7-day Bush Training Course | OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand

/ Public Courses / Bushcraft & Navigation Courses / 4-Day Advanced Navigation & Survival Course

Overview

Join us for a comprehensive 4-day advanced navigation training course where you’ll acquire essential skills for tramping through New Zealand’s backcountry.

Led by our highly skilled local guides and instructors, you’ll learn everything you need to confidently hike in New Zealand’s remote tramping areas. This course is popular among those preparing for overnight trips across alpine passes and for anyone looking to build confidence while exploring the New Zealand backcountry.

Additionally, this course is suitable for professional guides and instructors seeking training towards NZOIA Bush 1 or Bush 2 accreditation.

Course Details

This course is delivered in Arthur’s Pass National Park.

**All your accommodation is included in this bush course**

Arthur’s Pass Lodge (Days 1-3)

For the first two nights 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, pillow.

Survival Shelters/Tent (Day 4)

Our last night is spent in survival shelters you build in the bush.

Food is not provided on this course. We recommend packing plenty of snacks and meals for the duration of the course. The lodge has a full kitchen & fridge that you are welcome to use while we are there.

Transport from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass is not included in this course. However, we can provide a return trip to Christchurch at the end of the course, with the earliest drop-off time being 6:00 PM at Christchurch Airport.

For those who travel, there is a shuttle service available from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass that departs daily at 2:00 PM. You can book your ride at EastWestcoaches.com. Please note that if you opt for this shuttle, you should book it for the day before the course starts. We will assist you in arranging accommodation in Arthur’s Pass.

Meeting Location:

Arthur’s Pass Cafe & Store 8:30 am (see on Google Maps)

*Note: We may have a vehicle travelling up to Arthur’s Pass the day before the course starts. If we do, you’re more than welcome to catch a ride with us and stay in the lodge the night before. But please get in touch with the office before booking to find out if transport to and from this course is available.

OENZ Vans

Please bring along your standard tramping kit, 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 4 days. For those travelling by plane, we are happy to organise gas canisters for your overnight campout.

Gear List Tramping Boot Guide

OENZ Bushcraft Courses Flow Chart

Download Flow Chart

Course Outline

Master the essential skills for independent wilderness travel in New Zealand on this immersive 4-day bushcraft course, combining expert instruction in advanced navigation and backcountry survival.

Weather Education

Synoptic charts
Finding reliable forecasts in NZ
Reading synoptic charts
Using metadata charts
Free air Freezing Level (FAFL)
Global weather effects in NZ
Understanding weather systems
- High pressure
- Low Pressure
Orographic lifting
Convection heating
Frontal systems
- Cold front
- Warm fronts
- Occluded fronts
- Stationary fronts
Field observations
- Reading clouds
- Wind direction

Advanced Walking Techniques in Steep Terrain

Crossing steep scree
Poles for bracing
Foot placements and techniques for steep or slippery terrain
Handlines
Scree – traversing, ascending/descending

Camping Skills & Survival Skills

Selecting a suitable campsite
Pitching tents
Building a natural survival shelter
Fire lighting in adverse conditions

Advanced Walking Techniques in Steep Terrain

Crossing steep scree
Poles for bracing
Foot placements and techniques for steep or slippery terrain
Handlines
Scree – traversing, ascending/descending

Survival Skills

Building a natural survival shelter
Field weather observations and predictions
Fire lighting in adverse conditions

Group-led:

Weather forecasting
Trip and route planning
Navigation
Walking techniques
Stream/river crossings
Hand lines
Weather observations
Emergency shelter building
Fire lighting (if conditions allow)

Download Course Outline

Meet Some of Our Bushcraft Instructors

Alan Haslip

Sarah English

Lachie Crawford

Jake Harris

Frequently Asked Questions

You don’t need any prior experience to enrol in this course. This course includes a wide range of topics, ensuring that every participant can follow along and build a solid foundation of bushcraft skills & knowledge.

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.

We camp out on the last 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

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.

No, we have boot dryers available 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.

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.

We’ll be walking through steep terrain, mixed with scree, tussock, compact ground and varying visibility.

16 years old or 14-15 years old if accompanied by an adult.