Good Practice Guides
Sector-developed safety guides for outdoor activities that fall outside New Zealand's Adventure Activity Regulations — covering tramping, archery, flatwater paddling, overnight camping, and 11 more activities.
Who these guides are for
- Schools and EOTC coordinators
- Youth organisations, camps, and scout groups
- Community groups and recreational clubs
- Volunteer and part-time outdoor instructors
- Commercial operators running non-regulated activities
How to use a GPG
Each activity has two paired documents:
The Good Practice Guide (PDF)
Read this first. It defines what good practice looks like for this activity — who is qualified to lead it, what ratios apply, how to assess hazards, and what equipment is needed.
The Planning Template (Word doc)
Then fill this in. It's an editable document you complete for your specific activity — site, group, date, hazards, controls. This becomes your activity safety plan.
Not for regulated adventure activities
If your activity is covered by the Adventure Activity Regulations — abseiling, canyoning, rock climbing, river rafting, mountain biking, and others — you need an Activity Safety Guideline (ASG), not a GPG. Operators in regulated activities must comply with ASGs or formally document why they've departed from them. GPGs have no legal force and are not an alternative to ASGs for regulated activities. Find ASGs in the Activity Guidelines
Foundation Guidance — Start Here
These documents apply across all activities and all provider types.
Good Practice Sources Guide
WorkSafe's master reference — lists the accepted good practice sources for every activity type. Start here if you're not sure which document applies to your situation.
PDFGeneral Guidance for Organised Outdoor Activities
The overarching framework for planning and delivering safe outdoor activities. Start here if you're new to running outdoor programmes.
PDFOverarching Risk Management Guidance
Foundation risk management for all outdoor activity providers — hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures across any activity.
PDFEmergency Communication for Remote Areas
Planning and equipping for emergency communication when operating in locations with limited or no cell coverage.
Activity Guides
15 activity-specific guides. Each has a PDF guide to read and a Word planning template to complete for your activity.
Water Activities
4 guidesBeach & Surf Activities
Swimming, bodyboarding, and surf programmes at beaches — supervision ratios, hazard assessment, and emergency procedures for coastal environments.
Flatwater Floating & Paddling
Kayaking, rafts, and floating activities on calm rivers, lakes, and harbours — for activities that don't meet the AAR adventure activity thresholds.
Inland Waterway Swimming
Organised swimming in rivers and lakes — risk controls, supervision ratios, site assessment, and emergency response.
Snorkelling
Safe snorkelling for groups in freshwater and marine environments — equipment, buddy systems, supervision, and emergency procedures.
Land & Backcountry
5 guidesTramping
Guided day walks and multi-day backcountry travel — route planning, group management, weather decisions, and turnaround criteria.
Overnight Camping
Safe overnight and multi-day camping programmes for schools, youth groups, and community organisations.
Map Based Activities
Orienteering, rogaines, and navigation-based activities — course design, participant safety, and emergency procedures.
Sliding Activities
Tobogganing, sledging, and luge-style activities — site selection, slope assessment, run-out zones, and participant management.
Non-Technical Caving
Show caves, guided tours, and cave exploration that does not require technical gear or rope work.
Programme & Facilitated Activities
4 guidesAdventure Based Learning
Facilitated group challenges, problem-solving activities, and experiential learning — activity design, facilitation, and group wellbeing.
Low Ropes & Confidence Courses
Ground-level and low ropes challenge activities — spotting techniques, facilitator roles, equipment checks, and participant wellbeing.
Camp Fire Cooking & Fires
Safe management of open fires and camp cooking — site selection, fire management, fuel storage, and food safety.
Environmental Service Activities
Conservation volunteering and environmental service programmes — managing groups safely in field conditions.
Specialist Activities
3 guidesArchery
Range setup, equipment management, and safe instruction for archery in outdoor education and camp contexts.
Target Shooting
Safe delivery of target shooting activities — range safety, supervision standards, and participant briefing guidance.
Driving in Outdoor Activity Contexts
Vehicle transport for outdoor activity providers — driver competency, vehicle selection, passenger safety, and trip planning.
Outdoor Leader Training
200+ free video lessons covering risk management, weather reading, instruction and leadership skills — built for educators, youth workers, and community group leaders. Includes a dedicated Risk Management for Educators and Youth Workers course that pairs directly with these guides.
GPGs are developed by New Zealand's outdoor sector and published via SupportAdventure.co.nz — public domain guidance. Always check for the latest versions.
Looking for guidance on a regulated activity? Find ASGs and Technical Advisors in the Activity Guidelines