Escape the everyday at Cumberland State Forest

Come and explore this unique urban forest with our range of programmed weekend and school holiday activities. There’s something to suit all ages and a variety of interests - from forest trekking as a ‘mini-ranger’ for kids aged three to six-years of age, through to a rewarding bush regeneration program and an informative and enjoyable guided walk.

Cumberland State Forest is a 40 hectare oasis of green in Sydney’s north-western suburbs. Explore scenic walking trails, enjoy a family picnic or cook up a tasty bush barbecue. A café, native plant nursery, information centre and forest shop retailing unique giftware, maps and books are also on-site.

We hope you enjoy the forest and take the time to try some of our programmed activities!

Please note: all participants in our guided programs must wear suitable footwear and observe set age limits. In wet weather, activities will be cancelled. Please contact Cumberland for confirmation. Bookings are absolutely essential for all activities. To make a booking, please contact Cumberland State Forest.

Cumberland State Forest
Information Centre
95 Castle Hill Road
West Pennant Hills NSW 2125
PO Box 100 Beecroft NSW 2119
Phone: 1300 655 687 or (02) 9871 3377
Email: cumberland@sf.nsw.gov.au

Time table

April 2008

5 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
6 Sun - 10am Broken bread and bush tea
11 Fri - 7:30pm Cumberland at night
12 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
13 Sun - 8:30am Early bird brekky
14 Mon - 10.30am Mini rangers*
15 Tue - 10.30am Animal masks*
16 Wed - 10.30am Insect creations*
17 Thur - 10.30am Mini rangers*
18 Fri - 10:30am Bush painting*
19 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
20 Sun - 11am Native Wildlife Show
21 Mon - 10.30am Plant man*
22 Tue - 10.30am Forest recyclers*
23 Wed - 10.30am Mini rangers *
24 Thur - 10.30am Puppet theatre *
26 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare
26 Sat - 7:30pm Cumberland at night
27 Sun - 10am Forest detectives

May 2008

3 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
4 Sun - 8.30am Early bird brekky
9 Fri - 7.30pm Cumberland at night
10 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
11 Sun - 10am Potting up
17 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare
18 Sun - 10am A dog’s life
23 Fri - 7.30pm Cumberland at night
24 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare
25 Sun - 10am Qigong in the forest
31 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare

June 2008

1 Sun - 10am Potting up
6 Fri - 7.30pm Cumberland at night
7 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
8 Sun - 8:30am Early bird brekky
14 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
15 Sun - 10am Forest detectives
21 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
22 Sun - 10am Broken bread and bush tea
28 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare
29 Sun - 10am A dog’s life

July 2008

5 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
6 Sun - 9.30am Early Bird Brekky
7 Mon - 10:30am Mini rangers*
9 Wed - 10:30am Puppet theatre*
10 Thur - 10:30am Forest recyclers*
12 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
13 Sun - 11am Reptile mania
14 Mon - 10:30am Bush painting*
16 Wed - 10:30am Mini rangers*
17 Thur - 10:30am Animal masks*
19 Sat - 9:30am Bushcare
20 Sun - 10am Tea, trees and biscuits
26 Sat - 9.30am Bushcare
27 Sun - 10am A dog’s life

* Denotes school holiday activity

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL ACTIVITIES
Normal gate opening times
WEEKDAYS 8.30am – 5.00pm
WEEKENDS 8.30am – 5.00pm

Normal gate opening times

Weekdays 8.30am – 5.00pm
Weekends 8.30am – 5.00pm

Day-light savings opening times

Weekdays 8.30am – 6.00pm
Weekends 8.30am – 6.00pm

Christmas/New Year operating times

Forest open except for: 25, 26 Dec 2007 and 1 Jan 2008
Nursery open except for: 25, 26 Dec 2007 and 1 Jan 2008
Café Saligna open except for: 24 Dec 2007 to 6 Jan 2008.

Weekend Activities

Early bird brekky
Cost: $11 per person (10 years and over only)
$35 family (2A+2C)
Duration: 2 hours
This activity is run in partnership with the Cumberland
Bird Observers Club. An experienced bird watcher will
show you the fantastic diversity of bird life in the forest
– a great activity for bird lovers. Finish off with a BBQ
breakfast of bacon and eggs.

A Dog’s Life
Cost: $5.50 per person (children 6 years and over)
$18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
A great way to socialise your canine friend! Did you
know dogs are welcome in State forests? See tails wag
and hear humans chatter as we enjoy walking the trails
of Cumberland State Forest. Please bring a dog lead, and
don’t forget those doggie bags.

Broken bread and bush tea
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
One for the traditionalists! Follow a leisurely rangerguided
walk with a traditional bushie morning tea of a
freshly broken cob loaf, jam and tea.

Potting up
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Celebrate the natural environment with a forest walk
lead by the local ranger, followed by a session of potting
up plants to take home.

Reptile Mania
Cost: $11 per person $35 family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Get friendly with a frog, touch a turtle, or get up close
and personal with a blue tongue lizard. This is a fun and
educational show for all ages. This is great for families,
but please book early as places are limited and it’s a very
popular activity.

Cumberland at night
Cost: $11 per person (6 years and over only) $35 per
family (2A+2C)
Duration: 2 hours
Discover the variety of nocturnal life during this night
time walk in the forest. This activity also includes a
presentation and supper. Minimum age is 6 years and
please bring a torch for every person – no torch no walk.

Tea, Trees and biscuits
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per
family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Join a Cumberland ranger for morning
tea, after which we journey into the
Forestry Trail and experience the quiet
serenity of the towering Hoop and Bunya
pines in the pine forest.

Qigong in the forest
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Try the ancient Chinese discipline of Qigong. Your
Qigong instructor will teach you some easy energy
gathering exercise to help improve your health and well
being in the beautiful surrounds of the forest.

Forest detective
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Learn how to become a forest detective using wildlife
surveying techniques in the forest. Discover animal signs,
including scats, tracks, feathers, skulls and fur. What clues
can you find? This is a great activity for families.

Native Wildlife
Cost: $11 per person $35 per family (2A + 2C)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Australian Wildlife Displays visits the forest to show off
a very cute selection of native animals. You’ll be able to
see them up close and learn about their food, where
they live and how they survive in the wild. This activity is
suitable for families of all ages.

Bush Care
Duration: 9.30am – 12.30pm (children under 14 must
be accompanied by an adult)
This activity is part of Cumberland’s volunteer
program and focuses on bush regeneration.
Meet new people and learn valuable
skills in a relaxed and friendly
atmosphere. Morning tea
and tools provided.

School activities

• All activities run for 1 hour, $5.50 per child.
• Adults to accompany children under 6 years.
• Adults are encouraged to stay for activities.
• Bookings essential.

Mini-rangers (3-6 years)
For adventurous kids aged 3-6 years! Join a ranger
for a forest trek, forest games and decorate your
very own Forests NSW frisbee. You could also
create your own piece of art using nothing but
paint and bark.

Puppet theatre (6-10 years)
Join a forest ranger to discover the importance
of forest animals and create your own animal
character for a forest puppet play.

Bush painting (6-10 years)
Look, listen, smell and imagine….. Be inspired by
your senses and imagination on this ranger led
activity where we create works of art on bark.
Wear old clothes for this very hands on activity.

Animal masks (6-10 years)
Explore the hidden life of forest fauna with a forest
ranger and use foam, stickers and forest items to
make bright animal masks of your favourite
forest animal.

Plant man (6-10 years)
Why are trees important and what do forests
provide? Discover the answers to these questions
as you create your very own stockinged, green
headed plant man.

Insect creations (6-10 years)
Discover the mysterious and intriguing world of
insects. Using diverse craft and recycled materials,
children will create their very own imaginative
forest insect.

Forest recyclers (6-10 years)
Delve into the hidden world of insects and minibeasts
within the forest. Adopt a worm to take home
and learn about how they live in a worm farm.