Overall:
3.6.
Based on
11
votes
and
9
reviews.
Vote
Access: 4.7
(1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Remarkables.
Public Transport: 4.0
(1) There are no buses or taxis to Remarkables, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
Scenery: 4.5
(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.
Accommodation: 3.8
(1) No places to stay in/near Remarkables, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
Cheap Rooms: 3.9
(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.
Luxury Hotels: 4.2
(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Remarkables.
Ski in/Ski out: 2.0
(1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.
Childcare: 4.1
(1) There are no child care facilities at Remarkables, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
Snowsure: 3.5
(1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Remarkables is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.
Snowmaking: 3.9
(1) Remarkables relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
Snow Grooming: 4.6
(1) There are no snow groomers at Remarkables, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Remarkables are groomed daily.
Shelter: 2.4
(1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Remarkables is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
Nearby options: 3.6
(1) If snow conditions are poor at Remarkables, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.
Regional rating: 4.0
(1) Remarkables usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
Lift Staff: 4.7
(1) The staff at Remarkables are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Remarkables are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.
Crowds/Queues: 3.3
(1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
Ski Schools: 3.6
(1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.
Hire and Repairs: 4.6
(1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
Variety of pistes: 3.4
(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Remarkables has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.
Beginners: 4.0
(1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
Intermediates: 3.9
(1) No intermediate terrain at Remarkables, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.
Advanced: 3.9
(1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
Snow Park: 4.2
(1) Not even a kicker at Remarkables, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.
Off-piste: 3.8
(1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
Cross-country: 2.1
(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Remarkables, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.
Luge/Toboggan: 2.0
(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Remarkables has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
Mountain Dining: 3.2
(1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.
Eating: 3.7
(1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
Apres-Ski: 3.4
(1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.
Other Sports: 3.1
(1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
Entertainment: 3.3
(1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.
Winter Walks: 3.4
(1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
Ski Pass Value: 2.7
(1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.
Value (National): 3.4
(1) Overall, Remarkables is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
Value (Global): 2.5
(1) Overall, Remarkables is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.
Wow, just reading through some of these reviews and they seem very harsh. We have been here the past 3 years from Melbourne and the staff and runs are awesome by comparison to our 'most of the time' conditions in Victoria. Yes, it takes a bit of time to organise gear on the 1st day but, seriously, you only have to do it once and not lug it to your accommodation (which is what you do in Vic); imagine lugging you gear and getting your kids to do the same across country to the chalet!! Love the runs, love the people working up there on Cardrona and Remarks... always found the instructors to be awesome and I guess the restaurant staff muck around but, yep... its a drudge having done it myself. Some can keep up the attitude, some can't. First world problem. Just enjoy and get out there!
I booked my 2 kids, 5 and 7, into kids lessons on line and paid by credit card where it said everything was included including lift passes and equipment hire. We got there the next morning 20 minutes early to be told we have to pay for equipment and lift passes. We told them it said on the website it was included and were told they knew nothing about that and we had to pay. So I had no choice and paid the extra $120 and lined up again for the equipment. By now it was ten minutes after the lesson started due to the very long queues that I thought if I booked and paid on line we would avoid but you still have to line up for everything anyway. I asked if we could still make the lesson and were told yes no problem. After going through all equipment fitting was told helmets not included and need another $24 cash if I wanted that. With no choice again shelled out to then find out instructors had left with classes. Thankfully, the other instructors felt pity and took one of my boys for private tuition probably without management knowledge.
One fault, the staff.
After a full day out in the cold we were so happy with the small but quality skiable terrain; massive views and fast lifts. I paid for a coffee; it wasn't busy then 2 seconds later after paying I realised there was soy milk available. I was still standing there at the counter and asked if I could have it. The guy was good and let the girls down the line know. The blonde then, in my full view, rolled her eyes and shook her head in annoyance. And the cashier had to say sorry to them. I was appalled. The girls knew who they were making a coffee for; I was standing right there but openly passing it over the counter they yelled super loud ignoring me. Seems like they had a tough day and I copped it near the end of their shift. That's not fair. I just wanted a hot drink after being cold all day. Lifts were still running, it wasn't busy and there was no line. My coffee was semi warm too. Don't know why I got a season pass because I won't go back there again during my month here. If staff are unhappy working a season they should go home and let other people, who want to work down here, have a go. So disappointed. She made me feel like I should not be there and that I'm not welcome even though this is my home country and town.
After reading the reviews here I thought they were a little rough. Big changes at Remarks over the last couple of years: new 6 seater high speed running up the main middle basin opens up some new terrain and fantastic back country access. They have replaced the base building completely and the new set up is a massive step up (the old food was pretty average) but it now is a lot better (always room for improvement). This year (2016) they have now sealed the road 2/3 rds of the way up so a much faster commute from Qtown. There is even a proposed gondola from Frankton in the works (but I'll believe when I see it - although this and another couple of lifts would really make this NZ's best resort).
Really enjoyed the skiing with my 9 yr old daughter and there was plenty to challenge our intermediate ability. Loved the snow conditions, small lift queues and wide open runs. I imagine it can get pretty icy but it was fine for us. The lifts were fine and generally took you out to the top of each corner. Rental gear was also a good standard though the hire price seemed high.
On the down side the wife and son weren't skiing and were deeply frustrated to find non-skiers were not allowed to use the chairlifts here (unlike most other ski fields). Also the arrangements for lessons are a bit odd. Make sure you read details and plan your day before you travel up.
Went to the Remarkables during 2008. Not as much snow as the Canterbury area, but still boat loads of good dry stuff.
Probably the most fun I've had riding. Great park setup, plenty of jibes and kickers, and the stash is awesome.
I'll be back at the Remarkables this August, so I'll put in another review.
Well firstly I had great fun at Remarks, lots of snow, great terrain park, runs were fun and a good mix of ability. The drive was great, very scenic. Now the bad. The runs were very short. The longest taking maybe 3 - 5mins to get to to the bottom, the lifts were antiquated, very slow, lift passes were not electronic so slow and chaotic getting on the lifts. The pistes weren't marked at all and you just had people coming in from all angles at a variety of speeds. I saw 5 people carried away on the ski-stretcher in one afternoon which is not acceptable. The food at the cafe was awful. I'm a bloke and I spent 3 months cruising around India/Bangladesh etc and I know all about average food. This was average. Also the bar closed at 4pm, timed well as the lifts closed at 4pm with lots of thirsty skiers! So to sum up, if there is lots of snow and you don't mind very short runs give it a shot, otherwise give it a wide berth.
December 30, 2005
Ross McAlpine
from
United Kingdom
Went during the last week of the season and there was still plenty of snow around. Had a great day boarding here and the runs that were open were great fun. Awesome (bit scary) drive up but well worth it. Not hugely expensive either and popular with locals and tourists.
Australia
United Kingdom