Ski Holidays & AccommodationBOOK
We’ve put together some info you can tailor to get your trip to Cheeseman approved including a trip rationale and key competencies students will gain.
(separate web page)
The following personal development & key competencies for students may be useful as a trip rational for you to get your trip to Cheeseman approved by your school:
• Encourage independence (managing gear, nutrition, time).
• Overcome personal challenges (learning to ski, handling discomfort).
• Deal with unfamiliar environments and changing conditions.
• Build teamwork through buddy systems and group coordination.
• Encourage peer encouragement, empathy, and shared achievement.
• Involve students in planning, packing, and group responsibilities.
• Foster school spirit and positive behaviour in shared outdoor settings.
a) Mental Health & Resilience
• Provide a break from screens and classroom routines.
• Encourage emotional regulation in a physically challenging setting.
• Build confidence and self-esteem by learning new skills.
b) Connection with Nature
• Strengthen students’ connection to Aotearoa’s unique landscapes.
• Reinforce kaitiakitanga (guardianship) through respectful outdoor recreation.
• Engage students in mindfulness and appreciation of te taiao (the natural world).
• Within driving distance from Christchurch — logistically viable for trips.
• Varied difficulty levels on ski field and walking trails — from beginner-friendly groomed runs to more advanced terrain, from marked trails to unmarked adventures requiring map reading.
• Natural classroom — offers alpine geography, climate science, and physical education all in one.
• Well-equipped facilities (lodges, cafés, ski schools, rental gear).
• Unique natural landmarks — e.g. Castle Hill boulders = perfect for cross-curricular learning (geology + Māori significance).
This trip provides students with a rich and rewarding opportunity to engage in physical activity, build resilience, and explore New Zealand’s unique alpine environment. Visiting Mt Cheeseman Ski Field and the surrounding Castle Hill/Craigieburn area directly supports the Health & Physical Education curriculum through active participation in outdoor recreation, while reinforcing the key competencies of self-management, relating to others, and participating and contributing.
Students will develop confidence and coordination as they learn to ski or snowboard in a safe, supportive, and well-supervised environment. The field’s gentle, sunny terrain is ideal for beginners, and the close proximity of the lodge and café allows for regular breaks and a warm base for both students and staff. Safety, teamwork, and risk awareness are emphasised throughout the day.
This trip also supports wellbeing by promoting time in nature, physical movement, and peer bonding in a positive, screen-free environment. For many students, it may be their first experience in the alpine environment, offering an authentic context for learning about weather, landforms, and environmental care.
Additionally, the Castle Hill Basin provides an ideal location for cross-curricular links to science, geography, and te ao Māori, with its dramatic limestone formations and cultural significance.
This field trip aligns with the school’s goals to deliver engaging Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) experiences that build capability, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for New Zealand’s natural environment.
