Treble Cone is a commercial skifield near Wanaka, New Zealand. Treble Cone
boasts the longest vertical rise in the Southern Lakes and spectacular views over
Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring. Treble Cone has a strong New Zealand and
Australian following, with visitors coming back year after year for the stunning views
and huge terrain.
Fans of the field tend to be attracted there for the fairly steep and challenging terrain
which they claim is some of the best in the country however recent initiatives ensure
that intermediate and beginner skiers and boarders are fully catered to. These
include providing more expansive beginner and intermediate groomed trails for
skiers and boarders. There is also a small terrain park.
Guided tours are offered for advanced riders out to the Motatapu Chutes and for
intermediate skiers/riders to see the new smoothed out terrain.
Treble Cone has controversially raised its season pass prices for the 2007 season.
A season pass is now NZ$2200 after 31st May, with “early bird” pre-season passes
being NZ$1500. The early bird pass is a free upgrade from a 50 day season pass to
a premium pass due to public and local community consultation. Many locals
believe the Treble Cone season pass is the most expensive in the world. There have
been many letters to newspapers and a general upset towards Treble Cone. Treble
Cone management has released media statements though time will tell if the
damage has been done.
In summer Treble Cone opens the six seater chairlift for hiking and mountain biking.
In 2007 this included hosting the first downhill event of the NZ Community Trust
National Series in the weekend. 195 riders raced against the clock on the 2.5km
downhill trail
On Friday 14th July 2006, The Press ran a story on Treble Cone Investments lodging
resource consent applications regarding a proposed gondola from Cattle Flat (at the
base of the skifield access road) to the skifield itself. The proposed gondola would
travel 3.3km in under 11 minutes, and be capable of carrying 2000 people an hour. It
would rise 945m.
Talk of a gondola has been around for some time, but has been re-ignited recently
due to the deaths of three young Australian skiers when they drove off the access
road in 2004. The access road is under regular criticism from patrons because of it's
corrugations, steep incline with tight switchbacks and lack of safety barriers. It also
coincides with other objectives for the skifield, said Treble Cone director, Richard
Hanson. A increase in ticket prices in 2006 seems to be to help the funding of the
building project. On good days the field is always short of carparking, and cars may
be parked up to a kilometre down the access road. Because of these reasons the
gondola is a very popular proposal with locals except for the likelihood of more
overcrowding at the resort.
It is expected the building process should take 10-months, with an opening at the
start of the 2008 season at the earliest.
