Located in the center of the Southern Alps in New Zealand’s South Island, the Craigieburn Valley Ski Area is the skiing site for the intermediate and advanced skiers featuring a vertical range of 1308 to 1811 m, 600 hectares of skiable area, and 3 fast rope tows. With good ups and better downs, the area is adorned with the steep narrow chutes, wide powder bowls, less populated runs offering the grand view of the Craigieburn Range. As the terrain is more appropriate for the intermediate to advanced skier, a knowledgeable beginner with a firm approach will surely learn much only in a day at Craigieburn. Due to the mountain providing a few easily accessed skiing slopes in the world, many kids have bloomed with their skills on the snow speaks speaking tremendously.

Craigieburn is much more than only a skiing paradise with its lazy slope side seasonal accommodation for the snow lovers who come from all over the globe to tell a lot of their experiences at the ski lounge and at night. The Craigieburn Valley Ski resort offers many ski lodges without any gear to hire and conducts ski touring expeditions. The resort is very close to one of the most famous skiing area called the Broken River whose ski pass system is shared. So, you can also expect skiing between the two with some skinning.

Craigieburn is a non-profit association dedicated to skiing and snowboarding without any commercial motive. It is world-renowned site due to its steep terrain of which more than 50 percent is ranked as advanced. Do not expect grooming here, but look for excellent hiking and ski touring choices such as the Middle Basin that is a 600 m bowl back to the access road often evaluated with the heli-skiing. Also, check out the Hamilton Peak that is quite famous that takes the skier to the upper Hamilton face and to the Broken River ski field lift system with no further sanction. The several backcountry and touring options via Middle Basin into North Middle, True North basins, and Mt Manson are also among the recommended options.

Season

July to October

Activities/Highlights

• Hike and Ski Tours:
  Snowgo is famous for its fully guided ski tours here and to other club fields for at least 4 days or 7 nights. If you are worries about the cost, do not be; as it is very much affordable. Its tours are ideal to explore multiple ski areas. One more popular one is the Black Diamond Safaris that offer ski tours to Craigieburn, Olympus, and Broken River club fields. Many hiking and ski-touring opportunities are beyond the tour area here such as Castle or North Middle Basin where you can ski out to the lodge or to the access road after a 15 minutes walk. Other options are beyond North Middle, in Allan’s Basin, or Broken River or a full day or overnight trip to the New Zealand Alpine Club. Note: Be in groups, recognize your Snow craft, be dressed in avalanche transceivers, and consult the Skifield manager or field staff before starting. Never DISOBEY the closures.

• Adventure Activities:
  These include ice-climbing in the area, but it is only for those who are experienced. Regardless of this, you can still try it out with a guided tour in other places such as the Fox Glacier.
• Cave Stream Scenic Reserve:
  Located at 5 minutes drive east of Flock Hill Lodge, this is flanked by the limestone rocks making an ideal perfect picnic spot and for walking. There is no guide here and that it takes about one hour to explore this. Do note that the water’s level in the cave is up to the waist, so be alert here if you go in. Tip: Carry a torch, wear warm attire, and be in durable footwear.
• Mountain Biking:
  Consider at Flock Hill Lodge around which this sport is undertaken by many tourists and locals alike. The farm is 14,000 hectares and on your bike, you can spot some sheep, cattle, deer, and geological features making your voyage interesting along many km of trails. Take a bike on hire and thoroughly understand the route of biking. If you wish, also know about the various spots to go for trekking too.

Facilities

• Eating on the Mountain in the day lodge above the base of the 3rd tow offering wonderful views, especially the deck where you can lie around in the sunshine. See what activities are available on the slope where food and drinks such as a great coffee and delicious hamburgers cooked on the BBQ are available. You will need to buy a bottle of water and also need to carry all rubbish with you as there are no rubbish bins.
• Ski School Group instruction at $22 per hour and private lessons at $45 per hour are offered.

Note: No ski or snowboard is there on hire.

Reaching the Craigieburn Valley

From Christchurch, Craigieburn is at 1.5 hr drive (110km) on highway 73. The road up to skifield is 6 km, which twists softly upwards via a scenic beech forest. You can drive this road with any motor vehicle, except for the camper vans that are parked at the base of the road. It is much recommended to have 2 wheel drives.

Accommodations

You can consider booking a basic on-mountain accommodation at Craigieburn Valley ski area where private and shared bunk rooms exist. If you aim is to explore several ski areas with a luxurious stay, then head to the Flock Hill Lodge which is a farm with motel and cottage-style accommodation located at a few miles down the road from the Craigieburn ski area.

Castlehill Village is at a distance of few km before the turn to the valley on Highway 73. Here, you are offered private houses and also there is a B&B. Stay options are motels, lodges, and backpacker lodgings.

Tip: Do carry a warm sleeping bag, towel, indoor footwear, and torch.