Term 4 was filled with many highlights. The Term started with the camp to Rotorua for the Intermediate team.
Below is a Recount written by Taine Wilcox.
Rotorua Experience
Day 1:
A hot summer’s day. Sitting in the boiling spew infested bus. Hungry and tired we all just wanted to get to Rotorua. After a few hours we finally reached Rotorua, we all scrambled out of the bus for fresh air. But there was more smell to come. The smell of Rotorua lingered through the air. We all raced to our cabins to grabbed the bed that we wanted. We all got to explore camp Keswick. Mark (the camp owner) told us all the boundaries and rules of Keswick. We then unpacked all of our gear and got settled into Rotorua. at about 5 o’clock, Mr Lobban called everyone who wanted to got for a swim in and then we all went to Lake Rotorua, it was just across the road. it was warm because there were natural springs coming from underneath the sand. Everyone who was game enough went out a long way because the lake was real shallow. After a while boundaries were called because people were going out and out and out. Mr Lobban then called us in to go back to the camp. We had showers and got ready for dinner. Dinner was delicious. We then had to do our camp diaries so that we could look back at them when we’re doing our camp recounts. We then had supper and went to bed
Day 2:
We all woke up from a night’s sleep, had a wash and had a scrumptious brekky. We had the normal breakfast cereals, toast, porridge and milo. We had time to make a hand picked roll. We then got ready to go into Rotorua’s town. We split into two groups, the big bus and the small bus. The big bus went on the duck tour which is a tour of Rotorua’s most famous lakes in an amphibious vehicle. We were all given quakers which, are like Kazoo’s. We first went to the Blue Lake it was interesting because it was really naturalistic. We bobbed around the blue lake for a while before heading to the green lake. The driver told us a myth about the lake and how it got it’s name Taputiki. We then drove back to the city and our group went shopping while the other group went for their adventure on the duck.
We ended the day by going to the Aquatic center where we were all in need of a swim after the sweltering sun had been beating down on us.
Day 3:
We woke up to the sun streaming in the cabins and to find that we were going to one of Rotorua’s most visited places the Luge and Gondola’s. Full of anticipation and anxiety we headed up the Gondola. We all had to start on the beginners track. We picked it up straight away but Mrs Gotz was too fast and she caught us and passed us. She had been their before! I had done my first ever luge and my brain was buzzing. We went again and again until we were out of rides.
Next on the agenda for the day was the Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park. At the park their were Kiwi’s that we could not see and other native animals, like ugly but colourful trout. I felt like getting a fishing rod and dropping in a line but of course I couldn’t because they are protected and there for the tourists to see.
We had time to kill before heading back to camp so we made a detour down to the lake front where their was an opportunity to go on the paddle boats but most just played on the playground.
Day 4:
Today was the day we had our cultural experience. We had a few hiccups getting their because our bus had broken down and we were cramped into a small bus but, like all good fairytales their was a happy ending. Another bus came to our rescue half way down the road. At Te Puia we experienced a Powhiri and a performance that was marketed towards the tourists. I think we could have done a better job but of course we didn’t get a chance!. We were shown around the geysers, carving house and we got to see some real life Kiwi’s.
Our next activity for the day was the Museum the highlight there was a simulation of the volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera.
Day 5:
Today was the day we headed for home! We packed and cleaned the cabins and then back on the humid bus for our long ride home. My highlights of the trip was the luge and my awesome group that knew how to hunt for a bargain. Thank you to all the parents and teachers for allowing us this awesome experience.
