Treat your school trip group to a selection of educational (yet massively fun!) outdoor activities for schools in Cornwall.
In our tactile classroom of the great outdoors, your pupils can learn to surf, bodyboard or experience the thrill of coasteering around Newquay’s breathtaking coastline. From beach safety, to marine life rock pooling and shoreline bushcraft, we tailor enjoyable outdoor learning to cover relevant elements of your current curriculum. It really is an educational trip, just don’t tell the children!
Newquay’s dramatic cliffs and coves create the perfect outdoor classroom - a place for students to build confidence, develop resilience and reconnect with the outdoors beside some of the UK’s best beaches.
With over 20 years of experience, Newquay Activity Centre delivers expertly run school adventure programmes from the heart of Newquay. We work with hundreds of pupils and schools each year, offering structured multi-day activity packages from our purpose-built centre. Our team supports teachers at every stage, from planning and logistics to delivery on the day, making the booking process simple and stress-free. School group discounts are available - just get in touch to start organising your next activity week in Newquay.
Based just minutes from Fistral, Great Western and Towan Beach, and a short walk from Newquay town centre, our HQ places school groups right at the heart of Cornwall’s coastline. Towan is one of the most sheltered beaches on the north coast, offering safe access to the historic Gazzle Peninsula, where students can explore caves, inlets and natural water features rarely seen from land. With expert instructors, pupils learn essential beach and sea safety skills before taking part in exciting, confidence-building activities shaped by the day’s weather and swell. Every session blends education, teamwork and adventure in a truly unique coastal environment.
Our fantastic team are industry experts with a wealth of international experience. Every activity has been risk assessed by our instructors to ensure our coastal adventures in Newquay are the perfect combination of enjoyable adrenaline-fuelled fun.
We provide all specialist equipment required for safe and successful school sessions, including warm, flexible wetsuits, market-leading Nookie helmets and supportive YAK buoyancy aids. Trainers are available to hire if needed. Depending on the activity, students will use quality soft-top surfboards, single and double kayaks, premium paddleboards with paddles, plus a wide range of bodyboards and swim fins suitable for different ages and ability levels.
We pride ourselves on making every school activity special and our reviews are testament to that. We have over 4311 5 star Google & Tripadvisor reviews!
Fantastic school residential for surfing and coasteering. Supportive, enthusiastic instructors built skills and confidence - we’ll be back!
Jordana, Tripadvisor
Superb school leavers trip - bodyboarding, coasteering and Cornish Challenge. Professional, knowledgeable staff and flawless organisation.
Andrew, Tripadvisor
Mando led our SEN school coasteering session brilliantly - supportive, intuitive and inspiring. A truly life-changing experience.
Kim, Tripadvisor
NAC runs like a well-oiled machine - brilliant for school groups. Professional, high-energy instructors and superb organisation from Jacob!
Leia, Google
Brilliant primary school surf lessons - friendly instructors built confidence and fun in all weathers. The children loved every minute!
Mandy, Tripadvisor
5-star Activity Centre week for our school - outstanding service, kit and staff. Huge thanks to Rob, Jacob and the team!
Tony, Tripadvisor
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. Understand what these outdoor activity qualifications mean for your safety and enjoyment.
The Perfect location for School Trip Activities in Newquay
Newquay Activity Centre’s base near Towan beach is the perfect place to park your gear and get kitted out for your tailored school activities. We provide heated changing rooms, hot outdoor showers, separate male and female toilets and safe storage for all of your belongings, giving you peace of mind before, during and after hitting our coastline. We’ve got you covered to ensure everyone enjoys our coastal adventures in Newquay.
School trip ideas
We have a huge range of activities for schools and a range of budgets. Some trip ideas include Schools Surfing, Schools Paddleboarding, Schools Kayaking and our beach games, the Cornish Challenge. We offer many more school activity options, and can do multiple activities over a day. We are large group specialists and have worked with both public schools and private schools to deliver a bespoke service that meet both teacher and pupil requirements.
Bespoke lessons for your curriculum
Our school adventure activities can be geared to feature current curriculum topics and learning goals. From science, maths, English language and literature, to personal development, social skills, self-confidence, motivational skills and physical development. Speak to our team about how we can arrange outdoor learning for your school group upon booking.
Newquay Activity Centre have been delivering outdoor activities in Cornwall for over 25 years, and we’re proud to be the longest running provider of coasteers in Newquay. We’re proud of our number 1 ranking on trip advisor and we are two time winners of the Cornwall Tourism Awards and gold winners of the South West Tourism Awards.
We are proud to have been recognised and sponsored by Rip Curl; they are a leader in watersport equipment, apparel and wetsuits, and have recognised Newquay Activity Centre as a centre of excellence in Cornwall.
We also provide AT for our military services, and have regular visits from the Army, Navy and RAF and are proud to be a recognised centre for Help For Heroes. This means we regularly organise military adventure training packages that meet their high standards. Their core values of teamwork, developing leadership and other personal qualities is necessary to withstand the rigours of operational service.
All outdoor activities are only as good as the route, your instructor and your gear. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations in all these areas.
WetsuitÂ
You’ll be suited up in a top of the range, warm, comfortable and flexible wetsuit. Being toasty warm and having the freedom to move in the water ensures you’ll enjoy the time in the water as much as possible.
Helmet
We are as serious about safety as we are passionate our activities. For some sessions you will be fitted with a ‘Nookie’ helmet. Nookie are the market leaders in safety equipment. Their helmets are comfortable, adjustable and offer unrivalled protection.
Buoyancy Aid
For some activities, above your wetsuit but below your rash vest, you’ll be wearing a YAK buoyancy aid. These lightweight flotation aids are ergonomically designed to offer maximum buoyancy and comfort whilst not impeding your coasteering experience.
Trainers
We have a large range of resilient sports trainers available to rent when participating in certain activities. So instead of you worrying about ruining your own shoes, you can concentrate on enjoying the wild ocean adventure.
For over 20 years our knowledgeable and passionate coaches have pioneered the training of surfing, bodyboarding and coasteering instructors.
Explore our top outdoor activities in Newquay, from surf lessons and coasteering to Super SUP adventures - unforgettable, instructor-led experiences on Cornwall’s stunning coastline for all abilities.
Newquay’s historic coastline holds a host of secrets just waiting to be discovered, including hidden coves, smugglers caves, craggy inlets and natural rapids to explore during our coastal adventures!
With our Schools Surf Survivor experience, we’ve devised a unique set of lifesaving and coast guarding activities that play out on the breathtaking beaches of Newquay. Combining flag and fitness games with mock rescue scenarios, our Surf Survivor experience will challenge your class physically and mentally on some of Cornwall’s best surf beaches!
This is the perfect activity for all ages and there’s no better way to test your abilities than jumping in a wetsuit, getting sandy and problem-solving in the sea.
During our Lifeguard Trials, your students will Learn RNLI lifeguarding skills, experience the thrill of coasteering and take part in a simulated team rescue on our super SUP; the school bus is definitely going to be quiet on the way home! Local wildlife is abundant along this route. Pupils will witness a variety of species including inquisitive grey seals, rare kittiwake gulls and, if the timing is right, even bottlenose dolphins!
So what are you waiting for? Get in touch, book your Newquay coastal adventure and start exploring.
Newquay Activity Centre is open 7 days a week all year round. You can book online or call us on 01637 877722 or pop into our centre at 60 Fore Street, Newquay, TR7 1LW to book a lesson today!
