A highly flexible forest walk offering a dedicated sensory trail for younger sections, open trail exploration for older youth, and a completely different experience between daytime weekend visits and pitch-black after-hours night walks.
The Meeting Point (Day vs. Night):
Weekends / Day: Drive inside the main gates and park/meet at the Shepherds Picnic Area.
After Hours / Night: The main vehicle gates will be locked. Park the cars safely along Oratava Avenue (opposite 72), West Pennant Hills and meet at the pedestrian entry.
The After-Hours Buffer: If visiting at night when the gates are shut, factor in a 10-minute walk from the street just to reach the main trailheads, and another 10 minutes to walk back out at the end.
Option A – The Sensory Trail (Joeys & Cubs): Follow the flat, accessible Sensory Trail. This is perfect for daytime or early evening visits, allowing younger youth to touch, smell, and listen to the forest environment.
Option B – Night Exploration (Cubs & Scouts): Navigate the deeper walking tracks under the heavy forest canopy. It gets incredibly dark due to the dense trees and lack of surrounding streetlights, making it an excellent exercise for torch-light navigation.
The Return: Gather at the designated picnic area or track entrance for a final headcount before heading back to the cars.
Bonus Activity: The TreeTops Adventure Park is located directly inside this forest. If you are planning a major daytime weekend event for the Scout section, look into booking a high-ropes session to combine with the bushwalk.