Port Charles Provides New Site for Hillary Outdoors
Written by John Freer on June 13, 2024
By John Freer
As the country’s leading provider of youth outdoor education experiences, Hillary Outdoors is coming to the Coromandel Peninsula.
From term one next year a marine and conservation centre will be provided at Port Charles, this confirmed yesterday with the purchase of the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat property. Until now all programmes have been delivered from the Tongariro National Park Centre.
Hillary Outdoors chairman, David Tommas, said the announcement followed a six year search for a suitable venue.
Acquiring Tangiaro provides 340 hectares of land with 242 protected by the QEII National Trust and one of the highest populations of kiwi birds on private land.
Hillary already provides 40,000 education experience annually.
Hillary Outdoors was founded by Sir Graeme Dingle in 1972 with Sir Edmund Hillary the patron.
The new centre, known as Hillary Outdoors Coromandel, fulfils the not-for-profit’s goal of finding a marine and conservation centre where they can reach more Kiwi youth and equip them with skills for brighter futures.
Tommas said: “This unique location offers exceptional opportunities for experiential learning in the bush, coastal, and marine environments of the Northern Coromandel.”
The establishment of Hillary Outdoors Coromandel allows for more outdoor education experiences for rangatahi. Through their programmes, events and tertiary study, the new centre will operate with the same high standards of excellence, values and practices that have defined the organisation for over 50 years.
Hillary Campbell, Hillary Outdoors CEO said: “We are excited to provide opportunities for rangatahi to have hands-on experiences in a marine and native bush environment. Providing immersive experiences where more youth want to protect and preserve the marine and land ecosystems is what we are about, with Kaitiakitanga as one of the three values we hold as an organisation.
“Through the programmes, students will engage in journeys and expeditions that offer continuous opportunities for youth development and environmental stewardship.” Campbell said.
Collaborating with the local community is high on Hillary Outdoors’ agenda as the development and operation of the new centre gets underway, with open nights and meet and greet meetings planned to which the community will be invited.
The local Coromandel school and Hauraki Plains College are booked in the first week that the new centre opens in term one next year.
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Kimberley Knight Chair person Colville School On June 13, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Kia Ora
Colville school would love to be part of the opening of this wonderful opportunity. Please be in contact with us as we would love for you school to have the first opportunity.