How to book

Contact

The Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) educator is your main point of contact.

Email: elc.aoraki@doc.govt.nz

Alternative contact: mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz (only use if you do not get a reply within a few days). Note: The Visitor Centre will not be able to help with specific questions but will forward your email on to an appropriate person.

Request information about sessions and services we offer

Email the ELC educator to get access to our shared Teachers' Folder hosted on OneDrive. This folder contains information about the sessions and services we offer. There is also a link to our electronic booking form in the folder.

If you would like to discuss options with the educator, please provide your phone number and request a call back. You can also ask to be added to the mailing list for our electronic newsletter. 

Make your booking

1. Decide on your preferred dates and back-up dates, if possible.
2. Book your accommodation.
3. Complete and send the electronic booking form (found in the shared Teachers' Folder).
4. The ELC educator will draft your programme and send you the link.
5. Review draft programme sent to you and confirm or request changes. 
6. Ensure you have read all EOTC safety requirements for your school.
7. Be aware that changes may have to be made due to weather or other unplanned events. 
8. To avoid disppointment, for terms 1 and 4 please book at least 6 months in advance. 

Fees

The Aoraki Mount Cook ELC service is free to New Zealand schools. Bookings made through businesses for foreign students occur a fee of $20.00 + GST per person, to be paid in cash or by credit card over the counter at the DOC Aoraki/ Mount Cook Visitor Centre.

External providers

Schools need to make their own bookings with external providers. Let us know what external provider activities you plan to do (including timings), so we can then plan your ELC sessions around these activities.

Risk management

Ministry of Education EOTC Guidelines (section 51) state:

“51. While the board of trustees is responsible for the health and safety of all participants in EOTC, and for ensuring learning outcomes are met, the board can only achieve this with the help of everyone involved. This includes effective delegation of responsibilities to relevant people.”

Our position

The school undertaking the ELC activity is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of their staff, parents, guardians and students. This is confirmed in the EOTC Guidelines (section 51, above). This responsibility typically includes the school using their RAMS process, behaviour management and ratio systems, co-ordinating group gear, first aid, communications, accommodation and food. However, as an ELC provider, DOC acknowledges that for schools to manage their responsibility, a collaborative approach to risk management is necessary.

The ELC educator will support your safety planning by informing you of activity type, duration, amenities and identifying permanent hazards and safety needs for you to consider in your risk management planning. The ELC educator has also prepared some generic RAMS forms to help support you in your pre-trip planning.

The ELC educator will also support your safety management by advising on weather, road conditions and environmental hazards relevant to your group, activity, location and the conditions on the actual day. As no two groups or days are the same this is usually done just prior to and/or during the activity.

Commercial providers have their own separate policies on managing risk. These may include the school or parents signing disclaimers or agreeing to terms and conditions prior to undertaking activities. Schools should check this well before the camp to allow for parental consents to be sought. Information on risk policies can be requested from the providers.

Perceived risk

At times Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has been perceived as high risk by school groups because of its serious mountain terrain. In fact, the actual risk for schools is very low as activities are based around Aoraki/Mount Cook Village and low risk level, high use tracks.

Emergency support

There is a high level of emergency support within Aoraki/Mount Cook Village because of our remote location. There is an ambulance based at Aoraki/Mount Cook on call 24/7 run by St John volunteers.

There is a medical centre at Twizel, 65 km from Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, with on call 24/7 doctor coverage. Note that the nearest x-ray facilities are at Timaru Hospital.

There is excellent mobile coverage for both Spark and Vodafone within Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, State Highway 80, Red Tarns Track and the lower Hooker Valley Track. Note that Tasman Valley/Blue Lakes has Spark coverage only.

Accommodation

You must book your own accommodation. Accommodation providers within the national park include lodges, motels, a hotel and a DOC campsite. Another good option is Glentanner Park, just outside the national park. Some groups choose to stay in Twizel.

Time and distance

The park is located on the west of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps, but only accessible by road from the east coast – 40 min drive off State Highway 8.

Aoraki/Mount Cook Village lies within the park, with Twizel, 63 km away, the nearest town (with the nearest supermarket!) outside of the park.

The drive to Aoraki/Mount Cook can be hazardous. Ice and snow can be on the road any time of the year, so drive carefully.

Whether you are travelling from the South via Central Otago, or via the Waitaki Valley, or down through South Canterbury, there are many things to see and do. These include:

• Benmore Dam – hydro electricity
• Church of the Good Shepherd
• Clay Cliffs
• Mount John Observatory
• Ruataniwha wetlands
• salmon farms
• ski fields
• Tekapo Springs.