Here it is. The "dry weather, all going well" itinerary. Still working on the alternative one. Looking pretty good though...

Camp Itinerary

Day one 7am Departure from school Waipawa short break - brunch Lake Tutira-lunch stop 1pm Caving- Frasertown  4:30 pm Leave for  Mahia Arrive at Mahia : feed and unpack at Tuhauru Marae

Day two 7 am Breakfast 8 am Walk to lookout at Mokotahi Hill, local history of significance.?? Historians ?? 9:15 am  Te Mahia School for morning tea and powhiri. Mahia day as organised (TBC) 2:30 pm Marae for afternoon tea then Morere hot springs. 6:30 pm Dinner at the marae.

Day Three 7 am Breakfast 8 am Travel to Gisborne and onto the Arboretum 9:30 am Arboretum –orienteering / activities 11:30 am leave for Rere Falls Lunch and swimming 1:30 pm Leave falls 2:00 pm Gisborne for photo with Young Nick or Captain Cook (if still alive) 2:30 pm visit Whangara- Pa Road 3:30 pm Tologa Bay sort, unpack and feed.

Day Four –Tologa Bay 7am Breakfast Surfing school Fishing school Beach art school Hut building school Juniors to be independent with work Bonfire night Obstacle course competition Inter-house competition

Day Five 7 am breakfast 9 am Pack and leave Tologa 9:30 am Tokomaru Bay. Maybe have discussion with Maori elders. 10:30 am Morning tea 11:00 am Leave Tokomaru Bay Call in to Ruatoria for a look around. Lunch at Tikitiki then go to beach to look at old Waka from Whale Rider. 2:00 pm Leave Tikitiki for Te Araroa 2:30 pm Stop off at Te Araroa for toilet stop and break. 4:30 pm arrive Potaka 5:00 pm Powhiri Dinner

Day 6 7 am breakfast Leave as early as possible for rocky shore study and East Cape. Maybe split into junior and senior for rocky shore study: depending on suitability of rocky shore. Tides are against doing rocky shore during middle of day. All go to East Cape lighthouse and photo at the top. Arrive back at marae as time allows.

Day 7 7am Breakfast 9am Leave school Raukokori  Church for photo shoot 10am Te Kaha holiday park bay for short stretch and feed. 11:00am Oyster farm to feed stingrays. Morning tea. Arrive at Awakeri Hot Pools. Slideshow in the evening.

Day 8 7:00 am breakfast 9:30 am Leave Travel straight through to Taupo. McDonalds – Pre-order to ensure food is ready by the time the children arrive Parking near park and children can have lunch in the park. Stops as required on the return journey from Taupo 1:00 pm leave Taupo Phone tree for when we are heading back 4:00 pm back at school

Big meeting tonight with the staff and FINALLY have pretty much almost just about completely nailed the itinerary for our school "Road trip." We will get this posted tomorrow and then begin planning our alternative one for those days where the weather is horrible and a plan B (or C) is needed. Phew!

We had a wonderful night at Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River a few weeks ago with Matua Ash and his whanau. For many of our students (and parents) it was the very first time on a Marae. The overnight stay was part of our learning in preparation for the "Road trip."

OK...here we go.
About 25 sleeps until camp. Everyone is getting excited and learning lots about all of the places we will visit along the way. Whooohoo.