The Remarkables () are a

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have aris ...

and part of the Remarkables Conservation Area that includes Kawarau/The Remarkables and Tāpuae O’Uenuku/Hector Mountains and Te Papapuni/Nevis River valley. Located on the southeastern shore of

Lake Wakatipu Lake Wakatipu () is an inland lake (finger lake) in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of the Otago region, near its boundary with Southland, New Zealand, Southland. ''Lake Wakatipu'' comes from the original Māori l ...

Otago Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...

in the

South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...

of New Zealand, the range lives up to its name by rising sharply to create a remarkable backdrop. The range is clearly visible from the nearby town of Queenstown. The highest point in the range is Single Cone (2319 metres). The adjacent

Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains The Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains are a mountain range in the New Zealand region of Otago, near the resort town of Queenstown and just south of the more famous Remarkables. For most of its length, the mountains run adjacent to the south ...

southeast of the Remarkables culminate in Mount Tūwhakarōria (2307 m). The area contains a number of beautiful features, such as Lake Alta, a small lake nestled within a natural amphitheatre at the head of a glacial valley (a ‘cirque’) and below the towering Double Cone peaks. There are a number of high altitude walks in the Remarkables Conservation Area including Lake Alta which can be accessed from the Remarkables Skifield.

Name

The original

Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori people, Māori (tribe) of the South Island. Its (tribal area) is the largest in New Zealand, and extends from the White Bluffs / Te Parinui o Whiti (southeast of Blenheim, New Zealand, Blenhe ...

inhabitants called the mountains , and gave the same name to the

Kawarau River The Kawarau River is a river in the South Island of New Zealand. It drains Lake Wakatipu in northwestern Otago via the lake's Frankton Arm. The river flows generally eastwards for about and passes through the steep Kawarau Gorge until it join ...

which starts beneath them. The mountains were named The Remarkables by Alexander Garvie in 1857–58 because of the serrated peaks of the range. The range was earlier known as the Crosscuts for the same reason.

The Remarkables Ski Area

During the winter months, the Remarkables Ski Area has

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

and other winter activities. The ski area is situated over three mountain bowls covering 220 ha (540 acres) with eight lifts (4 chairlifts, 4 magic carpets).NZ Ski facts
Accessed 22 January 2018 Terrain is rated as 30% beginners, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. Average annual snowfall is 3.67 metres. NZSki Limited operates The Remarkables Ski Area under agreements with the New Zealand government, primarily involving the Department of Conservation (DOC). The ski area is situated within the Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve, a conservation area managed by DOC. In 2023, NZSki submitted an application for a new 40-year concession. This application sought permissions encompassing a lease, license, and easement to manage and control all activities related to the ownership, operation, repair, and maintenance of The Remarkables ski area. The proposal included plans for extending the base building and maintenance facilities, as well as installing three additional snow fences. Public submissions on this application closed on May 3, 2023, and a virtual hearing was held on May 24, 2023. Additionally, NZSki has expressed intentions to expand the ski area into the adjacent Doolans Basin, which would significantly increase the skiable terrain. This proposed expansion would require a new concession, as the Doolans Basin is part of the larger Remarkables Conservation Area. The expansion plan includes constructing new chairlifts or gondolas, developing ski trails, and establishing necessary infrastructure such as snowmaking facilities and visitor amenities.

References

External links

The Remarkables official websiteNZSki Ltd official websiteThe Remarkables Webcams and Weather ReportSki Queenstown official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Remarkables, The Ski areas and resorts in Otago Mountain ranges of Otago Queenstown-Lakes District Southern Alps Sport in Queenstown, New Zealand