Wānaka's 2026 ski season is officially open, and you're spoilt for choice. Two very different mountains sit within easy reach of town, each with its own flavour: Cardrona for all-round riding and progression and Treble Cone for steeper, more technical terrain. Sort your Wānaka ski hire and gear before you go, pick the right hill for the day, and leave plenty of room for a proper après. Here's how to line it all up.
Tentative season close dates for 2026 (unless Mother Nature decides otherwise):
- Cardrona – 1 October
- Treble Cone – 27 September
Where to ride
Cardrona Alpine Resort is the all-rounder for families and mixed-ability crews. With 615 hectares of terrain, four terrain parks and the new Soho Basin expansion, there's room for beginners finding their feet, intermediates linking turns, and freestylers lapping the park. If your group wants a bit of everything, start here.
Treble Cone is the one for stronger skiers and boarders chasing steeper, more technical lines and a big-mountain feel. It's often called the most challenging terrain in the South Island – 550 hectares with more than 700m of vertical – and the views down Lake Wānaka aren't bad, either. Go when conditions are on.
Heli-skiing is the one to tick off if you've got the legs for it. Untracked lines, big terrain and a bird's-eye view of the Southern Alps – it's the sort of day you'll still be talking about years later. Worth having the right skis underfoot, so come see us before you fly.
Rent, shop and tune in Wānaka
Before you head up, get sorted in one go. Since 1982, Racers Edge has been the home base for Wānaka ski hire, with rentals, sales, expert boot fitting, tuning and repairs all under one roof. The new 22 Ardmore Street store has been expertly crafted into the ultimate home for rentals and for buying top-quality ski and snowboard gear, with a big, spacious shop floor, industry-expert Gear Guides, and a large car park that makes pick-ups and drop-offs easy.
Whether you're heading to Cardrona, Treble Cone, or heli-skiing, our friendly Gear Guides will help you find the perfect fit – from beginner sets to high-performance equipment.
Renting? You'll be matched to the right setup for your ability and the conditions. Buying? Our Wānaka ski shop carries quality ski gear in Wānaka, with Gear Guides who actually ride here to help you choose. Once you're kitted out, the workshop handles tuning, waxing and repairs, including an overnight service with next-day pickup, plus custom boot fitting with heat moulding, shell adjustments and custom insoles to keep you comfortable all season.
Image credit: Lake Wānaka Tourism
Après in town
If you're still buzzing coming off Cardrona, the Cardrona Hotel is the classic mountain-side stop – honest pub food by the fire and a famous mulled wine. It does get busy though, so don't expect a quiet one.
Back in town, take your pick. Wānaka Brew Bar pours local beer with lake-and-sunset views (and Sal's pizza next door); lakeside Kai Whakapai is a long-time local favourite for a pizza and a cold one under the heaters; Cork Bar keeps things lively with seasonal cocktails and weekend live music; and Rhyme & Reason Brewery is worth the short wander for small-batch brews poured metres from the tanks.
Image credit: Lake Wānaka Tourism
If your legs are cooked, Wānaka does recovery properly, too. The Sauna Wānaka pairs a wood-fired Finnish sauna with a cold plunge into the lake down on the Outlet track – the kind of reset that suits the town's relaxed winter rhythm. The Secret Sauna has two spots worth the short drive: a barrel sauna on the shore of Lake Hāwea, and a mountain sauna up at Cardrona with cold plunge pools fed by a creek – handy if you're heading down off Cardies anyway. And if you'd rather have the place to yourselves, The Hideaway is a private sauna and cold plunge for two, just a short walk from town.
Sort your gear, then go ride
Whether you're after Wānaka ski hire for the week or buying your own setup, start at Racers Edge, 22 Ardmore Street. Sort your rentals, grab your ski gear and get your boots dialled, then point yourself at the nearest mountain. Browse snow rentals, or shop ski equipment, snow clothing and helmets & goggles to get set for the season.
