Ski Selwyn – Open for Adventure

Words by Stu Waddel

As the winter season kicks off and snow blankets the mountains, the excitement now builds as skiers head to the Selwyn ski areas.

Porters is typically the first to welcome skiers, thanks to an extensive snow-making setup on their first chair and learners’ area, coupled with its prime location shielded from the sun, Porters offers conditions perfect for early-season skiing.

The remaining five ski areas in Selwyn rely more heavily on natural snowfall. Skiers find themselves doing snow dances and keeping a close eye on long-range forecasts, hoping for the perfect snow-filled season. With each winter bringing its own unique conditions, we dream of skiing from dawn to dusk, from July right through to September and even into October. Every season tells its own story.

In 2023, we had a 6 week window from late July to the end of August with beautiful winter snow conditions, sunshine, rolling snow storms, and a high number of concurrent open days. I also recall other seasons, where the start has been so good that school kids are ready to go back to school, in need of a break, and rest of those tied legs. The snow will come, and the best we can do is be ready to ski with the weather and snow conditions allow.

I have been fortunate enough to be part of the Selwyn Ski Areas for 27 winters now, having co-founded the Chill Season Pass, and now working with the Selwyn Ski areas to promote the region as a unique and iconic winter destination. The Selwyn ski areas offer a wonderful array of lifts, terrain, mountain accommodation and lively characters, all contributing to an authentic alpine experience we have when in the mountains, on any given day.

There are numerous reasons for wanting to ski in Selwyn, and hand on heart, I would question why you wouldn’t want to try them, and come back again for more. One of the most attractive elements to the Selwyn ski areas is a lack of crowds on slopes of the ski area. Porters has the largest capacity to move people up the mountain with a chair lift from its base facilities. But that is where it stops, the surface base lifts play a big part in limiting the number of people on the slopes. Firstly, with the Tbars and rope tows you need to be able to ride the lift, meaning intermediate plus, skiers and snowboarders on the slopes. Secondly, the limited capacity up means less people on the slopes coming down, reducing the risk of someone taking you out as they speed down the slope on a different fall line to yourself.

With this in mind, and navigating the choice of lifts, Chairlifts, Tbars or Rope Tows, the variety of terrain and ski experience is so vast at the Selwyn ski areas, it’s bound to capture your attention and entice you back for more.

Temple Basin, on the Main Divide is a one hour walk in from State Highway 73, and offers the big mountain experience, both in vistas and skiing terrain. It is worthwhile staying up for a night or two, and they are well known for their weekend entertainment, with live music, DJs, snow festivities and fun ski events.

Craigieburn – Ski the big one. The three rope tows take you to the top of the mountain and give great access along the ridge to lots of terrain. When the ski area is fully covered with skiing from top to bottom, it's a true leg burner to get down and back up. Skiing out to Big Bend below the lodge is a highlight of any good day at Craigieburn.

Broken River – Ski the friendly one. BR is super friendly, a combination of welcoming members and a superb atmosphere at Palmer Lodge with local beers on tap, a pizza oven and great banter. You can look up and take in the main basin which offers good intermediate terrain. The journey to the ski area includes riding the tramway and walking the Stairway to Heaven. When you are on the mountain, there are up to three bowls to access, with plenty of terrain.

Cheeseman is an intermediate skier heaven, there are two good Tbars, and the main bowl has plenty of fun riding either side of the Tbar. The terrain helps in pushing your skiing and riding, and there are qualified instructors available for ski improvements. The top Tbar gives good access to Mt Cochayne and steep open terrain. There are two options for accommodation, Snowline Lodge at the base area which is fully catered. And Forest Lodge on the access road where you can take your own food.

Porters, also on the Craigieburn Range, is the closest ski area to Christchurch, and has a mountain lodge with great apres ski bar and restaurant facilities. It’s also a good spot to stay where you can rent out a family room as part of your multi-day winter adventure.

Mt Olympus – Playground of the Gods. Olympus is on the back side of the Craigieburn Range, and accessible from State Highway 72 heading into Lake Coleridge. The access road is pretty good through to Bottom Hut, and from here you need high clearance 4WD. Always carry chains, and radio in from the bottom hut before you go any further. There is a rope tow up to the Top Hut, unfortunately, if it’s your first time on a rope tow, it’s baptism by fire, but there is often someone from the Ski Club there to help out. The terrain is immense and the food amazing.