Focus on a Subject - Geography trip to Tongariro

On the 2nd to 4th March, the Level 2 Geography class was able to embark on a trip to the Tongariro National Park. The purpose of the trip was to learn about this large natural environment, conduct geographic research, and complete the Tongariro Crossing.

On the way down to Tongariro, we were able to visit the Huka Falls and enjoy the New Zealand countryside. We arrived at Tongariro National Park late in the afternoon and were able to have a nice walk around the quiet and chilly settlement to warm ourselves up for the next day.

On Thursday, we started the alpine crossing in the early morning to ensure we allowed ourselves sufficient time to complete the research. The weather was some of the best I had ever experienced in the Tongariro Crossing and demonstrated the benefits of an early March trip.

The students got to work on their research, where they measured vegetation height, wind speed, and temperature at different altitudes. Our research sites were Mangatepopo Valley, Soda Springs, Red Crater, Blue Lake, Ketetahi Hut, and the low-lying forest, which provided various data. The attitude and teamwork of the students were superb, and they demonstrated good perseverance to complete the crossing and research.

I want to acknowledge Peta Forrest and Joel Taranchokov for their time and help throughout the trip. Also, I must thank the parents of students who were generous in their support. We look forward to the remaining Geography trips which will occur in 2022.

James Forest
Senior School Geography Teacher