Trip Report
Southern Alps Winter 2025
An absolutely brilliant sunrise affirms the optimism already percolating in our ski-happy hearts. This will be a choice day in the stunning mountains of Roundhill Ski Area.
Nestled within the majestic high country of Lake Tekapo, Roundhill is a gem of ski culture on South Island, New Zealand. Magically, it manages to attract on a global scale while remaining dedicated at a local level, and the end result is a universal magnetic appeal.
Roundhill’s access road alone is kiwi charm summed up in a ski-able landscape; sultry lakeshore under blazing summits against a piercing sky. By any reasonable measure, a dawn like this morning is dessert for breakfast, and there’s still a day of downhill to be enjoyed.
“As a skier myself, I’m personally drawn to wide, inviting slopes,” Charlie Reider says, Owner and Director of Roundhill Ski Area. “Carving turns as big as the terrain gets me passionate to enjoy the wonderful outdoors.”
Roundhill Ski Area is tightly stitched into the fabric of New Zealand’s snow heritage. The ski area is a ‘go-to’ training slope for serious heavy hitters on the World Cup circuit. And generations of Kiwi families have chosen Roundhill as their garden to raise tomorrow’s New Zealand riders.
Cast a glance along its meandering ridgelines, and it’s not difficult to understand the instant attraction Roundhill wields. Panoramic views reveal a tantalizing mountain range by the name Two Thumbs. Its peaks and faces bristle with alpine options both deep and high. Then there’s the ski area itself, which offers everything from a gentle white-groomed ‘welcome mat’ for learners to one of the largest vertical (2,500ft) drops in all of Aotearoa New Zealand, yet Roundhill’s fame is owed to more than terrain. The ski area represents a moving outdoor mosaic.
“The Roundhill location is a view that speaks for itself, of course, and it’s made better by regular sunshine, great snow, fun slopes, and a ready welcome for the whole family,” Charlie says.
Luscious sunshine, T-Bar lifts, goggle tan, and rope tows; textbook turns, and hearty highcountry lifestyle; they’re all part of the art at work at Roundhill.
By the numbers, four reliable ski lifts do the heavy lifting along Roundhill’s near-1,400 skiable acres; two T-bars, one platter, and a near-vertical long-line optimistically labelled a ‘rope tow.’ Yet even if there were one hundred lifts, or only one, the ski experience would remain just as sweet.
The snowmaking operation here is exceptional. And Roundhill’s six miles of groomed terrain is a veritable study in geometric precision. It’s as sharp as it is clean. Looking West, the crispness of that impeccable corduroy creates a naturally fetching frame by which to admire high summits lit by dawn light. And as golden hour burns, mountain staff strap-on boots and prep the lifts. Local families are parking up while race-eager National Teams are kitting out for first laps.
It’s unspoken, but everybody knows; by mid-morning, lucky Ol’ Sun will pour its warming glory upon Roundhill, and every manjack plus their dog will be drawn to bask in the good vibes going down.
Coffee is poured, music cranks to life, and Roundhill’s gears begin to really move.
All know their role, and each fills it to perfection. Senior staff line up the morning’s first ski lessons while reminiscing happily on epic powder mornings capped by all-time apres with picture-perfect views. Noting their smile lines, it’s not hard to imagine the depth of feeling behind the storytelling.
For many, the family-owned and operated ski area, Roundhill, represents a tether to a tradition of joyful mountain living.
The ski area trail map highlights zones specialized to racing or jibbing–and just about anything in between. And minimal people traffic is a staple of any day. Even if skiing for the very first time, it’s already apparent that Roundhill is well-suited for forging friendships to outlast even powder panic.
“What’s really special about Roundhill is our family-focus,” Charlie says. “There’s a lot of effort put into customer service–we focus on forming a solid team–and mountain preparation, like grooming. All this is because we want to make sure families here come away with a great experience.”
In the striking section of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, which Roundhill calls home, commercial skiing typically spans late-June through mid-September, and every second is enjoyed with gusto.
Roundhill Ski Area waits just outside the South Island’s iconic destination of Lake Tekapo. It waits along a sedate, unsealed road at the town’s edge.
Rising from a base elevation of 4,400 feet and stretching to a lofty 7,000 feet, Roundhill is a high point to winter days in these parts. And it yearns to be enjoyed from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. daily, from June 21 through September 14.
During spectacular winter months, a fleet of top-of-the-line groomers growl throughout the nights while premier snowmaking adds a perfect dash of ‘slash’ when and where it’s needed most. And like any sensible mountain HQ, Roundhill base area smoothly deals out gear hire, first aid, or hearty kiwi tucker in the comfort of a cozy trail-side cafe. The only thing better is the welcome, which occurs with open, ski-jacketed arms.
To arrive at Roundhill couldn’t be easier. Take two right turns off the main highway, passing through the center of Tekapo, and you’re in the groove to arrive straight at the car park. Picturesque Lake Tekapo can be seen in the distance, framed by the hills of this family ski area. And if its views don’t sink the hook, Roundhill’s line of events will.
Roundhill works closely with regional schools or snow clubs, and the ski area rolls out a seasonal calendar of fun to keep the staff returning season after season and families grinning ear-to-ear. There are dates tailored for the ‘kid’ in every generation. These events honor the ski area’s rich heritage while simultaneously dealing out seriously epic prizes and, of course, an “80’s Day” gala highlight to bring out the best in our floro-clad selves.
“We really seem to get lucky,” Charlie says. “This season’s team of overseas and local crew are truly outstanding, putting a lot of effort and excitement into the season to still ahead. And the enthusiasm shows. That’s why the majority of our skiers are from families that choose to return to Roundhill for generations.”
In the fitting fashion of saving the proverbial ‘best-for-last,’ there’s the icon soon-to-turn legend that is the Von Brown Hut. At rest upon the crest of rolling alpine shoulder overlooking a valley floor of braided streams with snow-capped range beyond, Von Brown’s full sun somehow feels like an elixir of youth. It’s an apres ‘must’ which locks home the feeling that a ski day at Roundhill deserves to be extended just a wee bit longer.
Roundhill Ski Area specializes in fantastic days for one and all. It’s family. It’s history. And it’s one helluva view to toast not only an unforgettable family experience but also to kindle plans for the next.
Photos
I wanted to try skiing there, especially because so many European racers train there, but when realizing that the rope tow is in operation only a few days in a season, l changed my mind.