PHOTO: Ohāu ski field
Ohāu Ski Resort in the is up for sale after 34 years of family ownership.
The commercial ski field and accommodation lodge, located west of Twizel, overlook Lake Ohāu. The property and business are back on the market after a previous sale fell through last year.
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The ski field, first opened in the 1950s by the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company, was bought by Mike and Louise Neilson in 1990. They have since developed and managed the resort, installing a chairlift in 2004 and a snowmaking system in 2008. Now, they are planning to retire.
The field overlooks Lake Ohāu.
JOHN BISSET / THE PRESS
The lodge, part of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail from Aoraki Mt Cook to Ōamaru, features 72 rooms, a restaurant, and is situated on a 10-hectare lakefront property. The business operates the Ohāu ski field on 145 Crown-owned hectares under a renewable concession from the Department of Conservation, valid until 2032.
Beginner terrain at Ohāi skifield.
SUPPLIED
Facilities include a double chairlift, a platter tow, a snow mat, gear hire services, a day lodge with a cafeteria and souvenir shop, a 200-vehicle car park, a helipad, and a 9.6km access road. The $2 million snow-making system includes 30 machines and a reservoir.
Despite the sale, Mike Neilson emphasized that operations are continuing as usual with a successful ski season. The ski field opened for the season in late June, and the lodge typically hosts about 25,000 visitor nights annually.
In 2020, the lodge survived a large fire that devastated much of the nearby Lake Ohāu village, including the NeilsonSouth Island’ss’ home.
SOURCE: THE PRESS