Combining fun with education - some cracking school excursion ideas

School teachers perform such an important role in our society.

They are nurturing the young minds of our future leaders! The learning of our precious children - and grandchildren, nieces and nephews - are in their capable hands.

So, without stating the obvious, teachers always have a lot on their plate - between teaching, lesson planning, fundraising and extra curricular activities.

Let alone coming up with school excursion ideas!

At Langley’s, we offer a School Excursion service. We can plan your educational excursion from start to finish as an all inclusive package, including full itinerary planning, transport, accommodation and activities. 

One of the toughest parts of planning a school excursion - is coming up with ideas! 

We know you want to make it an interesting and educational experience - but of course, it needs to be FUN!

Here are some school excursion ideas, you can use as some inspiration.

School excursion ideas in our own backyard

We all know the Western Plains Zoo is a great day out for all ages - so I won’t go into that today.

What I will highlight are some other gems our region has to offer!

Located just a short drive near Wellington, the Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum has one of the largest collections of Australian plants in cultivation.

The Arboretum's mission is to preserve and promote Australia's unique flora and has proven to be especially successful at growing plants from Western Australia and areas of low rainfall. 

The kids can learn all about sustainability and preserving our environment - as well as getting to handle rare species of plants, and insects!

The Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra is another fantastic opportunity to learn about biodiversity, while being able to witness an incredibly diverse array of fossils from predators that used to inhabit the rivers of the Central West.

One of my favourites is the Riversmart Macquarie River Trails. There is an entire trail dedicated to school excursions, focusing on the amazing biodiversity of this region - as well as some experiences relating to Indigenous and early European cultural heritage, aviation history and art.

And the Bathurst Goldfields at Mount Panorama cannot be overlooked. The kids go on a guided tour through the museum displays, see the different methods of mining for gold, the tools and machinery used, from man, horse power through to steam power. It really is a great experience.

And the list goes on - Jenolan Caves, the Red Hill Environmental Education Centre in Gulgong and the Warrumbungles… there’s so much to do in this great part of the world. 

The old favourites

We can’t forget about the sensational attractions in the major cities, that draw schools from far and wide - so I thought I would include some of the school excursion ideas.

Canberra has so much to offer, with Questacon being the undisputed king of scientific adventure. Not to mention the CSIRO, which offers an interactive journey through Australian science history. 

And let’s not forget Sydney! While the Powerhouse Museum and Centennial Park are always a hit, did you know you can tour the Sydney Cricket Ground? 

The SCG Tour is a dynamic, behind-the-scenes guided walking tour through the historic Sydney Cricket Ground and the SCG Museum.

The kids can sit in Michael Clarke or Ricky Ponting’s old spot in the change area, visit the television commentary box or the press rooms and learn about the rich history of one of Sydney's most iconic venues.

Short Stays

The Western region is placed to access some iconic tourism areas, with fantastic educational experiences. 

The Blue Mountains has so much to offer, and is not far from the Central West! Between the Three Sisters, Fairfax Heritage track, Mount York, historic tracks at Wentworth Falls and the Red Hands Cave at Glenbrook, there’s so much to keep you busy. And don’t forget about the Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah.

Meanwhile the Hunter is also a goldmine for school excursion activities. Choose between the Hunter Wetlands Centre, the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project - and so much more!

If you’re looking for a more extended stay, Port Stephens is the perfect beachside excursion destination. 

Easily accessible from the Western region via the Golden Highway, the kids can go dolphin and whale watching, visit the animal sanctuary - and a little known gem called Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters. 

Suitable for both primary and high school age, engage the students through close encounters with fascinating creatures, with a very hands on excursion.

It’s also close enough for a day trip to Newcastle, where you can visit the Entertainment Centre, the art gallery or museum

Phil’s Hot Tip: Book in advance

I cannot stress this enough. 

To have a successful school excursion, with the best activities on offer, and the best accommodation, you need to book a fair way ahead. I’m talking, at least 12 months - preferably 18. We even have people currently booking for 2022!

Booking at the last minute is not the end of the world - we can make that work. But it does mean you may have to compromise in some areas. 

But if you’ve got yourself into a situation where you don't have much time, we can make it work - and still give the kids a great time.

Want some more school excursion ideas?

We can help.

If you, or anyone you know is a teacher organising their school excursion, send them this article!

We have flexible excursion packages, where you can pick and choose what you’d like us to help with - so we can build the quote around your needs.

Visit our website if you’d like more information - or give us a call!

We also offer free consultations, where we can come to your school and discuss some ideas.

We would love to help plan the trip of a lifetime for your students.