Canoe the Whanganui - Year 10 Camp

Day One

We met at 7.00am before our long drive up to Whakahoro. Arriving at 2.00pm, where we meet our guides; Jackson, Matt, Gregor, and Phil.

We canoed for one and half hours to our first site, Mangapapa where we did cliff jumping and even got Mr. James to jump off the highest cliff point. This was followed by a burger and potato salad dinner, and ice cream for dessert. Later that night, some of us played poker with lollies, uno, and snap.

Day Two

We were told to be awake at 7.00am with our tents down and gear ready to go. Our breakfast fuel was pancakes and bacon.

For lunch, we had burgers at Ohaura. During this time, Ethan and Leroy's canoe decided that it was done with the stop and started floating down the river, causing quite a frenzy. The guides took off in hot pursuit to rescue the canoe.

During the next part of our trip, we had some good laughs and stopped at a spring/waterfall where we refilled our water barrels and took some glorious photos.

At our next hut, we had terrible weather, so most people played cards and hid in their tents. After we had dinner, consisting of chicken and pasta, we played NFL, passing the ball over the camp site and aiming at targets. We noticed one tent facing down a steep slope towards the bottom of the campsite. Not the smartest move.

Day Three

Up again by 7.00am before sausages and toast for breakfast.

After a couple of hours of paddling and negotiating rapids, we had lunch at the river opposite the Bridge to Nowhere. We watched as Jack lost his paddle downstream. At this point, the guides had Jack, Ethan and Leroy perform punishment tasks for various forms of insubordination, running to a log and back while singing, “I'm a little princess.”

We stopped at the Bridge to Nowhere and learned some cool facts.

When we got back to the Marae, we played some games before later being served nachos and cake. 

Day Four

The next day we had a relaxed start at 8.00am. We had some cool stops, such as a trek to a waterfall where we survived on a seriously good scroggin mix. The walk there and back provided plenty of laughs as people slipped their way over mossy rocks and slippery clay.

For lunch we had to first kayak then walk our boats up a small river to a bank 200+ meters up stream, where while we eat lunch we would ride float downstream from the top of the beach.

When we finally got to the next stop, we set up our tents. Our arms and backs were tired from the longest day paddling on the river.

Before we had curry and lamingtons for dinner, we had some fun riddles such as ‘Through the Green Glass Door,’ ‘Black Magic,’ and ‘Rice, Rice, Rice,’ the one that confused us the most, as well as a game of hacky sack.  

Day Five

Before the next morning’s paddling began, I played a trick on Phil, placing pumice on his tent and canoe. This began a mini war between Phil and me.

As we disembarked, Phil figured out it was me and placed a bounty on my head of four chocolate cookies for whoever could sink me. Constant attacks ensued and with it, a lot of fun.

When we arrived at Pipiriki, I thanked Phil for the trip and gave him some more pumice.

After we cleaned the canoes and tidied up, we performed the school haka to Phil and the guides as a thank you for the trip.  We then started the tedious bus ride back to Palmy. 

Jacob Dawber