Sunday morning dawned crisp with a definite tinge of white on the ground, the tents however, were toasty warm! Well that's what we're led to believe? Whist the NCOs who slept in bivouacs complained of a complete lack of feeling in the extremities.

But that's not where this camping tale begins: 1800hours and 11NCOs, two officers and parents arrive at 6th Hauraki to load vans and cars with bodies and gear for a weekend of survival training.

Mrs Buckley has kindly offered to be Camp Mum (don't think she know what she's let herself in for). With everything loaded off we head for Ngatuhoa, 17km to the locked gate, then another 7km on a dusty forestry road to our home for the next couple of days. We finally arrive once the NCOs learn how to drive on a steep dirt road with little traction. Stores are unloaded, beds allocated and supper on the go, time for some R & R.

Next morning a sleep in, don't have to rise till 0700 hours, just as well cause the chatting didn't stop till the wee small hours.

But once breakfast is over it's into it, lessons to plan and set up. The cadets arrive just before 0900, their gear is stacked up in the barbecue area in case of rain (but why can't we put it straight into our rooms? More parents too, to help out.

Thanks heaps to Mrs Smith, Mr Kuka (straight from a night shift) and Mr Ralph. They also had in tow an officer from the Australian Air Cadets, PLTOFF Michael Della-Franca, who happened to be in town, and wanted to see what we got up to.

Camp briefing and into lessons; emergency fires, first aid, survival, bivouacs, ratel, tents, and shooting on the outdoor range. Hey why weren't there more of you guys trying out for the shooting team?

After lunch and more rounds of lessons it's off on a leisurely tramp to the waterfall, not sure who was in charge of navigation, but there was no waterfall seen on this tramp, but a two hour short loop track tramp and back to base to put up tents and cook our own dinner with mixed results, although no-one starved due to a great soup and dessert from the cooks.

The night ex was a Burma trail; spooks and glowing things along the trail made this interesting. Everyone was off to sleep pretty quick tonight, not a sound could be heard after about 2300hours.

As I said, earlier Sunday morning was a little crispy under foot so time for some invigorating PT then back to base for a nice hot cooked breakfast.

Now the real fun began a team challenge on the obstacle course, the cadets had already been in three teams for the weekend; but now they came up against team four, the NCOs. It was all on, no holds barred, and the eventual winners are still in dispute. But one thing, there is no disputing everyone had a great time. From here on it really was the same as every camp clean up, pack up, and back on the road for the hot dusty trip home again.