Outdoor Education | Tūhura Taiao

With the beautiful Eastern Bay of Plenty at our doorstep and a curriculum built on a ‘Coast by Nature’ theme we offer an extensive Outdoor Education Programme at Ōpōtiki College.

From Year 11 onwards tauira can select to choose Outdoor Education as a subject/ course. The programmes offered in year 11-13 allow tauira to experience the outdoors and also earn credits (achievement and unit standards) towards their NCEA qualifications. Tauira will have the opportunity to experience:

  • Mountain biking                              
  • Tramping                            
  • Surfing                                
  • Whitewater rafting
  • Rock Climbing                                  
  • Abseiling                             
  • Archery                               
  • Snow sports

The courses also cover the essential skills of water safety, Risk Management and weather conditions. With New Zealand being the ‘Outdoor Capital of the World’ these courses lead to a number of career and vocational pathways as well as allowing tauira to ‘push their limits’ and grow their self-confidence.

The school has a large range of Outdoor Education resources and equipment and tauira do not need to have their own equipment to participate in the courses.  The teachers are well trained and experienced and ensure that ‘experts’ are on hand to assist when appropriate.

A number of other courses offer outdoor and education outside the classroom (EOTC) experiences within their programmes of learning:

  • Art
  • Music
  • Geography
  • Tourism
  • Social Studies
  • Hospitality
  • Gateway
  • Aquaculture
  • Primary Industries

Junior Camps

In Term 4 a camp programme is offered to our Junior learners. These camps will see tauira having the opportunity to experience contextualised learning in places such as Rotorua, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and a variety of other locations within New Zealand.

Other outdoor opportunities ...

  • Outward Bound - Find courage, determination, and instant life-long friends on adventure packed courses for teens
  • Spirit of Adventure - A 10 Day Voyage on board Spirit of New Zealand is a life-changing experience.
  • Hillary Outdoors - Fun, action-packed programmes offered during the school holidays for 14 -18 year olds.