A number of ski lifts operate in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
| 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 | 4 | |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Snow Farm / Snow Park | Wanaka | ||||||||||||||||
| Invincible | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Rakaia Valley | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Porters | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Fairlie | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Farlie | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Rainbow | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Amuri / Hanmer Springs | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Kaikoura | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Tekapo | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Ohau | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Kurow | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Wanaka | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+ | 3+ | ||
| Wanaka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Queenstown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Queenstown) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+ | 5+ |
| Location | Location | Magic Carpet | Platter lift | Rope Tow | Rope Tow (Nutcracker) | T-Bar | Double | Triple | Quad | Express Quad | Six Seater | Gondola | Poma | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Rainbow | 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 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Farlie | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
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).
This pomagalski was built entirely by volunteers and is the only detachable pomagalski left in New Zealand as such is needing preservation.
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.
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.
All tows are electrically driven.
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.
Began in late 1970s with two rope tows
Historically
Currently (2022):[1]
All of these are electrically powered.
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.
Currently using 4 rope tows
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
Historically:
Currently:
Originally Tekapo ski area, before it closed in the mid-1990s
Historically:
Currently:
Historically:
Currently:[2]
Another double chair is in pieces, awaiting installation on an alignment above the current top station of the existing double.[3]
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.
A tow was installed in the 1960s in the remote Hut Creek catchment behind the St Marys range. The old Case tractor drive unit for this sits forlornly in the snow just off the main ridge, but has not operated for over 50 years.
Historically:
Currently:
Currently:
Past:
1x double chair - the La Franchi double, more or less on the alignment of the current Whitestar Express.
Note: Calculated from Stats - official verification still needed
Historically:
It ran from the base buildings to the platform below the 'coronet' of the peak. A mid-station was sited just right of the bend in the M1 run, and was in use until it was removed. The mid-station was used for loading and unloading at the same time, with staggered queues and chairs left empty at the bottom.
The chairs on the lift could also carry sleds for the "cresta run" sled track at Coronet peak. This operated until the early 1990s.
Currently:
All original lifts installed in the early 1980s when the field was developed.
Historically:
Currently:
The original ski tow of the Waitaki Ski Club, installed shortly after World War II, and then moved to Awakino on the northern part of the St Marys Range. This tow motor now sits below the ridge tow at Awakino ski area
Remnants of old tows can be found on both Chest Peak and Mt Oxford in the Lees Valley area of North Canterbury.
This tow used to operate on the eastern slopes of the range up to Kelly Saddle until the late 1940s. Operated by the West Coast Alpine Club.
Operated until the early 1990s, installed in the late 1970s, possibly using the drive gear from the old tow at Leaning Lodge in the Rock and Pillars.
A small tow on the summit plateau near big hut (running until the 1950s by the Otago Ski Club)A larger tow at Leaning Lodge, installed in the 1960s and operating until an avalanche in the early 1970s. Parts of this rope tow, including two towers, are still in place below Leaning Lodge Hut.[4]
A rope tow and hut operated by the Vincent Ski Club and no longer on site and the club have since relocated to Coronet Peak.
Installed by the Southland Ski Club and operated until the early 1950s when the club shifted to Coronet Peak.
Installed by the Te Anau Community on the slopes of Mt Luxmore in Fiordland National Park in the 1960s. The towers are still there, but little is known about the tow.