Escape Adventurous Journeys Charitable Trust

10/08/2026

WOOD FOR GOOD – GREEN GUM FIREWOOD

Our Wood for Good programme is up and running!

We currently have 60 cubes of quality green gum available, ready to stack and season for next winter.

🪵 $100 per cube
🚚 2 cubes per tipper truck load – $200 delivered within Rotorua
🏠 Rough thrown, level load
🔥 Fill the woodshed now for next winter

Every load sold helps support local young people through Duke of Edinburgh Awards, outdoor adventures, leadership opportunities, camps and scholarships.

Message us directly to organise a delivery, or check out our Trade Me listings:

Wood for Good – Trade Me listings

60 cubes available – once they're gone, they're gone!

Wood for Good – Escape • Learn • Giveback
Rotorua Chat Line

John Paul College Rotorua - JPC
Rotorua Girls' High School

29/07/2026

Proud to support these RGHS students as they begin their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award journey.

This is exactly what our Escape – Learn – Give Back philosophy is all about—creating opportunities for young people to challenge themselves, serve their community, and grow through adventure.

We’re looking forward to mentoring these students on their National Park expedition and throughout their Award journey.
Rotorua Trust

Looking for volunteers to help your community organisation? We've got hands ready to help! 🤝

A group of our keen students from RGHS are about to start their Duke of Edinburgh's Award and will be looking for voluntary service opportunities.

Whether you run a local charity, community garden, sports club, youth group, or non-profit, our students are ready to commit a couple of hours a week to give back, learn new skills, and support a great cause.

What we're looking for:
• Regular, non-paid voluntary roles (typically 1 hour/week over several months)
• Safe, supervised community or non-profit environments
• A contact person willing to sign off on their hours

Got an opportunity or a project coming up? Please email: Annalyse Stevenson ([email protected])

Let's work together to support our local community! Ngā Mihi! 🌟

28/07/2026

**Service Opportunity – Linton Park West**

Join the Forest & Bird working bee this Saturday and help tackle weeds.

**8:30am–before lunch**
Meet at the Edmund Road entrance.

Bring gloves, warm clothing, sturdy footwear, a drink and any secateurs, loppers or handsaws.

Morning tea provided.

Contact: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Want to contribute to the war on weeds at Linton Park West?
Come and be part of the working bee this Saturday.
Start 0830, finish before lunch
Meet at Edmund Rd entrance
Park beside Gull or in front of 4 Square
Bring drink, a couple of tools (secateurs, loppers and handsaws best), gardening gloves
We'll bring morning tea kai
Wear sturdy closed footwear. Dress warm.

For more info, email us on [email protected]

26/07/2026

FIVE DAYS. REAL CHALLENGES. FUTURE LEADERS.

Our latest 5-Day Leadership Residential Programme gave young people the chance to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, develop leadership skills and form new friendships through adventure, conservation and hands-on learning.

Across the five days, participants worked together, took on new challenges and learned more about our environment, local history and the importance of giving back.

A huge thank you to Rotorua Canopy Tours Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Buried Village Forest & Bird - Rotorua Waimangu Volcanic Valley Rotorua New Zealand Rotorua Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park for helping provide such meaningful experiences for our young people.

Our next programme runs 5–9 October 2026 and can support participants completing the Residential section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.

Places are limited, so book now:

https://www.escapeaj.co.nz/adventurous-journeys/5-day-leadership-camp-program/

Escape. Learn. Give Back.



The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia

08/07/2026

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Mark Chapman, our Program Development Manager, instructor, trustee, and all-round legend, who has received a 10 Year Service Award to Youth from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award at Government House.

This is a special recognition of Mark’s long-standing commitment to young people and the outstanding work he has done supporting rangatahi through schools across the Central North Island and beyond.

To make the occasion even more meaningful, Mark shared the day with three John Paul College students receiving their Gold Awards. This now brings our total to more than 65 Gold students we have mentored and supported through adventurous journeys, camps, and Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award experiences.

We are so proud of Mark and the impact he continues to make through Escape Adventurous Journeys.
Congratulations Mark — a truly well-deserved honour.

03/01/2026

Happy NY everyone🥳 2025 was a great year for us. We had a lot of adventures, a new bus and a trip to Cambodia.

We are so happy for 2026 and new adventures, we went out today and did a tickle of track maintenance on Tarawera trail as it was badly over grown and in need of a snipping. See you soon and enjoy your holidays.

21/12/2025

Final Day of Kulon Mountains
Back in Siem Reap after an epic journey across Cambodia. A chance to rest, reflect, and pack before heading back to New Zealand tomorrow.

Massive thanks to our incredible guides and park rangers for their knowledge, care, and support throughout — we couldn’t have done this trip without you. An unforgettable experience from start to finish.

20/12/2025

Days 12–15 – Kulen Mountains

A multi-night hiking adventure through the Kulen Mountains. Long days on foot through jungle heat, with hidden temples, stunning waterfalls, and countless kilometres covered. Along the way we passed through remote villages, meeting locals and seeing a different side of Cambodia. Challenging, rewarding, and an unforgettable part of the journey.

17/12/2025

Day 10 – Siem Reap
An unforgettable day in Siem Reap exploring the Angkor temple complex by mountain bike. Riding between temples gave us a real sense of the scale and history of this remarkable place, from quiet forest tracks to the awe-inspiring stone structures that have stood for centuries.

Along the way we learned about the history of Angkor, the engineering behind the temples, and the role they continue to play in Cambodian culture today. A big day of riding, learning, and taking it all in — one of the true highlights of the journey so far.