About Us

Cornwall’s One Stop Destination For Awesome Outdoor Ocean Adventures

Newquay Activity Centre

Newquay Activity Centre was born out of a passion for adventure. Ultimately, life is to be enjoyed and it’s our moments in nature that truly resonate with our deepest sense of contentment. We love the warm glow of summer’s sun just as much as the howling winds of winter – it’s these changes in atmosphere that produce such breath-taking activities on our beloved section of the Cornish coast.

There’s only one thing we love more than spending our days outdoors, and that’s helping others to reap the same benefits by joining us outdoors too. The instant removal of everyday stress and addictive technology is readily apparent in the faces of our customers. We witness people overcome fears, push boundaries, learn new skills and make lifelong friends; all under the guidance of our expert instructors.

Whether the seasons bring dark and stormy clouds or vibrant golden sunshine, we’ll be hard at work bringing smiles to the faces of those on a quest for adventure. We’ve been on the shores of Newquay for over twenty years, and we’ve come a long way since those early days. Over time we’ve evolved into one of the country’s leading outdoor activity providers with a fierce passion for delivering the best coastline experiences in Newquay.

Our Story

Where did it all begin?

The year is 1995 and Newquay Activity Centre’s founding father, Rob Barber, is island hopping around the equator chasing the best waves that paradise has to offer. Rob grew up in Newquay but carved a professional bodyboarding career that took him around the world in search of competition titles, magazine covers and epic waves.

 

Despite Rob living out his very own Endless Summer, the call of his Cornish homeland forever echoed in the back of his mind. Rob had enjoyed a long and successful career in bodyboarding and thought it was about time to invest in his hometown community. The pull of the legendary surf in Newquay proved too strong and so, with a Business Management degree under his belt and a wealth of international bodyboarding experience, Newquay Activity Centre was born.

The Beginning

From Day One

Straight from the off, it was decided that Newquay Activity Centre wasn’t just going to be another surf school on the beach. The team’s passion for the ocean was far too strong to be confined to just one or two activities. Phone calls were made, professional bodyboarders were invited and international surf champs were bought in to coach a new and excited team of instructors.

The biggest names from the world of surfing descended upon Newquay beach to converge and create something special. Pro surfers such as Russell Winter, Ben Skinner and Johnny Fryer were all part of those early days and it’s these international standards that have been upheld since the very beginning of our journey.

To open up the adventure to everyone, Newquay Activity Centre didn’t just stop at surf lessons and bodyboarding; there was a whole new layer of activities to add. From kayaking and coasteering, to stand up paddle boarding and snorkelling; the wide range of activities on offer has helped thousands of customers find something uniquely enjoyable for them.

Our Achievements

Why we are number one

From its incredible beginnings, Newquay Activity Centre has come a long way. Our innovation has kept up pace with the new activities as they land with the turning of the season. We’re also more than a little proud of our top-notch reputation for the way in which we look after our customers, coastline and community.

We’re Tripadvisor’s number one activity provider in Newquay, three-time gold winners of the Cornwall Tourism Awards and two-time silver winners of the South West Tourism Awards.

Our awards cabinet is suitably filled, but helping our guests have an absolute blast on the water is what keeps us ticking. It’s super cheesy we know but seeing you smile makes us smile! Our instructors have a range of techniques up their sleeves to help everyone get the most out of their lesson and bust some personal targets. It doesn’t matter if you’re a total beginner or a seasoned pro; our instructors will be able to boost your skill level and confidence. A safety-first ethos comes guaranteed, as does a care for the environment.

From The Heart

Our love of Newquay

We love Newquay as much as we love water sports; they go hand-in-hand. From the awesome surf to the golden sands and jaw-dropping coastline, Newquay is the best place for water sports in Cornwall. And when it comes to beaches, we’re of course among Fistral’s legion of fans, but Towan Beach is definitely our sweet spot.

It’s our closest beach and it’s where you’ll find us most of the time. It’s the gateway to the Gazzle, an amazing 2km stretch of Atlantic coastline rich in wildlife, history and character, and enjoys the benefit of being both a harbour and an open water location. It doesn’t get much better than this – find out more in our ultimate guide to Newquay Beaches.

Training Centre

Outdoor Instructor Training

Do you dream of waking up every day to go to a job you love? Take your future into your own hands and turn your passion into a profession with Newquay Activity Centre’s Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course. Based in Newquay, Cornwall, this in-depth training course will give you the tools you need to become an effective outdoor professional and set you up for a life of expertise in open-air action!

If you think a life of adventure and outdoor exploration is for you, check out our Outdoor Instructor Training.

Experts In Outdoors

Our Instructors are the best

We are licensed by AALA (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority) and are a recognised Training centre for SLSGB (Surf Life Saving Great Britain), the only one in Newquay.

Our instructors are trained and qualified to the following standards:

  • International Surfing Association Level 1 or Level 2
  • SLSGB Beach Lifeguard
  • In house trained to use GoPro’s and to deliver specific Newquay Activity Centre lesson packages
  • Instructors have followed our 3 week Intensive Surf Instructor Course or our 3 month long Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy Course
  • Many of our surf instructors are also signed off in house to deliver video analysis and surf skate training
Our Team

Meet Our Expert Team

Rob Barber Director

Rob Barber

DIRECTOR
Newquay Activity Centre owes its existence to creator, director and former European bodyboard champion Rob Barber. Having been introduced to the ocean as a child during summers on the beach, Rob found his passion in the water and went on to leave a lasting legacy in the surfing world.

Dan Metcalfe Sales Manager

Dan Metcalfe

SALES MANAGER
Bolstering our office team and keeping a close eye on business is avid surfer and Head of Sales – Dan Metcalfe. Dan joined the NAC team in early 2021 after a successful career working with many of Europe’s best surf retailers. After working and surfing at some of the best beaches around the world, it’s great to have Dan’s experience and expertise here in Newquay.

Jack Day Centre Supervisor

Jack Day

CENTRE SUPERVISOR
With Jack’s busy life revolving 100% around the tides, he’s one trident away from being Aquaman himself. Jack has been with us here at NAC since 2017, gaining all of his qualifications and experience down on the beautiful Cornish coast.

Sean Nugent

Sean Nugent

CENTRE SUPERVISOR
Hailing from the Emerald Isle, Sean developed his love for the ocean spending his summers in the remote northern regions of Co Donegal, windsurfing and paddling the ragged coastline from a young age. It is only recently though that he has been able to turn his passion for all things Ocean into a career. Blasting through the OAIA course at NAC with top honours last year and securing himself a seat at Poseido's top table (the NAC office)

Matt Hawken

Matt Hawken

OPERATIONS MANAGER
The unseen (but definitely not unappreciated!) man behind our amazing business is bodyboarding fanatic and IT extraordinaire Matt Hawken. Born and bred in Cornwall, Matt knows just what it takes for our website to represent the best that our county has to offer. Matt joined the NAC team full time in 2021 and has been keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes ever since.

Freddie Allen

Freddie Allen

ACADEMY MANAGER & TRAINER
A lover of dynamic water and full-on adventure, Freddie is never happier than when sea kayaking or coasteering. She’s a master with the go pro and the queen of bringing the stoke to all her sessions. She is a SLSGB trainer assessor, adaptive ISA surf coach, coasteer lead, paddlesport legend and all round good egg. The students on her last course nicknamed her the goat… it’s a fair assessment.

Alan Stokes

Alan Stokes

LEAD SURF COACH
For those with even the slightest bit of interest in British surfing, Alan Stokes will need no introduction. Having won countless surfing competitions, and being widely regarded as one of the UK’s best surfers, 3 x British Champion Alan (or ‘Stokesy’ as he prefers to be called) is a major contributor to the Newquay Activity Centre surf coaching team.

With Over 20 Years Of Experience

With Over 20 Years Experience As A Leading Adventure Provider, We Have Been Grateful To Be Recognised For A Series Of Awards.

KEEPING OUR STANDARDS HIGH

From day one we’ve focussed our efforts on customer satisfaction and safety above all else. We set out to create a business that would provide the very best experience in outdoor adventure, and the recognition from our peers over recent years has solidified our intent.

It’s incredibly humbling to be handed these awards, they are a constant reminder of the hard work that our teams consistently provide year after year. If you’ve ever experienced a top surf instructor, an energetic coasteering guide or some friendly customer service in the office, it’s because our guys are the best of the best and they love coming into work!

We’re happy if you’re happy and we hope to continue our success long into the future. Check out our list of accreditations and awards below:

AALA Licence

Awarded since 2003 for reaching the top industry safety standards

AALA Licenced
2003

No1 On TripAdvisor

In Tours, Boat Tour & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities & Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

TripAdvisor
2014

Cornwall Tourism Award Gold

We won Gold for the Active and Sporting Experience category

Cornwall Tourism Award
2015

No1 On TripAdvisor

In Tours, Boat Tour & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities & Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

TripAdvisor
2015

Joe Way Paddle For Life

Helping to raise £140,000 since 2015 for 20 charities

2015

South West Tourism Award

We won Silver for the Active and Sporting Experience category

South West Tourism Award
2016

Cornwall Tourism Award Gold

We won Gold for the Active and Sporting Experience category

Cornwall Tourism Award
2016

No1 On TripAdvisor

In Tours, Boat Tour & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities & Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

TripAdvisor
2016

Joe Way Paddle For Life

Our crew of instructors won the team event

2016

South West Tourism Award Silver

We won Silver for the Active and Sporting Experience category

South West Tourism Award
2017

Cornwall Tourism Award Bronze

We won Bronze in the Active and Sporting Experience category

Cornwall Tourism Award
2017

No1 On TripAdvisor

In Tours, Boat Tour & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities & Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

TripAdvisor
2017

RNLI Educational Partner

Recognised for sharing the safety & knowledge of the Royal National Lifesaving Institute

RNLI Educational Partner
2017

South West Tourism Award Bronze

We won Bronze for the Active and Sporting Experience category

2018

Cornwall Tourism Award Gold

We won Gold in the Active and Sporting Experience category

Cornwall Tourism Award
2018

No1 On TripAdvisor

In Tours, Boat Tour & Water Sports, Outdoor Activities & Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

TripAdvisor
2018

Armed Forces Covenant

Recognised for supporting the military through employment and sponsorship

2018

South West Tourism Award Gold

We won Gold in the Active and Sporting Experience category

South West Tourism Award
2019

TripAdvisor Certificate Of Excellence

For businesses that are consistently excellent

2019

Centre Of Excellence - Surfing England

The highest standard of surf tuition in the UK

Surfing England
2019

TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Travellers Choice 2020 Newquay Activity Centre
2020

TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award

Awarded for consistently great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Travellers Choice 2021 Newquay Activity Centre
2021

TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award

Awarded for consistently great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Travellers Choice 2022 Newquay Activity Centre
2022

Giving Back

Fighting to save the planet – one tree, surf and beach clean at a time

We Care

How We Are Helping

On top of reducing plastic waste, encouraging customers to bring sustainable water bottles and developing a range of educational eco-focussed activities, we have incorporated a variety of active practices to help minimise our footprint on the planet.

 

  • COLLABORATION WITH MOSSY EARTH

Newquay Activity Centre are proud to have teamed up with real-world eco-superheroes Mossy Earth. To try and off-set the negative consequences of deforestation around the world, Mossy Earth is hard at work replanting native trees and rebuilding natural habitats. Read more about our collaboration.

 

  • RECYCLING WETSUITS

As an ocean-based activity provider, we’ve collected our fair share of neoprene. Although not yet widely accepted by local waste facilities, neoprene can be broken down and turned into new fabrics, making it completely recyclable! When our wetsuits are looking a little worse for wear, we either repair, sell, donate or, with the help of our sponsor Rip Curl, recycle wherever we can.

 

  • REGULAR BEACH CLEANS

As part and parcel of every activity we deliver, our instructors are always keen to spread the word of sustainability. Our whole team spend their days on these shores and it’s only right that we do our bit to keep it clean. A regular practice of ours is to to conduct ‘2-minute beach cleans’ either as colleagues or with customers and we also prescribe to the ‘Take Three from the Beach’ mentality to clear litter from our coast as we deliver our activities. It’s an easy and effective way of giving back to our little corner of Cornwall.

Helping Out

Giving Back To The Community

As well as helping the environment, we also love to help our community. In a world where we can often feel helpless to the power of giant corporations, we take great pride in being able to provide a sense of community spirit in the heart of Newquay. We do our best to fundraise for charities, support the military, educate local schools and work with local businesses.

 

  • FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Thanks to our annual New Year’s Eve Charity Fundraiser, we choose a worthy recipient each year to benefit from the proceeds of our event. This is a fun and immersive way of getting the community involved and excited as well as raising money for some great causes. With the military holding a special place in our hearts, our most recent Charity Coasteer was organised to raise funds for SSAFA – an organisation that helps the military community readjust to civilian life post-service. We also support the RNLI and local charites such as the ‘Help Izzy Walk’ appeal.

 

  • MILITARY PARTNERSHIPS

As part of our ongoing support for active service men and women, veterans, reservists and military families, we have developed and discounted an entire range of coastal Adventure Training activities for all branches of the armed forces. As well as this we support the Army, RAF and Navy surf teams with six separate coaching days for their elite surfers each year. It’s a nice way for us to give back. We supply free activities to military families each summer through our relationship with RAF St Mawgan. As an alternative to basecamp training, the breathtaking Newquay coast provides a picturesque place in which to push boundaries and boost camaraderie. In 2018, we also signed an official military covenant to reinforce our support of Britain’s troops.

 

  • SUPPORTING LOCAL SCHOOLS

We all know that setting your kids off in the right direction is the best start they can have in life. For schools in the Newquay area, we also want to make sure they receive the best knowledge and inspiration they can when it comes to the coast. As part of our commitment to spreading the message of sustainability, we have developed a wide range of exciting-yet-educational coastal activities for schools at a discounted rate. The future of the planet is in our children’s hands, let’s make sure they receive the education they deserve.

Work With Us

Would you like to join an award winning team offering the best experiences?

JOIN THE TEAM

Newquay Activity Centre Ltd (07639348) has been on the shores of North Cornwall since 1999. We were born out of a passion for adventure and a love for the outdoors. We believe that immersing yourself in nature with friends or family is the best way to find true contentment. We provide laughter-fuelled adventure free from the stresses and distractions of everyday life.

Fast forward to today and we’re still working with these core values at the heart of everything we do. Careers on the coast with Newquay Activity Centre really are more than just jobs, they’re lifestyles. There’s long days, early starts, late evenings, busy weekends and bank holidays. However, the people you meet every day and the guys that you get to work with make everything worth it. When you’re sat on the beach with your best mates after a long day, the soft-glow of the evening sun in the distance, you remember why a career in the outdoors called your name.

We’re constantly looking to add to our valued team and we’re always open to hearing from new people. Sometimes specific jobs will become available, sometimes we might just hear from that specific person. If you think you’d be a good fit for Newquay Activity Centre, feel free to send us your CV and we’ll be sure to consider you for any available roles. To really stand out from the crowd, why not send over a video of yourself with a short-but-sweet introduction and an overview of your working history/interests. Please send all files to info@newquayactivitycentre.co.uk

If you’d love to join our team but don’t necessarily have the right experience, why not check out our Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course. This is a three month programme that will equip you with the skills and experience you need to become an effective outdoor professional. We also give all course participants the chance to join us on completion with our ‘guaranteed interview’ process.


JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Despite the overall coastal vibe of our outfit, we don’t just employ coaches and instructors. We’re a busy company with a fantastic team of behind-the-scenes staff. From time to time we could be looking to fill the following positions:

  • Bookings coordinator
  • Social media manager
  • Operations manager
  • Tour guide
  • Surf coach
  • Paddlesport instructor
  • Office assistant
  • Account manager
  • Content writer
  • Office manager
  • Photographer


CAREER POSSIBILITIES

If you join the team here at Newquay Activity Centre, your possibilities are instantly opened through our brother and sister companies, Bodyboard Holidays and Women + Waves. These guys operate internationally and, as an employee of Newquay Activity Centre, travel opportunities could also be extended to you.

You could find yourself instructing on the shores of California, bodyboarding in Bali or coaching weekends in Croyde. As long as there’s a beach and an epic sunset, there’s no reason you can’t work there!