Family-Friendly 2-Day Alpine Course This family-friendly course is open to youths and adults alike. Learn essential mountaineering skills from scratch—including crampon use, self-arrest, and basic rescue—all in just two days. / Public Courses / Family-Friendly Courses Courses / Family-Friendly 2-Day Alpine Course Overview Get ready for an exciting adventure! In this course, you’ll dive into essential mountain skills and learn how to use crampons and ice axes, how to kick steps, and how to perform self-arrests—all hands-on! With the help of your instructor, your group will plan an exciting trip for the second day, with the goal of reaching a stunning high point in either Arthur’s Pass National Park or the beautiful Craigieburn Range. We want everyone to join in on the fun! Our family-friendly courses are open to everyone, including younger adventurers. If you’re 12 or older, you can join in, and we ask that all participants under 18 come along with a parent or guardian who is also attending the course. Course Details Course Location This course takes place in the Craigieburn Range, near Castle Hill village. It begins in Darfield, which is about 30 minutes from Christchurch, at 7:30 AM. We will access the snow at either Broken River or the Mt Cheeseman ski field and will drive to our lodge in Arthurs Pass at the end of the first day. The specific location for the second day will be determined by the group and your instructor during the trip planning session, and it may vary based on local weather and snow conditions. The course concludes at 4 PM in either Arthurs Pass or Castle Hill village, which is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours from Christchurch airport. Accommodation 1 night’s accommodation in Arthur’s Pass Village is included in this alpine course Arthur’s Pass Lodge This course is based at our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. The lodge features bunk beds arranged into bedrooms, accommodating up to 20 people. It includes a fully equipped kitchen stocked with utensils, cookware, a refrigerator, and ovens. You will also have access to electricity, bathroom facilities and hot showers. Please remember to bring your sleeping bag and pillow. Food Food is not provided for this course. We recommend that you pack plenty of snacks and lunches that do not require cooking. You are welcome to use the full kitchen and fridge available at the lodge. Please keep in mind that the store and pub in Arthur’s Pass Village can be unreliable during winter. It’s important to come prepared to self-cater for the entire duration of the course. Free Transport from Christchurch We offer courtesy pick-up service from various locations around Christchurch, including hotel pick-ups in town and near the airport. Please check our FAQs for a complete list of hotel pickup locations. We recommend arriving in Christchurch the day before your course. At the end of the course, we are happy to take you back to your accommodation or directly to the airport. Please note that the earliest we can drop you off at the airport is at 6 PM. Meeting locations (catch a ride with us): If you are bringing your car and want a lift, please meet us at one of the following locations: Yaldhurst McDonald’s 7:00 am (see on Google Maps) *Darfield Bakery 7:30 am (see on Google Maps) Castle Hill Village 8:30 am (see on Google Maps) *Our preferred meeting location is Darfield Bakery. OENZ Vans Gear & Equipment You do not need to have your mountaineering gear for this course, as we provide all the necessary specialised equipment for you to borrow. However, if you do own gear, we encourage you to bring it along, as it is beneficial to train with the equipment you will use in the mountains. Please note: waterproof boots are required for this course. We do not have boots available to hire or borrow. See the Alpine book guide below for more info. Gear List Alpine Boot Guide Is this the right alpine course for me? OENZ Alpine Training Pathway Download Flow Chart Course Outline This alpine and avalanche training course spans four days and equips you with essential skills for safe and effective travel in alpine environments, covering basic mountaineering techniques and avalanche safety. Day 1: Learn foundation skills Crampons Flat foot technique Front-pointing Mixed technique Down climbing Ice axe Holding an ice axe Self-belay/plunge Self-arresting Two-axe climbing techniques Steep cutting Day 2: Consolidation day Today, our goal is to consolidate our new skills and attempt to climb to a high point in the Craigieburn range or Arthur’s Pass National Park. Please note the word “attempt,” as the mountains will ultimately determine our success in reaching our goal. The focus of this course is passing on skills and knowledge so you can enjoy the mountains safely in your own time. Download Course Outline Meet Our Team of Alpine Instructors Alan Haslip Sarah English Kieran Mckay Andy Thompson Frequently Asked Questions Do I need prior experience to attend this course? You don’t need any alpine experience to enrol in this course. It is specifically designed to cover all the essential knowledge and skills you will need to succeed in the mountains. This course includes a wide range of topics, ensuring that every participant can follow along and build a solid foundation of mountaineering skills & knowledge. How many people will be on my course? We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum ratio of just eight people to one instructor. Does this mountaineering course have minimum numbers? Yes, the minimum number of clients required for the course to proceed at the advertised price is four people. However, we will not cancel your course even if we do not meet this minimum. Instead, we will offer you the following options: A shorter private course with one-on-one tuition. For example, with just one participant, we can cover the course content much faster, resulting in fewer days needed. You can choose to continue with the course as planned and cover the additional cost. We can transfer you to a future date when the course is scheduled to run again. What gear do I need to attend an OENZ alpine course? You will need to bring your own clothing, waterproof gear, and boots; OENZ will provide the rest. A complete packing list is available here. Gear list Alpine boot guide Do I need to provide my own avalanche gear for the course? No, OENZ will provide all avalanche gear free of charge. You’re welcome to bring and use your own avalanche safety gear if you wish. What type of boots do I need? You will need good waterproof boots that have ankle support. Trail shoes are not appropriate for alpine use. Click here to download our Alpine boot guide. Can I hire boots for my alpine course? OENZ does not have boots available to hire or borrow. Boot hire is available from several outdoor stores in Auckland and Dunedin. If you are hiring or borrowing boots, please get waterproof leather boots. Plastic mountaineering boots are not suitable for general mountaineering in New Zealand. What is the minimum age? Individuals must be at least 12 years old when accompanied by a parent or guardian, or 18 years old if unaccompanied. 2-day alpine course photos 2-day alpine course Practising crampon skills Summit of Mt Cassidy, Arthur's Pass Temple Basin Lodge Mt Rolleston, Arthur's Pass National Park Arthur's Pass National Park Allan's Basin, Craigieburn Range 2 day Alpine course On top of Craigieburn Range Hamilton Peak summit Practicing the plunge technique Approaching Mt Cheeseman Customer Reviews “Fantastic team at OENZ. Excellent fun and learning with a great group of like minded people. Thoroughly enjoyed the course and the skills will inevitably allow greater access to our beautiful country. Highly recommend.” Rob Kidd, Dunedin, NZ “Good knowledgeable trainer, easy to approach and & ask questions. Very much enjoyed!” Alice Cambal, Hokitika, NZ “The course had a great atmosphere, I felt safe to challenge myself. We covered heaps of skills with time time to get out and try them out!” Leeanne, Auckland, NZ “Thanks guys, I really enjoyed the course and your patient & knowledgeable instructors.” Miles, Christchurch, NZ Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your alpine adventure. Contact Us
