If you’re craving snow while the Northern Hemisphere is all sun and sangria, it’s time to flip the globe. The Southern Hemisphere offers prime summer skiing opportunities that’ll scratch your itch for snow mid-year. From the powdery Andes to the alpine charm of New Zealand, here’s where to ski and summer in style.

Cardrona & Treble Cone, New Zealand: Family Fun Meets Freeride Glory

In Wānaka, Cardrona Alpine Resort is a family favourite with wide-open groomers, four terrain parks, and a full calendar of events. With a new lift-served Soho Basin expansion, it’s grown into one of New Zealand’s biggest resorts. The learner areas are among the best in the Southern Hemisphere, while freestylers will love the Olympic-sized halfpipe.

Treble Cone, by contrast, is a beast for advanced skiers. Its 700m vertical drop, off-piste bowls, and natural halfpipes deliver big mountain thrills. It’s less crowded than Queenstown’s ski hills, giving it that locals’ mountain vibe.

• When: Cardrona (14 June – 5 October 2025), Treble Cone (28 June – 28 September 2025)
• Passes: Day passes from NZD $179
• More info: cardrona-treblecone.com

Portillo, Chile: Boutique Charm with Big-Mountain Lines

Set beside a shimmering lake at 2,880m, Portillo is the Andean jewel. Known for hosting the US and Austrian ski teams, it’s steeped in skiing prestige. The terrain is steep, and the powder can be deep—but what makes Portillo special is its exclusivity. No lift queues, no crowds, just epic descents and après in a vintage yellow hotel.

There’s no town, just a cluster of accommodation options surrounding the slopes, making it feel more like an elite ski club than a resort.

• When: 21 June – 27 September 2025
• Perks: Free child stays for ages 4–11 on select weeks
• More info: skiportillo.com

Valle Nevado, Chile: South America’s Largest Ski Resort

Just 46km from Santiago, Valle Nevado is the centrepiece of Chile’s interconnected Tres Valles. With terrain ranging from mellow greens to wind-blasted steeps, and heli-skiing for the bold, it caters to every level. It also boasts Chile’s best terrain park and one of the highest base elevations in South America (3,025m).

Accommodation is ski-in ski-out, the lifts are fast and modern, and the views over the Andes are otherworldly. A great place to mix skiing with city culture.

• When: 20 June – 12 October 2025
• More info: vallenevado.com

Las Leñas, Argentina: Steep, Deep, and Legendary

When conditions align, Las Leñas is untouchable for off-piste skiing in the Andes. The resort’s Marte chairlift gives access to epic backcountry bowls, couloirs, and natural terrain features. The terrain can rival that of La Grave or Chamonix on a good day.

But it’s a wild card. Storms can shut lifts for days, and powder days are hit-or-miss. If you’re chasing steeps and can roll with the punches, this is your spiritual home.

• When: 28 June – 28 September 2025
• More info: laslenas.com

Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina: Big Terrain in Bariloche

Catedral is the largest lift-served ski area in South America, with 120km of pistes and 40 lifts. Located in picturesque Bariloche, the resort has a stunning setting among forests and lakes in the shadow of the Andes.

It’s a superb all-rounder. Intermediates will love the long groomers, and experts can push into the trees and bowls. Off the slopes, Bariloche has a buzzy après scene, Swiss-inspired chocolate shops and a full town vibe.

• When: 14 June – 28 September 2025
• More info: cerrocathedral.com

Mount Cook, New Zealand: Heli-Skiing Heaven

Mount Cook isn’t a traditional resort—it’s adventure skiing writ large. Accessible only by helicopter or small plane, the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a vast, glaciated wilderness. Run by Alpine Guides, the terrain includes 3 mountain ranges and New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman.

There are options for both heli-skiing pros and confident intermediates. The “Ski the Tasman” tour offers gentle glacier runs with jaw-dropping views and crevasse exploration. This is bucket-list stuff.

• When: 1 July – 30 September 2025
• Costs: 5-run heli day NZD $1,695; extra runs NZD $155
• More info: mtcookheliski.co.nz

Craving corduroy in July or powder in September? These Southern Hemisphere ski spots prove that winter isn’t confined to December. Whether you’re flying in for a week of heli turns or tagging on a few days of skiing to a longer adventure, it’s time to pack the planks and defy the seasons.