A Long Drive, But A Great Week

A Long Drive, But A Great Week

This week we had 24 new friends join us all the way from Mahogany Rise Primary School in Frankston, along with four of their teachers. After a long bus journey taking up most of their Monday morning and early afternoon, they finally arrived in high spirits and soon settled in to the Cottage. After enjoying lunch on the deck overlooking the wonderful view that the Cottage has to offer, it was time to get the kids outdoors and exploring.

On we trekked to Point Lonsdale to battle the windy weather and watch the big wave’s crash up and over the pier before watching a pilot boat head out to sea and become lost amongst the treacherous rip. Tuesday morning involved the Cottage famous ‘shoe game,’ followed by a short stroll to the nearby Marine Discovery Centre. Here the kids had the opportunity to hold, touch and learn about all different types of sea creatures and helped to expand the children’s knowledge on protecting the local marine life that surrounds our waters, all the while preparing them for rock-pooling at Barwon Heads the following day. A two hour swim filled in the rest of the afternoon and tired out the kids for the evening.

Wednesday also involved getting in the water but this time they got to take the boogie-boards and later enjoyed a play in the park. Thursday mornings surfing session at Ocean Grove appeared to be the highlight of everyone’s week (including the Cottage Camp Leaders), as all the children and even their music teacher, Wilson, gave it their best go without ever giving up. In the afternoon everyone relaxed down at the Queenscliff Marina, watching the large stingrays glide through the water and some kids even managed to catch some shrimp amongst the seaweed.

By Friday everyone was well and truly exhausted from such a big week of non-stop fun and activities and both the children and staff were sad to say their final farewells before enduring the long bus ride home with many sleepy heads on board!