Gold Adventurous Journey
Thornleigh to Wondabyne
Great North Walk

Great North Walk, Sydney nsw

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Double Gold Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey - Thornleigh to Wondabyne

This is a 6-day combined Practice and Qualifying Gold Adventurous Journey. You must have your Award Leader's approval to do this journey before you enrol.

Practice: 2-days / 1-night with 1-night reflection time.
Qualifyer: 4-days / 3-nights.

December 2022 will be the final dates for this 6-day combination journey, in line with the ending of the Award's AJ COVID provisions.

Dates	Currently unavailable
Price	$810 p/p
Ages	16 - 24
Region	Great North Walk, Sydney, nsw

Essentials

Detailed Information

This Double Gold Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey completes both your Practice and Qualifying Adventurus Journeys over 6 days, 5 nights.

Due to the challenges we’re all facing with COVID-19, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has deemed a Gold Practice Journey may be undertaken over 2 days/1 night if according to your Award Leader, all these criteria are met:

Demonstrated competence in the mode of travel and the environment (location) and conditions (time of year)
Demonstrated overnight simple self-catering/camping experience
Demonstrated positive team dynamics
Agreed to by the Adventurous Journey Assessor (us)
Approved by the Award Leader IN ADVANCE. This is very important! Your Award Leader might like to read this information on the Duke of Ed Australia website before approving your journey.

SUPERVISORS:

Supervisors are qualified in Outdoor Recreation/Leadership, First-Aid, have Working have Children Check and carry first aid and emergency communication equipment.

MEETING PLACE:

Thornleigh Station
The Esplanade, Thornleigh NSW 2120
GPS: -33.731714, 151.078044

There is a park on the western side of the station. We will meet in the park, under the trees.

MEETING TIME DAY 1:

9:00am

END POINT:

Wondabyne Station
GPS: -33.492224, 151.256939

Wondabyne is the only train station in Australia that does not have road access.
The first stop south of Wondabyne is Hawkesbury River Station (Brooklyn).
The first stop north of Wondbyne is Woy Woy.

END TIME DAY 6:

Approx. 2pm

GETTING TO AND FROM YOUR JOURNEY:

We have designed this route to allow for easy public transport usage as required. Check https://transportnsw.info/ for available times.

DRINKING WATER:

We recommend drinking a minimum of 2-litres of water per day plus carrying an extra 1-litre to cook with at night. 1-litre of water weighs 1 kg. Please keep this in mind when packing. After the first day you should adjust this up or down depending on your water intake.

Tap water is available at camp on Day 2, lunch on Day 3, early morning Days 4 and 5. We anticipate creek or dam water being available every day, but this is never certain. Water from creeks or dams needs to be treated before drinking.

CREEK CROSSINGS:

Creek crossings occur everyday but the water level should be low enough to keep your feet dry. Supervisors will make decisions on creek crossings in the field.

TOILETS:

Flush toilets are available at our campsite on the second night, lunch on Day 3 and the morning of Day 5. At all other times toilet waste must be buried and you will need to bring a trowel for this purpose.

Itinerary

Practice Journey

Day 1: Thornleigh Station to Tunks Ridge Campsite

There is a little bit of up and down today but nothing too difficult, including a detour around the shooting range at Hornsby. There is no water at the campsite so you will need to carry it all day or refill at the creek crossing before the last climb. Water needs to be purified. There are no toilets at this campsite and all waste needs to be buried.

Day 2: Tunks Ridge Campsite to Crosslands Campsite

We drop down into Galston Gorge where we can probably refill water (needs to be purified). We continue onto Crosslands Campsite: a big grassy expanse on Berowra Creek with toilets, drinking water and fireplaces. Swimming is also permitted.

Your Practice Journey ends here with a period of reflection. You can implement learnings from your practice journey into your qualifying journey and demonstrate the required competencies as outlined in your handbook. Participants can be picked up from here if they decide they are unable to complete the Qualifying Journey, but please note the site gates close at 5pm each night (7:30pm during daylight savings).

Qualifying Journey

Day 1: Crosslands to Berowra Heights (Turner Rd Campsite)

We’ll refill water at camp in the morning and stop at Berowra Waters to refill water and use the toilets at lunch. The bush campsite is an hour or two past Berowra Waters after a steep up and down and does not have water. Participants will need to carry water for the afternoon and evening of Day 3 and the morning of Day 4. There are no toilets at this campsite and all waste needs to be buried.

Day 2: Berowra Heights to Brooklyn Dam

This is the longest, steepest and hardest day. Drinking water is available at Cowan station an hour or two after leaving camp. There is a dam near Brooklyn where you can swim and refill water, if necessary. Water needs to be purified. There are no toilets at this campsite and all waste needs to be buried.

Day 3: Brooklyn Dam to Mt Wondabyne

After a short walk to Brooklyn where we can use the toilet and refill water, we will then catch a ferry across the Hawkesbury River to Little Wobby. As part of your planning, you should have an awareness of the ferry timetable.

Please bring $4.30 (child) / $9 (adult) in cash for the ferry. It does not accept Opal Card.

From Little Wobby, head north to Mt. Wondabyne, keeping Patonga Creek to your east. There is creek water a short distance past the campsite but none at the actual campsite. There are no toilets and all waste needs to be buried.

Day 4: Mt Wondabyne to Wondabyne Station

Kariong Brook Falls offers a great spot to enjoy an Aussie bush waterhole in the morning but, as with all waterways, it’s at the bottom of a gully. Climbing the hill out of this will get the blood pumping before dropping downhill again to Wondabyne Station.

As part of your planning, you should also be aware of the Wondabyne station schedule, which is a part of the Central Coast and Newcastle Line.

What to bring

Please click the image below to see your recommended kit list. Outward Bound Australia does not provide food or equipment for Adventurous Journeys, so you will need to source all items. We have partnered with CampList, from whom you can hire and/or purchase many of the items on the list. To see what is available, go to www.camplist.com.au and in the central search bar, type “Outward Bound Australia”.

Safety

Outward Bound is the world leader in outdoor education. This global presence has enabled us to develop the most comprehensive Safety and Risk Management Policies and Procedures.

We balance risk, reward and responsibility as core tenets of our mission. Our programs are facilitated and supported by a network of qualified, highly trained and experienced instructors, with a clear understanding of this risk/reward balance.

Safety first, always.

FAQs

We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone (1800 267 999). Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Where can I obtain the items on the packing list?

Outdoor pursuits stores will have the majority of the items listed in the kit list. If you ask your family and friends, you may find that people you know already have these items that you can borrow. Outward Bound Australia have also partnered with CampList, which offers a hire/purchase service.

Where am I sleeping?

You will sleep in national park campsites. It is a Duke of Ed requirement that you carry your own gear. You will be sleeping in the tent or shelter you provide.

What food shall I bring?

Our Adventurous Journeys are hiking expeditions and require more fat and sugar than a normal diet.
Avoid heavy items such as canned food, glass bottles, and jars as they break. No nuts please.
Do bring: Light weight, highly nutritious and tasty food covering all meals, including snacks for your whole adventurous journey.

Check out the Food Safety Information Council for advice on appropriate foods. Scroll down to the section titled “Camping and bushwalking”.

https://foodsafety.asn.au/food-safety-on-the-move/

Can I bring technology on program?

An Outward Bound program is your opportunity to ‘disconnect to reconnect’. However we do not take your phone from your for a Duke of Ed program. You can use your phone to take photos (for your report) and we can not prevent you from looking at your phone in your tent at night. You will not be permitted to listen to music or talk on your phone during the journey.

Do I have to wear hiking boots?

We recommend hiking boots for all our programs. If you are unable to source these, you will need to find a suitable pair of lace-up, fully enclosed footwear, that has a rigid sole and provides ankle stability.

Do I have to bring the wet weather clothing?

We use the rain jacket and waterproof overpants as a heat-trapping layer in the evenings, just as much as a waterproof cover in the case of rain. For the majority of situations, we continue with the journey when it is raining, and so very strongly encourage participants to provide these items

Do I have to bring the thermals?

For journeys running May – September, yes you do need to bring the thermal top and bottom to program. For programs running at other times, you can choose if you want to bring these or not. Overall, we recommend bringing thermals for any time of year, as they can act as a lightweight jumper in the evenings, or as a pair of pyjamas (which are not a part of our packing list).

How fit do I need to be?

Your Outward Bound Duke of Ed Journey is an expedition in the natural environment. You need to feel confident enough to manage carrying an approx. 15kg hiking backpack, and walking on uneven ground for 10-20km every day of your journey in a variety of weather conditions. The more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy it!

Do participants come with friends, or as individuals?

Most participants arrive on their own, and depart with a set of new friends.

What are the toilet facilities?

This is dependent on the campsites available along your journey. Some locations have access to regular public toilets. At other times you will be required to dig a small personal hole, and you will need to provide a hand trowel for this purpose.

What happens if I need to depart my journey early?

If you need to leave your journey for an unforeseen reason, such as injury, we will arrange with your emergency contact to come and get you from an accessible location. You will need to inform your Award Leader that you have left your Adventurous Journey, and you will need to arrange to re-attempt your journey at another time.

Scholarship

We want as many people as possible to experience the advantage of a wilderness program in Australia. Through our charity arm, the Australian Outward Bound Development Fund, we can offer financial scholarship opportunities to those participants who would otherwise not be able to afford to come on a program.

To apply for a scholarship please go to our Scholarship Application Form.

Fundraising with Prezentbox

Prezentbox is a digital platform that enables family and friends to contribute to your Outward Bound program. Read more about Outward Bound’s partnership with Prezentbox and how it works.