Year 12Outdoor EducationCurriculum

Andrew Willmott, 15 September 2026

Snow, Skis and Backcountry Adventures

Last week, our 12ODR students headed to Central Otago for a three-day backcountry adventure at Snow Farm.

Snow, Skis and Backcountry Adventures

Leaving early on Wednesday morning, the group made a quick lunch stop in Cromwell before making the climb up to Snow Farm.

With the trip taking place later in the season than usual, there was some apprehension about how much snow would be left. Thankfully, those concerns were quickly put to rest. While chains weren't needed for the drive up, there was still a great coating of snow on the ground. After unpacking, the boys snowshoed into their accommodation for the next two nights — the Musterer's Hut, a 36-bed backcountry lodge.

That evening, there was time to relax and share some cake to celebrate Jack MacAskill's birthday. The celebrations continued the following morning when we woke to a fresh fall of snow.

After snowshoeing back to the base building, the boys swapped their snowshoes for ski boots and skis. They were introduced to the fundamentals of classic cross-country skiing before having a go at biathlon, combining a lap of skiing with shooting at targets using Snow Farm's new electronic rifles. Once the basic skills had been developed, the group skied their way back to the hut.

For those keen for a little extra adventure, there was the opportunity to ski out to the Snow Farm boundary and take in the sunset over the Southern Alps — a pretty special reward after a day on the trails.

Friday brought one final ski out, with the group tackling a longer loop and making the most of the freshly groomed trails before packing up and heading back to Dunedin.

It was an awesome backcountry experience, combining snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, teamwork and plenty of time enjoying the winter environment. For many of the students, the experience will also provide an authentic context for their final written internal assessment of the year, where they will explore strategies for managing risk in challenging outdoor environments.