Ski Adventure Paradise
With epic terrain and in the right snow conditions, Canterbury’s ski fields offer thrills and spills.
Temple Basin
Temple Basin is on the Main Divide and is a big mountain experience. From the top of Temple Col just above the top tow is the wide open terrain of the upper Mingha Valley which is a ski adventure paradise.
Craigieburn
Craigieburn is a fully serviced backcountry experience. Skiing off Middle Basin chutes through to Big Bend is a massive run with 600 metres of vertical descent. The chutes are steep and tight, opening up to a fast-flowing basin. There is also great hiking out to North Peak when the snow conditions allow.
Porters Alpine Resort
Porters Alpine Resort has a combination of a chairlift and T-Bars. From the base facility you can look up to two exciting slopes, both accessible from the top T-Bar. Big Mama sits to the south and is northeast facing. It’s an impressive vertical drop of 620 metres and an open face for big turns. The other slope is Bluff Face which is southeast facing and can sit in the shade early in the season, so the snow remains cold and inviting.
Roundhill
Roundhill is known as an intermediate ski area for the majority but thrill seekers love the Heritage Express rope tow to the top of the Richmond Range, the longest tow in the southern hemisphere, at 1.2km. It's a real kick just to get to the top, and the terrain does not let up on the way down. The slope is north facing and sits in the sun. It’s a great place to ski after a fresh snow dump, check opening times as you may get lucky after recent snowfall and find it untouched.