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
Download schedule of course dates and fees for 2009
School Holiday Programmes
5-23 January
Holiday Action Challenge 5 day
17-25 January
Genesis Energy Summit Leadership Challenge 9 day
19-23 January
Genesis Energy Summit Leadership Challenge 5 day
27-31 January
A 5 day Course for Student Trustees
Tenon Family Adventure Challenge
5 - 8 January or 12 - 15 January
:: OPC Latest News
Corporates Challenged in Exciting Event - Fifty-two adventurers, representing companies from around the North Island, navigated their way on bike and foot across the Central Plateau last weekend in the second annual Genesis Energy Corporate Hillary Challenge.
The fundraising event, organised by the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand, started at midday on Friday in Taupo and had the competitors racing non-stop for 24hours through both the urban and natural jungle.
Teams of four (including two of each gender) navigated their way through six stages which took them through the streets of Taupo and the rugged Craters Of The Moon area, across lakes, through water and native forest, and around the mountainous Central Plateau. After enduring cold and frosty conditions under a starry night sky, teams rolled past the finish line at OPC Tongariro under the watchful gaze of the mountains and the brilliant midday sun.
In total there were 128 optional checkpoints worth points ranging from 10 to 100 depending on there distance from the stage transition and their technical difficulty. The objective for each team was to gather as many points as they could over the 24hour period.
Teams could also undertake seven optional special mystery stages to gain valuable bonus points. These stages saw the teams do such things as building rafts, crawling through caves, testing their nerve on the OPC High Ropes course and ascending an ice-climbing training wall using ice axes and crampons.
Success in the event required a combination of strategic planning, good navigation, strong teamwork and general all-round fitness.
For the second year in a row the New Plymouth District Council team was beaten into second place, this year by first time team URS NZ Ltd from Auckland. The winning margin of only 80 points was ultimately decided at the special stage at the Okupata Caves, deep in the Tongariro Forest Park. The teams had to head underground and locate five hidden numbered cards earning them 100 points. This could then be doubled if they could solve a puzzle using these numbers. The team from New Plymouth, after nearly 23hours of competing simply couldn’t solve the puzzle in time and were forced to make a speedy mountain bike ride to the finish line, to avoid incurring a penalty for being late. Environment Waikato from Hamilton took out third place overall.
After a change of clothes and hot shower, teams convened at Chateau Tongariro for the event prize giving dinner. Special guest Ben Brown shared some of his adventures as an international pro kayaker and personal journey involved with getting to the top of this career. This was an inspiring presentation, highlighting that big challenges and adversity often presents an opportunity for some of the greatest achievements. Ben had some great stories and footage that left the audience in awe - including OPC staff!
The Genesis Energy Corporate Hillary Challenge is open to business based teams and all proceeds go to supporting OPC’s outdoor leadership programs for young New Zealanders. The 3rd annual challenge will take place in November 2009. For information on how to enter a team please visit the Genesis Energy Corporate Hillary Challenge page of the website.
OPC would like to thank and acknowledge Genesis Energy for their continued support and sponsorship which makes this event possible. To all the competitors, thank you for making it such a fantastic event and we hope to see you again in 2009!
View event results
NZRU Under 20 Academy Bring Full Squad - Confirmed October 2008:
Once again, OPC is proud to be working with the New Zealand Rugby Union as preparations get made to bring the Under 20 Academy Players to OPC as part of the NZRU player development programme later in November 2008.
Numbers have increased this year, with the full squad of 45 now participating in a programme which provides an excellent opportunity for developing players serious about a professional rugby career to 'put their hand up' and for coaches to note player potential.
During 7 days of activity, players will be challenged both physically and mentally while developing team work, communication and exploring how they evaluate individual performance and that of their peers.
The outdoors provides a great medium to work on these concepts, and OPC instructors look forward to challenging the players on 'their turf' come late November.
Press Release - Response to Department of Labour Charges - 14 October 2008
Statement for immediate release from:
SIR EDMUND HILLARY OUTDOOR PURSUITS CENTRE OF NEW ZEALAND
Our thoughts continue to be with the parents and family of those who died in the tragedy. This has been a terrible time for everyone. We have worked closely with the families and continue to be in regular contact with them and the school.
The safety of everyone (pupils, teachers, staff) at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre has always been and will always continue to be our paramount consideration.
We believe that our risk analysis, safety and staff training systems are up to (and in many cases exceed) world best practice for the outdoor education industry.
We are always reviewing this critical area of our business without compromise. We have always welcomed any expert scrutiny and suggestions for improvement.
Losing seven lives is a tragedy beyond belief and the Department of Labour is doing what it thinks is right.
Potentially this prosecution will be a test case in determining the parameters for leading organisations like ours, and the outdoor education industry generally, in providing an exciting and meaningful experience, but still achieving the safest possible environment.
The gorge where the accident happened has not been used since the accident and will continue to be off limits for OPC courses.
We welcome the department’s intention to have this case heard at the earliest date, as we are very conscious of the ongoing stress for the families and others directly involved.
Statement from the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre chairman Rupert Wilson, Tel 09 378 8830 or 021 827 626. If you are unable to get through by phone you may wish to email Mr Wilson with your contact name, media outlet and return contact details rupertjwilson@gmail.com Released by Morrison McDougall contact Iain Morrison Tel 021 688 668.
New Chair Elected - 14 OCTOBER 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre Trust Board on Saturday elected Mr Rupert Wilson as its chair, following the resignation two months ago of Grant McKenzie as a trustee. Mr McKenzie stepped down for health reasons.
Mr Wilson was a partner in law firm Chapman Tripp for 26 years, including nine years as the managing partner and two years as chair of the firm's national board. He is currently a consultant with the firm.
Mr Wilson has been a trustee of the Outdoor Pursuits Centre for the past 18 years, including a previous three-year term as Chair. He is also a trustee of the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust, the Motu Kaikoura Trust, and is the current Chair of the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.
Mr Wilson is the first point of contact for any media enquiries relating to the Department of Labour's report on its investigations into the Mangatepopo Stream tragedy. His contact details are Tel 09 378 8830 or 021 827 626. Email rupertjwilson@gmail.com
Released by Morrison McDougall contact Iain Morrison Tel 04 473 7980 or 021 688 668.
Last day of the SPARC Get2Go Regional Events - The last of the SPARC Get2Go regionals gets underway in Dunedin today, wrapping up what has been a fantastic month of activity across New Zealand. The addition of schools from the South Island has meant every year 9 and 10 student in the country has had the opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun, and take on the challenges presented by some good healthy competition.
Congratulations to every single one of you who took part this year and tried your best in all of the challenges and did so with great big smiles on your faces.
It was truly amazing to see many of you out there trying these sports for the very first time. We hope the Get2Go has given you a chance to learn some new skills and hopefully inspired you to get out there and try them all again sometime.