About Us
Founded by Sir Graeme Dingle in 1972 with Sir Edmund Hillary as patron, Hillary Outdoors is New Zealand’s leading provider of youth outdoor education experiences. Each year we deliver over 40,000 education experiences across our two centres at Tongariro and Aotea Great Barrier Island, as well as through numerous outdoor events. Read more about us here.
Our Programmes
Hillary Outdoors Discovery Challenge
The Discovery Challenge Programme brings together home-schooled students at our island classroom – Aotea Great Barrier Island or alpine classroom – Tongariro. Students work together in teams, discover new passions, adventure in the outdoors, and even gain unit standards if they wish.
Students will participate in a range of activities ranging from sea kayaking, sailing, raft building, rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes and
environmental programmes, with the aims of encouraging teamwork, expanding leadership and risk management skills, strengthening communication, building resilience and perseverance all in an outdoor environment.
Hillary Outdoors Aotea Great Barrier Island
Delivered at either of our Centres – Aotea Great Barrier Island or Tongariro – offering the best choice of marine or land-based learning environments. Throughout this programme students continuously learn through adventure and connect through participation, helping them to recognise their strengths and abilities, and develop their confidence.
Five weeks of immersive outdoor education experiences. Currently offered at our Aotea Great Barrier Island Centre, students receive a very special and stirring welcome onto the Island, setting a meaningful tone for the entire programme experience. Here students have space to exhale, test their own waters, surprise themselves, develop interests and focus – while learning in depth about the local natural and cultural environment.
Designed for 14-18 year old’s and offered at our Tongariro or Aotea Great Barrier Island Centres (depending on dates), our school holiday programmes offer fun, action-packed challenges in the great outdoors. Each programme has a different focus depending on student age and level of challenge required and will involve physical activity each day so a moderate fitness level will help you make the most of the programme. But you don’t need to be into sport or the outdoors, the main thing you need is a willingness to “have a go”.
5-day Holiday Action Challenge: The Holiday Action Challenge is a 5-day programme with an emphasis on building interpersonal skills while having fun. It is for students aged 14-18 years who are keen to meet new people and try new experiences. Our instructors will work with the students to select activities that meet group and personal goals and to push them to their level of challenge. The groups will progress from doing day trips at the start of the week to doing an overnight expedition at the end of the week as a final challenge.
7-day Hillary Leadership Programme: The Hillary Leadership Programme is a 7-day programme for 16-18 year olds. This programme is great for (but not limited to) student prefects, sports captains, school council members and students entering the workforce as the course uses the outdoors as a medium for exploring leadership theory, skills and related issues. The programme culminates with a double overnight expedition.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award
Hillary Outdoors is an accredited outdoor provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award offered at both Tongariro and Aotea Great Barrier Island centres during the school holidays.
Hillary Outdoors is a great choice for undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. Both the Aotea Great Barrier Island and Tongariro locations offer the perfect environment for a very authentic experience of personal discovery and growth; as well as developing skills in self-reliance, perseverance, personal responsibility and service to community.
For more information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s New Zealand organisation and details about each award please visit their website.
Hillary Outdoors provides both Expedition and Exploration Adventurous Journeys for youth between the age of 14 to 24 years, to the following levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold Residential Project.
Events
We also offer a range of events for secondary school aged youth. Our nationwide Events Programme is the only adventure racing competition for secondary school students and encourages participation and teamwork.
Professional Training
Tertiary Programme – Certificate
More Information
Keep up to date with Hillary Outdoors by following our Facebook and Instagram pages, or please get in touch on 0800 OUT THERE (0800 688 843), or via email contact@hillaryoutdoors.co.nz with any questions you may have.