Rainbow Ski Area, New Zealand
No town nearby. No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Māpua, is 73 km away. Nearest airport: NSN (NSN), 71 km.
Watch this spot We email you when Rainbow Ski Area is worth the trip.
About Rainbow Ski Area
Village 1,550 m, top 1,744 m. Facts: verified.
A ski resort with its village at 1,550 m and its top at 1,744 m. It is usually in season from June to September. The snow is usually deepest in August, about 0.1 m at the top (1,744 m). No town nearby. No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Māpua, is 73 km away. Nearest airport: NSN (NSN), 71 km.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 30 h 25 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to CHC, changing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
See flights MDW → CHC · Skyscanner from about £765 returnAdGetting there. 4 h 30 from the airport to Rainbow Ski Area.
Accommodation.
No town nearby
No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Māpua, is 73 km away. Nearest airport: NSN (NSN), 71 km.
Hire, lessons and lift passes.
Ski lessons in Rainbow Ski Area · GetYourGuideAdSki and board hire · SkisetAdLift passes · Resort website
Where it is
Rainbow Ski Area on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Lifts closed for the season. They usually open about 15 June.
Forecast
The score, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Fresh72 h | Depthtop, mid, base | Coldestat top | Windat top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 11°C | wind, 7 knots |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 7°C | wind, 5 knots |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 5°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 7°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 7°C | wind, 4 knots |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 8°C | wind, 9 knots |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 5°C | wind, 7 knots |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 5°C | wind, 10 knots |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 7°C | wind, 19 knots |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to.
Snow by month
| Month | Base1,550 m | Mid1,647 m | Top1,744 m | Coldestat the top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | none | none | none | -2°C |
| Jul | none | none | none | -4°C |
| Aug | 0.1 m | 0.1 m | 0.1 m | -4°C |
| Sep | none | none | none | -1°C |
Typical snow on the ground in the village, halfway up and at the top: the middle value over 2016 to 2025, from ERA5-Land reanalysis at the grid cell nearest each height. Not a forecast, and not the groomed pistes: resorts make snow lower down.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to CHC, changing at SFO, then 4h 30 by road. About 30h 25 door to door
- Tue 20 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Wed 21 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Thu 22 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Fri 23 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sat 24 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to CHC, changing at SFO, then 4h 30 by road. About 30h 25 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,570–£2,880 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book. No town nearby, so no stay is in it.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to CHC, estimated from distance and season, changing at SFO, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £765–£1,585 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Transfer | shared airport transfer, return | £70–£120 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £230–£430 |
| Lift pass | 5 days | £325–£435 |
| Ski hire | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £145–£245 |
| Total | £1,570–£2,880 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Airport to resortAd
Transfers · Hoppa (ad)Lift passes
Lift passes · Resort websiteLinks marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.