Broken River Cheeseman Craigieburn Hanmer Springs Mt Olympus Temple Basin

Ski & Board Rental

Grooming

On-Mtn Accom

Instruction

Night Skiing

Snack Shop/Canteen

Alcohol Available

Ski/Board Repairs

Terrain

Beginner: 15%, Int: 50%, Adv: 35%

Lifts

2 T-Bars, 1 Learners Rope tow

Skiable Area

50 Hectares

Lift-Accessed Vertical

320m

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Voted best small ski area 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Cheeseman is only a 90 minute drive from Christchurch on State Highway 73. Safe, well-maintained access road allows you to drive right to the lifts. This fun, friendly ski area offers; ski and board instruction, full rental facility, licensed café and uncrowded, sunny, groomed terrain. Mt Cockayne offers challenging off-piste with spectacular views and for the adventurous, access to back country for day trips.

Skiing & Riding

For adventurers looking for untracked trails and off-piste experiences, Mt Cockayne offers challenging skiing and fantastic views of the Craigieburn Range. The Ridge T-bar also offers access to the back country for day trips. Please note that there is no ski patrol beyond the ski area boundary therefore you are entirely responsible for your own safety.

Facilities

The Day Lodge

Large sunny lodge with wrap around decks, offering a variety of food, hot snacks and beverages, they even serve real espresso coffee and wine!

Accommodation

Snowline Lodge

Cheeseman’s hidden gem is Snowline Lodge, ski in/ski out on mountain accommodation. You can enjoy the convenience of ski-in ski-out accommodation with all your meals catered.

Forest Lodge

Located 6 kilometres from the ski area, Forest Lodge accommodates 38 people and you self-cater. During winter, ice skating on our open-air rink may be an option.

Ski weeks provide fully catered service and professional instruction all as part of an all-inclusive package or accommodation is available on a nightly basis including dinner, breakfast and lunch. “A mother’s best holiday!” is Kea Club ski week, which includes daily child supervision in the afternoons and evenings and for the over 18’s – be sure to book on the adults only Fine Wine week!

Book Accommodation at Cheeseman

WHAT ARE THE CLUBBIES?

Welcome to laid back, affordable, fine grained skiing and snowboarding, barrel-aged to perfection, without the onesies. Sans grippers. New Zealand’s club fields are to sliding in the alpine what Steve McQueen is to cinema. Forget chairlifts. Think woven twine, hardened steel, hardwood timber and No.8 wire. The Clubbies primarily utilise ropetows as a means of upward transport (with a few T-Bars thrown in for good measure), time tested and proven for their low cost, low maintenance and efficiency in moving alpinists to higher elevations. The vibe is unique. You won’t find anything like it anywhere on Earth. Far from the sterile atmosphere you’ll likely experience at most commercial ski areas, The Clubbies emit warmth (it doesn’t affect the snow) and a welcoming vibe. They offer lasting companionship with other like-minded souls, superb skiing and riding (which takes days to get tracked out) and on-mountain lodging - a rarity in the ski areas of New Zealand. The Clubbies are ski clubs (though most definitely open to the public) run by passionate locals who, rather than see soaring profits, would rather feel the rush of the wind in their hair and white stuff sliding beneath their planks.

LOCATION

The Clubbies are nestled in the Southern Alps, between 1.5-2hrs drive west of Christchurch City - New Zealand’s second largest city (that’s not saying much though). Hanging out in the skinny country that we call home, The Clubbies benefit from snow storms from all directions, though prevalently it comes from the west.

Terrain

The Clubbies cater for every type of skier and rider - first timers that have never seen the white stuff in the flesh before, hardened vets who like to point it, huck it, drop it and send it, and everyone in between. The learners’ facilities and terrain on offer at The Clubbies will ensure swift development of beginners looking to progress in the sport while intermediate terrain provides the stimulation and challenge sought by those who have stepped up a level from the days of pizza, fries and falling leaves. And the advanced terrain? Extreme skier and all-time skiing legend Glen Plake visited a few of The Clubbies some years ago and was quietly impressed. Next thing we knew, extreme skiers and riders from all corners started to rock up for their share of the gnar. So, let’s just say that for some of the more challenging runs lurking within The Clubbies deepest darkest, steepest and snarliest corners, you’ll want to wear an extra pair of underpants.