Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions
Discover the spirit of adventure and discovery with Barrington Outdoor Adventure Centre. Our Duke of Edinburgh programs provide a safe yet challenging journey in a spectacular natural environment.
BOAC offers practice and qualifying expeditions at all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Programs are carefully designed and structured to provide a clear progression of achievement for participants from the Bronze to Silver to Gold awards.
We offer programs in walking and mountain biking and specialize in white water canoeing and kayaking programs.
Expedition Duration
• Bronze Practice and qualifying journeys 2 days, 1 night
• Silver Practice and qualifying journeys 3 days, 2 nights
• Gold Practice and qualifying journeys 4 days, 3 nights
Expedition Disciplines
• Flat water and white water canoeing
• Mountain biking
• Flat water and white water kayaking
• Bush walking
Areas of Operation
• Barrington River
• Barrington Tops National Park
• Manning River
• Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
• Hawkesbury River
• Myall Lakes
• Gloucester
• Snowy River
• Blue Mountains
Professional Standards
• BOAC operate to strict ratios of one qualified and experienced guide to every 6 canoes, every 8 kayaks, every 10 mountain bikes, and every 12 bush walkers
• BOAC guides and instructors are fully qualified and have extensive experience in Australia and around the world
• All BOAC programs are meticulously planned and documented to ensure quality service and the highest of safety standards
• At BOAC, we pride ourselves on using quality and current equipment
• BOAC carries $10,000,000 liability insurance for all services provided
Bronze Practice Expedition
Location: Myall Lakes
Program: Two days canoeing on flat water. Students will learn basic canoeing skills while journeying from one site to another. Students will learn how to transport camping equipment in canoes and how to navigate from the water.
Bronze Test Expedition
Location: Barrington River – Poley’s Place to Bulliac
Program: Three days canoeing on Grade 1 water on the Barrington River. Students will progress from flat water skills to moving water skills while journeying from Poley's Place to Bulliac. As a test expedition, students will be in charge of their own expedition and will be required to navigate, determine lunch locations, and maintain equipment. Guides will provide instruction and safety.
Silver Practice Expedition
Location: Barrington River – Never Never to Kia Ora
Program: Students will have 3 days and 2 nights of canoeing and camping on the Barrington River between Bindera and Kia Ora. The expedition will focus on skills development, river reading and river safety. Due to the layout of the river, students will be progressing up river each day. Therefore, students will not be camping out of their boats but will develop camp craft skills when not on the water.
Silver Test Expedition
Location: Manning River – Bretti Reserve to Tiri Bridge
Students will journey from Bretti Reserve to Tiri Bridge on Grade 2 water. The Manning River will provide an unfamiliar environment for students to test their navigation and river reading skills. Students will be camping out of their canoes and be responsible for all aspects of their journey with support from guides and teachers.
Gold Practice Expedition
Location: Barrington River – Cobark Junction to Barrington Reserve
Program: The gold practice expedition will be held on the Barrington River and will involve intensive skills development training for the Gold Test Expedition.
- Day 1: Students will revise basic skills and journey from Rocky Crossing to Poley's Place.
- Day 2: Students will paddle Grade 2 water in canoes from Cobark to Bindera
- Day 3: Bindera to Rocky Crossing including The Steps rapids
- Day 4: Repeat Bindera to The Cove. Repeating the last section of the river will allow students to practice their skills on some of the harder rapids and focus on improving their performance from the previous day.
Students will camp at a base camp for this expedition, in order to progress from easier to harder rapids over the four days. They will not be required to transport their equipment in the canoes and, therefore, will be free to focus on skills development and river reading.
Gold Test Expedition
Location: Snowy River
Program: The gold test expedition will involve four days white water canoeing on the Snowy River. Students will journey from McKillops Bridge on Grade 2-3 water.
This expedition will require extensive planning by the students on what to bring. They will also need to plan water management, navigation, portaging, camping.
A planning workshop would be held at the school prior to the expedition to allow students to prepare. As with previous test expeditions, students will run their own program with support and safety from guides and teachers.