31/05/2025
After an enduring week of rainfall we finally completed the hike from Otford to Burning Palms Beach last Sunday in the world’s second oldest national park, Royal National Park.
It was a fun, educational and memorable experience for everyone. We shared laughs, discovered new things, made lasting memories and built friendships along the way.
The day began by talking about some bush secrets including a plant traditionally used by Aboriginal people as a seasonal indicator to track the whale migration cycle. Our bush survival component covered some essentials on snake safety, sparked by guide Baria’s funny experience with a false snake bite in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park a few years ago.
We also explored the area’s rich history (including its mysterious cabins) learnt plenty of bush tips and enjoyed a spiritual talk in front of the crashing waves of Burning Palms Beach with a hot cuppa in hand. After praying our Dhuhr (noon) prayers we then tackled the challenging climb to Garawarra Farm carpark before hoping onboard our bus to finish off another memorable Dunya Escapes hike, Alhamdulilah.
This concludes our Discovery Series which captured four of the best hikes around Sydney while teaching fundamental bush survival skills. Complacency remains one of the leading causes of bush rescue situations in Australia. Our aim was to educate participants as part of each guided experience so they leave feeling more comfortable and safe going hiking.
As Dunya Escapes’ pilot phase comes to an end, we’ll be taking some time to reflect and plan the next phase of the project. Stay tuned for what’s ahead insha’Allah!
Special thanks to award-winning photographer, Nikhat .picture.notebook for her incredible support and to Abu Salim Express for the reliable bus transportation.
