Click on a region to see what school excursions are currently available.
Richmond Tweed
A Whale of a Time
Take a deeper look at the ecology of whales. Students explore and gain an understanding of a whale's diet, migration habits and communication, and the significance of the ocean ecosystem around the Cape Byron area. Activities include handling whale artifacts, making the scale size model of a humpback whale, and whale watching with an experienced guide.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement, duration 1.5 - 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per person
Bookings: phone the office or email cape.byron@environment.nsw.gov.au
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Around the Cape
Students examine the area in terms of human impact on the natural environment and changing land use. Students analyze a range of site specific source materials, discuss the issues affecting the Byron Bay area and design and undertake a visitor survey.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement, duration 2 hours
Difficulty: medium difficulty
Cost: $6 per person
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Beachcombers
The beach environment offers great diversity in what we can find, see, and touch. A Discovery ranger will help students to discover an abundance of life and materials through beach and rocky shore exploration. We will examine what we found, where it's from, where it really belongs, and what role it plays in this environment. We also discuss our impact on this environment and how we can help protect and conserve our special coastal areas for the future.Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 1-3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Bundjalung Cultural Heritage Tour - High Schools - Ballina and Lennox Head Aboriginal Place
Join an Aboriginal guide on a tour of
culturally significant places to learn about their importance and
the stories and traditions associated with these places. Visiting
sacred sites will provide an insight into the lifestyle and
traditions of Aboriginal people including the relationship
between the people, land, plants and
animals
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 4 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Bush Tucker Walk
Arakwal Aboriginal guides provide students with the opportunity to learn about traditional Aboriginal bush tucker. Contemporary and traditional preparation and nutrition and medical uses are examined. Finally guides discuss how these foods are found in Australian cuisine today.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per person
More information: Visit the event website
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Cane Toad Education
Through learning about native frogs and cane toads, students will be able to distinguish a native from a pest, appreciate the need for protecting our native species, and how to deal with a pest if they find one.
This activity includes a brief presentation followed by interactive games and activities that will stimulate the desire to learn more about it and help us stop the cane toad from spreading.
Where: at your school or a park by arrangement
When: by arrangement; duration 1-2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Cape Byron - You're Standing in it
Designed to suit the units of work State and National Parks, and Australia You're Standing in it. Explore the Cape Byron State Conservation Area, and develop an understanding of why we have national parks, who works in them and how they are managed.
Activities include a walk within the reserve, 'creating' a park ranger, developing visitor signage for Cape Byron, making mini-parks and closely observing the Cape Byron flora and fauna.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per student
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Coastal Ecosystems
Our coastline is unique in its beauty and diversity and includes environments such as the rocky shores, beach, ocean and human or built environments. As guardians of these wonderful environments we need to understand the impacts and interrelationships between them.
Students will experience and learn through a series of games and activities about each of the four environments, how they interrelate, the diversity of flora and fauna, the problems and the actions we can all take to help protect our coastal ecosystems.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Cultural Places and Traditions - Ballina and Lennox Head
Join an Aboriginal guide on a tour of culturally significant places to learn about their importance and the stories and traditions associated with these places. Visiting sacred sites will provide an insight into the lifestyle and traditions of Aboriginal people including the relationship between the people, land, plants and animals.
Park: Lennox Head Aboriginal Area
When: by arrangement; duration 4 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Custom Ranger Tours
Design your own program in and around the national park estate, or ask our education officers to design something to fit your education requirements. Other areas you may like to visit include Broken Head Nature Reserve or Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
Program topics and presentations include Aboriginal cultural talks, cane toads, whale migration, threatened species and Marine Parks. Talks can be organised to coincide with 'green' dates such as World Environment day, National Threatened Species day, NAIDOC Week and World Ocean day. Please call the Education Officer to discuss your group's requirements.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per student
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Dolphin Dreaming
Arakwal Aboriginal guides present through story, dance and creative expression the life and culture of Byron Bay's Aboriginal people. Students will be encouraged to participate in dance and ceremonies, paint their own special place and learn about the significance of dolphins to the Arakwal community.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per student
More information: Visit the event website
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
Environmental Awareness
With the guidance of a Discovery ranger, we will uncover the many elements of the rainforest and how they are connected. Through a number of stimulating activities we illustrate the concept of change, life cycles, habitat and diversity while developing students' skills in assessing and categorising objects. Finally, we encourage a first-hand understanding of national parks, their features and management by assessing the quality of a particular area of the environment.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Estuary Canoe Adventure - primary and high schools
Join the ranger and enjoy a leisurely paddle along one of the many coastal estuaries in our region. Along the way students will learn about the natural and cultural heritage values of that reserve and the importance of coastal estuaries to native plants and animals and biodiversity.
Students must be over 8 years and competent swimmers.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 2-4 hours
Difficulty: medium difficulty
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Fossil Hunt
The formation of different types of
layers of rock and the breakdown of animals and plants all
contribute to the formation of fossils. What is a fossil and how
precious are they? Can we find fossil evidence in our local area?
By surveying and experimenting using different techniques we
discover and analyse fossils found in a national park. The
protection and management of fossil sites is considered by the
group.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
National Parks and Rangers - Primary Schools
Join the Discovery rangers and answer questions such as what is a national park, why are they important, why we have them and how can we help protect them. Students learn through interactive and fun activities including creating their very own "micro park" to demonstrate the different types of national parks and what can be found in them.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Natural debate
National Parks and Wildlife need your help in managing issues related to threatened species such as the grey-headed flying fox, pied oystercatcher and Alberts lyrebird. These creatures experience problems such as predation by foxes, dogs and cats. Local residents sometimes want them removed because they are too noisy. What can we do to properly manage these species and keep everybody happy? Prior to our visit you can do some research of your own into the different aspects of the debate.
Where: your school or in a park as arranged
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Our coast
Our coast offers a diverse range of
environments to explore. A Discovery ranger will help students
examine the difference between natural and built features,
investigate the difference between land and marine animals and
plants and discover the abundance of life and materials found on
the beach. Students will participate in a number of hands-on
activities including rockpool ramble and beach treasure hunt.
This excursion explores natural and built features such as
shelters and adaptations, and examines the values associated with
visiting and living on the coast. It also explores issues of
managing current threats to the coastal environment. Suitable for
Years K to 6.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: By arrangement. Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $165 for up to 30 students (one Discovery ranger);
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Rainforest Ecology
Invite a Discovery ranger to your school to participate in a number of exciting and educational activities about the rainforest environment. We will uncover the mysteries of the rainforest, giving a conceptual understanding of habitat and diversity, the elements, animal features, plant adaptations, and natural resources. Finally, these concepts are tied together to give the children an understanding of rainforest interactions and ecology.
Park: Nightcap National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Rainforest Environments - Primary Schools
We offer a variety of activities based on the rainforest theme suited to all ages. Students learn about the importance and ecology of rainforest environments. Interactive activities provide students with information on rainforests such as layering, significance to biodiversity, the broad range of flora and fauna, cultural heritage values, and natural and human threats to this environment.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 2-4 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Rangers and National Parks
A Discovery ranger will come to your school to relate the concepts of national parks and their management, key environmental issues, habitat, biodiversity and species requirements. Here we will introduce the importance of national parks and their management through a range of activities such as a school ground survey. These activities provide for specific requirements that your school may have, such as ecological sustainability or particular case studies.
Park: Nightcap National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Sands of Time
The formation of our continent is
closely linked to how our sand and soil formed. Where does soil
come from?. How is it made and what processes does it go through
over time? By collecting and experimenting with nature’s
ingredients, students will learn and see how soil forms and which
of nature’s elements play a role in this process. We also
learn how Australian soils are different, what they are made up
of and what exists within a rock
cycle.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 40 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Seaside Detectives
Our coastline is unique in its beauty and diversity and includes environments such as the rocky shores, beach, ocean and human or built environments. As guardians of this wonderful environment we need to understand the impacts and inter-relationships between the rocky shores and surrounds. Students will experience and learn through a series of games and activities, learning about each of the four environments, how they inter-relate and diversity of flora and fauna within these environments.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Seaside Detectives
Our coastline is unique in its beauty
and diversity and includes environments such as the rocky shores,
beach, ocean and human or built environments. As guardians of
this wonderful environment we need to understand the impacts and
inter-relationships between the rocky shores and surrounds.
Students will experience and learn through a series of games and
activities, learning about each of the four environments, how
they inter-relate and diversity of flora and fauna within these
environments.
Park: Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Seaside Detectives
Our coastline is unique in its beauty and diversity and includes environments such as the rocky shores, beach, ocean and human or built environments. As guardians of this wonderful environment we need to understand the impacts and interrelationships between the rocky shores and surrounds.
Students will experience and learn through a series of games and activities, learning about each of the four environments, how they interrelate and diversity of flora and fauna within these environments.
Park: Cudgen Nature Reserve
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Seaside Detectives
Our uniquely beautiful coastline incorporates marine, foreshore and human environments - there's plenty to explore and learn about. With the help of a Discovery ranger, students enjoy games and explore the area, giving them the opportunity to grasp concepts like adaption, community, diversity, and habitat. We will also discuss the needs and wants of humans in relation to the coastal environment and explore the impacts of human use. Finally, we take the children along a creative and theatrical path where we demonstrate what we have learnt about coastal environments.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Seasonal wildlife
National Parks is proud to present four
Seasonal Wildlife Educational Roadshows on koalas, emus, magpies
and kangaroos. These fun interactive presentations cover issues
of conservation management, threats to the wildlife and habitat,
what to do when animals attack, why these animals are special and
what we can do to help protect them. Activities include power
point, slide and video presentations, ‘role plays’,
special guest visitors, music, educational games and other
hands-on activities. Suitable for years
K-6.
Park: Bundjalung National Park
When: By arrangement. Duration varies on arrangements.
Difficulty: easy
Cost: Price on application.
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Grafton, Phone: 02 6641 1500, or use online inquiry form
Senses Alive
Hear, smell, touch and see. Join a Discovery ranger as we uncover the magic of the rainforest through all of our senses. Throughout seven activities we will open up the world of the rainforest to the students, relaying the concepts of the stages of life, diversity, communities and habitats.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Signal on the Shore
This program is all about lighthouses and covers the importance of communication and changing technologies. Students will tour the famous and iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse (all the way to the lantern room) and its museum. Students undertake a group nautical signal flags activity, hear historic tales and stories of shipwrecks, and carry out some of the daily duties of a lighthouse keeper.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per student
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
The Geo-heritage of Mt Warning (Wollumbin)
Join the Discovery ranger and explore the amazing Mount Warning caldera and learn about the geo-heritage of this renowned landmark of the Northern Rivers Region. How did it form, what type of volcano was it and what’s happening now to the soil and rock? Answer all these questions and learn about the cultural significance of the area to the Bundjalung Aboriginal people.
Parks:
When: by arrangement; duration 2-4 hours
Difficulty: medium difficulty
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
The Wonder of Waterfalls
Join the Discovery ranger for a short walk to one of our great waterfalls within Nightcap National Park. These great geological formations hold many questions and answers, such as why they are the way they are. Looking at the layers of the past we find out exciting and interesting information about how the land formed and what makes the waterfalls.
Park: Nightcap National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 2-3 hours
Difficulty: medium difficulty
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Traditional Aboriginal Games
Join an Aboriginal guide and play a series of traditional games from all over Australia. Learn why the games where played, where they are from and the how they taught the skills and knowledge required for Aboriginal life.
Park: Nightcap National Park
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Northern Rivers, Phone: 02 6627 0204 (general inquiries); or use online inquiry form
Whale Secrets
Discover the secrets of the whales in a playful mix of drama, games, story and ocean discovery. This adventure is on the edge of the land and sea, and explores the needs of humpback whales, their means of communication and the nature of their annual migration. There is ample time for whale watching and to seek out other marine animals and sea birds in the surrounding Cape Byron Marine Park.
Park: Cape Byron State Conservation Area
When: by arrangement; duration 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Cost: $6 per student
Contact: Byron Bay, Phone: 02 6620 9300
What is a national park?
Have a Discovery ranger come to your
school, or venture into a nearby park, or combine the two in an
engaging program. Students learn about national parks in their
area, why they are important, and how we can look after them.
They learn about the management of a national park, the role of a
ranger, key environmental issues, biodiversity, habitat and
species. Activities include 'role plays', 'treasure hunts',
'habitat game', 'school explorations' and 'trivia'. Suitable for
years 4-6.
Parks:
When: By arrangement. Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Cost: Price on application
Contact: School excursion inquiries - Grafton, Phone: 02 6641 1500, or use online inquiry form
