A zone just outside The Remarkables, one of New Zealand’s best-known ski resorts, will officially be folded into the resort’s boundaries this winter in the southern hemisphere, adding just under 250 acres of patrolled and avalanche-controlled terrain.
The bowl, called Scarpa—or Toilet Bowl, depending on who you ask—will be accessible through a gate near the top of the Sugarbowl Express, followed by a boot pack.
After sliding down the 1,600 or so feet of vert, skiers and snowboarders will arrive at the access road, where a shuttle departing every 15 to 20 minutes can bring them back to the ski area.
While the change doesn’t involve the addition of a new lift, it simplifies adding a run down Scarpa into a ski day.
“With patrol, avalanche control and regular return shuttles, it’ll be easier than ever to lap this iconic zone and keep exploring everything the mountain has to offer,” The Remarkables wrote in a social media post.
The set-up mirrors that of numerous other ski resorts, where gates bring skiers into lesser-trafficked areas that have backcountry flavor and may require a walk or a shuttle ride, but still have avalanche mitigation.
As for the terrain, Scarpa delivers the sort of skiing New Zealand’s known for: wide, rolling runs without trees that, on the right day, make for a perfect blank canvas.
Here’s a look.
The announcement comes ahead of a period that could dramatically change The Remarkables. Not so long ago, the resort shared a proposal to expand into an area called Doolans Basin that would bring about 645 acres of new terrain, making The Remarkables the largest ski area in New Zealand.
The proposal, the resort said in an explanation on its website, would include “flowing terrain for intermediate cruisers” and “more to explore for advanced riders pushing their limits.”
It also includes a sprawling 2.7-kilometer gondola linking the existing base building with the new terrain, alongside adding another superlative to the proposal: the gondola would be New Zealand’s longest.
According to The Remarkables, an application was lodged via the fast-track consenting process in May 2026. If it’s approved, construction’s expected to run over several summer seasons from 2027.
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