Year 12 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Qualifying Hike

Two weeks ago, seven Year 12 students embarked on a highly successful four-day, three-night hike as part of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. The challenging and rewarding journey took place within the stunning Myall Lakes National Park on the mid-north coast of NSW. 

The adventure began early on Thursday, 23 May, when the students met with Mrs. Helen Thompson and Ms. Rose Dooley at Central Station at 7:00am. They traveled by train to Broadmeadow Station in Newcastle, and from there, a minibus transported them to Seal Rocks. Upon arrival, the students set off towards Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. Their Day 1 route took them from the lighthouse down onto Lighthouse Beach, along Treachery Beach, and into the NPWS campground at Yagon for their first overnight stay, where they were visited by several dingoes and experienced a full moon over the campsite. 

Day 2 saw the group continuing their hike from Yagon along the Mining Road Fire Trail and the Old Gibber Fire Trail to Shelly Beach on the shores of Myall Lake. They had the campsite to themselves and celebrated Lucie Atkin Bolton’s birthday that evening with a white chocolate mud cake from a popular supermarket, an open fire managed by Mrs. Thompson’s husband Michael, and a packet of sparklers! 

On Day 3, the students faced the challenge of encountering a diamond python across the track as they trekked from Shelly Beach to Mungo Brush. They successfully navigated around the snake without incident. Upon arrival at the NPWS Mungo Brush campsite, where they spent their third night, students cooked their dinner and relaxed, resting their tired feet while watching a spectacular sunset over the Broadwater. 

The final day, Day 4, was an early 7.30am start and an enormous effort by all. Students hiked 25 kilometres from the Mungo Brush campsite along Mungo Beach, where they were visited by a pod of dolphins, before taking the Wildflower Walk trail, the Tops to Myall trail, and back onto the beach to reach the Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club by 2.00pm. Here, a minibus picked them up for the ride back to Broadmeadow Station for their late afternoon return journey by train to Central Station. Despite the pain and hard work, there were no complaints, and the group left Hawks Nest at 2:05pm—a massive effort by all. 

Throughout the hike, students were responsible for carrying their own tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, clothing, toiletries, and all food and water for the four-day journey. Michael Thompson, Mrs. Thompson’s husband, was on call in the local Myall Lakes area for the duration of the hike, staying with the group overnight on nights 2 and 3 and delivering drinking water daily to each campsite, as none was available on-site. 

The dedication and teamwork displayed by these Year 12 students were highly commendable, making their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Qualifying Hike a resounding success.