Education Outside the Classroom Camps at Aoraki, Mount Cook.

By Will Kirk | Posted: Tuesday November 14, 2023

Over the past two weeks 68 students, four teachers and eight parents attended the Mount Cook camps.

We travelled to Tekapo on our first day and embarked on the Mount John Observatory walk, home to the country's biggest telescope. Lunch was enjoyed back down the bottom in Tekapo township. It was exciting to settle into our home for the next week, Glentanner. The facilities were awesome and the view of Mount Cook and the lake made our early mornings much more enjoyable.

Day two began a hike that wound up the Hooker Valley, past alpine streams and glaciers in the shadow of Aoraki, Mount Cook. Following this we went to a predator workshop with the Department of Conservation. We were introduced to a range of predators and learnt about the impact they have on the wildlife and environment of Aoraki. Our DOC guide taught us about the variety of traps used in the National Park and even let us place two tracking tunnels amongst the bush.

First up for day three we attended a search and rescue workshop - an essential service in the National Park. This taught us the different roles required to save mountaineers on the Southern Alps. Glacier boating on the Tasman Glacier Lake was a highlight for many. The tour allowed us to explore and learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape, looking at icebergs that have torn away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake. One of the most interesting things we got to see was the lateral moraines which were up to 200m, reminding us how much the lake has changed over time.

Thursday was a huge day cycling 25km along the “Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail” from the Tekapo Power Station into Twizel. The scenery along the lake and through the Pukaki flats was outstanding. This is one activity we recommend doing if you are given the chance. Finally, we headed home on Friday via the Tekapo Hot Springs.

Thank you so much to our wonderful parent helpers across our two camps; Megan, Kelly, Kim, Lynda, Shane and Keith, we could not have done the trip without your help. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!! 

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