Winter wonderland

1 South Island pick and mix

TREBLE CONE

TREBLE CONE , or TC as its regulars call it (pictured), is New Zealand’s most underrated ski mountain. Check any ski magazine and it’ll rate TC as New Zealand’s best ski resort; and yet, it’s hardly a household name in Australia. Odd, considering it’s only 30 minutes’ drive from the picturesque ski village of WANAKA, set on the stunning LAKE WANAKA, and the views from everywhere on this resort are out of this world. Imagine sitting on the edge of a huge mountain looking down across a massive lake, and up to one of the country’s tallest mountain ranges. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact this is a skier’s mountain, with almost half the terrain designated for experts. But don’t fret: there are plenty of beginner options, and every beginners’ slope affords the same stunning view as the one the experts get. Its ‘undiscovered’ vibe means it’s a tad more basic than other resorts, but there’s nowhere you’ll feel more deeply ensconced in the Southern Alps (you’ll even have the world’s only alpine parrot flying above).

CARDRONA

One of the best features of CARDRONA is that it’s easily accessible from both QUEENSTOWN and Wānaka (it’s 35 minutes from Wānaka and an hour’s drive from Queenstown). Another is that it’s one of the few commercial ski fields in New Zealand with on-mountain accommodation, with 15 apartments located a minute’s walk from the chairlift. Another option is to drive 20 minutes down the mountain and stay in one of the country’s