Porters Alpine Resort

Parking can be difficult to source, the snow was a bit hard and icy, not great for beginners or the less experienced, especially compared to Mt. Hutt.

Porters is the great. People use to compare porters and Hutt, sure Hutt is bigger and have better chairs. But over there you have wait in liftline to get a chair, standing in line to park and watch your back every 5 minutes so no skier hit you. In Porters you get to know the staff and the people are mostly the same. It's always room. They have a carpet for beginners and area for intermediate people. One main chair to top of easy street where you get access to a great park. You can get to the top with three 3 bars and there you got access to so many runs. On a powder day it's hard to beat Porters. You can find fresh track all day long. The coffee is great and the pies comes from the famous Sheffield pies.

Instructors are great but I advice you to just wear one jacket if you plan to try snow boarding or skiing. The sun rays is pretty intense and I will also suggest putting some sun screen or balaclavas. I prefer the subtle vibe of mount Hutt than this place. It's too crowded when we went there. Maybe because it's our field trip.Also, the slopes are too slippery and steep that falling will be a natural.Overall we enjoy our visit cause we played blocks of snow on the corner of the ski area.Beginners, like me, is not adviced to try the intermediate section. You'll just hurt yourself.

Top ski and snowboard spot in the Craigieburn Range. Small resort with a real club feel. Family and kids friendly with some wicked steeps.

Even if you don't plan on skiing, take a drive up, and there are safe places for the kiddies to play in the snow in winter time.You won't need a 4x4 to go up, so don't be alarmed.

Close to Christchurch and reasonably easy to access for a kiwi ski field. Pretty small with just one chair lift and then some very steep T bars, making it more suitable for skiiers than boarders, although you can still have fun on the wide main slope. At full price it is too expensive for the available runs and facilities, but luckily it is usually on offer on Bookme. The shuttle bus for those without chains is free which is another bonus, and the coffee is not bad.

Our family just loves this field. So close to Christchurch, such a short and safe access road and terrain is off the charts when there's freshies. Even weekends are pretty chilled, staff are great. Go mid week, straight after a fresh snow dump for an experience you'll remember forever.

Great place to learn to ski with a magic carpet and small beginners hill. Easy to get to from Christchurch. Usually not too crowded. Family favourite.