Blue Light Āwhitu Youth Camp

'Empowering Youth Through Adventure'

Blue Light Āwhitu Youth Camp is located on the picture-perfect Manukau Harbour and on forty-two acres of the Āwhitu regional park. The youth camp provides the perfect outdoor adventure environment for wānanga, schools, and sports groups to host a camp or for conferences and staff training retreats.  

Activities

Click on activity for more info

Meet the team

Meet the passionate and experienced team behind Blue Light’s Āwhitu Youth Camp and Youth Centre. Dedicated to empowering youth, our team provides expert instruction, guidance, and care through engaging activities and life-changing experiences.

Click here to meet the team.

Pricing

$70 per night per person which includes accommodation and all meals.

Blue Light lead activities starting from $150 per hour, which includes all equipment and a qualified instructor.

Wide range of sports and activity equipment available free of charge.

A 20% discount is applied to all Blue Light members on the above rates.

Safety

We are a youth adventure camp and the safety of our rangatahi and visitors is important. 

If you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed here please let us know and we will work with you to address your concerns. If you have any questions or concerns while you are at camp please ask one of the Blue Light staff and they will be happy to assist you.

Please see the health and safety documents below:

Catering

Please see our Camp Menu below:

Please note that there are no self-catering options at Āwhitu Youth Camp 

Last Day

On your last day, there are a few clean-up jobs that will need to be done. Please make sure you allow enough time for this. We have a Final Camp Clean-Up Checklist to assist you in the final clean-up. 

Āwhitu Camp Clean-Up Checklist

FAQ

What activities are available at the camp?

We offer a wide range of activities, including water activities, team-building exercises, and more. Check our activities here.

Are the activities supervised?

Yes, all activities are supervised by trained staff to ensure safety and fun for all participants, some activities may require adult helpers from your team.

Where is the camp located?

The camp is located at 331 Hatton Road, Āwhitu, 2684. 55 minutes from the Southern Motorway turn off at Drury. You can find the location here.

Can we bring our own sports equipment or games?

Yes, feel free to bring additional sports gear or board games for use during downtime.

Is there parking available?

Yes, we offer free parking for all guests, including space for buses and vans. Parking is available inside and outside of the Āwhitu Campsite.

What should I bring to the camp?

Please refer to our Gear List for a full list of recommended items to bring.

How many people do you accommodate?

Accommodation consists of four main dormitory buildings with 8 rooms of bunks with an additional 2 bedroom staff quarters. 
Our bunk rooms have a total sleeping capacity of 72 individual bunks. We supply mattresses. See more here.

Location: 331 Hatton Road, Āwhitu, 2684

20 minutes from Waiuku | 55 minutes from Southern Motorway turn off at Drury

Archery

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 1.5hrs – 2 hrs

Archery teaches young people valuable life skills such as focus, patience, discipline and the importance of safety. Young people learn the skill of using a bow to shoot arrows at a target in a safe and controlled environment. All equipment is provided by Blue Light and trained instructors ensure the activity is both rewarding and fun.

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 5 | Physical Fitness: 2 | Team work: 1

 

B.L.A.S.T

12 Participants | No Adult Helpers Needed | 1 Instructor | 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs

BLAST stands for Blue Light Alternative Strategy for Teenagers. The games can vary between team building, problem-solving, personal development, and trust-building activities. Objectives of BLAST are to learn how to work together to reach a common goal, build trust with peers, learn and develop strategies for problem-solving, learn from mistakes, challenge oneself and increase self-confidence. Activities can be facilitated in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Personal Development: 5 | Resilience: 3 | Coordination: 2 | Physical Fitness: 3 | Team work: 5

 

Orienteering

12 Participants | 2 Adult Helpers | 1 Instructor | 1 hr – 2 hrs

Orienteering teaches young people to read maps and navigate set courses in Āwhitu Regional Park, ranging from 3km to 5km. Guided by a trained instructor, participants develop decision-making, self-confidence, determination, and adaptability. This activity combines mental and physical fitness, offering a fun and challenging way to build essential navigation skills.

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 3 | Physical Fitness: 5 | Team work: 4

 

Fishing

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 2 hrs

Fishing is a beloved pastime in Aotearoa. In this activity, young people learn to fish sustainably and safely from the shore, including selecting tackle, baiting, casting, and reeling in fish. They are also taught to safely remove hooks and release undersized fish, fostering coordination, patience, and Kaitiakitānga (guardianship of the environment).

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 3 | Physical Fitness: 2 | Team work: 2

 

Sandboarding

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 2 hrs

Sandboarding sees young people learning to ride on their bellies upon boogie boards down large dunes. At Hamilton’s Gap sand dunes, young people are taught positioning, turning, and balancing on the boards to control their speed and safety by a trained instructor. Sandboarding sees young people challenge themselves, and grow their self-confidence while participating in a unique experience.

Personal Development: 2 | Resilience: 3 | Coordination: 2 | Physical Fitness: 5 | Team work: 2

 

Bubble Soccer

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs

Bubble soccer sees young people climb into inflatable, youth-sized bubbles covering their upper body and head, leaving their legs free. Playing in a safe area, with a trained instructor acting as referee and moderator, young people bump and bounce while trying to score goals against an opposing team. Bubble soccer provides an accessible, fun way for all young people to learn communication, coordination and teamwork skills regardless of ability.

Personal Development: 1 | Resilience: 2 | Coordination: 2 | Physical Fitness: 4 | Team work: 2

 

Tramping

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 2 hrs – 4 hrs

Our tramping activity teaches young people to enjoy Aotearoa’s outdoors walking over a long distance or in rough terrain in a planned, prepared and safe way. This includes young people learning the appropriate equipment to bring, what to wear, and what safety precautions to take to increase their enjoyment and safety when tramping. Young people then practise what they have learnt in groups with a trained instructor tramping in the Āwhitu Regional Park, learning to carry and utilise their packed equipment. Tramping can be done in conjunction with the Camp Skills activity.

Personal Development: 4 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 2 | Physical Fitness: 5 | Team work: 3

 

Raft Building

12 Participants | 2 Adult Helpers | 1 Instructor | 2 hrs

Young people work together in this activity, in teams, to design and build a raft using supplied rafting materials. Once built these rafts are “tested” for their durability and reliability in the water by the young people. As well as learning the knots and lashings to construct their raft, young people learn teamwork, communication and water safety skills to make their raft-building and floating a success.

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 3 | Coordination: 3 | Physical Fitness: 2 | Team work: 5

 

Camp Skills

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 2 hrs or full day

This activity equips young people with essential camping skills, including planning, site selection using maps, pitching tents, campsite management, and safely using camp cookers. They also learn Toitū te whenua (Leave No Trace principles), navigation, safety, and self-sufficiency. Designed to complement the tramping activity, it provides a comprehensive outdoor education experience.

Personal Development: 2 | Resilience: 2 | Coordination: 3 | Physical Fitness: 3 | Team work: 5

 

Chariots

12 Participants | 2 Adult Helpers | 1 Instructor | 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs

This team-building exercise sees young people designing, building and racing a chariot that can withstand transporting either a person or item around a set course. Young people are provided with equipment and learn knot-tying techniques to construct their chariot which they will use to carry their team or objects through the course.

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 3 | Coordination: 3 | Physical Fitness: 2 | Teamwork: 5

 

Kayaking

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 2 Instructors | 1.5 – 2 Hours

Kayaking sees young people successfully learn from a trained instructor the strokes needed to maneuver their kayak through the water with their paddle. Young people learn how to control their kayak in the water, keep balance while paddling, and how to get in and out of the kayak when launching and once in the water. Part of learning to kayak is teaching young people how to use their safety equipment, and the skills to keep themselves safe in the water.

Personal Development: 4 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 4 | Physical Fitness: 5 | Team work: 2

Golf

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs

Learning the sport of golf offers young people much more than just physical exercise; it fosters discipline, patience, and concentration. Set at the 9-hole Āwhitu Golf Course, across the road from the camp, young people are taught the fundamentals of golf: the golf club grip, stance, and swing before practising on 3, 6 or 9 holes.

Target Shooting

12 Participants | 1 Adult Helper | 1 Instructor | 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs

Target shooting involves young people learning to fire air rifles outdoors in a controlled and safe environment at a fixed target. All equipment is provided, and young people are directly supervised by our trained instructors. Young people learn firearm and gun safety rules, self-responsibility, hand-eye coordination, discipline, and patience.

Personal Development: 3 | Resilience: 4 | Coordination: 5 | Physical Fitness: 2 | Teamwork: 1