2-Day Bushcraft Course Build confidence and skills for safe, off-track travel in the New Zealand bush / Public Courses / Bushcraft & Navigation Courses / 2-Day Bushcraft Course Overview Embark on an exciting adventure with our introductory navigation and bushcraft course, perfect for those eager to explore the stunning New Zealand bush! Over an enriching weekend, you’ll master the art of navigating with a map and compass, discover incredible off-track routes, and tackle diverse terrains with confidence. This engaging course is ideal for anyone wanting to boost their navigation skills while embracing new technologies for their tramping endeavours. Whether you’re a casual walker, passionate tramper, or enthusiastic hunter, we’re here to help you cultivate your outdoor skills and cultivate a newfound sense of adventure in nature! Join us and let the journey begin! Course Details Course Location This course is delivered in Craigieburn Forest Park near Castle Hill Village. Accommodation Craigieburn Forest Campout On this bushcraft course, you’ll be wild camping in the Craigieburn Forest Park. We use this time to cover basic bushcraft skills, such as choosing a campsite, accessing water and emergency communications. We have tents available if you don’t have your own. 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, we recommend something convenient and easy to cook on a camp cooker. If you have never packed for an overnight hike, we can help you out with meal ideas. 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, a compass, food, and 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 introductory 2-day course is designed to equip you with basic bushcraft and navigation skills so that you can explore the New Zealand backcountry with confidence. Day 1: Packing, On-Track Navigation & Camping Clothing & Equipment Selection Packs Boots Walking poles Personal clothing Using a GPS/Smartphone GPS 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 Camping skills Selecting a suitable campsite Field weather observations and predictions Day 2: Off-Track Navigation, Compass & Map Using a compass Finding North Orienting a map with a 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 Emergency communications In-reach Spot Mountain radio PLB 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 explore New Zealand’s backcountry. 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. 2-day bushcraft course photos Customer Reviews “Just spent 2 days with Alan on the last survival bushcraft and navigation course for the ”summer”. I was really impressed with how he was able to tailor the course perfectly to our level and at the same time differentiate his teaching to suit the goals of the different participants. I’m a teacher and I know quality instruction when I see it. These guys are quality. Cheers Al.” Will Elliot, New Zealand “Whole experience exceeded expectations” James, Auckland, New Zealand “This course was exactly wat I was after in terms of using topo maps and compass & the location is stunning” Jan Radclife, New Zealand Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your outdoor adventure. Contact Us
