Bannockburn Camp is a self-contained group camp at Bannockburn, about 8.5 km from the centre of Cromwell in Central Otago. Run by the Otago Outdoor Education Trust, it offers a Central Otago school camp in the middle of historic gold-mining country, with its own swimming pool and plenty of open space. The camp has 54 beds across two bunkrooms, a camp house and a sleepout, which suits a couple of classes, a whole syndicate or a large family gathering.
Why schools choose Bannockburn Camp
- A private site screened by pine trees, with large grounds for games and outdoor sessions
- 54 beds in a mix of bunkrooms, a separate camp house and a small sleepout
- A swimming pool on site, plus archery, tent pitching and heritage walks close by
- Gold rush history on the doorstep, from the Bannockburn Sluicings to the ruins of Carricktown
- Easy access to Lake Dunstan for sailing and kayaking through local providers
- A well-equipped camp kitchen and separate dining room, so groups can run their own meals
- Run by the Otago Outdoor Education Trust, with groups free to plan their own programme
School camp accommodation
The camp has 54 beds in total, spread across three types of accommodation.
Bunkrooms
Two large bunkrooms hold 16 bunk beds each, and each has small attached rooms with a single set of bunks, which work well for staff or parent helpers who want to be close by. There are separate ablution blocks for the bunkrooms.
The Camp House
The Camp House sleeps 10 in four bedrooms with single beds. It has its own kitchen, shower and toilet, so it suits teachers and adult helpers, or a smaller group that wants its own space.
Sleepout
A sleepout with four single beds adds a little extra flexibility for staff or small groups.
Check with the trust what bedding and linen to bring. Central Otago can be hot and dry in summer and cold at night, so pack sun protection, a water bottle and warm layers.
Facilities for school groups
- Camp kitchen with generous fridge and freezer space
- Cutlery, crockery and cooking equipment supplied
- Separate dining room
- Heating
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Spacious grounds for field games and group activities
- Covered outdoor seating area
- Barbecue
Catering
Bannockburn Camp is set up for groups to cater for themselves. The kitchen comes stocked with the equipment you need to cook for a crowd, and there’s room in the fridges and freezers for several days of supplies. The barbecue and covered outdoor seating give you another option for meals on warm evenings. Cromwell is a short drive away for shopping.
Learning opportunities
The trust provides the base rather than a set programme, so schools bring their own staff and plan their own activities. A camp at Bannockburn can support:
- Social sciences, through the story of the Central Otago gold rush, the miners who came from around the world (including Chinese miners) and how the landscape was reshaped by sluicing
- Science, through the dry Central Otago climate, schist landforms, water races and the engineering behind early mining
- Health and physical education, through swimming, archery, walks, biking and water sports on Lake Dunstan
- Education outside the classroom (EOTC) and key competencies such as managing self, relating to others, and participating and contributing
- Practical outdoor skills, such as tent pitching and planning for a day in dry, exposed country
Activities on site
At the camp
- Swimming in the camp pool
- Archery
- Tent pitching
- Field games on the open grounds
- Barbecues and evening activities under the covered seating area
Walks and biking nearby
- Heritage walks through the remains of Bannockburn’s gold-mining past
- Mountain biking among the old diggings
- Longer walks, bike rides and 4WD trips into the Carrick Range for older or more experienced groups
Through local providers
Many schools staying at the camp add sailing, kayaking, gold panning and trekking, arranged with providers in the wider Cromwell area.
Bannockburn’s gold rush history
Bannockburn dates back to 1858, and during the Central Otago gold rush it became a busy, prosperous mining settlement. Several original buildings still stand in the village, including the old hotel, the post office and Stewart’s store, along with a number of early cottages. The hillsides above the town are still scarred by sluicing, and the mud-brick and stone huts, water races and tailings left behind make the area an outdoor classroom for New Zealand history. Today the district is better known for its vineyards and orchards, which gives students a clear picture of how land use has changed over 160 years.
Example three-day camp
This is an example only. Talk to the trust about what’s possible during your dates and plan activities to suit your group.
Day 1
- Arrive and settle into the bunkrooms
- Field games and archery on the grounds
- Evening: barbecue and a swim in the camp pool
Day 2
- Sailing or kayaking on Lake Dunstan with a local provider
- Afternoon walk through the Bannockburn Sluicings
- Evening: tent-pitching challenge and group reflection
Day 3
- Gold panning and a guided tour at a local gold-mining attraction
- Pack up, clean up and depart
Getting there
The camp is on Schoolhouse Road in Bannockburn, around 8.5 km from Cromwell’s town centre. Cromwell sits on State Highway 6 and State Highway 8, so the camp is within easy reach of schools in Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes and the Upper Clutha, and a manageable coach trip from Dunedin, Southland and North Otago.
Nearby attractions for school groups
- Bannockburn Sluicings Historic Reserve – a DOC reserve close to the village where students can walk or bike past mud and stone huts, water races, small miners’ caves and an old orchard
- Carricktown – the ruins of a gold-mining town on the Carrick Range, with stone chimneys, huts and walls, reached by tracks up the range
- Young Australian water wheel – a historic water wheel in a DOC reserve on the Carrick Range, reached by a short marked track (4WD access required)
- Cromwell College Watersport Centre – a water safety and recreation centre at McNulty Inlet on Lake Dunstan, offering sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding for school groups from Year 5 up
- Lake Dunstan Trail – the 7 km section from Bannockburn Inlet to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct crosses the Bannockburn bridge and makes a good walk or ride for capable groups
- Cromwell Heritage Precinct – the restored buildings of old Cromwell on the lake edge, rebuilt after the town was partly flooded by the Clyde Dam
- Goldfields Mining Centre – a working heritage site in the Kawarau Gorge with guided tours, gold panning, sluice guns and a Chinese village
- Bannockburn Inlet – a lakeside picnic area with a designated swimming spot
Other groups and events
Bannockburn Camp isn’t only for schools. It also works well for:
- Family reunions and multi-family holidays
- Youth, church and community groups
- Sports and club groups visiting Central Otago
- Groups using the camp as a base for biking and walking in the district
Good to know
- The trust has been surveying users about winterising the camp for use all year, so check which months it’s available when you enquire
- The Carrick Range and many local tracks are very dry, with no water along the way, so every student needs to carry their own
- Many tracks in the area cross private land: stay on formed tracks and leave gates as you find them
- Old mine shafts are present in the hills, so keep groups on the marked routes
- Pool swimming should be supervised in line with your school’s EOTC procedures
- A wooded area beside the camp is planned for future development as another activity space
Frequently asked questions
How many people can stay at Bannockburn Camp?
The camp has 54 beds, spread across two bunkrooms, the Camp House and a sleepout.
Where is Bannockburn Camp?
It is on Schoolhouse Road in Bannockburn, Central Otago, about 8.5 km from the centre of Cromwell.
Is Bannockburn Camp self-catered?
Yes. Groups cook for themselves in the camp kitchen, which has plenty of fridge and freezer space and comes with cutlery, crockery and cooking equipment.
What activities can school groups do at the camp?
On site, groups can swim in the pool, try archery, practise tent pitching and play field games on the large grounds. Heritage walks and mountain biking are close by.
Can we arrange water sports during our camp?
Yes. Many schools add sailing or kayaking on Lake Dunstan, arranged with local providers in Cromwell.
Is there separate accommodation for teachers and parent helpers?
Yes. The Camp House sleeps 10 in four bedrooms with its own kitchen and bathroom, and there is also a four-bed sleepout.
Who runs Bannockburn Camp?
The camp is run by the Otago Outdoor Education Trust.
Can families and other groups book the camp?
Yes. Alongside school camps, the camp is used for family reunions, holidays and other group stays.
