Mountain Skills Courses
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Summer Mountaineering Course](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzY4IDU3NiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc2OCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NzYiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
The Summer Mountaineering Course can be based in the alpine regions of Aoraki / Mount Cook, or Westland National Parks. The exact venue will be decided at the start of the course depending on the weather. Possible venues include Plateau Hut, Tasman Saddle or Kelman Huts at the head of the Haupapa / Tasman Glacier, Barron Saddle Hut and the Mueller Glacier, Pioneer or Centennial Huts on the western Fox and Franz Neves. These venues offer flexibility to target the optimum weather and conditions.
Technical equipment is provided. View the equipment list for details on the other equipment required for the course.
For more information and advice on buying your own gear, check out our Gear and Clothing Advice for Summer Mountaineering.
The Summer Mountaineering Course is one of our foundational mountain skills courses. Check our our Knowledge Base for more advice to plan your alpine skills progression.
Limited time or budget Check out our full range of Mountaineering Courses. If you have already done a mountaineering course previously, check out range specialist courses delivered by certified NZMGA guides.
These intensive courses are designed for aspiring mountaineers looking to learn skills in ropework, ice axe and crampon use, alpine climbing, and trip planning. This will give you the confidence to tackle your own mountaineering objectives in New Zealand's big glaciated terrain and on our high peaks.
Topics covered on Summer Mountaineering Courses include the alpine skills of:
Check out our Downloads page for course resources to prepare.
The itinerary is flexible to work around weather and conditions and below is just a sample of what may happen on a course. If there is a delay getting into the mountains or the trip has to exit early, the course will base at NZAC Unwin Lodge in Mount Cook village or our Kea Lodge base in Wanaka and utilise local rock climbing and other accessible venues to continue with the instruction.
Day 1: Meeting at our base in Wanaka at 8:30, you meet your guide and go through gear checks and the plan for the trip. It is a 2.5 hour drive to Mount Cook Airport to fly into the mountains. Get settled in the hut and venture out on the glacier for a few hours to explore the area and get familiar with glacier travel systems.
Day 2 to 4: Continue to explore the area, covering the topics of the syllabus with opportunities to practice climbing and rescue skills on nearby peaks and in nearby crevasses.
Day 5: Travel down the Haupapa / Tasman glacier to explore side valleys before flying out back to Mount Cook village. If the conditions are good, it may be possible to leave the hut the day before and spend the last night biviing out on the glacier. We return to Wanaka, arriving around 17:00.
Can't make these dates. Get in touch to arrange other group or private dates.
| 12th – 16th January | COMPLETE |
| 26th – 30th January | COMPLETE |
| 8th – 12th March | COMPLETE |
| 6th – 10th April | COMPLETE |
| 2nd – 6th November | Places available |
| 16th – 20th November | Places available |
| 30th November – 4th December | Places available |
| 14th – 18th December | Places available |
| 6th – 10th January 2027 | 2 places available |
| 25th – 29th January 2027 | Places available |
Includes: GST, NZMGA certified guide, compliance costs, course resources, accommodation in the mountains or Kea Lodge during the course, all food, technical equipment, transport from Wanaka, and helicopter flight into and out of the mountains.
The meeting point for courses is our base in Albert Town, Wanaka. If you require accommodation the night before or after the course, it is possible to book extra nights at our comfortable Kea Lodge.
Thanks for the faculties provided including a lovely stay at the hut and great food! honestly this was one thing i was worried about and was happy that my dietary needs were provided for. Jules is super kind to cook with and for us and it was so nice of him to make us coffee! Thank you for organising a great heli flight and transfer from Wanaka. Additionally booking onto Kea lodge was fabulous and it was a lovely experience. Super clean and beautiful property.
— Sid, Summer Mountaineering Course
