Bethany Park is a school camp at the head of the Kaiteriteri Inlet in Tasman, right on the doorstep of the Abel Tasman National Park. Its Group’s Camp (Camp One) is set aside for school and group bookings outside the summer holidays, with cabins and a lodge for up to 74, more than 60 tent and van sites, two halls and a 60-metre waterslide. Schools can choose catering or self-catering, and the surrounding 33 hectares of native bush, creeks and ponds back onto the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.
Why schools choose Bethany Park
- Abel Tasman on the doorstep: kayaking, water taxis, canyoning and coastal walks are a short trip away.
- A camp set aside for groups: Camp One is reserved for school and group bookings for most of the year.
- Flexible accommodation: an ensuite lodge, family cabins, teacher cottages and plenty of tent and van sites.
- Catering or self-catering: let the camp feed your group or cook in the communal kitchen.
- Room for everyone: a main hall seating 150 and a smaller hall with its own kitchen.
- Bush and biking next door: 33 hectares of native bush and direct access to 15 km of mountain bike tracks.
- A night out at Camp Wild: a bush campsite over the hill with an open fire pit.
School camp accommodation
Camp One sleeps up to 74 in a mix of buildings, with tent and van sites for larger groups.
Strawbridge Lodge
Four bunkrooms of eight, sleeping 32, each with its own ensuite and single bunks.
Family cabins
Five cabins sleeping seven or eight each, using the shared ablution blocks. These suit smaller class groups or teachers and parent helpers.
Cottages
A twin cottage and a double cottage, each sleeping two, and handy for teachers.
Tent and van sites
Around 30 powered and 30 non-powered grassy sites, mostly shaded, each taking up to six people.
Camp Wild
A bush camping area over the hill from the main camp, with flat tent sites and an open fire pit.
Bring bedding, pillows, and cooking and eating utensils if self-catering. Linen can be hired.
Facilities for school groups
- Main hall seating up to 150.
- Small hall seating up to 50, with a catering kitchen.
- Communal kitchen and dining room with fridge and freezer space, hobs, ovens, microwaves and boiling water on tap.
- Outdoor BBQ and covered dining areas with free gas BBQs.
- 60-metre waterslide.
- Playground.
- Two ablution blocks, with wheelchair-accessible showers.
- Laundry and free Wi-Fi.
- 33 hectares of native bush with creeks and ponds.
Catering
School groups can be catered or self-cater. Self-catering groups cook in the communal kitchen at Camp One or the small hall’s catering kitchen.
Learning opportunities
Bethany Park doesn’t run its own instructed programme, but works alongside local operators that schools can book directly:
- Waka Abel Tasman: a school programme combining waka paddling with culture, careers and team building.
- Marine education with the University of Otago’s programme in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman region.
- Sea kayaking with several hire and guiding companies at Kaiteriteri and Mārahau.
- Abel Tasman Canyons: canyoning from October to April.
Curriculum connections
A camp at Bethany Park fits well with education outside the classroom (EOTC) and can support learning in:
- Science: marine life, native bush, streams and coastal ecosystems in and around the Abel Tasman.
- Health and Physical Education: kayaking, mountain biking, tramping, water safety and teamwork.
- Social Sciences and te ao Māori: waka traditions and the history of Tasman Bay.
- Key competencies: managing self, relating to others and participating and contributing through shared camp life.
Activities on site and nearby
On site
- Waterslide (60 metres).
- Bush walks through native bush, creeks and ponds.
- Camp Wild overnight with a campfire.
- Playground and open areas for games.
Mountain biking
- Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park: about 15 km of purpose-built tracks right next to Camp One.
- Rameka Track on Tākaka Hill, about 30 minutes’ drive away.
On the water
- Sea kayaking and paddle boarding from Kaiteriteri or Mārahau with local operators.
- Water taxis into the Abel Tasman National Park.
- Waka paddling with Waka Abel Tasman.
About Bethany Park
In 1966 the Strawbridge family of Nelson gifted about three hectares at the head of the Kaiteriteri Inlet to the Church of Christ in Nelson. This became Camp One. In 1986 the trust board bought the neighbouring holiday park of around 30 hectares, now Camp Two. Bethany Park is run by the Bethany Park Trust Board, and long-serving managers Roger and Sue Armstrong have run the park since 2012.
School camp rates
Camp One accommodation is priced per unit with a two-person minimum, plus per-person charges for extra adults and children. Sites are priced per site with per-person charges. Linen hire and catering are extra. Contact Bethany Park for school camp information and current rates.
Example three-day camp
An example of how a school camp at Bethany Park could look (every camp is planned by the school):
- Day 1: Arrive and settle into the lodge and cabins, waterslide and bush walk, evening games in the main hall.
- Day 2: Water taxi into the Abel Tasman with a guided kayak trip back, overnight at Camp Wild with a campfire.
- Day 3: Mountain biking in the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park, clean up, depart.
Getting there
Bethany Park is on Martin Farm Road at Kaiteriteri, in the Tasman District. Motueka is a short drive away, and Nelson is about an hour’s drive.
Nearby attractions for school groups
- Abel Tasman National Park: the Coast Track, golden beaches and seal colonies, reached by water taxi or kayak.
- Kaiteriteri Beach: a sheltered beach about a kilometre from camp.
- Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park: right next to Camp One.
- Split Apple Rock: a granite landmark just off the coast near Kaiteriteri.
- Rameka Track, Tākaka Hill: a historic mountain bike and walking track.
- Motueka: shops, a saltwater baths and the Motueka estuary walkway.
Other groups and events
- Church and youth groups: weekend camps and retreats.
- Sports and community groups: halls and accommodation for larger gatherings.
- Family reunions: cabins, cottages and sites together in one camp.
- Holidaymakers: Camp Two runs as a holiday park, and Camp One opens to the public over summer.
Good to know
- Camp One is open to school and group bookings outside the mid-December to January summer period.
- All payments are made on arrival.
- Pets aren’t allowed in cabins.
- The office is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
- Canyoning runs from October to April only.
Frequently asked questions
How many students can Bethany Park accommodate?
Camp One sleeps up to 74 in Strawbridge Lodge, five family cabins and two cottages, with tent and van sites for larger groups.
Is Bethany Park catered?
Schools can choose catering or self-catering in the communal kitchen.
When can schools book?
Camp One is available for school and group bookings outside the mid-December to January summer period.
What is there to do on site?
A 60-metre waterslide, bush walks, the Camp Wild bush campsite, a playground, and the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park right next door.
Are instructors provided?
No. Instructed activities such as kayaking, canyoning and waka paddling are booked with local operators.
How close is the Abel Tasman National Park?
It is right on the doorstep, with water taxis and kayak trips leaving from Kaiteriteri and Mārahau.
Where is Bethany Park?
It is on Martin Farm Road at Kaiteriteri, in the Tasman District, about an hour’s drive from Nelson.
