New Zealand Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering Instruction & Guided Ascents
New Zealand Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering Instruction & Guided Ascents
Learn, Climb & Challenge Yourself in the Heart of the Southern Alps
New Zealand’s Southern Alps offer world-class alpine climbing opportunities for both aspiring mountaineers and seasoned climbers looking to challenge themselves on iconic peaks. Whether you’re just starting your journey into mountaineering or you’re ready to tackle a technical summit, Alpine Recreation provides expert-led instruction courses and guided ascents tailored to your goals and experience.
Alpine Climbing in New Zealand – Where the Adventure Begins
Steeped in mountaineering history and dominated by glaciated peaks, New Zealand’s Southern Alps are an ideal playground for technical climbs, glacier travel, and alpine skills development. From classic summits like Aoraki Mount Cook and Mt Aspiring to the vast Tasman Glacier basin, the terrain is as beautiful as it is challenging.
Mountaineering Instruction Courses
Learn essential alpine skills in a safe, supportive, and hands-on environment with our range of mountaineering courses.
Whether you're aiming to gain the confidence to climb independently or want to prepare for high-altitude expeditions abroad, our courses are an excellent foundation. Our most popular courses include:
🧗🏻♂️ Introductory Mountaineering Course (5 Days) - Learn the fundamentals of safe alpine travel and snow-craft skills. No prior experience required.
🧗🏻♂️ Intensive Mountaineering Skills Course (7 Days) - Build your basic skillset with technical skills instruction and advanced rope systems.
🧗🏻♂️ Specialized Alpine Climbing Course (7 Days) - Tailored courses for experienced individuals or small groups wanting to focus on specific objectives or skills.
Guided Alpine Ascents
Take on some of New Zealand’s most iconic summits with a qualified IFMGA / NZMGA mountain guide by your side. We offer customised guided ascents for climbers with the fitness and technical skills to reach the top.
Popular Guided Ascents:
🏔️ Aoraki / Mt Cook (3,724m) – New Zealand's highest peak.
🏔️ Mt Aspiring / Tititea (3,033m) – A true alpine classic known as the "Matterhorn of the South."
🏔️ Takiroa / Mt Sefton (3,151m) – A wilderness climb with spectacular views over the West Coast and Southern Alps.
🏔️ Technical ascents in the Tasman Glacier area – For climbers wanting to test their skills on more challenging terrain.
Why Choose Alpine Recreation?
🧗 Experienced Mountain Guides – Our team includes NZMGA and IFMGA certified guides with decades of experience in New Zealand’s mountains.
❄️ Real Mountain Environments – Train and climb in true alpine conditions, including glaciers, snowfields, and high peaks.
🏔️ Private High Alpine Access – Benefit from our helicopter support, 4WD access, and exclusive use of alpine huts like Caroline Hut.
👥 Small Group Sizes – Learn and climb in personalised, low-ratio settings that prioritise safety, comfort, and your individual progress.
🛠️ Technical Equipment – Our quality, modern mountaineering and avalanche rescue equipment is provided FREE of charge.
Who Are These Trips and Courses For?
Our mountaineering courses and guided climbs are suitable for:
✓ Beginners looking to gain foundational alpine skills
✓ Intermediate climbers wanting to expand their technical knowledge
✓ Experienced alpinists seeking to summit New Zealand’s highest and most remote peaks
✓ International expeditioners preparing for high-altitude objectives elsewhere
Your Mountain Goals Start Here
Whether you're training for a bigger climb, learning to travel safely in glaciated terrain, or ticking off a dream summit, Alpine Recreation is here to help you develop confidence, competence, and a lifelong love for alpine climbing.
Contact us to discuss your climbing objectives or browse our scheduled courses and custom options today.
Articles
Features and editorials about New Zealand Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering Instruction & Guided Ascents
Pushing Limits and Finding Joy in the New Zealand Alps
Test Your Limits 2024 - New Zealand expedition
When you sign on to guide a trip like Test Your Limits, you know it’s going to be something special.
Can a Tramper Climb Mt Cook?
What would it take for a tramper of average fitness to propel themselves to the top of New Zealand's highest summit?
Keeping the spirit of youth alive
Two Mountain Ascents for Seniors
On the 20th of October 68-year-old Graeme Donovan stood atop Lendenfeld Peak (3194m) and fulfilled a long-held dream of climbing a mountain over 3000m or 10,000ft.
Around Mount Cook
Transalpine Journey around Aoraki Mount Cook
I have wandered up a few pointy bits of landscape in the past, usually by the easiest route, but often after a long approach march to a more remote peak.
No Ordinary Feet
Climbing Aoraki with double-amputee Phil Doole
A gripping account of a guided ascent of Aoraki / Mount Cook, led by Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, culminating in a triumphant summit climb with double amputee Phil. Through storms, setbacks, and stunning alpine beauty, this story captures resilience, risk, and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
From Sandflies to Summit
Back in the world of domestic, electronic and commercial nonsense, I find it hard to adjust to sitting still in fine weather, so I decide to put fingers to keyboard…
Above Worry Level
Mid-winter ascents of Elie de Beaumont and Mount Tasman
A gripping account of two high alpine winter ascents in New Zealand’s Southern Alps — Elie de Beaumont and Mount Tasman — made during a perfect mid-winter weather window. A family expedition filled with glacier travel, summit challenges, breathtaking scenery, and reflection on the contrast between everyday life and the magic of the high mountains.
Threshold
A Father and Daughter Ascent of Aoraki / Mount Cook
At just 14 years old, Elke stood on the summit of Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, beside her father, IFMGA mountain guide Gottlieb Braun-Elwert. What began as a childhood dream became a defining moment of courage, trust, and transition. In this intimate and reflective story, father and daughter recount their shared climb — through swirling cloud, biting wind, and silent doubt — toward a threshold that marked more than just altitude.
On the 12th January 1998, at the age of 14, Elke Braun-Elwert became the youngest person to climb Aoraki Mount Cook. This is her and Gottlieb's account of the ascent.