Location

Directions

Travelling west from Christchurch on State Highway 73, the Cheeseman access road is located approximately 1.5 km past Castle Hill village, or 99km from Christchurch. The entrance gate is located on the left just before the Broken River Bridge and is clearly marked and signposted prior to the turnoff.

The unsealed access road is 12km in length and makes its way across the flat farming land before heading into the native beech forest. The road then begins its short climb to the base area at 1740 metres where there is an unloading area for your convenience right beside the base facilities. The main carpark is located a few hundred metres below the unloading area – an easy 2 minute stroll to warm you up prior to hitting the slopes!

Forest Lodge is located 6km in from the main highway and  is nestled in amongst the bush and is set-up as backpacker style accommodation.

The road is maintained and kept in good condition. During the winter season, signs at the front gate and at strategic points along the road indicate where, when and which vehicles need to fit snow chains. Remember it’s a good idea to always carry chains when travelling in alpine areas as you never know when it will snow! Please respect any road closures or locked gates as there is a good reason they are shut.