After a grey, stormy weekend, it was with much excitement that the first contingent of Year 9 boys, en route to Nydia Bay, saw the sun burst out over Marlborough ‘Ka puta te Wairau!

With fishing rods and kayaks safely stowed on board, together with enough food to feed a small army, twenty-two Year 9 students, two prefects and four staff boarded the launch at Havelock and set sail for Nydia Bay. For some boys, this is the first time adventuring into the Marlborough Sounds, for others, the many bays and coves of Kenepuru Sound are a frequent playground, but no matter the level of familiarity, no one can question the taonga that is Nydia Bay and the opportunity for our boys to make lifelong friends, whilst building resilience and confidence in the outdoors!

With a proud tradition of camps going back nearly 40 years, it was all hands to the pump setting up camp, before getting the first activity underway! No prizes for guessing, the boys were keen to drop manu’s off the pier!

Two nights and three days quickly flew by, with a highlight on the second day, being the triathlon! As always, the boys worked in teams, selecting who would compete in each event, with the runners lining up excitedly to race around the fitness track! After the runner tagged the swimmer, who swam out to the island and back, then tagged the kayak paddlers (who this year had to search for buried treasure secreted on a nearby strip of beach - ka pai Whaea Rosanne!); the race culminated in all team members plunging off the pier holding their treasure. There was keen competition, but the winner on the day was the willingness of each team to cheer ‘the boys" and applaud the last paddler home!

With keen interest the boys studied insects with Matua Mark, who revealed the wonders of the ngahere! With big eyes and a sense of wonder, the boys discovered enough critters and enormous, hand length stick insects, to create a sense of awe in our natural flora and fauna!

Contentedness is a big bowl of chocolate self saucing pudding, after a long day playing cricket on the lawn, swimming for hours and participating in other games and activities. Thanks to Whaea Nicole, working her magic in the kitchen, we dined like Kings!

The homeward leg is always filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement, with the boys working hard to refurbish the camp, before donning packs for the walk out. 13 km’s sounds do-able, but the climb over Nydia Saddle (347 m), is a good test of fitness for anyone, made sweeter at the summit, with a promise of lunch and great views of Tennyson Inlet!

The success of Nydia Bay camp wouldn’t happen without the support of our prefects, who time and time again, prove themselves to be exemplary role models for the Year 9 boys. On this occasion, Dom Henry and Sam Hamilton also showed a keen interest in fishing and had their plentiful catch filleted and frying on the stove, to the delight of the Year 9 boys! Ngā mihi kōrua Dom rāua ko Sam, mo tō kōrua manaakitanga, ahwi hoki ki a mātou katoa!

To all those who have gone before and to all those embarking on their camp, Whāia e koe te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei - Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain!

Ngā mihi