Overview

 Highlights


  • Blue Mountains Welcome to Country
  • Cycle around the stunning Blue Mountains cycle trails
  • Explore the Warrumbungle National Park's iconic scenery and unique flora and fauna on foot
  • Join a hike and indigenous program in the culturally significant Pilliga National Park
  • Behind the scenes visit at Siding Spring Observatory
  • Stargazing and camping under the stars in Australia's first Dark Sky National Park
  • Local community service work with local NGO's and indigenous groups
  • Indigenous immersion activities

Countries:

Activities:

Grading:Moderate   

Addressing:


On arrival in Sydney we will be met by our experienced World Expeditions Schools guide and head straight to our accommodation in Katoomba. Today we will be formally welcomed to the area by a member of the local indigenous community, the Gandangara people, in a Welcome to Country ceremony. This is an ancient ceremony in which the hosting group would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. Depending on your arrival time we will explore the surrounds including the Cultural Centre in Katoomba and experience their ‘Into the Blue’ World Heritage Interpretive Centre. The "Into the Blue" is a high-tech, interactive exhibition which explores the natural as well as the social landscapes of this unique area. You’ll be invited to navigate your way through these stories via an immersive exhibition experience, introducing you to the richness and wonders of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area.

Meals:  D

Cycling is a perfect way to explore the Blue Mountains. With hundreds of trails to choose, this mornings cycling adventure will allow us to explore Blue Mountains National Park. From our accommodation we drive out to Ridgewell Road in Blackheath where we have a full safety briefing and bike testing. Our cycle will take us on a spectacular route along the Burramoko Trail to Baltzer Lookout and return. We’ll take plenty of breaks to allow us to soak up the fresh mountain air. From amazing sheer sandstone cliffs, deep valley gorges, rivers and giant eucalyptus trees today's cycle is as magnificent as it is rewarding, We then board our vehicle and head North to the spectacular Warrumbungle heritage listed National Park. The Park is based in the Warrumbungle Mountain Range and lies within the Pilliga Important Bird Area. The Park was the first park within Australia to be certified as a Dark Sky Park in 2016.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast we head to the Burbie Canyon Walk before joining the Belougery Split Rock Circuit where we will make our way up the Belougery Split Rock, the first of many summits (7km). We then return to the nearby Visitors Centre for an interpretive short walk before a short transfer or walk back to camp for a relaxing afternoon at camp. This evening after an early dinner we will enjoy a short walk to set up for some evening star gazing. Overnight Camp. Walking distance: up to 10km

Meals:  B,L,D

We have great day in store today with our aim to summit Mt Exmouth via Cathedral Arch. This long trek is also an extremely rewarding one and the 360-degree views from Mount Exmouth (1206m) are simply outstanding. Along the way to the summit, you’ll encounter a varied vegetation community, and basalt rock formations that comprise some of the few remaining pieces of the original volcanic shield. Following Mount Exmouth walking track is to walk back in time, experiencing the best that Warrumbungle National Park has to offer. Return to camp for our final night under the stars. Overnight Camp. Walking distance: 17km

Meals:  B,L,D

We have set aside today for conservation service work with local NGO's and authorities.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we have a wonderful challenge in store as we set our sights on a full day hike summitting Bluff Mountain. This region has wonderful and unusual lava formations from previous volcanic activity. We depart from the start of the track at Pincham Campsite to the rocky summit of Bluff Mountain (1200m) via West Spirey Creek Track. The track is long and steep in parts with some loose rock. It is a challenging however achievable walk that is well worth the effort. Once on the summit of Bluff Mountain you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Mount Exmouth, Tonduron Spire and Mount Naman’s thick lava flows. It is the only point in the park where you can enjoy views of Bluff Pyramid and the vast western plains. We return via the same trail. Overnight Camp.

Meals:  B,L,D

The January 2013 bushfires in Warrumbungle National Park affected more than just plants and animals – it had notable consequences for Aboriginal culture. NSW National Parks is surveying this situation, devising steps to repair the damage, and looking for ways to involve the local Aboriginal community in all aspects of park recovery. One example of this cultural heritage conservation project involves Tara Cave walk, which is the main point for visitors to experience Aboriginal culture in Warrumbungle National Park. Damaged by the bushfires, Tara Cave walk is now being overhauled with new infrastructure and signage, as well as replacement bush tucker plants along the route. This overhaul is being conducted in partnership with the Coonabarabran and Gulargambone Aboriginal communities – a partnership that will hopefully produce new leads for improving management of the park and Aboriginal cultural sites. Cooperative partnerships like this inform revisions to park management and bushfire strategy and encourage Aboriginal employment, training and experience for the local Aboriginal community in the park. This afternoon we visit the Siding Spring Observatory. The Warrumbungles are Australia's first Dark Sky Reserve and an incredible place for astronomy. We will visit the centre and have a behind the scenes look at all aspects of the program including the Anglo-Australian Telescope, a 3.9 mtr equatorially mounted telescope ranked 5th highest impact in the worlds optical telescope.

Meals:  B,L,D

We have breakfast early and head towards Pilliga National Park. Pilliga is traditional country of the Gamilaroi people and this region is very important to their cultural heritage. We will join a local guide and explore the park and local sandstone caves featuring indigenous rock art. We find out more about the Gamilaroi peoples and their connection to land. The Pilliga Forest is the largest remaining native forest on the Australian continent. Nearly half the Pilliga forest is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect this unique area including the habitat of declining woodland bird species and a large koala population.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we will rise early and pack up our camp as we prepare for the long drive back to Sydney airport and home. We have plenty of time in our vehicle for a trip debriefing and time to rest before our flight.

Meals:  B


Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health And Well-being:  Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.

Climate Action:  Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.

Life On Land:  Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss


Learning outcomes for students

A World Expeditions Schools adventure is a unique learning experience. Our journeys are designed to encourage thriving and positive youth development along with leaving the communities and environments where we travel in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to enhance the following life skills that will help you grow as an individual:
• the confidence to lead a group and make decisions
• the value of working together as a cohesive team to achieve a common objective
• the ability to face mental and physical challenges
• the ability to adapt to new environments outside of their 'comfort zone'
• to appreciate and care for the natural environment. The environments we trek through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers and also the local peoples
• basic outdoor skills obtained on trek such as personal hygiene, pitching a tent, helping to prepare meals
Importantly our adventures help increase general well-being and build resilience in young citizens to help them deal with adverse situations in life.


Inclusions

  • Flights to and from Sydney
  • Professional wilderness guide/s
  • All accommodation
  • All meals
  • National Park fees
  • All transport in private vehicles
  • Group camping equipment including all cooking and eating equipment, camp chairs and tables
  • Emergency communications and group first aid kit
  • Transfers to/from the start of walks within the Warrumbungle National Park
  • All activities including immersion programs
  • Service days
  • Teachers accompanying the trip from School

  • Items of a personal nature: alcoholic beverages, car parking etc
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal COVID-Safe face masks and hand sanitiser

Grading

Moderate

We believe our walking adventures are heaps of fun, and we want to ensure you have the best experience possible. It’s important to us that you have the fitness and skills to enjoy your time with us so please read on. For our full day bush walking experiences, participants require a good level of fitness and must be willing and able to walk over rugged terrain with some steep ascents and descents. In order to complete this walk you should already have a good level of fitness and ideally undertake regular exercise three or fours times a week. Experience hill walking with a day pack is recommended. Participants will get the most out of their walk if they feel comfortable walking up and down stairs and on uneven ground.


Customise your program

We can fully customise a School Travel Program to suit your students' learning objectives and budget. Whether you require a Service Learning program, physical challenge, cultural immersion or certain curriculum targets - talk to one of our educational travel experts about the elements you need in your itinerary. We pride ourselves on developing unique itineraries to meet the learning requirements for schools.

World Expeditions Schools is a division of one of the world's leading adventure travel companies, World Expeditions. We can develop itineraries in any destination that is offered by World Expeditions, which is to every continent on earth.

Use our simple Expedition Design Form to contact us with your requirements and an educational travel expert will be in touch to assist.


Why travel with us

Why travel with us

Assisted over
14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.

400+ Service Learning
Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised
School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and
Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Testimonials


Want to find out more?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.


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