Bushwalks, ranging from Monday evening climbs of surrounding mountains such as Black Mountain, Mt Taylor, Wanniassa Hills etc to day mountain walks, are a long-standing and very popular part of the Omnia activities program. Bushwalking and camping offer members not only exercise, fresh air, and the enjoyment of nature, but also the chance to get to know and understand each other in an environment of cooperation and inter-dependence. Many great friendships and several permanent relationships have been forged during Omnia camping and/or bushwalking trips. What better way could there be of making friends and improving your health at the same time?
Activity Organisers and Leaders may not to allow anyone who seems ill-equipped to participate in walks, camps and other activities and will make efforts to ensure the walks are at a suitable grading for participants' levels of fitness
Day Walks
Most day walks are part of "weekends away", and are run several times a year with an experienced organiser being willing and available. The walks are generally not too strenuous, and allow plenty of time to enjoy the bush, the scenery, and a leisurely lunch at a pleasant spot.
Past weekends away have been at Jindabyne or Falls Creek in the Victorian Alps. Close-by venues have included Big Hole, Booroomba Rocks, Brandy Flat Hut, Camel's Hump, Horse Gully Hut, Mount Coree, Mount Gingera, Mount Rob Roy, Rendezvous Creek, Split Rock, Square Rock, Mount Tennent, and Yankee Hat.
Requirements: a reasonable level of fitness; day pack; lunch; water; "nibblies"; "Thermos" of hot water, tea or coffee; parka or warm jacket, and/or umbrella; biscuits or cake for morning tea.
Car Camping
Vehicle-based bushwalking and camping weekends are very popular with Omnia members who like their "home/creature comforts" for one reason or another are unable to carry a heavy pack, or are just not all that fit.
As the term implies, we carry all the gear we require in our cars, four-wheel-dive vehicles, or whatever, and set up a very comfortable camp in a pleasant, central spot - usually one with facilities such as (at least) toilets. From that camp, we go out on day walks which range from easy "strolls" to moderately hard climbs, depending on who's in the group.
At night, we relax over a drink (or two) and nibbly things, comparing notes on the day's happenings, before getting down to the serious business of dinner - which is always accompanied by modest doses of digestion-aiding wine. No-one has been known to go hungry or thirsty at an Omnia car camp!
Venues that have been the scenes of very memorable weekends or long weekends include:
- Depot Beach
- Bundanoon/Moreton National Park
- Bungonia Gorge
- Kanangra-Boyd National Park (Kanangra Walls)
- Picnic Point (north of Tathra)
- Weddin Mountains National Park
- Yadboro - the Corn Trail, The Castle (or the Coast), and Pigeon House Mountain.
Requirements for car camping include camping, cooking and lighting gear (whatever you can carry in your car), including a tent fly for shade/rain protection over your dining area; plenty of food and drink; a day pack for walks; a reasonable level of fitness; a sense of adventure.
Activity Organisers and Leaders may not accept anyone who seems ill-equipped to participate in walks, camps and other activities and should ensure the walks are at a suitable grading for participants' levels of fitness.
