A major focus of the trip away was to strengthen the bonds in the year group and to take a break from the pressures of senior school.

This excursion managed to achieve this and more.

The first major stop comprised of a short trek followed by an optional 10m cliff jump into water.

It was pleasing to see that everyone was supportive of each other and no-one was pressured into partaking in activities that made them feel uncomfortable. This was a trend for the whole excursion.

The next activity was a 40 minute hike, with different students leading the walk, strengthening leadership skills in the students and trust between them.

The walk was not deemed as easy but was not difficult enough to seem impossible. The final destination was well worth the walk; a small [water body] barely touched by civilisation. It was an exceptional experience to see such natural beauty in a secret spot so far off the beaten track.

The camping experience was welcoming. Not too easy to seem like the group were basically at home, but not too strenuous to give those inexperienced campers a hard time.

Students had to work together to organise and cook the meals as well as the cleaning afterwards, further building relationships and trust between them.

Throughout the night there were many activities to partake in, including talking and games around the campfire.

A major lesson of the camping was how  waste can be drastically reduced. There was more waste produced by the group from a single sitting of fast food, then the whole camping experience.

To conclude the trip, the group spent a full day at Wet’n’Wild, Sydney.

Students had free reign to spend the day how they pleased; going on as many rides as they wished, or just spending it basking in the sun.

It was a spectacular experience and the students would recommend future cohorts participate.