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Mount Cheeseman Resort Reviews


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Visitor reviews for Mount Cheeseman Ski Resort

Mount Cheeseman Ratings

Overall: 3.8. Based on 11 votes and 9 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 3.9

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Mount Cheeseman is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.4

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Mount Cheeseman has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.1

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.6

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 4.4

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Mount Cheeseman

Public Transport: 1.9

  • There are no buses or taxis to Mount Cheeseman
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 3.9

  • No places to stay in/near Mount Cheeseman
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 4.3

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 1.9

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Mount Cheeseman

Ski in/Ski out: 4.5

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 2.7

  • There are no child care facilities at Mount Cheeseman
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 1.4

  • Mount Cheeseman relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 4.4

  • There are no snow groomers at Mount Cheeseman
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Mount Cheeseman are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.7

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Mount Cheeseman is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 3.5

  • If snow conditions are poor at Mount Cheeseman, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.5

  • Mount Cheeseman usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 5.0

  • The staff at Mount Cheeseman are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Mount Cheeseman are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 4.8

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.8

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.6

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 4.3

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.6

  • No intermediate terrain at Mount Cheeseman
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.4

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 3.0

  • Not even a kicker at Mount Cheeseman
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 4.2

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Mount Cheeseman
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.0

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Mount Cheeseman has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 3.7

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 3.8

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 3.4

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 2.5

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.3

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 3.4

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 4.7

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 4.8

  • Overall, Mount Cheeseman is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 4.7

  • Overall, Mount Cheeseman is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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August 05, 2015
Christine
Great place to go where you can stay on the mountain. Great value for money and an atmosphere that is miles away from the resorts but a fantastic experience because of this difference. Very friendly staff and uncrowded slopes (even though we went in the NZ winter school holiday). We'll definitely return.
May 14, 2012
Catherine Kircher from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
I have called myself a skier pretty much since I was able to walk, and I have found Mt Cheeseman a great ski hill to ski at throughout all my years on skis. The ski hill is a big bowl with lots of variation throughout it so even though it does not boast the most vertical of any ski hill, every run is different. After 25 years skiing there I am still finding new lines to excite me. And for some reason it often gets much better quality snow than other fields in the surrounding ranges, so that is an extra bonus. The people are super friendly and I find at Cheesean I feel I am more than a guest, kind of part of a family. And that feeling of being at home is half the reason why I keep coming back. I know I can turn up there on my own but always find someone I know or don't to ski with. I have skiied at some of the biggest name ski hills in the world but I still find Cheeseman a great place to ski. It offers a relaxed, friendly skiing experience, regardless of your ability, and I will be coming back for more skiing as long as I am able.
May 03, 2012
Taylor H
My brothers and I skied at Mt Cheeseman in August 2011 and I cannot speak highly enough of the mountain, it's facilities and the wonderful staff and members. We stayed on mountain and it is so good to get up in the morning and walk 15 metres to the T-bar to get skiing for the day. The field has a good variety of terrain for people of all abilities and even better, no crowds. After skiing in Australia and paying top dollar for crappy conditions, crowded slopes and rude people, Mt Cheeseman is heaven. The value for money is second to none and I have skied in Canada, U.S as well as other mountains in NZ. Most importantly, we were made to feel like family there. Within a couple of hours, we knew everyone there by name and had our meals together, swapping stories, having a laugh and an awesome time. I tell every Aussie who loves to ski uncrowded, challenging terrain, stay on the mountain and do it for under half the price of Australian slopes.... Go Cheesman!!!
January 18, 2012
Mary Flanagan
We have just booked for August 2012, having had the most wonderful week at Mt Cheeseman in 2011. It was the best family holiday we ever had. We went in Family Week so there were lots of kids for company for our children and within a day or two, everyone looked out for the kids and so parents were free to ski (advanced for the experienced skier, beginner for me!). The lodge was comfortable, the food fantastic, the members supportive and welcoming and the Swiss ski instructors the most patient I have ever come across. All round, a great experience, particularly for families and groups, as the camaraderie is great - the sort that only comes from shared experience. Looking forward to August already!
September 28, 2011
Sarah J. from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
I've been heading up to Mt Cheeseman a couple of weekends every season for a few years now and I think it's a great place to go. This season especially has been awesome with so much snow! It's great for off and on piste so my more beginner friends liked it as well, while I really enjoyed the steeper slopes and fresh powder days. I would highly recommend this field to people, especially to stay overnight and steal the first tracks in the morning. Hope to head back there next year.
September 14, 2010
PhilW from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
As one of the few locations in NZ where you can stay on the mountain Mount Cheeseman offers a unique experience. Kids in particular love the idea of living in the snow. Cheeseman is arguably the most urbane of the Canterbury club fields. Not 5 star but good services and a nice sense of communal living. Lots of terrain of varying levels with good off-piste skiing. Get out those fat skis and carve yourself a line. A real joy.
August 07, 2009
Jeff Lower
My family and I have just returned from a ski week at Mount Cheeseman. A fantastic location to learn how to ski with the learners slope and the main T-bar only 20 meters away from the day lodge and snowline lodge. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and the Swiss ski instructors do a great job with the kids. There were no crowds at Mount Cheeseman and at times we had the whole mountain to ourselves due to snowfall closing the roads. There is something for everyone, from toboganing to learners, intermediates or off-piste action. Our week was full of adventure. Mount Cheeseman is a truly adventurous alpine experience set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Mount Cheeseman has turned us into ski junkies. Can't wait to return next year.
May 07, 2009
Alan Ryan from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
Mount Cheeseman is a great place. You've just got to go. I spent many a weekend there and I'm going back this winter to ski and have a good look around after being away for 20 odd years. I was a club member back in the 80's and we had loads of fun even in the off season as work parties; the comradeship is fantastic. Go to Mt Cheeseman and get high on Cocane (name of mountain). Have a great season folks. Alan Ryan. Tauranga
July 29, 2005
Ngareta from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
My family and I have skied and stayed at Cheeseman since 1986. We have had some fantastic times up there and made some wonderful friends. It is really great to be able to stay right on the skifield. Choosing to ski or rest as you wish. I learnt to ski on a ski week where the lessons from the "Swiss Ski Instructors" made everthing so easy. If you join a ski week the comradary is great and with skiing with the people from your lessons in the afternoon each day you find you get so much more practise in than skiing with people too far above your level. But it doesn't matter if you just go for the day or the weekend, you'll have fun. Over the years we have noticed huge changes groomers, electricity, hot food, drinks and ski hire are all on the mountain now. With the opening of the wonderful new day lodge this 2005 season everything is so much more convenient and even incorperates a lecture room.