Year 9 Wilderness Week

Wilderness Week takes place in week 9 of term 4, from (around) Monday the 3rd of December to (around) Friday the 7th of December. Different activities may be slightly longer or shorter. This page is mainly to help parents and students decide which acitivity to pursue. More detailed information on each activity will appear when numbers and lists have been finalised.

Students need to make their choices on the green form, (or here is a copy) and must hand these in to the general office with a $50 deposity by Friday May 4.

There are currently (as of April 17) 9 different options. These are summarised in the table below. Click on each activity for more detailed information. Please note the costs are our best estimates at this stage.

Name Location Type Days Number of Students Approximate cost
School Based Activities PHSC 3 Excursions, activities at school. Eg, Werribee Gorge, Dandenongs 5 No limit $50
Up the Creek Glenelg River, Western Victoria Flat water canoeing, camping each night 5 max: 18 $280 + food
Out to the Islands Port Welshpool, East of Wilson's Prom Sea kayaking, camping at different islands and on the mainland 5 12 - 18 $500 + food
Walk to the bottom of Australia Wilson's Prom Walking, camping out, 2 nights at the lighthouse 5 max: 12 $250 + food
Great Ocean Walk Otways coast Bushwalk heading west from Apollo Bay, camping in designated sites. 5 max: 20 $110 + food
Cradle Mountain Cradle Mountain NP, Tasmania Classic 70 km week long wilderness bushwalk 7 max: 11 $550 + food
Snowy Mountain Ride Howqua River (near Mansfield) Horse Riding along the Howqua river, staying in cabins. 5 max: 20 $650
Surf Camp Anglesea Sufing, Sea kayaking, staying in a caravan park. Professional Instruction 5 mas: 20 $400
On Ya Bike Phillip Island to Buchan The very well run Great Victorian Bike Ride: Organised by Bicycle Victoria 9 max: 10 $650 (includes a new bike!)

School Based Activities
Photomicroscopy, botanical drawing, excursions to (for example) Werribee Gorge and the Dandenongs, local excursions.

Up the Creek

This was a fantastic trip in 2006. We drive nearly to the South Australian border, then meander down the river over 5 days. We have professional guides, who also supply the canoes and other necessary equipment. Every night we camp by the river. The trip is not intensely physically demanding, but does require some fitness.

Out to the Islands

A great success in 2006. See here for a full report with lots of pictures. Students will have a swim test and be involved with a training day before the trip. The trip requires some fitness, but is not overly demanding. Nooramunga Marine park comprises many islands e.g. Snake, Little Snake, Sunday, Clonmel and St Margaret Islands. This area is remote with amazing views over to the east coast of Wilsons Promontory and an abundance of bird life and native flora. Great camp sites and opportunities to explore most islands.

Walk to the bottom of Australia

Wilson's Prom is a world famous National Park, and the walk we will undertake visits some of the best known parts of the prom. We will camp some nights, and spend two nights at the lighthouse - near the southernmost point of the mainland. The distances walked each day are easily achievable. We will prepare our own food each night. There is lots of further information on the web, including at Parks victoria.

Great Ocean Walk

A terrific walk last year. About 50 kilometres total distance, heading out of Apollo Bay, and ending up near Johannah Beach. We carry all our stuff, and have very little to do with civilization. For a complete report, with lots of pictures, check here. Not huge distances, we had lots of time to swim, read, talk, sit, and play charades.

Cradle Mountain

Possibly Australia's most popular walk. 70 kilometres of amazing wilderness. Side trips to Mt Ossa, the tallest mountain in Tassie.Typically, we camp, but huts along the way are options if the weather is foul, and if we can find a spot inside. The distances each day are quite achievable, but a little training certainly helps. The main website is here. Information about this walk is all over the web. A fantastic achievement. Unforgettable.

Snowy Mountain Ride

Princes Hill has been horseriding with Watson's up near Mansfield for years. The week long rides start near the Watsons property, go up over the range and into the Howqua valley. We stay in simple cabins. Some experience helps, but is not really required as such. The trips are always extremely well run.

Surf Camp

The surf camp is an established part of the year 9 and year 10 program. With outside expertise, students learn to surf, and then learn some more advanced techniques. They will also be able to undertake some seakayaking. We stay in a caravan park, and there is always lots on the go.

On Ya Bike

This will be the third year in a row for Princes Hill going on the GVBR. It's a fantastic trip, and like the others, very achievable. We get up early, but tend to arrive in camp with plenty of time. There's lot of company from other schools and friendly civilians. The feeling of achievement is terrific. A full account of last year's trip is here - lots of photos and a description of what happened.