A steep unsealed road to Treble Cone in NZ

Treble Cone is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.260m (4,133ft) above the sea level, located in Otago, a southeastern region on New Zealand's South Island.

Is Treble Cone Access Road paved?

Set high in the Southern Alps, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Treble Cone Access Road. It’s the typical road of New Zealand: windy, steep, and unsealed, with 8 hairpin turns along the way. The road has the occasional guard rail, but otherwise it’s pretty sketchy (as are the majority of NZ ski field roads). A 4WD vehicle is not necessary and a 2WD is perfectly adequate to drive up the road.

How long is the road to Treble Cone in NZ?

Starting at the paved Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road, the hair raising mountain road to the summit is 7.6 km (4.72 miles) long. It’s a very steep drive, hitting a 20% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The elevation gain is 925 meters. The average gradient is 12.17%.

Is the road to Treble Cone in NZ open?

The road is typically open all year round, but winter weather may cause restrictions and closures due to dangerous weather conditions. It’s maintained daily during the winter. You are required to carry chains and fit them when necessary if weather and snow conditions are poor.

Is the road to Treble Cone in NZ worth it?

The drive is very picturesque and offers sweeping views. It winds around the shores of Lake Wanaka, and on still sunny days many people stop on the side of the road for photographs of the mountains reflected in the water. The summit offers spectacular views over Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring.
Pic: Wenxiu Sun