By Layla C

On Wednesday 2nd September we went to Quail Island, Camp had been cancelled so we went to Quail Island instead. 

I was kind of nervous at first, though it didn’t turn out that bad. Once the day had arrived we all waited outside the school gates for the bus to arrive. The bus had been running late so we had to wait longer. Once the bus HAD arrived we lined up and entered, I sat near the back. The bus ride took some time, but we eventually got there.

We were at the Lyttelton port, Whaea Jen talked to the people at the Black Cat Ferry.

We were given name tags then assigned to groups. Once you had your group you had to follow them out to this yellow line. After a bit we entered the ferry, there were multiple stories on the ferry.

We ate once we got on, and after a bit, we went out to the front deck. There was a dense cold breeze which made me kind of cold but I could live. We went up to the top story afterwards it was the same cold breeze, though the top story was cool and you got a nice view.

Once we had arrived at Quail Island, most of the class climbed up onto some rocks up against a hill. Everyone got called down not long after, we started walking along a path behind Whaea Jen. The path led to a quarantine zone which we entered, there were creaky floorboards and the walls looked as if they’d been through the world war. Everyone looked around the place, there were pictures, maps etc.

Once everyone had left the quarantine zone almost everyone went down to the beach below (when I say almost everyone I mean that I didn’t feel like picking up crabs).

People were picking up shells, crabs stuff like that, soon everyone got called back and continued along the path. I stayed near the back, I’d rather be near the back than at the front.

After uphill, downhill and lots of walking, everyone stopped to eat.

Where they chose to eat was RIGHT next to a gravestone, appropriate choice mind you I ate as well, I was hungry ok?! Anyways.

Once everyone had finished eating we continued along the path.

As I said I was near the back so by the time we reached the shipwrecks the others were already heading back. Oh.. did tell you there were shipwrecks? Well, there were shipwrecks.

I spotted about 5 of the shipwrecks when we got there. I looked for a bit admiring the shipwrecks and then also started to walk back. After repeating the walk back we had lunch at the quarantine zone with the beach.

Most people that had finished their lunch went back onto the beach, whilst others were still eating their lunch or doing something else.

After a bit we all sat down in front of Whaea Jen on the grass, we got called up by our groups and got a mini-chocolate bar. Once you were back with your groups you had to walk back to the dock and waited for the ferry.

Once the ferry had arrived we all hopped on and repeated the ride as we went back.

Once we had arrived back at the port we went with our groups to the bus which had been waiting.

I’m not going to detail the bus ride because all I really did was stare out the window quietly. Once we had arrived back to school we hopped off and waited against the school gates and either waited for their parents to pick them up early or wait until school ended.

Once I had been picked up the journey had ended though.

It was awesome.