FLYING FOX Whoosh through the trees on our 165 metre flying fox situated 20 minutes walk from the Lodge in Bellbird Clearing. Our Flying Fox is an exhilarating and challenging experience. All flyers are securely and safely harnessed to a pulley system and descend at the end via a 5-metre abseil. Our instructors are responsible for attaching flyers to the pulley, but the descending and subsequent recycling of the pulley requires teamwork. It is possible to introduce other challenges on the flying fox including blindfolds, night flying and the incorporation of it as part of a circuit of initiative games.
LOW ROPES COURSE A series of wires and ropes set up in the trees (about 30-50cm high) where the children work in small groups to help each person achieve personal goals (e.g. balance, trust, communication) while getting across the activities. Recommended for 9 years and above.
HIGH ROPES COURSE The High Ropes increases the challenge by elevating the activity 5-7 metres above the ground. There are three elements of varying degrees of difficulty. Each involves ascending a rope ladder and completing a traverse of a cable or ladder between trees. Participants are in a harness and attached to a safety line operated by one of our guides or preferably, two of the other team members. Training is given in the operation of safety ropes. The High Ropes tests trust between team members as well as the team’s ability to provide moral support and engender enthusiasm. Individuals are challenged to a high degree by the height and the difficulty. This is an excellent activity for groups with physically active people but is also suitable for groups that need to be challenged outside their comfort zone.
ROGAINING “Cunning Running” – this popular adventure sport tests groups ability to make decisions and negotiate differences of opinions and utilise various group strengths. The challenge involves reading a detailed map of the Binna Burra area with the aim of finding a route around the tracks to locate markers in the most efficient and fastest way possible. Variations on our Rogaine Course can include initiative games and other incidents en route. One advantage of rogaining is that participants remain on the ground and the ability to walk is the only pre-requisite.
INITIATIVE GAMES These games vary according to the needs of the students. The objective of all of these initiative games is to test a group’s ability to respond to the challenge of a problem that is completely removed from the normal tasks. Most are not threatening in a physical sense and are therefore suitable for all groups.
These games are presented individually or as part of a more complex scenario involving rogaining, bushwalking, or a series of initiative games. The range of initiative games is endless but the following are a sample of some of the popular ones.
Billy on a Pinnacle, The
Islands, Blind Leading the Blind, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES:
Eco talk – Binna Burra Mountain Lodge is a recognised world leader in Eco-tourism practices. There is a group discussion and tour of the lodge operations. You will learn why we are “Advanced Eco-Tourism” accredited with
Earth walk – a guided walk in the rainforest using the five senses to discover and learn about the intimacies of the natural environment rather than facts and figures. Recommended for all ages.
Senses Trail – A chance for the children to lead/guide their blindfolded friends in small groups, along a track that has a rope as a guide and use their senses again. A great group work activity where they are also discovering the rainforest in their own way. Recommended for all ages.
Dip netting – The children will research and inspect the residents of the small pond in Bellbird clearing. Using nets they try to find the animals that live there and work out what type of water we have running down from the mountains. Recommended for children 9-12 years.
Other team activities include initiative games run by our Guest activity staff, Outback art, and bush survival.
NIGHT ACTIVITIES
- Spotlight walk investigating nocturnal animals with special red filtered spotlights
- Campfire night with billy tea, damper and story telling.
- Full moon flying fox
- Trivia and quiz nights
