Despite a reputation as latte-sipping, real estate obsessed urbanites, Aucklanders continue to great things in the outdoors and claim Sir Edmund Hillary as their own. Climbing in or near Auckland is available at Mt Wellington, Maungarei Springs and Ti Point. Wharepapa / Castle Rock access remains open and is operating as it always has.  For more information on Wharepapa/Castle Rock click here.

Long trips down to the Central Volcanoes generate enthusiasm for the white stuff that other regions struggle to match. Visitors and residents alike will find a collegial and vibrant climbing community with a wide variety of interests.

The Section

The Auckland Section is a large active section based in the North Island of New Zealand. Our main forms of communication are our Facebook page and Instagram page. To connect with other climbers within the Auckland section we have a Whatsapp Community. To sign up to trips, meets, courses, hear more about section nights and hire gear, join our HelloClub app. 

If you have a specific question, email us at [email protected] and one of the team will be back in touch.

Club Nights

We meet on the second Monday of most months (Check the details below!) at Grey Lynn RSC, 1 Francis Street. Speaker usually starts at 7pm, we'll usually be there from 6,30pm. If it's your first time come at 6,30pm and say hello. You will find us up the stairs on the left handside. You can bring your own food, or order Hells Pizza from Grey Lynn direct to the venue and order drinks at the bar.

If you have an idea for a club night speaker, email us at [email protected] 

• March - Shelley and Paul Hersey. March 9th 2025. Grey Lynn RSC. Details and sign up here.
• April - Sarah Hay. 13th April 2025. Grey Lynn RSC. Details and sign up here.
• May - Connor Newman. 11th May 2025. Grey Lynn RSC. Details and sign up here.
• June - No meeting. Banff Film Festival.
• July onwards - TBC.

Courses

Basic Navigation

This is an introductory navigation course with the intention to go beyond basic map and compass work. The course has two elements; one online evening session to run through some of the theoretical principles and a practical day in a cental Auckland location putting the skills into practice.

Next course dates are 17th (Theory evening from 7pm to 9pm) and 20th June (Pracitical day in Conwall Park 9am to 5pm). Auckland members can register for this course in their HelloClub account.

First Aid with a Rock Climbing Focus

This course is run by Peak Safety and is usually held just before the summer season to give you the skills to stay safe whilst rock climbing. The course has practical and theoretical elements and is held in a central Auckland location. It's a two-day course over one weekend, and you can attend the first day on Saturday if you have completed this course and are looking for a refresher (Recommended every two years).

Next course dates are TBC and will likely be in December 2026.

Beginner Rock Course

This course aims to upskill novice climbers with the knowledge, skills and ethics to belay and sport lead climb competently outdoors. This course is designed for people who have limited climbing experience. This is a great introduction to the New Zealand Alpine Club and is designed for members who want to be part of the club in the long term and meet other climbers. Completing the course will allow participants to attend the rock meets, which are running from February to May 2026.

Registrations close 28 November 2025. More details and sign up here.

Trad Climbing Course

This course aims to upskill intermediate climbers with the knowledge, skills and ethics to belay and lead trad climb competently outdoors. This course is designed for people who have outdoor sport climbing experience.

• Course dates - 14 to 15 February and 7 to 8 March 2026 at Whakapapa.
• Course Cost - $500 (Includes instruction, accommodation but not food or transport, carpooling strongly encouraged).
• Registrations close 21 December 2025. Expressions of interest for this course can be made here.

Multipitch and Rescue Course

This course aims to upskill intermediate climbers with the knowledge, skills and ethics to belay and lead climb multipitch sport climbs competently outdoors and to gain the skills to perform a rescue. This course is designed for people who have outdoor sport climbing experience.

• Course dates - 25, 26 and 27 April 2026 at Whakapapa.
• Course Cost - $500 (Includes instruction, accommodation but not food or transport, carpooling strongly encouraged).
• Expressions of interest for this course can be made here and close on 18th Jan with spots confirmed soon after.

Raglan Rock Partnership

The outdoor rock climbing courses run by either the Auckland or National team at NZAC are at specific moments in the year and have limited capacity. If you find yourself outside of these times and want to complete a Sport or Trad climbing course, Raglan Rock run both all year round.

We have an offer for current Auckland NZAC members who will receive 10% off Raglan Rock courses if booking as an individual or 20% off the total booking group cost if booking as a group (2 or more). The details for these courses can be found here. To book, email [email protected] and take your membership card along with you when you attend the course.

Basic Snowcraft and Avalanche Awareness

This is an introductory course focused on taking participants new to mountaineering into the mountains to gain skills, confidence and experience in the alpine environment.  It combines the two courses over three weekends, all at Ruapehu, with a theory day and four evening theory online call sessions. This course is a great way to develop a love of alpine environments.

Expressions of interest open for the 2026 course on February 1st. Sign up to this event to be notified.

Intermediate Snowcraft

This course builds on the skills learned in the Basic Snowcraft course. The course takes place over two weekends. It introduces rope skills, and climbing on steeper terrain safely. To take part in this course, you will need a lead licence from a climbing gym, have taken part in a Basic Snowcraft course or similar and have implemented skills from this course on personal trips.

Expressions of interest open for the 2026 course on February 1st. Sign up to this event to be notified.

First Aid with a Mountaineering focus

This course is run by Peak Safety and is usually held just before the winter season to give you the skills to stay safe in the mountains. The course has practical and theoretical elements and is held in a central Auckland location. It's a two-day course over one weekend, and you can attend the first day on Saturday if you have completed this course and are looking for a refresher (Recommended every two years).

Expressions of interest open for the 2026 course on February 1st. Sign up to this event to be notified.

Backcountry Avalanche Courses and High Alpine Skills Courses are organised and managed by the National Club and are listed in the courses section here.

Trips and Meets

The section runs a range of trips and meets throughout the year. To find out more and sign up, join HelloClub here.

The Summer and Autumn schedule is:

• Wharepapa South Rock Meet. Feb 14th.
• Waipari Rock On Climbing Festival. Feb 20th to 22nd.*
• Wānaka CragFest. 27th Feb to 1st March.*
• Ruapehu Hut Maintenance Rock Meet. March 6th to 8th.
• Mangorewa Rock Meet (Intermediate and above). March 14th to 15th.
• Mountain Photography Meet. March 21st and 22nd.
• Ti Point Rock Meet. 28th March.
• Maungarei Springs Open Day (All levels). April 11th.
• Whakapapa Friends and Family Rock Meet. April 25th, 26th and 27th.
• Buck Rock and K Gorge Meet (Intermediate and above). May 2nd and 3rd.
• Pakeho Rock Meet. May 9th and 10th.
• Maungarei Springs Open Day (All levels). May 16th.
• Waipapa Dam and Waipari (Intermediate and above) Rock Meet. May 23rd and 24th.

*The Auckland section is not running this event but putting climbers in touch with each other from the section who are attending.

Hut Responsibilities

The Auckland and Central North Island Sections are responsible for the Ruapehu Hut maintenance programme. The section hosts an annual 'Hut Maintenance Meet', completing odd jobs, restocking the hut for the winter and climbing at the Whakapapa Gorge. This weekend is listed along with the other Trips and Meets on HelloClub.

Crag Maintenance/Support

The section works alongside ACAT to support the local crags. Andy Baird is the point of connection between the Auckland section and ACAT and does a fantastic job looking after, maintaining and promoting the Maungarei Springs crag in Mount Wellington. There's an active Facebook page here to stay in touch with more information here.

Gear Hire

The following equipment is available to NZ Alpine Club members:

• Crampons – flexible, suitable for stiff leather boots or plastics (NOT suitable for soft boots)
• Ice axes – very light, straight axe
• Helmets – light & comfortable, one size fits all, different colours!
• Avalanche transceivers – easy-to-use, suitable for all trips in avalanche-prone areas, e.g. Mt Ruapehu
• Shovel and Probe part of the essential avo kit.

To hire gear, please sign up to the HelloClub platform here.

Calendar

To view our Google calendar click here.

To download our calendar for non google accounts click here.

To subscriber to our Google calendar click here. 

Newsletters

November 2025 March 2026 April 2026 June 2026 

Committee

The current committee is as follows:

• Chris Taylor - Chair.
• Jo Sun - Secretary.
• Sibylle Van Hove - Treasurer.
• Jacqui Williams - Events Coordinator.
• Jason Chua - Operations Coordinator.
• Ellie Hackshaw - Marketing Coordinator.
• Sonia Mariano - Trips and Meets Coordinator.

To email someone from the committee use our general email address and we will forward it to the right person: [email protected]