Outdoor Education Locations

Land’s Edge believes in conducting programs in locations that have a natural lure to most participants. If students and staff are enthusiastic about the area they are ‘journeying’ in then many of the barriers to both learning opportunities and fun are automatically broken down. There are not many environments which elicit such a universal response of excitement, wonder, respect, adventure and inspiration than Australia’s coastal and alpine environments.

Land’s Edge believes it is imperative that students be exposed to the coastal environment because it is a significant aspect of Australian culture. Over 80% of our population live within an hour of the coastline and many of our national icons and activities are structured around this environment.

With something as simple as a wetsuit, snorkel and mask or surfboard participants can have untold adventures and truly feel the power of the ocean, experience its wonders and be in ‘another world’. It is for these reasons we choose to conduct our Outdoor Education programs in coastal environments – the opportunity to meet program objectives is drastically increased.

Land’s Edge also offers outdoor education programs in Australian alpine areas. The Australian Alps are a unique environment and are highly valued because of the comparatively small area they cover (1.6 million hectares - all of which is protected). Alpine areas offer valuable outdoor education experiences not only because of their natural beauty, but because they have unique ecosystems (plants and animals found nowhere else in the world); a richness of Aboriginal and European cultural heritage and a history of diverse use.

Sydney Harbour
From Term 4, 2007, Land’s Edge will implement outdoor education programs on and around Sydney Harbour, specifically the waterways, foreshore and bushland of Sydney Harbour Trust’s lands at Middle Head. The past isolation and restriction of Middle Head, Georges Heights and Chowder Bay (due to its previous use as Defence lands) means that much of the bushland remains in pristine condition. The land holds heritage significance that straddles the natural, cultural, built, industrial and social environments. It is a remarkable place from which Sydney can be appreciated.

The Illawarra:
The Illawarra coastline lends itself exceptionally well to introductory outdoor education programs and centre-based programs. It is only two hours south of Sydney and three hours from Canberra. There are numerous styles of accommodation available, enabling Land’s Edge to tailor this critical aspect of programming to each school’s desired outcomes and budget.

Land’s Edge also runs programs as far south as Eden and as far north as Seal Rocks. However, the company primarily operates in the Illawarra region of NSW and Murramarang National Park, just north of Batemans Bay. Each area offers an abundance of learning potential and is within a few hour’s drive from both Canberra and Sydney.

Bushrangers Bay Marine Reserve: A snorkelling location that ‘needs to be seen to be believed’. It offers the snorkeller all the wonders of the southern oceans in a safe, enclosed setting.
Minnamurra River: A stunning river that flows through rainforest, farmland and estuarine ecosystems. Fantastic for walking and canoeing.
Kiama Harbour: Rock platforms that abound in all manner of interesting flora and fauna. It also offers several sheltered snorkelling options.
Seven Mile Beach: The best place to learn to surf on the NSW coastline. A gentle sloping beach producing consistent and predictable surf, ideal for all surf awareness and surfing lessons.
Drawing Room Rocks: This half-day bush-walking location offers views as far south as Pigeon House Mountain and into Jervis Bay.

Murramarang National Park:
Murramarang National Park offers students a truly unique experience. Only three hours out of Sydney and two from Canberra this stretch of coastline with its rocky headlands, sheltered bays, Spotted Gum forests and stunning beaches captures the imagination of all.
Land’s Edge conducts programs in the park for client schools who want their students to partake in an expeditioning style of program. Small groups, bush camping, backpacks, navigation, cooking and group dynamics are all featured in these programs. However, unique to Land’s Edge outcomes, interactions are promoted through surf-awareness sessions, surfing, snorkelling and canoeing on intertidal lakes.

Kosciuszko National Park
This park is nationally and internationally recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It contains six wilderness areas, and its alpine and sub-alpine areas contain plant species found nowhere else in the world. The park is also home to the rare mountain pygmy possum and corroboree frog. One of the world's great national parks, and the largest in New South Wales, it covers almost 675,000 hectares and contains the highest mountains in Australia; the famous Snowy River and all NSW ski fields.