Education Groups
At about an hour and half from Invercargill, Borland Lodge is remote enough for a sense of adventure but still easily accessible. Educational resources are available here care of the Department of conservation.
Primary Schools
Borland Lodge is a popular option for Southland and Otago Primary and Intermediate Schools. At about an hour and half from Invercargill, Borland Lodge is remote enough for a sense of adventure but still easily accessible.
The Borland area provides an ideal environment for a varied camp programme:
- night hike
- art activities
- flax craft
- inside games
- swimming at the Blackmount Community heated covered pool
- visit to Borland Saddle or Grebe Valley Lookout
- arrange a visit to the Monowai Power Station
- astronomy, watching the night sky
- and the ever popular Borland Campfire.
- kayaking on the pond
- mountain bikes on the Borland Road
- Borland nature Walk
- North Borland loop
- Burnt Ridge Track from Borland Lodge to Lake Monowai
- trout fishing
- scavenger hunt
- night games
- blindfold trail
- compass trail
- archery at the Lodge
Secondary Schools
Year 7 to 13 students enjoy challenging week-long camps at Borland. Students study the natural history of the area and learn new outdoor skills.
Student Activities in the Borland area include:
- overnight camps
- kayaking
- mountain biking
- rock climbing and abseiling
- Clifden caves visit (DOC brochure available),
- team building and group challenges
- tramping
- SAR exercises
- art & craft
- swimming at the Blackmount Community heated pool
- compass work and orienteering
- astronomy and watching the night sky while enjoying the ever popular Borland Campfire
Groups can participate in the predator control project.
As well as NCEA standards
- Rock climbing - NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3
- Physical Education up to NCEA Level 3 Kayaking
- Biology - NCEA Level 1 and 2
- Geography - NCEA Level 1 and 2
Tertiary Study
Borland Lodge is used regularly by Otago University and other tertiary education providers. Annual Geology, Ecology and Botany field courses are held at Borland Lodge. It is a convenient, comfortable and affordable base from which to venture afield.
The large indoor space is ideal for lectures, tutorial groups and laboratory work. Southern Institute of Technology and College of Education students are annual visitors to Borland. Overseas university groups pass through as they tour the country studying New Zealand plants, birds and rocks. Tourism students stay at the lodge and explore the visitor potential of Fiordland and Western Southland.