Multi-day, residential outdoor adventure experiences for youth Years 7 –13, designed to challenge, inspire and empower young people
Hillary Holiday Camps are a fun, social way to spend the school holiday break. It is an action-packed week of adventure, fun, and personal development in some of Aotearoa’s most stunning natural environments. Whether participants are outdoorsy, sporty or trying something new, everyone is welcome. All that’s needed is a positive mindset and a willingness to give things a go!
Hillary Holiday Camps are structured into three key development stages:
These stages ensure that participants are grouped with peers of a similar age and take part in age-appropriate activities. This fosters a supportive and encouraging environment, allowing young people to try new challenges without being pushed too far beyond their comfort zone.
To get the most out of Hillary Holiday Camps, we encourage participants to return each year, progressing through the stages to continue building their skills and confidence. Joining at the Explorer level is not a requirement; participants can enter at any stage that suits their age and experience.
ENROLMENT PROCESS
As part of our enrolment process, students interested in joining a Hillary Holiday Camp are asked to nominate a mentor or trusted adult from their community (must be a non-relative) to complete our referee form. This step helps us ensure that each participant is genuinely interested and motivated to be part of the experience. It also allows us to build a positive, respectful group dynamic by confirming that students are ready to engage fully with the programme. The reference acts as a character endorsement, giving families confidence that their teen will be surrounded by like-minded peers in a supportive and constructive environment.
FOOD
We can cater to vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, halal, and other dietary requirements. We are not a nut-free site, but we do our best to minimise cross-contamination in our kitchen. If you have a severe allergy and need to bring some or all your own food, we can provide fridge/kitchen space.
On expeditions away from base, the group prepares meals under their instructor’s supervision. These meals are simple and nutritious and are cooked over a fire or camp stove. Ingredients are prepared ahead of time and are appropriate for the expedition.
SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Our top priority is the safety of our participants and managing the level of risk in the activities we offer at our Hillary Holiday Camps.
All activities are facilitated by our team of qualified instructors and are carefully designed and facilitated to offer age-appropriate challenges that encourage personal growth, develop interpersonal skills, forge new friendships and give feelings of accomplishment.
We operate under a sector-leading, three-tier safety management system.
INSTRUCTORS
Hillary Outdoors instructors are enthusiastic, skilled, and committed to sharing their expertise, serving as strong role models. They are adept at supporting both individual and group needs. Each group is assigned a dedicated, qualified instructor who leads them throughout the entire journey, offering consistent guidance and care from arrival to departure.
Hillary Outdoors are the custodians of the amazing legacy created by Sir Graeme Dingle and Sir Edmund Hillary who believed that all youth should have access to enhance their lives through outdoor and adventure education, regardless of their material resources or ability.
Over 50 years later, we continue to provide support to ensure our outdoor education-based, youth development programmes are accessible to all Kiwi kids.
We can provide funding support for rangatahi to have life-changing adventures and flourish through two funding channels:
- Crowdfunding: Contribution Hub
- Hillary Step Scholarship programme
Please take a moment to read through our Terms and Conditions before making a booking.
We’ve tried to answer some of your questions!
We welcome international participants to any Hillary Holiday Camp! Register as per usual, and our bookings team can help.
Events
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Homeschool/Unschool - Ages 14-18Discovery Camp – Coromandel
Discovery Camp is all about stepping outside your comfort zone, working as a team, and experiencing the wild like never Read More
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Hillary Holiday Camp - Ages 13-16Adventurer Camp – Tongariro
Join other teens aged 13-16 for an unforgettable school holiday outdoor adventure. This 4-day Adventurer Camp is a fun, residential outdoor camp held Read More
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Hillary Holiday Camp - Ages 11-12Explorer Camp- Tongariro
Ready for an unforgettable school holiday? Our 4-day Explorer Camp is a residential adventure for 11 and 12-year-olds who want to try Read More
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Adult and Teen - ages 11-18Whānau Camp – Coromandel
This Whānau Camp is a residential outdoor family camp in the Northern Coromandel for teens (11–18) and the important adults in their lives. It’s designed to Read More
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Hillary Holiday Camp - Ages 16-19Trailblazer Camp – Coromandel
Join other participants aged 16-19 years old for a fun, multi-activity outdoor adventure these school holidays. Our Trailblazer Camp is Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10Get2Go – Taranaki/Whanganui
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
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Homeschool/Unschool - Ages 14-18Discovery Camp – Tongariro
Discovery Camp is all about stepping outside your comfort zone, working as a team, and experiencing the wild like never Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10
Get2Go – Auckland
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10
Get2Go – Northland
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10
Get2Go – Waikato
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10
Get2Go – Bay of Plenty
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
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School Team Event - Year 9-10
Get2Go – Hawkes Bay
Get2Go is a great entry-level outdoor education adventure challenge for Year 9 and 10 school students. Form a team of Read More
