Mt Cheeseman
📍 Canterbury , Ashburton District · Nearest city: Methven (53 km)
22 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1656 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
-43.15620, 171.67200Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:16 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~143 m, wind 18 km/h, precipitation 1.9 mm.
base ~143m · wind 18 km/h · precip 1.9mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~170 m, wind 14 km/h.
base ~170m · wind 14 km/h · precip 0.5mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~1068 m, wind 5 km/h.
base ~1068m · wind 5 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
🌬 Daily wind (next days)
Daily summary (10m wind). Full hour × altitude chart is being added progressively.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 0 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.00 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.62 | Slope faces north in southern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Drive up the Mt Cheeseman ski field road to the locked gate, then walk a few hundred meters to the ski field base station.
Rules and notes
Max altitude 9500 feet, right under the flight path for incoming flights to Christchurch International.
Nearby sites
Hamilton Peak (2) · Craigieburn 1525 (2) · Mt Bruce (0) · Woolshed Hill (2) · Avalanche Peak (3) · Mt Hutt (2)