Last week the Year 8 students set off for Deep Cove in Fiordland.

It took four hours by bus to reach Manapouri. There, we boarded a boat to take us on the one hour lake crossing to West Arm and finally another bus from there to Deep Cove.

Once settled into the hostel we walked to the Helena Falls to explore some of the bush and natural elements found on the way. On the second day we all walked the challenging Hanging Valley track and participated in various activities around the camp. Some of those were: flax weaving, clay making, team building, setting trakka tunnels, fish traps, fishing, and taking water samples. Many of us are keen to enter the photography competition so we were taking lots of photos.

Two highlights were swimming in the rock pools and the boating with the ROV machine which Mrs O’Neill borrowed from the University of Otago. With that, we could look under the water and see lots of fish, plants and other things below the surface.

The two-hour boat cruise on Doubtful Sound would have to be another highlight. The boat took us to the Tasman Sea where we saw lots of seals sitting on the rocks.

We also walked to the tail races that were built for the Manapouri Hydro Electric Power Station and found out about the Wanganella ship that was brought in as accommodation for the workers.

On the last night we had fun with Deep Cove Olympics where girls had to compete in a ‘sport’ - it put a lot of people out of their comfort zone but was a lot of fun.

We had amazing parent helpers:  two doctors - Dr Hill and Dr Potter, a chef - Mr Hollamby, a tree and water expert – Mr Allibone and a marine expert – Mrs O’Neill. As well as the parents we had Amy and Mysie from Adventure Southland along with Tahu from Orokanui.

The experience will be something the girls will remember for a very long time and appreciate the opportunity their parents have given them.