Have you ever been to Hanmer Springs before? Well, the year 7/8s got to go there for school camp. On the 3rd of March we set off to go to Hanmer Springs for school camp, when we got there we unpacked and got settled in for a little bit. The cabins were quite nice, I mean – they were better than other camps I’ve been on. The cabins included 5 beds, two bunk beds and one double bed, It also had a mirror and hooks for bags.
Once we were settled we went on this big walk on the dog stream trail up to a big waterfall walk. It was really hot and the walk was quite uphill so it was very tiring, but I think it was very fun because of all the nature around and Ima big outdoorsy kinda person. We’d done the dog’s stream and we were going on the big waterfall walk and we’d been walking for maybe about 30 – 60 minutes when Mr Gray came and said we all had to turn around because the walk was taking longer than he expected.
After the walk we got changed into our togs and headed off to the Hanmer Hot pools! First we had a quick brief on the map and the pools, then we got free. I went to the big family pool to play with my friends for a bit. We went into the cave with a waterfall in front. We started messing around and playing for a bit, when I decided we should go in the lazy river. The lazy river was very fun because we played tag and swam and swam in circles!
The next day we did some orienteering in the forest, and we had to find some cylinder-like thingies that were hanging from trees with two numbers and two letters on them. We had to find them using a map of the forest. When we found them we had to write them down and the person with the most points won. We started walking down the main road and found one straight away! We walked all around the forest and maybe got lost once or twice, when we heard people screaming. We ran towards the noises and found two of my friends screaming because they were lost from their group. We walked with them for a while until we found their group. In total we found ten cylinder thingies and came second!
After, room nine went tree climbing while room ten went mountain biking. We moved around to the back of the cabins and there were two trees, one small one for less confident people, and a big giant one for more confident people. I got picked to be the demonstrator for the first little tree, and you got harnessed, then clipped onto the tree. There are also three other people who are making sure you go up and come down safely. I got all the way up to the top of the less confident tree and squeaked a horn that sounded like a dog toy. Once I had finished my demo, one gotta go on both of the trees, I went straight to the big one that’s for more confident people to give it a go. Once I was harnessed I had to go up a big ladder then go onto the side of the tree that I was climbing,
then I started climbing. I was really high up, taller than a two story building maybe and I was trying to keep my cool as I climbed higher and higher. Finally, I reached the top and honked the dog toy horn. I was so proud of myself for doing that, it was really fun and I’d definitely do it again.
Later that night we did a talent show! Brenna, Leah and Mackenzie did some dad jokes, Kiara, Zara, Leisha and Despina did a small skit, and Farrah and I did our hip hop dance but with our own twist.
Once we woke up we had to pack because we were leaving later that day. I packed all my clothes except for some spare clothes for after mountain biking if I got muddy. I wore shorts under some track-pants and a t-shirt under my jacket. We biked all around the forest where we did the orienteering and it was SO MUDDY!! My favourite trail that we went on was the crocodiles trail, it was so bumpy, slippery, it had many twists and turns, it was wide and then it was narrow. It was just really fun! When we got back we made sandwiches to eat at Culverdon on the way back. After an hour and a half of driving we reached Culverdon where we played on the playground and ate our sandwiches. I ate half of my sandwich then played so I could eat the other half on the way home.
Once we got back to school it was home time, so my Nana came to pick me up. It was really fun, it was one of the best school camping trips by far.
What is your favourite part about Hanmer Springs?