Where and When to Book Your 2025 NZ Ski Trip, According to New Snow Index

The Snow Conditions Index analyses average weekly snowfall and snow days to help skiers plan their trips for the best chance of fresh powder and ideal snow cover. The study covers both New Zealand and Australian resorts but New Zealand fields dominate the top rankings this year.

Where are you most likely to enjoy snowy days? Which resorts have the highest average weekly snowfall? And when is the best week of the season to plan your trip for peak snow conditions?

You can find the complete study here: https://www.snowseasoncentral.com/snow-conditions-index-au-nz 

New Zealand skiers can now plan with confidence for the 2025 season thanks to a new Snow Conditions Index, which ranks the best weeks and ski fields based on 16 years of historical snow data.

Compiled by global ski information hub Snow Season Central, the Index analyses both average weekly snowfall and the number of snowy days across 12 major resorts in New Zealand and Australia.

The Snow Conditions Index combines average snowfall and snow day frequency into a single normalised score, providing a clearer comparison across ski fields and helping skiers and snowboarders optimise their trips.

Key Findings:

• Treble Cone (Wanaka) ranks No.1 with a Snow Conditions Index score of 95.0
• Whakapapa (69.8) and Tūroa (66.4) round out the top three
• The first week of August offers the best overall chance for peak snowfall and snow days
• Treble Cone averages 48cm of snowfall per week during peak periods
• Mt Hutt has a strong late season, with peak conditions typically falling in October

Ed Raine, Managing Director of Snow Season Central, said:

“Snow conditions are a huge factor for skiers and snowboarders planning trips. With increasingly unpredictable seasons, our Index helps take some of the guesswork out by showing which weeks historically deliver the best snow. It allows people to time their trips better and maximise their days on the slopes.”

The full data set, including methodology and individual resort scores,

can be found here: https://www.snowseasoncentral.com/snow-conditions-index-au-nz

Methodology

Data was sourced from snow-forecast.com based on top-of-mountain records from 2007 to 2024. The Index is calculated by multiplying weekly snowfall averages by average weekly snow days to give each resort a normalised score.

About Snow Season Central

Snow Season Central is an online resource for ski resort information and job opportunities across the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. The platform helps hundreds of thousands of skiers make better travel and work plans by providing up-to-date resort information and employment opportunities.