The Hurunui Youth Experience
A place where you can experience a snapshot of rural New Zealand in a group, together with your teacher or learning advisors you can choose from a range of educational topics and a suite of adrenaline thrilled life experiences that will make you the envy of your friends who were not able to able to be involved in your Hurunui Youth experience.
The Hurunui Youth Experience has been developed because we understand, that being a full time international student on exchange to a Hurunui Schools doesn’t work, due to the culture shock of coming to rural New Zealand. The reality is at the end of the day, you could get very homesick as our everyday life and community is very different to yours and we don’t want you to have negative memories of our district.
So our solution is to create a the Hurunui Youth Experience where together with your teacher pick and choose what you want to do over a selected period of time and we have combined educational learning and fun life experiences together. Let's be honest, after completing a day studying the coastline of the Pacific Ocean who wouldn’t want to bungee jump of a bridge, ride in a jet boat or horse trek into a forest, just because they can.
The combinations of programmes are endless; we cater for a range of educational interests and levels of thrill-seeking activities.
From time to time we may be able to have other children or youth groups from the South Island to be part of your Hurunui Youth Experience, so you both can practice each other’s native language and potentially start to develop lasting friendships. Contact us to obtain a more detailed itinerary and we will put you in touch with one of preferred travel advisors near your location.
Check out what programmes we have created so far.
Visit the east coast and observe nature – understand the might of Pacific Ocean and impact on the surrounding area, wade into the Pacific Ocean or if appropriate engage in other water activities. Programme described as educational.
Go up into the Saint James Walkway and observe the alpine climate, birds and vegetation, potentially hike to a hut. Programme described as educational.
1 day
EnquireUnderstand how a modern New Zealand working farm operates, learn where both wool and milk come from, and observe working dogs in action. Programme described as educational.
1 day
EnquireRewi Alley is one of the 10 most famous westerners in Chinese history, visit the areas that he grew up in Canterbury and understand his childhood and how it shaped the person he became. Programme described as educational.
2 days
EnquireVisit a Hurunui School to get an understanding of the differences between two countries educational systems meet students your own age. Programme described as educational.
Go to remote area behind Hanmer Springs and observe the Milky Way and moon, understand the astronomy and celestial constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. Programme described as educational.
1/2 day
EnquireA presentation of early Chinese settlement in New Zealand by local New Zealand Chinese. Programme described as educational
Hanmer Springs township, explore the Waiau River activities such as jet boating, rafting bungy jumping ,go horse trekking , animal farm visit, hot pools, all close to your base camp. Programme described as recreational.
Observe the forces of nature first hand go to selected areas and see the impact of the earthquake series. Programme described as educational.
1 day
EnquireLocal iwi are invited to share aspects of Maori culture, from arrival, how their pa’s were set up, to arts and crafts, why the Hurunui was significant as the trail for the Pounamu on the West Coast. Programme described as educational.
Use the ski facilities in the district to teach youth/student to ski as the slopes are considered less cluttered and commercialised allowing for novices to gain confidence. Programme described as educational
1 day
EnquireA study of transportation especially trains through the years and the use of stream. Programme described as educational.
1/2 day
EnquireAn opportunity to experience they different types of cycling offer in the district, from cycling the picturesque forest tracks allowing time for nature studies, or adrenaline fueled mountain biking all levels are catered for when it comes to cycling. Programme described as recreational.
TBA
EnquireWe have been asked by the schools from the around South Island with foreign language programmes to include them in the Hurunui Youth Experience, this would give a student are to be immersed in a language hub with visiting students from overseas schools. Programme described as educational.
TBA
Enquire