Kārearea Outdoor Adventures - KOA

15/09/2026

One week left!

This term's two after-school Outdoor Skills & Bushcraft Programme groups have been getting stuck into a wide range of activities through all sorts of weather.

From rope & knife skills, to eeling (catch & release) & fire skills, it's been impressive watching the kids teamwork and confidence in the outdoors grow over the term.

04/09/2026

🌿 TERM 4 OUTDOOR ACADEMY – LAST 2 SPOTS! 🌿

Our One-Day Programme is designed for 7–13 year-olds to build confidence, resilience, and practical skills—from bushcraft & hiking to fishing & water safety.

🎒 Tuesdays | 9:00am - 3:00pm

📍 Hawke's Bay

⚠️ Only 2 spots left before we're fully booked!

Head to www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz (check the Outdoor Academy page) to grab one of the final places today!

29/08/2026

Thanks to Sport Hawke's Bay and the Tū Manawa Fund, we're excited to run these exciting programmes across the bay next term!

We've just wrapped up the Tū Manawa Active Aoteroa Fast Fund round for August and are proud to have been able to support 28 organisations with the amazing mahi they do in our community. So many tamariki and rangatahi in Hawke’s Bay will benefit by having easier access to physical activity, whether it’s sport, active recreation, or play.

Check out the worthy recipients for this round here – https://tinyurl.com/3vdddx8p

Keep your eyes peeled for our next funding round being announced on Tuesday.

One of the amazing organisations we have been able to support is pictured below. Kārearea Outdoor Adventures - KOA. Funding will be used to support Heretaunga and Tamatea Intermediate students for an eight-week outdoor education and adventure activation programme, making use of local parks, reserves and rivers. Sessions include hiking, navigation, bushcraft, outdoor cooking, river safety, problem solving, environmental awareness and team-based active recreation.

17/08/2026

Gift your kids an unforgettable ocean experience this Spring!

We’re teaming up with Andy from Waves 4 Wellness to help tamariki (ages 9–17) catch waves, learn water safety skills and build lifelong ocean confidence!

Across two action-packed days, surfers of all skill levels will dive into daily surf sessions, learn essential ocean safety skills, and enjoy the best of Hawke's Bay beaches. All boards and wetsuits are fully provided!

Strictly limited to 11 spots per programme!

📖 Read full details: https://www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz/holidayprograms

🏄‍♀️ Enrol your child now:
https://enrolmy.com/karearea-outdoor-adventures

At KOA, we believe in the power of nature to transform lives. Through exploration and hands-on learning in the beautiful Hawkes' Bay outdoors, we foster a lifelong love for the environment and equip young learners with the skills they need to face challenges with confidence and resilience.

09/08/2026

Spring Hiking & Bushcraft Holiday Programme with KOA – Karearea Outdoor Adventures!

Give your tamariki an epic outdoor adventure this spring! Join us for 5 action-packed days of hiking, navigation, emergency & fire skills, bivvy building, eeling, and outdoor challenges across Hawke’s Bay.

Flexible options: Join for ONE DAY, MULTIPLE DAYS, or the WHOLE WEEK, every day is a brand-new adventure!

Daily Locations:

- Mon: Whitepine Scenic Reserve, Waipatiki Coastal Track & Tangoio Beach

- Tue: Blowhard Bush Reserve & Karamu Stream

- Wed: Aramoana Coastal Hike & Tukituki Riverbed

- Thu: Boundary Stream Reserve & Lake Tutira

- Fri: Elsthorpe Scenic Reserve, Karakau Coastal Walk & Tukituki Riverbed

Key details:
- Dates: Mon 28 Sept – Fri 2 Oct (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM)
- Drop-off/Pick-up: Havelock North Village Green
- Ages: 8–13 years | Cost: $95 per day
- Strictly limited to 11 spaces per day!

See full daily itineraries and activity details on our website:
www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz

Secure your child's spot now:
https://enrolmy.com/karearea-outdoor-adventures/activity/3-Spring_Hiking_Bushcraft_Holiday_Programme

05/08/2026

Exciting News! We’ve Partnered with Enrolmy!

Booking and managing your spot in our upcoming programmes just got a whole lot easier.

From now on, all of our upcoming programmes will be listed directly on our new Enrolmy page, making registration smooth and hassle-free. For full details on everything we have planned, you can still check out our main website!

Ready to see what’s coming up? Check out all of our exciting upcoming programmes here:

👉 https://enrolmy.com/karearea-outdoor-adventures

Take a look, find the right programme for your child, and get enrolled today!

At KOA, we believe the outdoors is the ultimate classroom. We use practical, fun, outdoor skills — like fishing, eeling, surfing, hiking, bushcraft, and water s

27/07/2026

Kia ora everyone,

We’re exploring the idea of launching a "One Day" Outdoor Education Programme for Term 4, and we’d love to hear your thoughts to see if there’s enough interest to make it happen!
Designed for students aged 7 - 13, this weekly day-in-nature would be open to both homeschooled tamariki and students enrolled in local schools (via the principal permission/one-day school exemption).

What a day in the programme could include:
- Hiking & Navigation
- Bushcraft & Survival Skills
- Surfing & Water Safety
- Fishing Skills

The programme wouldn't just be a fun day out - it would include structured learning in a real-world settings. The programme would be built to naturally foster the five core capabilities of the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum. Traditional learning environments don't suit every learning style. Hands-on, movement-based learning gives active kids and kinesthetic learners a practical stage to excel, build confidence, and discover their potential.

👇 How to help us gauge interest: Like this post or send us an email at [email protected] if this programme is something that you would be interested in for your whanau!

27/07/2026

TERM 3 SURFING & WATER SAFETY PROGRAMME!

Waves 4 Wellness & KOA are offering an incredible 6-week surfing & water safety programme for 11 lucky tamariki (Years 5–10). Guided by experienced surf lifeguards, participants will build ocean confidence, learn vital rip/water safety, and level up their surf skills!

When: Thursdays starting Aug 20 (Week 4) | 2:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Where: Waimarama Beach & HB Aquatic Centre

Transport: School pick-up in Havelock North included

Includes: Transport, coaching, gear hire (board & winter wetsuit), and 1+ hour in the water every session.

Only 8 spots left!

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity—head to our website now for full details and to secure a spot before they're gone! 👇

www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz

26/07/2026

Backcountry Skills & Hiking Teen Holiday Programme

​We just wrapped up an incredible two days with a great group of teens!

​Day 1: The team focused on essential wilderness skills, covering fire starting and safety, outdoor cooking with Jetboils, knife handling, first aid, and navigation using both traditional map and compass alongside modern GPS tools.

​Day 2: We put those skills to the test on a day hike climbing Mt. Kuripapango in the Kawekas.

​A huge thank you to this fantastic group for their hard work, great attitude, and teamwork throughout the program!

20/07/2026

Winter Hiking & Bushcraft Holiday Programme

What an incredible few weeks we’ve had exploring the best of our region! Our young adventurers covered serious ground, taking on everything from Boundary Stream and the Kawekas to coastal tracks like Waipataki and the Te Angiangi Marine Reserve.

The kids dived headfirst into essential outdoor skills, including fire lighting, shelter building, first aid, and navigation.

Week one threw some testing winter weather our way, but the resilience, positive attitudes, and grit shown by everyone was inspiring to see.