Gold Excursions
Bathurst Goldfields
Bathurst Goldfields tours are designed to meet the requirements of the primary
HSIE gold syllabus. Each school receives a full set of teachers notes prior to their visit.
Bathurst Goldfields has a range of interactive hands on learning experiences to be had including: -
- Professional tour guides to take you back in time to the 1850's to experience life as it would have been for gold miners and their families.
- Explore an underground gold mine.
- Pan for real gold.
- Making mud bricks.
- View an historic working steam engine.
- Helping the blacksmith (viewing the forge at work).
History Hill
Famous for it's award winning, unparalleled unique collection of Australian Gold Rush Artefacts. A 2 hour visit includes The Museum, Stamper Batteries and Underground Mine. Lunch and souvenir sales are also on site.
Combine a History Hill tour with a Village History and Gold fields tour, a Gold Panning tour and Hill End becomes the complete goldfields excursion package.
Hill End Ranch
The Hill End Ranch Educational tours have been professionally collated to present the story of the NSW gold rush, gold mining and The Historic Village of Hill End for students from primary to tertiary and post grad groups. It is an exciting format with emphasis on hands on activities.
Other Attractions Available
Rossmore Park Sheep and Cattle Drome
Not only a great accommodation venue for your Gold excursion but offers an educational experience not everyone has experienced.
See the famous Sheep and Cattle Show and some of the leading breeds of the central tablelands. Try your hand at milking, see shearing, learn about the farm and animals. Take a hay ride around the farm. Night entertainment includes bush dances and visiting the observatory to study the stars.
Jenolan Caves
Take the guess work out of developing work units - Jenolan Caves Trust can offer your school; with an overnight package, a copy of the " Jenolan Caves - The Multimedia Experience" as well as a 60 page study guide or disk upon arrival.
The CD Rom is student friendly and includes maps, cave information and historical photographs. It includes a description on cave formation, bush walks and notes on the European discovery of the caves. The study guide includes information work sheets and programs for primary as well as secondary students.
Jenolan is renowned for it's spectacular beauty. School groups can choose from several cave tours, which can be tailored to emphasise history, geology or a specific study requirement. Presentations can be given by trained guides on a range of topics either in the cave, classroom or bush setting.
Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
This
unique fossil and mineral gallery allows you to travel through time,
experiencing the wonder of ancient specimens that have been uncovered
from deep within the earth.
This contemporary Museum, in an
historic building, houses a collection of fossils and minerals that are
millions, even billions of years, old.
Hartley Village
At the foot of Victoria Pass 120kms west of Sydney. Hartley Village is a fine example of a small 19th Centuary settlement.
Guide tours of the village are available through the NPWS Information centre at Hartley Historic site.
NPWS Discovery Tours
Discovery tours can address the following key areas.
- HSIE Stage2 State and National Parks
- HSIE Stage 3 Rainforests
- Aboriginal studies
- Geography - Landforms, Human impacts on environment and Tourism
- Personal Development - Health plus physical Education
Cost are realistic and varies with each activity. Book a Blue Mountains Discovery Ranger and tour and expand your students experiences of the natural and cultural environment.
Mt Piper Power Station
Mt Piper's state of the art design and technology makes Mt Piper Power Station a safe efficient environmentally clean energy source. See how it all works at the energy expo. Station tours are also available.
Scenic World
Ride into the valley on the Sceniscender under teacher supervision and be introduced to some special features around the boardwalk with Monty - the Mountain Devil (on the information boards).
Walk the boardwalk and meet in the rainforest room for teachers to address issues of their choice. Return to the top via the Scenic Railway.
A 45 min scenic world presentation is also available, looking at : -
- Why the Blue Mountains are special and about their features
- Managing the Blue Mountains National Park
- Present and potential problems
- Human impact and it's environment
The Edge
A Giant movie screen can provide a comprehensive Educational Experience catering for History, Geography, Science and Aboriginal Studies curriculum specifics.
Zig Zag Railway
A major part of Australia's railway heritage, this engineering masterpiece of the 19th Century was built between 1866 - 69 and was claimed as a major construction feat.
Take a ride of the steam train visit the steam workshops. Take a journey back in history to the time of coal fires, steam engines and compartment carriages.
Miss Traill's House - Bathurst
Miss Traill's House was built by the Reverent Thomas Sharpe in 1885 and is one of the oldest houses in Bathurst. Over the years her home became filled with family treasures that reflect Bathurst's pastoral heritage. Using family treasures as a theme, the program involves an interactive opportunity for students to explore ideas about family and community heritage.
More attractions...
Small Arms Museum
State Mine and Heritage Park Lithgow
Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
