Mount Lyford facts for kids

Mt Lyford is a cool alpine village and ski resort located in the South Island of New Zealand. It's about 146 kilometers north of Christchurch, a major city. You can find it on the Inland Kaikōura Road (State Highway 70), which is a scenic route between Culverden and Kaikōura. The resort is also a short drive from other fun places like Hanmer Springs (40 minutes) and Kaikōura (45 minutes). The small town of Waiau nearby has shops and a petrol station for anything you might need. The Inland Kaikōura Road is very beautiful, especially the winding part from Waiau to Kaikōura. It's even part of the Alpine Pacific Touring Route.

Welcome to Mt Lyford!

How Mt Lyford Started

The Mt Lyford Village and Ski field were created in 1986 by D and J Simpson. They used to farm this land. Their plan was to build and sell 97 large sections of land, each about 1 acre (0.4 hectares) in size. They also planned recreational areas and artificial lakes. There were strict rules about how buildings should look. At first, only log chalets were allowed, with steep roofs. In 2020, the rules became a bit more relaxed, but buildings still need to have an outside made of wood to keep the village looking natural.

Skiing and Snowboarding Fun

Besides the village, a commercial ski field and an access road were built on the mountains nearby. This ski area is great for families. It has ice-skating, a day shelter with a cafeteria, ski tows, and car parking. The Simpson family still runs the Mt Lyford Alpine Resort ski field today.

After a few years of not much snow, the resort moved higher up the mountain and got bigger. Being higher means it gets more reliable snowfall. The ski resort now includes access to Mt Terako, which is 1742 meters high. It has slopes for beginners, intermediate skiers, and advanced skiers and snowboarders.

What Kinds of Slopes?

The ski runs at Mt Lyford go from 1249 meters up to 1740 meters high. Most of the trails are groomed, which means they are smoothed out for better skiing. There's also a special area for snowboarders with a half pipe and a "fun box."

Lifts and Snow Parks

To get up the mountain, the resort has several lifts. These include one T-bar, one poma lift, two "platters," one rope tow, and one "advanced rope tow." These lifts help everyone, from beginners to experts, enjoy the different slopes.

The Alpine Village

Today, there are about 50 log houses in the alpine village area. They are built among the native bush at an elevation of 500 to 750 meters above sea level. Some people live in these houses all the time, while others use them as holiday homes.

Nature and Wildlife

The village is surrounded by beautiful trees like Beech, Manuka, and Kanuka. You can also see many kinds of birds here. Some native birds include the New Zealand Bellbird, Fantail, Waxeye (also called Silvereye), and Native Robin. You might also spot Golden finches, Quail, and other birds that have been introduced to New Zealand.

Mt Lyford Lodge

In early 2001, the Mt Lyford Lodge opened at the bottom of the access road. This lodge offers accommodation, a restaurant, and a bar. It serves both the village residents and people traveling on the Inland Road.

Changes Over Time

The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake had a big effect on the Mt Lyford alpine village. Some parts of the village on the north-west side might now have ground issues because of the earthquake. However, the sections on the south-eastern side of Tinline Terrace were not affected.

Mt Lyford was originally part of Amuri County. But after some local government changes in 1989, it became part of the Hurunui District.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have become interested in the area. This has led to a big increase in property prices. Before this, property prices had stayed about the same since the village was first built in 1986.

See also

In Spanish: Mount Lyford para niños