Advertising Omaka

Omaka 

 

Located on the outskirts of Christchurch lies a hidden gem. Omaka Scout Camp. As beautiful as the grounds are, and all the added features, it's a wonder that it's not a well known holiday spot. A remarkable place for both rustic camps and glamorous weddings, Omaka is a versatile place anyone would want to spend a holiday at.

The camp as a whole is wonderfully simple, nothing too flashy jumping out for attention. This allows for you to enjoy the natural environment that has been created, a serene surrounding anybody hoping to relax would love. Omaka is the perfect place to go if you want to take a step back and enjoy nature at its finest. The land available to you is filled with lush grass and even a secret hideout or two.

However, if you're interested in a more lively vacation, Omaka accommodates that too. There's plenty of space to get active, the ground offering you options such as a flying fox or even an obstacle course. Both amazing choices that only scrape the surface of what's available. The spacious land is divided by a stream that only adds to the personality of the camp. While it gives you the opportunity to enjoy water based activities, animal lovers can instead make friends with Omaka’s pets. The eels.

If the quiet nature of camp isn't what you're in the mood for then the city of Christchurch is only a few minutes drive. The distance is only one of the best factors, because Christchurch itself has plenty to offer. All the way from The Christchurch Tram to the art spread throughout the city, it's guaranteed to have something for everybody. If the town life isn't for you then a less then five minute walk away lies a lake, suitable for everybody and can provide entertainment for hours.

So after my sales pitch, and the highest recommendation that I can offer, I hope you realize that Omaka is as good as it can get for a holiday you'll remember. Where else could you find a gorgeous stream with wildlife and enough space for everyone to get their own share? If you're looking for your next holiday destination I hope you choose Omaka Scout Camp.

Travel- Christchurch

Christchurch is filled with many amazing opportunities, something I learnt recently. From parks you could spend all day in, to a unique way to travel through the city. Seeing as there are so many great places to visit that not many people would think to go to, I’ve decided to share my experience in hope of giving others ideas for an enjoyable trip into the city.

While planning our day we needed to find a form of transport, walking from point A to B would be tiring if we were to do it throughout the whole day. We then found the Christchurch Tram, a way to move through the the city I highly recommend. With seventeen different stops to get on and off at, the tram makes getting around Christchurch simple. Add on the interesting information given to you by the tram driver during the ride, the Tram is the best option.

 

Now you have a form of transportation you need somewhere to go. The first place I went to happens to also have been my favorite. The museum is a hard place to miss when considering going to Christchurch, but most of my group was unaware of the amazing exhibition inside. If you ever get some spare time, you need to go to the Air New Zealand 75yr exhibit. With a variety of interactive activities this is the best way to go. My personal highlight was definitely the virtual reality I took part in, which everyone should try.

 

The new addition to Christchurch, The Margaret Mahy Playground will definitely have caught your eye if you went for a day out. So instead of selling you this park which should already be on your agenda, I will instead give you a few tips about what you must do. The water section is great for kids, so long as you don’t mind them getting wet. The twisting slide that draws your attention first, gets a bit cramped near the top when you’re getting up. The slide down is well worth it though.

After such tiring activities you’re going to need a break for lunch. If the proud advertising surrounding

the shipping container mall settled near the middle of the city didn’t draw you in, then the promise of food should. The mall offers you plenty of choices on both the food and shopping front, though located next to the Cozy Cafe is a set of signs that I wouldn’t advise thinking about for too long.

Now if you plan to head to Christchurch there is a very tiny chance that you haven’t heard about the earthquakes. While devastating natural occurrences, they have proven to be an intriguing subject many have wanted to learn more about. If you happen to be someone who does wish to know more, Quake City is definitely something you should check out. With a spot to make your own earthquake, video footage to examine and a section to build your own house from Lego, they have something for everyone.

I came across too much on my day in Christchurch to out into this, but having shared with you some must see places I hope it inspires you to take another look at the city. It’s evolving every day and new things to see just keep popping up. So I hope if you make a trip through this ever expanding place you find it as enjoyable as I have.

Mt Grey

I finally did my mountain! With the help of my mom and Mr B I walked to the top of  Mt Grey.  The way up was slippery, not ideal climbing conditions at all. However, I much preferred it down there once we arrived at the top. There was so much wind and no shelter. To make matters worse the top wasn't as close as we thought it'd be once we came out of the trees. After a grueling trudge to the actual top we waited for a bit, snacking on some food. We then found a road down, a much nicer way compared to the sloped path that twisted, no surface to really grip to. We ate lunch, then began our trek down. We finally arrived back to the car at 4 PM. The trip was fun, don't get me wrong, climbing up mountains isn't at all my strong suit.

Pink Walk

This year I decided to do the Pink Walk once again, and it was just as fun as last year. I raised, with the help of my mom, $383. It was a great cause to be walking for and I'm glad I did it. I walked alongside Zoe and Piper for a small section near the start but I lost them in the crowd while going to get a drink of water. I hope I'll be able to participate in it next year.

Here's a photo of us before the walk.

Hockey

For my hobby in the 2016 WPCA I chose Hockey, and I'm extremely glad I did. I enjoyed participating in Summer hockey alongside with the club hockey I did in Winter. Apparently, I did a great job because at the end of winter hockey we held a prizegiving. Turns out that I'm the most improved player.

Kayaking

On the 9th of November all of the Yr 8's, including myself, went all the way to Christchurch for kayaking. I was placed in a group that I would remain with for the rest of the day. The day moved quickly, with us all trying to steer our kayaks properly and ending up bumping into others anyway. During one of our activities we had to stand up in our kayak, it turns out that I have terrible balance because as soon as I tried I promptly fell into the water. Though, I redeemed myself later in the day by successfully standing up. It was at the end of the day when my favourite part occurred, Jack and Eb had decided that pushing a kayak down the bank, while in it, would be great fun. After failing in a few of their first attempts I was called to help. I proceeded to spend the majority of the time left pushing other people in kayaks, though I did get a turn myself.

Overall, I had a blast kayaking and now it's safe to say I've finished all my WPCA Activities.