On Friday 2 July the Wairakei Learning Community Year 10 classes spent a day at Te Puna Quarry Park.

The focus of the trip was descriptive and creative writing. It was a glorious day and the Quarry inspired some great writing opportunities that were developed back in class. 

Ava Kinghorn and Holly Mitchell won the 'Editors Choice' for the best creative writing with these two great essays:

Te Puna Quarry - By Ava Kinghorn Y10

The stone cold eyes follow me around the park. I stretch my arm out to feel the ridges and cracks of the dragon’s body beneath my fingers. The breeze blew my hair around my head, whipping my face. I tilt my head up to look at the cliff face, their faces look back at me, different ones though, the ones of my peers.
Thick leaves bunch in clusters at my feet and hang above my head, branches drooping and curving over like an old man’s back. Soft, yellow dandelions huddle together, showing their pretty faces in the sun, smiling as we walk past. Cold dirty bricks line our paths and signify our next destination by breaking off or stopping suddenly, like a car at a red light. Butterflies danced around our heads and twirled their delicate bodies in all different ways like a gentle feather. They whisper to each other and float gracefully through the wind.
Te Puna Quarry. A place full of mystery and beauty, so beautiful, people come from long distances to take photos and feel the energy of the place. Groups of trees are planted around the place and wet grass sits at the bottom of the trees, looking up and waving. The thick trees have memories containing all of the visitors' faces and touches. They sway and play in the wind. It’s pretty because everything is so fresh and loved, taken care of. Laughter dances in and out my ears, echoing voices of those who chose to join as we embark on this adventure through the greens and browns, splashes of pinks and purples. All colours alike. Cameras click and bodies pose.
Long tracks made of pebbles and gravel are meticulously placed around the quarry. The paths are lined with tufts of sweet green grass and slender lines of bamboo. People touch and tug at it, rehearsing old torture methods they had heard of that had been used in the past. Laughing and cringing at the ideas. The large mass of land needs a map in order to properly navigate it.
Euphoria fills me as I walk around, humming to myself in satisfaction. This place is delightful, joyous to surround myself with. Wandering back to the bus I think to myself how much I like it here. How much I want to come back. I want to be here again and I want others to come too. I want others to experience the things I did and feel the energy I felt. Te Puna Quarry, a place full of mystery and beauty, so beautiful, I want to come back again.

Te Puna Quarry Park - Holly Mitchell Y10

The bus crunches to a stop. Warm sunshine graces us with its presence, a slight breeze making itself known. Te Puna Quarry Park opens its arms to us, colourful and inviting. Children run circles around picnic tables, their excited chatter ringing out through the air.
We walk with a spring in our step, excited to be outside and away. Lightly treading over a little bridge, we make our way to a quaint herb garden. Delicate, green plants spread over the ground. We wander around in silence as though we are in a sacred place. I take a deep breath, the sweet fragrance of the herb in my hand filling my lungs. The smell lingers even after I leave the unknown plant behind. Bells chime in the distance, as the breeze continues to sweep through.
Our small group moves on. We trudge up a path, dried leaves scrunching underfoot. We move uphill, doing our exercise for the day. A lookout catches our attention. Trees stretch down the bank, leading to the town below. Cars and hedges litter the ground. Mount Maunganui stands tall, watching over the bustling city. Leaves flutter softly in the breeze, like fragile butterfly wings. Wispy clouds paint the sky, stretching from one side to the other. Careless chirping fills the air. Picture perfect.
Tall trees surround the next lookout. The branches bend towards each other, whispering secrets. Light filters through the leaves, printing patterns onto the tree trunks. Green moss splatters the bass of the tree. It's far away from the carpark, and the silence is sweet. The calming environment is a great place to think, and creativity flows.
We start to make our way back, our time running short. The finally sunny day puts us in a good mood, smiles decorating our faces. Dainty plants accentuate the path, nimbly reaching for warmth. We round a corner and a small Japanese garden takes our breath away. Bamboo shoots stand to the side, tall and sturdy. An ornate, weathered bench sits among beds of flowers. Vibrant pink petals coax, begging you to come closer. They confidently stand among their peers, too beautiful to touch. In the next box, small ivory flowers gingerly open up to the sun. Green leaves intertwine, contrasting against the bright white.
Our parent signals that it is time to leave and we reluctantly return to reality. The path back is a beautiful mess of plants and flowers, all vying for attention. The perfect exit from Te Puna Quarry Park.