Ever wondered exactly what happens for our Year 8 girls as they head to Central Australia as part of St Catherine’s School’s Beyond Boundaries Camp? 

Join us as a group of our Year 8 students take you on their travels through one of Australia’s most beautiful natural landscapes. 

St Catherine’s School Itinerary
Five-Day Alice Springs to Yulara Beyond Boundaries Camp

Day One: Monday 29 April
Melbourne – Alice Springs
Departing from our Qantas flight the Holland’s Adventure Holiday Coach was waiting to transfer us to the Alice Springs Desert Park where we were met by one of the Park Rangers who informed us of the enclosures, different animals, and the feeding times of the Birds of Prey.  

Our next stop was Anzac Hill where we looked down over the city and along both the West and East MacDonnell Ranges before we visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service.  

We then returned to Camp for an early dinner. After dinner Rex from Alice Springs Reptile Centre gave us a talk on some of the reptiles that live in Central Australia. We also had the chance for a hands-on experience holding some of the reptiles. 

“My time in Central Australia was filled with memorable experiences. We first went to the Zoo to watch the Birds of Prey, and later at night we watched the Reptile show. We visited Anzac Hill, a traditional ceremony that taught us about native food and plants, as well as Kings Canyon, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta. I thoroughly enjoyed the bike ride around Uluru and holding a snake for the first time. This Camp has introduced me to many new adventures.” Genevieve Le

Day Two: Tuesday 30 April
Cultural Experience – Kings Canyon   

We depart Alice Springs stopping at Erldunda for a short break then travel along the Lasseter Highway turning right onto Luritja Road making our way through the desert oak trees and along the Giles Ranges to Karrke for our cultural experience. The Traditional custodians of this area educate us on some of the ways of traditional hunting, painting, bush food and medicines. It’s now only a short drive to Kings Canyon Resort for our overnight stop.  

“I loved learning about the different Indigenous tools and plants. I found it fascinating how they would create hunting tools completely out of nature. I felt that I was much more educated on Indigenous culture after that activity.” Olga Chen  

Day Three: Wednesday 1 May
Kings Canyon – Uluru   

Up early to beat the heat for one of the best walks in Central Australia, Kings Canyon rim walk takes approximately three- and half-hours to complete.  

We take plenty of rest breaks at the lookouts into the Canyon, view the Lost City, walk into the Garden of Eden – a permanent waterhole, and view the amazing sandstone colours of the North Wall before returning to the base for lunch.  

We now start our journey to Yulara stopping at Curtain Springs Cattle Station for a short break before arriving at Yulara were we set up camp for the next two nights. Time permitting, we will travel to the sunset viewing area to watch the changing colours of Uluru as the sun sets.  

“Year 8 Central Australia Camp was an adventure I will never forget. Exploring Kings Canyon was a thrilling challenge where the steep climbs and breathtaking views were definitely a highlight.” Anya Shah 

Day Four: Thursday 2 May
Yulara-Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park  

Today we tour on group rotations. Activities include riding bikes around the base of Uluru, viewing many of the traditional sights, and visiting Mutitjulu Waterhole as our guide touches on the significance of this special cultural area. We also learn some of the history of the Anangu people, visit the Mala Walk and Kantju Gorge. We then stop off at the Cultural Centre before making our way out to Kata Tjuta to view the many and very different dome formations. We then walk along Walpa Gorge and enjoy the view of this conglomerate formation towering above us. 

“One of the best parts of camp was riding bikes around Uluru. It was amazing to feel the wind as we pedalled around the huge rock, seeing it from all angles. We also hiked at Kings Canyon, surrounded by tall cliffs and amazing views. Watching the sunset at Uluru was incredible – it turned the rock all sorts of beautiful colors, making it a perfect end to our adventure.” Sin Wai (Agness) Huang 

Day Five: Friday 3 May
Yulara – Melbourne  

The final day of Camp. We have an early visit to Yulara Centre before transferring to Yulara Airport. We depart Uluru at 12.15pm and arrive in Melbourne. Students return to St Catherine’s via bus to be collected by parents at School.   

“Camp has proven to be one of the most eventful moments of my schooling life. The burnt red dust, the endless heat, the cloudless azure sky, the quiet rippling of the waterholes. It was unlike anything I had experienced before, and almost completely unexpected. During Camp, we visited Anzac Hill, a memorial that overlooked the small town, and watched the ‘Birds of Prey’ show at the Zoo. We also took a hike up the vertiginous Kings Canyon, and took several photos of the steep cliffs and the cluster of trees that peeked underneath. The most significant place we visited was Uluru, cycling around the crimson rock (I walked), posing before it, admiring the way the polychromatic colours shifted as the sky darkened and the sun cast its dim half-light onto its rough surface. This experience made me open my eyes to the beauty of the natural world.” Amber Lim   

Learning through experience, particularly for adolescents, provides greater opportunities for connection, personal growth, and deeper understanding.  

Through our Beyond Boundaries Year 8 Camp, we aim to provide all the girls with opportunities to further develop their personal and social skills, cultural understandings, and provide a deeper knowledge of the Australian Curriculum as they explore firsthand the geography of one of Australia’s most famous and beautiful regions.  

“The two activities I enjoyed most on camp were the bike ride and the walk at Kings Canyon. It was a tiring but scenic 10km bike ride around Uluru. The walk at Kings Canyon offered amazing views and spectacular spots to take photographs! I truly loved everything we did on camp!” Charlotte Roe  

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“My highlights were definitely the Kings Canyon walk, with many places to see beautiful views from above, and opportunities to take photos with friends. Another of my favourite activities was the bike ride around the base of Uluru, with a couple of pauses throughout to learn about the significance and history behind the sacred caves, waterholes, and beautiful artwork.” Chloe Mirams 

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“Year 8 Uluru Camp was by far my favourite trip. Some of my highlights were hiking across Kings Canyon. There were amazing land formations and stunning water holes. I also loved seeing Uluru at sunset. I took so many photos and even bought an artwork. Overall, going to central Australia was a great experience.” Alie Belan   

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“Some of my highlights from the Central Australia Camp include the Kings Canyon hike, the bike ride around Uluru, the Uluru sunset, and our bus rides with Steve. They were all significant moments because everyone connected through conversation and laughter, and we all had so much fun. I made so many memories on the Camp that I will never forget.” Ruby Cashmore  

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“For me, the highlight of the Year 8 Camp to Central Australia was the food. Every day, we had breakfast with cereals, juice, and hot food, lunch that was usually a type of wrap or sandwich and a three-course dinner. My favourite meal was dinner. The best meal was when we had roasted potatoes and chicken on the second day of Camp. I particularly enjoyed the tiramisu we had for dessert.” Xiner (Cindy) Chen    

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“My journey to Alice Springs was unforgettable. Every moment at the Camp felt like a treasure, leaving me with cherished memories to last a lifetime. One highlight that stands out above all was the exhilarating experience of riding bikes around the base of Uluru. Spending three hours exploring traditional sights filled me with a profound sense of awe and appreciation for the rich culture of the region. This is something that has been etched in my memories forever.” Rebecca Wibowo   

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“My highlight from the Uluru Camp was the bus rides and doing the Mala Walk around Uluru. It was really fun, and I learnt a lot about Indigenous culture and community on the tour. Another highlight was watching the sunset in Uluru. We took a lot of photos and the bus ride back from the sunset was a lot of fun.” Cheryl Li  

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Year 8 Beyond Boundaries Camp aims to develop the following key skills and understandings for the cohort: 

To view and download images from the Year 8 Camp click here.