Treble Cone Holiday

The ski resort of Treble Cone in New Zealand, 20km west of Wanaka, has spectacular scenery and relative quiet slopes and is famous for its snowfall and variety of different ski and snowboard runs.

The resort is positioned above Lake Wanaka on the South Island and the varied terrain includes powder runs, gully runs and natural half-pipes, as well as some wider, easier slopes for beginners. Treble Cone is particularly popular with snowboarders and packages are available, including instruction, for those keen to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time.

New Zealand has some of the southern hemisphere's best skiing, while Treble Cone has some of the country's steepest slopes and its first detachable six-seater chair. The ski season runs from mid-June to early October, thanks to the installation of new snow-making equipment.

Treble Cone's average annual snowfall is 270cm and the region is famous both nationally and worldwide, playing host to professional skiers, snowboarders and teams, including the Austrian national ski squad. Fans of the area are reportedly dubbed 'Coneheads' and many enthusiasts rave about the relative lack of crowds on the slopes.

At 550 hectares, Treble Cone is the largest ski and snowboard area in the South Island and spreads over three large basins, hence its name. The vertical drop of 660 metres draws advanced skiers from all over the world, while the resort is also family friendly and safe, with children's clubs and a childcare centre.

Treble Cone has a couple of two bar lifts, a double chair and platter lifts, in addition to the Express six-seater detachable chair. 2,088m (6,888ft) at its summit, the longest run is Triple Treat at 3.5km, while the half pipe is around 130m long. The highest lift point is 1,860m (6,100ft) and the terrain grades are roughly 15 per cent beginner, 45 per cent intermediate and 40 per cent advanced.

Treble Cone has a wide range of accommodation available for all visitors and a host of restaurants and eateries catering to all tastes. The area around Lake Wanaka is particularly scenic and there are shuttle buses available to take skiers up to the slopes.

Wanaka is just 55km northeast of Queenstown, where the hills of Central Otago meet the peaks of the Mount Aspiring National Park. The area is beautiful, with its vast glassy lake and jagged, snow-covered peaks.

The lakeside resort is also popular in the summer months and Wanaka and Treble Cone provide sports fans with a range of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, canyoning, rock climbing, horse riding and bungee jumping. For less active visitors, Wanaka also has its own maze and several delightful museums, while several companies on the South Island offer guided heli-skiing options.

Treble Cone is a good base camp for exploring the natural riches of the South Island and travellers planning a longer trip can visit Mt Cook, the highest peak in Australasia, the stunning Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, the Otago Peninsula, with its myriad marine life, and the pleasant city of Christchurch.