A number of ski lifts operate in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
Summary
Current
Location Location Magic Carpet/Belt Platter lift Rope Tow Rope Tow (Nutcracker) T-Bar Double Triple Quad Express Quad Six Seater Gondola Poma Fixed Grip Other Total Whakapapa Mount Ruapehu 0 2 0 0 3 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 10 Turoa Mount Ruapehu 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 8 Tukino Mount Ruapehu 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Manganui Mount Taranaki 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4Temple Basin Arthur's Pass National Park 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Snow Farm / Snow Park Wānaka Invincible Glenorchy 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Mount Olympus Rakaia Valley 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4Porters Arthur's Pass National Park 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6Fox Peak Fairlie 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5Mount Dobson Farlie 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Rainbow St Arnaud 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4Amuri / Hanmer Springs Hanmer Springs 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3Mount Lyford Kaikoura 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5Craigieburn Valley Arthur's Pass National Park 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Round Hill Tekapo 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3Ōhau Ōhau 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Awakino Kurow 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Treble Cone Wānaka 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1+ 3+Cardrona Wānaka 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5Coronet Peak Queenstown 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 4The Remarkables Queenstown) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1+ 5+
Former
Location Location Magic Carpet Platter lift Rope Tow Rope Tow (Nutcracker) T-Bar Double Triple Quad Express Quad Six Seater Gondola Poma Mount Robert St Arnaud 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rainbow St Arnaud 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mount Cheesman South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Erewhon Rangitata Valley 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mount Dobson Farlie 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Craigieburn Valley Arthur's Pass National Park 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
North Island
Whakapapa (Mount Ruapehu) Name Type Status Duration Information Double Happy Chair Double Active 4 min Happy Valley Platter 1 Platter Lift Active 3 min Happy Valley Platter 2 Platter Lift Active 3 min West Ridge Quad Quad Active 11 min Knoll Ridge T-Bar T-Bar Active 10 min Valley T-Bar T-Bar Active 8 min Far West T-Bar T-Bar Active 10 min Rangatira Express Quad Express Quad Active Delta Quad Quad Active Skywaka Gondola Gondola Active
Turoa (Mt Ruapehu) Name Type Status Duration Information High Noon Express Six seater detachable chairlift Active 10min Nga Wai Heke Chair Quad chairlift Active 11min Movenpick Chair Quad chairlift Active 15min Giant Chair Triple chairlift Active 13min Parklane Chair Triple chairlift Active 7min Alpine Meadow Platter Platter lift Active 2min Wintergarden Platter Platter lift Active 2min Alpine Meadow Carpet Lift Magic Carpet Active 2min
Manganui (Mount Taranaki) The original (lower rope tow) was installed in 1946, the first ski tow in New Zealand (predating Coronet Peak's tow by a few days). This was replaced by the current T Bar in 1974.
The top rope tow has a formidable reputation, rising some 300 metres. This was installed in 1952 and upgraded extensively in the 1980s (with a replacement electric drive instead of the old diesel engine). An extension to this tow (running off the top bullwheel) can be installed providing further vertical late in the season.
The lower T bar can also carry a few chairs if necessary, something that the Stratford Mountain Club have indicated that they may install, making for an interesting dual lift.
There is a small (single loop, no intermediate supports) rope tow between the T bar and the bottom station of the top tow, installed in the 1980s and electrically operated.
There is a small learners rope tow to the left of the T bar, this was installed in 1964 and upgraded in the 1970s.
A tow was installed in the Ngarara valley to the right of the field in 1983, and this operated til 1986.
Other North Island ski lifts The Rangiwahia Ski Club installed a rope tow in the 1930s operating off a motorbike engine on the Whanahuia Range in the Ruahines in the Central North Island. The ski club built a hut as well, but this has been replaced by several facilities on the same site since then. Some relics are still there. The site is accessible only on foot.
All road ends in Egmont National Park had a rope tow or two at various times, but these have all been removed (apart from Manganui).
South Island
Amuri / Hanmer Springs (Hanmer Springs) This pomagalski was built entirely by volunteers and is the only detachable pomagalski left in New Zealand as such is needing preservation.
1 rope tow
Mount Lyford (Kaikoura) 1 tbar 1 poma that goes up and down learner rope tow 1 rope tow above Tbar that has an upper and lower loading areas to access back faces and summit - was extended in 2011.
There were also two rope tows installed at Stella Basin, further down the access road from Mt Lyford. A lack of snow has caused these to be removed.
Historically a rope tow also serviced terrain below the current skifield base, but has been abandoned.
Temple Basin (Arthurs Pass) 3 rope tows currently. Cassidy, Temple and Downhill 1 goods lift from the top of Arthurs Pass to just below the lodges.
Craigieburn Valley (Arthurs Pass) 3 rope tows currently. Access, middle, and top.
Formerly had a learners tow near the base of the middle tow, which resulted in three tows running from one tow shed / engine. The learners tow was removed in the 1990s. The top tow has now been realigned, as the previous alignment resulted in very challenging loading (requiring use of the "Craigieburn Drop" technique with nutcrackers).
In 1952 a T bar was installed (NZs first) running from the bottom of Craigieburn to Siberia Basin, except this never received much usage. A poma was installed on Hamilton Peak in 1994, but this did not receive much use either. The concrete base of this is still sitting in Siberia Basin.
There is a cone of death on the dogleg on the bottom rope tow where it changes alignment. It looks like a spinning top with a disc on the top to stop the rope flying off it. The disc acts as angle grinder if you don't get your shoulder far enough out of the way. This was installed to bend the towline away from an avalanche path. Great fun.
All tows are diesel operated, using tractors.
Broken River (Arthurs Pass) The access tow, from above the accommodation buildings to the field itself. Above the tow shed, which is at the height of Palmer Lodge (the fields day lodge), this tow is known as the Rugby tow, from the former Rugby car engine that used to power it (which is now hanging off the counterweight at the end of the main tow). The main tow The ridge tow Two learners / access tows near Palmer lodge. Tyndall tramway from the carpark to the accommodation lodges. One of a kind in NZ and can be used as a tow when snowline is lower.
All tows are electrically driven.
Mount Cheeseman 2 x T bars + 1 x learners rope tow.
Main T bar - Takes skiers from the base area to mid way up the mountain. Lots of intermediate terrain.
Ridge T bar - Takes skiers from mid way to top of ridge line. Lots of advanced terrain including Mt Cockayne.
Skiing began here in 1929. The first rope tow was installed in 1947. Up until that time walking was the best method! This changed over the 50’s and 60’s until 3 rope rows existed.
The bottom rope tow, since removed in the 1980’s, used to extend a long way down the access road. 4WD vehicles would have to wait for skiers before crossing under the rope.
In 1984 the Ridge Tow was finished and made for a platter from half way up the field to the ridge line. Run on a diesel tractor motor, it changed to a T bar in the 90’s, doubling capacity. All 3 rope rows were removed to make more space for skiable terrain.
The Main T bar was installed in 1978, also diesel. Changed over to electric mains power in 1996. The T bar received an electric VSD drive upgrade in 2023.
There is a hand grip rope tow on the learners area in front of the large sunny daylodge.
Mount Hutt (Methven) Began in late 1970s with two rope tows
Historically The top T bars - 2 T bars installed side by side, above the top of the old quad. One T bar went halfway to the summit, the second T bar went most of the way to the summit, finishing slightly short of the current six-seater. These were diesel powered. The Quad - Formerly known as the Exhibition Quad which has been resited - it was formerly the main lift operating from the base buildings of the field, it was then resited to where the Nor'west Express now is and was replaced by the Nor'west Express in 2021. Two T bars from the base up to the top T bars - the track for these can still be seen to the right of the Summit Six. Two poma lifts from the base up to the right looking up, now serviced by the Nor-west Express.
Currently (2022): The Towers Triple chair with mid-station (one of only two left in operation in New Zealand). Fixed grip. The Summit Six seater, operating from the base buildings to near the summit of Mt Hutt at 2086 metres. The Nor'west Express Eight seater. 2x Learners conveyor belts
All of these are electrically powered.
Erewhon (Rangitata Valley) All 4 rope tows (Learners, Access, Main & Senior) were removed when the skifield (and its club) closed in the late 1980s. The lodge is now used as the base of a cat-skiing operation.
Fox Peak (Fairlie) Currently using 4 rope tows Skid row learners tow Meadow tow Shirt front tow Apex tow
All of these tows run off diesel engines.
There is a learners platter lift.
Historically there was a rope tow lower down to facilitate access from the lodge
Mount Dobson (Fairlie) Historically:
1 rope tow 1 further rope tow up the peak to the south. 1 short platter to get back out of West Valley to the T-bar
Currently:
1 T-bar (installed in the early 1980s) 1 triple chair lift (originally at Perisher in Australia) 1 platter lift 1 learner rope tow
Round Hill (Tekapo) Originally Tekapo ski area, before it closed in the mid-1990s
Historically: 1 double chair (which went to Rainbow skifield upon closing, and is now just over the valley at Ōhau) 1 or 2 poma lifts
Currently: 2 T bars 1 Poma Learners lifts The Heritage Express Rope Tow, a nutcracker rope tow which is the longest and (possibly) steepest rope tow in the world. 1.5 km long with 650 metre vertical rise. Installed in 2010.
Ōhau (Ōhau) Historically: 1 rope tow 1 T-bar (installed in the 1980s)
Currently: 1 double chair, fixed grip, diesel 1 learners platter 1 Learners conveyor belts
Another double chair is in pieces, awaiting installation on an alignment above the current top station of the existing double.
Awakino (Kurow) Currently running 3 rope tows - 2 nutcracker and one learners tow.
The first lift was installed in the 1950s, running on a Wisconsin engine/ tractor unit transferred from the old Danseys Pass tow. This engine is now sitting below the top towshed, as with most things at Awakino, the history is all around you.
The main tow direction was altered in the 1960s and then extended several times to its present location. It runs off a Ford 3000 tractor, installed within a railway container. The main tow is 800 metres long, rising from about 1450 metres to 1735 metres.
The top tow was installed in the late 1980s and currently runs on a petrol powered engine, the only such tow in New Zealand to still operate with petrol. The ridge tow is about 700 metres long, and rises from 1735 metres to about 1880 metres, close to the summit of the range at this point. This may be the steepest tow in the world.
The learners tow is small, currently petrol powered, and sits adjacent to the top huts. There are the remains of various other tows on the field, most notably the access tow below the top buildings that operated in the early 1990s before snow became unreliable and people obtained 4WDs, and an old learners tow just below the top buildings.