Empowering Waikato Outdoor Enthusiasts to Explore New Zealand Safely

At Outdoor Training Waikato, our mission is simple: to give everyday Kiwis across Hamilton, the Coromandel, King Country, and the wider Waikato region the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills needed to explore the New Zealand outdoors safely.

Whether you are stepping onto a bush track for the first time or preparing for remote backcountry navigation, our hands-on bushcraft, river safety, and navigation courses eliminate uncertainty—ensuring every adventure ends with a safe journey home.

Since 2015, Outdoor Training Waikato has been dedicated to building a safer, more confident community of adventurers across Hamilton, the Coromandel, King Country, and the wider Waikato region.

When national outdoor education shifted away from direct community instruction, our team of qualified volunteer educators and wilderness mentors stepped up. We exist to ensure essential backcountry safety training remains affordable, practical, and accessible to everyone.

From guiding beginners through foundational bushcraft to teaching critical river safety and complex day and night land navigation in rugged environments like the Kaimai Ranges and Mount Pirongia, we have equipped hundreds of Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) trainees, orienteerers, recreational trampers, and future Te Araroa trail walkers, with essential life-saving skills. We foster a supportive volunteer culture that empowers experienced outdoor enthusiasts to train the next generation of safe explorers.