The Ski Resort
Porters Ski Area is the closest ski area to Christchurch, 89km from the international airport, just over an hours drive with an easy and short access road. The ski area caters for 35000 visitors per season, 86% from the Canterbury region. The season goes from mid June to mid October There is one carpet lift, one platter lift a quad chairlift, three T-Bars plus a licensed café, full hire service, professional snow sport school and ski patrol. Porters has extensive snowmaking facilities, groomed slopes with various gradients from beginners to experts, short lift queues. Porters is the ideal field to learn to ski with easy access and safe spaces plus an easy transition between carpet, platter and chairlifts.
The ski area is well known for its legendary runs like Big Mama & Bluff Face. From the top of the mountain there are the most spectacular views over the Southern Alps. There is on mountain accommodation with a 40 bed lodge plus backpackers accommodation in Springfield, 30 km from the ski area or Castle Hill Village. Daily transport from Christchurch is available when the ski area is open. Porters has an extensive terrain park and from the top of the mountain there is good back country slopes to explore like Powder Bowl and Crystal Valley.
Interesting facts
- Elevated between 1 340 m and 1 980 m, the Ski Resort is among the 10 highest elevated Ski Resorts in New Zealand. The vertical drop from summit to base is 640 m. The average difference in altitude between base and summit of Ski Resorts in New Zealand is 471 m. Most runs are therefore relatively long.
- Snow coverage is usually best during August, offering an average snow depth of 125 cm at summit elevation and 68 cm at the base. Therefore Porters Alpine Resort is among the 5 ski Resorts with best snow conditions in Canterbury.
- Porters Alpine Resort features 18 sunny days on average per season. The average for all ski Resorts in New Zealand is 14 sunny days. August is the sunniest month with an average of 13 sunny days. This makes the ski resort one of the 10 sunniest in New Zealand.
