Rakiura Outdoor Challenge 2022

Pretty hard to beat this years experience. Great kids, great helpers and fantastic weather! Read the student reflections to find out more.

Going to Stewart Island was so much fun, I have made amazing memories as well as new friends. Everyone was so relaxed and calm the whole time and we had time to just have a look around in our free time. An experience I would recommend to anyone who would want to enjoy the beauties of Rakiura. -Ali

I really enjoyed Stewart Island and I would definitely recommend it to other students! It was an experience of a lifetime and one I will remember forever. It was a really fun camp and definitely the best I have been to - getting to stay in a predator free zone was a real highlight for me.

We got to do lots of things that some of us had never done before, like fishing and kiwi finding! We got to try new foods such as paua and catch and eat our own blue cod! .It was a great way to get to know other students and make new friends as well as challenge us out of our comfort zones.

I definitely want to go back to Stewart Island again! Thank you Mr Scoles and Mr Lousley I am so grateful that you gave me this opportunity. -Grace 

I highly recommend this trip.

It was an incredible experience and I feel so lucky to have been able to go to such a beautiful place filled with equally beautiful Flora and Fauna.I saw Kiwi, caught Blue Cod, fed Kākā and so much more.I loved every minute of this amazing trip. (even the wet and damp ones!) -Iris

Rakiura 2022 was probably one of the funnest weeks I’ve had in my life. Every single activity we did was amazing. I made so many new friends, and made lots of memories. My favourite part was either fishing, or jumping off the wharf into the FREEZING water. I learned a lot about the history of Stewart Island, and stuff about native animals. I even saw 2 kiwi in the wild! If you love being outdoors and doing lots of action packed activities, then the Rakiura trip is for you.-Isla

I loved the Stewart Island 2022 trip, it was a beautiful week at Rakiura. We had amazing weather down there It was really nice to make new friends with people I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for the trip. My favourite thing from the Stewart Island trip was seeing 3 kiwi in the wild. I would definitely recommend this trip to people who love seeing nature at its finest. I would love to go back to Stewart Island again.-Marlon

Where do I get started? It was the best trip ever. Every single activity was amazing the greatest week ever my favourite part was jumping off the wharf in my clothes. I knew I wasn’t good at fishing but Mr Scoles took Iris and I out on the mini boat and I caught three blue cod and one trumpeter fish and on the big boat I caught a big blue cod.The tramp was amazing with beautiful views I would absolutely go again and if you get the opportunity to go take it. 

Thank you Mr Lousley, Mr Scoles, Vanessa, Gus and Simon. -Paige

Not only was the trip to Stewart Island (Rakiura) amazing, but it also gave me a chance to hang out with new people, make some more friends, look for kiwis and just have a great time. It was also an amazing chance to be in a predator free sanctuary and even feed kaka from out of your hands. I have lots of good stories to tell and memories that I will always treasure. The trip was out of this world! -Ariana  

Stewart Island was better than I ever imagined, as we hopped off the boat it felt amazing. We all had so much fun and I think that if we got the opportunity to go again we would all go. I am very grateful for Mr Lousley and Mr Scoles for giving me this opportunity. My favourite part was catching eight blue cod. -Charlie

It's hard to choose one thing I liked the best about Stewart Island as the whole trip was one of the best experiences I have had. If I were to choose though, the things I enjoyed the most were getting to see kiwi walking right next to my feet and being able to catch a blue cod, as it was the first fish I had ever caught in the ocean. Jumping off the wharf was also one of my favourite moments even though the water was freezing. Stewart Island is an amazing place and it was definitely the best school trip I have ever been on, and I would gladly do it again. -Ella 

Rakiura is the best experience I’ve ever had at Tahuna. The trip is full of new experiences that you will remember your whole life. Kiwi spotting, fishing charters, and more, how good! Every moment is worth it. Many kids our age would never have the opportunity to go on the trip. So if you're lucky enough to go, make the most of it. -Ethan 

Stewart Island was a once in a lifetime experience. Some of my favourite parts of the trip included: Spotting kiwi. We went kiwi spotting and we were out for about 15 minutes when we spotted a small kiwi just walking around the track. Something I'll never forget. I also loved Ulva Island! We were sitting down on the beach and two, very confident, weka came sprinting over trying to steal our food! They were roaming around us like they were scared of nothing! The taste of fresh blue cod and paua makes my mouth water thinking of it! We were so lucky to get a taste of true kiwi kai. This trip was unforgettable and we were especially so lucky to have astonishing weather! -Hannah

As soon as I stepped foot on Stewart Island, I knew that I was going to absolutely love it.

After a long car ride that started at 5am, we finally got to Bluff. Then we boarded the ferry and arrived at Stewart Island around 10.30. On Monday it was super warm, so we jumped off the wharf and went fishing - the water was super FREEZING! Tuesday was the Tramp. Wednesday was fishing - and I caught my first fish! Thursday, we were down at the beach and we had a ‘Creative Comp’ and I made a Donut. Friday was our last day so we boarded the ferry and got back to school at about 8:10. My favourite part was catching my first fish and seeing a KIWI! - Emily

The 2022 Stewart Island trip was a completely different experience. It had fishing, nature and adventures; What else could you want? I definitely recommend this trip for basically everyone.
I loved this trip. It's a great way to make friends and awesome memories. If I had to pick a favourite thing it would have to be the fishing trip because eating the delicious fish that we cooked was super rewarding. This trip is worth every cent and I would totally do it all over again if I could. - Cooper