During week 4, the senior team explored the Kairuru caves with the help and expertise of our Whenua Iti tutors. This is Flora's description of her trip.

The fog was a swirling mass around me, swallowing me and covering up any tracks.  I followed the long line of bobbing heads leading the way and disappearing into the mist every so often.

Drizzling rain dripped down my back as the mouth of the cave appeared into my sight.  The atmosphere was a blend of shivering, nervous people and excited, adventurous people rearing to go . I had mixed emotions about this class trip!

Rain jackets swished as helmets clonked onto our heads.  We tiptoed up to the mouth of the cave.  We were entering the belly of the beast.  Gravel scrunched underfoot as torches sliced through the darkness, lighting the cave with a golden glow.   Lighting the faces of ecstatic children clambering over rocks and boulders.  The walls and stones which we scrambled over nibbled at our fingers, sometimes taking gouges out of our knuckles.  Our hands were so cold we didn't notice the little stabs of pain until our fingers thawed out afterwards.

The cave slide was nerve-wracking.  I was a bit claustrophobic. Not knowing how far it would be to get down under the overhang and not being able to put your head up to see where you're going is scary!  Another time I was nervous, but had to face my fears, was when we went into what they called "Cave Jail", a small squeeze filled with stalactites (hanging on tight) and stalagmites (which might reach the ceiling) blocking the way out.  They hung everywhere throughout the cave like pine needles hanging on a pine tree and carpeting the floor as well.  I thought I might get stuck!

It was amazing when we had to find our way out of the caves with only a candle.  The natural light of the candle flickered and flickered, glimmering on our faces, giving off a special light.

It was a special experience that I will always remember.