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Mt Cheeseman ski resort
Tier C — ENSO-proof

📷 Mt Cheeseman

Oceania

Mt Cheeseman

33

Solid · 2026 season average

Closed for the season · average of 56 verified open days

Best months to book: August, September · last season + 30-yr record

Closed for the season — closed September 30

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

Sep 27

9d ago

Past 24 Hours

0cm

Resort reported

Past 48 Hours

0cm

Past 10 Days

11cm

7-Day Forecast

0cm

Snow Depth

--

🎿

Powder Days

12

2026 season

Updated: Oct 6, 6:03 PM•Weather at base: 1,540m

Local Snow

SnowSure Forecaster · September 17, 2026 · How we forecast →

Snow on Thursday, then a quiet stretch ahead

We're looking at 13cm of snow on Thursday, followed by a quiet Friday and Saturday with minimal accumulation. This week starts strong but tapers off quickly.

Short-Term Forecast

The snow starts with a solid 13cm on Thursday, making it the biggest day of this stretch. After that, we see little to no accumulation on Friday and just a dusting of 1cm on Saturday. This round wraps up by Saturday, leaving us with a total of about 14cm over the next three days.

Extended Forecast

Looking ahead, the week quiets down significantly after Saturday, with no significant snowfall expected. The best window for fresh tracks will be Thursday, so make sure to take advantage of it.

Yesterday: Snow on the way for Mt Cheeseman this week.

SnowSure™ Score2026 season
33

Solid

2026 season average

Mt Cheeseman is closed for the season. Last season it averaged 33.2 across 56 verified open days.

Best months to book: August, September. Best weeks: 20 Aug–26 Aug, 27 Aug–2 Sep, 13 Aug–19 Aug.1Aug2SepOpened 6 AugClosed 30 Sep

Best months to book

  1. #1August30cm avg · scored 27.8
  2. #2September23cm avg · scored 37.9

Best weeks to book

  1. #1 20 Aug – 26 Aug · 28.3
  2. #2 27 Aug – 2 Sep · 41.7
  3. #3 13 Aug – 19 Aug · 25.1

Ranked on 25% last season's SnowSure score (2026) · 75% 30-year snowfall and base-depth record. Last season's strongest fortnight was 6 Sep – 19 Sep. One season describes what happened, not what to expect. The live score returns when the lifts turn.

Current Conditions

Reported Tue, Oct 6, 06:03 PM UTC

Terrain Open

Closed for the season

Season ended September 30, 2026

15 runs · 3 lifts — live counts and the SnowSure™ Score return when the lifts turn.

Snow Summary

1,860m

Updated Oct 6, 2026 at 6:03 PM

11cm
24h
0cm
Past 10d
7-Day Forecast
11
Prev10d
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Now6
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W7
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T8
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F9
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S10
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S11
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M12
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Maps

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Webcams & Proof of Powder

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Mt Cheeseman

About Mt Cheeseman

Mt Cheeseman is a ski resort located in the Craigieburn Range of New Zealand’s South Island, approximately 90 minutes from Christchurch. The resort features a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere with a variety of terrain suitable for beginners through advanced skiers and snowboarders. Key amenities include on-mountain accommodation, a licensed café, and ski and snowboard rentals, while the resort is known for its welcoming community vibe and accessible slopes.

Read the full resort guide →

Frequently asked questions about Mt Cheeseman

Where is Mt Cheeseman?
Mt Cheeseman is a ski resort in New Zealand.
How high is Mt Cheeseman?
Mt Cheeseman runs from a base elevation of 1,540 m (5,052 ft) to a summit of 1,860 m (6,102 ft), giving a vertical drop of 320 m (1,050 ft).
How big is Mt Cheeseman?
Mt Cheeseman has 222 acres (90 hectares) of skiable terrain, 15 marked runs and 3 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Mt Cheeseman?
Mt Cheeseman is on the Chill Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Mt Cheeseman?
Mt Cheeseman typically operates from July to September. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Mt Cheeseman get in a typical season?
Mt Cheeseman averages 37 inches / 94 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Mt Cheeseman in winter 2026?
El Niño Signal Rank: #233 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier C · strong-event signal -1% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Mt Cheeseman averaged -1% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. El Niño has historically made little difference here — this is an ENSO-proof mountain, for winter 2026 as in past events. Analog winters: '97-98 -18%, '15-16 -10%, '23-24 +25%. A pattern, not a promise.