3-Day Bushcraft & River Skills Course Master map, compass & river safety for exploring New Zealand's backcountry / Public Courses / Bushcraft & Navigation Courses / 3-Day Bushcraft & River Skills Course Overview Join our three-day Bushcraft, Navigation, and River Crossing course, designed specifically for beginners and those looking to improve their map reading and wild camping skills. This immersive experience combines our two-day bushcraft course with our one-day river crossing course, laying the foundation for your outdoor journey. No prior skills or experience are required—just bring your enthusiasm! Upon completion, you will have the essential skills needed to safely explore New Zealand’s stunning hiking tracks. Course Details Course Location This course is delivered in Craigieburn Forest Park & Arthur’s Pass National Park. Having flexibility in course location ensures you will get the most out of your time with us. Days 1 & 2: Craigieburn Forest Park Day 3: Waimakariri River at Mt White Bridge, Arthur’s Pass Accommodation **All your accommodation is included in this mountaineering course** Craigieburn Forest Camp Out (Night 1) The first night of our course includes a campout in the Craigieburn Forest Park. We use this time to cover basic bushcraft skills in choosing a campsite, accessing water etc. Arthurs Pass Lodge (Night 2) The second night we’ll be staying at our Lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. The lodge has bunk beds set up across three bedrooms and can sleep up to 20 people. It has a kitchen stocked with utensils, cookware, a fridge, and ovens. You’ll also be treated to power, bathroom facilities, hot showers and heating. All you need to bring is your sleeping bag and pillow. Food This is a self-catered course. Please pack all your food for the duration of the course. We recommend packing plenty of snacks and lunches that don’t require cooking. For dinner on the 1st night, we recommend something convenient and easy to cook on a camp cooker. For the second night, you may choose to eat at the local pub (we can’t guarantee it will be open). Alternatively, you may like to use the facilities at the lodge to prepare your own meal. The lodge has a full kitchen & fridge that you are welcome to use. Free Transport from Christchurch If You’re Travelling From Out Of Town: Free transport is available from Christchurch for those travelling to attend our courses. Check our FAQ’s for a list of hotel pickup locations. We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. At the end of the course, we are more than happy to drop you back at your accommodation or directly to the airport. The earliest time we can have you back at the airport is 6 pm. Meeting locations (catch a ride with us): If you are bringing your car and want a lift, please meet us at one of the following locations: Yaldhurst McDonald’s 8:00 am (see on Google Maps) *Darfield Bakery 8:30 am (see on Google Maps) Castle Hill Village 9:20 am (see on Google Maps) *Our preferred meeting location is Darfield Bakery. OENZ Vans Gear & Equipment Please bring along your standard tramping kit with a tent for our campout. If you don’t have everything you need, we can hire you some equipment to help set you up for the 3 days. For those travelling by plane, we are happy to organise gas canisters for your overnight camp out. Gear List Tramping Boot Guide Is this the right bushcraft course for me? Bush Flow Chart Download Flow Chart Course Outline This 3-day course is designed to equip you with essential bushcraft, navigation, and river crossing skills. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid foundation in tramping, giving you the confidence to tackle some of New Zealand’s most iconic and challenging tracks. Day 1 – 2: Basic Navigation Skills Reading Topographic maps (NZ topo50) Colours and symbols Scale and distance Orienting a map using features 6-figure grid references Interpreting contour features Ridges Spurs Gullies Valleys Saddles Highpoints Using a compass Finding North Orienting a map with compass Follow a compass bearing Field: map bearings Map: field bearings Taking resections/triangulations Downslope bearings Cross slope bearings Field: field bearings Refining compass technique Clothing & Equipment Selection Packs Boots Walking poles Personal clothing Using a GPS/Smartphone GPS Camping skills Selecting a suitable campsite Field weather observations and predictions Emergency communications In-reach Spot Mountain radio PLB Day 3: River Crossing Training River Crossing Hazards River characteristics River crossing principles Decision making River crossing methods Recovery Course Outline Meet Some of Our Bushcraft Instructors Alan Haslip Sarah English Lachie Crawford Jake Harris Frequently Asked Questions Do I need prior experience to attend this course? You don’t need any prior experience to enrol in this course. It is specifically designed to cover the basic skills you will need to succeed in New Zealand’s backcountry, including river crossing skills. How many people will be on my course? We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client-to-instructor ratio of just eight clients to one instructor. Do I need a tent? We camp out on the first night, but you can hire a tent & all the gear for any of our courses directly from us if you don’t have it. Just let us know before your course what you need, and our instructors will bring it along to the course for you. Other options are to bring along a bivvy bag or fly/tarp shelter to sleep in. Gear List Tramping Boot Guide What type of boots do I need? You will need good waterproof boots that have ankle support. Trail shoes are not appropriate for this advanced bushcraft course. Click here to download our tramping boot guide. Do I need to bring spare hiking boots for my extended course in case they get wet? No, we have boot dryers available from the end of day two throughout the extended bushcraft course. We know how tricky it can be to keep boots dry when we’re out training, so at the end of each day, we pop our boots on the boot dryers, so they’re ready to go for the next day. Can I hire boots for my bushcraft course? OENZ does not have boots available to hire or borrow. Boot hire is available from several outdoor stores in Auckland and Dunedin. If you are hiring or borrowing boots, please get waterproof leather boots. What is the terrain like? The first two days are held mainly in open tussock terrain with patches of beech forest for walking in. A mixture of off-track and on-track navigation takes place here. What is the minimum age? 16 years old or 14-15 years old if accompanied by an adult. 3-day bushcraft & river crossing course photos Customer Reviews “Getting back into navigation with a map & compass was fantastic!” Robert Johnson, Australia “Finished our course yesterday and just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed it. Sarah [the instructor] was AMAZING. We will be looking for more courses to do with you guys for sure!” Di & Peter, Wanaka, NZ “I learnt heaps, thank you the course was great” Elizabeth, West Coast, NZ “So worth it to prepare us for the Te Araroa Trail, we’ve learnt so much.” Jess & Kym, United Kingdom Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your outdoor adventure. Contact Us
