SpotCheck | The ski resorts of New Zealand

The North Island

An overview of the ski resorts of New Zealand's North Island: Whakapapa and Turoa. Both ski resorts (commercial) are located on the flanks of the 2797 m high Mt. Ruapehu whose last eruption took place in 1995 - and forced the lift companies to cease operations...
The ski pass is valid in both resorts, but they are far apart. Whakapapa is the largest ski resort in New Zealand. If there is enough snow, there is everything your (pistler's) heart desires, from the park to the moguls. After a 45-minute ascent from the last drag lift, we reached my sulphur-scented dreamland. The crater lake is surrounded by fat slopes at the end of a huge plateau. Unfortunately, there was no PowPow, but it was still incredible!

Turoa, on the southern flank of the volcano, on the other hand, offers guaranteed snow. The freeride potential of the mountain is immense, but requires precise knowledge of the area. It's not like in the Alps, where a road or settlement gives you renewed access to civilization. If you descent into the wrong valley, the only thing waiting for you are scree fields and undergrowth. What's more, there are only two other fire mountains far and wide - Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe - rising up from the central plateau of the North Island and, together with Mt Ruapehu, provide a resting place for the clouds.

Mt Cheeseman
Mt Cheeseman is the first club ski field coming from Christhurch. An endlessly winding, 22 km long forest slope will take you to happiness. Unfortunately, this resort shares the fate of Mt Olympus and remains a blank slate for us for the time being. The information we were able to gather is as follows: Not very hardcore, but there are a few nice lines to be found. There are no rope tows in this area, but well-known ski lifts. Ideal snowboard terrain, as it's nice and open! Check the homepage.

Broken River
One of the most popular club fields is Broken River. Along the SH73, about 115 km from Christchurch, it goes up a forest path 6 km up the valley. The journey ends at the Goods Lift. Leave the car, load bag and baggage into the inclined elevator and off you go on a nice 20-minute warm-up walk. Pick up your bag and pack at the ticket office, buy tickets, borrow a tow belt (50$ deposit), buy a protective cuff for your glove and climb the stairs. These lead past the lodges and the lift is waiting at the end! I would change here first...

The Nervous Nob towers above the ski field! It divides the resort into two huge basins that offer everything a freerider's heart desires. The ticket is also valid in Craigieburn Valley, which you can reach via a 20 to 40-minute hike up Hamilton Peak.

Craigieburn Valley
In 2003, the resort was closed to us. But now we know why Glen Plake, the first ski punk rocker in extreme terrain, didn't want to leave ... and so did we! Apart from the fact that a kea (mountain parrot) stole my glove at the ticket booth and I had to buy lined work gloves for 20 dollars, everything was extremely orderly. Open terrain, steep and narrow gullies, exposed ridges - it was a blast! After leaving SH 73, you reach the parking lot on a 6 km forest trail. A 10-minute climb past the lodges and the small ticket office is already waiting. The crew usually consists of mixed powder addicts who are eagerly waiting for the next powder...

There's nothing to say about Craigieburn: except that a visit is MANDATORY! If you stay for a few days, you can help with the housekeeping. As I said, no one is any better, not even the Presidential Suite resident!

Temple Basin
The furthest from Christchurch (160 km) is Temple Basin. Access is more difficult than to the other clubfields. You should allow 30-60 minutes for the walk. The equipment is brought up by freight train. The resort itself is a playground: Quaterpipes, natural halfpipe and other niceties await your avalanche shovel. Apart from that, there are "only" two rope towers'and a beginner lift. Earn your turn - as everywhere in such areas! We were unlucky in both 2003 and 2006. First the winter was bad and now, when everything seemed perfect, a mast on the freight lift broke. Well, carotid artery cut? Let's hope they fix it quickly!

A little tip: Temple is located behind Arthurs Pass, which means that the weather is often different to the resorts described so far. It's worth checking!