top of page

Beekeeping Courses & Education

At our Beetopia hands-on learning apiary, indoor classroom & outdoor training facility, we offer group courses, one-on-one private training and educational projects to schools, home schooling and ECC.

Our next beginner's courses will be held from September 2025 with a qualified beekeeper. The course provides the basics required for hive management at an introductory level and includes:

  • Bee recognition (distinction between worker / nurse / drone / queen bees )

  • Distinction between honey / nectar / capped honey/pollen

  • The all-important life cycle of bees & castes

  • Understanding how to use all beehive equipment

  • How to register your beehives and mandatory requirements for NZ beekeepers

  • Hands-on-lesson in bee hives with Q&A

Our courses are run in small numbers as we believe this adds value and gives attendees plenty of hands-on time in the hives and the ability to ask one on one questions with our instructor.

2025/6 Beginner’s beekeeping courses

 

As courses are weather dependent and spring in Aotearoa is notoriously unpredictable,  please bear in mind if the weather is wet and/or too windy we cannot open the hives and therefore might be obliged to postpone course dates.

Our half day courses are held on Sunday mornings from 8.30am am - 12.30/ noon in Matakana. Tea & Coffee & Honey drinks and scrumptious snacks provided during morning break. Honey Tasting and Equipment overview at the end of the course.

Protective Beekeeping Clothing & Gloves provided. Cost per person $250pp

2025/2026 Dates 

September 7th -21st -28th

October 5th -19th

November 2nd - 16th - 30th

December 7th - 14th 

January 11th (Disease Recognition)

February 8th - 15th

March 1st -15th

Payment required before commencing the course.Payment details provided upon confirming the course date.

Pollinator Education - Fun Lessons - Talks - Honey Sessions - Bee Experience 

We offer tailor-made learning opportunities to schools, ECC, libraries, corporates and private groups. Below are a few groups we have successfully catered for : 

  • Matakana & Leigh Primary Schools 

  • Pakiri & Ahuroa Primary Schools

  • Wainui Primary School

  • Muddy Toes ECC

  • Warkworth & Wellsford ECCs

  • Warkworth & Wellsford Libraries

  • Chelsea Sugar Team Bonding 

  • Kowhai Festival and A&P Show

  • Mitre 10 Flower Show

  • Many many Garden groups

  • Residential Care Homes

  • Home Schooling groups

  • International Chefs

REVIEWS

Read  5 star reviews regarding our beekeeping courses, honey tastings and tours:

http://g.page/r/CRkNV6sCGt1gEAo/review 

Thank you for sharing your amazing passion with our young explorers. Your lessons showed an indepth knowledge of not only beekeeping and its associated activities but also an ability to make this relevant to tamariki of all ages.

 

We loved having you at our school. Please bee back

Ngā mihi
 

Michelle Nell

Principal Ahuroa School

Grass’ passion and knowledge for all things bees inspired a schoolwide term long inquiry which we called Pollinators and Petals. During this inquiry, Grass delivered a superb series of informative lessons which were interactive and made even more interesting with all of the 'beeautiful' hands on materials and resources she brought with her. Grass pitches the learning perfectly for our different year levels and has a lovely way with all students. 


Kerrin Jamieson

Principal Leigh School

Grass was so enthusiastic and provided fun, engaging hands-on lessons. The lessons were relevant, well prepared and always pitched at an age appropriate level. The students gained a wealth of knowledge (as did the teachers). Over a year later and the students are still talking about the things they learnt from Grass. We are really looking forward to working with Grass again to set up our own bee hives here at school.

Darrel Goosen  Principal/Tumuāki

Beetopia New Zealand
"All things Bees"
is located just outside of Matakana
181 Omaha Flats Road

bottom of page