Whether you’re a seasoned skiing family or happy to embrace the cold, make the most of the frosty days with snow play near Christchurch.
Whether you’re a seasoned skiing family or happy to embrace the cold, make the most of the frosty days with the best snow play near Christchurch. Unfortunately, we tend to get frost without the fun of building Frosty the Snowman here in our back gardens, but despite the lack of snowfall, there are plenty of places to experience amazing Christchurch snow activities. With purpose-built play areas and family-friendly ski fields Canterbury within an hour and a half drive away, there’s plenty of incentive to head off on a day trip or long weekend for some epic winter activities Christchurch kids will love.
And, if we’re lucky, we may be able to stop along the way for some roadside snowball fights! So, if you’re hoping to take the kids to see snow this winter 2025, read on for our top picks near (or as near as we can get!) to Christchurch.
Last updated: June 2025
Read more: Our Favourite Nature Playgrounds, Parks and Sensory Gardens for Christchurch Kids
Top Family Ski Fields Canterbury & Snow Play Areas:
Note: Depending on snowfall, different ski fields open on varying days throughout the 2025 season. Always check before going as to whether it is currently open and operating.nowfall, different ski fields open on varying days throughout the season. Always check before going as to whether it is currently open and operating.
Porters Alpine Resort
The closest snow play near Christchurch
Hailing as the closest snow play near Christchurch, Porters Alpine Resort is the perfect spot for enjoying the snow and learning how to ski or snowboard. The play and tobogganing area is open throughout the season between 9-4pm and is ideal for introducing kids to snow with plenty of space for building snowmen, making snow angels, and tobogganing.
2025 Pricing: Entrance is $15 per person, $7.50 for supervising adults, and $39 for a family package (2 adults, 2 kids). Toboggan rental is $15 (or you can bring your own). Warm up at the neighbouring lodge with snacks and hot drinks before heading home.
Check the Porters snow report before heading up to see if chains are needed for your car. Tickets can be bought at the lodge or in advance online.
Drive time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: 8127 Main West Coast Road, Castle Hill
Website: www.portersalpineresort.com
Mt Hutt Ski Area
Canterbury’s premier family ski destination
Canterbury’s Mt Hutt is a top spot for families looking to enjoy skiing and snow play near Christchurch. With ski lessons available for kids starting at age 4, it’s perfect for beginners. The friendly instructors make learning fun and easy, helping kids get confident on the slopes.
2025 Pricing: Starting prices: Child (4‑5) package is NZ $205, Child (6‑15) is $325, Adult $385 for lift+lesson+rental. Kids under 5 ski free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Drive time: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: Mt Hutt Station Road, Mt Hutt, Methven
Website: www.mthutt.co.nz
Hanmer Springs Ski Area
Perfect for cosy family snow days
Not far from Hanmer Springs, Hanmer Springs Ski Area is family-friendly and offers groomed runs and off-piste options for all skill levels. For those who prefer to cosy up with a cuppa, the Day Lodge lounge provides a great view of the slopes, warm drinks, food and toys – with the beginner’s area right next to it. This area is easily accessible on foot, and there’s a flat area outside the day hut where young children can play, build, and toboggan.
For those new to skiing, the beginner package includes skis, boots, poles or a snowboard, boots hire, a one-hour group lesson, and use of the learners’ area all day. We love that you also have the option to purchase a parents’ pass that allows you to have turns skiing and looking after your kiddo, without having to buy a pass each.
2025 Pricing: Beginner ski packages start from $120 for children and $155 for adults. Toboggans can be rented hourly for $15, $25 for a half day or $35 for the full day. Children 10 years and under with paying skiing adults can ski for free!
Drive time: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: Mt St Patrick, Hanmer Springs
Website: www.skihanmer.co.nz
Tekapo Springs
Perfect snow play area for 2025 – Opens in June
Last season Tekapo Springs opened a brand-new snow play area where tots (or teens!) can play in an igloo, build snowmen, make snow angels or slide down the hill on a toboggan. The snow play area is open 11am – 5pm throughout the week and 10-5pm weekends through to October.
2025 Pricing: Child’s all-day ticket costs $10 and under three are free. For the more adventurous, book an hour at the Snow Tube Park ($22 for ages 3-15) which features a 150-metre snowy slope that you can whizz down with a magic carpet taking you right back to the top.
If you’re staying for the weekend, check out the ice skating rink, mini golf and of course, the steamy hot pools.
Drive time: Approximately 3 hours from Christchurch Central City
Address: 300 Lakeside Drive, Lake Tekapo
Website: www.tekaposprings.co.nz
Roundhill Ski Area
Gentle slopes perfect for learning
Roundhill Ski Area in Tekapo is a great spot for families learning to ski. The gentle slopes are perfect for beginners and kids, with a dedicated learner area to help them get started. There’s also a terrain park for adventurous children looking for more excitement.
2025 Pricing: With no need to book, first-timer packages are available for adults and children, with prices for those under 17 years old starting from $99. This includes a beginner lift pass, rental equipment and a 1.5-hour lesson.
Drive time: Approximately 3 hours 40 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: 2544 Lilybank Road, Tekapo
Website: www.roundhill.co.nz
Mt Cheeseman Ski Area
Drive-up convenience for families
With the ability to drive directly to the ski area, visiting Mt Cheeseman for a day on the slopes is fuss-free. Perfect for families of varying abilities, there is a learner tow right outside the wrap-around day lodge and two T-bars to take you to the top.
2025 Pricing: Beginners lift, group lesson and rental packages start from $75 and for those who are no strangers to skiing, children under 10 do not need to pay for a lift pass.
Drive time: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: Mount Cheeseman Ski Field Road, Mount Cheeseman, Castle Hill
Website: www.mtcheeseman.co.nz
Mt Dobson Ski Area
Great snow and endless views
Roughly three hours from Christchurch, “Mt Dobson is all about great snow, varied terrain and views for miles and miles.” The first-timers package is perfect to get started and includes a lift pass, ski rental and a one-hour lesson with an instructor. For those preferring to kick back in the warmth, The Foote Rest Café serves great coffee and Fairlie bakehouse pies.
2025 Pricing: Children under five ski for free, and there is also a purpose-built toboggan area (with toboggans available for hire) for those who prefer to take it easy.
Drive time: Approximately 3 hours from Christchurch Central City
Address: 1274 Fairlie-Tekapo Road, Burkes Pass
Website: www.mtdobson.co.nz
Mt Lyford Ski Area
Entry-level perfection
Perfect for entry-level skiers with its gentle terrain, children under seven can ski for free at Mt Lyford, with parents also able to grab a parents’ pass to tag team childcare and a day on the slopes. The lodge is next to the learner’s slopes.
2025 Pricing: Packages starting from $85 for children under 7, including a full day pass, one-hour ski lesson and equipment hire. Not planning on hitting the slopes this time? For $30 an hour/tube, you can also whiz around the tubing area towing little ones around or cruising down hills.
Drive time: Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes from Christchurch Central City
Address: Mount Lyford Forest Drive, Mt, Mount Lyford Village
Website: www.mtlyford.co.nz
Staveley Skating Rink
Easy winter day trip near Methven
If you’re looking for an easy winter day trip in Canterbury, Staveley Skating Rink is such a goodie! It’s just 15 minutes from Methven, so perfect for combining with a coffee stop on the way — ideal for little legs before hitting the ice.
The rink is natural, so expect it to be a little gritty in parts, but that’s all part of the authentic outdoor skating experience. Sessions run at 1pm and 5pm on weekends, and they’re open right through the school holidays too. Lots of families bring their own food and thermoses, but you can grab a $2.50 bag of marshmallows to toast by the fire — the kids absolutely love this!
2025 Pricing: $10 for adults, under 5s skate free, and skate hire is $5. Helmets are free to use.
Good to know for families:
- Kids’ skates start at size 8, but younger ones can still get involved being pushed on chairs (this seemed totally normal!)
- It’s probably best for older kids — can be a bit tricky for the baby/toddler stage
- There’s disabled parking closer to the rink, otherwise it’s a short but sometimes muddy walk — bring everything you need with you
- Toilets are available, but no baby changing facilities
- It’s not far from Sharplin Falls if you’re keen to add a nature stop
- Recommend booking online — tickets are fully refundable up to 2 hours before your session
Drive time: Just 1.5 hours from Christchurch
Address: Staveley, Canterbury
Website: Book online for sessions
Free Snow Play Near Christchurch (Roadside Stops:
We’ve crowdsourced some of your favourite spots to see and stop for snow play near Christchurch. Although these aren’t official Christchurch snow activities, there is often enough snow to enjoy during winter 2025. We recommend checking out Canterbury Snow and Weather Watch on Facebook or this website before loading the kids into the car to check if enough snow has fallen in the area.
Important: Google road closures and severe weather warnings as some roads can become too dangerous to drive on at certain times of the year.
Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that there will be snowfall in the below areas, however, according to our #nooknz community these are the most popular spots to drive around searching for snow play near Christchurch:
- Lake Lyndon – Popular roadside snow play spot
- Lake Coleridge – Often has good snow coverage
- Porters Pass – Easy access from main road
- Arthurs Pass – Reliable snow in winter months
- Castle Hill – Great for spontaneous snow fun
- Port Hills – Yep, if we’re lucky we can play in the snow up in the hills close to home!
Frequently Asked Questions About Snow Play Near Christchurch
How far is the closest snow from Christchurch?
Porters Alpine Resort is the closest snow play area, just 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch Central City. On lucky days, you might even find snow on the Port Hills!
What’s the best ski field for beginners near Christchurch?
Mt Cheeseman and Hanmer Springs Ski Area are excellent for beginners, with gentle slopes and comprehensive lesson packages. Both offer great learner areas right next to day lodges.
Do I need chains for snow play near Christchurch?
Chain requirements vary by location and conditions. Always check the individual ski field’s snow report before travelling, and carry chains during winter months as they may be required by law on certain roads.
What winter activities Christchurch kids love most?
Beyond skiing, kids love tobogganing, building snowmen, snow angels, and snow tubing. Many ski fields offer dedicated play areas perfect for these winter activities Christchurch families enjoy.
Are there any free snow play options near Christchurch?
Whilst ski fields charge entry fees, you can often find free roadside snow play opportunities at places like Porters Pass, Castle Hill, and Arthur’s Pass during good snow conditions.
Ready to plan your snow adventure? Check current snow conditions and book your family ski fields Canterbury experience before heading out for the best winter activities Christchurch has to offer in 2025!
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash, image #1 property of nook NZ, image #2 credited to Tekapo Springs via Facebook, image #3 courtesy of Unsplash.
