Talk about ending the HASS Tour with a bang!

We started the day with our last buffet breakfast of the trip, which meant that we were nourished and fuelled, ready for a big last day! We took a quick drive towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge, before getting off the coach because we were going to walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge! We were lucky that the bridge was not busy and we were able to thoroughly enjoy the view of the harbour.

After our scenic walk and some morning tea, we began our journey to Taronga Zoo. Here, students were self-guided and able to go to whichever exhibit(s) their hearts desired. Many students were immediately drawn to the capybaras, tigers, giraffes, and more AKA the gift shop.

Following our visit to Taronga Zoo, we made sure to stop at Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction for some beautiful views, yummy food, and lots of window shopping (especially after spending money at Taronga Zoo’s gift shop).

Sam Jackson took a keen interest in the variety of animals at Taronga Zoo: “The Taronga Zoo was very cool. Taronga Zoo is so much bigger than Perth Zoo. It was so big and we needed maps to navigate our way around. There was so much to do and see, and it was home to so many interesting animals like dingos, snapping turtles, and giraffes.”

Sophia Baynam was a huge fan of the live shows at Taronga Zoo: “Visiting Taronga Zoo was a unique and amazing experience where we saw multiple exhibits. This included exhibits with animals that are not at Perth Zoo, like the fennec fox, capybara, and squirrel monkeys. We were even lucky enough to watch a seal show, where the seals did flips, caught items, and did a series of dives.”

Aarya Shah thought Taronga Zoo was the highlight of the HASS Tour: “Taronga Zoo was so much fun! It had great views of Sydney Harbour, and the variety of animals was impressive. The walk around the zoo kept us active and meant that we were constantly seeing and experiencing something new. Every exhibit meant that we were revelling in the cuteness of the animals.”

Ella-Jade Petch basked in the sun at Bondi Beach: “Bondi Beach was full of activity, with surfers and swimmers in the water and tourists photographing the beach. The weather was warm, the ocean was stunning, and the waves were perfect for surfing. Some of us managed to get photos with the famous Bondi lifeguards, which they were super excited about. The beach was so pretty and full of energy. It was such a great opportunity to see one of the most famous Aussie tourist destinations, and we all enjoyed the time spent there.”

Ruhi Patel breathed in the salty air of Bondi Beach: “When we went to Bondi Beach, I had a really fun experience. I got to meet a real Bondi lifeguard, which was exciting, and I even took a photo with him and a couple of friends! The weather was nice, and the beach looked amazing. It was a great day and something I’ll definitely remember.”

Lisya Lee enjoyed some window shopping at Bondi Junction after visiting Bondi Beach: “As a fan of Bondi Rescue, I desperately wanted to take a photo with the lifeguards, but the ones from TV weren’t there. I walked along with beach with Heena and we took lots of photos of the water and the lifeguard tower. The beach was really popular and there were lots of people there. We looked around Bondi Junction and bought a drink from Starbucks which was overhyped.”

Thank you, and we will see you all very soon!

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

What a spectacular day our Year 9 students had exploring Sydney! The morning kicked off with a delicious buffet breakfast, giving everyone plenty of energy for the big day ahead.

After marvelling at the views from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, we headed to the iconic Sydney Opera House for a fascinating guided tour, discovering hidden secrets and stories behind its world-famous sails.

Next, everyone climbed aboard a Captain Cook Cruise, gliding around Circular Quay and soaking up breathtaking sights of the Harbour Bridge and city skyline from the water. The weather was beautiful and sunny, setting the mood for the rest of the day. The adventure continued at the Sydney Maritime Museum, where students explored historic vessels, including a submarine and a destroyer, and learned about Australia’s rich maritime history.

In the afternoon, there was time for a lively wander through Paddy’s Markets, with students hunting for souvenirs and tasty treats. The day finished on a delicious note with pizza for dinner, followed by an evening stroll through Sydney’s streets in search of dessert. A fantastic day filled with memories, learning and plenty of fun!

Eight girls and three boys fondly recalled today’s adventures.

Isla Ewers was excited about the buffet breakfast: “The buffet breakfast was absolutely delicious with a variety of foods from hot to cold. The fruit was fresh and sweet, and the hot food was cooked to perfection. There was even a coffee machine! This was the best breakfast yet, and I’m excited for breakfast tomorrow.”

Ezekiel Jones was fascinated by the sights of Sydney: “I enjoyed the walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens. The scenery was very peaceful and provided some nice photo opportunities. We went past New South Wales’ Parliament House and took in the Sydney Hospital built by convicts.”

Ivy Leach also loved the scenic views of today: “We took lots of photos near Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. It was really busy in the city, and there were lots of people – it was all very fast-paced. I enjoyed having the chance to walk around and really soak everything in, and have an opportunity to look at some stores for souvenirs.”

Georgia Faul was in her element in the heart of the city: “Mrs Macquarie’s chair was very interesting to see, as well as the history behind it. The sight of Sydney Harbour is an incredible view, and seeing the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge up close during the day was very beautiful.”

Rahni Ingram’s face was aglow during the tour of the Sydney Opera House: “The Opera House was the thing I was looking forward to the most on this tour, and it did not disappoint. Our guide was lovely and she showed us around with enthusiasm, peppered with interesting facts about the architecture and history of the Sydney Opera House. I enjoyed the stories about the orchestras and the rogue animals that frequented their orchestra pit before a safety net was installed.”

Chiara Burrows felt inspired by the tour of the Sydney Opera House: “The Sydney Opera House was an amazing sight in Sydney. The tour started with us learning about the history behind the architecture of the building, before we walked around the beautiful hallways until we reached the Concert Hall, which was really impressive. My favourite part was seeing the Opera performers rehearse for Carmen.”

Zane Osborne got a chance to take many photos whilst on the Captain Cook Cruise: “This cruise gave us an opportunity to see the city from different angles and different perspectives. I liked that the boat wasn’t going too fast and we were able to look at famous landmarks, such as Fort Denison. I thought the experience was very fun, and I would definitely do it again.”

Alexander Webster basked in the sun whilst we cruised along Sydney Harbour: “The Captain Cook Cruise was a great experience with lots of amazing places and iconic buildings, such as Admiralty House, to see while we were there. We went past a lot of significant areas in Sydney Harbour, such as Lunar Park, Sydney Opera House, and we even went under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and saw people climbing it! It was very cool.”

Ella Froster was taken back in time by the Maritime Museum: “Today, we got a chance to put ourselves in the shoes of many of the crew of the Onslo Submarine. We were able to explore and look at the Onslo Submarine, imagining ourselves squished into the tiny beds on the submarine and walking through the loud engine room that had sound effects. It really put into perspective the day to day lives of the people in the Navy, and what difficulties they went through.”

Marlie Ame breathed in the nautical history from the Maritime Museum: “I loved exploring the exhibits on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ traditions, ocean exploration, and naval history of Australia, including our involvement in World War One and World War Two. Boarding the naval submarine and the destroyer to see what the living conditions of the crew was like, was a truly amazing experience.”

Sienna Patel explored three different vessels before stopping off at the gift-shop: “We went on two different boats – the destroyer HMAS Vampire and the Captain Cook replica. The boats were nice and I liked looking at them and how different they were to each other. The submarine was also cool but it was very cramped and smelled a bit odd. The helicopter on the roof of the destroyer was very cool and I liked how you could go to different levels and parts of each boat and the submarine.”

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

Apologies for the late posting of the blog – we had a very busy evening!

Most of today was spent on the coach, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t make time for some retail therapy before we headed to Sydney! As soon as we entered the Canberra Centre, some students made an immediate beeline for Sephora, Mecca, LEGO store and various bookstores and probably spent a bit too much money.

Once we were back on the road, we encountered a little bit of traffic which meant that we had to entertain ourselves with movie trivia and a series of weird and wacky questions to tide us over.

Entering Sydney and checking into our hotel was a nice reprieve from sitting on the bus. We had a chance to settle in before heading out to a fantastic dinner. Our staff loved seeing all the kids chat and laugh together, admiring how close they’ve all come together to form a little (or not so little) family despite being from different campuses.

We ended our night with a sweet treat and a walk along Sydney Harbour to see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge at night, before making our way to Hyde Park.

Six girls from Ms James’ group had a lot to say about our busy travel day.

Sofia Burger enjoyed stretching her legs after a long time on the bus: “When we stopped at Canberra Centre, I was a bit confused because I thought the drive to Sydney would be longer, and then I realised that we were still in Canberra. I was very excited to stretch my legs and see if any of the stores were different to what we have at home. We stopped in our groups for lunch, and then split up into smaller groups for our separate interests.”

Alani Perry had a blast at the Canberra Centre during our pit stop to Sydney: “Today, on our way to Sydney, we got to stop at Canberra Centre to do some shopping! As well as getting lunch, we explored the LEGO shop, clothing shops, and QBD book store. I spent a bit too much money at QBD, where l purchased two box book sets on my To Be Read List for $80. Mum, Dad, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry but I couldn’t help myself.”

Sophia Charly loved having a hearty dinner after a long day of travel: “We went to a burgers and ribs restaurant in the heart of Sydney! The food was delicious and our plates were left empty. I really enjoyed the view and sitting with my friends. The restaurant played some cool music and I liked how we got to sit in booths. It felt cosy.”

Frieda Williams dug into dinner and chatted away with her friends: “We had our own private section at the burger joint that overlooked both the impeccable Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Sydney Opera House. The burgers were well cooked and made for an incredible meal. But they almost ran out of sprite, because it was the most popular soft drink.”

Yuvreet Gill was mesmerised by the city: “The walk around Sydney was really nice after dinner. We saw the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time and it was amazing. Our walk back to the hotel was very calming, and we saw some squirrels in a tree.”

Zoya Khapra loved seeing the beautiful skyline of Sydney: “After we left the restaurant, we walked over to the pier where we could see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Both were mesmerising. All the teachers were taking lots of photos, and Ms Moore got a group photo of my friends and I. There was lots of laughter. After that, we all got dessert.”

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

After a lesson on the slopes, and being kitted out in snow gear, we definitely looked the part today! The occasional face-plant, cold face, and glare from the sun didn’t stop us from tearing up the snow. We took it all in stride and everybody had an attempt at skiing, with some natural-born skiers in our midst.

The drive to Perisher was a beautiful scenic drive. As the altitude increased, the amount of snow peppered on the trees and ground also increased and students were very excited to take photos from the coach windows. We had a brief snowball fight and built some snowmen before it was onto the serious stuff!

Students were organised into small groups for a ninety-minute ski lesson with an expert from Perisher, with each student getting an opportunity to look like a newborn deer (except those who had skied before). A ski lesson beforehand meant that we felt comfortable and confident beginning our day. Before students got a chance to tear up the slopes, we all gathered for lunch and made sure we were sorted into buddy groups to keep everybody safe and to make sure nobody got lost.

Although the tour is far from over, we know some students will claim today was the highlight of the tour. Today, six students from Ms Glacken’s group fondly looked back on their day:

Despite having a knee injury that flares up, Mia Lee gave it her best shot on the slopes: “Skiing in the snowy mountains was so different from the dry, sunny landscapes we have in Perth. The snow was absolutely magical, and taking a ski lesson really helped all of us get the hang of things. Today was a mix of falling over, laughing, and slowly gaining confidence with each run. Definitely a day to remember.”

Heena Daya thoroughly enjoyed her time today: “I thought today was fabulous. I had the most amazing time. The scenery was beautiful, and the snow was in really good condition which made it perfect for skiing and snowboarding. This was my first time skiing and it was so much fun, that I would definitely ski again.”

Amy James shared her highlights of the day: “Our trip to Smiggins Holes to ski was absolutely freezing, but it was worth it. The snow was everywhere and we had to be so careful when walking in the snow, so we didn’t slip. Mr Langley was very supportive and funny. We had a snowball fight and we absolutely destroyed him in a snowball fight. I definitely want to ski again.”

Maria Anohkin, who’s been skiing since she was young, quickly found her rhythm: “Today’s experience was very enjoyable and entertaining. The ski instructor was very knowledgeable and with their help, it felt like riding a bike. The snow was a lot better than expected and I enjoyed the more difficult terrain, with a variety of different slopes and runs.”

Sienna Ashton reminisced: “I enjoyed skiing down the slopes and going on the jay lifts. I got a great view of the mountains when I was on the jay lifts. I liked how our instructor split us into two big groups and let us have snowball fights. I liked throwing snowballs and how competitive the snowball fights were. I also liked the magic carpet area of the slopes.”

Charlotte Shaw reflected on her first-ever skiing experience: “I really liked going skiing today, especially because I had never been skiing before. I liked going up on the chairlift. It was really fun to make a snowman but it took forever. I liked hanging out with all my friends and spending time with other students, both from Duncraig and Carramar.”

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

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What a day it’s been!

This morning kicked off at full speed as we packed our bags and hit the road for Jindabyne, ready to gear up for our big snow adventure tomorrow. With everyone bustling around and the energy high, there wasn’t a quiet moment — just lots of excited chatter and last-minute suitcase zipping!

Breakfast gave us the fuel we needed — fresh fruit and fluffy pancakes were just what we needed before a jam-packed day exploring the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the National Capital Exhibition, and finally arriving in Jindabyne. We were able to try on some snow gear and getting all kitted out for the snow, with our own boots, gloves, coats and pants! We even managed to squeeze in a fun and competitive HASS Tour quiz tonight, testing our knowledge of the places we’ve visited so far!

Today, six students from Mr Osborne’s group had lots to share about their day:

Olivia Hanson was fascinated by the AIS: “I enjoyed viewing the arena and all the different sporting facilities, especially the netball and basketball courts. I thought the AlS was really cool and I like how it gives young Australians many opportunities to pursue their sport. It was also very interesting seeing some athletes train whilst touring the AIS and seeing what they are capable of.”

Vishy Dutta also thought the AIS tour was a great experience: “I liked the combat centre because I’m interested in combat sports and I’m glad that the government is giving this area of the AIS more funding. I liked the fact that I was walking past trophies, medals and ribbons that have been won by champions, and how I got to walk the same halls that some sporting legends have walked.”

Imogen Dever loved seeing the AIS up close — and visiting the gift shop: “It was really interesting to see professional athletes train right in front of us, and see the spaces that they train in everyday. The most interesting thing about the AIS was that long-distance runners live in high altitude and train in normal altitude to support their training. It sounded super intense! I also liked the swimming pool because it has cool features, like a mirror in the water to help synchronised swimmers practice.”

Lochlan Smoker had a great time at the National Capital Exhibition: “I thought that the miniature replicas of Canberra was very cool. I liked how we got split into groups and got to plan our own ideal city. I thought it was a very informative tour, but it could have been longer.”

Rylan Maher also had some thoughts about the National Capital Exhibition: I enjoyed being able to design my own city – it reminded me of a HASS assignment in Year 8 where we had to create our own sustainable city. Learning about Canberra’s history and why it’s called Canberra and not ‘Unison’ or ‘Shakespeare’ was very interesting.”

Imogen Stephens enjoyed some fantastic team bonding in her day group for the quiz night: “The quiz really tested our knowledge and what we have learnt so far while on our tours. It’s a good activity for us to get to know our groups better, especially because some of us are from Duncraig, and some are from Carramar. There were 56 questions but we went through them so quickly!”

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

Students standing around a miniature replica of Canberra.

Students standing around a miniature replica of Canberra.

Students standing around a miniature replica of Canberra.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students standing around a miniature replica of Canberra.

Students standing around a miniature replica of Canberra.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Students planning their ideal city.

Gymnastics Arena in the AIS.

Students outside the AIS.

The Basketball Courts at the AIS.

Students participating in the Quiz Night.

Students participating in the Quiz Night.

Students participating in the Quiz Night.

Students participating in the Quiz Night.

Students participating in the Quiz Night.

Photos from the airport. Sorry for the delay!

Photos from the airport. Sorry for the delay!

What a whirlwind of a day! Our Year 9’s are smiling, chatting non-stop, but also secretly dreaming of their pillows after an epic adventure around Canberra. We’ve explored historic buildings, marvelled at incredible art, stood in quiet reflection, and even battled it out in laser tag. We’re exhausted in the best possible way — and can’t wait for more tomorrow!

We kicked off the day with a big breakfast to fuel us up, then headed straight to Old Parliament House. Walking through the old building and learning about Australia’s political past was fascinating. We focused on the role of the media in democracy and how important it is to be able to identify misinformation in the media.

Next, we stopped by the High Court of Australia and admired how grand it looked, and we even got to stop at the National Library of Australia, before making our way to the National Portrait Gallery. Everyone loved the various pieces of art – it was amazing to see such talent captured and put on display.

Lunch was a very welcome break, with tasty wraps and juice boxes giving us the energy for our next stop: the Australian War Memorial. It was a special and moving experience for many of us, taking in the stories of sacrifice and courage, and pausing quietly at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The students were especially respectful during this moment and us staff couldn’t have been prouder of them.

Then we were off to the National Museum of Australia, where there were so many interactive exhibits and cool artefacts that we could have stayed for hours (if only we’d had the energy!). Similar to yesterday, some students spent a bit of money at the various gift shops of each venue.

But the day didn’t end there — after dinner, we geared up for an epic round of laser tag. Let’s just say there was a lot of running, laughing, and pretending we weren’t as tired as we actually were!

Today, six very tired but excited students from Mr Langley’s group can’t wait to tell you about their adventures:

Caley Elmslie spoke highly of Old Parliament House: “I enjoyed learning about the power of journalism, and the impact journalists had on the Parliament of Australia. I liked how the tour guides used visual examples from both the past and the present. I also enjoyed the powerful feeling of sitting in the Prime Minister’s office and getting a sneak peek of their private bathroom.”

With regard to the Australian National Museum, Caitlin McGill said: “The exhibitions were all neatly set up to share stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The tour guide was very knowledgeable on the topics, sharing stories of inspirational Aboriginals such as John Moriarty, who was an Aboriginal part of the Stolen Generation, whose artwork ended up on a boeing 747. We also learnt about how ice-core drilling can inform us of about the climate in previous years.”

Kate Morrissey loved the National Portrait Gallery: “The National Portrait Gallery was insightful. It displayed lots of cultures, colours and perspectives from all over Australia. I really liked the collection by Thom Roberts, a man living with an intellectual disability, who uses his wonderful perspective to create beautiful pieces of art. My favourite piece “Ice Cream Man” was part of this collection.”

William Price had a connection to the Australian War Memorial, interested in trying to find information about some of his relatives: “This has been my favourite part of the tour so far. I thought it was very interesting and enjoyable to learn and see artefacts and memorabilia from World War One. I really got a sense of what happened and how hard it was for those who fought during the war. It was also really great to see how my family was connected to it as well. I really enjoyed how informative the tour guides were and how they focused on specific people and their role in World War One.”

Lara Brand also had a profound respect for the Australian War Memorial: “I really enjoyed learning about the different battles that those soldiers had to face such as Ypres, Lone Pine and Semack. I enjoyed exploring the Roll of Honour and our tour guides was very knowledgeable. It was very peaceful and quiet, and there were lots of people which I think shows just how important this is to Australians.”

James Cochrane was in his element during Laser Tag: “I really liked the team work and cooperation we had to put in to win the game. I played a game with Will, Ms James and Ms Moore. Will and I kept shooting each-other accidentally because we just got too into winning the game. It was lots of fun and I’d definitely play it again.”

Below are some lovely photos of our amazing day!*

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Warm Regards,

The HASS Tour Staff.

*Disclaimer: Some students have been de-identified due to not having photo permissions. If you are this student’s parent and/or guardian, and you would like to have the group images with your child included, please email tenesha.moore@ststephens.wa.edu.au

Zane looking at the Wall of Red Poppies.

The Wall of Red Poppies dedicated to soldiers lost during World War One.

A propaganda poster from the Australian War Memorial. Each HASS class, both from Duncraig and Carramar, had actually looked at this poster in our lessons on World War One.

The Australian War Memorial.

Caley and Kate at the National Portrait Gallery.

Students playing table tennis at the National Portrait Gallery.

Students walking towards the High Court of Australia.

Wesley, Alex and Sam in Old Parliament House.

Amelia, Ruhi, Ella-Jade, Lily, Sienna A, Sienna P and Mia at Old Parliament House.

Maria and Ryan in the National Library.