Duke of Edinburgh

Whales, waterfalls, windswept views… not to mention weary legs!

Over the past six weeks, 126 of our Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh students successfully completed Adventurous Journeys in the Royal National Park and Heathcote National Park — journeys that delivered exactly what the title promises: whale sightings, waterfall views, windswept coastal walks, and more than a few weary legs by the end!

The girls tackled a challenging mix of coastal and bush walking, covering demanding stretches of trail while taking in the scenery along the way. Winding bush tracks and exposed cliff edges offered plenty of chances to pause and admire the coastline — and even spot the odd whale, adding an extra highlight to an already spectacular walk. Along the way, students explored local beaches and learned about the Indigenous culture and history of the area at Jibbon Head, and for the Silver groups, Red Jacks Point.

The weather threw its own challenges into the mix along the way. Earlier groups braved cold nights and crisp mornings, while the first of the Silver groups had to contend with a wet, muddy and slippery track and intermittent rainfall — all part of the adventure, and further proof of the girls’ resilience and determination. Last weekend, our final Silver group enjoyed blue skies, warmer weather, and for some a refreshing dip in the creek — an experience they threw themselves into wholeheartedly.

The Silver group’s final day began with a 5.30am start and a swift pack-down before heading out onto the eastern side of the Heathcote Loop. Carrying full packs, they pushed on past Karloo Pools and Uloola Falls in a huge final day of hiking. It was a tough last stretch, but the girls stuck together and kept moving, eventually reaching Waterfall train station, where they wrapped up the expedition with a final group reflection.

Throughout the journey, the girls showed great resilience and grew in confidence with each passing day. They embraced the long hours on the trail, supported one another, and made the most of everything the expedition had to offer.

Congratulations to all participants on successfully completing their Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journeys — keep up the momentum and stay on top of logging your other activities!

A big thank you to Ewa Stepasuik, who gave up four weekends to help out on our Adventurous Journeys trips — her kindness, patience, and good spirit made all the difference. Thank you, Ewa!

Ms Joanne Bower
NSW Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Leader