The college's adventure tourism diploma students have been doing the eight-day Explorer programme since 2007. Now, the college is offering it to corporate groups and charitable organisations for leadership programmes, personal development and team-building.
Groups can choose a three, five or eight-day programme based at Moonlight Lodge on Ben Lomond Station.
QRC business development manager Hal Shaw said highly qualified guides would lead the groups, opening the door to back country exploration and adventure.
"The programme enables individuals from all walks of life to develop motivation and confidence while pushing them out of their comfort zone with activities such as high altitude abseiling, Tyrolean gorge crossing, spending a night in the open and mountain climbing," he said.
QRC chief executive Charlie Phillips said the programme was a personal adventure for everyone, both physically and mentally.
"The QRC explorer programme is about providing people with the environment in which they can develop self-confidence, self-care, outdoor skills, and an understanding of leadership and teamwork . . . this is an experience of a lifetime," he said.
The outdoor environment and setting provided a unique, enjoyable, challenging place of learning with a range of rock, alpine, bush and water experiences.
Ben Lomond Station owners John and Ginny Foster cater for the groups with fresh local ingredients, and beer or Central Otago wine.
Groups have the choice of flying into the back country by helicopter, 4WD tour, or tramping, and could kayak back into Queenstown.
Other activities include mountain biking, navigation and orienteering, bush skills, kayaking, rafting, tramping and target-shooting.
Irishman Dave Mahoney, one of the students completing the eight-day programme this week, has a sports management degree and completed his thesis on how Ireland could develop its adventure tourism using New Zealand as a benchmark.
"There's not much to do like this in Ireland. It's brilliant. It's great to learn the theory of adventure tourism in the classroom but to get out and do stuff like this is amazing," he said.
• The programmes will run from this month to May 31, 2010. Prices depend on activities but a typical three-day programme would cost $1000 per person.
