Ready to explore more of our world?
Join us for an inspiring weekend of walking in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney.
You’ll be part of a small group of walkers keen to get outside, see some incredible sights and be reminded of the awe and wonder that comes from spending time in nature.
The Walking Weekend is for those who need to recharge, remember the important things in life, and enjoy this beautiful world we live in.
Here are all the details:
Itinerary (subject to change)
Friday 20 March
9:00am – Depart Newcastle/Lake Macquarie by car (bring lunch or buy en-route)
1:00pm – Meet in the Royal National Park for our first walk: Palona Cave and the Forest Path (10km)
4:30pm – Check in at our private rental home in Bundeena
Pre-dinner drinks and appetisers
6:30pm – Dinner
Saturday 21 March
Make your own breakfast with the wide range of ingredients provided
Pack lunch, snacks and water
9am – Depart for our second walk: Garie Beach to Bundeena (or vice versa depending on conditions – 16km). Option to start/finish at Wattamolla Beach (10km)
Relax at the house or walk 100m to the beach
6pm – Dinner at Bundeena Community and Services Club
Sunday 22 March
Make your own breakfast with the wide range of ingredients provided
Pack lunch, snacks and water
9am – Depart for our third walk: Garie Beach to Otford (11km) to complete the Coast Track
Relax at the house or walk 100m to the beach
Pre-dinner drinks and appetisers
6:30pm – Dinner
After dark – option to visit Helensburgh Glow Worm Tunnel
Monday 23 March
Make your own breakfast with the wide range of ingredients provided
Pack up and depart by 10am
What’s Included
3 nights accommodation in a beautiful home in Bundeena
Guided walks each day in the Royal National Park
Time to relax on nearby beaches
2 dinners prepared and cooked for you
A variety of provisions so you can make your breakfast each morning
Snacks to stock your backpack for walks
Appetisers to enjoy on the deck in the evening
A smorgasbord of lunch supplies to make your own picnic to eat on the trails
Coffee, tea, herbal tea plus milk and sugar
Bed linen and towels
3 days of vehicle entry fees to the Royal National Park
A donation to The Groundswell Collective for projects to protect and restore the world we love
Suggested training program to maximise your enjoyment of the weekend
A preliminary meeting with the group to discuss the walks, menu and transportation
What’s Not Included
Transportation to and from Bundeena (see FAQs)
Dinner Saturday night at Bundeena Community and Services Club
Beverages other than coffee, tea, herbal tea
Optional after dark visit to the Helensburgh Glow Worm Tunnel (free entry, organise own transport)
Travel insurance
Pricing
House:
- Queen bed plus ensuite = BOOKED
- Queen bed plus shared bathroom = BOOKED
- Bunk bed plus shared bathroom = $600 per person triple share
Cottage:
- Queen bed plus shared bathroom = $700 per person twin share or $1100 single share
- Bunk bed plus shared bathroom = $600 per person quad share
Deposit = $200 per person
Balance due 6 weeks prior to departure = Friday 6 February
Payments are made via bank transfer. You are welcome to pay by instalments up to the balance due date with a minimum of $50 per payment.
Ready to book? Please complete the booking form.
What to Bring
Walking boots/shoes or joggers – waterproof if possible
A backup pair of walking boots/shoes or joggers
Backpack
Bottles or bladder to carry at least 1.5 litres of water
Raincoat
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Hat and sun smart clothing to walk in (at least four sets)
Rain boots (otherwise known as gumboots or wellies) if visiting the glow worms
Clothes to wear out to dinner on Saturday night
Swimmers and a small towel in case you take a dip during a walk or go to the beach
All the typical items you’d bring for a weekend away: toiletries, pyjamas, phone charger, something to read, maybe your favourite pillow and anything else you need to be comfortable
Optional – walking poles if you use them
Note: bed linen and bath towel are provided
FAQs
Do I need special walking skills?
All the walks we have planned are rated easy to moderate, meaning they’re suitable for an average person with average fitness. Of course, some training before the Walking Weekend will make it more enjoyable for you and your leg muscles. A suggested training plan will be provided after you’ve booked.
We will cover a variety of terrain including boardwalk, sand, gravel paths, and rocky narrow trails. Uphill and downhill, steep and flat on stairs and trail, both wet and dry underfoot: we’ll experience it all. You will be able to move at your own pace during the walks and we’ll take regular breaks.
If you have health concerns or would like more specific information, please read about the walks (see Itinerary for links) and then contact Katie on katie@thegroundswell.org.au
Do I need special walking equipment?
See the above list of What to Bring and remember to borrow or buy second hand if you need something you don’t already own (Facebook Marketplace has oodles of walking shoes/boots).
Can I arrive late?
You might choose to arrive later on Friday and miss the first walk on Friday afternoon (the price remains the same). Please arrive by 6pm for the welcome dinner.
How do I get to Bundeena?
We’d like to make this weekend as sustainable as possible so a good option is to carpool with other walkers. We’ll have a meeting prior to the Walking Weekend so you can meet everyone and make travel arrangements. Another option is to travel by public transport. This will be a train to Cronulla then ferry to Bundeena and we can pick you up from the ferry or you can walk 500m to the house.
Can you cater for my dietary requirements?
Sure can. We’ll ask you about food and any other special needs during the booking process and at the preliminary meeting.
What kind of projects will be supported by the donation portion of my fee?
The Groundswell Collective loves bringing people together to create a better planet. Our projects include:
- planting tiny forests to rapidly regenerate landscapes that have been cleared for development or farming. These compact ecosystems provide food and habitat for biodiversity, cool urban areas and help communities take practical climate action.
- facilitating workshops to help children connect with nature and foster a lifelong love of caring for our world
- growing food for people and pollinators in our community garden
Why do I need rain boots?
The Helensburgh Glow Worm Tunnel is notoriously muddy underfoot. If you’d like to visit it, bring a pair of gumboots/wellies in a large plastic bag, wear them in the tunnel then change back into clean shoes before getting in the car.
What if the weather isn’t great?
We won’t let a little rain put us off but in the event of extreme weather conditions (eg. a heatwave or dangerous storms) then we may need to postpone the Walking Weekend in the name of health and safety. Obviously, we won’t be able to make this decision until shortly before the event. You would be given the option of transferring to a new date or receiving a full refund.
How do I book?
Please complete the booking form and we will respond within 24 hours. Once we offer you a place, you will have 24 hours to pay your $200 deposit via bank transfer. The balance of your payment will be due 6 weeks prior to the Walking Weekend (Friday 6 February). You are welcome to pay by instalments up to that date with a minimum of $50 per payment.
Are there any refunds?
There are no refunds if you cancel your place at the Walking Weekend. If, after booking, you become injured or unwell in a way that prevents you from attending and you can provide a medical certificate to that effect, you will be able to transfer the money you’ve paid to an alternative Walking Weekend.
If the event is cancelled by The Groundswell Collective due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you will be given the choice of transferring to another event date or receiving a refund.
You might like to consider if travel insurance is right for you.
Still have questions?
Contact Katie on katie@thegroundswell.org.au
About Us
The Walking Weekend will be led by Katie from The Groundswell Collective, who believes now is the time to get out and explore the places we’ve always wanted to see. Walking through the bush allows us to be face to face with world we love and reap the benefits of being in nature.
Katie has been bushwalking for years, escaping outdoors whenever she needs to make sense of the world or remember why she wants to protect it. Katie holds a current First Aid certificate and will carry a First Aid Kit on each walk.
The Walking Weekend will be supported by Libby, a long-term supporter of The Groundswell Collective and one of our most dedicated volunteers. Libby will help with the logistics of the weekend: driving to and from trailheads, serving up appetisers and cooking delicious dinners.
