Invincible Snowfields is a private
ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area–a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North Am ...
near
Glenorchy in the
South Island
The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of New Zealand.
The area is about one hour's drive west of
Queenstown and is close to
Lake Wakatipu. Although it is a commercial operation, the field has few facilities and is run like an old fashioned
club field, with its main drawcards being the backcountry terrain and feel, and it is targeted at advanced riders looking for natural chutes and gullies.
[ There are no groomed trails. The field has a single 750m "nutcracker"-style ]rope tow
A surface lift is a type of cable transport for mountain sports in which skiers, snowboarders, or mountain bikers remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill. While they were once prevalent, they have been overtaken in popularity by higher ...
, installed in 1996, powered by an old Ford tractor.
Access to the field is by helicopter from a site close to Glenorchy.[ The only accommodation available is a 10-person hut equipped with a wood fire and gas stove.][Invincible Snowfields]
Accessed 18/5/7
The field is part of Rees Valley Station, a 7290ha high country sheep station. Extensive snow cover on this property led to the development of both heli-skiing and the Invincible Snowfields operation.[
Visitors to the field need to fend for themselves, carrying ski-touring equipment to ensure their own safety. This includes staying in a group and wearing an ]avalanche transceiver
An avalanche transceiver or avalanche beacon is a type of emergency locator beacon, a radio transceiver (a transmitter and receiver in one unit) operating at 457 kHz for the purpose of finding people buried under snow. They are widely carrie ...
(beacon).[
]
References
External links
Company website
Ski areas and resorts in Otago
{{Ski-resort-stub