Fun at Whangateau

SCREECH!!!
The bus slowed down as it came over the hill, before coming to a halt at the bottom. The children raced out the doors like a stampede of elephants, and headed towards the Whangateau estuary. I paused to look at the beautiful scene around me. I could smell the salty water even from a distance, and I could hear the whisper of the wind in the trees.

I made my way to where the other kids were gathered around Mr Grace, the marine biologist who would guide us around Horseshoe Island. We split into two groups, and our group made our way towards the little island in the distance. My feet sank into the mud, like little people slipping into quicksand.

We stopped to look at the holes made by eagle rays that had chosen to feed off the cockles. They were now full of water- and made perfect puddles for jumping in! The mangrove trees we saw, towered high over us, as the little oysters clung to their branches, like a baby monkey clinging to its mother. The plants had long, fragile branches, and leaves as green as grass.

I headed back to the mainland with the rest of my group, water dripping from my clothes like I was a tap. I had learnt so much today about water-life, I felt like a marine biology book! As I boarded the bus again, I took one last look at this beautiful place, before the bus started up, and crawled over the hill again.

By Aimee Stevens

Comment: Very well written, Aimee. I love your use of similes and adjectives.
Mrs Duffin