Aoraki Altitude Adventurers!

Last week, one of our Year 10 camps went to Aoraki, Mt Cook (led by Mr Sole and Ms Lach) in order to explore our stunning alpine environment. We started by a leisurely wander up the iconic Hooker Valley Track, which was unfortunately closed at the second swing bridge, but still provided the group with some excellent views of the moraine, mountains and native flora and fauna. Our camp at Glentanner was watched over by Aoraki and we were able to get at least two good days of full views of the magnificent maunga. Although the weather did not hold for long and soon the valley was full of rain and wind. Fortunately, we were able to squeeze an hour of paddleboarding and kayaking in at Tekapo. We also learned a bit about the cultural and natural significance of Aoraki National Park at the Department of Conservation information centre. This was followed by a 3-D film that summarised our learning and a planetarium-style film about the universe at the Hermitage. Unfortunately, we returned to camp to find two of our tents were destroyed by the wind. Nevertheless, camp spirits were still high and everyone managed to dry off any wet gear and have a good night.

We were greeted with an impressive lighting and thunder storm in the morning that shook the windows of the common room lounge! Nevertheless, we stayed confident that the weather would clear. Right on schedule, we were greeted with sunshine and blue sky as we entered the Tekapo hot pools. But the best was yet to come as the group still had their hike to complete! The group challenged themselves to a walk up Mt John. The first third of the track was lovely but very steep, and so it tested our physical strength. At the first lookout, everyone thought they were nearly at the top, but soon realised how deceptive the hill was! It seemed as though the track would never end, and so it tested our mental resilience. At the summit, we weren’t able to celebrate for long as wild wind threatened to topple us over! So this tested our courage. Finally, as we reached the treeline, and were in the shelter and shade. It was all downhill now and everyone was able to reflect on their hard work and effort over the journey. We finished with a final dip in the hot pools and some outdoor games before returning to camp for our last evening. The group completed the day with a classic game of Spotlight. During our journey home, we celebrated our experiences with a fun ‘prizegiving’ with some certificates being awarded such as ‘Best Tent’, ‘Best Stone-Skipper’, ‘Most Polite Camper’, and ‘Camp GOAT’ amongst others.

All in all, although we had to make some changes to the schedule due to weather conditions, it was a 10/10 experience with a range of activities and experiences to be had by all.

We wish to thank our amazing parent helpers Cara, Mike and Richie who drove through the wind and rain in order to support the camp and ensure it was a success for everyone. The camps cannot happen without our supportive parents so your service and work is very appreciated.