About Pure Green Discovery A region rich in experiential learning and discovery, the Southern Gold Coast is the perfect location for your next school excursion, environmental education outing or eco-holiday. Pure Green Discovery recognizes the many Southern Gold Coast businesses and not-for profit organizations that celebrate our natural environment, culture and history. They do this by: • Implemented care programmes for our wonderful land, from sand dunes to wetlands to flora and fauna; • Local cultural programmes ranging from sculpture to bonsai creations to indigenous history; and • Teaching and learning opportunities for visitors (school children and tourists of all ages) about these care and culture programmes, and how they complement our history and lifestyle. The natural environment of the Southern Gold Coast is characterized by its 9 kilometers of Pacific Ocean, beaches, headlands, wetlands, creeks, mountains and sub-tropical rainforests. All of these were produced by a unique natural phenomenon which occurred many millions of years ago- The Mount Warning volcanic eruption, which created Australia’s Green Cauldron. The history of the Southern Gold Coast is based on the culture of care and respect shown by our forbears to this wonderful, natural environment. Our current generation is the custodian of that proud cultural history and we now share it with the World at large, for those who value such a rich offering: we call this our Pure Green Discovery. Learning and Adventure Opportunities Our Pure Green Discovery offers learning experiences based on: • Heritage: The traditional owners of the land are the Kombumerri people, a clan group of the Yugambeh language region which stretches from the Logan River to the Tweed region of New South Wales. Our region is one of the few regions in Australia where aboriginal names have been retained and celebrated for each of its major villages: Currumbin (meaning "Place of fat fish"); Tugun (meaning "Two Hills"); Bilinga (meaning "Place of Bats"); Kirra (meaning "Boomerang"); and Coolangatta (meaning "Splendid view") Indigenous Australians, along with South Sea Islander- indentured labor, worked with the early settlers to open up much of the region to settlement and banana farming. By doing so, they provided us with the regional amenity and history we have today. 1 Pure Green Discovery TM ©2010 Connecting Southern Gold Coast • Australia’s Green Cauldron- Coastal Access: We are Queensland’s green, coastal gateway to the Northern Rivers of NSW, the centre of which is Mount Warning, which is only 45 minutes away. Mount Warning is the volcanic plug remaining after the volcanic explosion that has created the Green Cauldron, of which the Southern Gold Coast is the north-easterly section, with its own beauty and charm. • Australia’s Green Cauldron- Inland access: The majestic and richly-green Currumbin Valley offers this route along the Tomewin Mountain Road, which was the road used by early settlers to access New South Wales. It rises up over the spectacular Mount Tomewin, the first place in Australia where bananas were grown in the early 1900s. • Currumbin Valley: This is our green spectacular. It is a Valley only 1-2 kilometers wide and walled on the northern side by sheer escarpments and on the southern side by high peaks. If offers the Mount Cougal Section of the Springbrook National Park, which is World Heritage Listed subtropical rainforest, but 20 kilometers from the Currumbin Surf Beach. It is also part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Eastern Australia. The beautiful Currumbin Creek has its headwaters at Mt Cougal. It flows to the Pacific Ocean via Currumbin Alley which is an estuarine, aquatic playground for all types of water sports and pastimes. • Green coastal headlands: Currumbin; Tugun; Kirra; Greenmount; Snapper Rocks and Point Danger , each with their own majesty, flora and fauna and beachfront walkways, which enable both enjoyment and learning. • Rolling surf and glistening beaches: The northerly ocean current sweeps sand past the mighty Tweed River, around Point Danger (Queensland mainland most easterly point) and on to the north- facing beaches of Rainbow Bay, Greenmount, Coolangatta, and the Golden Four Beaches of Kirra, Bilinga, Tugun and Currumbin. This creates our World-renowned, sand-bottomed point breaks, which are the home to many; international elite surfboard riding competitions including the ASP World tour. 2 Pure Green Discovery TM ©2010 Connecting Southern Gold Coast Providers CWS educates students about the wonder of Australia's native animals and their plight. Offering a variety of programs including, animal presentations, aboriginal appreciation, sustainability tours and even high ropes courses to inspire, increase awareness, encourage compassion, exert energy and build self esteem. Day time excursions from $10.50pp (including exclusive animal encounter) Twilight Tours from $29.50 pp (including fully guided walk and dinner) Camp Crocodile Sleep Over from $74 pp (includes tents, guide and all meals) P | 0755340846 F | 0755981764 E | [email protected] W | www.cws.org.au The Currumbin Community Farm Campus is an environmental and outdoor education center located in the Southern Gold Coast Hinterland. We provide overnight residential programs and full day learning experiences for schools, internationals and community groups. Residential Camping Program based on Environmental and Outdoor Education. Full Day Programs: Life on the Farm, All Creatures Great & Small, Water Watch, Sustainable Futures & Outdoor Adventure. P | 0755330312 E | [email protected] W | www.thebeachschool.eq.edu.au Surf World is a museum dedicated to the history of surfing and beach culture. This is achieved through the collection, preservation and exhibition of surf boards, photographs and other memorabilia. $4 per student. Each visit takes approx 1.5hrs. Teachers FOC for every 10 students Karen Hutchinson M | 0439226057 F | 0755815299 E | [email protected] W | www.surfworldgoldcoast.com Retail outlet for bonsai both finished and pre bonsai. We also stock a full range of bonsai incidentals such as tools pots etc. We also conduct training in bonsai. Red Dragon Bonsai offers 'All Day' workshop in the class titled "Introduction to Bonsai", a hands on approach to all aspects of creating bonsai. 238 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley, 4223 P | 0755939916 E | [email protected] W | www.reddragonbonsai.com 3 Pure Green Discovery TM ©2010 Connecting Southern Gold Coast Honey World is one of three retail shops and tourist attractions, where visitors can sample and buy our full range of Australian honey and other bee products. Live bee shows where you will learn all about how honey is produced, from the beehive to the jar. Honey World school project workbook is provided as a part of the excursion. P | 0755984548 F| 0755984549 E | [email protected] W | www.superbee.com.au The Ecovillage is an award winning sustainable residential estate located in Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast where residents enjoy a vibrant community lifestyle while living harmoniously with the environment. Innovation Estate Tour Visit the Ecovillage’s 100 year old fully restored Queenslander which is self-sufficient in water and energy, healthy and accessible. This is suitable for grades 3-7. For High School students the Guided Tour of the estate is recommended and further information can be found at www.sustainablegreen.com.au. 639 Currumbin Creek Road Currumbin Valley P | 07 5598 7771 E | [email protected] W | www.theecovillage.com.au OR W | www.sustainablegreen.com.au An annual free outdoor sculpture exhibition in September comprising of 55 artists works along the Currumbin Beach ocean walkway. Swell engages in education programs, environmental art programs, Swell smalls gallery, master classes, sculpture sales, artist in residence program to name a few. An invaluable opportunity to engage in the Swell Kids programs during and leading up to the Swell Sculpture Festival. P | 0755253392 E | [email protected] W | www.swellsculpture.com.au Envirotech Institute of Education delivers high quality training in horticulture, Landscape, Arboriculture and environmental science, equipping graduates with relevant skills and knowledge to enter the workforce or go on to further tertiary education. Envirotech can offer students excursion around the campus grounds and a selection of short workshops in areas of interests to the participation school delivered by our trainers and professional staff. P | 0755330046 or 0755330707 F | 0755330047 or 0755330755 E | [email protected] W | www.envirotech.qld.edu.au 4 Pure Green Discovery TM ©2010 Connecting Southern Gold Coast Gecko is the peak environment organisation for the Gold Coast region. Gecko undertakes environmental education, advocacy, community representation, community outreach through Green Day Out festival, coordinating Clean Up Australia Day, General Meetings and Speaker nights; Gecko coordinates three bush care groups. GeckoEd offers class room visits, school excursions, special programs and program design of carefully crafted learning activities blending ecological concepts, contact with the natural world and active participation to evolve a sense of ownership of learning, feelings and outcomes P | 0755341412 F | 0755341401 E | [email protected] W | www.gecko.org.au Departs 9am at the western side of The Boardwalk at Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, for a six-hour tour. The mysteries of Mount Warning, known by local