Mt Cheeseman
334m vertical, 15 runs, uncrowded club field skiing 90 minutes from Christchurch. T-bars, affordable passes, Craigieburn Range.
Season 2026
Opens
8 Aug 2026
Closes
20 Sept 2026
Days open
43
Annual snow
3m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mt Cheeseman operates as a public club field at 1540 to 1874 metres elevation in the Craigieburn Range, delivering 334 metres of vertical drop across 15 named runs. The ski area encompasses 50 hectares of terrain split 15 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 45 per cent advanced. Established in 1929, the field receives an average of 3 metres of snowfall annually and sits within an alpine basin beneath Mt Cockayne. The 2026 season runs from 17 July to 27 September, with operations concentrated Thursday through Sunday.
The Main T-bar accesses groomed intermediate terrain and wide-open slopes ideal for progression, whilst the Ridge T-bar serves steeper advanced terrain and provides backcountry access to Tarn Basin. A learners' rope tow operates directly beside the Day Lodge, creating a contained novice zone. The field sits in an east-facing bowl with varied north and south aspects that hold snow well after weather systems from either direction. Terrain park features including jumps and rails typically appear mid-season near the base area.
The atmosphere reflects traditional club field culture, with uncrowded slopes, ski-in ski-out accommodation at Snowline Lodge, and a volunteer-driven operational model. The Cockayne Café in the Day Lodge serves espresso coffee, homemade food and operates under licence. Gear unloading occurs 20 metres from the lifts, with car parking a short walk downhill. Children under 10 ski free, and Swiss-trained instructors offer lessons when staffing allows. The field operates with reduced services in 2026 - no hire equipment and limited food service.
Mt Cheeseman suits families seeking affordable skiing without commercial resort crowds, intermediates building confidence on groomed terrain, and advanced skiers accessing sidecountry zones. Daily lift passes cost NZ$79 for non-members, with season passes at NZ$900 and discounted multi-day packages available. Springfield, 64 kilometres east, provides the nearest township with services. The club celebrates its centenary in 2029, representing one of Canterbury's longest-operating community ski areas.
334m
Vertical
15
Runs
124 acres
Skiable
3m
Annual snow
The Terrain
15 runs across 124 acres skiable
Mt Cheeseman spreads 15 runs across 124 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 45%, with 2 beginner runs to find your feet and 7 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
15
runs
15 runs across 4 grades
Beginner2 runs · 15%
Intermediate6 runs · 40%
Advanced7 runs · 45%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Mt Cheeseman
The 2026 season operates 17 July through 27 September, concentrated Thursday to Sunday each week to reduce overheads following 2025's snow-poor winter. Monday to Wednesday remain closed unless exceptional conditions warrant additional days. Typical seasons historically ran mid-July through late September, though recent climate variability has challenged consistency. The field closed entirely in August 2025 due to insufficient snow before reopening briefly in September after a late storm delivered 30 centimetres.
Mt Cheeseman receives an average of 3 metres of annual snowfall, with the heaviest accumulations typically arriving in August. Base elevation of 1540 metres and summit height of 1874 metres provide reasonable snow reliability for Canterbury's club fields. August historically delivers peak coverage, with base depths averaging 42 centimetres and summit depths reaching 112 centimetres in good years. Spring skiing extends into September when northerly aspects soften early, with the Sunny Face run providing consistent corn snow on warm afternoons.
Mid-winter weekends from late July through August offer the most consistent powder skiing, particularly following southwesterly fronts that deposit fresh snow across the Craigieburn Range. School holidays bring increased visitor numbers, though crowds remain modest compared to commercial fields. Early season conditions can be marginal, with full terrain access dependent on sufficient base building. Late September delivers spring conditions with freeze-thaw cycles and variable coverage, best suited to confident intermediates and above.
The 2026 season introduces a streamlined operational model with no ski hire, no standard instruction programmes, and limited food service at the Day Lodge. Season pass holders receive access to the Thursday-Sunday operating window. The field monitors weather conditions and may add operating days if significant snowfall arrives mid-week. Visitors should check the website and social media for real-time updates, as club fields adjust operations based on snow conditions and volunteer availability rather than fixed schedules.
Season 2026
8 Aug 2026
Opens
20 Sept 2026
Closes
43
Days open
3 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mt Cheeseman, and where to stay
Mt Cheeseman sits in the Craigieburn Range on New Zealand's South Island, accessed via a 12-kilometre unsealed road climbing from State Highway 73. The ski field sits beneath Mt Cockayne at 1540 to 1874 metres elevation, surrounded by beech forest in lower zones and alpine tussock above the treeline. The Craigieburn Range runs northeast to southwest, with Porters ski field to the south, Broken River to the north, and Mt Olympus visible across the valley. The field operates 99 kilometres west of Christchurch in the Canterbury high country.
Castle Hill Village, a small settlement 1.5 kilometres east of the access road turnoff, provides the nearest accommodation in holiday homes. Springfield sits 64 kilometres from the field and 40 kilometres from Christchurch, offering the last fuel stop heading west. Arthur's Pass village lies 30 kilometres further west on SH73. The access road entrance sits just before the Broken River Bridge on the Great Alpine Highway, clearly signposted when travelling from Christchurch towards the West Coast.
State Highway 73 - officially the Great Alpine Highway - connects Christchurch to the West Coast via Arthur's Pass, with the Cheeseman turnoff appearing approximately 90 minutes' drive from the city centre. The 12-kilometre access road winds through native beech forest before emerging into alpine terrain at the base lodge. Chains must be carried during winter, and 4WD vehicles are recommended though 2WD with chains can manage in favourable conditions. The road climbs steadily with occasional steep sections, unsuitable for campervans or buses larger than 12-seat minivans.
Christchurch International Airport sits 92 kilometres southeast of the field, approximately 90 minutes' drive via SH73. No scheduled shuttle services operate to the mountain, though private operators including Smylies Tours and Black Diamond Safaris provide 4WD transport from Christchurch. The TranzAlpine train runs from Christchurch through Springfield and Arthur's Pass but requires separate road transport from Springfield to the field. Ride-sharing services including Snow Pool and Ski the Clubbies Facebook group connect skiers travelling from Christchurch and Canterbury towns.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mt Cheeseman, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Aspen Snowmass Marks 80th Anniversary With $3.75 Throwback Lift Tickets
Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this December, and it's marking the milestone with $3.75 lift tickets on the anniversary itself - the original 1946 price. A discounted long weekend, $19.46 dining specials, lodging deals up to 46 percent off, and a season of anniversary programming round out the celebration across all four mountains.
17 Sept 2026
Doppelmayr Group Posts 9.1% Revenue Growth in 2025/26, Passing 1.3 Billion Euros
Doppelmayr closed its 2025/26 business year with revenue up 9.1 percent to 1.3 billion euros, driven by projects including the Big Sky Explorer Gondola, Deer Valley's Mayflower East Village Gondola, and the first TRI-Line installation at Hoch-Ybrig. Headcount grew too, with the ropeway manufacturer now employing almost 4,000 people worldwide.
16 Sept 2026
Hintertux Glacier Replaces 40-Year-Old Gondola to Tuxer Fernerhaus
Hintertux Glacier is retiring its 40-year-old gondola to the Tuxer Fernerhaus. The replacement carries 10 people per cabin instead of four, with seat heating and nearly 40 percent more hourly capacity. Doppelmayr's new line opens at the end of October 2026, right as the glacier's high-altitude terrain becomes accessible again for the new season.
16 Sept 2026
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Mt Cheeseman Webcams
3 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Mt Cheeseman's live webcams
Check live conditions across Mt Cheeseman with 3 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Mt Cheeseman Learners Area1550m
- Learners area at Mt Cheeseman showing the beginner-friendly terrain and magic carpet lift at 1550m elevation. This Mt Cheeseman webcam captures the gentle slopes perfect for first-time skiers, with live snow cam views of the family-oriented club field atmosphere and Canterbury high country setting.
- Mt Cheeseman Main Basin1650m
- Main basin at Mt Cheeseman displaying the intermediate terrain and rope tow access at 1650m elevation. This Mt Cheeseman live cam shows the club field's main skiing area, with Mt Cheeseman webcams revealing the friendly volunteer-run atmosphere and uncrowded slopes in the Craigieburn Range.
- Mt Cheeseman Summit1874m
- Looking out over the whole resort from the summit area.
Mt Cheeseman snow cams FAQ
How often do Mt Cheeseman snow cams update?
All Mt Cheeseman snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Mt Cheeseman.
Which Mt Cheeseman webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Mt Cheeseman Summit webcam at 1,874m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Mt Cheeseman webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Mt Cheeseman lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Mt Cheeseman snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Mt Cheeseman snow cams?
Check Mt Cheeseman webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Mt Cheeseman lift tickets?
Use our Mt Cheeseman webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Mt Cheeseman webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Mt Cheeseman snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Mt Cheeseman intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.