What's en piste for 2022?

Queenstown

Queenstown is the undisputed queen of the southern ski scene. With an international airport, vast lake views and two commercial ski fields serving the resort town of Wakatipu, it might be the most cosmopolitan of New Zealand's snow resorts.

From Kitzbuhel to Kathmandu, you'll find countless international influences in the mountain town.

For 75 years the town has been served by Coronet Peak, out the back of Arthurs Point and the ski resort is celebrating its milestone this winter. It has gone from a pommel ski lift to a ski resort offering night skiing under floodlights. NZSki is marking the momentous notch on the ski pole with a series of concerts, events and competitions from August 17 to 21. Open now.

Closer to town, the Remarkables are hard to ignore. Coronet Peak's smaller, pointier sibling - the Remarks offer lessons, and 10km of piste. Open now.

Wanaka

Cardrona added 65ha to its already sizable ski fields last year, expanding into the Soho Bowl. The Willow's Quad makes the 'Cardies' the second-largest ski field in NZ. Although last year was a whiteout, this year is set to be a bumper year for the Crown Range, with the mountain already open. Closer to Lake Wānaka, Treble Cone welcomed its first guests at the weekend.

If you're after something completely different, Snow Farm on the Pisa Ranges is the national cross-country ski centre. Self-catered backcountry huts are accessible by ski or snowshoe. Introduction and guided options are available from $50 with rental hire. Open now.

Ruapehu

In the centre of the North Island's Ruapehu National park, the volcanic maunga is home to two commercial ski fields.

The largest and also oldest ski field in New Zealand is Whakapapa. Since opening in 1913 the ski field has built 12 lifts to serve the impressive 44km of ski tracks. The most recent to open was the Sky Waka Gondola. Popular with snowsports enthusiasts and sightseers, it connects to New Zealand's highest cafe and panoramic views of the park. Happy Valley is open now, with the other fields due to open on July 8.

On the other side of the mountain is Turoa. The smaller field is an easy ride and accessed out of the alpine town of Ōkahune - the North Island's capital of carrots, eclairs and alpine accommodation. Turoa is also slated to open on July 8.

For something a bit more off the beaten track, the club field Tukino offers Cat skiing. Ride the caterpillar snowmobile to 340m vertical descent off piste. From $40 a tow on top of passes. Due to open on July 16.

Christchurch

Canterbury is regularly overlooked by North Islanders heading south for winter. This is a mistake, if only for the sheer breadth of skiing options found within a couple of hours of the Garden City.

Mt Hutt is one of the country's largest ski fields and an hour's drive from central Christchurch. The town of Methven will be putting on apres-ski from their brand new, open-air thermal baths, Ōpuke hot pools. Open now.

For those wanting to explore a bit further afield, the 'clubbies' as they're affectionately known, offer uniquely Kiwi ski experiences. Don't be fooled by the name. These clubs offer open rates for non members, often far cheaper than the commercial slopes.

From Mt Lyford and Hanmer Spring's Amuri Club field in the north to Fox Peak in the south, you'll find enthusiastic locals, mini rope tows and mountainside accommodation.

There are half a dozen smaller fields towards Arthurs' pass including Porters and Broken River, which offers on-slope accommodation catered packages, with group instruction and lift passes. Above the otherworldly Castle Hill rock formations, behind the little red-doors of the forest chalets, it's Narnia by any other name.

Tekapo

Towards MacKenzie country and the towering form of Mt Cook, Roundhill and Dobson are top ski fields. Roundhill has the approval of the US ski team as their southern training base, and is due to open from July 1, Dobson from July 2.

If you're not chasing Olympic gold. Time off piste can be spent unwinding or 'snow tubing' at the Tekapo Springs, or stargazing at the Mt John Observatory. Night falls quickly in the Southern Hemisphere's only ski areas in a dark sky area.

For more adventurous types, heliski and backcountry trips can be chartered out of Mt Cook Village with packages to the Tasman Glacier.

For a more entry-level but equally scenic view of Mt Cook, Ōhau Snow Fields offers some of the most scenic small club views in the country.

Snow you might not know

There are a couple of lone star ski fields in places you might not have thought to look for them.

Taranaki's Maunganui Ski Field is home to the Stratford Ski club. Hire and passes are available through Stratford Ski hire from $50 a day. There's no instruction or on site-hire, so not one for beginners. Unpredictable but unforgettable skiing.

Two hours from tropical Tasman or the Marlborough vineyards, Rainbow Ski is a place you might not have thought to look for snow. Adult mountain passes are from $99, with private and group ski lessons available all week round. Open now.