Introduction/Monday
Monday morning... What a
stupendous day for the
year 5’s from Reignier
School as we were heading
off to the amazing Camp
Kaitawa!!! We were all
looking forward to the big
hikes (Ngamoko),
challenges we had to
overcome, the awesome
cookout, slippery and
muddy caves and most of
all, hanging out with our
mates! I loved it on camp
and it was a fantastic life
experience for me and the
rest of the senior school.
Monday Continued
When we arrived at Camp Kaitawa
we got to choose which bed we
slept in and Mrs Baudinet told us
more about the campsite and where
the toilets, boundaries and fire exits
were. After that we went for a walk
to Lake Kaitawa, The Green Lake,
Surge Chamber and a very, very,
very, exhausting walk up the
pipeline. Finally all that came to an
end and we went back to camp so
we could have the best ever
spaghetti bolognaise for dinner.
Later on after dinner Richard came
from the Department Of
Conservation to talk to us about
nature. Afterwards we had desert,
supper, down time and then we
went to sleep.
Tuesday
On Tuesday we had our breakfast, did our
chores, got our day packs ready and then
we drove to the start of the Ngamoko track.
On the way to the top we stopped at a Rata
tree which was 800-1000 years old to have
our yummy morning tea. We also had a few
more stops so we could get fuelled up with
some sweets (Barley Sugars, Moro Bars
and scroggin) or so the other groups
behind us could catch up to us. An hour or
two later we got up to the top of the
mountain (1.05 km above sea level) so we
could have lunch. Later on we got to the
stage when we had to come down we had
a couple of injuries (sprain ankles, a
painful knee and one bleeding nose).
Finally we arrived back at camp after a
very tiring 7½ walk. So we had our
showers, dinner, supper, down time and
then we went to bed and that was the end
of day 2.
Wednesday
Wednesday had come. We had
our breakfast, the groups did
their chores (sigh), got our day
packs ready and took the cars to
the start of the Lake Waikareiti
track. We got to the about an
hour later and we had our lunch.
When we finished the track we
did the Papakorito Falls Loop
Track. Afterwards we had a
really fun obstacle course back
at camp then we had our
showers, dinner, supper, down
time and then we went to bed
which concluded day 3.
Thursday
On Thursday (the day I was really
looking forward to) we were going to go
caving (YAY!!!!). So we got dressed,
had our breakfast, did our chores, got
our day packs ready and drove to the
Onepoto Caves. When we got there Mrs
Baudinet told us more about the caves
and then we were off. It was very dirty
and slippery but that was the way I liked
it. We went through 8 dark and
challenging caves. After a while caving
came to an end
and we went to the
Redoubt so we could have lunch. After
lunch we had a great game of tackle
rugby with the parents while the girls
were making a human pyramid. Later on
we headed back to camp and had our
cookout. My group made very, very,
very yummy nachos. When we finished
eating we had our dessert then played a
game of Paper Scissors Rock,
meanwhile the parents had their dinner.
At the end of the fabulous day we had
showers (again), supper, down time and
then we went to bed and that was the
end of day 4.
Conclusion/Friday
On Friday morning we tidied up our dorms, had
breakfast and we went down next to the Kaitawa
power station to play two games which were
seaweed and stuck in the mud. Later on we went
back we went back up to camp, got in our car groups
and drove off to Wairoa. In Wairoa we had lunch next
to the river bank and then played on the playground
there. At the end of lunchtime the driver of the car I
was in, Byron’s Dad, went to the petrol station to get
some petrol and he also bought us some Paddle
Pops. When we arrived back in Napier I wanted to
stay on camp longer but sadly I couldn’t. I really
enjoyed my amazing time on camp and I would really
like another life experience like that again.