People have used navigation to connect with other places and people at Botany Bay
Stage 2
HSIE Excursion
This immersive excursion takes students to Botany Bay, Kamay, where the HMS Endeavour arrived in 1770 under Captain James Cook. Here, students follow the exact steps that Cook, Sir Joseph Banks and their crew would have walked during their first landing, exploring the landscape that shaped one of the most significant expeditions in Australia’s early history.
Students can dress in costume, re-enact parts of the expedition, and trace the original landing route taken through the coastal bushland and along the shores of Botany Bay. Along the way, they’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable environment Cook and Banks encountered and imagine what it was like to be part of this historic journey.
10am- 2pm (4 hour)
10:00-10:25am: Arrival & Recess
Settle in with morning tea and a toilet break.
10:25-10:45am: Explorer Kick-Off Show
Meet your Rangers and dive into a high-energy welcome show, with students jumping into the story through fun historical dress-ups.
10:45-11:25am: Captain Cook Explorer Walk
Step into 1770 on a coastal trek following Captain Cook’s exact landing route, with role-play, costumes, and tales from the voyage.
11:25-12:05pm: Bush Craft Engineering Challenge
Students step back to 1770 and reimagine the landscape as early explorers saw it. Inspired by Captain Cook’s diary, they work in teams to plan, design, and build their own shelters using only natural materials around them.
12:05-12:40pm: Lunch Break
12:40-1:15pm: Explorer Bush Walk
Guided along the Banks-Solander track, students experience the landscape much like early explorers did. They discover Australia’s unique plants and animals and learn what fascinated Sir Joseph Banks during his time at Botany Bay.
1:15-1:50pm: Sir Joseph Banks Sketching
Students learn who Sir Joseph Banks was and why his work mattered, then use pencils and sketch pads to draw real plant samples, just like Banks, Sydney Parkinson, and their crew did at Botany Bay in 1770.
1:50-2:00pm: Wrap-Up & Departure
HS2-ACH-01 describes Aboriginal Peoples’ obligations to Country, Culture and Community
 HS2-GEO-01 explains how people care for Australia’s environments and participate in Australian society, using geographical information
HS2-ACH-01 describes Aboriginal Peoples’ obligations to Country, Culture and Community
HS2-HIS-01 explains how people lived in the past, how navigation connected the world, and what life was like in the Sydney Cove penal settlement, using sources as evidence
People have used navigation to connect with other places and people
- Compare journeys and reasons for significant voyages of global navigation
- Describe how Willem Janszoon, Dirk Hartog, Abel Tasman, Macassan traders and Lieutenant James Cook connected the Great Southern Land or Terra Australis to the world using maps and images as sources of evidence
- Represent the journey of Bungaree and Matthew Flinders to circumnavigate Australia using maps and images as sources of evidence
- Explain how the development of navigational instruments influenced global navigation using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
- Kamay, Botany Bay
The cost of this exciting adventure is $24.00 + GST per student.
(Minimum charge x35)
This price includes:
- A fully guided full day with our enthusiastic and knowledgeable Rangers
(Think Steve Irwin meets the Ranger Jamie crew!); - A pre-completed Risk Assessment, making your planning a whole lot easier;
- Assistance sourcing bus quotes, so you’re not chasing bus companies all afternoon;
- All equipment and materials provided;
- A syllabus-aligned program, thoughtfully designed to support real learning while keeping the day fun and engaging;
- Complimentary Coffee, Tea and Tim Tams (Exclusive to the teachers!).
Choose Your Date
Step 1 of 3
Please note this is a tentative booking. After your booking request is submitted, we will be in touch via email to confirm the requested date and arrange the final details for the booking.
All prices are +GST. As this program is an educational service, all GST charged can be reimbursed in its entirety by the Government.
FAQS
How many teachers/helpers do I need on my excursion?
The more grown-up sidekicks, the better! We recommend at least one teacher/parent helper per class. No extra cost for teachers or parent helpers on this program.
What equipment/ materials do we need to bring?
Students should bring morning tea, lunch, water bottles, and any required medication. We suggest sports uniform and comfortable shoes. We supply all the materials and equipment needed for your day.
What is the your weather policy?
You can view our full policy here
We’re flexible and happy to arrange an incursion alternative or, where needed, postpone your program.
How many groups will my students be in?
We usually plan for one Ranger per 35-40 students. On the day, your students will be split into groups of that size, with a Ranger assigned to each group to guide them as they rotate through the activities.