Arcadia Australia

“We’re going to Kakadu”. Those were the words that sold me on becoming a staff member for the Environmental Ethics trip. It was a five-week expedition across the North and South Island of New Zealand followed by three days in Sydney, ten days in North Queensland and the final week in Kakadu, Northern Territory. We had 30 students, which was the biggest group Arcadia has ever had.

The students arrived in Auckland and we eagerly got to know each other over excursions and lectures at the university before beginning our road trip south to Rotorua. My favourite moments: taking a dip in the natural hot springs when the temperature was down to single digits outside and hiking around a volcanic lake!

One special moment that really set the tone for the trip was our student Jenna’s talk on “Sense of Place”. What do those words conjure in your mind when you hear them? When you think of where you belong what does it mean to you and how do you feel? Where are you? What is in your environment? Who do you associate and relate to within that place? What is the history of the land and the peoples that have been there before? What can you describe about the plants, animals, people and history? It was incredibly thought provoking and the students reflected on what the place that feels like “theirs” really means to them, their culture, their environment and the people they surround themselves with. It made them think more critically about the places they were visiting and the “sense of place” of the people who lived there. So what does it mean to you?

The kayaking/hiking trip through the Abel Tasman National Park in the South Island did not disappoint. We were gifted with glorious weather, crystal clear waters, the smell of the occasional seal and not a cloud in sight – at least for the first day. The kayak guides even put us through a round of paddle games on the beach after a picnic lunch – where a good percentage of us thought that our faces should become better acquainted with the sand. There’s nothing like a good face-plant to rattle the cobwebs from your brain.

The hardier of us camped out on the beach beside the river and hiked out to the summit to watch the moonrise. There’s nothing quite like practising cartwheels on a deserted beach! It rang true to Professor Stewart’s motto of “frolicking with gay abandon” to feel the joy in life just for the sake of experiencing the magic. It’s also nice to come home to dinner by the campfire, too. There were a few of us who ventured beyond and discovered the glow worm caves. Such happy creatures – but how could you not be when the sun shines out your bum!

Our hike back was a little wet but although the rain saturated our clothes, packs, anything it could reach, it never dampened our spirits and much singing and dancing was performed before heading back into town for hot showers.  In the morning we flew to Christchurch to explore the Antarctic centre and listen to talk on glaciology at the university.  Next stop: Mount Cook!