The First Timer's Guide to The Remarkables
Find Your Freedom, Right from the First Turn.
New to the snow, or just new to our mountain? The Remarkables is where your journey kicks off and levels up.
Progression is baked into every inch of our terrain. Start out on gentle, sun-soaked slopes with Tahi and Rua conveyors. Then ride the natural flow through wider runs and mellow gradients that build confidence with every carve. From first turns to double blacks, everything’s connected, and the stoke only grows. The vibe? It's epic for first timers and families through to Freeride World Tour athletes that send it in the chutes.
Ready to drop into park life? Remarks Parks is Queenstown’s freestyle playground. Lap the beginner park, step it up to the Big Line, or hit The Burton Stash, one of only six in the world, and the only one down south.
Freedom comes in all forms. Come find yours.
Getting Here
Getting to The Remarkables? Too easy.
Hop on our Ski Bus from Queenstown or Frankton and cruise to the base without breaking a sweat. Seats fill fast during peak season and weekends, so book early to lock in your ride and your spot on the snow.
Keen to drive? We’re just 24km from central Queenstown. Just make sure to allow plenty of time.
Conditions can change quickly up here on the maunga. So, before you head up, make sure to check the snow report.
Hit up our Getting Here Guide for more insider tips and tricks to make the drive smooth and scenic.
Choosing your Lift Pass
At The Remarkables, we’ve got a line-up of ski passes to match your mission.
First time on snow? The First Timer Package is your go-to. It’s packed with value - Lift Pass, Group Lesson, and rental gear all bundled to get you sliding from the get-go.
Planning a few epic days this season? The Superpass has you covered. It gives you access to The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Mt Hutt—with the bonus of swapping unused days for off-mountain adventure. The more days you grab, the more you save.
Going big or chasing max value? Lock in a Season Pass and send it all winter long.
Explore all pass options here.
Lessons & Packages
First day on snow? Let’s make it legendary. Whether you’re brand new or just keen to sharpen those turns, lessons at The Remarkables are your best bet to build confidence, learn the ropes, and fall in love with life on snow. Our certified instructors are here to guide beginners through every step—on mellow learner slopes made for easy wins and epic firsts. Pick from group or private lessons, with options for all ages and skill levels. Need gear and a pass too? Lock in a First Timer Package—everything you need for a magic first day at The Remarkables, all in one go.
Rental Gear
Renting ski or snowboard gear at The Remarkables is seamless. We’ve got everything you need - skis, boards, boots, poles, helmets, and outerwear. Pick up your kit on the mountain or from the Snow Centre in Queenstown at 9 Duke St. Missing goggles or gloves? Swing by our on-mountain retail shop and purchase the essentials before you hit the snow. Too easy! Skip the queue by pre-booking your rentals online. Then just collect your MyPass card, get fitted by our rentals crew, and you’re good to go.
Your MyPass Card
Everyone needs a MyPass Card to use the products they’ve purchased. It gives you access to the conveyors and chairlifts, as well as any rental gear, lessons or Queenstown Ski Bus rides you have bought. You can collect your MyPass Card two ways:
Kiosks:
Skip the queues and scan your order barcode in your order confirmation email at any self-service kiosk on-mountain, at the Snow Centre (25 Shotover St), or beside baggage claim at Queenstown Airport.
Guest Services:
Visit our team at The Remarkables, or the Snow Centre (25 Shotover St).
Planning your day
The smoother the start, the better the ride. Here’s how to plan your day at The Remarks so you’re shredding more and stressing less.
1. Check the Conditions
Weather can switch it up fast up here! Before you make tracks, check the Snow Report, Live Webcams, Forecast, and Road & Lift Status—everything you need is right here, on our site.
Snow Report
2. Plan Your Arrival
Catching the bus? Check the Schedule - Book ahead and know your pick-up time.
Got a 10am lesson? You’ll want to be on the 8.30am bus or earlier. Need to grab rentals on the hill? Aim for the 8am bus.
As a rule of thumb: If you have a morning lesson, aim to be at Rentals by 9am latest, and at your lesson meeting point 15 mins before it starts.
Driving up? Aim to arrive on the mountain an hour before you plan to be on the snow. This allows time to park, get to the base building, gear up, catch a coffee and soak in the mountain vibes. Weather can change quickly in the alpine, so always carry snow chains – they’re required when conditions demand it. Snow chain calls for the road will be communicated on our Snow Report.
3. Know Where You're going
For a seamless first day, knowing where to go makes all the difference. From finding your gear to meeting your lesson crew, don’t stress, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Renting Gear from us? Visit our friendly rental team. They'll get you fitted and kitted for a great day on the snow. We can sort you with clothing, skis/snowboard, boots, poles and helmets. In Queenstown you've got two options for collecting your rental gear - From the Snow Centre at 25 Shotover St in Queenstown (recommend you get fitted after 4pm the day before you hit the snow) or on the mountain, on the ground floor of our base lodge. Allow at least 30 minutes to get fitted and sorted.
Got a Lesson? Meet your coach at the Snowsports Meeting Area on snow - look for the flags. Please arrive 15 minutes early, gear on and MyPass ready.
Quick Tip: Purchase online and sort your MyPass Card the day before you head up the mountain at one of our self-service kiosks. Located at Queenstown Airport beside baggage claim or in the Queenstown Snow Centre.
4. Choose Your Terrain
From first turns to freeride missions - The Remarkables is built for progression at every level.
Kick things off on our Conveyor Carpets, where the terrain is gentle, friendly, and perfect for first timers and groms finding their feet.
Feeling good? Sugarbowl Express is your next step -long, easy greens like Castaway offer space to roam and build momentum. More advanced riders will love Sugarbowl’s steep red runs and if you're feeling playful, hit the terrain park. With progressive features from beginner to advanced, Sugar's got a trick with your name on it. Explore your style at Remarks Parks, home to freestyle zones for every level of rider.
After some flowy trails and a little Ice Bar après? Jump on the Curvey Basin Express for smooth, flowing intermediate trails with a longer descent and a sweeping alpine view.
Then there’s Shadow Basin, home to chutes, bowls and epic freeride terrain.
Want to plan your lines? Check out our full Trail Map below.
5. Refuel
Worked up an appetite? Take a well-earned break and soak in the views while you refuel at The Remarkables.
Rastusburn Coffee Bar is your morning mission starter - think top-notch coffee, teas, sweet treats, and even a cheeky wine or beer to keep the good vibes rolling.
For a quick pick-me-up, swing by The Remarkables Café. Grab a fresh bakery bite, hot snack, fish & chips, or something lighter like sushi, gourmet rolls, and salads.
If you're after a proper feed, The Remarkables Restaurant is where it's at. Dive into hearty mountain meals, gourmet sandwiches and burgers, daily curries, and a stacked salad bar - all with that iconic view.
And for a slopeside pitstop, don’t miss The Ice Bar. Accessible via the Curvey Basin Express, park up mid-lap with a mulled wine in hand and let the mountain do the rest.
FAQS
When is the Ski Season?
The season kicks off in June and runs through early October. July school holidays bring the busiest crowds, so plan ahead and book early to lock in the magic.
What time does the mountain open?
The Remarkable is open daily from 9am – 4pm, subject to weather conditions.
What do I need to bring for a ski day at The Remarkables?
Planning a ski or snowboard day at The Remarkables? Here’s what you’ll need to bring to make the most of your time on the mountain – whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned shredder.
Essential gear to bring:
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Warm, waterproof outerwear (jacket and pants)
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Base layers (thermal or merino)
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Gloves or mittens
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Goggles or sunglasses
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Helmet (required for lessons – rentals available)
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Thick socks (ski or snowboard-specific recommended)
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MyPass card or booking QR code
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Water bottle and snacks
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Sunscreen and lip balm
Don’t have all the gear? No worries. We offer ski and snowboard rentals, including clothing and helmets, right at the base building. Our Rental Centre has everything you need for a full day on snow.
Heading home for the day?
To keep the good times rolling, be sure to follow these last few tips.
- Return any rental equipment by the end of the day
- If you’re travelling by shuttle bus, plan your departure. A bus will depart every 15 minutes from the top terminal.
- If you want to beat the evening rush, try to depart around 4:30pm.
What Facilities are on the Mountain?
Everything you need for an epic day on the snow is right here at The Remarkables—Queenstown’s high alpine adventure zone.
At the base building, you’ll find bathrooms, changing areas, and secure lockers to stash your gear. Our on-mountain Rental Centre has you sorted with skis, snowboards, boots, helmets, and waterproof outerwear—ideal for first timers or anyone travelling light.
Feeling hungry? The Rastusburn Coffee Bar serves up quality barista brews, sweet treats, and a solid drinks menu. For something quick, hit The Remarkables Café for hot snacks, sushi, salads, and more. After a bigger bite? The Remarkables Restaurant delivers hearty mountain meals, gourmet sandwiches, burgers, curries, and a fresh salad bar—all with knockout views.
Need a break mid-lap? Pull in at the Ice Bar—a slopeside snack stop with hot dogs, mulled wine, and serious chill factor.
Looking to level up your skills? Book a lesson with our experienced Snowsports team. From first-timers to seasoned shredders, we’ve got expert coaching to boost confidence and technique at every stage.
Driving up? Free car park shuttles make it easy from the lower lots. You’ll also find free Wi-Fi, water refill stations, self-service kiosks, and friendly staff on hand to help you make the most of your mountain time.
Whether you’re here to shred, learn, snack, or just soak up the scenery, The Remarkables has everything you need to make your day unforgettable.
How to stay safe on the mountain
Visit our mountain safety page for more details on how you can have a safe experience on the snow.
Can I Reschedule my Ski Bus Booking?
Rescheduling
A Ski Bus pass that has a date and time reservation is only valid for the date, time, pickup location, and destination that it has been booked for.
You can change your booked departure date, time, pickup location, or destination for any reason prior to the booked departure time.
Ski Bus passes cannot be rescheduled after the departure time. You must change your booking before your scheduled Ski Bus departure time to keep your pass valid.
Changes are not guaranteed and are subject to availability.
Bookings can be changed online, by calling our reservations team on 0800 697 547, or by visiting our guest services team.
Tickets cannot be rescheduled after the departure time.
To Change Your Booking:
You can make some changes to your reservations, subject to availability.
- Log in to your account and head to your Profile page
- Select "Overview and then "Order History"
- Select the “Order Reference" number for the reserved product you would like to update
- Select the calendar icon for the product you would like to reschedule
- Select "RESCHEDULE" and follow the steps to select another date or location.
Refunds
There are no refunds or credits available for no-shows, for cancellations or for rescheduling requests made after the booked departure time.
Bookings missed due to illness or injury may be refunded on presentation of a medical certificate as per our general terms and conditions of sale.
Bookings missed in the event of a mountain closed day will be rescheduled where possible or refunded if another day cannot be rescheduled during the season.
All Ski Bus passes are valid only for the season, date and time which they were purchased for. Unused or partially unused passes cannot be refunded at the end of the season.
Ski Bus passes are not transferable. Pass identification requirements are as per our general terms and conditions of sale.
How to reschedule a lesson
- Log in to your account and head to your Profile page
- Select "Overview and then "Order History"
- Find your order and select "DETAILS"
- Select "RESERVATIONS"
- Select "RESCHEDULE" and then your preferred date.
Cancellations, Refunds & Transfers
Please view our full terms and conditions for our cancellation, refund and transfer policy.
Six tips for chairlift loading for kids
Wait your turn
a. Line up in the lift queue and wait your turn before sliding forward to the chair loading zone.
Load with an experienced adult
a. If you are over 120cm tall you can ride the lift by yourself.
b. If you are under 120cm you must ride the lift with an adult
c. If you are riding the chairlift with a friend, get your adult to sit between you both to help you on and off.
d. Only you and one friend can ride with one adult, if you have lots of friends in your group, other adults will be asked to help.
Sit back-to-back
a. Sit all the way to the back of the chairlift so your back is touching the back rest.
Put the safety bar down
a. If you are tall enough you can pull the safety bar down, but if you can’t reach it let the adult put it down for you.
Sit still and hold on
a. Once you are on the chair and the safety bar is down, sit still and hold on until you are up the top of the mountain.
Let the adult raise the bar and tell you when to slide off
a. When you reach the top of the mountain, don’t rush to get off. Wait until you can touch the ground then slide off and enjoy your day.
Heading home for the day?
To keep the good times rolling, be sure to follow these last few tips.
- Return any rental equipment by the end of the day
- If you’re travelling by shuttle bus, plan your departure. A bus will depart every 15 minutes from the top terminal.
- If you want to beat the evening rush, try to depart around 4:30pm.
Safety Tips for First Time Skiers and Snowboarders
Safety is built into every first turn at The Remarkables. Our learner zones are designed with mellow slopes, soft fall lines, and easy-to-use Conveyor Carpets to make learning smooth, safe, and fun. You’ll always spot our trained instructors nearby—ready to guide, support, and help build confidence at your pace.
Here are a few ways to ride smart:
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Start on green runs – This is where confidence grows.
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Look ahead – Eyes up, focus forward.
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Follow mountain signs – They’re there for your safety.
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Take breaks – Rested legs = better control.
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Move to the side if you fall – Keep trails clear.
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Dress in layers – Stay warm, dry, and ready for the alpine.
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Wear a helmet – Always. They’re included with rentals.
Tip: Helmets come with every rental package. Layer up, wear gloves, and follow the signs—they’re your guide to a safe and epic day on snow.