Year 12 Geography students from Timaru Girls’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School recently travelled to Aoraki Mt Cook Village for a day trip in lieu of a two day overnight trip that was cancelled in Term 1 due to Covi-19.

On the 6th of August, ten Girls' High girls along with boys from Boys’ High went to Aoraki Mt Cook to gather information for our upcoming internal and external NCEA assessments. The purpose was to gather specific information about the natural environment and the interacting natural processes that form the South Island High Country. We were also interested in learning about how the environment has changed over the years. The first place we visited was the DOC centre where we did a scavenger hunt to find specific evidence that we could put in our exams and use for an upcoming internal assessment. The scavenger hunt gave us vital evidence and provided us with substantial knowledge. We then went on a walk to the Tasman Lake to see the Tasman Glacier and analysed how it has receded throughout the years. We also had a look at the U shaped valley that was created by the Tasman glacier that stretched all the way to Lake Pukaki as well as lateral and terminal moraines. Our final stop of the day was to a kettle hole near Lake Pukaki, which I don’t think anyone had ever heard of before. After a long walk through paddocks, we reached the kettle hole which is a big hole in the ground created by a large chunk of ice that has been left there and melted. Overall the trip was very enjoyable and a bit tiring. But it did give us the opportunity to gather excellent information for external and internal assessments. Many thanks to Mrs Martin for organising the trip for us and we would all happily do it again, but maybe next time on a slightly warmer day.

Madison Secoy 12 Geography