Next Club Night is on Thursday 6 Nov at the Cashmere Club. See below | Dunedin Meet 24th-27th Oct (Labour weekend)

Welcome to the Canterbury Westland Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club

Nau mai, haere mai! As the largest section of NZAC, with over 1,240 members (as of April 2024), we cover the rugged and awe-inspiring Canterbury and Westland Alps. From the east side of the Main Divide to the wild, glaciated peaks of the West Coast, this area is our playground.

We’re guardians of Arthurs Pass Lodge — a 28-bunk lodge in the heart of Arthurs Pass National Park — and a hub for adventurers of all kinds: climbers, trampers, skiers, walkers, and everyone in between.

The Canterbury Westland Section is part of the New Zealand Alpine Club., whose purpose is to foster and support climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry exploration across Aotearoa. NZAC exists to connect people with the mountains, to share skills and knowledge, to promote safety, and to encourage care and respect for our alpine environment.

Here’s what you’ll find in our section:

Courses all year round in rock climbing, snow-craft & avalanche awareness, first aid, bushcraft and navigation
Trips and meets — connect with local mountaineers, explore the alpine, share stories, and build your skills
Regular section evenings in Ōtautahi Christchurch, plus mid-week climbs and mountaineering outings, incuding West Coast meet-ups and events
Online community through WhatsApp to organise climbing, socials and share information
Gear hire, library, trapping, resources, and community-driven initiatives to support access, safety, and stewardship of our mountain environments

Our website is updated regularly with upcoming events, information and courses. Stay updated by visiting our Facebook and Instagram pages too, and make sure to check out our monthly newsletter for the latest news and updates. Our website holds all the information for section courses, trips, meets, trapping, who to contact and much more. NZAC HQ run courses and events throughout the year.

Whether you’re just starting out or pushing into more challenging terrain, Canterbury Westland offers a welcoming, active community with a shared passion for the mountains and a commitment to safe, respectful adventure. Join us!

Notices

COMMITTEE MEETING: all members are welcome to attend

The next Canterbury Westland Section committee meeting will be held on:

Monday 3 November, 6:30 - 7.30pm in the Library (2nd floor) NZAC Head Office Unit 6/6 Raycroft St, Waltham.

Committee members meet once a month on a Monday. For more information please email Sam.

We are seeking:

Section Evenings Coordinator
Social Media Superstar
General Committee Members

November Section Night

Eric Monasterio: What We Can Learn From Extreme Athletes

Date: Thursday 6 November
Location: The Cashmere Club
Doors open 7.00pm
Talk starts at 7.30pm

Eric Monasterio will talk about what we can learn from extreme athletes (mountaineers and BASE jumpers) about personality development, decision-making under stress, and ageing (un)gracefully.

The presentation will focus on his research into extreme athletes and violent psychopathic offenders, with tales of climbing and personality development as we get older.

Tititea/Aspiring Guidebook up to date

Help keep the Tititea / Aspiring Guidebook up to date!. Chances are you’ve already got your hands on the new Tititea / Aspiring and the Otago Alps guidebook. But as these things go, it’s already out of date—and that’s where you come in. If you’ve been out in the hills and noticed anything new or different, we’d love to hear from you. Specifically, we’re keen to know about:

Any new routes you've completed
Additional information about existing routes which may of use to the next party
Any changes in access or climbing routes you have noted
Mistakes in existing route information

Send a message to either Neil Sloan or Nick Shearer

General Information

Section Evenings

Members and the public are welcome to attend our regular section evenings usually held on the second Thursday of the month. Talks start at 7.30pm and the evening is located at The Cashmere Club, 50 Colombo St, Christchurch, That's at the Port Hills end of Colombo Street. Check out the calendar below for further information.

Trips and Meets

The section runs numerous trips throughout the year which are a great way to meet people and get into the outdoors. We also organise numerous meets for the CW community including Banks Peninsula Rock Climbing meet, Dunedin meet, and Aoraki meet.

Courses

We have a comprehensive programme of instruction in rock climbing during summer and snow craft in winter. Keep an eye on the section newsletter and website for more details.

Gear Hire

We hire gear out to members for a nominal fee. Our equipment is available only to NZ Alpine Club Canterbury Westland section members and you will be asked for your membership number on checkout; please also bring your membership card along with you when you pick up the gear.

Midweek Mountaineering

The midweek group are mainly fairly mature mountaineers who still manage to plod up a few peaks, usually on Wednesdays, depending on the weather. If you are interested in joining us, please email Pat Pendergast or phone 03370079.

Midweek Rock Climbing

Join our midweek crew for a variety of local climbing opportunities year-round. Whether you're up for a quick indoor session post-work or eager to hit the hills for some outdoor rock action, we've got you covered.

Section Library

Did you know that the section has its own Library and that you can borrow the books?

Arthurs Pass Lodge

In the heart of Arthurs Pass National Park, this warm little lodge provides a great base for exploring the surrounding mountains with peaks suitable for beginners to advanced climbers alike.

Bookings are required via the NZAC National page.

More Information and Bookings

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