December 08

Here are just a few photos taken around the school during events we had on in early December. There was a Spanish dinner one evening, which we asked all the students to dress up for, and there are also some shots here from a Maori Cultural Activity that is brand new to our activity program.

Windsurfing, 5th Nov

These 2 photos show first learning on the simulator on land, and then just how it is done out on the water.

Candle Making Nov 5th

Students with Lutz in his studio in the Bush

3rd Nov 2008. Kauri Trees

Activities this week has included a walk in to the Kauri Trees on the 309 Road. Here are some photos from that activitiy.





After seeing the Kauris we often visit the Waiau Waterfalls

The Pinnacles Walk. 18th Oct

Last weekend, Sandy from the office, took a group 11 people for an overnight hike up to the Pinnacles Hut. This is a very well known Coromandel walk that involves some challenging uphill sections. Virtually every step from the car park to the Hut is a step up!! But it is all worthwhile because the views up there are absolutely spectacular. There was a great mix of New Zealanders and overseas students on the trip and everyone had a great time.

These photos show the people who took part and also some of the wonderful terrain they hiked through.

Wednesday Morning

Each Wednesday morning between 11:00 and 12:00 there is a "whole of school" activity that all students take part in. It is often singing, but sometimes drama, games or other things are tried. This week, Kathy, one of our office staff took a Line Dancing class.
It looked like everyone was having a great time. Here are some photos from this morning.

First Surf Course

These 2 photos are the brave students who have just completed the first surf course of this summer. There will be several more courses run as the summer continues.

Recent Photos

Ultimate Challenge on Friday Sept 19th.
These shots show Ahmed, Men and Jose on the high climbing wall.

Driving Creek Railway

This is a very popular tourist attraction situated about 45 minutes away from Whitianga at the historic town of Coromandel. This amazing little narrow gauge railway windes up through the bush clad hillside overlooking the coast. The train, the tracks, the bridges and tunnels were all built on site by the dedicated team of enthusiasts who run the place. It is owned by a well known potter Barry Brickell who started building the railway in 1975 to bring clay for his pottery and timber for the kiln, down off the hill. He began to take people for rides to supplement the income of his property and now in the summer up to 500 people a day take the trip to the top station which is called the "Eyefull Tower"

Target Shooting

Real shooting. Real shot guns. What we do is clay target shooting or what is sometimes called skeet shooting. This is another one of those activities that people normally get to try for the frist time when they are here at COLC. The 'clay' disc-like targets are fired out of a machine and they fly through the air presenting moving targets for the shooters to try to hit. The targets can fly towards you or away from you, and from high up or low down. There are lots of different skills needed to succeed at this sport.

Golf

Don't let anybody tell you that learning to play golf is easy. But it is fun. This activity gives everybody an opportunity to try out a game that can be challenging and frustrating. It is a popular activity, normally full of laughter, and most students agree it was harder to do than they thought. The Mercury Bay Golf and Country Club is close to the school and provides excellent facilities for us to enjoy our golfing experience.

Arabecue

Every Wednesday we have “Open Night” at school. This week our Saudi students prepared a great BBQ for all the students. They bought the food from the local butcher and supermarket, and spent several hours in the kitchen at school making salads and several delicious Saudi dishes. They had to learn to use a gas barbecue, and they were very successful.

Other students looked surprised to see the Saudi men working in the kitchen, but when the dinner was presented, everyone enjoyed it very much. After dinner they danced and partied for a couple of hours.

High Zone

This is an exciting high ropes confidence course situated just a short distance from Whitianga. The students face a range of challenges, and all of them are at least 12 metres up in the air. Experienced operators and safety harnesses make this a perfectly safe activity but one that will always strike a little fear into everyone, and a lot of fear into some. The tasks aren't too difficult, but sometimes finding the courage to "just do it" is.

Waiau Water Works

This is a cool place!! It is over on the western side of the peninsula, near Coromandel Town. It is an area of native bush and gardens with a small river running through it. It has been developed into a sort of park, great for family outings and picnics. There are lots of fun things to to for kids and adults alike, and lots of amazing and interesting 'water driven' sculptures and activities.
We often have a BBQ or a picnic there, and there is a great swimming hole in the river. In the summer most of the students that I take there end up getting wet!!

Beach Walks

There are so many beautiful beaches within a short drive of Whitianga. So naturally visiting these beaches forms a large part of our activity program, especially in the summer time. Here is a selection of photos from just some of the best places, can you guess which beaches these photos were taken at?

The Ultimate Challenge

This is a great activity that always pushes someone in the group just a little further than they thought they could go.
We travel to Pauanui which is almost an hour away. That makes it one of the longest trips we do for regular activities..
The Ultimate Challenge is often used for corporate 'Team Building' and is set right in and around some big pine trees. The obstacle course and climbing ropes take you to a platform high up in the trees, and from there to the finish is a 250 meter long 'flying fox'. Lots of fun, and everyone can do it.... if you are brave enough.