The perfect fit for all group sizes

• Cabin accommodation for 150 people
• Camping capacity for 200 people
• Full catering with hot, healthy meals and dining room

All-inclusive programs or accommodation only

• We work with you to create a bespoke package that suits your needs.
• No minimum stay
• 1 FREE teacher with every 16 students

A unique property surrounded by wildlife

• Abundant in wildlife and birdlife
• On the doorstep of Namadgi National Park
• Private swimming area on the Murrumbidgee River

We take the hassle out of organising school trips

• Working with large numbers is second nature to us
• We create bespoke programs to suits your unique needs and outcomes.
• Teaching spaces and conferences spaces free to use with bookings.

The Natural Surrounds

Outward Bound Australia is an independent not-for-profit educational organisation that helps people discover, develop and achieve their potential. National base is situated in the locality of Tharwa on the outskirts of the ACT surrounded by expansive Australian bush. The Murrumbidgee River runs alongside the property, curving beautifully around a hidden swimming oasis with bubbling rapids and huge Gum trees lining the bank. Nestled at the base of Mount Tennant, Outward Bound’s National Base looks directly onto Tennant Peak and its distinct rocky ‘scar’. On clear nights, the constellations and stars stretch to the horizon and present incredible opportunities for star-gazing.

Our campsites are frequented by quintessential Australian wildlife as they live in the surrounding regeneration corridors that Outward Bound participants have re-planted. While sitting around the campfire you might see a wombat or two coming curiously out of their burrow, possums climbing up trees and kookaburras heralding the sunrise. Vivid birdlife is abundant including crimson rosellas, wedge-tailed eagles and superb fairy-wrens. A popular hiking route for our programs goes through the Orroral Valley – which boasts the highest density of kangaroos in the world!

Activities on offer

We create bespoke programs to fulfill your learning outcomes

Participants leave the programs having learned more about themselves, their capabilities, and their potential to create change in their own communities. This is achieved through the integrated learning approach of physical challenge, new skills and experiencing the Australian environment in an intimate way. These challenges create deep trust and friendship between the participants, to establish long lasting connections and support networks back at school. Outward Bound has been operating from Tharwa for over 30 years running programs; from 1 day to 4 months long- talk with us today about creating your ideal program.

Outdoor Adventures Available:

• High ropes circuit with 6 elements
• Giants Ladder team climbing 
• 18m artificial rock climbing walls
• 18m abseil wall
• Raft building and other water activities
• Team building and leadership initiatives
• Multi day hikes through Namadgi National Park
• Campsites for camp-out experiences and fire places

Environmental and Community service is also a major part of our organisation’s ethos. We work with local fire brigades, National Park rangers and land owners to plant trees, regenerate land after bush fires, monitor water quality and build a sense of community amongst our youth.

Cabins

These 6 self-contained cabins are set up to house 88 people, with four bedrooms each, and two bunk beds in each room. Every room has a private en-suite shower and toilet. A common living room with couches is attached to a small kitchenette in every cabin.

Bunk Houses

The property has 3 bunk rooms for student and staff accommodation with picnic tables and beautiful eucalypt trees outside the rooms. The three rooms have a combination of bunk beds and single beds, comfortably sleeping up to 20 people.

Camping Grounds

We have camping equipment and space for 200 people across our property. This ranges from large open fields to tucked away established campsites. There is a large toilets and shower block on the property for campers. Open style bivvies, mats and sleeping bags can be hired for camping groups or you can bring your own equipment. Fire drums and fire pits can be used for cooking.

The Cottage

This renovated rustic cottage has 4 bedrooms and beautiful original fireplace, perfect for the chilly Canberra Winters. There is a dining room, living room and large equipped kitchen with all necessary utensils for home cooking.

Gate House

With its own garden and patio overlooking Mount Tennant only a kilometre away, the Gatehouse offers 5 bedrooms to sleep 8 people. A carport, living room, and a kitchen equipped with fridge, microwave, stove top and oven truly make this an easy home-away-from-home. This spacious house has air conditioning and renovated kitchen.

Bush Apartments

This spacious apartment block offers 8 large bedrooms and has it’s own lawn and picnic seating. This accommodation can sleep 16 people with 2 single beds in each room. There are two showers and two toilets in the building. With a large communal living area and kitchen between the bedrooms equipped with fridge, oven, microwave and cookers this is truly a perfect group accommodation option.

Meeting Spaces

Upper Kirby Conference Room

The carpeted indoor conference space complements a cosy wood-fireplace feel with plug-in computer roof-projector and ceiling-mounted screen. An area for 40-50 padded chairs comfortably seats your group or provides versatility for workshops, meetings and lessons.

Teaching and Board Rooms

In the Lower Kirby Rooms there are 2 separate spaces for small group workshops and lessons. Each room has desks and chairs for 10-12 people. The Board room is a modern space with screen and projector, air conditioning and large office chairs and table.

Dining Hall and Industrial Kitchen

The Main dining hall is a modern, air conditioned hall looking onto a balcony with large eucalypt trees framed in the view from the windows. Purpose built for large groups to eat and clean with minimal hassle. The hall can seat 50-70 people inside and up to 30 people outside on the balcony. It is filled with bench seating and wooden tables. There are washing up sinks and dishwashers available for the students to wash their dishes. Crockery and cutlery is stocked for over 100 people. The industrial kitchen attached by serving Bain-Maries is functional and stocked with all necessary utensils for large groups. Kitchen includes walk-in Cool room, large chest freezers, industrial oven, stove tops, deep basin sinks with flexible spray nozzles and large stainless steel bench tops for food preparation.

The Tharwa property is 32 acres nestled between Mount Tennant and the Murrumbidgee River. Boasting expansive space in all directions, the property has large fields and areas for sports, initiatives and games. The array of under cover areas provides wet weather shelter for all group sizes and means activities can go ahead rain, hail or shine. In all, this is ideal accommodation for large groups travelling to see the sites of Canberra and to add meaningful activities to their itinerary.