2021 Backcountry Tramping Camp

Posted on March 25, 2021April 1, 2021 by Tim Wiel

About this tramping camp

Our backcountry tramping camp is for older teenagers that have a bit more stamina. This year we head into the glorious Greenstone and Caples Valleys near Fiordland.

As an older teenage tramping camp you will need to have reasonable level of fitness (so start training now) and will need to carry all your own food and gear with you as you tramp.

Location

We are tramping up the Caples Valley and back down the Greenstone valleys with a side trip into Steele Creek.

We will be casually tramping on average 20km each day to private huts along a very good condition track down. We pass over the stunning Mckellor Pass and will explore side valley of Steele Creek. Along the way we will see breath-taking views of Mt Tutoko (Fiordland’s highest mountain), the Caples Gorge (with beautiful hidden swimming hole) and Lake McKellor (a back-country lake only accessible by foot).

Itinerary

Coming soon…

Our Tramping Camps Feature...

Testimonials from previous tramping camps...

The tramping camp down the Hollyford [in 2019] was one of the best CYC camps I've ever been on.

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Camper

It was my first tramp and I had no idea what I was doing but that tramping trip down the South Coast was one of my best memories as a teenager. Now I'm in my twenties I'm still doing lots of tramping

Anon

2013 Tramping Camp Camper

I just wanted to thank you very much for the tramp in the Hollyford. [My daughter] loved it and she has been talking about it a lot since ... [she] came back further encouraged spiritually

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Parent

Essentials to know before you enroll...

These are essentials to know before you enrol in this tramping camp:

You will need good fitness and be able to walk at least 20km each day on the flat. You can start building fitness now by going for increasingly long walks each week.
You will need to carry all your own gear and food in a tramping pack. We will not carry your food, clothes or even your hairbrush for you. As an group tramping camp we will also be carrying shared equipment which you will need to carry your share of.
There are some essential gear requirements for tramping. These include the following non-negotiable items to keep you warm and safe in the wilderness:
- Good boots with ankle support
- Warm Sleeping Bag (not a “cheap warehouse one”) – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IT IS RATED TO -10oC or greater
- Waterproof rain jacket (not a “nylon parka”)
- Good thermal layers (base, mid and top)
- Waterproof dry bags or pack liner
Our leadership consists of leaders with a combined total of over 100 years tramping experience in the wilderness.

2021 Junior Tramping Camp

Posted on March 24, 2021April 1, 2021 by Tim Wiel

About this tramping camp

Our junior tramping camp is returning to the stunning Hollyford Valley where we ran our first Junior Tramping camp. It’s for anyone that is keen on giving real tramping a try in the New Zealand backcountry.

As beginner tramping you will need to have reasonable level of fitness (so start training now) and will need to carry all your own food and gear with you as you tramp.

Location

We are tramping the first part of the Hollyford Track in Northern Fiordland.

We will be casually tramping on average 9km each day to DOC huts along a reasonably good condition track down the Lower Hollyford river valley. This brief-taking track takes in views of Mt Tutoko (Fiordland’s highest mountain), Hidden Falls (a stunning hidden waterfall) and Lake Alabaster (a back-country gem of a lake only accessible by foot).

Itinerary

Coming soon…

Our Tramping Camps Feature...

Testimonials from previous tramping camps...

The tramping camp down the Hollyford [in 2019] was one of the best CYC camps I've ever been on.

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Camper

It was my first tramp and I had no idea what I was doing but that tramping trip down the South Coast was one of my best memories as a teenager. Now I'm in my twenties I'm still doing lots of tramping

Anon

2013 Tramping Camp Camper

I just wanted to thank you very much for the tramp in the Hollyford. [My daughter] loved it and she has been talking about it a lot since ... [she] came back further encouraged spiritually

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Parent

Essentials to know before you enroll...

These are essentials to know before you enrol in this tramping camp:

You will need good fitness and be able to walk at least 10km each day on the flat. You can start building fitness now by going for increasingly long walks each week.
You will need to carry all your own gear and food in a tramping pack. We will not carry your food, clothes or even your hairbrush for you. As an group tramping camp we will also be carrying shared equipment which you will need to carry your share of.
There are some essential gear requirements for tramping. These include the following non-negotiable items to keep you warm and safe in the wilderness:
- Good boots with ankle support
- Warm Sleeping Bag (not a “cheap warehouse one”) – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IT IS RATED TO -10oC or greater
- Waterproof rain jacket (not a “nylon parka”)
- Good thermal layers (base, mid and top)
- Waterproof dry bags or pack liner
Our leadership consists of leaders with a combined total of over 100 years tramping experience in the wilderness.

2021 Family Camp

Posted on February 24, 2021March 8, 2021 by CYC Waihola

Please note:

All attendees at our Family Camp must register online for catering and health/safety purposes.

About this Camp

CYC Waihola Family Camp is a camp of fellowship, teaching, discussion, great fun, good food and above all getting closer to God through His Holy Scriptures.

The camp is for all families, couples and individuals that desire to dig deeper into the historic faith of the Scriptures. CYC Waihola puts together this camp believing that the Bible is fully inspired by God and is the final authority on all matters of the Christian faith.

The Family Camp committee expects all those at camp to attend all meetings, fully support the camp programme and happily observe the posted camp rules. You will also be expected to assist with camp duties where possible.

Camp Speakers

Here are some of the speakers we have lined up to speak this year….

Logan Hagoort

Bio:
Originally from the dairy farm in the Waikato, Logan has been married to Josella for 16 years and has been blessed with 4 children: Chloe, Isaiah, Sjannette, and Mia. He is now residing in South Auckland where he is the Minister of Covenant Presbyterian Church Manurewa. He is passionate about keeping the Church centered upon the simple things Jesus Christ has called it to do. He also teaches the Biblical Greek language for Grace Theological College in Auckland.

Topic:
Centrality of worship for the Church, the individual, and the family: One of the central tasks for the Church and the Christian is to worship God, but what is worship? Why is it so important? Over these talks we will be looking through the Bible to try and understand the centrality of worship for the Church, the family, and the individual.

Trevor Webb

Bio:
Trevor Webb (and his wife Mary) both became Christians at Lincoln University and were married in 1974. They are blessed with four daughters and four grandchildren. Trevor has been a ruling elder for over forty years in the Christchurch GPC congregation and they are now members of Grace Bible Church, Dunedin. Trevor has a passion to unfold the relevance of the Old Testament Scriptures.

Topic:
How God kept the Jews through Captivity to Messiah. The 400-year period between the Testaments are often called ‘The Silent Years’. That is because there is no record of this period in Bible history. However, this does not mean that God was not at work! The talks will consider how God preserved his people in Babylon, Egypt and Judea. As in the Old Testament, there were times when God’s people flourished and times where they degenerated. There were heroes of the faith and corrupters of godliness. We will see how prophecy was being fulfilled and how the world was being prepared for the Gospel.

Mervyn Marshall

Bio:
Mervyn Marshall lives in Gore with his wife Marjorie. He is an elder in the Grace Presbyterian Church of Gore and long serving member of the CYC Waihola Council.

Topics:

Covenantors in Scotland
John G Paton ” missionary to the New Hebrides”

Other Features of Family Camp 2021

Here are the other features of Family Camp this year.

Good Food

Amazing food is a well known feature of our family camps each year.

Children's Program

This year Hamish Smith (from Dunedin) is running our children's programme.
It is for age 5 to School Year 6.

Teenage Program

This year Heidi Aarsen is running our teenager's programme.
It is for School Year 7-11 only.

Afternoon Activities

Flying Fox, ArcheryTag and a Treasure Hunt will all feature at this year's Family Camp

2 Awesome movies

This year we also be screening in the afternoon 2 incredible Christian films:

Online Registration

All those attending Family Camp (even as day visitors or just for meals) must register online here:

2021 Boys Winter Camp

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by Ministry Coordinator

About this Camp

Sluth your way through the clues to discover the fun to be had at CYC Boys Winter camp in 2021

Come along and hone your detective skills through our speciality training facilities and unlock the truth …

Camp Features

Here is some of the features that you might get to experience at this camp…

ArcheryTag

Bubble Soccer

Disc Golf

Zipline

Archery

Air Rifles

Mountain Boards

2021 Girls Winter Camp

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by Ministry Coordinator

About this Camp

Oh, imagine a land, it’s a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam

Where you wander among every culture and tongue,
as you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars
with the cardamom-cluttered stalls.

You can smell every spice,
while you haggle the price
of the silks and the satin shawls

Oh, the music that plays
as you move through a maze,

in the haze of your pure delight.

Come along and discover our Winter Camp laughter

at our awesome CYC Camp

Come along to our 2021 Girls Winter Camp and learn about Esther and her courage and faith. While also experiencing all CYC has to offer in activities and some awesome down time crafts.

Camp Features

Here is some of the features that you might get to experience at this camp…

ArcheryTag

Bubble Soccer

Disc Golf

Zipline

Archery

Air Rifles

Mountain Boards

2020 Back Country Tramping Camp

Posted on May 18, 2020November 29, 2020 by Ministry Coordinator

About this tramping camp

This backcountry tramping trip takes us along the spectacular yet rugged South Coast Tramping track in the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island. We head into the remote reaches of Fiordland National Park.

The amazing thing about this tramp is there are no hills – just lot’s and lot’s of mud and roots!

We are heading to the same location that the Junior Tramping Camp is heading but don’t be fooled into thinking it will be a “dawdle in the park”:

The distances are bigger
The track is rougher in places
It’s a extra day!

However we will still tramp along golden beaches (which often includes seeing Hectors Dolphins close to shore), and old bush tramways which are dead flat (but also sometimes quite muddy!)

We walk still cross all the wooden viaducts including the Percy Burn Viaduct (the tallest wooden viaduct in the Southern Hemisphere).

To finish the tramp off on the last day we get to travel on the Wairaurahiri Jet for 90 minutes up the Wairaurahiri River and across Lake Hauroko ( NZ’s deepest lake at 632m and the 17th-deepest of the world’s 5 million lakes). The Wairaurahiri River is also known as “New Zealand’s longest waterfall” as it drops 200m in its 27km length.

Location

We are tramping “as much as we can fit” of the South Coast Track near Tuatapere in Southland.

The actual tramping track takes us along the southern boundary of Fiordland National Park along the rugged coastline of the Southern Ocean.

Itinerary

Our intended plan is:

Friday 11th December
We travel from Waihola to Lake Hauroko to catch the Wairaurahiri Jet for our ride down to the Wairaurahiri river from the Lake Hauroko road end. The boat ride lasts 90 minutes and is one of the most spectacular jet boat trips in the world as we drop around 200 metres of altitude over 34kms of Grade 3 rapids. This river is the fastest-flowing navigable river in New Zealand and is a breath-taking ride! We stay in the Wairaurahiri Hut.
Saturday 12th December
Start tramping early we head to the Waitutu Hut (6 hours, 13km) where we will stay the night. The forest we travel through on this leg of our trip is some of the most spectacular in the country. The bird song is astounding as we are greeted with Kaka, Tui and Bellbird song. Once we’ve arrived at the Waitutu Hut In the afternoon we will explore the surrounding area.
Sunday 4th October
A big day trip to Westies Hut at Prices Harbour. This crazy hut is built in sea cave and is on my bucket list to visit. We then return the same way back to Waitutu Hut for another night (10 hours, 24km).
Monday 5th October
Tramp back to Wairaurahiri Hut for a late lunch / afternoon tea and then on through to the Percy Burn Viaduct Hut. (7 hours, 20km). We sleep the night next to the Percy Burn Viaduct that is 36m high and 125m long.
Tuesday 6th October
Our final day has us tramping past Port Craig through to the Rarakau road end. Past beaches featuring hectors dolphins and gemstones. (8 hours, 26km)

CYC Waihola Tramping Camps Feature...

Testimonials from previous tramping camps...

"I really really loved the tramp up the Huxley valley - it was so fun. I so wish I was able to go again!"

Anon

2012 Tramping Camp Camper

"It was my first tramp and I had no idea what I was doing but that tramping trip down the South Coast was one of my best memories as a teenager. Now I'm in my twenties I'm still doing lots of tramping"

Anon

2013 Tramping Camp Camper

"I just wanted to thank you very much for the tramp in the Hollyford. [My daughter] loved it and she has been talking about it a lot since ... [she] came back further encouraged spiritually"

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Parent

Essentials to know before you enroll...

These are essentials to know before you enrol in this tramping camp:

You will need good fitness and be able to walk at least 20km each day on the flat. You can start building fitness now by going for increasingly long walks each week.
You will need to carry all your own gear and food in a tramping pack. We will not carry your food, clothes or even your hairbrush for you. As an group tramping camp we will also be carrying shared equipment which you will need to carry your share of.
There are some essential gear requirements for tramping. These include the following non-negotiable items to keep you warm and safe in the wilderness:
- Good boots with ankle support
- Warm Sleeping Bag (not a “cheap warehouse one”) – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IT IS RATED TO -10oC or greater
- Waterproof rain jacket (not a “nylon parka”)
- Good thermal layers (base, mid and top)
- Waterproof dry bags or pack liner
Our leadership consists of leaders with a combined total of over 100 years tramping experience in the wilderness.

2020 Junior Tramping Camp

Posted on May 18, 2020July 31, 2020 by Ministry Coordinator

About this tramping camp

This tramping trip takes us along the spectacular yet rugged South Coast Tramping track in the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island. We head into the remote reaches of Fiordland National Park.

The amazing thing about this tramp is there is no hills. We tramp along golden beaches (which often includes seeing Hectors Dolphins close to shore), and old bush tramways which are dead flat (but also sometimes quite muddy!)

We walk across several large wooden viaducts including the Percy Burn Viaduct (the tallest wooden viaduct in the Southern Hemisphere).

To finish the tramp off on the last day we get to travel on the Wairaurahiri Jet for 90 minutes up the Wairaurahiri River and across Lake Hauroko ( NZ’s deepest lake at 632m and the 17th-deepest of the world’s 5 million lakes). The Wairaurahiri River is also known as “New Zealand’s longest waterfall” as it drops 200m in its 27km length.

Location

We are tramping the first part of the South Coast Track near Tuatapere in Southland.

The actual tramping track takes us along the southern boundary of Fiordland National Park along the rugged coastline of the Southern Ocean.

Itinerary

Our intended plan is:

Friday 2nd October
We travel to Riverton to stay overnight at a crib ready for an early start the next morning.
Saturday 3rd October
Start tramping early from Rarakau carpark to Port Craig Hut (7 hours, 20km) where we will stay the night. It’s easy tramping along a beach and bush track. In fact this is actually day 1 of the Humpridge track. Each time I have tramped this route I have seen dolphins.
Sunday 4th October
We tramp from Port Craig Hut through to Wairaurahiri Hut (6 hours, 16km). This is the day we cross at 4 large wooden viaducts. The Percy Burn is 36m high and 125m long. The tramping this day is along an old bush tramway and is completely flat for nearly the whole day only dropping down 2 river terraces as we near the hut.
Monday 5th October
A day trip towards the Waitutu Hut (we probably won’t get to this hut however). The forest we travel through on our day trip is some of the most spectacular in the country. The bird song is astounding as we are greeted with Kaka, Tui and Bellbird song. We will try to find the old live deer capture pens on the ruggedest beach you’ve ever seen. There is no land between these beaches and Antarctica.
Tuesday 6th October
We explore the Wairaurahiri river mouth and beach before meeting the Wairaurahiri Jet for our ride to the Lake Hauroko road end – the boat ride lasts 90 minutes and is one of the most spectacular jet boat trips in the world as we climb around 200 metres of altitude over 34kms of Grade 3 rapids. This river is the fastest-flowing navigable river in New Zealand and is a breath-taking ride!

CYC Waihola Tramping Camps Feature...

Testimonials from previous tramping camps...

"The tramping camp down the Hollyford [in 2019] was one of the best CYC camps I've ever been on."

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Camper

Anon

2013 Tramping Camp Camper

"I just wanted to thank you very much for the tramp in the Hollyford. [My daughter] loved it and she has been talking about it a lot since ... [she] came back further encouraged spiritually"

Anon

2019 Junior Tramping Camp Parent

Essentials to know before you enroll...

These are essentials to know before you enrol in this tramping camp:

You will need good fitness and be able to walk at least 20km each day on the flat. You can start building fitness now by going for increasingly long walks each week.
You will need to carry all your own gear and food in a tramping pack. We will not carry your food, clothes or even your hairbrush for you. As an group tramping camp we will also be carrying shared equipment which you will need to carry your share of.
There are some essential gear requirements for tramping. These include the following non-negotiable items to keep you warm and safe in the wilderness:
- Good boots with ankle support
- Warm Sleeping Bag (not a “cheap warehouse one”) – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IT IS RATED TO -10oC or greater
- Waterproof rain jacket (not a “nylon parka”)
- Good thermal layers (base, mid and top)
- Waterproof dry bags or pack liner
Our leadership consists of leaders with a combined total of over 100 years tramping experience in the wilderness.

2020 Family Camp

Posted on February 24, 2020March 23, 2020 by CYC Waihola

Cancellation (20th March 2020):

It is with much regret that the CYC Waihola Council of Management have decided to cancel this year’s family camp.

Given the increasing spread of Covid-19 and the Government’s announcement yesterday that mass gatherings of more than 100 people inside are banned, our Council of Management believed it prudent and wise to cancel rather than modify the camp format.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Please note:

All attendees at our Family Camp must register online for catering and health/safety purposes.
Unfortunately our on-site accommodation is now full – however you can register for the waiting list.

About this Camp

CYC Waihola Family Camp is a camp of fellowship, teaching, discussion, great fun, good food and above all getting closer to God through His Holy Scriptures.

Camp Speakers

Here are some of the speakers we have lined up to speak this year….

Alfie Orr

Bio:
Alfie Orr was born in Northern Ireland and came to NZ when he was 21. After marrying his wife Elsie, they went to live in Ireland. At present he is the pastor of South City Reformed Baptist Church in South Auckland. The church started as a church plant about five and a half years ago. He has also pastored churches in both New Zealand and Northern Ireland for over forty years. They have four children and now have eight grandchildren.

Topic:
‘Christ and His Care for His Church.’ Studies in the book of Revelation; chapters 1 to 5.

John Van Rij

Bio:
John and his wife Alex have lived in Invercargill since 2016 serving at the Grace Presbyterian Church there. John and Alex were married in Auckland, and soon after went to the States to study at Covenant theological Seminary in St Louis.

Topic:
Kept for Judgement or Kept for Christ?
Very often we can imagine that the the greatest hinderances to the Gospel in our Country come from outside the church. When we read our bibles however, it appears that internal faithlessness of God’s people is as often as much of a problem as any external attacks. The book of Jude addresses these problems with a description of faithlessness within the church that we are prone to today as much as ever. We will be studying this short letter together, and thinking about how we might contend for the faith in our current time.