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Educational and Adventure tours in New Zealand. 

For over 18 years we have led transformative educational and adventure student tours around New Zealand : bespoke curriculum linked, multi-day tours for overseas schools visiting New Zealand, adrenaline filled action tours for international students studying in New Zealand and science and geography programmes for New Zealand schools.

Why New Zealand? It's safe, with a beautiful, incredibly diverse, easily accessible natural environment. Visit glaciers, sub-tropical rainforest, alpine meadows, volcanoes, 18 000 km of coastline… The weather is moderate all year round. New Zealanders are welcoming and friendly and our Maori heritage guarantees a unique cultural experience to complement the incomparable educational opportunities.

“ An amazing tour with beautiful places, exiting activities and a lovely small group. ” Lilly Schlosser Glendowie College

“ Thanks for this amazing trip!!! it was one of the best trips I ever had in my life. ” Jil Wahlen Te Puke Highschool

“ A really good trip and well organized! ” Sara Kristin School

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New Zealand Student School Trips

Destinations › Oceania › New Zealand

If there is any country in the world that could be likened to an outdoor classroom, it is surely New Zealand.

The country offers a sheer diversity of landforms matched by very few other destinations, encompassing dramatic volcanic scenery, undulating farmlands, rugged coastlines, idyllic beaches, and peaceful fjords. 

You will be unsurprised, then, to learn that New Zealand school trips can easily incorporate a broad range of dynamic activities across the North and South Islands alike. 

School trips to New Zealand are often associated with physical and “outdoorsy” pursuits such as mountain biking, climbing, and geography fieldwork. However, an NZ educational tour can also encompass other elements of national strength, such as culture and performance. 

Why we provide academic travel programs in New Zealand:

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Educational Specialist Manager

Find out where our tours can take you

Why choose us, tailored learning environments​.

Every detail of our New Zealand educational tours can be adapted by our experts. This helps ensure that each trip is genuinely enjoyable for the young participants, at the same time as supporting the fulfilment of specific learning objectives. 

Hands-On Assurance

We will take a very direct, hands-on role in the planning and execution of your school trip to New Zealand. Our staff “in the field” will be vigilant to any issues that could arise on your educational tour, and will proactively address them. 

Global Education Exploration​

If young people are supported to travel internationally and exposed to a variety of cultures as a result – this being a key aim of our programs – this will help them develop a better understanding and appreciation of people who may be quite different to themselves. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is new zealand a good destination for school trips.

New Zealand may be a tiny island nation – its population of about five million people rendering it one of the most sparsely populated countries – but it can pack quite a punch as a destination for a school trip. 

There are, after all, so many things about this country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that can make student tours of New Zealand extremely exciting, stimulating, and relevant. These elements range from the unmistakable Māori culture and the highly varied topography, right through to the community and conservation projects that take place here, and the abundance of possible adventure activities such as hiking, cycling, and kayaking. 

If you are a teacher wishing to tap into all these benefits of New Zealand student tours and so many more, reach out to The Learning Adventure. We will carefully put together a school trip that supports your pupils to learn in a multitude of ways during their time away.  

Why do we provide academic travel programs in New Zealand?

The variety of activities that can be included in student travel tours of New Zealand, and the many spectacular backdrops on which they can take place, helps to make NZ a very inspiring school trip destination. 

We can plan and organise trips for students in New Zealand that are finely tailored to the curricula of the institutions that we serve. 

So, whatever you can afford to spend on a school trip to New Zealand, and whether you wish your tour to be oriented towards culture, history, geography, sport, or another subject, we can entirely customise your trip in line with these requirements.

How can I book a trip?

To enquire, commitment-free, about how The Learning Adventure can help you organise an unforgettable, life-changing educational tour, complete our enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch. To arrange a call or a visit to your school to talk further about any queries or questions you may have, find all our regional numbers on our website.

Can I customise the itinerary?

Absolutely! We tailor all our itineraries to your learning objectives and travel style. We cater to any programme, from service trips and cultural tours to subject-focused educational trips and faculty-led university programmes. No two trips with us are ever the same.

What is the standard of the accommodation?

We cater to all travel styles, from hostels to four-star hotels. Accommodation must meet our standards and students never share rooms with the public or opposite sex. Regardless of which accommodation you choose, teachers always have a private room.

What transportation is included?

Whether you choose private or public transportation, we use only reputable safe and trusted modes of transport.

What is the payment policy?

Our standard plan is 30% at booking, 30% three months before departure and the remaining 40% one month prior. However, we understand that every institution is different, so we endeavour to organise and arrange a payment plan that works for your group.

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Kia Ora and Welcome!

Join us on one of our New Zealand International Student Tours and you will experience school holidays you will never forget – safe, adventure packed, maximum fun trips, led by kiwi experts. Meet many other international students and become friends for life.

Awesome activities – kayak, sail, horse ride, learn the haka and many more like skydives, bungee jumps and dolphin swims! Meet other international exchange and kiwi students, make new friends & travel together - all while exploring the stunning, exciting New Zealand.

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Information for you

New Zealand Educational School Field Trips

Take your education to the next level with active adventures inspired school trips.

New Zealand is an amazing country to explore for an educational class trip with a wide range of ecosystems, geology, rich Maori culture and unique biodiversity and conservation efforts. Great for sports, geography, biology, history and cultural trips.

Custom itineraries, crafted for you.

We can work with you to customise an educational tour for your school based on the learning outcomes of your curriculum. Our experienced and knowledgeable guides can help alongside your teachers to show the students the amazing flora, fauna, geography, geology and Maori myths and legends that New Zealand has to offer. You can also rest easy knowing your students are in good hands, with extensive health and safety plans and established emergency response programs.

New Zealand is jam-packed with incredible geographic wonders - from glaciers, fault lines, hot springs, volcanoes, caves, fjords and everything in between. 

Learn how New Zealand came to be and how humans have shaped the country.

Conservation

Connecting your students with nature through conservation work is an incredible way to build ownership and leave a lasting effect for years to come. Your students can  get involved by planting and caring for native trees, protecting threatened species, and population monitoring.

New Zealand is an adventurers paradise, and there's no better way to get into a new activity or grow your skills that a sports based school trip.

Whether your students are beginners or experts and whether they're into hiking, biking, kayaking, yoga or another sport - we'll help bring your student's game to the next level.

We work with several conservation partners to help with native tree planting and pest management.

We're more than happy to chat through other 'Give Back' options and see if we can find the perfect fit for you and your students. This option can be added on for a day, or we're happy to arrange a community based trip for your students.

New Zealand culture is special in that it's influenced by an array of unique environmental and social aspects.

Your students will enjoy learning about the Maori people, how the geographic isolation shaped the culture and how the British colonization helped to bring the culture we see here today. We're also happy to dive into Kaitiakitanga (Maori principle of guardianship), basic Te Reo and Maori history.

While New Zealand is a relatively young country, the explorations and settlement of the Maori along with the European settlers is an incredible tale. On your school trip, you'll see first hand evidence of earlier times and our guides love sharing stories and knowledge of how New Zealand came to be. We'll dive into our fascinating history in an exciting and enriching way.

Bushcraft & Navigation Skills

The only way to gain confidence and knowledge in exploring the backcountry, is to get out there and do it!

Our expert guides can teach fundamental skills - from bushcraft, river crossing, orienteering, camping skills and hazard awareness. We're happy to cater each trip to suit your students' goals and align with your curriculum.

Personal Growth Challenges

Have a goal specific to your students or class? No worries, with heaps of options and experience to go along with it, we can craft our itineraries to suit you.

We can also arrange Expedition or Exploration journeys for students wishing to fulfill their Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Sample Itinerary - South Island Adventure School Trip

This 8- day school field trip takes students around the South Island of New Zealand. Starting in Christchurch, students will first head up to Kaikoura where they'll learn about earthquakes and see first hand the changes the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake had. From here, they'll head into Nelson Lakes National Park to complete a challenging overnight hike and learn about the ecology of plants and the native flora and fauna of the region.

Also included on this trip is a strong focus on conservation, climate change and wildlife. Learning outcomes have a focus on geography through landscape changes due to earthquakes, glacier movements and retreats, limestone rock formations and coastal erosion.

How does it work?

All you'll need to do is organise a group of 10 or more students, and we'll take care of all the logistics and planning your field trip. When you get in touch, simply let us know as much information as possible and we'll start creating a school trip that aligns with your curriculum.

• Tell us if you want a quick weekend, a full week or more.
• Let us know what subjects you'd like to be included - geography, conservation, sports, culture, etc., and anything else that's top propriety.
• Choose where you'd like your school trip to explore. We can run trips in most regions of New Zealand and you'll have the option to base yourself out of one accommodation or travel between multiple accommodations.
• Tell us about your students, are you looking for a primary school trip, secondary school trip or a field trip for kids.

Once we have the information needed, you'll work with a travel expert to create a trip that suits your group's goals. While on your trip, we'll make sure everything is taken care of (if you'd like it to be!), from all accommodations and meals to experienced adventure guides to making sure your students are well taken care of while in the wilderness.

Let's start planning your school trip!

Active adventures assurance.

We realise plans can change at any time and even the best insurance policies don’t cover every single possibility. Plus, with travel restrictions still floating around, it can be nerve-wracking for you to lock in future travel dates. We want you to feel confident that your money is in good hands so we've introduced Active Adventures Assurance , which includes:

• Deposits good for life
• Transferable deposits between trips
• Transferable travellers
• Refund outside of 30-days
• For Kiwis: if you can't travel due to Covid-19 level restrictions and your trip is less than 30 days away, we will re-book you onto an alternative departure date or will offer you a future trip credit valid on any Active Adventures departure in New Zealand or overseas until 31 December 2022.  

Why travel with us

Experience adventures the way you want them.

It's all about getting there under your own steam – on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike. What better way is there to experience mind blowing scenery? If it's your first time, no worries – our expert guides have got you covered

Crafting Award-winning trips for decades - the Kiwi way

Above all, we aim to be amazing hosts. We're proud of our kiwi roots, and our professional, warm and relaxed style of running trips around the world is unforgettable.

Every detail covered, to maximise your time

As soon as you join us, we've got all the details of your retreat covered – top notch meals, comfortable transport & accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.

Make life-long friends during your adventures

Even if you already know your travel companions, you'll get to know each other even better and gain a better appreciation for what makes your team tick. Plus, you'll have the flexibility and freedom to challenge yourself as much (or as little!) as you like.

Explore hidden gems through our expert local guides

We're VERY picky about who we select to work in our team, and we have people from all over the world lining up to guide our trips. So we get to hire the absolute BEST in the business.

4.54 out of 5 from 18194 reviews. That’s pretty solid.

While we could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are, the best people to listen to are our travellers themselves.

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Information for Teachers

Are you looking for an educational school trip around New Zealand?  Can't travel overseas? Our 25 years' experience of creating fun, safe and educational tour itineraries, ensure we are the right people to speak to when putting an educational school trip together to travel our beautiful country.

We have developed an itinerary for a SOUTH ISLAND EDUCATIONAL TOUR for New Zealand high school students. We have based this on a very popular tour we offer for international students in New Zealand and beefed up the educational content to be suitable as a learning experience aimed at year 10 students but would be suitable for any year levels. The itinerary will cover elements of New Zealand Geography, Geology, History and Biology. As international travel could be restricted for some time in the future, we see this as an ideal opportunity for New Zealand high schools who want an educational experience outside the classroom. There is no better time to explore our own back yard!

We know the hours of work planning a tour, here at NZET we make it easy for you, as all the hard work is done. We take care of everything from accommodation, activities, transport, RAMS (risk management) and even worksheets. We look after you and your group from the time we collect you from the airport  until you depart again. We are QUALMARK   accredited (New Zealand's official quality assurance programme) and Department of Conservation approved so you can have great confidence in our ablilty to provide your students with the best possible time in a fun and safe environment.

Best of all we make sure your students leave their tour with lasting memories, great stories and a better understanding of the world around us. Check out the ITINERARY HERE  

‘We manage the details’

Expert tour managers

We are New Zealand’s number one youth tour operator with over 25 years’ experience creating fun, safe and educational tour itineraries to suit every group’s requirements and budget.

As experts in New Zealand, NZET offer the best value activities, experiences and locations in New Zealand, based on your choice of study topics, curriculum or fun.  

You can have confidence when booking with NZET:-

• We can tailor each trip to the needs and budget of your group.
• You will have a trained local T our Manager with backgrounds in teaching or law enforcement, with you throughout the tour.
• Their knowledge, empathy and ability to get the best out of your students will enhance your New Zealand experience.
• Quality accommodation to suit your group,  quad share (single sex only) in places such as T op Ten Holiday parks, Y outh Hostels to twin and triple rooms in 3 star hotels . Teachers are always in single or twin rooms with ensuite facilities.
• 5-star coaches fully fitted with seat belts and WIFI.
• No surprise costs – fully inclusive with only pocket money plus cost of additional optional activities.
• A variety of  nutritional meal options from self to full catering.
• We are members of Tourism Export Council, Tourism Industry association and experts at running tours  

How it works?

If you’re interested in creating a specific group tour to New Zealand please fill in the online application form .   Our NZET tour specialist will talk through the best options for your trip and work with you to design an exciting itinerary taking in the best New Zealand has to offer, based on learning, fun, adventure and safety.

Contact us by calling 0800 693 869 (inside NZ) or +64 7 571-0796, email us on [email protected] or chat with us online – you can also find our full contact details, including location and postal address, on our contact page .

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New Zealand is an exciting destination for students. This tiny island nation is blessed with a rare diversity of landforms; pacific island beaches, rolling farmlands and volcanic plateau characterise the North Island while rugged wind-lashed coastlines, soaring snow peaked mountains and tranquil fiords are synonymous with the South Island.

Our local expertise spans over two decades thanks to our active New Zealand division, Adventure South NZ, who have created an unrivalled range of active itineraries for students across both the North and South Islands – during winter and summer.

Thanks to our local team in Christchurch we are well suited to help you tailor a wide range educational experiences into a New Zealand school trip that suits your curriculum requirements.

Talk to our experts to start tailoring an NZ school adventure to suite your budget and needs.

School trip and project ideas in New Zealand

New Zealand Multi Activity & Hinewai Conservation Program

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Important information, popular activities.

Self Guided Walking

Self Guided Cycling

Guided Walking

Guided Cycling

Walk on a glacier

Ride the iconic Otago Rail Trail

Heli-hike on the flanks of Mt Aspiring

Extend your adventure in Queenstown

Climb Aoraki Mount Cook

Cycle the wild west coast

Popular regions in new zealand.

Safety - our number 1 priority

Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when travelling with World Expeditions Schools.

Minimising risk

Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners our track record is exemplary.

Service Learning specialists

School Service Learning Community Projects offer a unique way to experience genuine cultural interaction while also providing real tangible benefits to underprivileged communities. Every Service Learning project is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Trusted accommodations

We only utilise trusted accommodation on a twin-share basis (unless otherwise requested) which we know to be clean, reliable, in a safe location and are regularly inspected by local authorities. Wherever possible, adjoining rooms are provided to ensure that students are provided with adequate supervision.

When camping your group will be provided with all group camping equipment including tents, quality sleeping bags, sleeping mats, eating utensils, kit bags as well as three hearty meals per day prepared by our trained cooks in a hygienic and controlled environment.

Reliable, private internal transport

We only use trusted transport providers and always use private buses. Using private buses not only ensures we can control the safety of the service but it also provides a measure of flexibility in our trips with each group provided vehicles dedicated to their needs. It also means the group is not taking seats away from locals who are in more need of the local services.

Hygienically prepared meals

When trekking, our trained staff and team of cooks provide a hygienic camp as well as fresh, nutritious meals.

Experienced & highly trained local guides

We believe local guides provide the best experience. Their local knowledge is unparalleled in terms of interpreting the natural and cultural environments, outlining the history of a region, engaging local dialogue and also re-arranging services if required.

Many of our local guides have worked for our company for a decade or longer. They are first aid trained, experienced, passionate about their country and we have the utmost confidence in their ability to provide an experience for your school better than any western guide can.

Well thought out, tailored itineraries

If itinerary design was an art form our work would be hanging in galleries around the world. At the very least it is most certainly a science and we have years of destinational experience to ensure your itinerary is safe and achievable.

When it comes to travelling at altitude we always allow ample days to allow for proper acclimatisation as well as to allow for inclement weather.

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Electricity

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Where to Go

Hike, bike, climb and kayak among pristine beaches and rainforests, active volcanoes and snowcapped peaks, gorges and waterfalls, turquoise lakes and alpine meadows, dramatic fjords and glaciers

Explore arts, culture and cuisine in Auckland, the pretty ‘City of Sails’

Visit world-class wineries and samples local produce in Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Central Otago

Milford, Routeburn, Tongariro, Abel Tasman, Queen Charlotte: Tramp your way along New Zealand’s spectacular multi-day walks

Get your adrenalin pumping with bungy jumping, rafting, jet boating, caving, sky diving or paragliding

Challenge yourself to a mountaineering course or summit expedition on New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook

Grab your snow gear and head to picturesque Queenstown and surrounding ski fields

Head to ‘Sulphur City’ (Rotorua) for geysers and geothermal hot pools

Take a scenic road trip over Arthur’s Pass and through the diverse scenery of the South Island’s rugged and remote West Coast

Don your crampons and take an ice climb on Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers

Experience New Zealand’s rich Maori history, arts and culture

As a general rule, November to April are the most ideal months for travelling in New Zealand’s stunning outdoors. One of the most important things travellers need to know about the New Zealand climate is that it’s a maritime climate, as opposed to the continental climate typical of larger landmasses.

Thanks to its position in the path of the ‘Roaring 40s’ and mountainous terrain, New Zealand’s weather can frequently change with amazing rapidity. Because the weather can change so unexpectedly you should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. This basically means having a good waterproof jacket and some warm clothing. You don’t need to bring your winter wardrobe but a good fleece/jumper and good thermals are a must.

The temperature during the South Island summers range from 10-30 ºC, with a pleasant 40- 50% humidity. Higher altitudes are always considerably cooler and snowfall is not uncommon even in summer. The Southern Alps act as a barrier to the moisture laden winds coming west across the Tasman Sea, creating a wet climate on the west side of the mountains and a drier climate on the east side. The geography also creates a wind pattern, which can in summer be very hot, dry and fierce. Maximum temperatures we may encounter range up to 30°C. Minimum temperatures expected in the Southern Alps in Summer time are around -5°C. Weather is an integral facet of any mountain range and getting to understand and work with this major environmental factor is what will make you more prepared for your tour – any questions about what to expect on your tour talk to one of our sales team.

Time in New Zealand

New Zealand is +12 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

New Zealand has 3 official languages: English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.

New Zealand’s multi-ethnic society means that around 150 additional languages are spoken by different communities.

Maori language takes its roots from Eastern Polynesia, however, following settlement in New Zealand by Polynesian groups from the 13th century, Maori developed as a unique language distinct from other Polynesian languages. At the time of New Zealand’s 2013 Census, there were 148,395 Maori language speakers. Maori language is spoken mainly in the North Island, where the bulk of New Zealand’s Maori population resides.

New Zealand Dollar

There are opportunities to change money at banks during the tour or you may wish to change it when arriving at the airport.

In some of the rural areas that we visit there aren’t any banks and sometimes when there is a bank it could be shut when we arrive.

ATM machines are widespread throughout New Zealand, except when travelling through rural areas such as the West Coast.

Visa and Master card are the most widely accepted credit cards and we would recommend them for most expenses. American Express has limited use in NZ and it is only accepted in some centres.

A currency converter you may find helpful is www.xe.com.

International Dialing Code

Electricity in New Zealand is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is I. (Aust - 3 flat prong).

The New Zealand Government has introduced a new travel requirement for some visitors and transit passengers. From 1 October 2019 many travellers to New Zealand (including Americans, Canadians, European and British) entering the country require a prearranged, approved New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). This is obtained electronically for passport holders from countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. Travellers must apply at least 72 hours before departure, however it can take as little as 10 minutes. It can be obtained online at https:\\nzeta.immigration.govt.nz or by downloading the NZeTA app.

An NZeTA request costs NZ$17 on the free app, or NZ$23 if completed online.

You will also need to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) at the same time as the NZeTA. This costs NZ$35.

Visa Waiver travellers who have not obtained an NZeTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for New Zealand.

You do not need to apply for an NZeTA if you are:

An NZ citizen with an NZ passport

Travelling on a foreign passport with an NZ citizen endorsement

An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian Passport

Have a valid visa for NZ including a permanent resident visa

You can check whether you need one at this link: https://tinyurl.com/y565l4jt

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.

Ready to tailor a school trip to New Zealand?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project in New Zealand to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.

Assisted over 14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we   have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow .

400+ Service Learning Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Educational School Visits in Auckland

Tuesday 5 January 2021 by Auckland for Kids Leave a Comment

Planning a school trip or learning experience outside the classroom in Auckland, New Zealand? Discover new ideas for school trips in and around Auckland that link to the curriculum and to learn through experiences out of the classroom.

Tiritiri Matangi Open Sanctuary

Experience  Tiritiri Matangi ‘s wonderful natural environment and see how communities can help to conserve the island. There is a comprehensive educational programme for students from year 1 to year 13 and also support at tertiary level. Their educator is able to offer a range of educational experiences closely tied to the curriculum.

The charge for the guided walk on the Island is just $2 per student (no charge for accompanying adults).  The Supporters and Fullers360 offer Discounted rates are offered to school parties to travel to Titiri Matangai on Fullers360 ferries on school days during the school term.

Butterfly Creek

Butterfly Creek’s living classroom  is a wonderful place to bring school students of all ages to explore and connect with nature and learn all about the animal world. It is easy to walk around and is good to visit in either the sunshine or rain as their exhibits are largely under cover. Schools can book an optional keeper talk and there are free education resources for before and after your visit as well as a Teachers Resource Hub for any other time. You can also arrange a pre-visit to Butterfly Creek if your school has not been before.

MOTAT has no minimum group size and has a maximum size of 120 students. School group bookings require a ration of 1:6 ( 1 adult per 6 students). Early childhood group bookings require a ratio of 1:3 (1 adult per 3 students).

Mangere Mountain

Māngere Mountain Education Centre delivers enquiry-led, out-of-classroom learning experiences to school groups. Programmes are linked to the New Zealand curriculum and offer a wide range of learning opportunities.  

Auckland Museum

Learning Programmes at Auckland Museum empower children and teenagers to understand and contribute to a changing world. Providing up-close access to objects relating to your students inquiry topic, their learning programmes are designed to ignite the natural curiosity of learners. Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum education programmes are supported by Learning Experiences Outside The Classroom (LEOTC), a Ministry of Education curriculum support project.

EcoMatters love having local  schools visit EcoHub  and the kids love getting their hands dirty and learning something new. Children can receive hands-on learning about edible gardens, bee-friendly gardens, food forests and worm farms! Get the kids excited learning about the importance of upcycling and recycling and exploring greater issues around conservation. EcoMatters can also tailor your visit to suit your class’ age group, study topic or area of interest. 

Highwic House

Highwic depicts life in a Victorian colonial house, through hands-on and interactive educational experiences. Educators provide tailor-made educational programmes relating to your chosen activities and theme.

Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo’s education sessions  are incredible opportunities to supplement a school trip visit with a specialised and tailored learning experience for your students. They offer sessions for students of all ages: from early childhood to tertiary.

Auckland Zoo also offers self-guided zoo visits for schools, where teachers are expected to provide their own educational aspect to the visit.

Visit the Sky Tower for Volcanic Auckland in the 220 metre high classroom. Teachers receive a complete lesson plan. 

Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery education programmes suit all levels of students, from early childhood education right through to tertiary. They also have a number of resources to assist teachers before, during and after their school visit. Auckland Art Galleries schools programmes are Learning Experiences Outside The Classroom, supported by the Ministry of Education.

Shakespear Open Sanctuary

Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society (SOSSI) provide guided tours of the Sanctuary in Whangaparoa and give talks to schools groups.  They work with teachers by highlighting the best of Shakespear to tailor your visit to achieve outcomes which best fit with learning objectives back at school. Talks and tours can cover, but are not limited to, wetland, stream, scrub, forest and seashore habitats; plants and animals of the Park; the impact of pest eradication on native plants and animals; bird relocation; cultural history of the area as well as a visit to a working farm.

Auckland Botanic Garden

Self-guided early childhood or school visits for your class at Auckland Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Garden teachers can offer you advice on seasonal highlights and age-appropriate activities as well as provide tips to ensure you get the most out of your day.

Glenfern Sanctuary, Great Barrier Island

Schools can visit for Glenfern Sanctuary on Great Barrier Island for tailored hands on conservation activities for children to experience and learn about our wonderful natural environment: how important it is and what’s involved in looking after it. 

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School Tours

Our school tours.

Whether you're looking to inspire the next generation of science and technology innovators, gain full immersion of a language or see the world's greatest artworks up close, we can design an educational tour for you.

Each school group tour is bespoke designed to fit your desired learning outcomes and budget. Just let us know what you're looking to achieve and we'll make it all happen. We have key partnerships all around the world covering every continent so there's no trip too big or small.

STEAM Tours

Language Tours

Arts & Media School Tours

Geography Tours

Social Science Tours

Outdoor Education & Leadership Tours

Business & Commerce Tours

Creative Arts Tours

Looking for a different subject.

Get in touch. All our tours are completely bespoke so we'll design a tour for any subject area to any destination.

London International Music Festival

Join dance, choral, orchestral, band and percussion ensembles from around the world for an incredible four days of learning and performing at top venues.

School tours with Haka

Reinforce and build on classroom learning with tours bespoke designed around your desired learning outcomes.

Build students' intellectual curiosity through real life application and experiences. Increase the likelihood of further study.

Improve cultural understanding through the sharing of stories, traditions and social interactions with the help of your local tour guide.

Help students gain a sense of independence with opportunities to take leadership roles within the group.

Self Management

Develop students' planning, time management and problem solving skills as they take responsibility for their gear and behaviour.

School Pride

Improve students' sense of pride in their school and community as they represent them on a world stage.

BECOME A HOST school

Join our community of host teams and schools. Gain the opportunity to network and learn with similar school groups from all over the world at no cost!

OUR LATEST school TOURS

New Zealand Film Tour

Embark on the New Zealand Film Tour and explore iconic film locations across stunning landscapes. Discover behind-the-scenes magic and visit the breathtaking scenery that has made NZ a top international film destination.

USA Media Studies Tour

Discover the heart of cinematic magic on this Media Studies Tour. Explore iconic sites such as Universal and Warner Bros Studios, where you’ll witness the artistry behind blockbuster films and immerse yourself in the behind-the-scenes action of your favorite movies gaining unparalleled knowledge and inspiration to fuel your creative aspirations.

LEADERSHIP TOUR – SOUTH ISLAND NZ

Discover the art of leadership as you tackle exhilarating team challenges amidst the magnificent landscapes. An unforgettable journey through New Zealand’s South Island, where leadership, teambuilding, and courage merge to create a transformative adventure that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

ARTS AND DRAMA TOUR – UK & FRANCE

Unleash artistic and cultural discovery on an educational tour from London to Paris. Immerse in Shakespearean history, explore iconic landmarks, and experience the magic of Harry Potter. From West End theatres to the Eiffel Tower, this journey promises a blend of enrichment and adventure.

OUR 4 STEP PROCESS

Here's how it all works - it's so easy!

Tell us your dreams, ideas and goals. There's no trip too big or small for our team.

We create your custom itinerary and quote and work with you to create the perfect tour.

We provide advertising and fundraising resources to gain tour sign ups.

We're with you every step of the way with guides on the ground and 24/7 support.

Let us create a free bespoke itinerary and quote just for your group. Tell us a bit about your needs and we'll do the rest!

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Educational Travel Experiences

Life changing and enriching school group tours., authentic educational travel experiences beyond the classroom., when your school has a group tour need, whether it be close to home; such as new zealand, or as far away as europe, defining moments will be there to make it happen., classics tours.

Experience a once in a lifetime journey through classical civilisations.

Geography Tours

Tailor any trip to experience firsthand the people and places related to current studies

Language Tours

Language students can immerse themselves in their culture of studies

History Tours

History is so much more than facts about things that came before us.

Science Tours

Biology, Physics and Chemistry Classes can travel the world too!

Media Studies

Media Studies tour will take you to where the magic happens

Business Studies

Defining Moments is able to put you in the places business happens across the globe.

Tourism Tours

What better way to understand the nature of the tourism industry

Defining Moments are TAANZ bonded

Defining moments recognises the financial commitment that students & their families make when signing up for a tour and we want to ensure everyone has the confidence that those funds are protected.

Defining Moments is a division of House of Travel Whangarei Limited, part of the House of Travel Group – New Zealand’s largest independently owned company. We are 100% New Zealand owned and operated and a fully bonded member of TAANZ – the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand Incorporated since 1991. TAANZ is a self-regulating body for the travel industry and, as members, we align with them in promoting the use of accredited and bonded travel agencies in order to guarantee quality standards, ethical business practices, safe travel, unbiased options and professionalism. All members are bonded and must meet strict membership and financial standards, as well as operate in strict accordance with TAANZ guidelines. As fully bonded members, Defining Moments maintain separate bank accounts for client funds, independent of our operating accounts. All customer funds are held in trust until payable or otherwise contractually due to travel services suppliers. All funds paid by customers are solely used for their specific travel arrangements. Defining Moments are one of very few educational group travel operators in New Zealand that are fully bonded by TAANZ and only TAANZ accreditation can give the assurance that your travel provider is held to the highest industry standards.

Superior planning for the ultimate travel experience.

At defining moments, we understand the stresses and challenges that can come with organising an educational tour and we are here to work with our teachers to ensure that planning a tour is an easy and straightforward process.   we are committed to supporting teachers throughout every step, working together to achieve a travel experience that is just as rewarding and memorable for our teachers as it is for the students., latest from the  blog, sign up to our blog.

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Prepare tomorrow's

Global citizens., since 2006, through international travel experiences, educating adventures is helping schools prepare students to be tomorrow's global citizens. educating adventures organise bespoke educational school tours to help each student explore a world of exciting possibilities. whether you want to inspire tomorrow's political leaders, scientists or scholars, educating adventures can tailor a unique school trip for you..

Explore our educational school trips for students

Destinations

Our trips provide a way for you to focus on what you’re best at. Explore our destinations and start planning your school trip!

Itineraries

Our sample itineraries give you an idea about the layout of the trip. They can be customised to your curriculum. Explore our itineraries.

Educating Adventures work with schools to provide their students with educational travel packages. Explore trips by subject.

"As a result of this trip, we have three students considering picking up mechanical engineering at university, and a host of students considering STEM-related A-Levels. An action-packed, awe-inspiring week away. I can't wait to go back next year!"

"I believe the memories created on an international school trip can drastically enhance a student's entire learning experience. Being immersed in real-life learning is the most powerful educational experiences one can gain."

"The experience for us was personalised, accessible and our consultant was interested in us. This makes the world of difference when you're travelling with students"

“This trip has taken the top spot for my career highlights to date!  The experiences and the way in which the students conducted themselves and embraced opportunities, even when they were out of their comfort zone, will stay with me forever.  I don’t know if it gets better than this.”

Where can your school's students travel on a school trip? 

Educating Adventures organise bespoke educational school tours to help each student explore a world of exciting possibilities. Here are some of our most popular destinations.

Offering a rich plethora of experiences, the USA is an ideal destination for your school trip abroad. Experience rich culture, visit iconic landmarks and participate in workshops around the country in a variety of subjects. As a trip destination, the USA is safe and affordable.

A focus on your student’s educational requirements.

Long standing relationships with educational providers.

Trip packages tailored to suit your budget, time frame, and objectives.

Japan is a destination where ancient traditions are fused with modern life. Japan offers a true cultural immersion. Eat traditional cuisine, explore the modern streets of Tokyo, ski in Hakuba, and visit the adorable snow monkeys and the Nagano temple. Get in touch with our team to start planning your trip to next school trip.

An engaging destination, perfect for sampling a different culture.

Offers a completely new and diverse set of traditions and customs.

Japanese people are kind, welcoming and enjoy hosting international school groups.

New Zealand

Offering extensive national parks, dynamic Māori culture, and world-class skiing; New Zealand is a popular trip destination for schools all over the world. Enjoy contemporary kiwi culture and catch a cultural performance. New Zealand is safe, accessible, and offers endless possibilities for your school trip.

Great for sports, geography, history and cultural trips

A unique and exciting school trip destination

New Zealand is a safe country, jam-packed with adventure activities

A school trip to Europe offers scenic beauty, rich history and dazzling artistic and culinary diversity. Visit Athens, the birthplace of democracy, or learn about the Renaissance in Florence. Explore the Napoleonic splendour of Paris, and the multilayered historical and cultural canvas of London.

Opportunity for creative learning in some of the most famous cities in the world.

Opportunity to develop language skills.

The location of key political and historic sites.

Join schools from around the world, and travel with Educating Adventures

FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTES AVAILABLE

We offer bespoke school tours for all subjects

Discover how educational school travel can bring your subject to life and encourage your students to put learning into practice. Find your subject below and explore the school trips available.

When it comes to geography tours, New Zealand, the USA and Europe are the most popular. Opportunities abound for hands-on learning, with many activities designed to educate and enlighten students about the geographic aspects of the wider world. We can tailor a geography trip to suit your curriculum.

An international STEM trip is a great way to ignite students' passions and interests in stem learning. You and your students could be visiting Silicon Valley, building robots or using motion simulators at the Kennedy Space Center. This is a rewarding and effective way to nurture and cultivate your students' vision for the future.

Encourage and cultivate the creativity of each of your students. Our trips are specifically tailored to the arts. Designed to not only inspire and boost creative thinking, our arts trips foster curiosity, and encourage students to develop their own skills, whatever their creative discipline.

Contextualise your classroom learning with real world experiences, enabling your students to reflect and critique business theory. Encourage out of the box thinking to solve real world problems and prepare students for future careers in today's globalised economy.

History & politics

An international history and politics trip with Educating Adventures will connect past and present as your students are immersed in traditions and cultures through Europe, USA, or Asia. Students are encouraged to discover a deeper understanding of the iconic events that have shaped today’s world.

Take learning outside of the classroom, and put your students’ practical skills to the test on an international languages trip. Students are paired with a host family, to promote development of interpersonal skills, and prepare students for a global environment.

How our educational school tours work for you

Your safety and security is our primary focus. We ensure teachers are well equipped. Your financial security and peace of mind are covered.

Our dedicated and supportive team are committed to providing a high level of professional service, including always being transparent in communication.

A business such as ours exists upon a dynamic network of domestic and international connections. We are connected.

We understand that one-size rarely fits all. We can take care of most requests, and specialise in creating bespoke programmes.

Collectively we have over 85 years of experience. We have been operating since 2006 with consistently positive feedback on service, communication and value.

We care for each other. We care about our product. We care about our planet.

Our travel consultants have a wealth of knowledge, and can answer any of your school trip questions. ‍ Contact us now

Ten years operating tours equates to a lot of questions. If you're thinking it we've probably been asked it. Read FAQs

Take the leap, we can help discuss your school trip ideas, aims and objectives to create the right trip for you. ‍ Get started

Download a sample itinerary, explore our recommended trips and get your creative ideas flowing. Sample itineraries

The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9231. www.atol.org.uk

Educating Adventures™ is part of the Educating Adventures™ Group

Changes are coming to education.govt.nz. We invite you to explore a preview of the replacement website and let us know what you think. Visit preview.education.govt.nz

Overseas school trips and exchanges

This guidance provides resources, advice and best practice for schools taking overseas trips.

• Education outside the classroom guidance

Things to think about for your initial planning

Before you leave, during the trip, required ratios, temporary accommodation.

• Risk assessment and emergencies

More information

Education outside the classroom guidelines.

'Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) Guidelines: Bringing the Curriculum Alive' is a document that supports the  teaching and learning of the national curriculum. 

It has been developed to align with:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
• The Vulnerable Children Act 2014.
• The Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016.

The toolkit and and safety management plan contain a selection of sample forms and templates that reflect the current good practices and procedures for EOTC safety. These tools will to assist you in managing your trip and will help you meet your legal requirements and good practice responsibilities.

Download the guidelines

Download the guidelines and appendices from TKI.

EOTC guidelines – TKI (external link)

This information outlines good practice for the safety of students and successful learning outcomes while on an overseas school trip. It has been compiled as guidance only and should not be considered a substitute for legal or professional assessment of risks and requirements.

For advice on hosting visitors from overseas, see our guidance about international student visitors.

International student visitors

Know your school's policies and procedures

Ensure you are following any existing procedures laid down by the school. Your school will have a staff member responsible for ensuring that school activities are compliant with these policies.

If you are taking international students overseas, make sure you are also following the requirements of the Code of Practice.

Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice – NZQA (external link)

Understand your legal obligations

Make sure you know what your obligations are when students are in your care. These will be outlined in the policies set by your school board.

You will find helpful information about this on student wellbeing page and on pages 41-50 and 52 of the education outside the classroom (EOTC) guidelines.

Student wellbeing

Familiarise yourself with your school’s emergency plan

Your school will have an emergency management plan in place for emergencies, traumatic incidents, evacuations and lockdowns.

These may be useful for planning emergency procedures while overseas.

Preparing for emergencies, traumatic incidents, evacuations and lockdowns

For more about emergency plans, see the advice below on risk assessments and emergency plans.

Risk assessments and emergency plans

Identify any potential health and safety risks

As part of your risk assessment, you need to be aware of health and safety risks and take appropriate action.

• Make sure you have someone who is first aid certified.
• Collect emergency contacts and health information for all students, staff and other adults on the trip.

For more information about how to undertake a risk assessment, see the information below and refer to the EOTC guidelines.

Learn about the destination and your accommodation

• If you have not already visited the destination, ask about inspection visits.
• If you know of another school that has been to the location before, consider contacting them to ask about their experience.
• Check the SafeTravel website for up-to-date information about the destination. We recommend registering all students, staff, and other adults with SafeTravel before travelling.

Need a visa? – SafeTravel (external link)

Staff and supervision

Make sure there is an appropriate balance in terms of gender, experience and skills – for example, you should have someone in the group who holds a current first aid certificate.

See chapter 4 of the EOTC guidelines and Module 5 of the ako LMS for more information.

Module 5: Staffing and supervision – Ako LMS (external link)

• See guidance below about appropriate adult-to-student ratios.
• If parents or non-school staff will be supervising students, make sure you are familiar with them and make sure they are comfortable and appropriately prepared to have students in their care.

Get travel insurance

All students, staff and other adults should have appropriate insurance, including travel insurance (see below for more detail).

When choosing an insurance provider, ensure you make informed choices and that you clearly explain these to families.

Choose a bonded travel company

We recommend that you chose a bonded travel agent to protect against financial losses if refunds are needed.

Travel agents that are bonded through either the Travel Agents Association New Zealand (TAANZ) or the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will provide financial protection if the travel agent collapses and cannot provide refunds.

Bonded for your protection – TAANZ (external link)

When you choose a travel agent who is not a member of TAANZ or IATA, there is a higher risk of losing most of any deposits for travel if the agent has financial difficulty.

You should disclose the risk of non-bonded travel agents to families and the boards, and get agreements from them if you use a non-bonded agent.

Passports and visa requirements

Make sure that all students, staff and other adults on the trip:

• have passports that are valid for at least 6 months from departure
• have the appropriate visas to leave and re-enter New Zealand (if not citizens).

Check the visa and entry requirements for the destination country and ensure that all people on the trip have appropriate visas if needed.

Some people on the trip may have passports from another country, so they may require different visas than those with a New Zealand passport.

For more information see the SafeTravel website. You can check entry requirements with your travel agent or using the tool on the Air New Zealand website.

International travel requirements – Air New Zealand (external link)

Communicate what the cost of the trip will include

You must clearly communicate with students and family which activities or amenities are included in the cost and which are additional. For example, ski trip prices often only cover the cost of two-hour morning lessons; afternoon lessons are extra.

If food, transport, or accommodation are not included in the cost of the trip, you must ensure that all students, staff, and other adults on the trip are able to cover the costs of these things themselves.

Make sure the trip is suitable for all students

Take account of age, gender, accessibility and diverse needs.

• whether all students will be able to fully participate in the activities planned
• the cultural or religious backgrounds of the people on the trip or any past experiences that may be significant and make sure that all activities are appropriately respectful.

See the guides on the Inclusive Education website recognising and planning for the needs of diverse learners.

Guides – Inclusive Education (external link)

Consider a payment schedule

Families may find it difficult to cover the full costs of a trip in one payment. You can set up a payment schedule to provide options for families to pay in instalments. Any payment schedule should be outlined with the school and the family as part of the agreement to attend the trip or exchange.

If staff, students, or other adults on the trip will be given money to spend while away, make sure they keep receipts or a record of their expenses.

What to communicate

Make sure you are regularly communicating with parents.

You will need to clearly outline:

• details of the staff and adults who will be accompanying the trip
• what the payment schedule is and how much it is, including a clear indication if deposits are non-returnable (for example, for travel, accommodation, activities)
• details of what is and what is not covered by the cost
• decisions about insurance and what is included/excluded
• whether the travel agent is bonded, and the risks of a non-bonded agent
• advice on appropriate clothing and pocket money
• the itinerary, including departure and arrival details
• accommodation details
• any possible dangers and risks you have identified – including cancellations
• the school’s emergency plan
• discipline and appropriate sanctions
• details of travel arrangements, including any en route accommodation
• the date of the family information evening (if any)
• how you will provide receipts or cost breakdowns for payments made by families.

What information and documents to collect

You will need the following information and documentation from families and students:

• an emergency contact name and number both at home and away
• a consent form which details any special medical and diet information and gives permission to take appropriate emergency measures
• passport and visa details
• any medical and travel insurance requirements.

Involve staff and supervisors

Teamwork and leadership are vital ingredients for a successful trip.

• Have regular team meetings and ensure all staff are consulted about arrangements.
• If possible, include families in some of these conversations, particularly for longer or overseas trips.

Regularly update your risk assessment

Make sure you regularly update your risk assessment to meet individual students' needs.

Meet with relevant staff and family members if you are concerned about a student. For example, an additional member of staff might be needed to assist with students with disabilities or other learning needs.

Find out more about supporting students with diverse needs on the learning support page.

Learning support

Supervision

• Regularly do a headcount of students, particularly when getting on and off transport. Always get another member of staff to check.
• Ensure reasonable supervision at all times. Allocate groups of students to individual staff members; this helps rapid communication of information.
• Ensure students understand and apply travel safety requirements, for example, using seat belts on coaches.
• Always keep students informed of reasons for delays or sudden changes of plan. This will help keep students calm if there are unexpected changes and they can update their guardians if necessary.
• Make sure students are aware of Customs and biosecurity requirements and the penalties that underpin them before departure and for the return trip to New Zealand.

Accommodation

• On arrival at the accommodation, update your risk assessment. Consider a fire practice if you can do so without disturbing other guests, and check entries and exits to rooms.
• Take care when allocating students to rooms. There needs to be a balance between students’ preferences and the need to ensure good order and safety.
• Let students know who they can talk to privately if they have concerns or are feeling unsafe. Consider informing students and families about room allocations before the trip if possible.
• Take similar care in allocating staff members and other adults.
• Advise students to take care of their belongings and offer to lock valuables in staff rooms or in the hotel safe.
• Make sure rooms are checked for pre-existing damage and report it to the accommodation manager.
• Arrange a meeting with students to reinforce the code of conduct, identify out-of-bounds areas, map out the programme for the week and agree on bedtimes.
• Let the tour reps or hotel managers know of any concerns you may have, particularly if you think they compromise student safety.
• Do not change the planned programme or accept enforced changes without good reason. If possible, communicate any changes to parents.
• Consider the insurance implications of your liability as a party leader. For example, many insurance companies do not cover human error. This may be covered by school insurance for professional liability.
• If you are unsure of how to deal with a problem on the trip, consult your team or contact your school for advice. A school should ideally provide an emergency contact so that you can make contact in the event of an emergency.

Returning home

• In the last stages of the journey home, ensure that students can contact home to provide an expected time of arrival.
• On arrival, staff must stay with students until they are collected.
• Contact family members if they are late to pick up a student.

Insurance should cover the following aspects at a minimum.

Health cover

• Medical expenses incurred for the treatment of illness and/or injury that requires surgery and/or hospitalisation – unlimited sum insured.
• Medical evacuation related to serious illness and injuries – unlimited sum insured, include emergency dental treatment.
• Costs for family members’ travel in the event that the student suffers a serious illness or injury.

Repatriation, search and rescue

• Repatriation and expatriation in the event a student has to return home following an injury or illness.
• Return of mortal remains/funeral expenses - including travel costs for family members, repatriation of remains and funeral costs, search-and-rescue operation costs incurred to locate the insured.

Travel into and out of New Zealand

• Missed flights or delays for travel into and out of New Zealand.
• Medical expenses incurred for the treatment of an illness and injury incurred during the travel.

Personal liability

• Negligence causing bodily injury (including death) of another person or loss of or damage to property.

Party leader liability

Depending on the circumstances, party leader liability may not be covered by travel insurance but may be by Risk Management Scheme or private insurance programme for schools.

We recommend you check the insurance policy with your insurance providers. Situations may include but not limited to costs from missed flights and transport or misjudgements by a party leader.

Unforeseen circumstances

Depending on the nature, cost, and length of the trip, you might consider insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, event cancellation or global pandemic.

Unforeseen circumstances insurance is not essential but you may want to consider it for trips with high costs, reliance on external bodies, tight timeframes or higher risks.

A ratio compares the number of skilled and experienced supervisors to the number of students or participants involved in an event.

Ratios will vary according to the age and needs of students, the nature of the activity, the location, the competence of the students and the staff involved.

See chapter 4 of the EOTC guidelines:

Ratios for overseas trips, remote environments or hazardous activities should match the increased level of risk involved.

If in doubt, be conservative and/or seek professional advice when deciding on an appropriate supervision plan, including ratios.

A list of professional national bodies can be found here:

EOTC programme contacts – TKI (external link)

When a student or group is not able to stay at accommodation arranged by their school/trip organiser for any reason, they may need to stay somewhere else temporarily.

Reasons to need temporary accommodation include (but not limited to):

• booked flights/transport have been delayed/cancelled
• student(s) had urgent medical treatments
• trips have been disturbed by national disasters/civil unrest.

Trip organisers must take a robust approach to determine that temporary accommodation and accompanying supervision is suitable.

This includes but is not limited to:

• assessing the suitability
• ensuring that students have appropriate supervision
• ensuring the group students have an appropriate ratio of supervisors
• monitoring and managing any risks to the safety of students.

Risk management and emergencies

Risk management will help to reduce the likelihood and severity of serious and adverse health and safety outcomes when hosting or taking a school trip.

Schools and trip leaders need to ensure that risks are known, assessed and managed.

You can use this risk management checklist to help you get started. Your school board should also have a set of health and safety guidelines for you to follow.

Download the risk management checklist

• Risk management checklist [DOCX, 19 KB]

For more information about how to conduct a risk assessment please use the following two links:

Good practice guidelines – Education Outdoors NZ (external link)

EOTC safety management plan template & toolkit – Education Outdoors NZ (external link)

Responding after an emergency

If you have an extreme event while on a school trip it can affect students, staff, families and communities.

You can find resources about responses to extreme events on the Ministry website below.

Responding after a crisis

Other related pages

Secondary school exchanges

What is a school camp?

This guidance has been compiled for your information only. It should not be treated as an exhaustive statement on the subject, nor should it be considered as a substitute for legal or professional service.

The information is provided on the basis that you are responsible for making your own assessment of the topics discussed. The Ministry expressly disclaims all liability (including but not limited to liability for negligence) for errors or omissions of any kind whatsoever or for any loss (including direct and indirect losses), damages or other consequences which may arise from your reliance on the material contained in the guidance notes.

Last reviewed: 13 March 2024 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback

School Holiday Trips & Tours

School’s out – let’s make the most of it.

It’s the same for everyone – the holidays always go too fast, even if they’re spent chilling out around the house. So why not pack in as much action as possible? Life is short, and besides, family bonding time is more fun when you’re combing the Galapagos highlands for giant tortoises, making your own pesto on Italy’s Ligurian coast or chilling out under the stars on a boat in Vietnam’s Halong Bay. With itineraries to suit all tastes and ages, we’ve got family holidays that make a perfect fit for the school break. Time to get your adventure on.

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

In a relatively short time frame, it’s best to stick to one country so you can immerse yourselves without feeling rushed. From North America, a quick flight south has you exploring  Mexico's  amazing Yucatan Peninsula, checking out Maya ruins, lounging on white beaches and swimming in limestone caves. Alternatively, kids will be thrilled to snorkel with sea lions in the  Galapagos , a unique wildlife wonderland reached easily via South America’s most beautiful city, Quito.

For families travelling from Australia and New Zealand, the way to go is Southeast Asia.  Vietnam  and  Thailand  offer delicious food, fascinating cultures and tropical beaches just a short flight away. Meanwhile, UK and Europe-based families should put  Morocco  and  Italy  on top of their holiday lists; the young ones will love Gladiator school in Rome or a camel ride along the Atlantic Ocean in sleepy Sidi Kaouki.

Families with a longer school holiday period up their sleeve can join two holidays together to make the most of their time.  Kenya  and  Tanzania  are perfect for this, with lots of wildlife viewing, fun camping experiences, and cultural discovery (by way of the brightly clad Maasai tribespeople). Asia is another perfect destination for combining itineraries;  Thailand  and neighbouring  Laos  are a match made in heaven, as are  Vietnam  and  Cambodia .

If you’re looking to Europe, why not turn your  Italy  sojourn into a comprehensive adventure down the boot? There’s so much to do in both the north and the south – from pizza making to volcano hiking to exploring Roman ruins. In the Middle East, it’s all about  Egypt  and  Jordan  – two spectacular desert countries that transport you back to the ancient world. Sail down the Nile, gaze at the Pyramids and tour the lost city of  Petra .

The clue’s in the title. These trips are for families only (including any aunts, uncles or cousins who’d like to come along, of course). As long as you’re travelling with a child under the age of 18, you’re a family in our eyes. Plus, unlike other travel companies, children aged 17 years and younger receive a 10% discount off the price of their trip.

Travelling the Intrepid way is a bit like travelling with a group of friends. These trips are made up of 3–5 like-minded families, and the kids tend to hit it off straight away, allowing you to enjoy some well-earned R&R. We often find the whole family ends up making friendships with people from all over the world, staying in touch long after the adventure ends.

Intrepid’s family group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some out-of-the-way places, but big enough for a good social mix. Our average group size of 10 allows us to hop aboard local boats, buses or trains, eat at friendly, family-run restaurants and kick back in traditional accommodation and homestays.

We know the biggest challenge on a family trip is keeping the kids entertained. So we’ve planned in advance. Nearly all of our hotels feature pools, and each day has a great mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time. Your local leader can also suggest activities based on your kid’s hobbies or school curriculum.

Our leaders are specially trained to run family adventures, so you’re well taken care of. You can also rest easy knowing we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy.

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet.

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Bali Family Holiday with Teenagers

Borneo Family Holiday

Italy Family Holiday

Sports Tours

School sports tours offer a unique opportunity for your sporting team to compete worldwide with schools and clubs of the same caliber. With the goal to foster camaraderie and sportsmanship, school sports trips will be the highlight of your sporting team’s year. Sports travel tours can strengthen the bonds between team members as they will eat, live, sleep and experience new environments together, allowing students to develop a more personal connection between each other and their teachers. Sporting tours NZ and Australia or to overseas destinations aid in the development of cultural awareness as students experience sport at locations far from home. Students often return home after school sports tours with life-long friendships that were built on the field but continue into adulthood.

With countless destinations worldwide to choose from it can be a difficult choice to find the right sport tours. Offering first-class experiences for any sport, whether rugby, football, netball, hockey, basketball or cricket, Student Horizons can discuss and advise on suitable destinations for your school’s sporting needs. For almost a decade Student Horizons has aimed to provide more than just a sports tour – we provide experiences for life. We have the resource capabilities and experience necessary to ensure that your sports travel tours consistently meet the high standards expected. Working with your school to plan, organise and execute your sports tours, we will simplify the process for you whilst ensuring safety continues to be our number one priority.

If you’re wishing to take your group on a sports tour within Australia, more information can be found in Australia School Tours .

New Zealand School Sports Tours

Australian school sports tours, rugby union tours, usa basketball tours, australian school sports tournaments, school cricket tours, cross-curriculum tours, football tours, school hockey tours, miscellaneous school sports tours, school netball tours, rugby league tours, school snow trips, sports tournaments, get in touch for a free quote.

Planning sports tours in Australia or overseas doesn’t need to be a daunting experience. Get in touch with us today to see how Student Horizon’s can simplify school sports trips for your school and how sports travel tours can add value to your sporting programme, creating lasting memories for your students.

Sport Tours

Sports travel tours can be tailor-made to your sporting programme and are available throughout Australia, New Zealand and to many overseas destinations. Take a tour of Madison Square garden, watch your favourite NBA team and play against schools of comparable caliber with a basketball tour to the USA. Hone your team’s skills against students who one day may be the next Zidane with a football tour to one of many great European destinations. Head to Canada, the United States, and South America for football tours in the Americas with a unique cultural twist. Tour the locations of the 2019 Rugby World Cup where the Brave Blossoms stunned the world with a Rugby Union tour to Japan. Test your teams’ cricket caliber against teams in Sri Lanka with cricket tours to Asia. Hockey tours in the Northern Hemisphere offer world-class facilities and the opportunity to test your students on an international level. Asia, the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the USA – no matter the destination, school sports tours can foster sportsmanship and help develop skills both in and out of the classroom. Through healthy competition against teams of comparable caliber and training away from home, your sports team can hone their skills and develop new techniques that they can bring back to use in their local fixtures. Student Horizons can work with your sporting program to develop school sports trips worldwide that will build upon your team’s strengths and create lasting memories for your students.

School Sports Tours Europe

Europe continues to hold its title as the stomping ground for many of the world’s top athletes. Cristiano Ronaldo, Maro Itoj, Ellen Hoog, and Kevin Pietersen to name a few have trained and competed on the world stage in their respective sports. Europe continues to be a premier choice for football tours and school sports tours. The United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain are fantastic destinations to develop your teams’ skills and play football against some of the best while being immersed in the cultures of countries different to their own. Other popular sport tours to Europe include our Five Capitals Rugby Tour which takes students to the iconic cities of Dublin, Belfast, Edinburg, London, and Paris, Netball tours to the UK and Hockey tours to the UK and the Netherlands. Sports travel tours to Europe can be combined with training camps, cultural activities, tournaments, and a homestay program to make the most of the tour for your students. Students will return home not only with the many memories they created but with a global mindset gained from playing on an international stage.

Sporting Tours NZ and Australia

Sport in Australia and New Zealand is part of our national heritage, millions tune in to watch Australians and Kiwis compete on an international level. From rugby, cricket, football, and swimming, Aussies and Kiwis love sport. When asking graduates what their best memory of school was, many will often relive memories of competing as part of their sporting team or going on a overseas sports tour in Australia or New Zealand.

Sporting Tours Australia

Home of the Wallabys, the Soccoroos, and training ground for Olympic medalist swimmers. There’s no question that sport in Australia continues to be world-class. Sport is ingrained in Australians from an early age, with over two million people playing soccer and over three million swimming across Australian shores. Whether rugby, netball, cricket or swimming, sports tours Australia wide offer the opportunity to train and play against teams in some of Australia’s most beloved sports. Tailor your Australian sport tours with by touring some of Australia’s most famous stadiums. Visit the stadiums that play host to the State of Origin and see where the infamous Blues vs. Maroons rivalries first started. Tour the MCG in Melbourne and stand on the pitch where one of Australia’s most beloved cricketers, Shane Warne battled the sun and took his 700 th test wicket against England’s Andrew Strauss watched by a crowd of 90,000 strong. There are school sports tours suitable for all sporting curriculums Australia wide.

Sporting Tours NZ

New Zealand is an ideal destination for school sports trips with rugby union and league, basketball, cricket, netball, and soccer being played throughout New Zealand. The caliber of New Zealand’s sporting programme is second to none and sporting tours NZ wide provide a unique opportunity to train and play against some of the up and coming in the industry. That friendly match while on tour may turn out to be against a future member of the All Blacks. Rugby is part of New Zealand’s national heritage with many saying it is in their Kiwi blood. For rugby teams looking for tough competition, there is no better destination than New Zealand. While rugby remains one of New Zealand’s most popular sports, the country also has world-class snow. Sport tours in winter can take advantage of the abundance of snow during peak-season and test their skiing, or snowboarding skills on two of New Zealand’s most famous mountains – The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. For schools looking for a combined sports-education tour, cross-curriculum tours can also benefit from New Zealand’s continued commitment to their sporting and arts programs.

Sports Travel Tours – Tournaments

Test your team’s sporting skill against teams of comparable caliber with tournament sports travel tours. Working locally to support and sponsor secondary school tournaments in Australia and New Zealand and through our partners across the globe, Student Horizons can advise on suitable tournaments for your sporting team. Having your team finish off overseas school sports tours with a tournament, is the perfect culmination of the hard work and experience gained throughout the tour. As they adapt and test out the new strategies and skills gained, their competitive spirit will be in full force as they represent their school on the national or international stage.

Planning sports tours overseas doesn’t need to be a daunting experience. Get in touch with us today to see how Student Horizons can simplify school sports trips for your school and how sports travel tours can add value to your sporting programme, creating lasting memories for your students.

It’s been exceptionally straightforward setting up the tour thanks to your work.

Our students really benefited from this amazing pre-season tour in Europe. An amazing experience for the girls to see Hockey at its best. Fantastic games and coaching clinics as well as a nice mix of sightseeing and shopping. I would highly recommend this tour and would certainly book again… Certainly could not have organised this ourselves. Great to have local contacts on the ground in Europe. Standard of games was spot on and clubs visited were brilliant and they were incredibly happy for us to be there playing them and incredibly hospitable.

Jared was fantastic in every aspect! He was efficient and effective where necessary and got along well with staff and boys alike, a perfect tour companion. All guides were very well prepared, knowledgeable and complimented the various styles of the tours well. A fantastic experience for students & staff made relatively hassle-free by all of the hard work from Jared and the Student Horizons team.

Student Horizons were responsible for Rathkeale College’s recent European Football tour and are to be highly commended for providing the boys and staff with an excellent experience on all fronts. The tour proceeded with scarcely a hitch and this owes much to the organisation and attention to detail provided by Student Horizons and their agents.

Student Horizons is a company that I have been advocating for since my introduction to them last October. Within one week of making my initial enquiry, the company director, Mr Jamie Wansey travelled from New Zealand to Brisbane to meet with me directly and discuss the option of touring with Student Horizons. His initial passion, commitment and interest in my suggested aims and objectives of such tours from St Mary’s College made it an easy decision…The Student Horizons team was remarkable in every way, and I have no hesitation in recommending them to any school or organisation.

Student Horizons organised a good all round experience for our Ski Tour. A mix of cultural and extreme sport experience. We were very lucky with the snow and weather. Accommodation mix was comfortable and clean. Plenty of food for hungry skiers. Hire and collection of gear went without a hitch. Would definitely recommend the same tour to any school.

At the end of the tour, I mentioned to Mik Scott that it felt like I was just one of the kids on the tour. And he said he felt the same. Part of this was because we had a great group of kids but the main reason is that Student Horizons was meticulous in the organisation and preparation and Jared worked tirelessly to ensure the plan was enacted. Student Horizons is a first class operation.

The tour was very engaging and allowed me to experience an overseas culture. I feel the tour has educated me not only in football but the lifestyles of other countries. This is an experience that I would highly recommend for future students.

Student Horizons made our trip manageable and achievable and saved the College a great deal of organisation. The cost also allowed many students to be able to afford this trip and it was value for money.

Travel Bursaries for Students

Overseas travel helps to give us all who travel a broader perspective of the world in which we live and our place within it. The Foundation of Student Horizons aspires to make a difference through providing as many opportunities for all young people to experience the world and connect with others who are both different and the same. If any of your students require financial assistance for your next overseas school tour, The Foundation of Student Horizons may be able to help.