Christchurch and Canterbury skiing
The Christchurch and Canterbury region is packed with great skiing and snowboarding for you to have a blast on your next winter holiday.
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Christchurch, Canterbury, and the Mackenzie regions are home to 18 ski areas in the region, so you will have your pick of places to ski and snowboard. A number of direct flights from Australia into Christchurch International Airport give direct access to these ski areas, the closest of which is Porters and then Mt Hutt, which is only 90 minutes from the airport.
Mt Hutt
Overlooking the Canterbury Plains and the Pacific Ocean, Mt Hutt is a premier destination to go skiing or snowboarding in the South Island. With over 365 hectares of skiable terrain and a mix for all levels and abilities, Mt Hutt is a great mountain to take the family, head up with friends, or shoot down the mountain all day.
Highlights of Mt Hutt
- Number of lifts: 4
- Operating hours: 9 am – 4 pm
-
2013 planned season dates
- Opened: 15 June 2013
- Scheduled to close: 6 October 2013
- Distance from Christchurch: 1 hour drive
- Distance from Methven: 35 minute drive
From panoramic mountain vistas of Lake Coleridge and the Southern Alps to the expansive views over the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch, Porters offers breath-taking scenery for all to enjoy.
- Number of lifts: 4
- Operating hours: 9am - 4pm
-
2013 planned season dates
- Opened: 21 June 2013
- Closed: mid-October
- Distance from Christchurch: 1 hour
- Distance from Methven ; 1.15hrs
Other ski fields and resorts
There are several other ski fields in the Christchurch/Canterbury/Mackenzie regions to choose from including:
- Roundhill
- Mt Dobson
- Ohau
- Mt Lyford
- Hanmer Springs
- Mt Cheesman
- Broken River
- Craigieburn
- Temple Basin
- Mt Olympus
- Alpure Peaks
Roundhill, Mt Dobson and Ohau are all located within the sprawling Mackenzie Basin region. More and more visitors are exploring these ski areas. Increasingly the settlement of Tekapo is where ski visitors base themselves. Alpine Springs in Tekapo, a skating and hot pool complete is a welcome retreat after a day on the slopes or provides some great fun should a ski area be closed.
Near Aoraki Mt Cook is the Tasman Glacier. This is the South Island's only skiable glacier. As access is only by flight you've got to pick the best weather. But it is well worth the trip with some magnificient scenery and untouched slopes.
Plan a holiday to the South Island of New Zealand and begin your skiing and snowboarding adventure in the Christchurch and Canterbury region!
Article by
New Zealand Ski Tourism Marketing Network
Written: 12 articles
Start planning your winter 2013 ski holiday to the South Island of New Zealand now. The first ski areas are planning to open in early June. Great skiing/riding on slope, with spectacular views plus great winter activities and holiday fun.
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