New Zealand’s first commercial ski field, Coronet Peak, turns 70

70 years after its opening, Queenstown’s Coronet Peak ski field is set to celebrate the milestone this weekend.

In 1947 Coronet Peak opened the first commercial ski field to open in New Zealand with just a rope tow pulling keen skiers up a mountain.

Today, the ski field runs running eight lifts, welcomes thousands of guests on a fine weather day, has the largest snow-making system in the Southern Hemisphere, boasts the longest day on the snow with first tracks through to night ski, and has come to be loved as one of the best ski experiences New Zealand has to offer.

As of tomorrow, Friday 28th July, top New Zealand DJs including King Kapisi and Che Fu will be entertaining guests through the afternoon and evening, with guests able to try a Coronet Peak Pale Ale, a beer crafted by Emersons Brewery in honour of the milestone.

Ski Area Manager Nigel Kerr says the night ski event is perfect for the occasion, commenting “we were first to launch night skiing in New Zealand so it was fitting to celebrate our 70th with a night ski party.

 “But it’s not only night skiing, this is an opportunity to celebrate where we’re at and the contribution we’ve made to New Zealand snow sports and to Queenstown.”

One local that has seen a lot of change is Derek Brown, a 56-year old who has been skiing at Coronet Peak since 1963 from the tender age of two while on holidays at the family crib.

His father Doug made his first skis, leading Derek to recall “he must’ve steamed them in a bath or something.”

That attitude saw the Brown family eventually settle in Queenstown in 1972, and pioneer the fledgling ski scene in Queenstown, including starting Brown’s Ski Shop on Shotover Street.

Both father and son were also presidents of the Wakatipu ski club through the years.

Derek Brown recalls “when we first started skiing there were only a few families that skied.

“But then during the school holidays you would have very long lift lines, sometimes waiting up to an hour. And you’d get cold too, but that was just how it was. The season was really short – four weeks if you were lucky - so you just did it.”

Derek Brown says the big change in skiing was when snowmaking was installed at Coronet Peak in 1992, adding “it just opened up the season. It was great. And not to mention good for the resort too.” 

Image: Night skiing at Coronet Peak.

16th June 2017 - QUEENSTOWN’S CORONET PEAK SKI FIELD READY FOR WEEKEND OPENING

9th June 2017 - MT HUTT OPENING MARKS BEGINNING OF THE SOUTH ISLAND SKI SEASON

12th December 2016 - QUEENSTOWN TOURISM STALWART NIGEL KERR TO BECOME CORONET PEAK SKI AREA MANAGER

3rd November 2016 - NZSKI RETAINS 2016 SEASON PASS PRICES FOR 2017 

7th September 2016 - WINTERY BLAST DUMPS SNOW ON QUEENSTOWN SKI AREAS

14th July 2016 - SNOWSTORM BOOSTS QUEENSTOWN’S WINTER SPORT SEASON 

16th April 2016 - SOUTH ISLAND’S REMARKABLES SKI AREA AIMS FOR A BIGGER AND BETTER 2016

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