Pureora Camp
Some of our student leaders recently had a fun camp at the Pureora Forest Lodge, nestled right next to some of the most amazing native forest in New Zealand. One of the highlights of the camp was a loop walk starting from the lodge. As we walked, we were surrounded by towering ancient trees and the sounds of native birds. We heard the distinct screeching of kākā and saw cheeky robins flitting around. Some of the parents were lucky enough to hear the call of the kōkako during an early morning walk – how amazing is that?
A short, but beautiful, bush walk took us to see Pouakani, the oldest known tōtara tree in Aotearoa. It is estimated to be 1800 years old. Imagine what this tree has seen in its life time! It was possibly already 1000 years old the first time it saw humans! Moa would have browsed around it and huia would have perched in its branches.
The tamariki had a blast exploring the forest, playing games and roasting marshmallows by the fire back at the lodge. After dinner, we went out for a sunset walk and saw pekapeka (bats) flitting amongst the trees on the edge of the ngahere (forest). Once it was dark, we ventured back into the forest and spotted the amazing critters that are hiding away during the day, but out in the safety of the darkness. Huge sheetweb spiders, glowworms, beautiful green orbweb spiders, and jumpy cave weta were some of the highlights for our tamariki.
The next day they also had the chance to learn about predator control efforts that help protect this pristine environment when we witnessed a pre-feed drop around the lodge. This aerial pest control plays an important part in keeping the forest thriving.
Another highlight was visiting the canopy tower. Getting a bird’s-eye view of the native ngahere (forest) was truly breathtaking and gave us a unique perspective on the beauty of this special place. The views from up there were definitely one of the highlights of our time at the camp! If you ever find yourself in the Pureora area, we highly recommend checking out the Pureora canopy tower. It’s an unforgettable experience for nature lovers of all ages.
The day finished with another loop around the Totara Walk and a swim in the waterhole by the Rimu Walk. It was a fun weekend for all of the students and the adults who came along.
