NZSKi CEO Paul Anderson said sealing this second section of road would make for a smoother and more comfortable drive for visitors to The Remarkables.

“It caps off our $45 million expansion of the ski area over the past two years which has included a new chairlift, new base building, snowmaking, trail work and car parking,” he said.

“Queenstown’s two premium ski areas, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, will both be within a short drive of our resort town on sealed roads for the 2016 season, further enhancing its appeal as a favourite ski destination for domestic and international visitors.”

“Sealing the road reinforces NZSki’s commitment to delivering an outstanding experience to our guests.  We love what we’ve got to offer at The Remarkables, the new developments have proved a huge hit, and we’re keen to share that with as many people as possible,” he said.

NZSki will also take the opportunity to widen the road in places, improve some corners, and install 14 new culverts to better manage storm water and snow melt.  Further car parking capacity will also be added as part of the project.

Work is scheduled to start in late November and NZSki has consulted with the Department of Conservation and user groups about its plans. It has committed to maintain access over summer for recreational users and other commercial operators while work is in progress.

President of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, Robin McNeill, welcomed the announcement. 

“FMC is very supportive of NZSki’s initiative to further upgrade the access road to The Remarkables Conservation Area,” he said.

“We appreciate the effort the company has made to consult with us and the fact that access will essentially be maintained during the upgrade work.  We share NZSki’s goal to make it easier for people to enjoy this much-loved area.”