Alpine
Navigation Courses
Map, compass and route-finding training for trampers, mountaineers, ski tourers and adventure racers
Learn essential navigation skills for New Zealand alpine terrain
Alpine Navigation Courses
Alpine Navigation Courses
Map, compass and route-finding training for trampers, mountaineers, ski tourers and adventure racers
In the mountains, navigation is more than just finding your way — it’s a critical safety skill. Whiteouts, featureless snowfields, complex terrain and changing weather can quickly turn a straightforward trip into a serious situation if you don’t know exactly where you are.
Our Alpine Navigation Courses are designed to give you the skills and confidence to travel safely in New Zealand’s alpine terrain. Whether you’re a tramper wanting to explore beyond marked tracks, a ski tourer planning backcountry trips, or an adventure racer preparing for demanding navigation challenges, these courses will help you develop practical, real-world navigation skills.
We offer two levels of training:
- Alpine Navigation Fundamentals Course – a 1-2 day introduction based in Lake Tekapo
- Advanced Alpine Navigation Course – an intensive multi-day course based from a remote hut in the Two Thumb Range
Both courses focus on hands-on learning in real alpine terrain, with plenty of practical exercises and scenario-based navigation challenges.
Why Learn Alpine Navigation?
While GPS devices and mapping apps are useful tools, they are not a substitute for strong navigation skills. Batteries fail, visibility disappears, and complex terrain can make digital navigation difficult to interpret.
Learning to confidently use a map, compass, terrain features and timing allows you to:
- Navigate confidently in poor visibility
- Travel safely in off-track alpine terrain
- Plan efficient routes through complex mountain landscapes
- Avoid hazards such as avalanche terrain, bluffs and crevasses
- Maintain situational awareness when technology fails
Our courses emphasise practical decision-making and mountain awareness, helping you develop skills you can apply immediately on your own trips.
Alpine Navigation Fundamentals Course
Build a strong foundation in alpine navigation
Location: Lake Tekapo / Mackenzie Basin
Duration: 1-2 days (weekend)
This course is designed for people who want to build a strong foundation in mountain navigation.
Ideal for trampers, ski tourers, mountaineers and adventure racers, the course introduces the key techniques needed to travel confidently beyond marked tracks.
You will learn how to:
✓ Read and interpret topographic maps
✓ Use a compass for bearings and navigation
✓ Relate map features to the landscape
✓ Estimate distance and timing in alpine terrain
✓ Navigate using terrain features and handrails
✓ Plan safe routes through the mountains
The course is based around practical field exercises in the hills around Lake Tekapo, allowing you to immediately apply new skills in real terrain.
Advanced Alpine Navigation Course
Take your navigation skills to the next level in true alpine terrain
Location: Two Thumb Range
Duration: 3–4 days
Base: Remote alpine hut
The Advanced course is designed for those who already have basic navigation skills and want to take them to the next level in a true alpine environment.
Based from a remote hut in the Two Thumb Range, this immersive course focuses on complex terrain navigation, route planning and decision-making in challenging conditions.
Topics include:
✓ Advanced map and compass techniques
✓ Navigating in whiteout and poor visibility
✓ Complex route planning in alpine terrain
✓ Micro-navigation and contour interpretation
✓ Relocation strategies when lost
✓ Navigation under pressure and fatigue
✓ Night navigation exercises
Participants will spend multiple days navigating through the dramatic landscapes of the Two Thumb Range, gaining the confidence to tackle serious alpine routes.
Who Are These Courses For?
Our navigation courses are ideal for:
✓ Trampers wanting to go beyond marked tracks
✓ Ski tourers exploring backcountry terrain
✓ Mountaineers planning alpine routes
✓ Adventure racers preparing for multi-day navigation events
✓ Outdoor enthusiasts wanting greater confidence in the mountains
Courses are run in small groups with experienced alpine guides and instructors, ensuring plenty of individual coaching and feedback.
Learn to Navigate with Confidence
Strong navigation skills open the door to a lifetime of alpine adventures. Whether you’re planning your first off-track trip or preparing for demanding mountain challenges, these courses will help you travel more safely, efficiently and confidently in the mountains.
Explore the courses below to find the right level for you.
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About the Author Elke has spent many years navigating in the mountains through alpine guiding, expedition travel and adventure racing.