ACTIVITIES
At Kangaroobie, you can immerse yourself in the local Indigenous culture, explore the stunning coastal landscapes through beach hikes, learn bush cooking techniques, experience the magic of camping in nature, go on thrilling canoeing adventures along the Gellibrand River, engage with farm life and interact with animals, discover the region’s geography, and participate in exciting activities like obstacle courses, survival challenges, and surfing. Our programs offer an enriching and memorable experience that combines education, exploration, and adventure in a remarkable natural setting.
Kangaroobie is a working 850 hectare farm which stocks 500 Simmental and Angus cattle, plus 500 sheep – grown for their carpet-grade wool.
There’s no gimmicks attached to this activity. At Kangaroobie we like our guests to understand the basic management of farming in our environment.
Groups work with the farmer on day-to-day work such as feeding cows and pigs, and also help out with seasonal work such as mustering sheep, shearing sheep, and assisting with calving cows.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
The ultimate Kangaroobie Challenge!! A huge obstacle course that is both challenging and heaps of fun – students are guaranteed to get wet and muddy, and have the time of their lives!
With obstacles to negotiate like the Typhoon Tunnel, the Maze of Mystery, the Hurdles of Horror and the Mudpit of Misery the course is a test of speed and teamwork that students tackle in pairs.
A great new addition to the Kangaroobie program and one that students will need to have a change of clothes for. It’s fantastic!
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
Just like on TV’s Survivor, two tribes will battle it out in challenges – like Blind Man’s Bluff, Toss and Tumble, or the Donuts of Death – to see which tribe has the ultimate team work to win the points. No one gets voted out but it is a great team activity with a few possible twists along the way.
Watch the Survivor Challenge video
Canoeing in the Gellibrand River – a 1½ hour activity, which students of all ages adore, is led by a qualified instructor. We use two-person Canadian canoes, and the expressions of sheer enjoyment on students’ faces tells the story of how much fun this is. Each student is fitted with a buoyancy vest for this activity.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
Life or Death is an exciting activity about survival of the fittest. Students are put into three teams – herbivore, carnivore or disease – those who manage to avoid the enemy and find enough water to survive win.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
GPS Adventures (or Get Lost!) is a small group challenge activity that relies on initiative, team work and the ability to communicate effectively.
Using a camera, a radio and a GPS, students must navigate around to five different challenges.
At each point they complete a task and then radio through to home base for their next checkpoint.
Working together is essential!
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
The hike to the magnificent Princetown beach is a great full or half day activity for groups. Starting with an exciting raft crossing of the Gellibrand River, a hike through the Great Otway National Park and then fantastic activities like sand castle competitions, sand dune jumping, beach flags, ball games and general beach fun.
The beach is truly spectacular with its towering cliff and expansive estuary – one of the areas many hidden gems.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
Camping out creates a range of great experiences for students by taking them away from their usual creature comforts. Instead they have the opportunity to reconnect with nature in a very practical way – such as cooking dinner on a campfire, and pitching tents.
Watching the brilliant night sky, stars, planets, satellites and the Milky Way over the Southern Ocean is unsurpassed.
Camping Kangaroobie-style has got a real sense of exclusivity about it. School groups can camp in private bushland within the Kangaroobie property or at Princetown Recreation Reserve.
The latter option gives students a real journey of discovery.
Students raft the Gellibrand River, hike a section of the Great Otway National Park, and then set up their campsites at Princetown.
There are purposed-built amenity blocks at Princetown. The campground is set behind the Princetown beach dunes. Ecologically, the Princetown campsite is a fascinating environment with immediate access to spectacular coastal scenery with towering sea cliffs, a beautiful beach, it’s where the Gellibrand River mouth meets the ocean, and there are hundreds of acres of wetlands which are teaming with fish and birds. Echidnas are often seen at Princetown, scrambling through the coastal heath. Kangaroos and wallabies can be spied grazing at sunrise and dusk.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
A great activity that brings the joy of cooking food over an open fire to reality.
Simple fare like damper with melted butter and jam or more complex creations like bush donuts (ask us for the recipe – they’re scrumptious) are prepared and cooked by the students.
One of life’s true pleasures!
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
Earthquakes, rainstorms and sleeping in the bush – all hardships to overcome in the hut building activity as groups work together to build the best looking, sturdiest huts out materials they find in the bush.
A fascinating teamwork activity that gives some good insights into the way some people behave within smaller groups.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
The Gellibrand River snakes through Kangaroobie before opening into the Southern Ocean at Princetown and gives geography students the perfect opportunity to study a dynamic river system.
Gellibrand River’s catchment includes eucalypt forests and cleared agricultural land. Significantly, in a time of global warming and protracted droughts, the Gellibrand River catchment boasts the highest rainfall in Victoria.
Although the Gellibrand River has the reputation of being one of the most ecologically healthy rivers in Victoria, some people are concerned by increasing and further proposed extractions for rural and urban use, which could place significant pressure and stress on the system.
Kangaroobie’s Matt Bowker who spent much of his childhood swimming and fishing in the Gellibrand River, is actively involved in monitoring the health of the system as a volunteer member of EstuaryWatch.
A trained Environmental Science teacher, Matt writes practical education programs on the Gellibrand River System that meet key learning points for river study subjects aimed at students in years eight to 11.
“The Gellibrand River is a great place to see and study the basic geography and geology of a river system – we study erosion, siltation, seasonal flooding, deposition, and hydrology,” Matt said.
“Students have the opportunity to undertake water quality testing, including oxygen levels, salinity and temperature.”
Matt recalls how the Gellibrand in flood affected his childhood.
“Mum used to drop us off on one side of the flood and my sister and I would jump in a canoe, paddle to the other side and our neighbour would then drive us to the bus stop. It was a funny way of getting to school’’.
He has dozens of happy memories of the Gellibrand as a great spot for canoeing, swimming and catching eels.
“We’d make a little fire and cook them up on the riverbank. I’ve got a great affection for the river and it’s great to be able to pass that onto my three young children and the people who come and stay with us at Kangaroobie.
“There are Aboriginal middens there, which are archaeological deposits of kitchen refuse built up over hundreds of years, so the Aboriginal people obviously saw this as a pretty special place too’’.
This activity is available in the Education Program only.
Surfing
What We Offer:
Tailored for Beginners and Intermediates: Whether students are first-time surfers or have some experience, our qualified instructors will teach them how to handle themselves and their surfboards in the ocean. They’ll also learn to assess surf conditions and identify potential risks.
Experienced Instructors: Our professional coaches are there to support all levels of surfing ability, ensuring students feel safe and confident as they hit the waves. They’ll answer any surf-related questions and guide each student to success.
All Equipment Provided: We provide everything your students need for a great session in the water. This includes soft, stable surfboards designed for safety and performance, as well as high-quality Rip Curl and Quiksilver wetsuits to keep them warm. Brightly colored rash vests ensure easy identification in the water.
Safety First: Surf safety and ocean awareness are core parts of our instruction. Students will learn about currents, rips, and how to stay safe in the surf zone while still having a blast.
Programs for School Camps:
- Flexible Options: Surfing can easily be integrated into your camp 3 0r 5 day schedule. We offer structured lessons that cater to the needs of your group, ensuring every student gets the most out of their time in the water.
Why Surfing? Taking your students surfing is not just about learning a new skill—it’s about building confidence, promoting physical activity, and creating memorable camp experiences. Surfing encourages perseverance, boosts self-esteem, and connects students with nature in a unique and powerful way.
This activity is available in the Five Day Program & the Three Day Program.
Aboriginal Interpretation
Aboriginal interpretation is available at Kangaroobie and at Tower Hill, near Warrnambool, through the Worn Gundidj cooperative. A wonderful educational activity we highly recommend this as an addition to your camp program. It gives the students a greater understanding of the traditional owners of the land on which Kangaroobie stands.
Staff can guide students on a range of topics including Music and Language, Traditional Games, Hunting and Gathering, or Traditional Dance.
The Aboriginal interpretation program is available at an additional cost – please contact us for the current cost per student for this activity.
Visit the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative website for more details.
*Contact us for availability
Mountain bikes – Awesome! Available in Apollo Bay, this is challenging and lots of fun.
