On the 14/15 May 2021 the Level 3 Geography students took part in the annual geography trip to Kaikoura. This trip is to give the students a hands-on experience of collecting primary data in a natural environment.

We left at 8:30 in the morning heading initially to the township of Kaikoura. After lunch we moved on to the data collection sites starting up near the Hapuku river on the North beach of Kaikoura. For the rest of the day we worked our way down the beach collecting data from 5 different parts of the beach. This data included beach profiles, sediment size, longshore drift, wind speed and direction, wave direction, height and frequency. The data they collected allowed the students to ask various questions around the processes that occur along this beach and how those processes changed the look of the beach. The students worked well with each other having practised what was required prior to leaving. We enjoyed a beautiful fine day with light winds making the whole experience enjoyable and the data was fully collected by 5pm. That evening the students were able to soak in a spa pool under the clear evening sky.

The following day everyone was up and ready to move by 8:30am. We headed out around the peninsula for a small geology/geography tour taking in the changes that had occurred from the recent earthquake, the views from the top of the peninsula walkway and the seals basking in the sun. Before leaving we popped up to the reservoir for a 360 degree view of the area and then down to South beach to visit the concretions that had appeared after the uplift from the earthquake. The trip was excellent for the data gathered, the experience of visiting new places, and the camaraderie that occurred.