Schools

The Property

Riverwood Downs is a 750-acre cattle breeding property with 15 acres of parkland and 5 kilometres of river frontage. The variety of land uses, topography, dams, and the mountain river create an excellent natural habitat, making the property ideal for art, agriculture, geography and environmental studies. It also provides a beautiful environment for any camp program, from peer support to music.

Accommodation and Facilities

The Bunkhouse Lodge is a complex built especially for the school and youth market. As its centrepiece, it has a large 500m2 activity building with a large stage at one end and a magnificent rural outlook. The lodge has 28 bunkrooms with 4 bunks in each and sleeps 112 people. Twenty-one of the rooms open directly into the central hall, making students easily supervised. The remaining 7 rooms and a staff/common room are attached to the main complex by a covered walkway, which makes all facilities comfortable to use whatever the weather. A separate teachers' lounge room and ensuite are available for exclusive teachers' use. The rooms are also air-conditioned and heated.

Equipment

We provide you with a huge activities hall, flood-lit campfire area, walking trails, nature treasure hunt sheets and programmed access to canoes. 

Activities

Whilst your staff conducts the camp program and activities, an activities suggestion sheet is also available. We have developed a wide range of activities for overseas visiting school groups, which you may use - call us if you would like our assistance.

Directions

Coming from the south, take the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle. 

20 km north of Raymond Terrace, turn left onto the "Bucketts Way" towards Stroud and Gloucester. Go through Stroud and 17 km north of Stroud, turn left at the sign to "Monkerai", and follow the signs 8 km to "Riverwood Downs". If you are coming from any other direction, please call us, and we will email you directions. Riverwood Downs is accessible by coach all year round.

Catering

Riverwood Downs is legendary for the quality of its meals!

We include three delicious and hearty meals a day in our tariff. Teachers' drinks included in the tariff are soft drinks, tea and coffee. We provide all plates, cutlery and crockery and do the washing up.

Teachers and supervisors can eat separately with table service for all meals, whilst our staff look after the students at meal times, giving teachers three "student-free" breaks each day.

For a complimentary school pack or further information, please get in touch with our Schools Coordinator:

Ph: (02) 49947112

Email: events@riverwooddowns.com.au

Information for Educational and Recreational Group Organisers

We can provide you with a risk assessment for all activities.

Swimming

Swimming areas in the river can be marked out and supervised.

Canoeing

Canoes are available. The park has 2kms of accessible canoeing water. Canoeing is an optional extra; additional charges apply.

Bushwalking

Riverwood Downs covers 750 acres and has an abundance of interesting walking trails. Walks can take in open cattle country, on the riverbank and by the large dams with water life or timbered country where flora and fauna.

Orienteering

Open, undulating country that is ideal for your orienteering course, whether it is short or long.

Team Games

The park has plenty of open, well-kept areas suitable for social cricket, football, softball, etc.

Drama, Dance and Music

The large stage in the Activities Building is ideal for practising drama, dance or music. The 650 square metre dance floor is perfect for your dance, aerobics, yoga or similar activities or workshops.

Camp Fires

There is plenty of firewood for you to collect on the farm. An evening by the campfire to chat or sing along could highlight your program.

Nature Studies

A wide variety of flora - from the delicate maidenhair fern to tall eucalypts and white cedars are on-site. Fauna also abounds with wallabies, possums and many other marsupials. Platypus live in the river and are seen most days. The elusive Eastern Quoll are often seen at night, and the birdlife along the river is truly magnificent. A forestry officer can be organised to conduct educational walks by arrangement.

Ecology

The diverse terrain and the harmonious mingling of different land uses, like the farm and the undisturbed bushland, make Riverwood Downs an ideal subject for ecological studies of land- and water-based ecosystems.

History

The historic village of Stroud, settled in 1826, is 25km away. It has many historic buildings and convict-built underground silos. An active historical society welcomes visitors and can arrange conducted tours of the village. The Monkerai Bridge over the Karuah River was built in 1877. It is the oldest wooden truss bridge in NSW, and the bridge is within walking distance of Riverwood Downs.

Geography

Riverwood Downs nestles in the foothills of five State Forests with Barrington Tops National Park, Chichester Dam and several nearby river systems. A day coach trip can take you to the Forest, National Park, Chichester Dam, mountain rivers and waterfalls.

Geology

Many landforms, from river beds and flats to vertical rock cliffs, are all situated on Riverwood Downs within walking distance of the Bunkhouse Lodge. We also have some different soil types and interesting rock formations.

Agricultural Studies

The park is situated on a working cattle property, and a talk and demonstration of some of the different facets of cattle husbandry can be arranged. A premier NSW High School uses Riverwood Downs as its farm study base for the HSC.

For a complimentary School Pack or further information, please get in touch with our Schools Coordinator:

Ph: (02) 49947112

Email: events@riverwooddowns.com.au

We look forward to welcoming you to Riverwood Downs!