All photos by Miles Holden unless otherwise stated.
Kia Ora snowseekers, and welcome to the Invincible Snowfields site.
Invincible Snowfields is a privately owned mountain recreation area near Glenorchy. We
offer a distinctly different experience - no road, no queues, no
crowds. Just some of the best backcountry skiing and riding NZ
has to offer and the opportunity to stay in a complete mountain
wilderness.Our emphasis is on fantastic natural snow and terrain and an atmosphere like old-time club fields, where you know everyone on the hill. Numbers are restricted to small groups and facilities are simple; minimal environmental impact and retaining a sense of awe for the alpine setting are important to us.
Our field is accessed only by helicopter and once you're there our single lift, a 700m long nutcracker rope tow, gives you 300m of vertical lift every run. This gives you an excellent chance to achieve masses of vertical metres as long as you can master the tow. If you struggle on the T-bar or platter, you will probably find the nutcracker is more of a challenge, but it is definitely not impossible!
Invincible has a snug alpine hut which sleeps up to ten people on a mezzanine floor in sleeping bags. The hut is heated by a roaring potbelly and has gas cooking. Use of the hut is exclusive to the group that books it, and it is available as a venue in its own right for anyone who would like the experience of winter alpine conditions amongst frozen peaks. It's also a brilliant base for ice-climbing trips in early winter and makes a great venue for winter skills or avalanche courses.
"...the hiking terrain is sick." Hamish Acland in NZ Skier
"On the field was a myriad of rollers, tiny gullies, and little rock drops. A little hiking opened up a world of steeps, powder bowls, bigger rollers and solid cliff drops. A lot of hiking opened up some of the best terrain I've seen in NZ hands down." Sam Lindsay in NZ Snowboarder
"Invincible is one of the best places I've ever been to, and if you ever get the chance to session this place, don't hesitate, not even for a second." Sam Lindsay in NZ Snowboarder