This particular night i was doing some work experience to help get some practical hours for my kayak leader award. So Richard from ‘The Boatshed kayaks” was kind enough to let me tag along and learn the ropes. It was a group of 24 they were the sea scouts club from Auckland so a mixture of adults and children. Most of the group were put in double kayaks. The guides in singles.
We headed off as the sun was setting around 6.30 pm. Before we left every one was given a life jacket and shown how to put it on and also a lession on how to hold the paddle the right way.
The leaders were myself Trent and Jack. Trent was the head leader and very knowledgeable and helpful young lad. He guided us down the stream for about 20 min before we stopped on the river bank and Jack and Trent lit the fire and then got all the food out.
It was quite luxious with cheese, crackers, wine, chocolate buscults and of course marsh mellows. We put the marshmellow’s bettween the chocolate biscults to make Smores (an american thing) very tastety. After this we rafted up into groups of 4-6 and floaated back with the tide gently pulling us, this was the magic part of the trip as we were surrounded by so many glow worms. It was like a magiacl land we were visiting with 100 of glow worms all around us. Here we discussed about the life of a glow worm ad they are actually maggots then they turn into nat flys that cant eat or poo so they all they can do is mate and make babies they then lay 150 eggs into groups of 10-15. The first glow worm that hatch eat there brothers and sisters so they can poo and this is what glows to attract food. Yes the poo glows so strange. The maori word for glow worm is Ti Ti Wai which means “reflextion on the water”. then we paddeled back for about 10 minutes back to base. The kayaks had light on the back which made it very safe. But to be honest as we were lucky as we had a half moon up above. I didnt even need to use my head torch much as the moon lit the way. Here is the link to the website if you wanted to do the trip http://www.theboatshed.net.nz i would highly reccomend it. The kayak itself is very easy and manageable by children and not strengous at all. This particular trip was very well run and well organised.