Potts Range
Ski & Split-board Touring
New Zealand's ultimate freeride destination
Winter Adventures Ski Freeride / Ski & Split-board TouringPotts Range Ski & Split-board Tours
Potts Range Ski & Split-board Tours
New Zealand's ultimate freeride destination
Erewhon Hut at Mt Potts sits at 1750m on the historic Erewhon Park Ski Field. Originally pioneered as a club-style ski resort in the 1960's, this became a cat-skiing operation in the 1990's. Heli-skiers enjoyed the area as "Heli-Park" in the late 1990's to early 2000's.
Imagined specifically for ski touring and split-boarding, Erewhon Hut was built in 2024, bringing a fresh perspective and new life to this incredible winter playground.
Come and join us for an epic ski adventure!
Erewhon Hut
Erewhon Hut was built in 2024 and sits at 1750m on the historic Erewhon Park Ski Field. This iconic hut was specifically designed for ski touring and split-boarding groups and sleeps up to 12 guests.
Warm, cosy & modern
Well insulated and heated, Erewhon Hut is a cozy mountain retreat for ski / split-board tourers, hikers, mountain bikers and outdoor adventurers. It is the ideal venue to sit out a storm and catch first tracks in fresh powder snow!
Facilities
The hut is split into two identical halves, each comprising 6 bunks, a log burner with drying rack, small kitchen, table and seats. Firewood, gas, solar lighting / USB charging facilities and cookware are all provided. Alpine Recreation has stocked the hut with sleeping bags for each bunk. This will keep the pack volume and weight down for walk-in / ski-in trips.
Access
Walk-in / out access is up the old Erewhon Ski Field access track. Access is initially via a public easement over private land. The track climbs at a steady gradient through many zigzags before gaining the valley below the hut. The track traverses steep scree slopes and in places has been eroded and washed out by slips. The final section below the hut is the most challenging, as the track steepens and is often icy in the shade. It usually takes around 5 hours to walk to the hut, depending on conditions.
Heli access is available by prior arrangement and if weather conditions permit.
We recommend settling guiding dates well in advance since peak season times are often booked up. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather.
| Dates | Spaces |
|---|---|
| 28 Jul 2025 - 1 Aug 2025 | 4 guaranteed departure |
| 7 - 10 Aug 2025 | 3 guaranteed departure |
| 10 - 14 Aug 2025 | FULL no availablity |
| 24 - 28 Aug 2025 | 3 guaranteed departure |
| 25 - 28 Sep 2025 | FULL no availablity |
| Updated: 9 May 2025 at 3:28 pm | |
Standard bookings
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for $100 off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$3000 2 - 5 per guide * | NZ$3500 2 - 5 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Group discounts: get a group of family and friends together and book as a group. The amount of discount you will be eligible for, will depend on the group size - the more people you book, the more your discount will be. If our scheduled dates don't suit your group's travel plans, please contact us so we can reschedule a trip to suit (subject to guide availability).
Please note that group bookings are not private bookings - if you wish to keep your group closed and have a private guide just for your group, a surcharge will apply.
| Group Discounts | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Group booking of 5 | NZ$2,625.00 2 - 5 per guide | NZ$3,115.00 2 - 5 per guide |
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$500.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
Booking conditionsInclusions & Exclusions
All prices include the following:
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified ski / split-board guide
- Department of Conservation licence fees
- Heated PRIVATE hut accommodation
- Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
- Ground transport (Tekapo - Mt Potts Easement Track return)
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
- ALL avalanche safety and technical ski touring equipment (with the exception of ski touring boots)
The following items are NOT included:
- Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included.
- Flights are NOT included
Flight costs - not included in the trip price
Optional flights to / from Erewhon Hut can be provided on request by Station Air (based across the Rangitata Valley at Mesopotamia Station).
Note that a double flight is required for a full group of 5 plus guide and gear. Agreement to fly or walk is required from the whole group - the group cannot be split if there is only 1 guide.
Flights are not included in the price, as costs vary according to the type of aircraft and occupancy.
Weather dependent: As there is no guarantee of being able to fly (due to weather) and no obligation to fly, we like to be able to pass on any potential savings directly to our guests.
| Price per flight (the cost is split equally amongst guests) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Aircraft | Spaces | Price |
| Mt Potts Station to / from Erewhon Hut - double flight | MD 520N Helicopter | 6 | NZ$1,500.00 |
| Mt Potts Station to / from Erewhon Hut - single flight | MD 520N Helicopter | 3 | NZ$1,000.00 |
Please note: Flight prices are given as examples only and are subject to change by aircraft operators at any time. In addition to guests, each aircraft will also transport the guide and gear.
Minimum & Maximum Group Size
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of:
- paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio
- rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 5 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Difficulty Ratings
Technical Ski Ability: 3 - Experienced ski tourer / split-boarder
Able to link turns confidently and continuously in most snow and to control speed and follow a precise line in restricted terrain (e.g. crevasses, amongst trees, near gullies or in confined spaces). Able to link turns on longer slopes up to 35° in favourable snow. Comfortable with uphill kick-turns in favourable conditions. Climbing 350m+ per hour with tours of up to 1000m of climbing, with a rest / break each hour. Likely to have own touring kit and is proficient in using pin-tech bindings, heel lifters, ski crampons and avalanche safety equipment.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more infoPotts Range Ski & Split-board Tours - Clothing & Equipment Checklist
Your gear check time will be provided at time of booking. Please bring as many of the items on the equipment list as you can. We can provide (at no extra charge), any of the items in list A that you are missing. Reminder: all food is provided.
Please note that you must bring your own alpine ski touring boots, or if you need to hire them, please see below.*1 All other ski and avalanche safety equipment is provided.
*1 Ski touring boots & split-boarding gear: these can be hired from: Gnomes Alpine Sports, Darfield; Small Planet Sports, Queenstown; or MT Outdoors, Wanaka. Book any hire equipment well in advance.
*2 Blister kit: we recommend Compeed and Leukoplast - available at chemists in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
A. Equipment which Alpine Recreation can provide if you do not have your own:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| avalanche safety equipment transceiver, shovel, probe | 1 |
| backpack - 45L must have side tension straps | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| hiking boots | 1 |
| lightweight polypro / fleece gloves | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 2 |
| polypro / merino top long-sleeved | 2 |
| ski touring equipment (excluding boots) skis with touring bindings, poles, skins, ski crampons | 1 |
| snow gaiters to fit over ski boots or built-in gaiters in your ski pants | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| waterproof gloves / mitts with removable inner for quick drying | 1 |
| waterproof parka must have a hood | 1 |
| wool hat / balaclava | 1 |
| woollen socks | 2 |
B. Equipment you must bring yourself/Alpine Recreation do not provide:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 3 season sleeping bag lightweight | 1 |
| alpine ski touring boots with removable liners for easy drying | 1 |
| camera | 1 |
| down jacket | (optional) 1 |
| drink bottle / thermos flask wide-mouth, minimum 1 litre | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| snow goggles | 1 |
| soft-shell pants | (optional) 1 |
| split-boarding equipment split-board, boots, poles, skins, split-board crampons | 1 |
| sun and lip screen high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| sun glasses high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| toiletries please keep these to a minimum | 1 |
Recent Adventures
Highlights from Alpine Recreation's recent Potts Range Ski & Split-board Tours adventures
