Belle and Meg, Year 12 students from Palmerston North Girls’ High, shared their inspiring journey aboard the Spirit of Adventure – a 10-day youth development voyage made possible by the Milson Rotary Club’s sponsorship.
From pre-dawn watches and jellyfish swims to cliff hikes and leading the ship themselves, the experience challenged and changed them in unforgettable ways.
Their story is full of leadership, teamwork, and laughter – all sparked by one incredible opportunity.
👉 Read the full report here
Belle and Meg, Year 12 students at Palmerston North Girls’ High School, opened their talk by thanking the Rotary Club for sponsoring their place on the Spirit of Adventure – a 10-day youth development voyage aboard a tall ship. The programme, run by the Spirit of Adventure Trust, focuses on leadership, teamwork, and personal growth for young New Zealanders.
They provided some background on the Trust’s origins, which were founded in the 1970s by Lou Fisher, who believed that taking young people out to sea could create powerful personal transformation. His vision, carried on by his son Stephen, helped grow the Trust into one of NZ’s leading youth development organisations. The girls explained that their school’s Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award encouraged them to seek out meaningful challenges, and the Spirit voyage was a perfect fit. They shared the ship’s structure, including its crew, daily routines, and terminology like “colours” (a morning briefing) and “specials” (dish duty). Their enthusiasm was clear: what might have seemed like chores or night watches became part of a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience they felt deeply grateful to be part of.
Belle & Meg’s week on the ‘Spirit of Adventure’ Days 1–2 began with nerves and excitement as trainees boarded the Spirit of Adventure and met their crewmates. Initial bonding activities helped break the ice, and the first night watch, running from 3:00 AM for Belle! —quickly introduced them to the ship’s routines. The first full day began with morning swims, sailing practice, and team bonding games, such as “speed dating.” A highlight was climbing the ship’s rigging for panoramic views and an unforgettable sunset swim.
By Day 3, the group was more confident, sailing through rough weather in heavy rain. Leadership exercises involved building a “Spirit” out of a potato, revealing different leadership styles in action. After a delicious pesto pasta lunch, the plan to raft ashore was cancelled—replaced by a surprise 300-metre ocean swim. Unfortunately, the water was filled with stinging jellyfish, but everyone returned to the ship safely, and a vinegar rinse eased the discomfort.
Day 4 was calmer. The crew rafted to shore, walked to an abandoned airstrip, and played games like seaweed rugby. Later, back on board, a surprise rope swing sparked excitement—until a shout of “shark!” paused the fun (thankfully, a false alarm). The day ended with dinner on deck and a beautiful sunset.
Over the next few days, the group explored Great Barrier Island, swam in a freshwater pool, and faced physical challenges such as cliff jumping and climbing the mast. A significant accomplishment was the full-day summit hike of the Great Barrier, which involved over 1,000 stairs and eight hours of trekking. That evening’s blueberry cheesecake was a well-earned reward. Excitement peaked during “Training Day,” when the trainees took complete control of the ship, managing sails, navigation, and cooking without crew assistance. Despite a storm earlier in the voyage, this final full day brought perfect weather and smooth sailing to Motuora Island. Rope swings, swims, and laughter carried them into a reflective final evening, where a slideshow captured memories and strong friendships.
In their final reflections, the girls thanked our Rotary Club for this opportunity. They described the voyage as life-changing. It taught them resilience, leadership, teamwork, and how to live without technology.