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Our Region’s Best Intermediate Skiing

Cruise The Blues

Are you a Goldilocks skier? Looking for cruisy blue runs that are not too steep, not too easy? For wide-open smooth grooming head to Mt Lyford, Cheeseman, Mt Hutt, Dobson, Porters, Roundhill or Ōhau. All boast a plethora of intermediate trails accessed by either T-Bars or chairlifts. 

Group of snowboarders at the top of Mt Lyford.

Mt Lyford

Off to the side of the Cloudy T-Bar, the 'Back Run' is on an open ridge face that drops back down to the T-Bar for another ride up.

Views: This field is Canterbury’s northern most and generously sprinkled in late Winter sun. Don’t forget to nab that selfie at the iconic yellow truck!

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Mount Cheeseman people getting on to T Bar.

Mt Cheeseman

Skiers’ right of the Main T-Bar through to the bottom. The terrain is ideally suited to practise your turns and use the contours of the slope to help find your edges.

Views: Make sure to stop atop the ridgeline and snap 360 degree views across the Pinnacles, Craigieburn Forest park and back into the valley below.

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Large slopes at Porters with lifts in the background.

Porters Alpine Resort

Sundance Basin from top to bottom of the Sundance T-Bar, skier's left, is well groomed and very popular. For a long run to the bottom, follow the Cat Track through to McNulty's Basin.

Views: The Southern Alps on McNulty's Cat Track or Lake Coleridge with a short boot-pack up the track.

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Mount Hutt Chairlift

Mt Hutt

Head straight to the top of the Summit Six chairlift and drop into Morning Glory off the cat track, far skier's right. Go out to Broadway, the wide groomed here is perfect for fast laps all the way to the base area.

Views: From the top of the mountain with views back over the Canterbury Plains.

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Mt Dobson
Credit: Jeremy Little

Mt Dobson

The Saddle Chair gives you access to some fantastic blue runs. Skiing out to the right of the chairlift on Fencepost Flat is open and easy-going.

Views: Morning shot from the carpark after a fresh storm with people making fresh tracks down the chairlift line in Shirley Chute.

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Round Hill

Roundhill

You can't go wrong skiing off the two T-Bars here, the terrain is rolling and mellow with natural curves and dips.

Views: The von Brown Hut looking out over Lake Tekapo.

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Ōhau Snow Fields

Ōhau

Off the top of the double chairlift, take The Boulevard all the way to the bottom and enjoy the epic views out over the lake.

Views: The lake provides the perfect backdrop for a group shot.

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