Oceania
Rainbow Resort Guide
Solid · 2026 season average
Closed for the season · average of 20 verified open days
Best months to book: August, September · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Closed for the season — closed September 6
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
Sep 21
todayPast 24 Hours
0cm
Resort reportedPast 48 Hours
3cm
Past 10 Days
8cm
7-Day Forecast
12cm
Snow Depth
--
Powder Days
11
2026 season
Resort Guide
Rainbow Ski Area is located in the Nelson Lakes region of New Zealand’s South Island, offering a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere with panoramic alpine views. The resort features a variety of terrain suitable for beginners through advanced skiers and snowboarders, including groomed trails, natural features, and a terrain park. Key amenities include equipment rentals, a licensed café, and snow sports lessons, making it accessible for both day visitors and groups. Rainbow stands out for its welcoming environment, scenic setting, and commitment to providing an enjoyable alpine experience for all ages.
Gallery
Click to expand • 6 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Rainbow
Lifts
5
Skiable area
741 ac
Longest run
1.5 km / 0.9 mi
Runs by difficulty(15 total)
Beginner
4
25% of terrain
Intermediate
8
55% of terrain
Advanced
3
20% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Surface lift5
Resort Info
Season dates
Ski passes
Chill Pass
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Unable to determine top apres ski place for this resort.
Season vs Historic
Updated Mon, Sep 21, 06:04 AM UTC
164cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
+12%
vs 5-Year Avg
147cm avg by now
+179%
vs 30-Year Avg
59cm avg by now
147cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
This season is at 164.4 cm to date. The last completed season totaled ~164.6 cm. That's 12% above the 5-year average (147 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 179% above the 30-year average (59 cm).
Rainbow Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Rainbow Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 73cm with an average of 38 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 135% above this average (173cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 16cm | 6 days | 5cm | 13cm | 6cm |
| July | 18cm | 8 days | 8cm | 15cm | 7cm |
| August | 15cm | 9 days | 7cm | 15cm | 6cm |
| September | 16cm | 7 days | 2cm | 10cm | 5cm |
| October | 7cm | 6 days | 1cm | 7cm | 4cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2026
37.6
Season Average
20 days scored
51
Best Day
23 Aug
2
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
3
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
August 2026
- 5123 Aug12cm
- 5131 Aug11cm
- 4227 Aug3cm
September 2026
- 486 Sep8cm
- 464 Sep5cm
- 435 Sep2cm
September scored highest for Rainbow in 2026. Based on 20 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
1 tracked seasonLast completed season(2026)
45 days
Jul 24, 2026 → Sep 6, 2026
Next season(2026)
Opens Jul 24, 2026
Through Sep 6, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
August
Peak Season
July
Peak Season
September
Good
June
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Rainbow
- Where is Rainbow?
- Rainbow is a ski resort in New Zealand.
- How high is Rainbow?
- Rainbow runs from a base elevation of 1,438 m (4,718 ft) to a summit of 1,758 m (5,768 ft), giving a vertical drop of 320 m (1,050 ft).
- How big is Rainbow?
- Rainbow has 741 acres (300 hectares) of skiable terrain, 15 marked runs and 5 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Rainbow?
- Rainbow is on the Chill Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Rainbow?
- Rainbow typically operates from July to September. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Rainbow get in a typical season?
- Rainbow averages 39 inches / 99 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
