Last Tuesday, Year 8 set off to Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound.

At 7:30am we all gathered outside the office and packed the bus to drive to Manapouri and arrived there at noon. A ferry took us across Lake Manapouri to West Arm and we loaded our luggage onto another bus to take us to the Deep Cove hostel. After a short talk from the hostel manager we set up our cabins, went on a quick walk and came back to the hostel to eat our dinner.

When everything had been cleaned up, we split up into two groups. One group walked up the road to see the glow worms. It was an incredible experience! The second group went with Tahu to go stargazing. Group A came back to join Group B at stargazing and together we saw a shooting star and a satellite. That night we all fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

On Wednesday morning, everyone rushed down to eat a delicious breakfast. When everyone was ready, Group A went on a walk to Helena Falls, which took a few hours. Group B split up and rotated between fishing, boating and setting traps. Some of the traps were used for animal tracks and the other traps were set in the river to catch some freshwater fish. At fishing, we got taught how to send our lines to the bottom of the fiord and to reel them. For boating, we went out onto the fiord with Robbie, who is a tour guide from Real Journeys. He taught us about the layer of fresh water that is above the saltwater.

After lunch was devoured, Group A then did the rotations, while Group B walked to Helena Falls. Later, we all changed into our wetsuits and went swimming in the rock pools. It was freezing but super fun at the same time!

Everyone had to wake up early on Thursday, because as soon as we finished our breakfast, we walked the Hanging Valley track. It took about four hours to reach the waterfall and come back down. It was fun to climb up and down the massive roots and rocks, but lots of us slipped.

In the afternoon, we walked to the boat that would take us on our cruise which was just less than two hours. There was a drawing competition and Frankie McAuliffe won! When we went back to the hostel, we could go fishing or swimming again. At the rock pools, everyone was jumping off the rocks and adjusting to the cold better than before. We were all having so much fun! At fishing, we caught fish on the fiord as well as off the wharf.

After dinner we collected our traps and looked at what we had caught. Then the Adventure Southland guides organised a Mini Olympics! There were events like pole-vaulting, free diving and cross country skiing. The funniest one to watch was probably weight-lifting because the competitors had to bend down and pick up a cereal box with their teeth, not touching the floor with their arms or knees. Except, the adults cut the box until it was a flat piece of cardboard and they ended up licking the floor! When it was dark we had a choice to go and see the glow worms or to go straight to bed.

On Friday morning, it was very hard to get up. Everyone was shattered. On the ride home, lots of people slept. It felt like it took forever, but finally, we got home and away from the sandflies.

We will remember this one in a lifetime experience by all of our amazing photos, memories and our not so amazing sandfly bites.

Written by Eleanor Wong and Imogen Harrison. Y8.