About Camp

See in the 2026 New Year in Queenstown with Christian friends and family!

Join us at Lakeland Park Christian Camp to spend time learning from Gods word and growing in your faith. This is a family and youth camp organised by the Open Brethren churches of Otago and Southland and has been running every New Years for over 50 years.

Camp will begin with supper at 9pm on Monday 29th December 2025 (you can arrive and set up at camp from 5pm onwards, please no earlier - you will need to organise your own evening meal) and finish on Friday 2nd January 2026 after lunch and camp clean up.

We will be staying at Lakeland Park Christian Camp (www.lakelandpark.co.nz) on the sunny Kelvin Heights peninsula.

  • Accommodation will be allocated by members of the camp committee based on registrations.
  • The majority of rooms are dorm & cabin accommodation with 2 sets of bunks in a room for family/ couples - each family or couple will have their own room.
  • We ask that single males, who will not be sharing rooms with parents/ family, bring or arrange to share a tent (Lakeland Park can supply you with comfortable single bed mattresses to put in your tent if needed!).
  • Please do not make requests for specific accommodation options but please inform us of any disabilities you or family members may have that can help us place you in the most suitable option.

If you are 15 years or under and are attending camp without a parent you must have a guardian also attending camp who is over 20 years old.  Parents/ guardians with a teenager at camp are expected to be responsible for their teen's behaviour and whereabouts at all times.  Please make sure a guardian you nominate on your registration form has agreed to take responsibility for you at camp.

It is expected that those attending camp will follow the directions and instructions from camp leadership.

2026 Camp Speaker

Tom McIvor

Tom is a Zone leader of the Indo Pacific Rim. His key roles are to help leaders in this area where necessary with coaching, encouragement, and support. He has responsibilities over New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji where Word of Life currently exist. He will be endeavouring to set up Word of Life ministries in some other Pacific Islands where he has contacts.

Tom was one of ten children, raised on a farm and as a young boy was taught the things of God by his parents. We would often have missionaries to stay that impacted his life. However he did not embrace the gospel really for himself until the age of 13. It was then at a Christian camp that the Lord really spoke to Tom. He also felt the call to youth ministry at this age and that desire never left him. His teen years were not fully lived for God but as he entered adult life he fully surrendered to Christ. After he left high school,he farmed for 15 years before the opportunity arose to leave the farm in 1990 and attend the Word of Life Bible College that just opened up in New Zealand. As Liz (his wife) and Tom committed to Bible College they also committed to serve full time with Word of Life. They have been with them ever since. Tom loves Discipleship and Evangelism so to be a part of this ministry is very fulfilling for him.

Topic for camp to be confirmed.

What To Bring

It's always handy to know what to bring .... so you don't forget your toothbrush!

  • Bedding:
    • Sleeping Bag OR Sheets/blanket
    • Pillow and Pillow case
    • Note: Linen Packs (Sheets, Pillow, Duvet and Towel) can be hired for $20 each from Lakeland Park if indicated on the registration form
  • Spare clothing including warm clothes in case it gets cold
  • Shoes suitable for short walks and active activities (e.g. games and sports)
  • Towel & toiletries (including your toothbrush!)
  • Wet suit and/ or Swimming gear (plus a spare towel)
  • Bible, pen, notebook
  • Torch
  • Sunscreen !!
  • Some baking or snacks to share for morning tea and suppers please

 

  • Optional Extras:
    • Board Games / Downtime Activities to share and play with others (please name these)
    • Spending Money (Please note that all activities, meals and accommodation is included in camp fees but sometimes the camp has free time activities where we might be out and traditionally the young people have headed to MacDonalds after the midnight swim on New Years Eve ... there is no requirement to buy anything however!)
    • Some $1 & $2 coins if you want to do washing at camp ($3 per wash OR dryer)

Camp Activities

New Years Camp always has a selection of fun games and activities that we do. All activities are free of charge and included in the camp fees.

Activities at camp may include (dependant on weather and the finalised camp program):

  • Boating / Jet skiing / Biscuiting on Lake Wakatipu
  • Sports Activities
  • Team Games
  • Out and About Games / Challenges at somewhere like Glenorchy OR Arrowtown.

Note:

  • In recent years there has been a tradition of jumping off the wharf into the lake at midnight followed by late night "McDonalds run" where some like to get something to eat. There is no compulsion to buy anything although you might like to bring $2 for a softserve cone.
  • We try to arrange carpooling for any off-site activities we do.

Camp Prices

The 2026 New Years Camp full camp fees for those staying the whole camp:

  • $205 per adult
  • $175 per student or beneficiary (this includes high school students in school years 9-13)
  • $150 per primary school aged child (children in school years 0-8)
  • $30 per pre-schooler

For those staying part of camp only:

  • $55 adult per night
  • $50 student/beneficiary per night
  • $35 primary school aged child per night
  • $10 preschooler per night

Day Visitors:

  • $15 each per meal + a $15 contribution towards the speaker cost

Payment of Camp Fees

  • Please make online payments to Westpac Account #03 1750 0190581 00 (Queenstown Family Camp), and use your full name as reference.
    • Please register before Friday 20th December 2025 and make a minimum of $100 deposit at time of registration to secure your spot at camp.
    • Remaining camp fees must be paid in full before camp starts.

Financial Assistance

  • For those that might struggle to pay camp fees ... please speak with your local church OR make a note in the "Camp Payment" field in the registration form OR contact Johno Ferguson (027 444 1102) if you would like to discuss financial support further.

It is our strong desire that all that want to can attend camp and we don't want financial restraints to prevent anyone from attending.

Register