One ship. 40 Trainees. One incredible Life changing adventure.

Bowater Hyundai, and the wider Bowater Motor Group, are very pleased to be able to support this wonderful charity. Each year we get to help dedicated and hard working teenagers to achieve their dreams and enjoy a berth and a series of life lessons on this unique training vessel. The local students must work hard to be selected, and even harder if they are lucky enough to get a berth to raise the necessary money to cover the costs. This is where we come in, meeting the costs half way, and enabling our local achievers a slightly easier road to success.

The Spirit of Adventure Trust was set up in 1972 to provide young New Zealander's with access to a character development programme conducted in a maritime environment.

The 1960s saw a revival of interest in square riggers but not in their traditional role as cargo ships, or professional maritime training. They were seen as a unique environment for youth development, where the focus of learning is on team-work, developing skills of communication, self-reliance, self-discipline, self-esteem, resilience, confidence  and leadership. Learning to sail a tall ship is only a small part of our programmes.  

Spirit of Adventure 1973-1997

The topsail schooner Spirit of Adventure, gifted to the nation by Lou Fisher, was commissioned in 1973. She sailed a heavy schedule around the New Zealand coast until 1997, when she was sold for tourism work in Fiji.

Spirit of New Zealand 1986 - current

The Trust's existing ship, the three-masted barquentine Spirit of New Zealand, was commissioned in 1986.  Since the retirement of the Adventure in 1997 she has undertaken an annual programme of around 340 days at sea.

She is believed to be probably the world’s busiest youth ship. Subject to stringent, on-going maintenance surveys, refits and audits, Spirit of New Zealand is expected to be able to continue operating youth voyages until around 2035.

This section of our website contains stories from our successful applicants, and events at which we can all help future applicants achieve their funding in order to attend this life changing experience.