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Travel to Craigieburn Valley with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Renowned for its tricky trails and stupendously steep drops, Craigieburn Valley is one of New Zealand’s most challenging ski resorts and it has become extremely popular with intermediate, advanced and expert skiers. Beginners will be completely out of their depth on Craigieburn Valley’s tough terrain and would do better to look at New Zealand’s tamer ski resorts as potential holiday options.

‘Steep, deep and cheap’ is the phrase that is synonymous with Craigieburn Valley ski resort and with good reason – the resort’s 988-acre ski area encompasses a thrilling collection of spacious powder bowls, skinny chutes and a notorious vertical drop of 1,968 feet – only for the very daring!

Craigieburn Valley ski resort is suitable for intermediates, advanced and expert skiers, with approximately 55 per cent of the total trail area devoted to intermediate skiers and 45 per cent allocated to extremely proficient snow riders. Three high capacity rope tows provide transportation to the descents, right up to the highest station, located 1,640 feet above the base camp at 5,941 feet above sea level.

Accommodation at the ski resort is available in the form of basic but comfortable alpine lodges, with a choice of either six-person bunk or cosy double rooms. A total of 65 people can be accommodated at the resort at any given time. A friendly alpine bar offers great opportunities for après-ski socialising and the lodge’s efficient staff provide delicious, hearty fare to satisfy even the most ferocious of appetites that have been worked up on the slopes.

Several alternative ski fields are located within easy driving distance of Craigieburn Valley, including Mount Hutt and Porter Heights, while additional entertainment and leisure options can be found at the vibrant city of Christchurch, located just 68 miles from the resort.

The ski season at Craigieburn Valley ski resort begins in late June or early July and usually runs until October, with good slope conditions throughout. The resort is easily accessible from the city of Christchurch by hire car or shuttle bus.

Skiing in Craigieburn Valley

Craigieburn Valley is one of New Zealand’s most interesting skiing options, known in ski circles as a ‘steep, deep and cheap’ resort for its sheer trails, mind-blowing vertical drop and reasonable prices. The resort is located just over 60 miles from Christchurch, with the journey time from the city to the skiing area taking roughly 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Craigieburn Valley is suitable for experienced skiers only, with an array of intermediate (55 per cent) and advanced (45 per cent) trails dropping and winding across a 988-acre area of skiing terrain that includes wide, powder-filled bowls, challenging narrow channels and steep drops. Transportation to the slopes is provided by three high capacity rope tows. The resort’s 1,968-foot vertical is both infamous and unforgettable, and it has frequently been compared to heli-skiing, while ski-touring options provide opportunities to experience new terrain beyond Craigieburn Valley’s borders.

Facilities are basic but adequate at Craigieburn Valley, with a welcoming alpine bar providing post-skiing leisure and rustic lodging in double or group cabins. With regards to accommodation, the set-up is slightly different at Craigieburn Valley to most skiing destinations; overnight visitors are expected to pitch in and help out. Expect to be allocated a selection of small tasks each day, ranging from light-weight housework to peeling or chopping vegetables for the evening meal. Don’t let this put you off – besides being a great way to build camaraderie amongst skiers, duties are quick and simple, and won’t detract from your slope time.

Additional accommodation and an abundance of alternative recreational opportunities are available at nearby Christchurch. Visitors should be aware that there are no ski hire facilities at the resort, so be sure to come with all the necessary gear in tow.

Skiing is offered at Craigieburn Valley from late June or early July to early October and the slopes are well-maintained throughout the season. Access to the resort can be gained via hire car or shuttle bus from Christchurch, located just over an hour’s drive from the resort.

Transportation to Craigieburn Valley

Craigieburn Valley is located approximately 68 miles from Christchurch and is accessible from the ‘Garden City’ within 1 hour, 30 minutes by car. The international airport at Christchurch is the main port of entry for most overseas visitors to New Zealand. Once visitors are in the city, the ski resort can be reached by shuttle bus or hire car.

The quickest and most convenient way of reaching Craigieburn Valley is by hiring a car from Christchurch and then taking a leisurely drive through the area’s stunning scenery to get to the resort. The drive spans 68 miles and the journey time is roughly 1 hour, 30 minutes. Take highway 73 from the city and then follow the signs for Arthur’s Pass, turn off onto the four-mile, beech-lined road leading to the Craigieburn Valley skifield. The route is well signposted and the resort is located roughly nine miles from the top of Porter’s Pass. All vehicles should carry chains, though it is usually only two-wheel drive vehicles that actually require them.

The international airport at Christchurch receives regular flights from Australia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, USA, Fiji and Rarotonga, with flights from a variety of other destinations worldwide generally being routed through one of these destinations. Taxis and buses provide transportation from the airport into town, taking roughly 20 minutes and 40 minutes respectively to complete the journey.

A number of independent tour operators provide shuttle bus transportation between Christchurch and Craigieburn Valley.

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