On Friday 4 June the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver groups went on an expedition to the Pinnacles. The Pinnacles, situated in the Coromandel, takes four hours in total to hike up. The mountain is 729m high.

Some students found the three hour tramp to the hut tough, but everyone was in complete awe at the top because of the atmosphere, the environment and the land. The view of the sunset and sunrise was stunning, with clouds dissipating in the morning. The natural structures of the cliffs and peaks were absolutely breath-taking. “The best golden hour” one could experience.

The view of the stars was also overwhelming. Every star was distinct, shining very brightly, especially compared to what you would see here from Tauranga.  You could even see shooting stars every now and then. A few people had slipped and ankles were rolled a plenty on the way down. Lesson learned - don’t wear sneakers when hiking. Choose your steps carefully and watch your footwork.

At the bottom, we had a briefing over what we thought of the trip. The most popular response was the feeling of accomplishment getting to summit the mountain. We could appreciate the nature around us, our friends, animals, the physical world, and being more active instead of relying on technology.