True transformation takes time, grit, and courage - all of which were on full display over the three weeks our students spent on the Outward Bound Mind, Body & Soul course. Designed to build physical endurance, emotional maturity, and strong leadership skills, this extended journey has left a profound mark on every participant. We extend our deepest gratitude to NZRPG (New Zealand Retail Property Group)—without their visionary sponsorship and generous support, this life-shaping 21-day experience would not have been possible.

Cooper Ashby - During my 21-day course at Outward Bound, there was never a day when we weren’t doing something. Each day brought something new, whether through the activities we did or the challenges we faced. Some of the awesome experiences I had while there include a 5-day sailing & tramping scheme, rock climbing, kayaking, and backflipping off the local jetty. 

The best part about Outward Bound to me was the friends you make across the course, especially those in your watch. If it wasn’t for the friends I had during the 21 days, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it anywhere near as much as I did. Outward Bound was a physically challenging experience, but it was also a very rewarding experience which I’ll always recommend anyone do if given the opportunity! 

Ethan Hintz - Participating in the Outward Bound 21 course was one of the most memorable experiences ever. During our rock climbing adventure, the cold stone numbed my hands, but reaching the top rewarded me with an incredible view. Kayaking down fresh water rivers and capsizing (flipping the kayak over), sailing throughout the sounds with 15-30 knot winds at times and seeing seals, spoonbills, and dolphins, hiking the Queen Charlotte trail with very beautiful views of the ocean hitting the base of the green alpine forest, while seeing a black fantail, a weka, and bellbirds which we don’t have here in auckland.

We all went into the bush on a 3-day, 2-night solo trip, using a tarp for shelter. The next day I made a nice shelter completely out of bush, which took all day to make. I didn’t get bored on my own; though some of the others went a little insane and started talking to trees!

These are half the things you’ll be doing on Outward Bound: you get to know your watch, which is a group of people you are with the entire time you are at Outward Bound and become a family. You’ll fit in with everyone, have lots of laughs and fun and prank other watches. The dinners and dessert are amazing, whenever you don’t have a scheme, you can have roast lamb and pork/crackling, curry, the best cheese cake you’ll ever eat, brownies, awesome pies, and passionfruit cake, the dinners are an incredible buffet and you will appreciate flapjacks, which is like an anzac biscuit but softer, bigger and delicious, always take flapjacks on scheme!

Outward Bound is challenging. Each morning begins with PT at 6:50 am, followed by a 3 km run to get you warmed up for the day - something that, in time, doesn’t feel as hard as it sounds. The key is to always push yourself and give 110%, especially during the half marathon on the second-to-last day. I managed to come in second place, finishing in 1 hour and 48 minutes. I hope this inspires the next generation of kids to attend Outward Bound; I would definitely go again