Craigieburn Forest Park · Canterbury Region · New Zealand
Craigieburn Valley Ski Area is a club skifield in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, about 104 km west from Christchurch. Catering only to intermediate and advanced skiers, it features a vertical range of 1308–1811 m, 160 ha of skiable area and 3 fast rope tows, the first installed in 1949. In 1954 a project was attempted to install a T-Bar lift, with components airdropped from an RNZAF Bristol Freighter, but the tow suffered from engineering problems after only one season. The resort has several ski lodges but no gear hire. It is also the base for ski touring expeditions when conditions permit. It is immediately adjacent to the Broken River Ski Area, with which it shares a ski pass system. Skiing between the two is possible with backcountry ski touring involved.
