Cradle Mountain
 ©  Lance Neville

Montague Island lighthouse
©   Inger Vandyke

Boroka Lookout Grampians
© Parks Victoria

Grampians Mammal
Monitoring © Parks Victoria

Wombat Lake
Cradle Mountain

Seal Colony Montague Island

Researcher with
Penguin Chick

Nature Escape, Kangaroo Valley

 

                 

 

Looking for a perfect weekend getaway with a difference? This all inclusive small group experience is for people with a love of the outdoors and an interest in the environment. You’ll participate in conservation work helping to protect the coastal and bush habitats of the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales.

 

Join our team and roll up your sleeves to help a long term conservation project rehabilitating local coastal wetland areas at Werri Lagoon and Commonderry Wetlands.  But its not all just about work,  you’ll also get the opportunity to enjoy the local sights - stroll along pristine beaches, enjoy rugged mountain views, wildlife and cascading waterfalls, stop to explore local villages and stay overnight in a private sanctuary at the base of the beautiful Kangaroo Valley,

 

Your participation will make a positive difference to our environment.

 

Highlights

  • Beautiful Southern Highland and South Coast scenery
  • Conservation activities at significant South Coast coastal or wetlands areas
  • Morton National Park and Fitzroy Falls
  • Enjoy Bushwalks and an evening camp fire under the stars
  • Stay at Chakola, a private conservation sanctuary

 

About the conservation sites

Conservation projects will take place at either Commonderry Swamp or Werri Lagoon, located on the South Coast.  The type of conservation activities you will be involved with vary from season to season and typically include seed collection, wetland ecology, bush regeneration, photographic monitoring and water sampling.  No special skills or experience are required to participate and you will be shown everything you need to know by our CVA program leader.  The approximate time spent on conservation activities will be 3 - 4 hours.

 

Commonderry Swamp in Seven Mile Beach National Park is the largest freshwater wetland and one of the largest remaining areas of littoral rainforest on the South Coast of NSW. The ecological attributes of the Swamp are unparalleled elsewhere on the south coast and remain relatively unspoiled.  The area supports a diverse range of mammals, birds and fogs, including the Australasian bittern, the black bittern, the black-necked stork, the royal spoonbill, Latham’s snipe, the green and golden Bell Frog and several insectivorous bat species.

 

Werri Lagoon at the northern end of Werri Beach comprises an extensive lowland swamp and estuarine lagoon covering an area of 46 hectares. Werri lagoon is protected under SEPP 14 (wetlands of State significance). This wetland and estuarine system plays a range of vital ecological roles including;

  • filtering water from the surrounding catchments;
  • providing a storage area to protect low lying areas from flooding; and
  • providing a unique habitat for native flora and fauna including a fish nursery zone and water bird habitat.

There is an area of Coastal Saltmarsh adjoining the Western boundary of the lagoon which has been declared as an endangered ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Numerous saltmarsh species, such as Sarcocornia quinqueflora, occur around the lagoon. The remainder of the area surrounding the wetland has been extensively cleared for dairy farming and there is little native vegetation remaining.

 

Departs:  8.00am Central Train Station - Pick up location Map

Returns:   Approx 5pm to Sydney city

 

Room Type Price
Twin / Single Room $195 per person

 

What's included

  • Conservation activities and required equipment
  • Experienced CVA guide
  • One nights accommodation at Chakola
  • Meals including 2 lunches, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast
  • All transport ex Sydney return
  • Visits to Moreton and Seven Mile Beach National Parks
  • The spectacular Fitzroy Falls
  • Conservation Volunteers Certificate of accomplishment

What's not included

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Transport to and from the Sydney city departure points
  • Items of a personal nature

                             

Accommodation

We choose to stay at ‘Chakola’ (Aboriginal word for Lyrebird). Chakola is an 80 acre wildlife and conservation sanctuary managed by Conservation Volunteers Australia.   Cabins are basic but comfortable, and range in size from single, twin share and double to 4-share dormitory-style rooms. Bed linen is supplied (bring your own towel). Amenity blocks with showers and toilets are a short stroll from the cabins. Other facilities include BBQ, dining area and commercial kitchen, training and education room, communal recreation area with pool table, board games, dart board and wood heater.

 

Accommodation Facilities at Chakola

 

Conservation value of Chakola

Chakola is home to a number of iconic native Australian wildlife species, including kangaroos, wallabies (including the endangered rock wallaby), bats, wombats, possums, and a resident Lace Monitor Lizard. There is also a large variety of native birds including kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, and cockatoos.

 

A flora survey conducted in 1999 identified seven different types of vegetation on the Chakola property, this included 4 plant species of National Conservation significance & 46 plant species of Regional significance. Chakola has 15 types of Pigmy Orchids and 80 different types of flowering plants.

 

By choosing this Naturewise weekend you are supporting Conservation Volunteers Australia and the ongoing conservation of this important site.

 

 

 

Program Dates

Dates

Places available

Bookings
17th – 18th January 09
10
Make a booking
21st – 22nd February 09
10
21st – 22nd March 09
10