Duke of Edinburgh Silver Practice Expedition for College Students

In the early morning on Friday 19 April, 70 students and nine staff embarked on the Great Barrier Island ferry for a three day tramping and camping adventure as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award practice expedition.

The practice journey is in preparation for the Silver Award held later in the year and allows the students to further develop an awareness of the outdoors and undertake ventures into different and more challenging wilderness environments.

Even though the weather had been changeable the week before leaving, the weather became fine and settled and we had a smooth ferry crossing across to the Island, our home for the next two nights.

In perfect tramping weather, the students made their way along the coast cliffs to the Heratonga campsite which is located only a short walk from the beach. A late arrival, combined with the end of daylight saving, saw many groups pitching their tents as darkness descended.

The groups were up bright and early again for day two and by 8.00am they had set off on a longer day tramp. This walk took them down Windy Canyon and then up to the summit of Mt Hobson and down again to Whangaparapara Bay. Most groups had arrived at our next campsite, the Medlands, by 4.30pm and had settled under amazing weather, allowing time for most to go for an evening swim.

The third and final day consisted of a short tramp up from the Medlands campsite to the top of Rosalie Bay Road, where they were picked up and taken down to Tryphena Bay for a restful lunch break before it was time to catch the ferry back to Auckland.

This was a very successful practice expedition before we take up the challenge of the real thing!

A big thank you to all of the staff who gave up the start of their holidays to join us on this expedition. Mr Tucker, Mr Nobel, Mr Duncan, Mr Wolken, Mrs Cusens, Ms Sword, and Mr Lee.

Tabitha Leonard