At Mountain View High School, there is a special project week for all 9th ​​and 10th grade students, which takes place at the end of every 4th term. Here, activities outside the normal curriculum are offered and students are given the opportunity to gain valuable experience in extraordinary fields. For example, you can learn how to sail a yacht or you get the opportunity to improve your skills on a golf course. Furthermore, you can take part in mountain bike tours in the beautiful nature of the region or simply stay stay on the school grounds and acquire some chess knowledge.

Overall, the school is very natural and focuses on outdoor education. What would have sounded exotic to impossible in other parts of the world is part of the normal program here. Kayak tours, ski trips as well as rafting and climbing trips are offered regularly and are embedded in an educational concept, which convey to the students self-esteem, self-confidence and environmental awareness.

Mountainview High School is located in the small provincial city of Timaru on the east coast of central South Island of New Zealand. It is almost midway between Christchurch in the north and Dunedin in the south.

The region has a relatively dry climate with mild winters and moderate summers. The school overlooks mountains and sea and Timaru has the relaxed pace of a small city, while offering the facilities and attractions of a regional centre.

Mountainview High Scool has an amazing panorama of the nearby mountain ranges with their famous lake landscapes and ski resorts as well as the equally adjacent Pacific Ocean.

The school is located in the coastal town of Timaru in the eponymous district on the east coast of the New Zealand South Island. This lovely place, which has acquired a charming rural character, is located in the immediate vicinity of world-famous excursions and recreation areas such as Mount Cook or Queenstown, which are highly popular with tourists. The warm climate (on average 30 degrees in summer and 16 degrees in winter) also makes the region extremely attractive. Despite its manageable size, Timaru is a significant port city.  Larger cities like Christchurch or Dunedin are about 2 hours away by car.

Leisure Activities 

In addition to the numerous student activities, in which international students may also participate, the city and region also offers an extensive opportunities to fulfill  leisure time. In recent years, tourism in Timaru has experienced a significant boost due to the expansion of the corresponding infrastructure. Thus, the city has cozy cafes and restaurants. The public garden and park facilities provide a relaxing experience and those who are keen to lean more about culture, should opt for a visit to Aigantighe, one of the best art galleries in New Zealand. Or visit the South Canterbury Museum, which houses an extensive collection of local history. The cultural offer also includes the Summer Carnival, which takes place every year between Christmas and New Year.

There is something for both locals and visitors to experience. Caroline Bay Beach is a popular destination and is located just miles north of the city center. Here you can simply relax on the deck chair in the sun or join in some water sports.

Mountainview High School is widely regarded as one of the most modern schools in New Zealand. This can be seen above all in the equipment. The school not only has modern classrooms and computer rooms, their laboratories and libraries also boast excellent equipment and are technologically kept up to date.

The music rooms are not only used by the school choir and the jazz band, but also private student bands. In addition, there are three student lounges for relaxation, a theater hall in which regular plays and dance shows are performed, a large auditorium and a wide range of sports ranging from rugby to swimming to tennis and netball.

Mountain View High School was one of the first schools on the New Zealand South Island to welcome international students.

Currently, 40 international students from eight different countries visit the school (Japan, Thailand, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Taiwan, Germany, Philippines). The school student accommodation in carefully selected New Zealand host families and a special coordinator is support international students at all times with advice and action to make the stay as pleasant as possible. In addition, the transit from Christchurch International Airport to Timaru will be taken over from the school, free of charge.

Mountainview HS is proud of its extensive range of subjects. There are a number of standard subjects (English, mathematics, sports, etc.), which can be supplemented individually by optional courses. The number of these elective courses increases from school year to school year. In the 9th grade, these are subjects such as agriculture, graphics and Maori. Fromth 10th to 13th grade, however, many other subjects are added. These include courses in photography, tourism, computer design, theater, wood and metal processing, economics and food technology, just to name a few.

The curicululum prepares students for the NCEA examinations and is consists of compulsory core subjects in Years 9 and 10, with increasing options and flexibility from Years 11-13. An example of Year 9 follows:

1. English, Social Science, Mathematics
2. Science, Economics, Computer Technology
3. Music, Physical Education, Health Education
4. Art, Drama
5. Plus 4 optional subjects

English Courses

To ensure smooth integration into New Zealand everyday life, international students attend special ESL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses. For this purpose, a graduation test is performed so that the personal learning needs of the individual students can be better assessed. The courses are led by experienced and highly qualified staff. The small number of participants per course also contributes to a rapid learning experience.

• Archery
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Claybird Target Shooting
• Cricket
• Cycling
• Futsal
• Golf
• Hockey
• Summer Hockey
• Lawn Bowls
• Multisport
• Netball
• Pool/Darts
• Rock climbing
• Rugby
• Smallbore rifle shooting
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Touch
• Volleyball

Mountainview High School has a strong tradition in school musicals. It has produced acclaimed seasons of Man of La Mancha, Westside Story, Footloose, Loserville, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music. These performances allow students to hone their skills in stage performance, set creation, lighting, sound engineering and orchestral accompaniment. Mountainview High School has proud tradition of high quality school musicals. Providing an opportunity for students of all abilities to be involved in the performing arts.

Musical Activites:

• Chamber Music
• Jazz Bad
• Lunchtime Concerts

Please check here for the updated school fees.