Plumpton High School - Bronze The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia Adventurous Journey 2026

26 May 2026

Thank you to Black Diamond Adventures who had the pleasure of taking 103 of our Year 9 Plumpton High School students on their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey. Across the three days, the group hiked and camped in the Royal and Heathcote National Parks, managing steep terrain and wet weather.

Starting at Waterfall, the students hiked north toward Heathcote Scout Camp via the Kingfisher Pools and the Mooray Track. This section required them to quickly adapt to uneven terrain while navigating steady rain. The students handled the wet conditions exceptionally well, learning crucial skills for managing their gear and keeping their equipment dry. After a final push along the fire trail to Battery Causeway and into camp, the groups settled into the scout halls for the evening, swapping stories, staying dry and cooking their first expedition meal on their Trangia stoves.

As the rain cleared on day two, the groups shifted to day packs and divided up to explore different areas of the Royal National Park. Their routes took them down to Kangaroo Creek and Karloo Pools, requiring the students to manage steep descents before tackling a final uphill climb back to camp. With a clearing between the rain the year group spent their final evening outside cooking dinner around their campfires. The students spent time reflecting on the past two days and getting ready for one final hike the next day.

The last day began early, with groups heading out by 7:00am to make the most of the morning. They navigated down to Kangaroo Creek and continued onto Audley Weir. Despite sore feet and legs, the students pushed through to the finish, arriving with a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

The Plumpton High students should be incredibly proud of their efforts over the three days. They supported one another constantly, and it was great to see their confidence grow as they embraced the challenges of the trail. They handled their first expedition exceptionally well and have built a strong foundation for their future Award levels.

Big thank you to Ms. McKenzie, Mr. Canning, Ms. Gordon for leading our Duke of Ed program and to Mr. Clarke, Ms. Nicholson and Ms. Bartlett for supporting the students on the AJ. Also, to The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia for their ongoing support of our school and program.

Tim Lloyd, Principal

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