the second week of the month, and the Mt Ruapehu fields in the North Island occasionally running latest into late October in a strong year.

Within that window, July and August are the heart of the season, with the deepest and most reliable snow, while July also brings the school holiday crowds and the highest prices. August keeps the good snow with thinner crowds and often more settled weather. September turns to spring skiing, with softer snow, longer days and lower prices, the value end of the season. If snow certainty is the priority, target July and August. If budget and sunshine matter more, lean into September. Either way, December is far outside the season.

For a December reader, the practical takeaway is to plan for a June to October trip. Book early for the July and August peak when lodging in the Queenstown and Wanaka area is in heavy demand, and consider the quieter September shoulder if crowds and cost are bigger concerns than guaranteed snow depth.

Where can you ski in December instead of New Zealand?

If you want to ski in December, the northern hemisphere is the place to go. The Alps are opening up and building their base toward the Christmas and New Year peak, Japan's powder resorts are starting their season through late November and December, and North America is well into winter. December skiing in the north ranges from early season conditions in the first half of the month to the busy, festive Christmas and New Year period, so there is plenty of choice for a holiday on snow.

For most readers planning a New Zealand trip, December is better used as preparation time. Spend it comparing the Queenstown fields against the Wanaka fields, weighing the lively Queenstown base against the quieter Wanaka one, sorting long haul flights into Queenstown or Christchurch, and booking accommodation early for the July and August peak. New Zealand rewards forward planning, and a trip locked in over the December summer will ski far better than a last minute booking closer to the southern winter.

December in New Zealand: the case for and against

Where to ski in New Zealand in December

For December we would point you first at these, each with our full review:

• Cardrona. The most reliable all rounder above Wanaka and a smart first booking for a July or August trip planned over the December summer.
• Coronet Peak. The closest field to Queenstown with the region's most extensive snowmaking and night skiing, an easy choice to reserve for the coming winter.
• Mt Hutt. Canterbury's high snow sure field that often opens earliest and holds the deepest natural snow, a strong target for a planned winter trip.
• The Remarkables. Sheltered family friendly bowls outside Queenstown, well worth booking early for July or August.

Common questions