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Mount Olympus ski field
Description
NameMount Olympus ski field
Alternative NameMount OlympusDescriptionThe Mt Olympus ski area of 80 hectares of skiable terrain is set in a high, south-facing basin at the southern end of the Craigieburn Range.
The Mt Olympus Ski Club is the ski club of the Windwhistle Winter Sports Club (WWSC), founded in 1932, to offer ice skating on the nearby Lake Ida. In 1948 the Club chose Mt Olympus as the closer of two potential ski-field locations, and built its hut known as the 'bottom hut' in its current location at the base of the Mount Olympus valley at 1,050 metres. The 'top hut' is positioned at 1,640 metres up the mountain: both huts offer on-site accommodation to skiers.
The main rope tow was installed in 1952, and the entire rope was physically carried by hand to the field up the last stretch of road from Monck's Flat by ten men and two women.
Most of the early infrastructure of the club was physically carried by club members up the mountain, for no pay. Mt Olympus is sheltered from the prevailing westerly and nor-westerly winds: this means the mountain tends to retain its snow longer than other fields.
[Source: Mount Olympus website https://www.mtolympus.co.nz/the-club]
Alternative NameMount OlympusDescriptionThe Mt Olympus ski area of 80 hectares of skiable terrain is set in a high, south-facing basin at the southern end of the Craigieburn Range. The Mt Olympus Ski Club is the ski club of the Windwhistle Winter Sports Club (WWSC), founded in 1932, to offer ice skating on the nearby Lake Ida. In 1948 the Club chose Mt Olympus as the closer of two potential ski-field locations, and built its hut known as the 'bottom hut' in its current location at the base of the Mount Olympus valley at 1,050 metres. The 'top hut' is positioned at 1,640 metres up the mountain: both huts offer on-site accommodation to skiers.
The main rope tow was installed in 1952, and the entire rope was physically carried by hand to the field up the last stretch of road from Monck's Flat by ten men and two women.
Most of the early infrastructure of the club was physically carried by club members up the mountain, for no pay. Mt Olympus is sheltered from the prevailing westerly and nor-westerly winds: this means the mountain tends to retain its snow longer than other fields.
[Source: Mount Olympus website https://www.mtolympus.co.nz/the-club]
Collection
Connections
ImageMount Olympus ski fieldMore InformationVisit the website of Mount Olympus
More InformationVisit the website of Mount OlympusMount Olympus ski field. Selwyn Stories, accessed 07/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6662
