Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys
SOUTH ISLAND
JOIN US ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!
Let’s go somewhere amazing: We will explore the wild places of Canterbury and the South Island. Challenge yourself, achieve your goals, live your life to the full.
Why choose Adventure Specialties Trust? We offer activities that other providers don’t, including rafting, sea kayaking, bike-packing and alpine adventures!
Our experienced instructors will guide you through journey planning, navigation, campcraft, teamwork and expedition skills to make sure that you are well-prepared for your Practice and Qualifying journeys. Plan and learn useful life skills in a supportive environment with a group of young people your age who are also keen to go adventuring!
We sort out the transport and logistics, and we support you as you plan the expedition route and prepare your own meals and gear. Build your confidence, prove your independence, grow your leadership skills, and experience adventure as a team.
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
TRAMPING
Join us as we head off into the wilderness of Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn tramping skills like navigation, equipment selection, meal planning and prepartion, cooking as a group, and campcraft. We might tramp the Woolshed Creek – Pinnacles Loop in Mt Somers area, the Sign of the Packhorse in Banks Peninsula, or head up the St James Walkway.
SEA KAYAKING
Join us as we head off on a kayaking adventure! You will learn kayaking skills as well as gear and food prep, navigation and camping. We might head to Quail Island or Akaroa Harbour or Marlborough Sounds.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Join us as a head off on a bike-packing adventure in the Canterbury region. We might bike to Ron Donald Hut on Banks Peninsula or St James Cycle Trail or any of New Zealand’s amazing cycleways! Learn mountain biking skills and make new friends as we journey together, cook together, camp together and explore the Great Outdoors.
RAFTING
Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure as we pack our barrels and head down the Waiau or Waimakiriri River in a raft. Learn to work as a team as you navigate rapids. Experience the thrill of being immersed in the wild places of Aotearoa New Zealand.
ALPINE
Join us as we explore the Southern Alps. We will learn basic Alpine skills and snow travel skills, as well as using ice axes and crampons. We will build a snow cave and sleep in it! We will head to the area around Broken River ski field.
JOURNEY LIFE
All our Adventure Journeys include camping in tents or sleeping in huts, planning meals and cooking together, spending time outdoors in nature and being physically active, building friendships, watching the stars in the clear night sky, and making memories that will last a lifetime.
BRONZE
BRONZE JOURNEY
Practice and Qualifying Journey
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime as we head out on a Duke of Ed Bronze Adventurous Journey! Click on the headings below to find out more …
Journey Overview and Location
Complete your Bronze PRACTICE and QUALIFYING journey, all in one week!
PRACTICE JOURNEY
Duration: 1 day and 1 night (Monday 9am – Tuesday 9am)
The Bronze Practice journey is designed to develop the fundamental skills required for a successful expedition. You will spend a day learning practical skills like route planning, equipment selection, food preparation and campcraft before completing an overnight journey to Godley Head.
DAY 1: Monday
9 am – Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust office in Woolston
Programme introduction
Route planning and navigation
Equipment and gear checks
Plan your meals and shopping lists
Supermarket visit to purchase food for the Practice journey (included in cost)
Arrive at Godley Head and complete a practice walk using maps and packs
Set up camp and explore the area
Evening meal (food provided)
Group debrief and planning for the Qualifying Journey
Overnight camping
DAY 2: Tuesday
Pack up camp
Return to Adventure Specialties Trust by 9am
QUALIFYING JOURNEY
Duration: 2 days, 1 night (Thursday 9am – Friday 2pm)
We will complete an overnight expedition, based at Sign of the Packhorse.
You will work in groups to prepare and organise your own food (during the preparation phase), before undertaking your Qualifying Journey.
DAY 1: Thursday
9am Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust office (71 Bamford St, Woolston)
We will check everyone’s gear to make sure you have everything you need
Jump in our van and head to Gebbie Pass
Tramp to Pack Horse Hut
Set up camp
Explore the Mt Bradley area
Cook dinner
Debrief
Chill, look at the stars, play cards
Day 2: Friday
Get up and have breakfast
Explore some more of the area
Pack up
Tramp back to van
Head back to Adventure Specialties Trust (ETA 2pm)
FOOD
Please note that we provide food for the Practice journey but you need to provide your own food for the Qualifying journey.
Activity options
Our standard Journey option is tramping. However, we can also offer sea kayaking, rafting, and bike-packing journeys.
Please let us know your preference in the “Enquire” form at the bottom of the page.
Dates
Bronze Adventurous Journeys
TRIP 1
Open to everyone. Sept/October school holidays.
Planning day and Practice journey: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 2026
Qualifying journey: Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd October 2026
TRIP 2
This trip has been commissioned by Christchurch Girls High School but is open to all female students in Christchurch.
Planning day: Monday 21st September 2026 (3-5pm) at Christchurch Girls High School
Practice AND Qualifying journey: Tramping, Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October 2026
Cost (and What's Included)
Bronze
Practice AND Qualifying Journey
Cost:
Tramping: $585 per person
Sea kayaking: $585 + equipment hire of $30 per day.
Rafting: $585 + equipment hire of $45 per day.
Bike-packing: $585 + equipment hire of $45 per day.
Each Journey includes:
- A highly experienced, qualified instructor from Adventure Specialties Trust,
- Transport from our Christchurch office to the Journey location and back,
- Accommodation including hut fees/campsite fees (if applicable),
- Food for the Practice journey only (dinner and breakfast)
- Admin fee and GST included.
- Our thorough Safety Management System which is externally audited by AdventureMark and WorkSafe (find out more).
Exclusions:
- Participants need to provide their own food for the Qualifying journey.
- Activity equipment is available for hire, as specified in the cost above. If you have your own equipment, like a suitable mountain bike, please let us know and we can waive the equipment cost. Please enquire for more details.
Safety
We have an extremely thorough Safety Management System which is externally audited by WorkSafe NZ and AdventureMark (New Zealand’s largest adventure certification body).
All our instructors are trained and deployed to a high level, and have first aid certification including Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC).
Read more the about our safety policies including our Safey Assessment Management Plan (SAMPs) and Safe Operating Policies (SOPs) here.
About Us
About Duke of Ed
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Awards are a beloved institution in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Find out more about Duke of Ed: www.dofehillary.org.nz
SILVER
SILVER JOURNEY
Practice and Qualifying Journey:
Join us on an adventure as we head out on a Duke of Ed Silver Adventurous Journey. Click on the headings below to find out more …
Journey Overview and Location
SILVER
Practice AND Qualifying Journey
PRACTICE JOURNEY
Duration: 2 days and 1 night (Monday 4pm – Tuesday 3pm)
The Silver Practice Journey builds on the skills learned in the Bronze journey (route planning, equipment selection, food preparation, campcraft). The Silver journey provides individual expedition skills and prepares you for a multi-day qualifying expedition.
Please note that you need to provide your own food for the Practice journey.
Day 1: Monday
4pm – Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust office (71 Bamford St, Woolston)
Travel to Godley Head and set up camp
Food planning (for the Qualifying journey)
Expedition preparation for the Qualifying journey
Cook dinner (you need to provide your own food)
Night navigation exercises
Travel planning in teams
Day 2: Tuesday
Route planning and navigation training
Equipment refresher
Gear checks
Advanced map and compass skills in the field
Group food purchasing (for the Qualifying journey)
Expedition planning for the Qualifying journey
Arrive back at Adventure Specialties Trust (ETA 3pm)
QUALIFYING JOURNEY
Duration: 3 days and 2 nights (Wednesday 9am – Friday 3pm)
You will undertake a challenging and exhilerating expedition in the Mt Somers area, travelling the Woolshed Creek – Pinnacles Loop while applying the skills you developed during the Practice journey.
Day 1: Wednesday
9am – Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust office (71 Bamford St, Woolston)
Gear and food checks
Travel to the Expedition start point
Start your expedition, following the route that you planned during the Practice journey
Set up camp
Cook together
Relax and chill for the evening
Day 2: Thursday
Continue your expedition
Set up camp
Cook together
Relax and chill for the evening
Day 3: Friday
Pack up camp
Complete your expedition!
Travel back to Adventure Specialties Trust (ETA 3pm)
FOOD
Please note that you will need to provide your own food for the Practice journey.
We will provide food for the Qualifying journey.
(While you are on the Practice journey, you will plan your meals for the Qualifying journey and purchase the food as well. This is included in the cost of the journey)
Activity options
Our standard Journey option is tramping. However, we can also offer sea kayaking, rafting, and bike-packing journeys.
Please let us know your preference in the “Enquire” form at the bottom of the page.
Dates
Silver
TRIP 1
13-17th April 2026
Completed
TRIP 2
Open to everyone. Sept/October school holidays.
Planning day and Practice journey: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 2026
Qualifying journey: Wed 30th Sept – Friday 2nd October 2026
Cost (and What's Included)
Silver
Practice AND Qualifying Journey
Tramping: $840 per person
Sea Kayaking: $840 + equipment hire of $30 per day
Rafting: $840 + equipment hire of $45 per day
Bike-packing: $840 + equipment hire of $45 per day
Alpine: $840 + equipment hire of $20 per day
Each Journey includes:
- A highly experienced, qualified instructor from Adventure Specialties Trust,
- Transport from our Christchurch office to the Journey location and back,
- Food for the Qualifying journey only,
- Accommodation including hut fees/campsite fees (if applicable),
- Our externally-audited Safety Management System (find out more)
- Admin fee and GST included.
Exclusions
- Participants need to provide their own food for the Practice journey,
- Activity equipment is available for hire, as specified in the cost above. If you have your own equipment, like a suitable mountain bike, please let us know and we can waive the equipment cost. Please enquire for more details.
Safety
We have an extremely thorough Safety Management System which is externally audited by WorkSafe NZ and AdventureMark (New Zealand’s largest adventure certification body).
All our instructors are trained and deployed to a high level, and have first aid certification including Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC).
Read more the about our safety policies including our Safey Assessment Management Plan (SAMPs) and Safe Operating Policies (SOPs) here.
About Us
About Duke of Ed
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Awards are a beloved institution in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Find out more about Duke of Ed: www.dofehillary.org.nz
GOLD
GOLD JOURNEY
Practice AND Qualifying Journey:
Join us on an adventure as we head out on a Duke of Ed Gold Adventurous Journey. Click the headings below to find out more …
Journey Overview and Location
GOLD
Practice AND Qualifying journey
PRACTICE JOURNEY
Duration: 2 days and 1 night (Monday 4pm – Tuesday 4pm)
The Gold Practice journey focuses on advanced expedition planning, leadership, navigation and self-sufficiency. You will prepare for a longer, more demanding (but exhilerating) Qualifying expedition.
The location will be somewhere in the Christchurch area and will be decided by the group prior to the Practice Journey, with support and advice from Adventure Specialties Trust. This will depend on the chosen activity (tramping, sea kayaking, rafting or bike-packing). Some examples include sea kayaking to Quail Island, biking to Ron Donald Hut, or rafting the Waiau River.
Day 1: Monday
4pm – Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust office (71 Bamford St, Woolston)
Travel in our van to the journey location
Set up camp
Cook dinner (you need to provide your own food for the Practice journey)
Plan your Qualifying journey: Food planning and expedition preparations
Night navigation exercises
Team travel planning
Day 2: Tuesday
Advanced route planning
Equipment and expedition management
Navigation and hill travel skills
Group food purchasing (for the Qualifying journey)
Final preparations
Return to Adventure Specialties Trust (ETA 4pm)
QUALIFYING JOURNEY
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights (Wednesday 9am – Saturday 5pm)
The Gold Qualifying journey is a multi-day expedition designed to challenge and cement the skills you have been developing so far: your leadership, resilience, navigation and teamwork.
The location of this journey will be decided by your group before the Practice journey (with support and advice from Adventure Specialties Trust). This will depend on your chosen activity (tramping, sea kayaking, rafting, bike-packing). Examples include tramping the St James Walkway, rafting the Waimakariri River, or sea kayaking in Marlborough Sounds.
Day 1: Wednesday
9am – Meet at Adventure Specialties Trust (71 Bamford St, Woolston)
Travel in our van to the expedition start point (location confirmed before departure)
Start your expedition!
In the evening, set up camp and cook dinner together, then relax and enjoy the starry sky.
Day 2: Thursday
Cook breakfast and pack up camp
Continue your expedition
Set up camp and cook dinner together
Chill, watch the stars, hang out, card games
Day 3: Friday
Cook breakfast and pack up camp
Continue your expedition
Set up camp and cook dinner together
Chill, watch the stars, hang out, card games
Day 4: Saturday
Cook breakfast and pack up camp
Complete your expedition!
Group debrief
Travel back
Arrive at Adventure Specialties Trust (ETA 5pm)
FOOD
Please note that you will need to provide your own food for the Practice journey.
We will provide food for the Qualifying journey.
(While you are on the Practice journey, you will plan your meals for the Qualifying journey and purchase the food as well. This is included in the cost of the journey)
Activity options
Our standard Journey option is tramping. However, we can also offer sea kayaking, rafting, and bike-packing journeys.
Please let us know your preference in the “Enquire” form at the bottom of the page.
Dates
Gold
We will be running a Gold journey during the October school holidays, either the first week or the second week, depending on how many people are keen. Please let us know your preference (or whether you don’t mind either option).
Option 1:
First week of the Sept/October school holidays.
Planning day and Practice journey: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 2026
Qualifying journey: Wed 30th Sept – Saturday 3rd October 2026
Option 2:
Second week of the Sept/October school holidays.
Planning day and Practice journey: Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th October 2026
Qualifying journey: Wed 7th – Saturday 10th October 2026
Please let us know your preference when you Enrol.
Cost (and What's Included)
Gold
Practice AND Qualifying Journey
Tramping: $1015 per person
Sea kayaking: $1015 + equipment hire of $30 per day
Rafting: $1015 + equipment hire of $45 per day
Bike-packing: $1015 + equipment hire of $45 per day
Alpine: $1015 + equipment hire of $20 per day
Each Journey includes:
- A highly experienced, qualified instructor from Adventure Specialties Trust,
- Transport from our Christchurch office to the Journey location and back,
- We provide food for the Qualifying journey only (which will be planned and purchased during the Practice journey),
- Accommodation including hut fees/campsite fees (if applicable),
- Our externally-audited Safety Management System (find out more)
- Admin fee and GST included.
Exclusions:
- Participants need to provide their own food for the Practice journey.
- Activity equipment is available for hire, as specified in the cost above. If you have your own equipment, like a suitable mountain bike, please let us know and we can waive the equipment cost. Please enquire for more details.
Safety
We have an extremely thorough Safety Management System which is externally audited by WorkSafe NZ and AdventureMark (New Zealand’s largest adventure certification body).
All our instructors are trained and deployed to a high level, and have first aid certification including Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC).
Read more the about our safety policies including our Safey Assessment Management Plan (SAMPs) and Safe Operating Policies (SOPs) here.
About Us
About Duke of Ed
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Awards are a beloved institution in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Find out more about Duke of Ed: www.dofehillary.org.nz
ENQUIRE
ENROL NOW
If you would like to attend an upcoming Duke of Ed programme, fill in the application form below. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss next steps.
If there are any issues with this form or webpage, please contact our website person, Bex (info@adventurespecialties.co.nz).