[5] The school offers several art, sport and recreation options, along with each student belonging to a house.

The land had been owned at different times by the Hogg, Moore and Tunley families, and had been farmed by Bill Hunter.

The first term classes took place in two classrooms at Raroa Normal Intermediate School (which was being built at the same time).

[8] In later years, a fully equipped gymnasium with squash courts, a mezzanine classroom and a multi-function room was built co-funded by the local community, a new permanent B- block was added, several pre-fabricated buildings were installed, and a technology and learning support suite were built.

In coordination with neighbouring Newlands Intermediate School, Newlands College has also added artificial turf to several of its outdoor sports surfaces and has announced further expansion and re-modelling plans as a result of a growing roll (with additional pre-fabricated buildings to be installed) and improved weather tightness for some of the buildings housing the administration and staff facilities.

The school previously offered community education to adults,[9] although this service has ceased and is no longer listed on their website.

Newlands College of the Nelson 2H design, like most New Zealand state secondary schools built between 1960 and 1970.

The Te Ao Marama is a Whare Kura, primarily for teaching Maori and hosting meetings.

The New Zealand Education Review Office (ERO) provided the following statistics for the month June 2010: European 47%, Asian 23%, Māori 12%, Pasifika 5%, Other 13%.

[citation needed] Almost every year, the school is involved in a production which students and teachers alike can sign up for.

Examples are Guys and Dolls (2007), Les Misérables (2009), Grease (2010), The Wizard of Oz (2013), Spamalot (2014), All Shook Up (2015), Hairspray (2016), Rock of Ages (2017), Catch Me If You Can (2018), and Beauty and the Beast (2019).

These short films are edited with Final Cut Pro X and the most appropriate (with Excellence or high Merit marks) are submitted for the NOSCARS (the Newlands College Oscars) after being classified by the OFLC.

[15] Newlands College has presence annually at the National School Orienteering Championship,[16] although the future for its participation seems uncertain with head coach Andrew Riddle taking leave as of 2024.

The school has an annual Peer Support camp[17] at El Rancho (Waikanae Christian holiday park), which was first held in 1975.

Other camps include the year 12 and 13 Geography trips to the St. Arnaud/Lake Rotoiti region and Tongariro National Park.

The facility contains a gymnasium, one set of male and female changing rooms, a large foyer area, P.E equipment sheds, a reception area, P.E department offices, a kitchen, squash courts (known as the GFIT, used to teach junior PE classes) and a classroom.