Welcome, Nau mai, haere mai to The Canterbury Westland Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club.
The CW section stands as the largest section within the club with 1,240 members as of April 2024. The section encompasses the Canterbury Westland Alps, with the Canterbury Alps situated to the east of the divide and the Westland Alps to the west. The Southern Alps are renowned for their rugged terrain, towering peaks, and breathtaking landscapes, drawing outdoor enthusiasts, climbers, and adventurers to the region.
The CW Section are kaitiaki/guardian of the Arthurs Pass Lodge, a 28-bunk accommodation nestled in the heart of Arthurs Pass National Park, serving as a hub for climbing, tramping, walking, and skiing activities.
Stay updated by visiting out Facebook and Instagram pages, 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 and much more
Notices
Trips Coordinator & Secretary Roles
Are you passionate about the outdoors and looking for a way to give back to the community? We are seeking two committee members for the CW Section.
Secretary
The Secretary role involves taking the minutes at the committee meeting and typing them up and sending out the agenda for the next committee meeting. This role involves being at committee meetings once a month. First Monday of the month usually! Cover can happen for you on sporadic occasions. The role is small and doesn't involve too much, you can get involved as much as you like with other events and activities.
Trips Coordinator
A Trips coordinator helps organise trips for members. As the trip coordinator you will be responsible for coordinating a variety of trips into the mountains. You will work with club members to determine trip locations and ensure that all safety protocols are complete before the trip.
These are fantastic opportunities to get involved with a vibrant community and help others explore and develop the stunning landscapes of Canterbury Westland region. Committee members meet once a month on a Monday. For more information please email Sam.
Banks Peninsula Rock Meet 28 Feb - 2 March 2025
Camp at Pigeon Bay and climb at some of the local crags. Sport and trad climbing for all skill levels and experience.
If you arrive by yourself, no problem, there will be people to buddy up with.
West Coast Representative
We are looking to develop a new role in the NZAC CW Committee. The role is for anyone based on the West Coast. The aim is to foster inclusivity of the Westland to the Canterbury and Westland section. It is easy for this to get missed and for 2025 this a focus of ours. Including bring BANFF to the West Coast, that's right, you heard it here first! We are unsure what the representative would do, but some things would include organising trips with memebers, keeping ear to the ground on access, and other tasks like this. If you think this could be you please give Nat and email.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
