Temple Basin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple Basin |
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| Location | Southern Alps |
| Nearest city | Christchurch |
| Coordinates | 42°54′32″S 171°34′32″E / 42.908811°S 171.575463°E |
| Top elevation | 1753m |
| Base elevation | 1326m |
| Skiable area | 320 hectare |
| Runs | Backcountry |
| Lift system | 3 Rope tows |
| Terrain parks | 0 |
| Snowmaking | no |
| Night skiing | yes |
| Website | http://www.templebasin.co.nz |
Temple Basin is a special place for skiing and snowboarding in Arthur's Pass, New Zealand. It's located in the amazing Southern Alps on the South Island. This ski area is run by two clubs: the Temple Basin Ski Club and the Canterbury University Snow Sports Club.
Temple Basin is known as a club skifield. This means it's often run by volunteers and has a friendly, community feel. It has three rope tows to pull you up the slopes. There are also two places to stay overnight, called lodges, and two shelters for day visitors. You can even find a ski school and a ski shop here!
The ski area covers a huge 320 hectares. The highest point you can ski is 1753 metres, and the lowest is 1326 metres. Many people say Temple Basin has some of the best big mountain and varied terrain in New Zealand.
Getting to Temple Basin is an adventure itself! You walk there from the Temple Basin Car Park. The walk takes about 45 minutes. Don't worry about carrying your heavy gear. The Temple Basin Ski Club has a special lift to carry your bags and equipment up the mountain.
Temple Basin is about a two-hour drive from Christchurch. After the drive, you get to enjoy the scenic walk up to the ski area. Like many club fields, you might need to hike a bit between some of the lifts to explore all the cool places.
Contents
Exploring the Slopes
Temple Basin has four main areas, called basins, where you can ski and snowboard. Each basin offers different types of terrain for all skill levels.
Cassidy Basin
- The Cassidy Tow takes you to a smooth, open basin.
- This area is great for beginners and intermediate skiers. It's a good place to practice your turns.
Temple Basin
- The Temple Tow leads to another slope that's perfect for intermediate skiers.
- Between Cassidy and Temple tows, there's a stream area with rock faces. This can be a fun challenge for more experienced riders.
Downhill Basin
- From the top of Temple Tow, a short walk brings you to Downhill Basin.
- This is where you'll find the field's highest tow.
- Downhill Basin is a wide-open bowl. Above it are the peaks of Blimit and Mt Temple.
Bills Basin
- You can reach Bills Basin by traversing or hiking from the top of Downhill Tow.
- This basin is good for intermediate skiers.
- It has several fun chutes at the bottom for those who like a bit more excitement.
Backcountry Adventures
- From the top of Downhill Tow, you can also hike to a peak that leads to the Mingha Valley.
- The Mingha Valley is not patrolled by ski staff.
- It's a popular spot for experienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders. They love exploring the untouched snow here.
Snowfall at Temple Basin
Temple Basin is located on the western side of the Southern Alps. This means it gets a lot more snowstorms than areas further east. More snow means more fun on the slopes!
Places to Stay
Temple Basin has two lodges where visitors can stay overnight. They can host up to 120 people each night. Staying on the mountain lets you wake up right next to the slopes!
Ferrier Lodge
- This is the larger lodge, with space for 75 visitors.
- It has hot showers, electricity, and even Wi-Fi.
- There's a chef who cooks delicious meals for guests.
CUSSC Lodge
- This lodge is looked after by students from the Canterbury University.
- It can fit 45 visitors.
- It offers similar comforts to Ferrier Lodge, like hot showers and electricity.
Lockwood Shelter
- This building is a day lodge, meaning it's for visitors who aren't staying overnight.
- It's maintained by the Canterbury Mountaineering Club.
New Zealand Snow Safety Institute
Temple Basin is also home to the New Zealand Snow Safety Institute. This institute teaches important skills for staying safe in the mountains.
- They offer courses throughout the year.
- These courses cover things like mountaineering and mountain safety.
- They are for climbers, skiers, snowboarders, and trampers (hikers).
- Staying at the lodges helps students learn by watching how the snow changes over time. This is a great way to understand mountain conditions better.
