From kids' activities to couples' retreats - El Rancho has got it all

El Rancho's waterslide is a favourite activity. Photo / Judah Plester

Ask someone what their favourite childhood memories are, and chances are a visit to El Rancho will be one of them.

Set in an idyllic 24ha on the banks of the picturesque Waikanae River north of Wellington, El Rancho has always provided a welcoming presence not just for children, but for all ages.

It attracts about 20,000 visitors - including 5000 children - a year who come to stay and enjoy a wide range of activities or simply to recharge.

El Rancho has about 420 beds, 26 motel units and 60 campsites, and is run by 21 staff.

The history of El Rancho dates back to the late 1950s when two businessmen, John Campion and Bill Crighton, became inspired by a Christian convention in Ngāruawāhia.

Creating a similar Christian convention in the Wellington region appealed, so together with others they searched for the right location.

On December 11, 1961, a piece of land, 29ha in the Weggery estate, was purchased for $5000, and became the Waikanae Christian Holiday Park.

A lot of work went into converting the land, which had swampy areas, and shaping it into what it is today.

"They got a whole bunch of the people from the community together to actually volunteer hours, from contractors to individuals, and starting building places," El Rancho director Bruce O'Brien said.

Children's camps, church camps, schools and the community started using it.

By the end of the 60s, the name El Rancho was given to the children's holiday camps held every school holiday.

After many years, and because of its fond connection with so many, the average person acquainted with the park began to simply refer to it as El Rancho.

Raft building is lots of fun. Photo / Judah Plester

El Rancho, a not-for-profit registered charity, is known as a popular camping ground, but there's so much more than that.

Let's start with the kids' camps held for one week every school term.

The camps, which can number about 250 children, feature a jam-packed day of activities including food and refreshments.

And there's lots to do at El Rancho: horse riding, go-karts, rock wall, archery, air rifles, mini-golf, kayaks, low ropes, wilderness survival, waterslide, confidence course, tennis, river tubing and lots more.

A game called archery soft is a recent addition.

"You have a full bow and an arrow with a foam piece on the end," Bruce said.

"It's like paintball, but with a bow and arrow.

"It's really cool."

Lots of skills are involved in Archery Soft. Photo / Judah Plester

People have fond memories of the flying fox.

While that isn't used any more, a new activity is set to eclipse it and raise the excitement to another level.

A 300m-long twin zip line, with speeds of up to 60kmh, is hoped to be installed by the end of the year and will certainly thrill users.

And a receiving tower will feature a vertical bungee and a 50m abseiling wall.

"That's exciting.

"We are going to make that available to the community at different times."

Children have lots of fun during the camps and gain lots of confidence too.

"We get some kids who have been in some traumatic experiences, but when they come to camp they can be kids, be safe, have fun, and challenge themselves too.

"You get to see children come to life without a computer, a laptop or a cellphone."

Rockwall climbing is certainly a challenge. Photo / Judah Plester

El Rancho is a great place for adults too, and in recent years has added marriage retreats.

"We have up to 70 couples come for a weekend and we give them buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"They get to come and just be couples."

With the Covid-19 pandemic putting pressure on people, the camp introduced a mid-winter escape for essential workers.

"Every winter we give away about 15 to 20 motel units for free."

During the summer, for two weeks between Christmas and New Year, the camp is used as a holiday park, just for families.

During the two weeks is the popular community day.

"It's all open, everyone can come, and all the activities are free."

Horseriding is a popular activity. Photo / Judah Plester

And it caters for a wide range of organisations that run their own programmes and kaupapa, from the NZ Defence Force At Risk Youth courses, Inspiring Stories (empowering young leaders), to Child Cancer, Christian Fellowship for Disabled, House of Grace (supporting young mums), to name only a few.

"The key thing that we love is that the groups are so diverse."

And staff readily adapt "to meet the ever-changing needs of the people in the community".

While El Rancho caters to a wide range, it was good to remind people "that an individual family can come here and do their own camp".

El Rancho, which has a close connection with the Takamore Trust and mana whenua, also offers various training scholarships, plus an intern programme for students wanting to do a gap year.

"They get to do an adventure programme and get training and certificates in all the activities.

"They get to learn key skills for their future work life.

"Our interns will stay for six months to a year depending on what the programme is.

"We've had up to 18, not just two or three, and they come from all over New Zealand."

For more info go to www.elrancho.co.nz

- This article features in the latest Celebrating Kāpiti autumn/winter magazine