[vc_row row_height_percent=”65″ back_image=”4956″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”192687″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_color=”color-584830″ overlay_alpha=”80″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” text_size=”fontsize-321034″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117045″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]One of the most interesting trips I have ever had in my life[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h4″ text_size=”h4″ uncode_shortcode_id=”130997″]Author: Gabrielle Yan (Year 5/6), Summerland School

Date: 15/06/23[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”134740″]Tiritiri Matangi was one of the most interesting trips I have ever had in my life. The ferry ride was great, amazingly clean to say the least. The first bird we saw was a bellbird, which had the voice of our school bell, which was very familiar as we have been hearing it for years. Along the way we saw many fantails and bellbirds, so many that they didn’t seem all that rare anymore.

We heard a tūī singing near the feeding area, which had been surrounded by all sorts of birds. On the ground lay lots of skeleton leaves which were pretty much transparent with skeletons that looked very much like fibre.

Our guide, Bob, showed us a tracking tunnel with laminated pictures of predators’ footprints. While we were taking a rest on a wooden bench, we spotted the biggest New Zealand pigeon ever, perched on top of a very large Nikau.

On the way to the lighthouse, we made a wish while touching NZ’s oldest rock (80 million years old) and looking at the youngest (Rangitoto). Right before leaving the forest, we had a finger puppet hunt. The finger puppets were in the shape of native birds and other creatures, which was the most adorable thing ever.

After we left the forest, we saw around 3 takahē, which was chasing after the keeper who was feeding the birds (because he had food with him). The takahē were running at an insane speed, despite the fact that they are only about 30cm tall.

After lunch, we went to the gift shop (I would highly recommend you to go there). Last, but not least, we visited the lighthouse, which was one of the best places on the island.

I really hope to be a guide there when I grow up.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”155460″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shadow=”xs” width=”1/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”181790″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”169089″][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”382822″][vc_single_image media=”4957″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”four-three” alignment=”right” advanced=”yes” media_overlay_opacity=”50″ media_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”110942″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”194832″][vc_single_image media=”4959″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”four-three” uncode_shortcode_id=”103729″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-849512″ text_size=”h6″ uncode_shortcode_id=”826208″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Photo credit: Liz Maire[/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”950661″]Just a few of the students’ many thoughts:

“The trip was the best I’ve ever been on and I got to see all the amazing birds. I would like to be a guide there one day.”

“We now have an idea of what Aotearoa might have been like before human civilisation.”

“You can see birds and other species you might not get a chance to see on the mainland.”

“I love that I just didn’t learn about the bird species but also could see them and hear them in reality – not in a video like Youtube.”

“We are so grateful we got to go to Tiritiri Matangi and my family is hoping to go there one day so we can more birdlife and hopefully kiwi, ruru and tuatara at night.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”2″ bottom_padding=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”2″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”2″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shadow=”xs” width=”1/3″][vc_icon icon_image=”4024″ icon_color=”color-584830″ media_size=”60″ css_animation=”alpha-anim” title=”School Visits” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz%2Fschool-visits%2F|||” uncode_shortcode_id=”160163″ icon_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Bring your students to Tiritiri Matangi[/vc_icon][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”2″][vc_button button_color=”accent” size=”btn-sm” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz%2Fschool-visits%2F|||”]Visit[/vc_button][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”2″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shadow=”xs” width=”1/3″][vc_icon icon_image=”4025″ icon_color=”color-584830″ media_size=”60″ css_animation=”alpha-anim” title=”Growing Minds Programme” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz%2Fgrowing-minds%2F|title:Growing%20Minds||” uncode_shortcode_id=”896261″ icon_color_type=”uncode-palette”]If your school has an EQI of 430+ you may be eligible for our Growing Minds funding[/vc_icon][vc_button button_color=”accent” size=”btn-sm” border_width=”0″ link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz%2Fgrowing-minds%2F|title:Growing%20Minds||”]Visit[/vc_button][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”2″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shadow=”xs” width=”1/3″][vc_icon icon_image=”4039″ icon_color=”color-584830″ media_size=”57″ title=”School Science Awards”]Nominate your eco-champion[/vc_icon][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”0″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”2″][vc_button button_color=”accent” size=”btn-sm” border_width=”0″ link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiritirimatangi.org.nz%2Ftiritiri-primary-school-conservation-award%2F|||”]Visit[/vc_button][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]