Written by South Pacific Students, Stella K. and Asa P.
Post Hart Farm, we got back on the road and headed to Tangariro National Park for a waterfall hike, mini golf, and a wide view of Mount Doom. Next up: Raglan! We found our way to the maraes to learn about the Maori culture and immerse ourselves in a new lifestyle, making new friends along the way all the while. With hikes through sacred land, new language learning, and historical lessons, we have experienced bountiful new things and look forward to learning more.
What have been the three highlights of the week?
Through an incredible week, we were able to have a Halloween celebration that included a scavenger hunt and the chance to dress up as fellow group members. We hiked to a beautiful waterfall in Tongariro National Park where we stopped and ate lunch over looking the amazing views of rolling mountains and the largest waterfall that I’ve ever seen. We also had an amazing lesson over traditional Māori instruments where we tried playing them without any direction or previous knowledge about them. After we tried, and mostly failed, we were shown the correct ways to play them and the beautiful sounds that they could make. We then sat down and made our own instruments out of clay, which was difficult but very fun!
Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?
Our group had to move locations multiple times this week. From Hart Farm to Tongariro National Park, where we had an amazing 2-day stay, and then from Tongariro to Raglan where we changed accommodations 4 times. These transitions were mostly smooth except for our move from Tongariro to Raglan. On our drive we had a flat tire that delayed our arrival by nearly an hour. Luckily though we pulled over in a very beautiful spot, so the wait wasn’t that bad. The worst part of constantly moving was the fact that we were never able to fully settle and get comfortable in any particular place, however it was nice being able to see and learn the amount that we did in this short time!
How has the group been doing?
The group is incredibly close and views each other as a little family. Wether it’s cooking together, exploring, or just sharing laughs, there’s never a dull moment with the SoPac squad.
What’s happening next week?
Up next with SoPac we have our first taste of student directed travel on our way to the South Island of New Zealand! We are all excited to put our travel knowledge to the test and take charge on our first excursion planned and led by the group.
