By Cailin, Sienna, Marli, Oscar, Matt and Ollie (Orewa College)

Before the sun was up on a Wednesday morning, seven of us embarked on an unforgettable experience over the Easter break to conquer Great Barrier Island for our Gold Qualifying Journey for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

From navigating the steep descents of old Kauri Tramline Track to scaling hundreds of stairs to reach the summit of Mt Hobson, our journey was filled with adventure. Exploring windy canyons and stumbling upon hidden gems like watering holes and old whaling boats added to the experience, while hitchhiking with locals provided an unexpected thrill.

Mt Heale; Photo:  Leksa Platts-Mills

We were eventually able to stop after days in the bush for a proper meal at a cafe, which offered a much-needed break and a welcome taste of civilization. It was a highlight for us all. At the end of each long day of walking, we would gather to set up camp, play cards, and enjoy our meals together before settling in and preparing for the next challenging day.

Though this was the case, it wasn’t all smooth sailing and we each faced personal and interpersonal challenges. Spending so much time together tested our patience and communication skills. Living in close quarters and facing the journey’s demands with people we rarely see outside of school required us to come together as a team to complete the task at hand. Through the challenging moments we found ourselves up against, we definitely learnt a lot about one another and came away from the experience with a deeper bond.

Day One: We found ourselves packed and leaving home at 4am to catch our ferry across the vast deep blue sea, where we landed at 1pm in Port Fitzroy. From here, we walked to our first campsite, Akapoua, and set up our tents. The next morning we woke up at 6am, ready for our biggest incline to the Mt Heale Hut. We arrived at 11:30am, underestimating how long the second day’s walk would take. Finishing off Day Two with a beautiful sunset, we snuggled into our sleeping bags inside the hut and fell asleep quickly.

Sunset at Mt Heale; Photo:  Leksa Platts-Mills

Day Three began at 9am after a relaxing sleep in and we continued past Mt Heale and on to the Mt Hobson summit, which we reached at 10:30am. From here, we climbed down until we reached the windy canyon, following it as it led us to the road. After hitting the road, we walked down for what seemed like forever until we reached our destination, the Harataonga Campsite, at 3pm. We explored the campsite, walking on the beach and enjoying the last hours of sunlight before we slept in our tents for the second night.

The next morning we woke up early in order to walk up the long road we had just previously walked down before we made it to the Tramline Track. This track was extremely steep and took us up extremely high and frighteningly down low, to where we finally reached the Kaitoke Hot Pools at lunch time. After eating and experiencing the warmth of the hot pools, we climbed back up and followed the rest of the Tramline Track to Green Campsite.

Mt Hobson; Photo:  Leksa Platts-Mills

With one last day left, we woke up with energy the next morning and walked on a smaller track without our packs to warm us up. Once packed, we left Green and tracked up a road to where a generous local picked up not one, not two, but all seven of us, letting us hitchhike a kilometer. After thanking him, we continued on our way to Claris, where we took a pit stop at a local restaurant called My Fat Puku. As soon as our bellies were full with our first real meal in days, we walked until we reached Medlands Campsite, where we set up our tents and enjoyed the warm sun and water on the beach.

Our last morning was early, as we explored more of the beach and packed up. While awaiting our van to take us to Tryphena Port, we played our last game of cards. We boarded the ferry at 1:00pm and made it back home at 6:00pm.

Day 4:  Tramline Track; Photo:  Leksa Platts-Mills

As a group, we decided collectively that this tramp was one of the most enjoyable due to factors such as the amazing scenery we experienced along the trip. We climbed up many treacherous tracks, each with their own challenges, but the view at the top never failed to surprise us. The sunsets, beaches, waterfalls and valleys were all so rewarding and will be remembered in our memories for many years to come.

The bonds that we were able to build over our mutual love for this scenery was a great way for us to become closer together as a group, enabling us to have a blast for the remaining days we had together. Our journey to Great Barrier Island wasn’t just about completing a hike and getting through the long days of walking – it was about pushing our limits, working as a team, and making memories that will stay with us forever. As we took those final steps, we knew that we had not only conquered the island but also taken another step towards completing our Gold award. 

To sum up this trip into a few short sentences is not an easy task, given so many enjoyable experiences happening along the way that will last us a lifetime. Both as individuals and as a group, we learnt lessons and faced tasks that bonded us closer together, as well as enabled each one of us to push ourselves out of our comfort zones and test our abilities to help us grow into better people.

This trip has been such an amazing experience that would not have been possible without the help and support from each other, our families and the generosity of the Federated Mountains Club (FMC).

We’re delighted to share another trip report from recent recipients of FMC’s Youth Award Grant. These grants are awarded four times a year, so if you’re inspired to get some financial support, head over to FMC’s website to apply.