Mountain Guiding in New Zealand

Posted on October 21, 2014 by alpinism

The summer mountain guiding season in the Southern Alps of New Zealand is rapidly coming closer. Mid November sees our first Mt Cook-Aoraki ascents trip for chief guide Gaz. Instruction courses will again be part of his schedule and next month starts with a guides training week.

Closer to home, from our base or yours while in Wanaka, guided trekking excursions are again available with Iris and the native and exotic flora has started its display of budding and flowering with daily new magic popping out:

Fragrant broom, seen in flower in Wanaka during September!

Kowhai, always one of the first in Spring

Vegetable sheep, native plants of NZ

Alpinism Adventures from Wanaka

Posted on September 11, 2013 by alpinism

Wanaka base of Alpinism & Ski

Back in Wanaka, fresh snow has arrived with our return and all around it is as beautiful as ever. The first ski day for Iris has come and gone and chief mountain guide Gaz is preparing for a week of rope rescue course with the experts of the industry. As the present storm goes through, we are catching up with the latest Climber, Forest & Bird and Fish & Game mags. In Wanaka, the Wanakafest addicts are already busy preparing for the event late October, (24-27th) should you have spare time and/or cash to help, get in touch through www.wanakafest.co.nz

Ski touring is on our immediate alpinism activity menu and so are the soft recreational trekking excursions. Just ask if you are interested.

Wanaka, base of Alpinism adventures

Posted on October 31, 2012 by alpinism

Spring in Wanaka and it is beautiful watching the various native flowers emerge, from Patotara to Kowhai, now the delicate looking New Zealand Iris and dark red delicious Pittostorum are appearing. Ski touring season has come and gone, guided trekking to Rob Roy glacier cirque started and our mountaineering season is shaping up.

For any interested mountaineers, we have a Technical Mountaineering Course from 6-12th Jan. 2013 with 3 spots left. An alpine climbing instruction course with top New Zealand instructor Gary Dickson in person.

Black Swan family, Matukituki valley Wanaka

Ski Touring in New Zealand

Posted on August 8, 2012 by alpinism

We are still in Switzerland, currently enjoying a week of rock climbing sessions on beautiful lime stone formations above Leysin. Only a few weeks before we are back in Wanaka and welcoming our first ski touring team of the season for a trip mid September. Guided trekking excursions will start up again and we are counting on some more snow to fall for our return, to have some fun on the local ski fields. The best times for ski touring adventures in the Southern Alps of New Zealand in our humble opinion is during September and October. Days are longer and snow conditions often optimal, with participants having had time to acquire winter fitness on skis or snowboard.

Fabulous terrain for back country adventures

Iris on personal Trekking, hiking, walking mission

Posted on January 16, 2012 by alpinism

This morning Iris headed off with one other friend to do some personal trekking in the Greenstone/Caples/Steeple creek area. The weather is perfect for 3 days, which is how long they expect to be out there.

Guided trekking , hiking or walks with Iris is the perfect way to enjoy time whilist staying in the Wanaka area. When Iris gets back from this personal trek, she’ll catch her breath as she has a person arriving for some guided trekking over a couple of days.

You can look forward to some photos of flora, fauna and classic Southern Alps landscapes in a few days.

Come and enjoy the wealth of local knowledge trekking guide Iris knows

Trekking, hiking, walks – Wanaka area

Posted on January 5, 2012 by alpinism

Cameron hut and Mount Cook lillies - giant buttercup

Magnificient views on the Rob Roy glacier track

Keas, welcoming you to Rob Roy glacier cirque

Beginning of January and the weather has been outstanding here for at least three weeks, fantastic for all sorts of walks and hiking adventures. Iris has been on her guided trekking excrusions to Rob Roy a couple of times and privately for personal recreation, hiking to Cameron hut and Breast Hill. For more recreation, the Alpinism & Ski team has climbed Sharks Tooth in the Matukituki valley with friends Gordy and Katrin. Also on the program a few sailing excursions on lake Wanaka, perfect alternative to the mountains. Want to join us for some fun? just ask!

Climbing up and up towards Shark's Tooth with brilliant views of Mt Rob Roy

Spring flowering in Wanaka – what you’d see right now.

Posted on November 28, 2011 by alpinism

Manuka, one of the fine smelling native plants of NZ

The purple Bladderwort is found along the lake edge in Wanaka

Native plant of NZ, Matagouri or Wild Irishman

Come on a guided trekking trip, hiking or guided walk with us and you can see right now :

Panakenake and orchid flowers are appearing, ground covering daisies and the amazing vegetable sheep; dark, like wine colored pittosporum flowers have come and gone, also the fragrant Matagari or Wild Irishmen with the amazing thorns shows flowering buds.

We have another announcement with regard to our sustainable business practices: the statement or policy is now available through our website from the home page at the very bottom or from the ‘about us‘ page. This sustainability statement is a growing document, thanks for your patience.

Guided walks, hiking and trekking from Wanaka

Posted on November 25, 2011 by alpinism

Glorious forest walk: Glacier Burn track

: Mt Avalanche and avalanche glacier

Avalanche Glacier seen from Glacier Burn track

From Wanaka, drive about an hour up the Matukituki valley, cross the first ford, then walk across the first swing bridge and along the valley floor up the Eastern branch. Pass the old homestead, then up the Glacier Burn. Another great day out in Mt Aspiring National Park and spring time is fabulous to watch these healthy farm animals with their young all along the valley. The forest is rich and beautiful, here some more photos

Supposedly a 'false beech', this one just magic

delicious water and delightful mosses

Kio kio, Blechnum capense, part of the edible native plants

Mountaineering course, ski touring and trekking in NZ

Posted on October 5, 2011 by alpinism

Ski Touring in the Southern Alps of New Zealand

September and October are perfect to explore the glaciated and grandiose terrain amongst the main divide. A keen team, Linda, Rob and Kerryn, came from Australia to practice their mountaineering and ski touring skills in preparation for an adventure in Patagonia. Based at Tasman Saddle hut in Mt Cook National Park, they enjoyed pretty good weather, awesome views and some wonderful moments:

adventures amongst the highest mountains of NZ

New Zealand ski touring with a mountain guide

late winter fun on a ski touring trip

ski touring and mountaineering private instruction courses

the smile says it all, here at Tasman Saddle hut

Now, chief mountain guide Gaz is on handyman duty before his next ski touring trip, while Iris is off to Rob Roy glacier cirque for a guided trekking excursion.

Alpinism & Ski in Wanaka

Posted on June 3, 2011 by alpinism

hiking, trekking, walking, tramping with Alpinism & Ski

Autumn has turned to winter and as everybody is waiting for snow, we are getting ready to leave for alpinism adventures in the European Alps. Still enjoying the fabulous weather, Gary on a mountaineering instruction course in Mt Cook Nat. Park and Iris roaming through the country near Wanaka. Her and friend Lorraine climbed above the clouds to Mt Roy just yesterday.

Gary Dickson Mountain Guide

Your New Zealand Mountain and Ski Guiding specialist

Tag Archives: Guided trekking Wanaka