Team leader Nader Bokhari said they did not see the site caretaker until the search and rescue operation developed, and there were no guidelines given to the group about what they could and could not do in the area.
He was not blaming the centre or its staff for the students' disappearance but was clearly unhappy at what he thought were very little guidelines for the group.
Caretaker Wendy Dewe strongly rejected the criticism yesterday, saying the group had only booked some self-contained accommodation at the camp, and had not asked, when booking, about using any other facilities.
An emotional and relieved Mr Bokhari, in an interview with the Otago Daily Times after the three students were found, said he expected the stay to be more organised and have more structure.
The group booked two self-contained cottages for two nights, arriving on Monday and checking out yesterday.
He was ‘‘not satisfied'' with the quality of the accommodation and concerned at the lack of any programmes, or camp staff presence, to the point where he said the group would probably look elsewhere when planning similar trips in the future.
‘‘There was no educational information or programmes of any kind that we might have wanted to try. I thought it would have been much more organised than it was . . . it was a pleasant and unpleasant experience.''
Mrs Dewe said the cottages were completely separate from the education centre, and the group had only hired the accommodation and were not entitled to use any other facilities unless arranged at the time of booking.
She told Mr Bokhari she could not greet the group on Monday because she was attending a funeral, but made contact early Tuesday morning before the formal search was launched.
Mrs Dewe only handles the camp's accommodation and does not provide or offer any outdoor education programmes. That is up to the groups booking the facilities, who are obliged to provide guides or instructors for any activities.
‘‘People who come to us do their own risk management [plans]. It's up to them to plan for anything extra they want to do here.''
