Preparing for your program:
Outward Bound Expedition

Everything you need to be ready to go.

Welcome to Outward Bound Australia and thank-you for choosing us for your next adventure. Your program will be hosted from one of our following operational locations:

  • National Base in Tharwa, ACT
  • Snowy River in Buchan, VIC
  • Walpole in Walpole, WA.

You will be working both individually and as a small team in a series of adventure and leadership experiences, which may include, depending on your location, high ropes, hike expedition, river rafting expedition, coastal inlet expedition, team initiatives and Solo. You will be camping each night. We will supply all the camping, cooking and activity equipment, and food. Please refer to the packing list for your requirements.

Please read carefully through each preparation section below and attend to each action as necessary. If you have any questions about getting ready, you can contact us at ma*****@**************rg.au.

For all Participants
1. Understand our Behaviour Expectations

Participants and Supporters, ensure you have read the Participant Expectations Policy (hyperlinked). You are asked to confirm you have read and agree to these expectations in the Consent & Medical Form.

In summary:

  • Disrespectful, physical or verbally abusive behaviours will not be tolerated.
  • Participants are required to co-operate and partake in the fundamental elements of the program, without deliberately disrupting group activities.
  • Participants must be able to self-manage living skills in an outdoor camping environment.

Participants may be removed from the program if they fail to meet these standards.

2. Complete the Consent & Medical Form

Complete the Participant Consent & Medical Information Form (hyperlinked)

For Expedition ACT in April 2025 the form will open on 17 February 2025 and are due on 16 March 2025.

If something changes in your situation after you have completed this form, please contact us directly at ma*****@**************rg.au

3. Inform us of your Arrival and Departure plans

Complete the Public Program Travel Arrangement Form (hyperlinked).

For Expedition ACT in April 2025 the form will open on 17 February 2025 and close on 30 March 2025.

If something changes in your situation after you have completed this form, please contact us directly at ma*****@**************rg.au

Arrival and Departure
Expedition Arrival Times
ACT     VIC     WA
On Day 1 please arrive at our National Base at 1000 (10:00am).
Our address is 35 Naas Road, Tharwa ACT 2620.Outward Bound Australia include a shuttle service for the following times and locations to assist participants to reach our Base:
– Jolimont Tourist Centre (Canberra Coach Station) 0930
– Canberra Airport 1000
    On Day 1 please arrive at Bairnsdale Train Station for 1130 (11:30am).

This time has been selected to line up with the Vline train service, Melbourne to Bairnsdale. 

    On Day 1 please arrive at Walpole Visitor Centre for 1630 (4:30pm).

This time has been selected to line up with the TransWA coach service, GS3 Perth to Albany.

 
Expedition Departure Times
ACT     VIC     WA
On Day 10 please depart from our National Base at 1400 (2:00pm).
Our address is 35 Naas Road, Tharwa ACT 2620.Outward Bound Australia include a shuttle service for the following times and locations to assist participants to depart our Base:
– Canberra Airport 1430 (check-in is advised for after 1445)
– Jolimont Tourist Centre (Canberra Coach Station) 1500
    On Day 10 please depart from Bairnsdale Train Station at 1245 (12:45pm).

This time has been selected to line up with the Vline train service, Bairnsdale to Melbourne 1254 departure. 

    On Day 10 please depart from Walpole Visitor Centre at 0930 (9:30am).

This time has been selected to line up with the TransWA coach service, GS3 Albany to Perth 0943 departure.

Expedition ACT Shuttle Location Information

Jolimont Tourist Centre Day 1
  • Our bus will arrive at approx. 0930 and depart at 0945.
  • Please assemble outside the Jolimont Tourist Centre, on Rudd Street, in the undercover section nearest the “Coaches Only” sign. 
  • If you are arriving at this pick-up independently (not via a coach service), refer to the business 65 Northbourne (hyperlinked to Google Maps) for locating yourself on a map. 
Canberra Airport Day 1
  • Our bus is scheduled to arrive at 1000.
  • If you are flying into Canberra on Day 1, you will arrive on the lower level of Canberra Airport. Collect your bag from the carousel, then sit at the chairs near the front windows, between the stairs/escalator and Gate A. Our team will meet you here and escort you to the bus.  
  • If you are not arriving by plane on the morning of Day 1, please also come to the Arrivals entrance, go inside and sit at the chairs near the front windows, between the stairs/escalator and Gate A.
Canberra Airport Day 10
  • Our bus is scheduled to arrive at 1430 (2:30pm). 
  • We will drop off at the Departures (upper level) Passenger Drop Off, on the left -hand side as you are looking at the entrance doors.
Jolimont Tourist Centre Day 10
  • Our bus is scheduled to arrive at 1500 (3pm). 
4. Get your clothing and equipment

Access your relevant packing list for the Outward Bound Expedition program by clicking the link below.

Participants are expected to come on program with all items, as indicated.

If you do not have any of the items listed, try borrowing from friends or family or buying second hand. We have also partnered with Camp List, who provide many of the items listed for hire and/or purchase. To see what is available, go to www.camplist.com.au and in the central search bar type “Outward Bound Australia”.

Expedition ACT: 

Holiday Extended Expedition Packing List 2025

Expedition VIC & WA:

TBC

5. Contact During Program

We do not permit bringing phones into the field. Participants are required to keep their phones in their travel bags throughout the program. This is for the security of your possession, and for the privacy of the other participants you will be working with.

For general correspondence, or to send a message to the Participant, please e-mail Outward Bound Australia at ma*****@**************rg.au. Please reference the Participant’s name and program in the subject heading.

For emergency situations arising at home, where the Participant must be reached with shorter notice, please use the following numbers:

  1. During ACT business hours (all programs, 9:00am – 4:50pm) please call your Client Manager on 02 6235 5700 (option 1).
  2. After hours (ACT business hours 5:00pm – 8:30am) the Program Coordinator can be reached on 0413 640 598.
    1. This number will be updated on the Friday afternoon before your program start date.
Key Dates - Expedition ACT - April 2025
25 February 2025
'Expedition ACT' April 2025 program onboarding begins
7 March 2025
Pre-program video meeting.
15 March 2025
Balance payment due
16 March 2025
Medical & Consent Form due
30 March 2025
Travel Arrangements Form due
14-23 April 2025
On Program!
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