Introduction
Build confidence navigating the backcountry with this practical, hands-on day in beautiful Peel Forest. Learn how to read terrain, make good decisions, and move through the bush safely. Whether you’re planning your next tramp, preparing for Te Araroa, or simply wanting to feel more capable outdoors.
This course focuses on real-world skills you can apply immediately, guided by experienced Peel Forest Outdoors instructors in a supportive learning environment.
Overview
$150 inc gst
1 Days
Location:
Start and finish at the Peel Forest Outdoors Centre base located 20 minutes outside of Geraldine.
Time:
9:00am – 4:00pm
Age requirements:
Suitable for adults and older teens (16+).
What you’ll learn
Navigation Skills
- Reading Topo50 maps, terrain features and contours
- Map orientation and route planning
- Taking and following a bearing
- Distance estimation and travel time planning
- Route-finding in real environments
- Using GPS and smartphone navigation tools.
🌿Bush Safety & Planning
- What to pack and how to pack it
- Trip intentions and emergency communication
- Understanding weather forecasts and decision making in the field
What to expect
This is a practical, outdoor-based course. You’ll spend the day learning through movement, discussion, and scenario-based activities in the forest.
Our focus is not just on technical skills, but on building judgement and confidence so you can make safer decisions in real situations.
Who this course is for
This course is ideal for:
- Recreational trampers and hunters
- People preparing for multi-day trips or Te Araroa
- Adventure racers or rogainers wanting stronger navigation skills
- Anyone wanting to feel more confident navigating in the outdoors.
Accommodation (optional)
If you’d like to stay overnight before or after the course, off-grid cabin accommodation is available at Peel Forest Outdoors. These insulated bunk-style huts offer a warm, simple DOC-hut style experience with solar shower and composting toilets.
Contact us to enquire about availability.
Food
Please bring your own lunch, snacks and water for the day.
Our Guarantee
- No cancellations. We have many sites to choose from to help make our courses resilient. We’ll do our best to run no-matter the conditions. In the unlikely event we have to postpone due to extreme weather, we’ll find a date that works for you.
- No minimum numbers. Even if you’re the only person on the course – we’ll run! Lucky you.
- No stress. Feel like you need a bit more time to soak in the learning? We can arrange private instruction at a discounted rate to help you get that bit further – so you don’t need to pay for another identical course.
Course Schedule
9:00 am
Peel Forest Outdoor Centre – 1222 Peel Forest Rd, Peel Forest 7992
Morning
- Preparing for a trip – Gear, weather, setting intentions, emergency comms
- Topographical map reading
Afternoon
- Comparing land features to map
- Orientating the map
- Grid coordinates
4:00 pm
Day ended
Ready to book!
Gear List
Compulsory Gear:
- Day pack (~30L) with pack liner
- Suitable active clothing for the weather (no cotton)
- Waterproof raincoat and over-trousers
- Thermal top and bottom
- Fleece layer
- Tramping boots (worn in)
- Water bottle (minimum 2L)
- Compass
- Hat, beanie, sunscreen and sunglasses
Gear hire available
Let us know if you need to borrow:
- Pack
- Raincoat
- Fleece layers
- Compass
Optional
- Tramping poles
- Puffer jacket