Oceania
Craigieburn Resort Guide
Fair · 2026 season average
Projected to open July 17, 2027 · average of 72 verified open days
Best months to book: July, August, September · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Projected to open Jul 17 — closed September 27
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
Oct 31
Past 24 Hours
3cm
Past 48 Hours
3cm
Past 10 Days
4cm
7-Day Forecast
0cm
Snow Depth
--
Powder Days
17
2026 season
Bluebird Days
3
2026 season
Resort Guide
Craigieburn Valley Ski Area is located in the Southern Alps of Canterbury, New Zealand, about 90 minutes from Christchurch. Known for its challenging, ungroomed terrain and steep chutes, the resort caters primarily to advanced and expert skiers seeking a backcountry-style experience with a friendly club atmosphere. Key amenities include rope tows, on-mountain lodge accommodation, and the Thirsty Kea Bar, with a focus on community and uncrowded slopes. Craigieburn stands out for its natural snow conditions, patrolled off-piste terrain, and welcoming club culture established since 1954.
Gallery
Click to expand • 6 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Craigieburn
Lifts
3
Skiable area
988 ac
Longest run
2 km / 1.2 mi
Lift fleet
- Surface lift3
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Chill Pass
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Craigieburn Ski Club Bar – Known for its welcoming, communal atmosphere, this cozy bar is the heart of Craigieburn’s après-ski scene, where skiers gather to share stories over local beers and enjoy the laid-back, social vibe unique to this club-operated resort.
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Oct 30, 10:03 PM UTC
174cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
-17%
vs 5-Year Avg
210cm avg by now
-9%
vs 30-Year Avg
192cm avg by now
210cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
This season is at 174 cm to date. The last completed season totaled ~174.3 cm. That's 17% below the 5-year average (210 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 9% below the 30-year average (192 cm).
Craigieburn Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Craigieburn Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 184cm with an average of 34 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 34cm | 6 days | 10cm | 23cm | 13cm |
| July | 43cm | 7 days | 18cm | 32cm | 13cm |
| August | 38cm | 8 days | 19cm | 33cm | 12cm |
| September | 31cm | 6 days | 6cm | 19cm | 11cm |
| October | 27cm | 5 days | 2cm | 13cm | 12cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2026
27.6
Season Average
72 days scored
46
Best Day
27 Aug
0
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
4
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
July 2026
- 3431 Jul7cm
- 3224 Jul3cm
- 3127 Jul
August 2026
- 4627 Aug19cm
- 4428 Aug4cm
- 4231 Aug
September 2026
- 416 Sep4cm
- 3810 Sep3cm
- 3817 Sep11cm
September scored highest for Craigieburn in 2026. Based on 72 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
1 tracked seasonLast completed season(2026)
72 days
Jul 18, 2026 → Sep 27, 2026
Next season(2026)
Opens Jul 18, 2026
Through Sep 27, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
August
Peak Season
July
Peak Season
September
Good
June
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Craigieburn
- Where is Craigieburn?
- Craigieburn is a ski resort in New Zealand.
- How high is Craigieburn?
- Craigieburn runs from a base elevation of 1,310 m (4,298 ft) to a summit of 1,811 m (5,942 ft), giving a vertical drop of 501 m (1,644 ft).
- How big is Craigieburn?
- Craigieburn has 988 acres (400 hectares) of skiable terrain, 25 marked runs and 3 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Craigieburn?
- Craigieburn is on the Chill Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Craigieburn?
- Craigieburn typically operates from July to September. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Craigieburn get in a typical season?
- Craigieburn averages 350 inches / 889 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
