Toboggan Races to Top Bunks: A Family Trip to Unwin Lodge
Unwin Lodge is an asset to members of the Alpine Club seeking all kinds of adventure, from climbing the highest and gnarliest peaks of Aotearoa to sliding down the snow filled campground. Enjoyed by climbers, skiers, trampers, the young, the old, individuals, groups, and families, all keen to experience New Zealand’s highest mountains and the beautiful alpine environment of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
I have been lucky enough to use Unwin Lodge as a base for mountaineering, rock climbing, and family adventures. When we relocated to Central Otago in 2021, we were sad about not seeing our Christchurch friends as regularly as we would like. A light at the end of the tunnel was Unwin Lodge, a convenient midpoint between our new home in Alexandra and our old friends in Christchurch.
In June 2022, our outdoorsy friends Colin, Kate, and their 3-year-old daughter Matilda ventured from Christchurch to meet Chris, our 3-year-old twins Jack and Rosa and I at Unwin Lodge for a fun family weekend. We arrived in Mt Cook Village on Friday afternoon and headed straight to the DOC carpark for the kids to enjoy some recent snow. We met our friends at the White Horse Hill Campground carpark, and after finding some nice small snow slopes, tobogganing and ski races ensued with the three-year olds impressing the adults with their off-piste ski skills. We all had lots of laughs and fun! We then headed to Unwin Lodge to unpack our cars and defrost. The warm family rooms were perfect for each family, with Jack and Rosa excited about who would get the top bunk. Unwin Lodge’s large communal kitchen and lounge had plenty of space for us to keep the kids entertained while we lit the fire, cooked dinner and relaxed while enjoying the amazing views.
The following days were spent lounging in the morning sun in the common room with books before heading out for a walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint. Our kids were very excited by the big mountains, floating icebergs, and the final dash in the rain back to the carpark shelter as the weather began to turn. We explored the DOC Visitor Centre, which kept the little ones and us adults intrigued. We managed to tire our kids out enough to get them all down at a reasonable time and enjoy some banter and very competitive games of Settlers of Catan. On our last day, we cleaned and packed before heading to the Hooker Valley Track for a wander up some treacherously icy tracks before hitting the road back home.
It was a real treasure to share the wonderful alpine landscape with our children while catching up with good friends. Unwin Lodge offers many comforts that make for an easy and adventurous long weekend trip for young families. A long weekend at Unwin Lodge will undoubtedly create lifelong memories, no matter the size of your adventure.
-Ashlee Peeters