5-Day Rock Climbing Course

A 5-day sport climbing course based from Woolshed Creek Hut, Mt Somers.

Sport Climbing Course
5-Day Sport Climbing Course

5-day  rock climbing  course overview

On this 5-day sport climbing course, you will learn all the skills needed to go outdoor climbing. This course includes toprope climbing, lead climbing and multi-pitch sport climbing and abseiling.  This course is based out of Woolshed Hut, Mt Somers. Return transport from Christchurch and accommodation is included.

This course is suitable for recreational climbers and professional instructors working towards  NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association) NZOIA Rock1 & Rock 2 awards.

 

Price $2399* (minimum age 16 years)

Youth Price $1199.50.* (12-15 years, accompanied by an adult)

Ask about our Family Friendly courses for ages less than 12 years.

* This is the early bird booking price, standard rates available on the course calendar.

**Conditions apply for youth pricing structure. See FAQ’s page.

 

Prerequisites

This is an introductory course; there are no prior skills or experience needed to attend this course. If you have never tried climbing before, we suggest having a go at indoor climbing or bouldering before doing this course.

 

Minimum age

The minimum age required to attend this course when a parent or guardian is also attending the same course is 10 years old. To attend this course without a parent or guardian, the minimum age is 16 years.

 

Rock climbing  course location

The 5-day climbing course is an expedition-style course. This means the course is delivered in a remote location and requires hiking into a backcountry hut. Mt Somers is two hours drive from Christchurch. Getting to Woolshed Creek Hut takes most groups 1.5-2hrs walk from the car park. It is a 15-30 mins walk from the hut to the various climbing areas and swimming holes.

 

ACCOMMODATION

Woolshed Creek Hut
Woolshed Creek Hut

Your accommodation at Woolshed Creek Hut is included, or you can choose to camp by the hut if you prefer camping.

Woolshed Creek Hut is a 26-bunk standard DOC hut. The hut has two bunk rooms, a large common area and a fireplace.  Camping is also a good option for this course. Your camping fees are included and entitle you to use the hut facilities.

 

 

Accommodation before & after your course

Rock Climbing at woolshed Creek Hut, Mt Somers
Woolshed Creek Hut

Your accommodation before & after the course is not included, please book your own accommodation in Christchurch. We have some suggested accommodation options in Christchurch on our FAQ’s page. Please book in the central city or the south side of town.

 

FOOD

This is a self-catered course. Please bring all your food with you for the duration of the course.  A full packing list is available to download at the bottom of this page. Fresh drinking water is available at Woolshed Creek Hut.

 

 

TRANSPORT

Learning to climb with OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand
OENZ 4×4

 

Transport is included from Christchurch.

Free transport is available from any Christchurch accommodation if you travel from town. Please book a Central City or South Christchurch accommodation.

 

Meeting locations

If you have your own car or can get dropped off, please meet us at one of the following locations (you can catch a ride with us from here or drive your own car to Mt Somers):

 

 

OENZ-Outdoor Education New Zealand 12 Seat Van

TRAVELLING FROM OUT OF TOWN?

We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. We have a few hotel & hostel suggestions on our FAQ’s page. Please avoid booking accommodation north or east of the City Centre.  At the end of the course, we are more than happy to drop you back at your accommodation or directly to the airport.  The earliest we can have you back at the airport is 5 pm.

 

 

 

GEAR & EQUIPMENT

You don’t need your own rock climbing gear for this course. We have all the specialist gear & equipment available for you to borrow. If you have your own gear, we encourage you to bring it along as it’s better to train with the gear that you own.  A full gear list is available to download at the bottom of this page.

 


WHEN IS THE NEXT COURSE?

This course runs from October to April; visit our Course Calendar for course dates and bookings. If you would like to talk to someone about private training or creating a custom course, contact us today.

 

VISIT COURSE CALENDAR

 

Adult PRICE: $2399*

 

Youth (under 18 yrs): $1199.50*

 

BOOK NOW

 

* This is the early bird booking price. Standard rates are available on the course calendar. Youth rates only apply when attending a course with a paying adult.

**Conditions apply for youth pricing structure. See FAQ’s page.

 


 How many people will be on my course?

Learning to rock climb at Mt Somers with OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand
Climbing at Woolshed Creek, Mt Somers

 

We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client-to-instructor ratio of just four clients to one instructor.

 

 

DOES THIS ROCK CLIMBING COURSE HAVE MINIMUM NUMBERS?

Yes, the minimum number for the course to proceed at the advertised price is two clients. We won’t cancel your course if we don’t meet our minimum numbers. Instead, we will offer you the following options:

a.) A shorter private course with 1-1 tuition – e.g. with one person, we can cover the course content much faster, so fewer days are needed.

b.) You will be offered to continue the course as planned and cover the extra cost.

c.) We can transfer you to another course.

 

 

 

This rock climbing course includes

Rock climbing At Mt Somers

Safety

  • Climbing Calls
  • Buddy checks
  • Personal safety at the top of the crag
  • Spotting the lead climber
  • Assessing the safety of climbing routes
  • Checking and assessing climbing gear for damage

 

Belaying

  • Top rope belaying with an ATC/belay plate
  • Lead belaying ATC/belay plate
  • Top rope belaying with a GriGri
  • Lead belaying with a GriGri
Learn to rock climb with oenz
Transition to abseil

 

Climbing Styles coved

  • Top rope  Climbing
  • Lead climbing/Sport climbing
  • Multi-pitch sport climbing
  • Multi-pitch abseiling

 

Climbing techniques

  • Basic movement techniques/body positioning
  • Footwork techniques
  • Handhold techniques
  • Finding rests
Rock climbing courses with OENZ-Outdoor Education New Zealand
At the top

 

Climbing Anchors

  • Sport-anchor (using quickdraws)
  • Toprope anchor/y-shape anchor (using sling and carabiners)
  • Self equalising anchors

 

Transitions

  • Lead climbing to set up a top-rope climb for a friend
  • Cleaning a climb/retrieving your gear from the top when you finish climbing
  • Top rope climbing to abseil.
  • Lead climbing to abseil.

 

 

Rope & Rescue skills

Rope rescue skills at Woolshed Creek Hut
  • Climbing knots
  • Tying off a belay device
  • Un-jamming a belay device
  • Taking over from an injured/sick belayer
  • Releasing & lowering when using a belay plate in guide/multi-pitch mode
  • Un-jamming an abseil device

 

 

 

 

 


See what our clients have to say

 

“The techniques that were introduced made a massive difference to my climbing” – Samantha Taylor, Wellington

“It was a really fun week, great safe experience. will come again” – James Hoodson, Canterbury

“The best part of the course was Learning new knots and how to use equipment” Taylor Britton

 


COURSE DOWNLOADS

Gear List
Course Outline

 

 

 

 


 

WHEN IS THE NEXT COURSE?

Rock climbing courses run from October to May. Visit our Course Calendar for scheduled course dates. Custom courses, private training & guided ascents can be arranged on alternative dates by request.

 

VISIT COURSE CALENDAR

 

BOOK NOW