School camps are a great opportunity for students to get away from class and spend time outside in nature, get their boots dirty and have a little adventure.
Apart from that, students can learn in various ways, besides textbooks, make lifelong friends and experience new activities, something they might not encounter in regular schooldays.
You can get some good ideas of school camps from around Melbourne. There are different locations like nature islands, mountains regions, forests, beaches, adventure parks among others. The best place to go on a school camp will depend on the students of your school, what they will do there, the time it will take to travel and your accommodation needs.
1. Phillip Island
Phillip Island remains a popular choice for school groups because of its excellent mix of nature, coastline, and learning opportunities. The students can experience the real bush, get up close with our marine life and learn about the natural environment at the island’s remarkable level.
Beside school groups from a city who are trying to have a fun-packed day and at the same time a getaway they are very likely to be delighted to know that Phillip Island is quite accessible to a destination only a few hundred kilometers from Melbourne.
2. Wilsons Promontory
Wilsons Promontory is a wonderful place for adventurous students who enjoy the great outdoors, offering an amazing selection of sandy beaches, green bushland and an array of wildlife. The park has numerous walking trails, stunning coastal scenery and chances of wildlife sightings such as wombats, kangaroos and emus.
What’s more, the site is highly recommended for educational camps as Parks Victoria is able to provide school students with curriculum-based field trips.
Being relatively far away from Melbourne, the teachers making the journey ought to arrange a comfortable group transportation to the park.
3. Healesville and the Yarra Valley
Yearning for a spot with wildlife and forests away from the hustle of the city? Healesville and its vicinity, the Yarra Valley is perfect.
Taking a walk in nature or learning about nature are among the things that could be done in this district. Healesville has school camp properties like Candlebark Farm which are not far from Melbourne This way allows students to enjoy nature and learn about it at the same time. There are a wide number of ways to enjoy being outdoors in the area. For instance, Candlebark Farm is at just about 65 km away from Melbourne and offers not only student accommodation and school camp facilities but also outdoor activities.
4. Gippsland
Gippsland would make another very good choice for a school group seeking thrilling challenges. Positioned east of Melbourne, it features forests, rivers , mountains as well as facilities built in particular for staying in a camp environment.
For example, The Summit in Gippsland is about an hour and half away from Melbourne and can give students a very diverse set of activities for adventure and team-building.
It is ideal when the aim is to have the kids learn to collaborate, push their limits and bring back home a whole lot of fun things to share with their friends.
5. Grampians
Fresh air and open spaces are just one element of what’s offered in the Grampians (Gariwerd) area for students who want their outdoor activity levels dialled up a notch. A place of awe-inspiring scenery where one can go for a long walk, meet local animals and even do some kayaking is the perfect location for students who enjoy getting outside and into wild places.
The school dorms or camps will be found in Halls Gap and you will be offered a choice of different accommodations there for your students. This means that you will be able to put together a bushwalking trip with a bit of environmental education as well as a share of experiences with culture.
6. Mount Macedon
Mountain Macedon is a perfect spot for schools wanting to organize the nature based activity yet not to go too far away from Melbourne
Here students will be able to walk along the country paths and get familiar with the local environment. Since the place is close to one of the big cities, it can also work as a venue for one-day or half-day outdoor schools provided that the participants will not waste the time traveling.
7. Warburton
The natural backdrop of surrounding woodlands and mountain views contributes to the leisurely atmosphere that Warburton gives for school education and camps.
Schooled youth can get a taste of nature, hiking paths, and events fostering group effort and personal initiative. The surrounding areas and Warburton are utilized for excursions and camping by many local schools.
Mainly for younger pupils, the mix up of natural scenery and easily reachable travel options may make this district a very pleasant consideration.
8. Lake Mountain
As a change of scenery, you could take the students up in the mountains. Lake Mountain is a great location where students can have a completely new kind of experience. Based on how the seasons and the program change, it’s possible for participants to do various outdoor activities while learning about mountain environments.
A stay at Lake Mountain is mainly rewarding for students who have only glimpsed the mountains or alpine scenery.
9. Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula is the ideal combination of the sea, coastal view, nature and outdoor activities which allow the schools the freedom to design their program as required.
The peninsula is ideal for those wishing to get an authentic coast-side experience yet not being too far away from Melbourne. If the plans work out well, students will be able to enjoy some lessons while also being given the chance to play outside and bond through some of the activities designed for team-building purposes.
Making School Camp Travel Easier
Selecting your destination is merely half of the task. It’s only when you have to safely and comfortably move a large group of students, teachers, and their luggage is when the transport plan plays a crucial role.
A bus service for group travel prevents the need to hire several cars or asking each person to get there on their own. The school community stays together during the whole journey because the dedicated transport gets everyone together and brings everyone home.
If you are hiring school camp transport in Melbourne, here are some things to think about: number of students & teachers; their luggage, trip distances, places where the group will be picked up from and also what type of transport (coach, mini bus, etc. ) will be best for the group.
A planned transport means the bus can be at the pickup point early in the morning so everyone can have the same departure time or for a very long journey it may just help to have the bus waiting for you already. Also with return transportation of course, a scheduled transport makes it easier to return everyone back together.
Bus Hire Melbourne is the school’s transport partner of choice for camp excursion group travel needs and more through a safe and dependable bus hire service.
Ready to Make the Camp the Easy Part?
Instead of worrying about who sleeps up higher with the mattress, it is a waste of time if students are preoccupied with getting everyone to the campsite in one piece.
Select a destination plan, schedule your activities and forget about group transport, let the professionals do the job for you. When you book your school camp bus in Melbourne make sure to do it early, bring students along and enjoy the thrill of the trip together as you set off.