ACTIVITIES
Orohaki Education Centre is the perfect base to explore the outdoors. A number of activities can be done on site or conducted nearby in the Mount Thomas Conservation Area and the Ashley River.
For some activities, Riccarton High School has selected equipment that can be hired on a daily basis. This may include mountain bikes, wetsuits, tramping gear (packs, sleeping bags, sleeping mats & cooking equipment). Enquiries can be made with the school at the time of booking.
Orohaki is equiped to facilitate a range of groups and school camps. In the main living area there is a projector, whiteboard and sound system to support learning activities.
LEARNING & TEAM BUILDING
Blowhard Track is right at the gate, which connects to the summit of Mt Richardson. Other walks nearby include the 2km Glentui loop track, the Ashley Gorge walk, as well as other trails at Wooded Gully.
View information on hikes and trails here
WALKS & TRAMPING
Orohaki has a range of confidence challenges onsite including low ropes, commitment bridge, porthole challenge, kings finger and tug of war rope.
CONFIDENCE CHALLENGES
Mount Thomas lies in the foothills of the Southern Alps. The conservation area is made up of 10,800 hectares of native tawhai/beech and scattered podocarp forests.
A short drive away is the Ashley river, which can be used for a range of activities including raft building, river crossings and kayaking. The Garry & Okuku rivers are also close by.
BUSH SURVIVAL SKILLS
RIVER ACTIVITIES
Tui Canyon is a perfect half day activity for groups looking for a fun adventure. It is a 20 minute drive away. Guides or experienced canyoners would be needed. Big Rock Adventures operate tours of this canyon.
View Big Rock Adventures website here
CANYONING
NATURE & CONSERVATION
If you are interested in exploring nature, the Department of Conservation has provided the following information on what you may find in the surrounding area.
Vegetation
In the Glentui - Ashley Gorge area you can see remnants of the native vegetation that once existed throughout the region, including native tawhai/beech forest, scattered podocarp forests, tussock fields and Dracophyllum scrub.
A black sooty fungus covers many of the tawhai trees. This fungus is associated with honeydew; excreted by a soft scale insect feeding on the tree’s sap. The honeydew is seen hanging from fine silvery threads protruding from the black fungus. Honeydew is an important part of the forest’s food chain.
Birdlife
Native birdlife to be seen and heard here includes; pīwakawaka/fantail, korimako/bellbird, silvereye, miromiro/tomtit, riroriro/greywarbler, brown creeper, kererū/wood pigeon and tītītipounamu/rifleman and on occasion kārearea/NZ falcon, kākāriki/NZ parakeet and kea. You may also hear the introduced chaffinch, red poll, blackbird, or song thrush.
Department of Conservation Resource