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The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre (OPC) is New Zealand's leading outdoor education centre. We run courses from a few days to two years in length for young people and adults. Our courses are all about personal development through challenges in the outdoors.

Sir Edmund Hillary, founding Patron of OPC, role modeled to New Zealand and the world what could be done if you put your mind to something and then strove to achieve that goal. Climbing to the top of Mt Everest was something that many considered impossible. Ed Hillary showed that teamwork, perseverance and courage could combine to allow seemingly ordinary people to achieve an ‘impossible’ outcome. Sir Edmund then went on to achieve many other firsts, including the first motorised journey to the South Pole using good old Kiwi Massey Ferguson tractors, a first journey up the river Ganges using another Kiwi innovation – the Hamilton Jet Boat. However, Ed Hillary does not consider these his greatest achievements. He believes they are nothing compared to the work that he has done for his friends, the people of Nepal. The lifelong quest to help these people to attain their potential through the provision of hospitals, schools, bridges and other assistance shows his humanitarian side.

OPC is a value-based organisation. Our goal is not simply to introduce people to the New Zealand outdoors, but to sow the seed for change and growth through that introduction. We want people to explore their values and consider what values and behaviours are important for a healthy society: values such as outstanding, ownership, perseverance, personal integrity, courage and compassion. All of these values can be clearly seen in the lives of our two Patrons; Sir Edmund Hillary and Barbara Kendall.

The other secret to OPC’s educational success is the philosophy of learning that was introduced by our founder Graeme Dingle. Dingle believed that in order for young people to thrive and achieve, they needed to be introduced to new experiences and skills in such a way that would encourage them to want to take part again. For this reason he believed in an instructional style that offered support and caring at an individual level; giving people the skills to succeed. He also believed that the best experiences were FUN! That philosophy has been taken and extended by present day staff so that we continually receive incredibly positive feedback from students, teachers and parents.

Our goal is that when someone leaves OPC they will know more about themselves and the infinite possibilities that exist. We understand that not everyone will necessarily excel or even like every outdoor activity. We do know that working as a member of a team in a variety of settings will produce many meaningful learning moments. We also hope that many young people will be introduced to an activity that they will want to take up as an active recreational pursuit for life.