Canterbury Skiing & Boarding Areas
Skiing is a big drawcard for winter visitors to the
Canterbury region. Mount Hutt is the region's best known ski area and the closest commercial ski area to
Christchurch. It is famous for having the longest ski season down under, thanks to Mount Hutt's high altitude.
However, the
Canterbury region is also home to a range of smaller fields where you can get right off the beaten track and enjoy the luxury of uncrowded slopes and a friendly atmosphere.
- Mt Hutt - Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps near the resort town of Methven, Mt Hutt has the longest ski season in Australasia.
- Porter Heights - Located high in the beautiful Craigieburn Range, Porter Heights is the closest ski area to Christchurch.
- Hanmer Springs (Mount St Patrick) - High on Mount St Patrick, and just a 40min drive from the thermal resort of Hanmer Springs, this ski and board area is ideal for intermediate levels.
- Temple Basin - At the centre of Arthur's Pass National Park, Temple Basin is one of the few places you can literally roll out of bed and straight onto the slopes.
- Roundhill - in the heart of the Mackenzie country and about 30 minutes from Lake Tekapo, this is ideal learner and intermediate terrain.
- Mt Lyford - An ideal family field, Mount Lyford ski area caters for all levels, and also offers cross-country and off-piste skiing and boarding.
- Broken River - Broken River lies in the heart of the Craigieburn Range in the Southern Alps and enjoys midday sun over three large open basins.
- Mt Cheeseman - Mt Cheeseman is the second closest ski area to Christchurch (after Porter's Pass), and offers fantastic terrain for learners and families.
- Mt Olympus - Known as the Southern Alps' best kept powder secret, Mt Olympus has wide open basins of untracked snow just waiting to be tamed.
- Craigieburn - Located deep in the Craigieburn Range, adjacent to Broken River ski area, Craigieburn has an awesome reputation for its ski and board challenges.
- Fox Peak - A great variety of terrain ranging from big wide-open faces to the adventurous South Basin and North Basin Ridge.
- Mount Dobson - Rolling natural terrain that provides good skiing and boarding.
- Ohau - Located a 40min drive south of Twizel, Ohau caters for all abilities with a range of trails, glood slope conditions and great powder snow around the tops.
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