Welcome to New Zealand!
As part of MacKillop Catholic College’s extension into Year 11/12, we are excited to offer Senior students the opportunity to spend a week in New Zealand in Term 2 as part of the biannual Ski Trip. This year, the inaugural Ski Trip involved 39 students packing their bags and thermals as they departed for Queenstown, excited to hit the slopes!
Beginning at Coronet Peak, with a daily ski or snowboarding lesson to begin each day on the slopes, students did an amazing job as they navigated the tricky balancing act of staying upright and learning a new skill. Progressing from the learning areas, to the green, blue and for a brave few even red slopes! By the end of each day in the snow, students looked forward to some of the delicious meals on offer, including gourmet pizza and a burger from the world-famous Fergburger.
A rest day from skiing and snowboarding in the middle of the week, still had plenty of activities and fun on offer. Some of the group ventured out onto the water on a high-speed jet boat ride where the windy temperatures reached as low as -15 degrees! While those who remained on land had a leisurely stroll into the centre of Queenstown to explore the local shops and purchase their tourist keyrings and magnets for those waiting at home. Ending the rest day with a trip up the Skyline Gondola where 3 high-speed luge rides (and some competitive racing) awaited. Finishing the night with a beautiful buffet dinner, it was a wonderful day of rest before the group took to the slopes again!
In the second half of the trip, students explored the Remarkables, where they could really put their newly discovered skiing and snowboarding skills to the test. With plenty of slopes to choose from after their daily lesson, students thrived as they encouraged each other down the slippery, snowy mountain.
It was wonderful to see students willing to give every challenge thrown at them on the Ski Trip a go and braving the cold, wintery conditions with a smile on their face. Learning a new skill (particularly one where standing upright can prove to be challenging!) can be a daunting experience, but every member of the group showed immense resilience and positive relationships as they cheered each other on down the slopes.
A big thank you to all staff who contributed towards the success of this trip. We cannot wait to see what the 2027 Ski Trip has in store!
