Mount Olympus

From WikiSki

Overview 

Playground of the Gods. This is situated in a south-facing bowl with awesome terrain. When it catches the powder snow, there are few places better South of the Equator.

Takes a bit of getting to, but the effort is worth it.

Driving back from Mount Olympus, as you went back to town there used to be a sign which said "Welcome Back to Reality", which just about sums up this unreal ski area.

Contents 1 Location 2 Pros 3 Cons 4 Contacts 5 Planning 5.1 Getting There 5.2 Accommodation 5.2.1 On Mountain 5.2.2 Off Mountain 5.3 Lift Tickets 5.4 Ski School 5.5 Equipment Hire 6 Resort Facilities 6.1 Getting Around 6.2 Parking 6.3 Activities 6.4 Dining 6.5 Bars & Entertainment 6.6 Shopping 6.7 Children 7 Ride Guide 7.1 Beginner Areas 7.2 Groomed Runs 7.3 Off Piste 7.4 Out of Bounds 7.5 Cross Country 7.6 Parks & Pipes 7.7 Bumps 7.8 Powder Zones 7.9 Sheltered Runs 7.10 Snowplay 8 Other 8.1 Weather 8.2 Geography 8.3 History 9 Resources 9.1 Maps

Location

1.5 hours from Christchurch

Pros

• On mountain accommodation.
• Genuine rural Kiwi club-style atmosphere.

Cons

• Limited options for beginners.
• Hard on the liver.
• Can be difficult to get to.
• You'll never want to leave.

Contacts

Phone: (03) 318 5840

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Postal: PLEASE EDIT

Planning

Getting There

Mt Olympus is a 45km drive from Windwhistle and up a long rough road better suited to 4WD. (A sign say "Carry chains and courage.")

An access tow leads up to the main ski area, where the main accommodation lodge is located. This means riding the rope tow with your pack on your back.

Accommodation

On Mountain

This is genuine ski-in, ski-out accommodation, with a real sense of isolation. The main rope tow is close to the lodge. (The access tow is toe-side for natural riders, and the main upper tow is heel-side.)

Off Mountain

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Lift Tickets

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Ski School

Yes

Equipment Hire

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Resort Facilities

Getting Around

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Parking

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Activities

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Dining

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Bars & Entertainment

The after-ski parties can be as full-on as the skiing is.

Shopping

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Children

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Ride Guide

This skifield is never crowded and always fun to be at.

Beginner Areas

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Groomed Runs

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Off Piste

From the top of the main tow there is a tremendous variety of rolling terrain and steep chutes to choose from, mostly intermediate to advanced grade.

Out of Bounds

From the top of the skifield there is backcountry access to the Ryton Valley, one of mid Canterbury’s best backcountry skiing areas. The locals will point you in the right direction. Alpine touring gear is the answer.

Cross Country

No skinny skiing. Not much scope for fishscales.

Parks & Pipes

Rad natural terrain all over the place.

Bumps

A few, at times, but you have to look really hard.

Powder Zones

The entire mountain is a powder zone.

Sheltered Runs

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Snowplay

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Other

Weather

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Geography

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History

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Resources

• ski.com.au/resorts
• www.mtolympus.co.nz

Maps

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