Treble Cone
Wanaka · Otago · New Zealand
700m
Vertical Drop
36
Runs
4
Lifts
550 ha
Skiable Area
250 cm
Avg Snowfall
Jun 2026 – Sep 2026
Season
About
The largest ski area in the South Island with 550 hectares of terrain and New Zealand's longest vertical drop at 700m. Treble Cone is famous for steep off-piste, two large alpine basins (Home Basin and Saddle Basin), and unmatched views over Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. Mostly intermediate-to-advanced terrain. Sister mountain to Cardrona under RealNZ. About 30 minutes from Wanaka up a winding access road.
Terrain & Mountain Profile
Run Breakdown
Summit
1,960m
Base
1,260m
Vertical Drop
700m
Lift Breakdown
0
Gondolas
2
Chairlifts
2
Surface Lifts
Employment & Recruitment
Estimated Seasonal Staff
200–300
Main Employers
- Treble Cone Ski Area (RealNZ)
- Treble Cone Snow Sports School
- On-mountain F&B (RealNZ)
- Wanaka hotels and hospitality (workers commute)
Common Seasonal Jobs
Languages Required
- Visa Requirements
- Working Holiday Visa is the standard route — NZ has agreements with 45+ countries. RealNZ sponsors Essential Skills Work Visas for senior instructors and specialised roles. Most under-30 international hires arrive on a WHV.
- Recruitment Timeline
- RealNZ opens applications in February–March for the late-June Treble Cone opening (later than most NZ resorts because of the higher base). Instructor positions require NZSIA / NZSSA / equivalent certification. Lift, F&B, and rental hiring through April–May.
Worker Amenities & Living
Staff Housing Not Available
- Cost of Living
- NZD $400–$600 (Wanaka cheaper than Queenstown)
- Public Transport
- Treble Cone runs daily staff and guest shuttles from Wanaka. The access road requires chains and 4WD in poor conditions. Most staff carpool or use the resort shuttle.
Staff Perks
- Free season pass at Treble Cone and sister mountain Cardrona
- Staff meals on-mountain
- Pro deals on gear and apparel
- Reciprocal benefits at partner resorts
- Steep-skiing access on staff days
Local Life & Community
- Après & Nightlife
- Limited on-mountain — most staff après happens in Wanaka. Lalaland, Water Bar, Gin & Raspberry, and Ode are seasonal-worker favourites. Wanaka's compact lakefront makes staff socialising easy. The Cardrona Hotel is a regular detour on the drive home.
- Healthcare
- Wanaka Medical Centre and Aspiring Medical for GP care. Lakes District Hospital in Frankton (1 hr) for emergency care. Helicopter retrieval to Dunedin Hospital for major trauma.
- Shops & Services
- Wanaka has full town infrastructure — New World and Foursquare supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, gear shops, restaurants, cafés. Queenstown (1 hr via Crown Range) for larger needs.
- International Community
- Medium — smaller staff base than Cardrona but draws a steep-skiing-focused international community, especially Argentinian, French, and North American skiers and patrollers. English is the working language.
Outdoor Activities (Non-Ski)
Open Positions
No jobs posted yet for this resort. Check back soon or sign up for alerts.
Browse all jobs at Treble Cone →Season
Jun 2026 – Sep 2026
Climate & Snow
- Winter Temps
- -6°C to 3°C
- Snow Reliability
- medium
- Snowmaking
- 5% of runs
- Avg Snowfall
- 250 cm/yr
Location
-44.6330°S, 168.8970°E
Nearest town: Wanaka