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School excursion

Special Offer

Crossing the Blue Mountains

Stage 2 (Years 3-4), HSIE, Blue Mountains National Park

Overview

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Crossing the Blue Mountains is a Stage 2 (Years 3-4) school excursion focusing on HSIE. Students will be immersed in Australian colonial history with stories of the early explorers and the physical evidence of Cox's Road, on this historically significant Blue Mountains walk.

Read more about Crossing the Blue Mountains

Students will explore the original road made by Cox and his convict men that first crossed the Blue Mountains in 1814, and hear about the first attempts made by European explorers to cross the Blue Mountains and the successful crossing by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson.

For program outline, safety and practical information about this excursion, see info for teachers

Stage Stage 2 (Years 3-4)
Key learning area HSIE
Student outcomes

HT2-2. Describes and explains how significant individuals, groups and events contributed to changes in the local community over time

HT2-4. Describes and explains effects of British colonisation in Australia

HT2-5. Applies skills of historical inquiry and communication
Objectives

Students will:

  • Understand changes to the new British colony with the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans
  • Discover who were the early explorers of the Blue Mountains
  • Discuss how explorers attempted to cross the Blue Mountains
  • Identify the Aboriginal traditional owners of this land
  • Recognise how local Aboriginal people may have experienced the crossing of the Blue Mountains by early European explorers
  • Listen to stories of the early explorers’ experiences
  • Examine the physical evidence of the original Cox's Road
  • Talk about then and now
  • Investigate ways in which Aboriginal and European people adapted to this environment
  • Identify animal and plant life that may have provided food.

Excursion details

When

Monday to Friday during school term.

Where
Blue Mountains National Park
Duration
2hrs
Grading
Easy. Short 1km ranger-guided bush walk and activities, includes uneven surfaces in the bushland environment.
Price

$295 per group for up to 20 students. Additional Park staff will be required for groups of over 20 students at extra cost. Price includes GST.

Accessibility
Medium
Meeting point
Mount York Lookout.
Equipment
provided
No. We can provide teachers a selection of student worksheet questions prior to excursion.
Booking
If you would like to organise a NPWS school excursion please get in touch with local staff or use the 'Enquire' link for the online form.
Enquire now
Enquire now

Operated by

Park info

  • in Blue Mountains National Park in the Sydney and surrounds and Country NSW regions

  • Blue Mountains National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger. Some parts of the park close overnight; details are provided for specific attractions.

  • Park entry fees:

    $8 per vehicle per day applies only at attractions in the Glenbrook area.

    Buy annual pass

Links

Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Jeremy Little/OEH