Overview

 Highlights


  • Challenge yourself with five days of roping activities - abseiling, climbing and canyoning - in the UNESCO listed Blue Mountains Wilderness
  • Camping under the stars in the Megalong Valley
  • This program is 100% carbon offset. World Expeditions Schools absorb the cost of credits mitigating 100% of the unavoidable carbon emissions as its ongoing commitment to responsible travel

On this specially designed roping program students will be exposed to the rope activities of abseiling, rock climbing and canyoning. With the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Blue Mountains Natonal Park and in the company of qualified Rock and Roping Guides, students will develop their skills and discover their potential through a range of progessive challenges designed to push their boundaries in a safe and encouraging environment. On the final night of the program students will descend into the Grand Canyon by torchlight and discover a world of glow worms as abundant as stars on a clear night.

Countries:

Start and Finishing Point:

Katoomba

Activities:

Grading:Introductory to Moderate   

Addressing:


You will depart on an early train from Pymble Station, travelling by train to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. On arrival into Katoomba you will be met by our Guides and take a short walk to our HQ for a trip briefing and wetsuit fitting. WE will then join our expert Guides for our first roping experience - abseiling on the escarpment close to Katoomba. We commence small on our beginners block with a series of 3 metre abseils to hone your skills before you move on to longer, higher and more exciting drops. You will learn techniques to tackle varying abseil terrain. Throughout the session we provide expert tuition and guidance to enable all students to challenge themselves in a safe and encouraging environment. Following our abseil session we travel to our campsite in the Megalong Valley which will be our basecamp for the next week. You will pitch your tents and set your camp before enjoying a special Welcome to Country ceremony. You will assist in helping your Guides prepare dinner, and following dinner you will have the opportunity to enjoy an astronomy session with our large telescope around the campfire (weather permitting) Overnight Camping

Meals:  L,D

Today we head to Mount York for a full day climbing. Mount York is on the traditional lands of the Dharug people and a great place to progress on a range of climbs throughout the day. Starting out on some introductory climbs, our Guides provide expert tuition on climbing technique and make sure you get the most out of this exciting sport and give all students the opportunity to discover their potential. In the late afternoon we transfer to our campsite in the Megalong Valley. Overnight Camping

Meals:  B,L,D

The Blue Mountains is a beautiful area and some of its most spectacular sights are hidden away from the towns and highway. Created over thousands of years the narrow canyon gorges are spectacular places to explore. Serendipity is one of the most delightful of canyons, and is suitable for those with little abseil or canyon experience. Serendipity offers four wet abseils and a heart in your throat waterjump. Although the abseils are not long, they offer passage to the deeper sections of the canyon, the hemmed in nature of the walls and water throughout the abseil sections add to their appeal. Beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife - especially yabbies - also enhance the experience of this canyon. Lunch is enjoyed on a sunny rock platform at the junction of Serendipity and the Wollangambe River. We can exit here or if time permits we can proceed upstream to the Wollangambe exit. The walk out takes about 1 ¼ hours and is steep in places. Overnight Camping

Meals:  B,L,D

Get ready for an epic day today! Overlooking the Megalong Valley and Narrow Neck plateau our morning adventure involves descending part way down a large cliff line (approx. 200 metres) of the upper Blue Mountains in a series of stages or ‘pitches’. This four pitch expedition boasts some exciting abseiling and interesting traverses as you straddle and then descend into the massive chasm that forms the second and third pitches. Half way into the valley - still a long way above the ground - you will follow a skyline traverse on narrow ledges and interesting rock features back to the top. The expedition is an awesome experience (that will be suitable for all students) but with extreme exposure to heights, make sure you ready yourself! We will enjoy lunch with views over the valley before returning to camp to rest and prepare for the your final night adventure. After an early dinner, you transfer to Blackheath. At dusk, the adventure starts with a downhill walk to where you will make an exciting entrance to the canyon, a 20 metre overhanging abseil. The beauty and serenity of this canyon will surprise you, with ferny glades and towering rock walls providing a spectacular setting all illuminated by the light of your torch. Scrambling, sliding, wading and swimming in huge chambers of Glow Worms as abundant as stars on a clear night. The walk out through temperate rainforest, culminates at Evans Lookout with a spectacular view of the Grose Valley in the moonlight. Keep an eye out for ring tailed possums, powerful owls and other creatures of the night as you walk. This is a unique canyoning experience with a night time finish, and will be a fantastic way to top off your week! You return to camp in the early hours of the morning to rest for the remainder of the night. Overnight Camping

Meals:  B,L,D

After a final celebratory hot breakfast, you will pack up camp and transfer with your Guides to Katoomba. On arrival back at our Blue Mountains HQ, students will have some free time in Katoomba to buy some lunch and have a wander through the shops (please bring some money for lunch, on own account). At a dedicated time, students will return to the office to collect their bags and take their early afternoon train home. A warm welcome awaits!

Meals:  B


Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Life On Land:  Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Quality Education:  Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.


Learning outcomes for students

A World Expeditions Schools adventure is a unique learning experience. Our journeys are designed to encourage thriving and positive youth development along with leaving the communities and environments where we travel in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to enhance the following life skills that will help you grow as an individual:
• the confidence to lead a group and make decisions
• the value of working together as a cohesive team to achieve a common objective
• the ability to face mental and physical challenges
• the ability to adapt to new environments outside of their 'comfort zone'
• to appreciate and care for the natural environment. The environments we trek through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers and also the local peoples
• basic outdoor skills obtained on trek such as personal hygiene, pitching a tent, helping to prepare meals
Importantly our adventures help increase general well-being and build resilience in young citizens to help them deal with adverse situations in life.


Inclusions

  • Teachers from Pymble Ladies' College accompanying the group
  • 4 nights camping (tents, stretcher beds/camp mats and sleeping bags provided)
  • All activity related equipment (wetsuit, helmets, harnesses and more)
  • All meals
  • All local transfers and transportation (from arrival in Katoomba)
  • Professional and Qualified Guides for each roping activity
  • BMAC staff to manage camp
  • 24 hour on call assistance
  • All activities and entry fees as listed in the itinerary

  • Transport to/from Katoomba (train travel at own expense)
  • Lunch on Day 5

Grading

Introductory to Moderate


Why travel with us

Why travel with us

Assisted over
14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.

400+ Service Learning
Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised
School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and
Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Testimonials


Want to find out more?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.


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