Wānaka sits at the heart of New Zealand’s best backcountry ski touring terrain.
Treble Cone – Cardrona – Remarks – Ohau.
Surrounded by the Southern Alps, the region offers accessible powder fields, varied aspects, and a season that
runs from June through October. Whether you are stepping into the backcountry for the first time or looking for
steep couloirs and alpine objectives, our IFMGA-qualified guides will match the terrain to your ability and the
day’s conditions.
The Wānaka region provides something few backcountry zones in the world can match: four distinct mountain
areas within easy driving distance, each with different aspects, elevation ranges, and snow characteristics. On
any given day, your guide can choose between cold shady lines at Treble Cone, open bowls above Cardrona,
the steep terrain of the Remarkables, or the remote powder of the Ohau range — all based on real-time
weather and snowpack assessment.
This flexibility means we rarely cancel. If one area is wind-affected or avalanche-prone, another option is almost
always available. It also means every trip feels different — even clients who return season after season discover
new lines.
Close to home — 30 minutes from Wānaka
An easy 30-minute drive from Wānaka gets us to a number of different options at Treble Cone and Cardrona.
These areas offer excellent early and mid-season touring with reliable cold snow on shady aspects. The terrain
ranges from mellow open bowls perfect for your first backcountry day to steeper chutes for experienced
tourers. Access is straightforward and we can be skinning within minutes of leaving the car.
A bit further afield — worth the drive
The Remarkables (1.5 hours) provides dramatic alpine terrain with long descents and a range of aspects. The
area often holds snow well into spring and offers some of the most aesthetic lines in the region.
Ohau (2.5
hours) is our most remote option and rewards the drive with uncrowded terrain, wide glacier-fed bowls, and
some of the driest snow in the Southern Alps — an excellent choice when conditions favour eastern aspects.
8:00 AM — Meet your guide in Wānaka. Quick gear check and conditions briefing based on that morning’s
avalanche forecast and weather data.
8:30–9:30 AM — Drive to the selected venue. Your guide will have chosen the location based on current
conditions, wind direction, recent snowfall, and your objectives for the day.
9:30 AM–3:00 PM — Ski touring. Expect 2–4 runs depending on terrain and conditions, with 600–1,200
metres of vertical gain over the day. Your guide manages the terrain selection, route finding, avalanche
assessment, and pacing.
3:00–4:00 PM — Return to Wānaka.
Total trip duration: approximately 8 hours.
Departure: Meet in Wānaka at 8 am to do a quick check of gear and equipment and then travel to venue
Trip duration: Approximately 8 hours.
Bad weather : If the weather doesn’t allow us to go ski touring on the day you have booked we will go on the next available good weather day, guide availability permitting
8.00am
Meet your guide in Wānaka for coffee. After an introduction we will depart for a venue for the day. The trip will be customised to suit your experience, goals, and fitness.
Before we head into the back country we will take you through the use of your ski touring equipment and avalanche safety equipment.
(For skiers wanting to develop independent avalanche decision-making skills we recommend our ASC1 Avalanche Education Course.)
The day is your own to enjoy – if you want to ski lots we will end up doing more uphill to gain our down hill – if you would like to find a nice place to rest and chill we can do that as well. Feel free to talk to you your guide about what you want to do as you start to explore the back country.
4.00pm
We will return to the ski field carpark by 4 pm at the latest to journey back down into town after an amazing day out. If at Ohau or Remarks we can leave earlier.
You will need backcountry ski touring or splitboard equipment including AT/touring bindings, skins, and ski
boots compatible with touring bindings. We can help you arrange rental equipment in Wānaka if needed.
Essential gear:
A full equipment list is sent on booking confirmation. Ski field backcountry passes purchased on the day if
needed.
You should be a confident intermediate skier or snowboarder comfortable on red/black runs at a resort. Prior
backcountry experience is helpful but not essential — our guides adapt the day to your level.
A reasonable level of cardiovascular fitness is needed as you will be skinning uphill for 3–5 hours. If you are
unsure about your fitness level, talk to us before booking.
This is aimed at further education around identifying and moving through avalanche terrain, understanding weather and applying avalanche forecast bulletins to your trip planning. Learn more about ASC1 & ASC2 Avalanche Education Courses
If conditions do not allow safe ski touring on your booked date, we will reschedule to the next available goodweather
day, guide availability permitting. Because we can choose between four different mountain areas,
complete cancellations are rare — but safety always comes first. We never compromise on safety; your guide
makes the call.
1:1 $980 NZD per person
1:2 $550 NZD per person
1:3 $400 NZD per person
1:4 $325 NZD per person
Avalanche safety equipment available for hire.
Transport to venue, food, and personal ski equipment are not included. Multi-day discounts available — ask us.
The Wānaka ski touring season typically runs from mid-June to late October.
Early season (June–July) — Cold, dry powder on shady aspects. The terrain around Treble Cone and
Cardrona comes into condition first. Days are shorter but the snow quality can be exceptional.
Mid-season (August) — The most reliable period with deep snowpack and stable conditions. All four areas are
typically in excellent condition. This is the sweet spot for backcountry skiing in Wānaka.
Late season (September–October) — Spring corn snow and longer days. Ideal for bigger objectives, glacier
touring, and sunny summit lunches. The snowpack consolidates overnight and softens through the morning.
Our Ski Mountaineering programs combine ski touring with alpine climbing techniques, glacier travel, and summit descents.
No — your guide manages all avalanche assessment and route decisions.
However, we recommend completing an ASC1 avalanche course if you plan to tour independently in the future. We run ASC1 courses throughout the season.
Yes. Several shops in Wānaka rent touring skis, skins, boots, and splitboards. We recommend Mt Outdoors as a rental provider.
They will help ensure you get the right setup for the day’s terrain.
You should be comfortable hiking uphill for 3–5 hours with a pack. The guide adjusts the day’s objectives to
your fitness, but a base level of cardiovascular endurance is important for enjoyment and safety.
We reschedule at no extra cost. Because we can choose between four different mountain areas, complete
cancellations are rare — but safety always comes first.
August and September offer the most reliable conditions — deep snowpack, stable weather patterns, and a
mix of powder and spring corn. Early season (June–July) can produce exceptional cold smoke powder on the
right days.
Can beginners go ski touring?
You need to be a confident intermediate resort skier. If you can ski red/black runs comfortably, your guide can
introduce you to backcountry touring on mellow, safe terrain.
Complete our online booking form or contact us for more information.
