- Northland, New Zealand
Frequently Asked Questions
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award overview page details the reasons to participate in the award.
Escape Adventurous-Journey’s The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award Super camps are a combination of your Training and Practice Adventurous Journey . We feel running both together in a camp environment gives more on task time and embeds the learning in a practical camp setting.
Our Adventurous Journeys are delivered in a range of locations, the majority meet at central Rotorua location (or pick up from airport can be arranged for participants from out of town).
Escape provides New Zealand P Endorsement licensed facilitators to drive participants in certified vehicles. You will be notified upon confirmation of the camp, of locations where we will be collecting participants from; based on where most participants attend school or usually reside. Pickup at the completion of camps is always supervised by a facilitator– the young people are never left alone to wait without a Escape staff member present.
Choose your Duke of Edinburgh trip, select from the available dates, and proceed with the booking process.
Still need more information? Please give us a call on 021 709 209.
We don’t know! Adventurous Journeys are student led, each group decides their journey route at the beginning of their programme.
4 people is the minimum. Once we have 4 registrations we will confirm the programme.
Yes, we provide tents / jackets / cookers / packs / fleeces by prior arrangement contact [email protected]
Your facilitators will have any items you’ve asked to borrow with them when they collect you on Day 1.
Sorry you are unable to this BUT you can do our Conservation Camp – Book Here
The weather is assessed each day. Dynamic risk assessment will be used by your facilitator to manage the potential risk of location and activity. No matter what the weather, you will be out there doing something.
Yes, Escape is an open award centre and you can complete your whole award with us – not just the outdoor practical Adventurous Journeys.
Go to the Duke of Edinburgh Award website and follow the instructions relevant to you
Super Camps & Qualifying bookings typically close 10 days before every event, to allow us time to finalise student numbers and instructors, book campsites, and send paperwork to all participants. Training course bookings close one week before the event. The specific booking deadline is listed against each event on the calendar.
If you have a group of students organised and want dates that are not already on our calendar, please contact us. Typically, our minimum number is 7 students, but please feel free to contact the Operations Manager . There are ways around this like finding more members, making it a public event, or splitting the extra costs between current group members.
Ideas for food are given in the gear list, which you can download on the applicable Adventurous Journey page.
All required equipment details are given in the gear list, which you can download on the applicable Adventurous Journey page.
Outdoor Escapes
Most of our guided walks depart from and return to Rotorua. On some of our walks, we depart Rotorua and travel via other town centres, so it’s possible to be collected from places other than Rotorua.
If you’d like to drive your own private vehicle, that’s no trouble – please contact our team for driving directions and parking information.
If you need to postpone or cancel your trip we’ll work with you to find a replacement date or we’ll arrange any refund you might be entitled to. Read our full terms and conditions here.
We strongly recommend you source travel insurance through your preferred provider.
If you are booking onward travel following your return journey, we recommend allowing a window of time in case of unexpected delays.
Our National Park Escape stays in a variety of 3-star boutique lodges that we have carefully selected for their location and quality facilities. They have a range of twin, double or family rooms available.
Our Tarawera Escapes offer a bespoke tent option with BBQ and Breakfast provided
We offer complimentary hire of hiking gear on all our Escapes, by prior arrangement.
We have sleeping bags (with cotton liners), camping pillows, quality raincoats in a range of sizes, either 40 or 65 litre packs and walking poles. Your guides will have any items you’ve asked to borrow with them when they collect you on Day 1.
Our packages are designed to take the stress and pressure off you, and allow you to simply enjoy a fantastic day or weekend trip with your family. You will learn about the natural world as we walk, without having to think about directions, food or even your campsite if you are staying the night.
Cambodia
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Escape Adventurous Journeys.
In 2022, we will be taking a group of school students with us to discover Cambodia.
We are currently planning our Cambodia School trips for 2022. We are keeping aware of all Covid-19 related changes and will be making appropriate planning decisions as we go.