Back to page

Advent of Skiing at Temple Basin

  • Temple of Dreams Update 14th October 2025

      15 October 2025
    Main image

    Wonderful assistance from people who have had a strong connection with Temple Basin over many years has enabled the completion of the writing as follows:

    Part Three “Vital and Versatile” is now finished, bringing the completed writing up to 231 pages. The development of skiing in Arthur’s Pass and Temple Basin up to the early 1970s is now well documented in Parts One, Two and Three, including some wonderful and precious photographs.

    Part Four “Building for the Future” is well underway with 21 separate topics plus many illustrations. These include all the major hut building activities, record snow years, summer school camps, ski patrols, mountain safety courses, the conservation issue, big mountain events, skiing and snowboarding, and the great 75th Anniversary. Work so far has been extensive. Members of the Arthur’s Pass community are also currently archiving important historical documents in preparation for the writing of a book for the Anniversary of the National Park in 2029. They have given very positive feedback on my work, recognizing Temple Basin as an integral part of the Park’s recreational role.

    However, it will be difficult for me to finalize my writing without further financial assistance.

    If you could help me with this, I will be most grateful.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Temple of Dreams Part Three 02-12-2024

      2 December 2024
    Main image

    Thank you to everyone who has so far supported this project, aimed at recording the history of Temple Basin Ski field.

    Part Three (100 pages now into the editing phase) has progressed well and the content is detailed below. Fabulous anecdotes and photos have been contributed by members and managers. Early pioneers such as Jan Kitson, and Oscar Coberger with his climbing, skiing and canoeing exploits, have all been documented.

    There have been many notable mountain rescues, and unfortunately a few tragedies, at Temple Basin. These have required exceptionally demanding rescue efforts, often with Westpac Air Rescue assistance.

    Ski weeks along with racing, were a really important activities for both the University and Temple Basin Ski Clubs from the 1940s, with generations of skiers receiving instruction from some outstanding instructors.

    The Temple Basin field is unique in its national park location, the Arthur’s Pass National Park established in 1929. The Park was administered by the Department of Lands and Survey, with a Board appointed to manage the development and operational issues of Temple Basin. The field was developed with the financial support of the Board and the untiring efforts of its rangers for nearly 60 years.

    I look forward very much to your assistance in funding this next phase of Temple Basin’s history which is Part Four.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Temple of Dreams Part Two 26 August 2024

      26 August 2024
    Main image

    The update posted on 16-05-2024 covered in detail the content of the book “Temple of Dreams” on early skiing at Arthur’s Pass and the development at Temple Basin.

    We now have a printed copy of Part Two illustrating the high standards achieved by Caxton, the award-winning design and print company in Christchurch.

    All the two hundred photos have captions providing readers with additional detail to support the written story.

    Compiling Part Three is progressing well. with outstanding personal contributions from the second generation of skiers and mountain managers. Some of these people gave almost a full lifetime of devotion to Temple Basin.

    The record snow years at Temple Basin will be researched and the photos will help to illustrate the true beauty of this alpine field. Recently some wonderful photos have been provided by Allan Wilson the Mountain Manger at Temple Basin in 1976. These will complement those already on file. A photo that has special appeal is afforded the title “Dunny with a view.” This was provided by Gary Hopkinson, the architect responsible for the design of the major re-build of the Temple Basin lodge.

    It’s great that so many contributions have been forthcoming to support the writing of this history.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Temple Of Dreams Part Two

      16 May 2024
    Posted by: Givealittle
    Main image

    Thank-you for your wonderful support to date.

    Temple of Dreams has reached an important milestone with a draft copy of Part Two printed by Caxton Print. This 71 page section has 200 photographs

    that help to illustrate the story.

    Early skiing in Arthur’s Pass and Temple Basin including the formation of the

    Christchurch Ski Club and the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board is covered in Part One.

    Part Two covers on field investment in facilities up to the late 1960’s.

    Part Three is being worked on at present. It covers the great personalities along with the Park Board Rangers that helped to build Temple Basin. It records details of their outstanding exploits and tributes from older members

    will be included. An important transitional phase then occurred, where the early pioneers handed over to the next generation of Club members the responsibility for developing the field. This was achieved with the support of

    great mountain managers, instructors and truly remarkable members. Annual ski weeks were an integral part of these years and an important introduction to Temple Basin life, ultimately leading to a membership of over 500.

    Ski racing from its infancy, leading to outstanding success in local club and national events for the members is also covered extensively.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Bridge over Upper Twin Creek at Temple Basin

      8 April 2024
    Main image

    Bridge over Upper Twin Creek leading to Lockwood Shelter

    I recently spent a day in Arthur’s Pass with John Charles who started his career with the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board on 01 April 1960 as a trainee ranger. Apart from expeditions overseas and Antarctica, John has basically been a resident of Arthur’s Pass since then and his recall of events in the National Park is un-paralleled.

    He has already supplied a great selection of photos and other detail that will feature in the book such as the photo attached. It shows the Royal New Zealand Airforce Iroquois helicopter lifting the new bridge across Upper Twin Creek during February 1973. This bridge was to provide direct access to the Lockwood shelter constructed the previous year. The installation was done in conjunction with the Territorial Army Engineers as part of their annual camp.

    John recalls the Airforce having to strip out internal surplus equipment including the doors from the helicopter, because overload alarms were set off with the trial lift.

    Heli NZ operates these helicopters commercially and estimates that a fully equipped Army Iroquois helicopter would have had a lifting capacity of around 900kg at Temple Basin.

    There are around 180 photographs similar to this one included in Part Two to support the narrative. It’s planned to have this section finalized for editing within the next one to two weeks.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Temple of Dreams Update

      29 February 2024
    Main image

    This update reviews the progress on the writing of the book “Temple of Dreams.”

    Part one covers the development of skiing in Arthur’s Pass and Temple Basin along with the

    formation of the Christchurch Ski Club and the Arthur’s Pass National Park. This has been printed by

    Caxton and includes over 80 photos, many from the precious Coberger collection. The review of this

    draft copy by the main contributors has very encouraging..

    Part two is almost ready for editing. This covers a period of serious investment in facilities at Temple

    Basin from 1952 -1976. Huts for both the University Club and the Christchurch Ski Club were

    constructed. The Goods Lift, Tows in Temple Basin, B’Limit Basin, Downhill Basin and the Page

    Shelter were major projects completed. See the attached photo of the CSC hut as an example. 20

    individual projects are covered in detail with assistance from past members of that era.

    Precious photos and memories are now also coming in regularly from founding members of the

    University Club. Parts thee and four are not started, but compiling these will be equally exciting,

    especially as we make further connection with past members.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Arthur's Pass Photos

      23 October 2023

    I have been greatly inspired by the generous donations from members of the Arthur's Pass community and friends of Temple Basin. Recently Dr Tom Moron in Nelson provided some wonderful 1930's photos of early skiing and rail excursions to Arthur's Pass to be included in the book "Temple of Dreams."

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment