Broken River

Broken River

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Broken River delivers an authentic New Zealand club skiing experience in the heart of the Canterbury Alps. Founded in 1951 by passionate local skiers, this member-operated field maintains its genuine community spirit while welcoming visitors to discover its legendary powder snow and intimate atmosphere. The terrain offers a perfect mix of open bowls, challenging chutes, and sheltered trails through mountain beech forest.

Broken River's unique lift system includes five rope tows, including the heritage Access Tow that carries skiers from the lodge area to the main basin. The distinctive nutcracker rope tow system, a hallmark of New Zealand club fields, provides access to over 200 hectares of diverse terrain. While different from modern chairlifts, these tows offer efficient uphill transport and preserve the field's characteristic charm.

Broken River Lift System
Total Ski Lifts = 6
Train
1
Train
T-Bar
5
T-Bar

Broken River Resort Elevation

5971ft1820mResort Summit1312ft400mVertical Drop4659ft1420mResort Base
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Trails

Total Runs

25

Total Area

432 ac

174.8 ha

Difficulty Distribution

Beginner
5%
Intermediate
50%
Advanced
45%
Expert
0%
View Full Trail Map

Location

Located 2 hours from Christchurch in the Craigieburn Range, Broken River offers a true mountain adventure from the moment you arrive. Access begins with a short walk to the goods lift, followed by a ride in the unique Alpine Transport system through native beech forest. This journey sets the stage for an unforgettable backcountry experience, where the remote setting adds to the mountain's special character.

Broken River

, south-island

Toggle layers using the controls in the top right. Ski runs and lifts are shown in the overlay.

Season Info

The season typically runs from late June through September, with the high altitude basin often capturing substantial snowfall from Canterbury's legendary southerly storms. The unique geography of Allan's Basin and Palmer Lodge Bowl creates excellent snow retention, particularly in the upper bowls. Mid-winter powder days here rank among New Zealand's finest, while spring brings corn snow and spectacular alpine conditions.

Current Season

2025

Opening Day

7/11/2025

Closing Day

9/20/2025

Days Open

72

Arctic Eco Sno Sidebar

Annual Snowfall

Metric

2.5m

250cm

Imperial

8.2ft

98in

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