Preparatory Tour Programme – Winter 2019
Nature Trail is pleased to offer the following Preparatory Tour Programme for the Winter 2019 season (Jun, July, August).
| Date(s) | Day(s) | Tour ..Code.. | Tour Title |
Activity | Trip Version | Guest Price |
| 1,2 Jun | Sat, Sun | MR-HBC | Hawkesbury Berowra Central Coast | Multi-Day Road Touring | Scouting | $0 |
| 3 Jun | Mon, Tue | MR-HVU | Hunter Valley Ulan | Multi-Day Road Touring | Scouting | $0 |
| 4 Jun | Tue, Wed | MR-BVW | The Bylong Valley Way | Multi-Day Road Touring | Scouting | $0 |
| 13 Jun | Thu | TC-GCH | The Gully’s Cultural Heritage | Walking Interpretative Tour -Aboriginal Site Guide, Bush Tucker | Pro Bono | $20 |
| 4 Aug | Sun | BH-HVH | Hartley Valley Heritage | Backroads & Heritage | Practice | $30 |
| 20 Aug | Tue | HK-NCH | Narrowneck Castle Head | Half Day Hiking Tour | Scouting | $0 |
If you wish to enquire about participating on any of these tours, then please contact Steve to discuss as early as possible.
Enquiries: 1300 355 133
Currently Non-Commercial: Nature Trail is a new start up business undergoing the final stages of commercialisation, including acquiring an Eco-Pass to be able to commercially operate within the Blue Mountains National Park. So we are not yet operating commercially.
So currently we only offer our tours on a private basis, at no commercial charge, except for nominal contributions toward direct costs of fuel, meals and entry fees as incurred.
Participant Suitability: In order to ensure tour safety and to comply with our insurance risk management policy, tour participants need to:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be fully able bodied, and have a good level of health and fitness
- Accept self-catering costs responsibility – gear, food, snacks, drinking water
- Wear suitable clothing and carry required items relevant to the intended tour
- Pre-pay specified direct tour costs – fuel, meals, site access fees, site guide fees, as incurred.
Registration: Preparatory Tours are available to only registered ‘Friends of Nature Trail’, a group of ‘friends’ whom we have come to know who have registered their interest and particulars with Nature Trail for participation on regular Nature Trail tours on an ongoing basis.
In order to participate on any Nature Trail Private Tour, applicants are first required to complete and submit a Friends of Nature Trail Registration Form. This form requires the applicant to disclose personal information about the applicant’s health, fitness, hiking experience and medical conditions and medication, and to agree to Nature Trail’s terms and conditions. All information held in the strictest confidence in line with Nature Trail’s Privacy Policy.
We invite current and past students/staff of TAFE Outdoor Recreation and TAFE Guiding courses, who may be interested in participating, to enquire about registering
Preparatory Tour Versions:
To ensure a high standard of commercial tour delivery, Nature Trail for each tour undertakes a series of research trips in order to maximise the tour experience value by refining details before offering the tour commercially to our guests.
‘Research‘ = This is Nature Trail’s preliminary theoretical research survey of a proposed tour. It is usually undertaken at Nature Trail Base using planning tools such as our in-house tour planning forms, maps, Internet and making phone enquiries.
‘Scouting‘ = Nature Trail’s initial survey of a proposed tour design – journalling, exploring variations, schedule is flexible. No commentary, no catering, limited transfer/transport. Route is highly exploratory with many stops and starts. Participation is free of charge and available only to registered Friends of Nature Trail.
‘Recce‘ = Nature Trail’s first group test of a tour plan with a selected route and draft schedule, with journaling. No commentary, no catering, limited transfer/transport. Participation is free of charge and available only to registered Friends of Nature Trail.
‘Practice‘ = Nature Trail’s practice trip is free-of charge tour delivery to a commercial standard, following a refined tour plan, selected route and tested schedule, with limited commentary and with journaling. There is no catering, limited transfer/transport. Participation is free of charge and available only to registered Friends of Nature Trail.
Tours Confirmed: Tours and their dates above are confirmed to proceed (save unforeseen circumstances). Any tours highlighted in red above have already been completed.
Timings: Tour Departures are generally from 7am and are full-day duration finishing by about 4pm unless otherwise advised. More accurate return estimates are calculated and published on this website a few days before the tour date.
Location: All tours depart and return from Katoomba Railway Station.
Transfers: Vehicle transfers to from Nature Trail base need to be arranged with us well before the tour date ASAP. Nature Trail transfers are complimentary and our pickup/drop-off range extends from Wentworth Falls to Mount Victoria.
Tag-Along Option: Participants may wish to be independent and to tag-along in their own vehicles and after the tour to make their own arrangements – such as local lunch or to drive somewhere else. However, for safety briefing reasons all participants needs to first meet up at Nature Trail Base at the Tour Start Time.
Nature Trail anticipates offering commercial tours from late-2019.
Thank you for your ongoing interest and support.
Steve, Tour Director
