Expedition scholarships
Our expedition scholarships support bold and imaginative adventures beyond the beaten tack — from tracing rivers from mountain tops to the sea, to chasing Fiordland’s tallest waterfalls, exploring the tallest underground climbs, or making first descents into wild canyons.
We offer two types of scholarships: Youth Expedition Scholarship for adventurers under 30 years of age and Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship for explorers of all ages.
Funded by:
Recent recipients’ stories
FMC Expedition Scholarship winners, Isla and Louise, traverse the Tararuas in a celebration of women in the backcountry.
Aria Willson, aged ten, learns just how far she can walk after spending her FMC Youth Expedition Scholarship on a six-day tramp with her mum.
After receiving the tragic news that her partner Lochie is missing, Tara pauses their plans to traverse along the Southern Alps from Cape Farewell to Fiordland to help with his search. When the search is called off, she makes the heavy-hearted decision to continue with the trip.
How it works
If you’re under 30 and dreaming up a unique adventure, this one’s for you! Each year, we award up to $1,500 to a number of successful applicants to help turn their expedition ideas into reality.
Open to all ages and celebrating the adventurous spirit of Simon Bell, this annual scholarship offers up to $1,000 to one successful applicant each year, to support their adventure.
- You’ll need to be part of the FMC whānau — either through an FMC member club, an associate organisation, or as an FMC individual member.
- For the Youth Expedition Scholarship, you must be under 30 on the application closing date. The Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship is open to all ages.
- If you’ve already scored one of these scholarships before, you can’t reapply for the same one again.
The expedition
- The expedition must be led by the applicant – you need to be the leader of the trip.
- Your team can be any age mix — including mentoring of younger leaders.
- The journey must be a multi-day mission (five nights or more) within mainland Aotearoa New Zealand or its offshore islands.
- Bonus points if you head for a Wilderness Area or one of NZ’s lesser-known corners, or if your expedition shows creativity and a real thirst for exploration.
- Make sure you’ve got the right permissions sorted (think drone permits, heli landings, private land access, etc.) — we may ask to see evidence of these.
- Be ready to share your adventures: you will be required to provide photos and a written trip report to FMC, and you could also consider a yarn with a local club or two.
Use of funds
- Funds are for expedition costs only (sorry, not for your personal gear).
- You’ll have up to one year to use the funds. If you don’t, or if conditions aren’t met, the money must be returned to FMC.
- We might split the payment, with part released once your expedition is complete.
- You’re welcome to combine this scholarship with other funding sources.
Endorsement
- If you are a member of an FMC member club or associate organisation, your application must include a written endorsement from your club/organisation. It should cover their reasons for endorsing you, your outdoor experience, your commitment to the club, and how your expedition will benefit both you and your club.
- If you are an FMC individual member, your application must include a written endorsement and character reference from a suitable referee.g. teacher, coach, employer, community leader. The endorsement should talk about your outdoor experience and how this opportunity will help grow your leadership and organisational skills.
Once you’ve got the basic plans together for your mission and have checked the scholarship criteria below, fill in this form and send it to eo@fmc.org.nz by 15 September.
The closing date for applications is 15 September each year.
At FMC, we believe that exploration matters and its spirit lives in all of us. We want to nurture a love for wild places, spark imagination, and support those willing to venture further, deeper, or with a fresh creative lens. Since 2010, these scholarships have been one way we keep that spirit alive, generation after generation.
The scholarships were first supported by the Maerewhenua Trust, and today they’re fully funded by the FMC Mountain and Forest Trust. In 2016, the Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship was added to the programme.
Simon Bell was a passionate climber and explorer of Aotearoa’s wildest places, many of which he wrote about in stories published on Wilderlife. He tragically lost his life on a solo climb of Pikirakatahi / Mt Earnslaw in 2015.
The Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship honours Simon’s memory and spirit. His parents describe its intent like this:
“Simon’s joy was exploring the wild places of our beautiful country. He had a passion for climbing, a commitment to safe practice and developing skills, and an enthusiasm for sharing experience. He died on a solo climb of Pikirakatahi/Earnslaw on 15 January 2015. This memorial scholarship is intended to help recipients of any skill level to continue their exploration of Aotearoa’s wild places and to enhance their confidence, leadership and safe practice in tramping or mountaineering.”
- 2024: Simone Blakie, Canterbury University Tramping Club, for a Fiordand expedition to the highest waterfalls in Southern Hemisphere. Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2024: Alex Booker and Emma Kelly, New Zealand Alpine Club and FMC Individual Supporter, for a journey from Homer Tunnel, Fiordland, to West Matukituki valley.
- 2024: Aria Willson, FMC Individual Supporter, for Greenstone Caples circuit trip.
- 2024: Christian Miller, New Zealand Canyoning Association and New Zealand Speleological Society, for the first descent into canyon in The Valley of Darkness, South Westland.
- 2024: Darius Mortimer-Webster, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, for Southern Alps traverse from Aoraki Mt Cook village to Arthur’s Pass.
- 2024: Emily Waters, Canterbury Mountaineering Club and Otago University Tramping Club, for Southern Alps traverse from the Garden of Eden to Fox Glacier.
- 2024: Huia and Ngaio Parker, Logan Park High School, for Douglas Range traverse via Dragon’s Teeth, Kahurangi National Park.
- 2024: Isabelle Schwarzenbach, Motueka High School, for a journey linking three national parks – Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman.
- 2024: Liam Baldwin, Victoria University Tramping Club, for a trip over the Great Barrier Island, south to north.
- 2024: Lina Heuer, Victoria University Tramping Club, trip from Ōhau to Richardson Mountains.
- 2023: Monique Bon, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for a trip around the Humbolt Mountains, Aspiring National Park. Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2023: Sophie Lawson, Otamatea High School, for the Five Passes trip in Aspiring National Park.
- 2023: Nick Pascoe, Whitewater New Zealand, for the skiing, packrafting and tramping expedition following the water cycle from the mountains, Tititea Mt Aspiring, to the Tasman sea via glaciers and Waiatoto River.
- 2023: Miro Williams, Otago University Tramping Club, for an expedition traversing several ridges around the Waitaha catchment, West Coast.
- 2023: Mathew Denys, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for a year 2024 inspired trip to reach peak pt 2024 above Lake Turner in Darran Mountains.
- 2023: Leo Easton, Motueka High School, for a journey from the southern most point to the northern most point of Kahurangi National Park.
- 2023: Joe Fitzgerald, Otago University Tramping Club, for advocacy focused expedition to Thomas River Valley, driven by love for fly fishing, visual storytelling and backcountry river advocacy.
- 2023: Isla Ashby and Louise Hammersley, Victoria University Tramping Club, for traversing Tararua Range.
- 2023: Eugene Yeo, FMC Individual Supporter, for expedition exploring and documenting Bulmer Cave system under Mt Owen, focusing on El Capitan climb.
- 2023: David MacDonald, Otago University Tramping Club, for a journey from South Fiord to North Fiord of Lake Te Anau via the Glaisnock Wilderness Area.
- 2023: Campbell Browne, New Zealand Alpine Club, for fastpacking the traverse of Southern Alps from Arthurs Pass to Aoraki Mt Cook village.
- 2022: Sarah Fisher, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for an expedition to Rakiura’s Tin Range, Gog and Magog. Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2022: Adam Sanders, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, for a traverse of the Malte Brun Range.
- 2022: Eliot McKelvey, New Zealand Canyoning Association, for a mountains to sea packrafting expedition from St Arnaud to the Clarence River mouth.
- 2022: Ellorine Carle, Whitewater New Zealand, for a descent of the Taieri River from the Lammerlaw Range to the coast.
- 2022: Emily Prout, Canterbury University Tramping Club, for an alpine journey from Homer Hut to the Okuru River.
- 2022: Nicole Cameron, Canterbury University Tramping Club, for an expedition to New Zealand’s ‘Pole of Inaccessibility’ in the Olivine Wilderness.
- 2022: Jared Sewell (17 yrs old), Individual Supporter, for a journey along the length of the Te Araroa Trail.
- 2022: Liam Bartlett, Otago University Tramping Club, for a traverse of the Llawrenny and Terror Peaks in Milford Sound.
- 2022: Liam Hewson, Otago University Tramping Club, for a traverse of the Tin Range on Stewart Island/Rakiura.
- 2022: Naeco Laird (14 yrs old), Stratford Tramping Club, for a trip over Zit Saddle and Lathrop Saddle.
- 2022: Nicholas Jones and Xanthe Smith, Victoria University of Wellington Tramping Club, for a journey from Kaikōura to Little Wanganui on the West Coast.
- 2021: Alastair McDowell, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, to support an enchainment of all 24 3000m peaks in New Zealand. Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2021: Shar Mathias, Otago University Tramping Club, for a trip to the Olivine Ice Plateau.
- 2021: Matai Wells, New Zealand Alpine Club, for a trip to the Volta Glacier in Mt Aspiring National Park.
- 2021: Luke Carpenter, FMC Individual Supporter, to walk the South Island section of the Te Araroa Trail.
- 2021: Rachel Smith, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, for a traverse of the Southern Alps from Makarora to Homer Hut.
- 2021: Rachel Martin (partial award), FMC Individual Supporter, for a crossing of the North Island from the East Coast to the West Coast.
- 2021: Martin Johnson (partial award), Canterbury Mountaineering Club, for a trip aiming to climb and establish new routes on ‘the buttress’ located east of Mt McCullaugh and to establish a multi-pitch route that reaches the summit of Douglas Spur.
- 2020: Tara Mulvany, FMC Individual Supporter, for a journey along the Southern Alps from Homer Saddle to Arthur’s Pass. Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2020: Conor Vaessen, Otago University Tramping Club, for a three-month long traverse of the Southern Alps from Arthur’s Pass to Fiordland as far as Lady of the Snows.
- 2020: Emma Strack, Victoria University Tramping Club, for a five week journey along the Southern Alps from Mount Cook to Homer Hut.
- 2020: Hamish Laing, Tararua Tramping Club, for a tramping and packrafting trip to West Cape in Fiordland.
- 2020: Joseph Amos, Nayland College, for a sea kayaking trip exploring all arms and fjords of Lake Te Anau.
- 2020: Kyla Rayward, Motueka High School, for a journey from Arthur’s Pass to Lewis Pass.
- 2020: Laura Jacks, Auckland University Tramping Club, for an expedition on Rakiura / Stewart Island, traversing Mount Anglem, following the track to Doughboy Bay, then to Gog, Magog and back via the Tin Range.
- 2020: Leah Nicholls, FMC Individual Supporter, for a trip across Kahurangi National Park from the Takaka Region to Flora Hut car park.
- 2020: Sean Burrows, FMC Individual Supporter, for a tramping and packrafting expedition into Southwest Fiordland. Beginning in Deep Cove with an alpine tops traverse followed by packrafting the Seaforth river, the Long Burn, and Long Sound.
- 2019: Luca Karjalainen, Otago University Tramping Club, for a trip to the Olivine Ice Plateau and environs – Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship. Trip abandoned and scholarship money returned.
- 2019: Ben Mangan, Canterbury Mountaineering Club and NZAC Canterbury-Westland, for a trip to the Gardens of Eden / Allah with the intention to explore new climbing routes on Newton Peak. Extension granted to March 2021 due to COVID-19.
- 2019: Patrick Marsh, Canterbury University Tramping Club, for a traverse from West Cape to the South Coast Track, Fiordland. Extension granted to March 2021 due to COVID-19.
- 2019: Sacha Knight, Auckland University Tramping Club, for a traverse from Arthur’s Pass to Mt Cook Village.
- 2019: Merlyn Barrer, Nayland College (Nelson), for a bike-walk-kayak west to east Traverse of the Upper South Island. Trip abandoned and scholarship money returned.
- 2019: Elizabeth Ravn, Individual Supporter, for an off-track, alpine traverse from the Routeburn to the Eglinton with side trips into the Pembroke Wilderness. Extension granted to March 2o21 due to COVID-19.
- 2019: Jamie Macalister, Canterbury Mountaineering Club, for a trip aiming to pioneer new rock-climbing routes on Douglas Spur, Paringa River, Westland. Extension granted to March 2021 due to COVID-19.
- 2019: Harriett Miller, NZAC Nelson, for a traverse from Whanganui (Kahurangi) to Whataroa. Partial award. Extension granted to March 2021 due to COVID-19.
- 2019: Mary Williams, Individual Supporter, for a run of the Rakiura and Te Aroroa tracks with emphasis on promotion on matters pertaining to mental health. Partial award.
- 2019: Beren Goodwin (17yrs), Hutt Valley Tramping Club, for a trip on the Te Araroa track. Partial award. Trip abandoned and scholarship money returned.
- 2018: Morgan Scully and Coraline Buchet, VUWTC, for a traverse of the Southern Alps – Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
- 2018: Dave Kelbe, OUTC, for a walking and pack-rafting traverse from Doubtful Sound to Dusky Sound.
- 2018: Madeleine Whittaker, OUTC, for the South Island section of the Te Araroa Trail to raise funds for youth at risk.
- 2018: Sooji Clarkson, Individual Supporter, for a female-led climbing trip to the Balfour Neve.
- 2018: Jake Harris, Nelson College, for a 20-day traverse of the Tasman Wilderness Area in Kahurangi National Park.
- 2018: Kevin Peng, University of Canterbury Climbing Club and NZAC Canterbury/Westland, for an exploratory rock-climbing trip to the Ruggedy Mountains on Rakiura / Stewart Island.
- 2017: Ivan Andrews, VUWTC, a Southern Alps crossing from the Rakaia to the West Coast via the Bracken snowfield and Ivory Lake Hut.
- 2017: Dulkara Martig, FMC Individual Supporter, an all-women traverse from Arthur’s Pass to Mt Cook.
- 2017: Stacey Hendricks, MUAC, an expedition into Nelson Lakes National Park.
- 2017: Nathan Sturrock, FMC Individual Supporter, an east-west traverse of Upper South Island from the Clarence to the Buller.
- 2017: Sam West, OUTC, Findlay Glacier – South Westland, A novel expedition to pay homage to the late John Findlay (Sam’s grandfater).
- 2017: Justin Venables (NZ Canyoning Association): Tuke River (Westland). An ambitious first descent by a tough local team – the Simon Bell Memorial scholarship.
- 2016: Allan Brent, Alexis Belton, Lydia McLean, Mark Leslie, Te Wai Pounamu traverse.
- 2016: Debbie Buck, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, a traverse of the Tasman Wilderness Area – the Simon Bell Memorial scholarship.
- 2016:Max Truell, Western Springs College Tramping Club, a traverse from Arthurs Pass to Lewis Pass, skirting the east side of Arthurs Pass National Park (delayed until summer 2017/2018)
- 2016: Hans Philipp Seultrop, Canterbury University Tramping Club, a mountain run from St Arnaud to Lewis Pass via several of the mountain ranges (delayed until summer 2017/2018)
- 2016: Jaz Morris, Expedition Climbers Club, an attempt on the south face of Pariroa/Castle Mount in Fiordland (delayed until summer 2017/2018)
- 2016: Bianca Freytag, Auckland University Tramping Club, a full traverse of the Olivine Ice Plateau (delayed until summer 2017/2018)
- 2015: Caroline Bellamy, Canterbury University TC: for a trip traversing the Haast Range and adjoining valley systems in South Westland.
- 2015:Sarah Tiong, NZ Alpine Club (Otago Section): for a trip into the Olivine Ice Plateau via the Forgotten River Col.
- 2015: Jarrod Alexander, NZ Alpine Club (Canterbury Section): for climbing trips based in Fiordland and with particular emphasis on Sinbad Gully and the Darran Mountains.
- 2015: Penzy Dinsdale, Otago University TC: for an ‘all women’s traverse’ through the Olivines Wilderness . (Read the article, or watch the video)
- 2015: Zoe Sagarin, Taranaki Alpine Club: for a multiday climbing and mentoring trip based on the upper, western slopes of Mt Taranaki (above Kahui Hut).
- 2015: Carmen Chan (Auckland University Tramping Club). A traverse of the Tararua Mountain Range. A visit to the home of tramping.
- 2014: Sylvie Ardmore (Auckland University TC). A 12 day circuit from Erewhon taking in the Gardens of Eden and Allah and the Lawrence River.
- 2014: Kate Wooton (Canterbury University TC). A week long traverse of the Gardens of Eden and Allan from the West Coast to the East.
- 2014: Kathryn Volllinger (OSONZAC). A tramp in/out expedition to climb new rock climbing routes on the faces above Poisedon Creek in the Glaisnoick Wilderness Area.
- 2013: Alastair McDowell (Auckland University TC). A traverse of the Southern Alps via passes, tops and valleys, from Arthur’s Pass to Mt Cook and with plans to climb several peaks en route if conditions permit.
- 2013: Brendan Maggs (NZ Alpine Club, Canterbury/Westland). For a journey into the Balfour Neve region (Southern Alps) and a series of climbs on and around Torres Peak (including attempts to pioneer new routes).
- 2013: James Chancellor (Auckland University TC). For a journey to retrace pioneer explorer and missionary, William Colenso’s steps on an east – west crossing of the Ruahine Range.
- 2013: Nick Riordan (Canterbury University TC). For a traverse of the Paparoa Range, Westland. Read the account in CUTC’s newsletter.
- 2013: William Adlam (Taranaki Alpine Club). For a journey along the Douglas Range, Kahurangi National Park. Read about their trip here.
- 2013: Jim Anderson (NZAC, North Otago Section). For a journey to the summit of Mt Cook, including carrying of survey gear, see this link: http://youtu.be/wRvq9A5qwsY
- 2012: Wouter van Beershoten (Canterbury University TC). A traverse of the Princess Range and a climb of Caroline Peak in the vicinity of Lake Hauroko, Fiordland.
- 2012: Matt Lillis (Auckland University TC). You can read about Matt’s Ruahine extensive north – south traverse here.
- 2012: Nina Dickerhof (NZAC Canterbury/Westland). You can read about Nina’s Olivine Wilderness Expedition here and see pictures here.
- 2011: Max Olsen: (Otago University TC). For a winter expedition into the Transit Valley in Fiordland. You can read about Max’s trip here.
- 2011: James Thornton (Otago University TC). For a trip into the Worsley River, Bligh Sound and the Glaisnock Wilderness Area. You can read about James’s trip here.
