Mt Olympus
Also known as: Playground of the Gods (Windwhistle Winter Sports Club)
Craigieburn Range; cedar hot tub at lodge
Can the whole group come?
Who in your group gets a good week at Mt Olympus - the terrain split, the ski school, and what the people not skiing do.
Beg 10 / Int 55 / Adv 35; steep freeride
Learners' Tow near Top Hut, but terrain skews advanced
Cedar hot tub, Far Canal Bar, lodge scene; touring/hiking
- (U10 ski free)
Very limited - NO on-mountain hire/tuning; free towbelts; no dedicated school
Expert freeride; nutcracker tows; rough access
Snow & season
Natural only, no snowmaking; basin holds snow but variable
Typically late Jun/Jul to Oct (snow-dependent)
Jul-Sep; spring corn into Oct
Peak Jul-Aug + school holidays; shoulder Jun & Sep-Oct quieter
Steep ungroomed chutes/bowls
Steep avalanche terrain; 4WD access
The mountain
60 ha
15 named trails (mostly freeride/off-piste)
Steep expert chutes/bowls; touring
Very quiet
Getting there & lift pass
Adult day ~NZ$104 (U10 free)
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Christchurch ~130 km; 2WD to Bottom Hut then high-clearance 4WD + chains; steep unsealed
Self-drive (4WD final section)
Top Hut (1640 m) canteen/bar; Bottom Hut self-catered
Top Hut + Bottom Hut lodges
Windwhistle / Christchurch hub
Patrol & safety
Staffed patrol/first-aid; transceiver/shovel/probe compulsory for steep hikes
Rough 4WD access; nutcracker; expert
Christchurch Hospital (~130 km); Darfield rural en route
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand ski resort report. Coordinates are approximate.