Sir Peter Blake Marine Education & Recreation Centre is based at Long Bay, Auckland and offers marine and outdoor based activity programmes for schools and corporate groups.
MERC can accommodate up to 85 people at any time for overnight stays and activities, plus an additional 60 people for day visits and activities.
A day programme usually consists of 3 activities on the day and instruction is generally given between 9am and 4pm. There is scope to organise short duration, single day and multi-day courses, and these are specifically developed to meet the needs of each group.
Our facilities have separate teacher/leader accommodation, multi-purpose hall, wheelchair access and large kitchen & dining facilities. We also offer conference facilities for up to 40 people overlooking the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve, Tiritiri Matangi Island and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
"The Sea Around Us" Winter Lecture Series 2012 Starting June 8th
June 8th
Our Journey Across the Ditch.
Team Gallagher, First Team to row across the Tasman Sea. The quartet endured almost a month of torrid weather on the Tasman, spending approximately 27 days at sea anchor as their 10.5m boat, The Moana, was tossed around by 4-6m seas and winds reaching 50 knots. Team members: James Blake, Andrew McCowan, Martin Berka, and Nigel Cherrie. Sydney Harbour Bridge to Auckland Harbour Bridge 55 days and two hours.
June 15th
Volcanoes of Auckland and the influence of the Sea.
Dr Bruce W. Hayward – Principal Scientist, Geomarine, Auckland. Dr Hayward has authored numerous scientific works and books on aspects of New Zealand's fossils, geology, marine ecology, conservation, archaeology and history. The subject of his talk comes from his latest book "Volcanoes of Auckland: The essential guide", published last year. He was born and educated in Auckland, and former positions included Paleontologist with the old NZ Geological Survey and Curator of Marine Invertebrates at Auckland Museum.
Sir Peter Blake MERC is safety audit certified by Outdoors New Zealand.
Sir Peter Blake Marine Education & Recreation Centre, 1045 Beach Rd, Long Bay, North Shore City 0630 PO Box 35 119, Browns Bay, North Shore City 0753 Ph. (09) 473 0714 Fax. (09) 473 1945