Alpine Adventure Holiday Park is a family holiday park in a quiet, bush-clad valley at the foot of Jacks Pass, about 2.5 km from the Hanmer Springs township in North Canterbury. For a Canterbury school camp, its centrepiece is Bell Bird Lodge, a self-catered group lodge that sleeps 40 in bunks across five bedrooms, with tent sites, cabins and units across the park for extra numbers or staff.
Why schools choose Alpine Adventure
- A lodge built for groups: Bell Bird Lodge sleeps 40 in bunk rooms, with its own kitchen and lounge.
- Kitchen sized for 40: two full-sized ovens, two fridges, a freezer and a walk-in pantry, fully equipped.
- Warm in winter: a log burner in the lounge, with firewood supplied, and heated ablution blocks.
- Things to do on site: a swimming pool in summer, rope challenge, adventure playground and games room.
- Flexible numbers: powered and non-powered sites, cabins, chalets and tourist flats alongside the lodge.
- Accessible bathrooms: wheelchair-accessible toilets and showers in the block beside the lodge.
- Close to Hanmer Springs: 2.5 km from the township, the thermal pools and the forest walks.
School camp accommodation
Bell Bird Lodge
Bell Bird Lodge sleeps 40 people in bunk beds across five bedrooms: two rooms of four, one of six, one of 12 and one of 14. The lodge has a large communal lounge with a log burner, trestle tables, dining chairs, sofa chairs and a large Smart TV with DVD player. Its ablution block is about 12 m away along a lit path, with men’s and women’s sections that each have two showers and toilets, including one wheelchair-accessible toilet and shower in each. The main camp ablution block can also be used.
Cabins, chalets and tourist flats
The park also has self-contained chalets sleeping six, tourist flats sleeping seven, kitchen cabins sleeping five to nine, standard cabins and caravans sleeping two, and non-powered cabins sleeping four. These can suit teachers, parent helpers or groups too big for the lodge.
Powered and non-powered sites
Tent and campervan sites, some sunny and some shaded by mature trees, share communal toilets and showers, the camp kitchen, picnic tables and barbecues. The park describes its powered sites as suited to schools, clubs and social groups.
Lodge guests bring their own bedding (a sleeping bag, or sheets, duvet, pillowslip and towel), or hire bedding and towels per bed.
Facilities for school groups
- Lodge kitchen with two ovens, cooktops, two fridges, a stand-up freezer, walk-in pantry, microwave, two sinks, two toasters and continuous hot water.
- Cookware and crockery for 40, including pots, pans, casserole dishes, cutlery, tea towels and oven mitts.
- Lodge lounge with a log burner, tables and seating, suitable for meetings and evening sessions.
- Gas barbecues for lodge guests, plus two barbecue areas in the park.
- Camp kitchen, heated, with a separate dining area.
- Swimming pool, 9.5 m by 4.5 m, open from Labour Weekend to the end of March, weather permitting.
- Games room with table tennis, pool and arcade games, and a TV room.
- Rope challenge on the hillside above the camp and an adventure playground with a climbing tower and trampoline.
- Bike hire from reception, with kids’ and adult mountain bikes, helmets and locks.
- Laundry with token-operated washers and dryers and an indoor drying room.
- Free Wi-Fi for guests.
Self-catering
Alpine Adventure doesn’t offer catering, so school groups cook for themselves in the Bell Bird Lodge kitchen, which is equipped for 40. Gas barbecues are also available to lodge guests.
Learning opportunities
The park provides the base, and schools plan and run their own programmes, using the park’s facilities and the activities in and around Hanmer Springs.
Curriculum connections
A camp at Alpine Adventure fits with education outside the classroom (EOTC) and can support learning in:
- Health and Physical Education: swimming, biking, the rope challenge and walks around Hanmer Springs.
- Social Sciences: the park sits on a historic staging post used by drovers and musterers taking stock through to Molesworth Station.
- Science: the alpine valley setting and the geothermal springs that gave Hanmer Springs its name.
- Key competencies: managing self and relating to others through self-catered lodge life.
Activities on site and nearby
On site
- Swimming in the summer pool.
- Rope challenge for older children.
- Biking on hired kids’ and adult mountain bikes.
- Games room table tennis and pool.
- Adventure playground.
In and around Hanmer Springs
- Jetboating on the Waiau River.
- Bungy jumping from the Ferry Bridge.
- Maze and mini golf close to the village centre.
- Skiing at the Hanmer Springs Ski Area in winter.
About Alpine Adventure Holiday Park
Alpine Adventure is a privately run family holiday park on the site of a historic staging post, where drovers and musterers rested on the way to Molesworth Station. It hosts school groups, families, clubs, social groups and individual travellers, and welcomes pets on request.
School camp rates
Rates are charged per night and include GST. Standard rates don’t apply to conferences or special events, and contracted rates are available on request, so school groups should ask for a group quote. Bell Bird Lodge is booked by application form rather than online. Bedding hire, bike hire and laundry tokens are extra. Cancellations within 72 hours of arrival incur a charge. Contact Alpine Adventure Holiday Park for current rates.
Example three-day camp
An example of how a school camp at Alpine Adventure could look (every camp is planned by the school):
- Day 1: Arrive and settle into Bell Bird Lodge, bikes and the rope challenge, evening in the lounge by the log burner.
- Day 2: Morning jetboat trip on the Waiau River, afternoon swim and games room, barbecue dinner.
- Day 3: Maze and mini golf in the village, clean up the lodge, depart.
Getting there
The park is at the end of Jacks Pass Road, reached from State Highway 7A via Argelins Road, or from the township via Amuri Avenue past the thermal pools. It’s about 2.5 km from the Hanmer Springs township. Christchurch is about 135 km away (1 hour 45 minutes), Kaikōura about 130 km (1 hour 50 minutes), Greymouth about 215 km (2 hours 45 minutes) and Nelson about 300 km (4 hours).
Nearby attractions for school groups
- Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa: hot pools, swimming pools and waterslides in the township.
- Conical Hill: a short forest climb to a lookout over the Hanmer basin.
- Hanmer Forest Park: walking and mountain biking tracks on the edge of town.
- Waiau Ferry Bridge: the historic bridge used for bungy jumping, with jetboating on the river below.
- A-MAZE-N-GOLF: a maze and 18-hole mini golf course near the village centre.
- Hanmer Springs Ski Area: a small club ski field about 17 km away.
Other groups and events
- Clubs and social groups in the lodge or on sites.
- Family groups and reunions.
- Small conferences and business groups.
- Holidaymakers in cabins, units and campsites, with pets on request.
Good to know
- Bell Bird Lodge bookings are made by application form, not online.
- Lodge guests supply their own bedding, or hire it.
- The log burner is the lodge’s only heating.
- The pool is open from Labour Weekend to the end of March only.
- Proof of ID and a credit card are needed on arrival.
- Cancellations within 72 hours of arrival, and no-shows, are charged the first night.
Frequently asked questions
How many students can Bell Bird Lodge sleep?
Bell Bird Lodge sleeps 40 in bunk beds across five bedrooms. Cabins, units and campsites in the park can take extra people.
Is Alpine Adventure catered?
No. Groups self-cater in the lodge kitchen, which is equipped for 40.
Do we need to bring bedding?
Yes, for the lodge. Bring a sleeping bag or sheets, duvet, pillowslip and towel, or hire bedding per bed.
Is there a pool?
Yes. A 9.5 m by 4.5 m pool is open from Labour Weekend to the end of March, weather permitting.
Are the bathrooms accessible?
Yes. The block beside the lodge has a wheelchair-accessible toilet and shower in both the men’s and women’s sections.
How far is it from Hanmer Springs?
About 2.5 km from the township, at the end of Jacks Pass Road.
How do we book the lodge?
Bell Bird Lodge is booked with an application form rather than online, and groups can ask for contracted rates.
