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Practice Journey

Day 1: Thornleigh Station to Tunks Ridge Campsite  

Distance: 14km.  

Grading: Moderate, some hard

GPS coordinates of campsite: -33.678726, 151.081433

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  

Distance: 10km.  

Grading: Moderate  

GPS coordinates of campsite: -33.625640, 151.113588

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 are unable to complete the qualifying journey. 

Qualifying Journey  

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

Distance: 10km.  

Grading: Moderate, some hard.

GPS coordinates of campsite: -33.593828,151.135238

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 

Distance: 17km.  

Grading: Hard

GPS coordinates of campsite: -33.554702, 151.207155

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 

Distance: 15km 

Grading: Hard

GPS coordinates of campsite: -33.496059, 151.274536

After a short walk to Brooklyn where we can use the toilet and refill water, we’ll catch a ferry across the Hawkesbury River to Little Wobby and reenter the bush at Patonga. We can either camp beside Mt Wondabyne and enjoy 360° views of the sunset / sunrise or continue a bit further to Kariong Brook Falls, it’s up to you as a group. There is creek water a short distance past both campsites but none at the actual campsites. There are no toilets and all waste needs to be buried. 

Day 4: Mt Wondabyne to Wondabyne Station 

Distance: 10km 

Grading: Hard 

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. 

Please bring $4.30 in cash for the ferry. It does not accept Opal Card.

SUPERVISORS 

Supervisors are qualified in First Aid, have Working with Children clearance and carry emergency communication equipment. They all adhere to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Volunteer Code of Conduct.

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

9:00am  

END POINT

Wondabyne Station  

Wondabyne is the only train station in Australia that does not have road access. 

GPS: -33.492224, 151.256939 

END TIME

Between 12pm and 2pm, depending on group decisions  

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

We recommend you use public transport to travel to and from your adventurous journey. We have designed this route specifically for this purpose. Check https://transportnsw.info/ for train times to Sydney or Central Coast and Newcastle. 

DRINKING WATER

We recommend drinking 3 litres of water per day plus 1 litre to cook with at night. 1 litre of water weighs 1 kg. Please keep this in mind when packing. You can adjust this after the first day depending on your water intake. Tap water is available at camp on Day 2, lunch on Day 3, early morning Days 4 and 5 (Day 3 of qualifying). We anticipate creek or dam water being available every day, but this is never certain. Water from creeks or dams needs to be treated.  

CREEK CROSSINGS

Creek crossings occur every day 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 (Day 3 of qualifying). At all other times toilet waste must be buried and you will need to bring a trowel for this purpose.