About Us

Sixtus Lodge is an outdoor education centre in the foothills of the Ruahine Ranges. It was established in 1977 to give local schools a venue for camps. Today, Sixtus Lodge is open to all visitors and provides affordable accommodation in a great location. Sixtus Lodge is managed by the Sixtus Lodge Trust Board.

See Also:
ABC of Sixtus Lodge
Our Facilities
Tenant Information

the story of sixtus lodge

In 1975, when Outdoor Education camps for Intermediate-age children were becoming very popular, the one suitable camp in the Wanganui Education Board area – Mangatepopo – had a waiting list.

Recent fuel increases had made transport very costly for Palmerston North classes. An Intermediate Normal PTA meeting in early 1975 decided to look for a site in the Ruahine Ranges with nearby bush, streams and tussock land within 50 miles of Palmerston North.

In late March, Johan & Sigga Bonnevie, while searching for a suitable area, met Mr Les Sixtus at the end of the Umutoi North Road and told him of their quest. Les had a long-held dream that “city children should be allowed to experience pioneering and bush life”, so offered a site, free of charge, on his land. This was accepted enthusiastically at the next PTA meeting!

Mr Les Sixtus
Donor of land for the establishment of Sixtus Lodge

In early 1976, other local Intermediates were invited to join the project under the dynamic leadership of John Crone. A committee was set up to deal with all aspects of a new Outdoor Education Centre – site, building plans, legal matters, finance, environment, and landscaping and dealing with local bodies.

The Committee was – Bruce Kirk (Secretary), Martin Bate, Neville Strong, Lloyd Gamby, Don Rix, Peter Bridger, Allen McCartney, John Stowell, Stephen Fisher, Peter Allen, Bob Calkin, Rod Polson, Rod Doherty, Giles Beaglehole, Ken McNae, Henry Millward, Pam Hansen, Margo Forde, Peggy Jensen, Pat Perkins, Laurie Perkins, Robert Collinge.

Construction was commenced in June 1977 and the builders completed their work in August. Then it was over to the voluntary weekend parties to complete the job with paperhanging, painting, vinyl and carpet-laying etc. By late October 1977 the Lodge was completed – the first group of teachers had been through an orientation course and the first class was there (Room 16, Helen Moffit’s class, from Palmerston North Intermediate Normal).

The building was officially opened on the 10th December 1977 by the Minister of Education, Mr Les Gander and officially named “Sixtus Lodge” after the farmer who donated the site and was such an enthusiastic supporter of the project.