Mt Cheeseman
Craigieburn, CanterburySee it on the map
About Mt Cheeseman
Mt Cheeseman is the friendliest of the Craigieburn club fields, and the sensible place to start if you are curious about them: it has T-bars rather than nutcracker rope tows, so you do not need a harness or a new skill just to get uphill.
It sits in a sheltered basin, is family-run, and the atmosphere is closer to a mountain club than a business.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026
Best suited to
- Families
- Beginners
- Intermediates
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Where lessons start
The club field experience without the nutcracker learning curve. Sheltered, quiet and welcoming — a good first taste of what this side of New Zealand skiing is about.
Resort areas
- Base Area
Suggested meeting points
- Cheeseman day lodge
Getting there
Christchurch is around an hour and a half, up the Craigieburn road. Chains are commonly required.
Qualifications required in New Zealand
New Zealand has no state teaching licence. The professional standard is the Instructor certification, and Alpine Pal shows what each instructor actually holds so you can judge it for yourself.
Find instructors in New ZealandMt Cheeseman: common questions
Do I need a nutcracker harness at Mt Cheeseman?
No. Mt Cheeseman runs T-bars rather than nutcracker rope tows, which is exactly why it is the sensible first club field: you get the sheltered basin, the family-run atmosphere and the mountain-club feel without needing a harness or a new skill just to get uphill. Christchurch is around an hour and a half up the Craigieburn road, and chains are commonly required.
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