Description

Roundhill is a great little family owned and operated resort and there's a true New Zealand feel to this place.

It’s quite a strange resort though, with a large, flat beginner area juxtaposed next to one of the steepest surface lifts in New Zealand (and in that case, the world) which gives access to some amazing free ride descents (when conditions are suitable).

The resort just has two (main) lifts to take up to access the top section of Roundhill, from where you can drop back down towards the resort, or head over the back if you’ve got all the right equipment and knowledge to sample some great NZ touring. Just take the T1 and Heritage Ridge Express Rope Tow (this one is STEEP), from the top of which you’ll then have the Richmond range to play with.

The range is straight over the ridge ahead of you as soon as you hope off the tow (as elegantly as possible). The East facing bowls that drop down into the Richmond Range are fantastic.

They’re east facing so you’ll need to get them early and you can really just select your own way down into this valley as the gradient is consistently steep throughout (check the steepness layer on FATMAP to make sure you've picked a good line). Once you’re down as the snow line allows, attach your skins to head back for another lap, or drop back over the ridge for a return to Roundhill.