Treble Cone
Treble Cone hangs above Lake Wanaka with the biggest vertical in the Queenstown Lakes, a quiet, expert-leaning mountain where the groomers run long and the off-piste keeps going long after they end. From the saddle you look straight across at Mount Aspiring, and the lift queues are a fraction of those across the lake.
Pistes and lifts
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
There is no on-mountain accommodation at Treble Cone, only a base lodge for day use. The access road is steep, gravel in places, and closes at night. You stay in Wanaka and drive up each morning, roughly 35 to 45 minutes depending on conditions.
Get to know the resort
Treble Cone, sister field to Cardrona, is the connoisseur's choice above Wanaka. The mountain rises to 2088 m with a 700 m vertical drop, the largest in the Queenstown Lakes region, and the groomed pistes through Home Basin are among the longest in the South Island. The real story is what happens off the trails. Saddle Basin opens out into a vast, sustained off-piste bowl with natural lines for advanced riders, and the Motatapu side delivers serious ridge skiing for those who can read terrain. Treble Cone receives fewer visitors than Coronet and The Remarkables, so even on a holiday weekend the upper mountain feels uncrowded. Wanaka, 35 minutes down the lake road, is the base of choice: lakeside cafes, a strong climbing and trail-running scene in summer, and a quieter, less party-driven mood than Queenstown. The Cardrona Group ticket links Treble Cone with Cardrona, an ideal combination for mixed-ability groups who want both wide cruising and serious off-piste in one trip.
Hotels in Treble Cone
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is Treble Cone good for beginners?+
Treble Cone offers 50 km of pistes across 4 lifts, from 1,250 m to 2,088 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Treble Cone?+
The season runs from Jun 27 to Sep 30, with a snow score of 84/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
There is no on-mountain accommodation at Treble Cone, only a base lodge for day use. The access road is steep, gravel in places, and closes at night. You stay in Wanaka and drive up each morning, roughly 35 to 45 minutes depending on conditions.
How big is the Treble Cone ski area?+
Treble Cone has 50 km of marked pistes served by 4 lifts, between 1,250 m and 2,088 m of altitude.
Is Treble Cone more for beginners or experts?+
Treble Cone counts about 60 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Other ski destinations
Similar style, different mountain.
Cardrona
Southern Alps
Coronet Peak
Southern Alps
The Remarkables
Southern Alps
Mt Hutt
Southern Alps