Introduction
Rivers are one of the biggest hazards in New Zealand’s backcountry, and knowing when not to cross is often the most important skill of all.
Spend a day in the Peel Forest environment learning how to read rivers, recognise hazards, and make safer decisions around moving water. This practical course focuses on judgement, awareness, and real-world scenarios so you can travel more confidently in the outdoors.
Whether you’re preparing for Te Araroa, planning summer tramps, or simply wanting stronger river awareness, this course will help you build skills that last well beyond the day.
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
River Safety Skills
- Recognising river hazards and reading conditions
- Decision points — when to cross, when to wait, and when to turn back
- Risk assessment and safer travel strategies
- Practical crossing methods and group awareness.
Backcountry Decision Skills
- Giving intentions and emergency communication methods
- Understanding weather forecasts and how conditions affect rivers
- Planning safer routes in river environments.
What to expect
This is a practical, outdoor-based day spent near real river environments. You’ll learn through guided discussion, observation, and hands-on activities designed to build confidence and decision-making skills.
Our focus goes beyond technique, helping you develop the judgement to assess situations and make safer choices in dynamic environments.
Who this course is for
This course is ideal for:
- Recreational trampers and hikers
- Hunters and outdoor explorers
- People preparing for multi-day trips or Te Araroa
- Adventure racers and rogainers
- Anyone wanting to improve river safety awareness.
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