Skiing in July in The World
July is a Southern Hemisphere month for skiing: New Zealand is in peak winter with its most dependable snow of the season, while in the Northern Hemisphere only a few high Alpine glaciers keep summer skiing alive for morning turns.
Reviewed for the 2026 season by the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team
Where can you ski in July?
In July you ski by flipping the calendar and the hemisphere. South of the equator it is deep winter, and New Zealand offers the most accessible and reliable July skiing in the world, with its main season in full swing across the Southern Alps around Queenstown and Wanaka. Back in the Northern Hemisphere, the only skiing is on a short list of high summer glaciers in the Alps, where a few groomed pistes stay open for cold morning turns above a green summer valley.
For most travelers chasing a real ski trip in July, the Southern Hemisphere is the answer and New Zealand is the headline. It pairs dependable winter snow with a spectacular landscape and an easy holiday built around the lake towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. The Northern glaciers are not a holiday in the same sense: they are a few hours of training and turns, best treated as a bonus bolted onto a summer mountain trip rather than the reason to travel.
What is July skiing like in New Zealand?
July marks the start of the most dependable skiing in New Zealand. Snow usually begins falling from late May, but July and August bring the heaviest natural snowfall and the most settled conditions across the fields around Queenstown and Wanaka, as winter properly sets in and storm systems move through more regularly. The result is a solid, building base and the most reliable cover of the Southern Hemisphere season, which is exactly why these are the peak months.
The fields here ski differently from the Alps. New Zealand ski areas are mostly treeless, lift served mountains above access roads rather than ski in ski out villages, so most people base in a town such as Queenstown or Wanaka and drive up each day. Cardrona is among the most reliable for snow thanks to strong snowmaking, while Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone round out the marquee South Island options. July also brings school holiday crowds and a lively mountain atmosphere, so book lodging and lift access ahead for the busiest weeks.
Can you still ski in the Alps in July?
Yes, but only on the glaciers, and only in the morning. A handful of high summer ski areas keep going through July, led by Hintertux in Austria, which is open all year round, and Les Deux Alpes in France, whose large glacier between roughly 2,900 and 3,600 meters runs its summer season through the month. Zermatt in Switzerland skis its high glacier under the Matterhorn as well. Expect cold, firm snow from first lift that softens to slush by late morning, so lifts open early and effectively wind down by lunch.
This is summer glacier skiing, not a winter holiday. The terrain is limited, the season is a morning activity, and the resort below you is green and warm rather than snowy. It suits racers in training, pass holders chasing turns and active families combining a glacier morning with hiking, biking and lake swimming. If you want a full ski holiday in July, the Southern Hemisphere is the better trip; if you simply want a few July turns close to home in Europe, the high glaciers deliver them.
How much does July skiing cost, and who should go?
A July ski trip to New Zealand is a long haul winter holiday and prices reflect the distance more than the mountain. Once long haul flights are counted, a week typically lands in the $4,000 to $8,000 per person band, though the skiing and lodging in the lake towns are reasonable by Alpine standards and the trip doubles easily as a wider New Zealand holiday. July is peak season there, so book the school holiday weeks well ahead. The Northern glaciers, by contrast, are an off season add on, usually under $2,000 per person for the ski element.
July suits committed skiers willing to travel south for reliable winter snow, powder and adventure seekers drawn to New Zealand's terrain, and anyone wanting to combine skiing with a bucket list Southern Hemisphere holiday. The European glaciers suit racers, pass holders and active summer families. July is the wrong month for anyone wanting an affordable, short haul ski holiday with deep snow, who should simply wait for the Northern winter from December to April.
July in The World: the case for and against
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Where to ski in the World in July
For July we would point you first at these, each with our full review:
- Cardrona. One of New Zealand's most reliable fields for snow thanks to strong snowmaking, and a July peak season favorite near Wanaka.
- The Remarkables. A family friendly Queenstown field with dependable July cover and a dramatic setting above Lake Wakatipu.
- Treble Cone. The largest South Island field, best for confident skiers chasing steeper terrain in peak July conditions.
- Hintertux. Open all year round, it is the most reliable place to find summer glacier turns back in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sources we checked
Common questions
Where can you ski in July?
July skiing means heading to the Southern Hemisphere or to a high glacier. New Zealand is in peak winter with its most reliable snow, centered on the fields around Queenstown and Wanaka. In the Northern Hemisphere, only high summer glaciers such as Hintertux, Les Deux Alpes and Zermatt stay open, offering cold morning turns rather than a full holiday.
Is July a good time to ski in New Zealand?
Yes. July marks the start of New Zealand's most dependable skiing, with the heaviest natural snowfall and most settled conditions of the season as winter sets in around Queenstown and Wanaka. It is peak season, so the fields are lively and the school holiday weeks are busy, meaning lodging and lift access should be booked well ahead.
Can you ski in the Alps in July?
Only on the glaciers, and only in the morning. A few high summer areas, led by Hintertux, Les Deux Alpes and Zermatt, stay open with cold, firm snow that softens to slush by late morning. It is summer glacier skiing rather than a winter holiday, best suited to racers, pass holders and families combining a glacier morning with summer activities.
How much does a July ski trip cost?
A July trip to New Zealand is long haul, so a week typically lands in the $4,000 to $8,000 per person band once flights are counted, though it doubles as a wider Southern Hemisphere holiday. The European glaciers are an off season add on instead, usually under $2,000 per person for the skiing element.
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