10B Camp at Mt Aspiring

By Andrew Willmott | Posted: Wednesday November 26, 2025

10B travelled to the Otago Boys’ High School Lodge in the Matukituki Valley, the last group for the year.

Overcast conditions made for a comfortable walk in, and the boys quickly shifted gear into the lodge before enjoying some downtime at the creek, along with games of volleyball and table tennis.

Despite an average forecast for the following day, the morning began fine. Students completed a wood collect before splitting between rogaining and checking the lodge trap line as light drizzle moved in. Another enthusiastic round of creek swimming followed — cold, wet conditions did little to deter the keen.

That evening, the group took part in team-building activities, including human battleships and Scategories, helping to strengthen cooperation ahead of the upcoming overnight camp. The next day, the class tackled the popular Rob Roy Track, enjoying a shared lunch beneath the glacier (with more than a few corned beef sandwiches in circulation). A bracing dip at Wishbone Falls on the return was a true test of nerve.

Sunday and Monday brought clear, warm conditions, ideal for the challenging walk up the East Branch for the overnight camp-out. After a morning of preparing group equipment, packing personal gear, and learning how to pitch tents and use Trangias, 10B set out with full stomachs and growing confidence. Each group was self-sufficient, arriving at the campsite with plenty of daylight to pitch tents, collect firewood, swim, and try their hand at fishing. Although the fish weren’t biting, the boys cooked their evening meals and shared a fire until wood supplies ran out.

Pack-up the next morning was efficient, and the group returned to the lodge by lunchtime for hot showers and to begin the final clean-up. Conditions on the last day mirrored those of the walk in, and with an early bus arrival, the return to Dunedin was smooth.

The hope is that each student leaves camp better for the experience, carrying positive memories of the Matukituki Valley — perhaps inspiring a return as a senior student or even as an Old Boy.

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