The NP Field Guide · Vol. 01

Southern Hemisphere Resort Guide

Eleven mountains. The best runs, the hot chocolates worth queuing for, and the après that'll keep you out way later than you planned. Consider this your new best friend on the mountain.

11Resorts
2Countries
∞Hot Choccies
2026Season
A note from NP

You've got the gear sorted (obviously). Now let's make sure the rest of your mountain day is equally as good. We've done the hard work - the best runs, the hot chocolates worth queuing for, the après spots that'll keep you out way later than you planned. Pin it, screenshot it, send it to your snow crew. Let's go.

- NP x
🇦🇺

Australia

5 Resorts · VIC + NSW
01
Mount BullerVictoria · Australia
Resort 01 · Victoria

Mount Buller

The Vibe

Melbourne's mountain. A 3-hour drive from the CBD and the closest serious resort to a major city in Australia - which means it's got the energy to match. Buller is buzzy, social, and punches above its weight on the food and drinks front. It's the kind of place where you end up staying one more round. Every time.

Where to Ride

With 80km of runs across the mountain, you've got plenty to work through. Intermediates will love the long cruising runs off Bourke Street Express - it's the place to get your legs under you first thing in the morning. Once you're warmed up, head to the southern side and tackle the Federation Bowl and Bull Run area, where the terrain gets properly interesting. The Summit chair is your access to some of the best views on the mountain - and a sneaky way to lap the mountain without fighting the main village crowds.

💡NP Insider Tip

Hit the northern slopes first thing (they catch the morning sun and soften up beautifully), then save the southern side - Bull Run especially - for after lunch when the snow has had a chance to settle. You'll thank us.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Kaptans at Hotel Pension GrimusThe candlelit alpine dining room is a Buller institution. Wiener schnitzel, duck, local cheeses, and the legendary Salzburger Nockerl (a hazelnut and chocolate chip soufflé with hot chocolate sauce). Non-negotiable. Bookings essential.
  • 02
    VillagerModern Australian dining with a mountain view. Great for a long lunch and a bottle of something good. Think Buller Fried Chicken burgers, organic cotoletta, and steak frites.
  • 03
    Burger HausWhen only a proper gourmet burger will do. Try the Afterburner if you like a little heat.
  • 04
    Grimus GrindThe ski-in, ski-out coffee window at Pension Grimus. The best coffee on the mountain before first tracks. Get there early.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Herbie's Bar (Pension Grimus)Buller's cosiest après spot. Schnapps, glühwein, good company, and walls covered in mountain history. It gets delightfully rowdy. This is your first stop.
  • 02
    Moosehead at ABOMThe basement speakeasy with live blues on Saturdays and warming fireside cocktails every night. Brilliant vibe.
  • 03
    Kooroora HotelThe classic. Been clinking beer mugs since 1953. Good for a late-night round when you're not ready to call it.
🎉
Local Secret

The Birdcage bar at the Mount Buller Chalet does some of the best cocktails on the mountain. Find a couch by the fire, order something with schnapps in it, and stay a while.

02
Mount HothamVictoria · Australia
Resort 02 · Victoria

Mount Hotham

The Vibe

The powder capital of Australia - and it earns that title. Hotham is upside-down in the best possible way: the village sits at the top of the mountain, so you literally ski down to the lifts rather than up. It's a resort for people who take their riding seriously, but still know how to have a good time. Less show pony, more genuine snow lover.

Where to Ride

Hotham's terrain is some of the most varied in Australia. Intermediates and advanced riders will have an absolute field day. Heavenly Valley is the jewel - long, steep, and deeply satisfying. Gun Barrel, Imagine, and Black Snake are all worth chasing on a good snow day. The Orchard area is excellent for tree runs when visibility drops. Beginners aren't forgotten - the Summit area is gentle and confidence-building.

💡NP Insider Tip

Strawberry Fields (locals call it Mary's Slide) is the run that sorts the crew out. If someone in your group conquers it for the first time, that calls for celebratory schnapps. Also: if you're feeling adventurous and want two mountains in one day, you can actually helicopter from Hotham across to Falls Creek - with the same lift pass. Yes, really.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Hoff HutOn-mountain at the top of Black Snake and one of the most beloved spots in Australian skiing. Homemade venison pies, locally baked bread, Harrietville quiches, and glühwein. Ski-in, ski-out perfection.
  • 02
    Zirky's Café & RestaurantRight in the village, ski-in ski-out, and one of the most reliable spots on the mountain for a proper sit-down breakfast or a long lunch. Mountain-sized portions, good coffee, and a sun deck that catches the morning rays.
  • 03
    Wabi SabiFormerly Miss Mary's, now reborn as Hotham's ramen izakaya. Slurp-worthy ramen bowls, cold beers, and hot sake in a casual, walk-in-only spot above the Medical Centre in Lawlers Apartments. The perfect post-ski refuel. Open daily, kitchen from 11am.
  • 04
    Jack Frost Restaurant & BarGreat happy hour from 3:30–5:30pm. An easy free village bus ride to stop #7.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    The General StoreThe local's pub next to Big D. Great food, live music, pizza takeaway, and a full supermarket attached. Could honestly spend an entire evening here.
  • 02
    Chill Bar & Café (Hotham Central)The after-ski local's favourite. Cold drinks, mountain views, live music. Hotham's version of the pub that everyone ends up at.
  • 03
    Big Muster Distillery (Dinner Plain)Under new ownership and rebranded from Blizzard Brewing, Big Muster is now Australia's highest still - and worth the drive down to Dinner Plain for a tasting.
🎉
Local Secret

The Onsen Retreat and Spa at Dinner Plain has an outdoor pool heated to 40 degrees. Book it for after your last run of the trip. Your legs will be eternally grateful.

03
Falls CreekVictoria · Australia
Resort 03 · Victoria

Falls Creek

The Vibe

Victoria's largest resort, and the only one in Australia where cars are banned from the village - which gives it a genuinely European, ski-in ski-out feel that the others can't quite match. Falls is family-friendly, flat-out beautiful, and has a dining scene that's quietly impressive. It's the most underrated resort in the country, in the best possible way.

Where to Ride

Falls has something for every level. Beginners should head to Wombats Ramble - at 2.2km it's Australia's longest green run and a genuinely lovely way to ease in. Intermediates will love Shadow Ridge and the rolling terrain through the trees. When Falls turns on the powder, Cabbage Patch, the Maze, and Rollercoaster are where the magic happens. The Darkside area is a local favourite for stashing powder - get there early on a fresh snow day.

💡NP Insider Tip

First lift up, ski down Last Hoot, then cut straight across to Darkside - it's consistently the best stash of powder on the mountain. Then take the run back through the Y's. That's your morning sorted. For coffee and toasties between runs, hit Slides Café. They do a hot chocolate with Kahlua and spiced rum called "The Snowplough." You're welcome.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Astra Falls CreekTen consecutive years as Australia's Best Boutique Ski Hotel at the World Ski Awards. The restaurant has a hyperlocal, seasonal focus with a menu built around Victorian produce. Kangaroo tartare, pork belly, incredible wine list. This is dinner for a special night.
  • 02
    Frying Pan InnThe heart and soul of Falls Creek, right in the Village Bowl. Wood-fired everything, craft beer, pool tables, and a terrace with mountain views. The "Feed the Family" grill platter is legendary.
  • 03
    Cloud 9At the top of Halley's Comet chairlift with a sky terrace overlooking mountains or clouds (depending on the day). Great pasta, rotating soup, waffles on a stick for the kids. Perfect mid-mountain lunch spot.
  • 04
    Feathertop Alpine LodgeCosy, locavore, and what they call "the Paris end" of Falls. Stout-braised rabbit pie by the fire. Need we say more.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Some Place ElseThe après spot recommended by almost every Falls local. Lively, fun, unpretentious.
  • 02
    ChophouseSki-in from the slopes, Louisiana smokehouse vibes, and great drinks. The family-friendly option that doesn't compromise on fun.
  • 03
    Astra BarFor something more sophisticated. Modern Australian menu, extensive wine list, and a magnesium pool to soak in after.
🎉
Local Secret

The Pass café near a staircase in Slalom Plaza is tiny and easy to miss - but it makes Falls Creek's best coffee. Worth hunting down.

04
PerisherNew South Wales · Australia
Resort 04 · New South Wales

Perisher

The Vibe

The Southern Hemisphere's largest ski resort, full stop. Four mountains, seven peaks, 113 runs, and 65km of pistes. Perisher is the big one - and with an Epic Pass, you've got access to ski fields in Japan, Canada, and the US too. It can feel overwhelming on your first visit, but once you know where you're going, it's an absolute blast. The social scene is mainly in nearby Jindabyne (30 minutes down the road), which gives it a nice separation between mountain time and party time.

Where to Ride

Front Valley is where most people start - the Village 8 Express takes you straight up to beginner and intermediate terrain. For longer descents, head to Mt Perisher. Intermediate riders will love the cruisy runs through Pretty Valley and Happy Valley. Advanced riders should seek out the black runs from Ridge Chair and North Perisher T-bar - Kamikaze and Rock Garden are your targets. The Guthega area is a hidden gem: quieter, scenic, and the crowds thin out from noon onwards.

💡NP Insider Tip

Eyre T-bar on the far left of the resort is the unsung hero of Perisher - east-facing, sheltered from the wind, warms up in the morning sun, and stays relatively uncrowded. Take the quad chair to Blue Cow then follow the signs. Also: night skiing runs every Tuesday and Saturday evening throughout the season. Don't miss it.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    High Ground Coffee BarBarista-operated flat whites, Canadian waffles, shakshuka eggs, and a Guinness pot pie that will change your afternoon. Beat the Front Valley queue and you've got the day made.
  • 02
    Aldo's (Skitube terminal)The local's breakfast institution. Bacon and egg rolls, coffee done properly. What every day at Perisher should start with.
  • 03
    Eyre Hut (at the base of Eyre T-bar)Steve's Alpine Burger is possibly the best value on any mountain in Australia. Order two.
  • 04
    White Spider Restaurant (Eiger Chalet)For dinner with a view of the Front Valley fireworks. Fine dining, great cocktails (the margaritas are their signature), and a dance floor that occasionally fires up.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Sundeck HotelSki-in, ski-out from the slopes at 1800m. Craft ales, 40 types of schnapps, and if you order a tasting platter you get five shots in a test tube rack. Iconic.
  • 02
    Man from Snowy River Hotel (The Man)Live music, good vibes, and a great entertainment scene. Venus the DJ brings the energy.
  • 03
    Smiggins HotelExcellent sunny deck, good bands on Wednesday nights. A solid Thursday option when you're not ready for Jindabyne quite yet.
🎉
Local Secret

The real nightlife is in Jindabyne. The Station has DJs and music acts regularly, and the town has proper restaurants, bottle shops, and all the après energy that the mountain can't quite match. Book accommodation in Jindi for the full experience.

05
ThredboNew South Wales · Australia
Resort 05 · New South Wales

Thredbo

The Vibe

Australia's best ski resort, nine years in a row at the World Ski Awards. Thredbo wins on terrain (the country's biggest vertical drop at 672m and longest runs - the Supertrail is 3.7km), but the real trump card is the village. It's the closest Australia has to a proper European alpine town - charming, walkable (mostly), with over 30 bars and restaurants and live music every night. Once you ski Thredbo, you'll understand why people come back every year.

Where to Ride

The Supertrail is a Thredbo bucket list item - 3.7km top to bottom when conditions allow. The Kosciuszko Chairlift takes you to Australia's highest lifts, and the Merritts Gondola is fast, eight-person, and spectacular. Intermediates will love the Cruiser area, accessed via the gondola. Advanced riders should work their way up to High Noon and Karel's - steep, technical, and deeply satisfying on a good snow day. There are also five terrain parks if you're a park rat.

💡NP Insider Tip

Kareela Hütte, halfway down the Supertrail, is the best long-lunch spot in Australia. Order the champagne, find a sun-drenched table on the deck, and watch the mountain go by. Nobody needs to know how long you stayed. Also: Thredbo backcountry access is genuinely world-class - you can put skins on and hike to one of the Seven Summits from the resort.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Eagles NestAustralia's highest restaurant at 1937m. Pizza, pasta, epic 270-degree views. Go for the experience as much as the food.
  • 02
    Merritts Mountain HouseMid-mountain Austrian vibes. Schnitzels, goulash, and a large sun deck with valley views. The local institution.
  • 03
    Kareela HütteLong lunches, champagne-fuelled afternoons, halfway down the Supertrail. See above re: how long you might stay.
  • 04
    SegretoFor a special dinner. Refined, seasonal, excellent local wines. Worth planning the trip around.
  • 05
    Cascades RestaurantGreat seasonal Australian menu at the base area. Good for a proper sit-down dinner after a big day.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Après Bar (The Denman Hotel)Live music, huge range of spirits including schnapps, and the best après energy in Thredbo. Where every Thredbo night begins.
  • 02
    The Local PubAffectionately known as "The Bisty." Cheeseburgers, pool tables, darts, open 365 days a year. The reliable one.
  • 03
    Keller BarLate nights, DJs, dancing, and a proper party vibe under the village. The one you text home about.
🎉
Local Secret

The Kareela Snowcat Dinner is one of those experiences you do once and talk about forever. A snowcat ride through the mountains at night to a dinner set in a genuine European alpine tradition. Worth every penny.

🇳🇿

New Zealand

6 Resorts · North + South Island
06
Coronet PeakQueenstown · New Zealand
Resort 06 · Queenstown

Coronet Peak

The Vibe

Queenstown's original ski resort, operating since 1947, and still the beating heart of Southern Hemisphere skiing culture. Twenty minutes from central Queenstown, it's a mountain that knows exactly what it is: accessible, versatile, consistently reliable snow, and an energy that's impossible to replicate. Add in New Zealand's best night skiing (lifts run until 9pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and some Saturdays), and Coronet Peak is simply one of the most fun resorts on earth.

Where to Ride

Coronet's roller-coaster terrain is the thing that sets it apart - gullies, open runs with incredible Wakatipu Basin views, and enough variety to keep any ability level entertained. Beginners should head to the Meadows lift and magic carpet area. Intermediates will love the runs off the Coronet Express and Rocky Gully T-bar. Advanced riders: the gates into the side country are where the real fun begins. And if you're staying for night ski, the floodlit mountain under the stars is genuinely one of the most magical experiences in Southern Hemisphere skiing.

💡NP Insider Tip

Get a First Tracks pass and be on the mountain at 8am before the crowds arrive. Carve untouched corduroy as the sun rises over the Wakatipu Basin, then reward yourself with a coffee from the Coronet Café before the lifts properly open. Your Coronet Peak pass covers The Remarkables too, so you can mix and match across the week.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Heidi's HutA local's absolute favourite, tucked at the base of the Rocky Gully T-bar. Gourmet pizzas, fresh pasta, breakfasts, soups, and Amisfield wine by the fire or on the sundeck with Wakatipu views.
  • 02
    Coronet Peak RestaurantFull breakfast and lunch service with stunning mountain views. Reliable, well-run, great coffee.
  • 03
    Falcons Rest (outdoor deck)Mulled wine by the fire pit when the sun hits the deck. The social hub of the mountain mid-afternoon.
  • 04
    Heidi's Hot TubNot food, but too good not to mention. Soak in the hot tub beside the hut on the mountain. Mid-ski wellness is valid.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Rhino's Ski ShackAlpine-themed, hip-hop DJs, open fires, brilliant atmosphere. Find it in The Mall in central Queenstown.
  • 02
    The World BarQueenstown institution. Teapot cocktails (yes, cocktails that come in teapots), burgers, beer garden, and live music. Church Street. Do it.
  • 03
    Canyon Brewing (Arthurs Point)Stop here on the drive back from Coronet Peak. Great craft beer, beautiful river setting. A perfect debrief spot.
  • 04
    Broken Heart Gin Garden (Arthurs Point)Just down the road from Coronet. A boutique gin bar for when you want something a bit spesh.
🎉
Local Secret

Night ski on Coronet Peak with DJs on the deck, fire pits glowing, floodlit runs - and then a drink at the Ice Bar on the mountain before heading back to Queenstown. It's a full experience that you simply don't get anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere.

07
CardronaWānaka · New Zealand
Resort 07 · Wānaka

Cardrona

The Vibe

Halfway between Queenstown and Wānaka, Cardrona is the great all-rounder of New Zealand skiing. It's got the reliable snow cover, the Southern Hemisphere's most extensive terrain parks and pipes, genuinely excellent kids facilities, and nine different cafes and restaurants on the mountain. Oh, and at the bottom of the access road sits the Cardrona Hotel - one of the most photographed buildings in all of New Zealand.

Where to Ride

Cardrona's wide-open groomed runs make it perfect for building confidence and logging runs. Captain's Basin is consistently where the best snow hides - get there early. The Saddle Basin is for the adventurous: off-piste, steep chutes, and terrain that rewards experienced riders. The terrain parks are legitimately world-class - the jumps here see pros training regularly. The Chondola (half gondola, half chairlift) is the smart way to get up on a cold day.

💡NP Insider Tip

The Crown Range drive from Queenstown to Cardrona is one of the most spectacular roads in the world. Don't rush it - pull over at the lookout on the way up for the view over the Wakatipu Basin. Also: pick up gear in Queenstown or Wānaka the day before rather than on the mountain - no queues, proper fitting, you're on the slopes from the moment you arrive.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Captain's Café (Captain's Basin)Fresh made pizzas, loads of seating inside and out, and they're right next to the best snow. Ski-in, ski-out lunch with a view. Essential.
  • 02
    The Mezz (base lodge, Level 2)Sit-down table service dining. The mountain's more refined option - go for dinner if you're staying nearby.
  • 03
    Noodle Bar (Snow Sports HQ building)Asian-style noodles and sushi. Exactly what you need at altitude to fuel the afternoon session.
  • 04
    Cardrona HotelAt the bottom of the access road on your way back. One of NZ's oldest pubs, award-winning restaurant, cold Speight's Ale, and a building that's an icon in its own right. An icon. Don't skip it.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    The Mezz BarThe on-mountain après spot. Good drinks, second floor views. Stay until the mountain quietens out.
  • 02
    Lalaland (Wānaka)35 minutes back into Wānaka and worth every minute. Lakefront cocktail bar with low lighting, a long list, and the kind of view that justifies a second round. The Wānaka after-ski headquarters.
  • 03
    Little Blackwood (Queenstown)If you're based in Queenstown, this is the lakeside bar to round out a Cardrona day. Cocktails, fire pits, view straight across to The Remarkables. The civilised end of Queenstown's drinking scene.
🎉
Local Secret

Cardrona is also accessible on the same pass as Treble Cone - so you can mix and match days between the two for a genuinely incredible week of varied terrain. Cardrona for groomed fun and parks; Treble Cone for the views and the serious off-piste.

08
Treble ConeWānaka · New Zealand
Resort 08 · Wānaka

Treble Cone

The Vibe

New Zealand's most dramatic ski resort. Full stop. Treble Cone has the longest vertical drop in the Queenstown-Southern Lakes district (700m), views over Lake Wānaka and Mount Aspiring that will make you stop mid-run just to stare, and terrain that'll sort the serious riders from the tourists within approximately five minutes. It's not a beginners' mountain, but if you're intermediate to expert, Treble Cone is the experience of a lifetime.

Where to Ride

Home Basin is where you'll start - the Home Basin Express chair accesses the groomed intermediate runs. Saddle Basin is for when you're warmed up and confident - steep, challenging, spectacular. Matukituki Basin is wide open, ungroomed, and the kind of terrain that makes you feel genuinely alive. The Motatapu Basin has the big-mountain freeride lines - black diamond all the way. The 4km High Street to Triple Treat run is one of the most satisfying runs on any mountain in Australasia.

💡NP Insider Tip

The access road to Treble Cone is famously hairy - steep, switchback, gravel, with views that are distracting in all the right ways. Take the shuttle from Wānaka instead of driving. You'll enjoy the views so much more, and your knuckles won't be white by the time you arrive. Also: the resort offers backcountry pass access to some of the best out-of-bounds terrain in New Zealand.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Base CaféGrab-and-go coffee, wraps, pies, soup, and quiches at the bottom. The pre-ski fuel stop.
  • 02
    Southern BBQ (mid-mountain)Slow-cooked meats, burgers, noodles, and salads on the mountain. Treble Cone's answer to a proper lunch stop.
  • 03
    The Altitude BarAt the top of Home Basin Express. Cold beer, great views. The reward after the first big run.
  • 04
    Wānaka town (after skiing)The real dinner scene is in town. Bistro Gentil for French fine dining, Sofi for Mediterranean lakefront vibes. Wānaka is small, lovely, and a complete contrast to Queenstown's chaos.
Après / Drinks
  • 01
    The Bar (base lodge)Wine, cider, beer, and the unique satisfaction of watching other people arrive on that terrifying road while you're already drinking.
  • 02
    Rhyme & Reason Brewery (Wānaka)The local craft brewery on the way back into town. Big sunny garden, taps that rotate, and a wood-fired pizza oven. The perfect first-pint debrief before the lakefront dinner crowd kicks in.
  • 03
    Lalaland (Wānaka lakefront)The town's late-evening cocktail bar - low light, big windows, lake views. Where Treble Cone's après quietly turns into dinner. (Yes, it appears in our Cardrona list too - that's the beauty of the shared Wānaka après scene. One bar, two great mountain days.)
🎉
Local Secret

Many visitors just come to the Treble Cone base café on sunny winter days purely for the views. If you're having a non-ski day or the mountain is closed, drive up anyway for coffee and a look. On a clear day the view over Lake Wānaka to the Southern Alps is genuinely one of the most beautiful things you'll see in your entire life.

09
Mt HuttCanterbury · New Zealand
Resort 09 · Canterbury

Mt Hutt

The Vibe

Canterbury's big mountain. 90 minutes from Christchurch, perched above the patchwork plains, Mt Hutt has the longest season in Australasia and a vertical that genuinely rivals the South Island's best. NZSki's quieter sister to Coronet and the Remarkables - far fewer crowds, longer top-to-bottom runs, and a village base (Methven) that's all proper country pub, not party-strip. It's a working mountain in the best sense of the word. The kind of place that rewards you for showing up.

Where to Ride

683m of vertical, four chairlifts, and one of the wider basins on the South Island. Intermediates will live on the Summit Six chair - long groomed cruisers off the top with views to the Pacific on a clear day. The South Face is the steep side: chutes, drops, and powder lines that go genuinely off-piste. The Towers area sits between the two for confident intermediates. Wind closes the upper mountain often - always check the snow report first thing.

💡NP Insider Tip

The access road is steep, narrow, and gravel - and the view down it is famously alarming. Take the shuttle from Methven, not your hire car. You'll save the brakes, the nerves, and the chain-fitting palaver in the carpark. Buy a multi-day NZSki pass and bounce between Mt Hutt, Coronet and the Remarkables across one trip - it's the best way to see the South Island.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Methven ResortThe resort hotel at the heart of the village. Hearty post-ski meals, big fireplaces, and a wine list that takes Canterbury's vineyards seriously.
  • 02
    Aoraki Macs (mountain base)The on-mountain café. Coffee that's a step above the usual, plus the standard pies, soups and wraps. Sit on the deck for views across the Canterbury Plains.
  • 03
    131 Eatery (Methven)Brunch institution. Eggs done well, big counter-cabinet, properly good flat white. Beat the rush or queue politely - both are valid.
  • 04
    The Dubliner (Methven)Irish pub doing exactly what Irish pubs should - Guinness, fish and chips, and live music when the band shows up. The one that always delivers.

NP note: Methven's hospitality scene rotates - check with us before you go. Local edits welcome.

Après / Drinks
  • 01
    The Blue Pub (Methven)The other classic Methven pub - blue exterior, log fire inside, and the most reliable Sunday session in town.
  • 02
    The Brown Pub (Methven)Sister to the Blue. Bigger crowd, livelier nights, occasional bands. Pick your colour and stay put.
  • 03
    Mt Hutt Bar (mountain base)First-light beer ticks the box. Sun deck, cold tap, and a perfect angle on the carpark chaos. Closes when the last bus rolls down.
🎉
Local Secret

Stay in Methven, not Christchurch - the morning drive is shorter, the village rate is half, and you'll catch the locals at breakfast. On a wind day with the mountain on hold, drive to Lake Coleridge or Mt Somers for a walk; it's the kind of detour that turns into a favourite photo of the trip.

10
OhauMackenzie · New Zealand
Resort 10 · Mackenzie Country

Ohau

The Vibe

The opposite of Queenstown. Ohau is family-run, lift-light, and looks out over Lake Ohau and the Ben Ohau range - a view so absurdly beautiful it almost makes the skiing feel like a bonus. One chairlift, a handful of T-bars, and an unhurried lodge culture that hasn't changed in decades. Deep in the Mackenzie, halfway between Tekapo and Wānaka, with skies dark enough to be an international dark-sky reserve. You don't come here for the lift count. You come for the quiet.

Where to Ride

Modest vertical, generous terrain. The triple chair accesses the main bowl - intermediate cruisers, a few proper steeper lines off the back, and excellent learner terrain near the base. The real reason to ride Ohau, though, is the side-country: a short hike off the top opens up some of the most underrated lift-accessed terrain in the South Island. On a powder day it stays untracked all morning because almost nobody knows.

💡NP Insider Tip

Lake Ohau Lodge (down at the lake) is the closest on-mountain accommodation - check the current accommodation status before you book. Twizel (40 minutes away) is the reliable base in the meantime. Bring a thermos - the lodge café is small and the queues at lunch can be longer than the lift lines.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Lake Ohau Lodge restaurantIf it's open during your trip, eat here. Family-run, hearty, and the dining room has views straight down the lake. Book ahead - they only seat to capacity.
  • 02
    Poppies Café (Twizel)Best brunch in the Mackenzie. 40 minutes from the mountain but worth the drive for an early start. Counter food, big windows, and very good coffee.

NP note: Ohau's hospitality is small and seasonal - double-check opening hours before you drive.

Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Lake Ohau Lodge barA drink with a view of the lake at sunset. There is genuinely nothing better in the Mackenzie.
  • 02
    High Country Salmon (en route to Twizel)Stop on the drive home for fresh-caught salmon sashimi and a bottle of bubbles. Riverside picnic tables. A little hidden gem.
  • 03
    Twizel's local pubThe town's local rotates between a couple of low-key pubs depending on the season. Ask anyone in town and they'll point you to that night's busy one.
🎉
Local Secret

Stay one night to get the stars right. The Mackenzie is an Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - the southern sky here, with no village glow, is one of the wildest views you'll have on the whole trip. Bring a flask of something warm and lie back in the snow. It's better than any nightclub.

11
Mt RuapehuNorth Island · New Zealand
Resort 11 · North Island

Mt Ruapehu

The Vibe

An active volcano you can ski. Ruapehu has two ski areas on opposite sides of the same mountain - Whakapapa on the north (accessed via National Park village), and Tūroa on the south (from Ohakune) - giving it the largest skiable terrain in New Zealand. The vibe is volcanic, exposed, and weirdly otherworldly: lunar ridge lines, steaming vents on quiet days, and on a bluebird run from the top you're looking out over the lakes of the Tongariro plateau. It's been through a turbulent few seasons - operators have changed, lifts have been upgraded - but the mountain itself is unforgettable. Worth the North Island detour.

Where to Ride

Whakapapa is the bigger, more developed side - long basin terrain, the High Noon Express up top, and Knoll Ridge Chalet (the highest café in New Zealand) for a mid-mountain stop. Tūroa is steeper, quieter, and home to the longest vertical descent in the country at over 700m. Both sides have plenty for intermediates and stunning views; advanced riders should chase the chutes off the top on Tūroa or hike to the Pinnacles at Whakapapa for genuine alpine terrain.

💡NP Insider Tip

Operator changes mean lift status, opening dates and pass deals shift season to season - check directly with the resort before you book accommodation. The weather here is genuinely volcanic: bring proper layers, goggles for everything from whiteout to bluebird, and a buff. And if you only ski one side, make it Tūroa - the descent is iconic.

Where to Eat
  • 01
    Knoll Ridge Chalet (Whakapapa, mid-mountain)New Zealand's highest café. Hot soup, mulled wine and views across the volcanic plateau. The pilgrimage stop.
  • 02
    The Blind Finch (Ohakune)Ohakune's polished dinner option - small plates, good wine list, and the village's best date-night room.
  • 03
    Cyprus Tree (Ohakune)Steady mid-priced bistro that ski crowds rotate through every winter. Big portions, kid-friendly, reliable.
  • 04
    Schnapps Bar (National Park)If you're staying Whakapapa side, this is the village pub - hearty meals, fire roaring, occasional live music.

NP note: Ruapehu venues turn over more than most - sense-check before you book.

Après / Drinks
  • 01
    Powderkeg (Ohakune)North Island après institution. Ski-off-the-hill timing, big crowd, decent food, very loud Friday and Saturday. The one everyone's heard of.
  • 02
    The Junction (Ohakune)Live music, cocktails, late nights. Where Ohakune goes after Powderkeg gets too rowdy - or doesn't.
  • 03
    Schnapps Bar (National Park)Whakapapa-side après. Cosier, quieter, and the closest thing to a proper alpine pub on the North Island.
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Local Secret

Ski one day, walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing the next. The crossing is one of the great one-day walks of the world and the trailhead is 15 minutes from Whakapapa village. On a non-ski day, drive the Forgotten World Highway between Taumarunui and Stratford - it's empty, weird, and one of the most photogenic detours in the country.