:: Welcome to the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand
As New Zealand’s leading provider of outdoor education to secondary schools, The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) strives to develop people's potential through outdoor education and adventure. OPC runs a full range of courses for youth and adults wanting to develop outdoor skills, experience adventure, and train towards careers in the outdoor industry. OPC also conducts staff training programmes for corporate groups, and tailored specialty programmes for private groups with specific needs.
Our experienced and highly-trained instructional staff deliver quality professional courses in outdoor instructor training, white-water kayaking, rock-climbing, mountaineering, sailing, sea-kayaking, and other outdoor recreation and industry skills. Conference and retreat facilities are also available in our purpose-built corporate facilities.
Established in 1973 to provide outdoor pursuits training for young New Zealanders, OPC offers two exciting venues for outdoor activities; OPC Tongariro and OPC Great Barrier.
We are a non-profit charitable trust adventure organisation.
OPC Tongariro
OPC Tongariro is located in a beautiful wilderness area of the Central North Island adjacent to the Tongariro National Park. Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage area. This status recognizes the park’s important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. OPC offers an infinite variety of natural environments providing life-changing experiences that are fun and expertly managed.
OPC Great Barrier 
OPC Great Barrier is located on the edge of Karaka Bay, Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Great Barrier Island is the guardian of the gulf. Exposed to rugged elements, it shields the inner islands and offers a variety of environments that challenge and inspire. OPC students and staff are privileged to have access to this world-class outdoor classroom right on Auckland’s doorstep.
Sir Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Hillary believed strongly in the value of outdoor experiences for young people, and backed Dingle's vision by becoming the patron of OPC in 1973. It was on a school trip to Mt Ruapehu that the teenaged Sir Ed first encountered the mountains. He was captivated by this experience, and his life-long passion for mountaineering and outdoor adventure began. Through his achievements and contributions to society that followed, Sir Ed's legacy and strong values continue to enlighten and inspire people all over the globe.
"It is hard to believe that the Outdoor Pursuits Centre is now over 35 years old. It seems only a few years ago that Graeme Dingle with a mass of enthusiasm and precious little else got it all going in those battered abandoned buildings down near the bottom of the hill. And now thousands of young people have been introduced to adventure and the great out-of-doors - certainly in my view one of the most worthwhile undertakings in New Zealand.
Although the experience for all those High School students is still the bedrock of OPC the Centre has blossomed out into a multitude of other worthwhile directions - leadership, winter skills, kayaking and developing human resources of all kinds. OPC can look back on those years with pride and satisfaction. It has been an era of great growth and development. It hasn't ever been easy but enormous credit must go to the Trustees, Director and Staff who have worked so hard - and the young people who have benefited so greatly." Sir Edmund Hillary
11th January 2008 - The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre Of New Zealand (OPC) mourns the loss of its patron, but will continue to pass Sir Ed's legacy on to future generations of young New Zealanders.
Summits For Ed Tribute Tour
From March 25 - May 30 2008, all New Zealanders were given the opportunity to join in on a final farewell to Sir Edmund Hillary and create a lasting memorial as an insiration to the youth of the nation. People young and old, from all over New Zealand, turned out in their hundreds to climb the summit of a peak in their local areas. Individuals and groups carried an engraved tributary rock to the summit, where a memorial service was held. These rocks have been collected and are now on their way to OPC Tongariro, where a giant rock cairn will soon be built as a lasting memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary. To find out more about this exciting journey, or to donate a rock to the the cairn visit www.summitsfored.org.nz
Upcoming Courses
2010 Course ScheduleDownload schedule of course dates and fees for 2010
YOUTH
Genesis Energy Summit Leadership Challenge at Tongariro - 14th - 20th December
Holiday Action Challenge at either Great Barrier or Tongariro
19th - 23rd December - Still places available!
OPC Latest News
:: click to read statement about OPC and Safety
Summer Skills Courses - Kayak
Kayak Roll Clinic - 24th to the 25th of October.
River Rescue Level 1 - 31st October to 1st of November.
Kayak Skills Intro - 9th to 12th of November.
Kayak Skills Intermediate -23rd to the 26th of November.
Sea Kayak Skills - 16th - 17th of January
Summer Skills Courses - Rock Skills
Rock Skills Intro - 31st of October to 1st of November.
Rock Skills Intermediate - 16th to the 19th of November.
Family Action Challenge
11th to 13th of January 2010.