Earlier this month the group competed against 12 teams from around the country in the 2024 Hillary Challenge Final.
Touted as the toughest adventure race in New Zealand for year 11-13 students, the five-day event was held in the Tongariro National Park and had the students competing across mini-challenges, solo overnight tramping and navigating and a six-hour adventure race.
Although ultimately finishing in 11th place, Mackenzie College sports co-ordinator Kim Jordan said she was very proud of the team’s effort.
"As a team it was brilliant.
"They all worked well together and grew as a team while we were away.
"They all survived and they all got through the whole five days, so that was awesome.
"There was one guy there who’d been there every year for the last 20 but I think we now have that knowledge to go back each year."
She said six of the group of eight were eligible to compete next year.
"We’ve got to qualify again, which will be in April or May next year, but they know what it takes to get there now.
"They know the amount of effort they’ll have to put in to get back but all six of them do want to go back.
"We just will have to find two that’ll match up and add them in."
She said it was an amazing experience for both the students and the managers.
"Just even taking those kids over [on] the ferry and then travelling up the North Island.
"Half of them hadn’t even been to the North Island, so that was pretty cool.
"It was a whole nearly 10 days of being together and they still like each other, which is great.
"A lot was learnt, even by us if we take another team back.
"I’d like to go back again, it was pretty cool."
