Tuahu Track, Kaimai-Mamaku Forest

Our Level 2 Geography students set off on a research field trip into the Kaimai Manaku forest. It was a 12km return tramp along the Tuahu Track to meet the North/South track.

We were fortunate to get a good weather day, and with dry days leading up to the tramp, the conditions were good. We saw some evidence of Cyclone Gabrielle’s damage but nothing to stop us from progressing.

Fieldwork is an essential component of Geography - seeing the environments that students are studying and collecting their data is a requirement in our standards and creates authentic learning. Students are currently working on a research project where they need to explain the spatial variations in the Kaimai Mamaku forest. While in the field, students worked in groups to collect physical geography data for two sites, including soil samples, quadrats, transects, and weather observations, as well as taking many photos. Back in class, they are presenting their findings and working to explain any differences.

It was a great day out and an opportunity for students to see native forests as they followed the contours to the top of the Kaimai range. The tramp was some students’ first experience of being out in the bush but hopefully not their last!