On Tuesday 27th February the Year 11 PE class headed down to Otaki Forks, the gateway into the Tararua Ranges. The students had their overnight packs on their backs, full of clothes, food, water, cooking gear and sleeping bags.
Into the ranges we went. The walk involved a steep climb 900m above sea level. The class worked amazingly together as a group, supporting and encouraging each other. By 5.30 we had arrived at Field Hut, one of the first purpose-built tramping huts in the country and the oldest surviving recreational hut in the Tararua Ranges. While we cooked our dinner on our gas cookers the rain settled in. It was soon bedtime and we all got a ‘great’ sleep on our thin mattresses.
On Wednesday morning we packed up the hut and walked out again.
For most of the class, this was the first time they had experienced this type of trip. Students really enjoyed the challenge and experienced some of New Zealand’s great bush.
Olivia Korte, PE teacher