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Stars & Safari Road Trip

Road trip!! Join us in October as we take our first Simply Homeschool road trip! We'll be travelling from Parkes to Coonabarabran and having a whole heap of fun along the way. Our road trip is the perfect combination of excursions and free time. Your kids will have a ball! You can meet us at any point along our trip, or why not join us for the lot?! We've got so much good stuff planned.

When: October 20 - November 1

So what will we be doing?*

Day 1: We'll meet in Parkes and settle in for the next few days. Pitch your tent, set up the camper or unpack in your cabin. At night we'll have a firepit going to gather around and get to know each other. 

Day 2: It's off to the Pakes Radio Telescope for us. The iconic Dish! We'll learn about radio astronomy and explore the observatory.

Day 3: We're off to the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum. We'll have a guided tour and the kids will have an opportunity step inside the aircrafts and even sit in the cock pit!

Day 4: It's time to pack up because the animals are calling us...we're off to Dubbo! It's about an hour and a half drive. We'll unpack and say hi again to our new friends. 

Day 5 & 6: We'll have two days at the spectactular safari style open-range Taronga Western Plains Zoo including a tour of the wildlife hospital! Interestingly a former WW2 army camp, the Dubbo zoo is 300 hectares of open woodlands and grasslands home to over 700 animals: lions, elephants, rhinos...oh my!

Day 7: We'll be visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service today to learn about the inspiring and life-saving work of the doctors, nurses, dentists, and other health specialists who provide critical care to remote Australians. The kids will have an opportunity to explore the inside of a medical aircraft and see replica clinic rooms.

Day 8: We'll have a guided tour of the Old Dubbo Goal. A 19th century prison, the Old Dubbo Goal is an immersive museum that uses theatrical performances to really bring the prison-life experience to life!! This one is going to be great!

Day 9: Pack the car, we're off to Coonabarabran! It's about an hour and 45 minute drive to our final destination. Along the way, make sure to keep an eye out for signs marking the world's largest virtual solar system (only 38 million times smaller!) and track the planets' distances from the sun. At night, we'll camp in Australia's only Dark Sky Park under the beauty of the night sky.

Day 10: We're heading to Milroy Observatory this morning to observe the sun and learn about the solar system with our astronomer guide, Donna.

Day 11: We're crossing our fingers for a clear night tonight because we have a date with the stars in the Warrumbungles National Park! We'll be taken on a star-gazing journey by our astronomer guide, Branioc.

Day 12: Ever been to an emu farm? Us neither! Today we will.

Day 13: Our last day :( We'll gather together for breakfast, exchange contact details with new friends and pack the car. We'll head home, a little exhausted no doubt, but also full of wonderful shared experiences and memories.

So what do you think? Want to join us? Register here.

How much does it cost? 

You have the option to:

• register for the complete camp, which includes all three locations (receive a 5% discount at checkout), or
• choose to register for any combination of the three locations.

The first adult and children aged 0-4 are FREE! Yay! Then:

Simply Homeschool Member prices are first and Non-Member prices are in brackets. Please note, camp fees do not include accommodation.

	Full Camp	Parkes	Dubbo	Coona'n
1st child	$513 ($570)	$115 ($135)	$265 ($285)	$160 ($180)
2nd child	$432.25 ($489.25)	$100 ($120)	$220 ($240)	$135 ($155)
3rd child	$361 ($418)	$85 ($105)	$185 ($205)	$110 ($130)
4th+ child	$289.75 ($250)	$70 ($90)	$140 ($160)	$95 ($115)
Additional adult	$154.85	$28	$107	$28

 

Camp fees are per child, including entry to all activities and a camp 2024 t-shirt transfer. The first adult is not required to pay camp fees but must supervise their children at all times for all activities.

Camps fees do not include accommodation. Click here for accommodation options.

*Itinerary is subject to change. 

**Children must be from the same immediate family, and all family members must be included in a single booking.

Come and join us! It's going to a blast! Register here.