The course that changes lives
Outward Bound at Anakiwa
Deep in the Marlborough Sounds, amid ferns and birdsong, lies a place where explorers cut their teeth: Outward Bound at Anakiwa.
Troops jog up and down golden sand beaches, emerge from the bush laden with survival supplies, and row in tandem across Thompson Bay.
Students meet their instructors at the Picton ferry terminal, before sailing to the picturesque beachside community Anakiwa in the Queen Charlotte Sound. Outward Bound was created to toughen up young British sailors during World War II. The course was designed to teach self respect, initiative, compassion, tenacity and a genuine commitment to serving the community. The modern version also inspires an awe and respect for the natural world.
Anakiwa is home to one of 40 Outward Bound schools worldwide, chosen for its remoteness, natural beauty and the closeness of the sea and the mountains.
It opened in 1962 and has taught more than 50,000 students of all ages and backgrounds.
Why go?
The Outward Bound motto sums it up. ‘‘There is more in you.’’ You will get sore muscles from running, bruises from falling on the rock-climbing wall, and scratches from walking into gorse on a night-time tramp. You will go days without access to a shower or toilet. You’ll hand over your cellphone upon arrival. You won’t be in control. You won’t know what’s next.
But you will learn to sail, scale a mountain, sleep under the stars, leap from a jetty, and swim in the bay.
You will make friends for life, and you will forget the routine of putting on makeup or hair product in the morning. You will take the time to enjoy the birdsong in the morning, the shade of a tree in the heat, and the chatter around the dinner table. The act of coming together to share a meal is considered sacred, and chef Marcel Rood, trained in Michelin-starred restaurants, and his team create delicious and hearty meals.