Broken River

Weather at Broken River

🌧️Rain

Low: 9.7°C / High: 9.7°C

Wind: NW 5 km/h

Recent Snowfall

24 hours: 0 cm

7 days: 0 cm

Snow Depth

Base: 0 cm

Season Total: 0 cm

Resort Status

Lifts: --/--

Trails: --/--

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2025View Full Report →

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

T-Bar

Broken River Resort Elevation

Trails

Total Runs

Total Area

432 ac

174.8 ha

Difficulty Distribution

Beginner

Intermediate

50%

Advanced

45%

Expert

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