Our time at Gnurad Gundidj has been amazing so far.

We have learnt a lot about being a team and meeting new people. On the first day, after the parents left, we pretty much had to make new friends because we didn’t have anyone to really go to. It was good though, as now we all have new and amazing friends.

With living and learning all in the same place with everyone all the time, it changes how you view and see things. It is a very different way of doing things, but we have all gotten used to it and I think most people actually enjoy it.

The first campus activity we had was surfing. It was nice to finally get off campus after being here for a few days and not seeing anyone else. Surfing was heaps of fun, even though it was freezing and some of us couldn’t feel our hands or feet. I think being in the cold added to the experience.

On the 22nd July, which was recharge day, there was a group of students that went out to the Redwoods and to Hopetoun Falls. It was an amazing place, and we are really glad we got the chance to go. The 29th of July was another recharge day, and we went to the 12 Apostles and the London Bridge. It was really nice because after being at the campus it is good to get out. It was good to meet and spend time with new people.

We also had a day where we went out and had to build a bridge for the whole expo group to stand/sit on. It was a good team bonding activity as it was one of the first expo group activities. Some of the more recent off-site activities would have been when we hiked around Mount Noorat, which is a dormant volcano.

This hike was to prepare us for our first expo. We had our first expo earlier this week on Monday and Tuesday. It was a 2-day hike along part of the Great Ocean Road Walk. We started at the 12 Apostles and walked to Wreck beach. It was really good, and I feel like as our expo group, we really bonded, as we all had some hard times while walking. It made us closer and really think and talk to everyone. Even though it was quite tough, everyone managed to get through and finish.

At the end, we were walking, and we didn’t know exactly where we finished but we all found the orange buses which motivated us so much more because we knew we were so close to the end. Some of the other activities that we have coming up are: canoeing, MTB riding, we have our second expo and at the end we have a treetops adventure.

Liam - My favourite experience at Gnurad Gundidj would be the hike because I learnt that teamwork and communication is important when working as a team.

Kady - My favourite experience at Gnurad Gundidj so far would have to be surfing or the 12 Apostles. Surfing because even though it was freezing, and I couldn't feel my hands or feet, it was my first time, and it was nice to try something new. The 12 Apostles also because I met new people, and it is nice to have more friends here and it was also good to get outside into the public.

Talisha - My favourite part of being here has been the friendships I have made and the people I have met. I have also enjoyed all the activities we have done. Some of my favourites have been the hike up Mount Sturgeon, going surfing, the redwoods which we did on recharge day and then expo 1 which was a 2-day hike along part of the Great Ocean Road Walk. Another activity that I have also enjoyed doing is going back to Mount Noorat for some community service. We put down tree guards. We did this to help with the 5-10-year plan to bring more trees back to there. We worked for about 4 hours doing this. We made and put down around 200 guards. It was heaps of fun though. We did it to help because on the 3rd of September they have a community planting day.