Escape the everyday at Cumberland State Forest

Bookings

Bookings are absolutely essential for all activities. To make a booking, please contact Cumberland State Forest.

Normal gate opening times

Weekdays 8.30am - 5.00pm
Weekdays 8.30am - 5.00pm

Daylight Saving gate opening times

Weekdays 8:30am - 6pm
Weekdays  8:30am - 6pm

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

Cumberland state forest map 80 Kb

Activity descriptions

Early bird brekky
Cost: $11 per person (10 years and over only) $35 family (2A+2C) Payment on booking required.
Duration: 2 hours
An experienced bird watcher from the Cumberland Bird Observers Club 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 Dogs Life
Cost: $5.50 per person (children 6 years and over) $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Did you know dogs are welcome in State forests?  Take a walk through the forest and socialise your canine friend. Find out about the range of activities undertaken in forests from dog walking to camping, animal surveys to timber harvesting.  Please bring a dog lead, and dont 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!  A leisurely ranger- guided walk through the forest followed by a traditional bush morning tea of a freshly broken cob loaf, jam and tea.  Discover all that forests provide timber, employment, habitat, clean air, water and a place to be.

Potting up
Cost: $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A+2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Celebrate the natural environment and learn more about sustainable forest management with a forest walk lead by the local ranger, followed by a session of potting up native plants to take home. Make time to visit the nursery afterwards and have a chat to the specialists in Australian native plants.

Cumberland at night
Cost: $11 per person (children 6 years and over only) $35 per family (2A+2C) Payment on booking required.
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. 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 onto the Forestry Trail and experience the quiet serenity of the towering Hoop and Bunya pines in the pine forest. See the different forest types and find out about the uses of different timbers.

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 exercises 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.

Counting carbon
Cost $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A + 2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Find out more about this decades hot topic carbon storage. On a guided walk of Cumberland State Forest, discover how carbon is stored in forests and how you can calculate how much is stored in tree. What happens to carbon after trees are harvested? All will be revealed on this foray into the new frontier of carbon storage and accounting. Finish off this activity with a relaxing morning tea in one of Cumberlands picnic areas.

Native Gardening 101
Cost $5.50 per person $18 per family (2A + 2C)
Duration: 1 hour
Learn native gardening techniques from the Australian plant specialists. After a walk through the forest with a Cumberland State Forest ranger, take a tour of the nursery to see where plants are propagated. Then join one of our resident horticulturalists for morning tea and some expert gardening advice.

Bushcare
Duration: 9.30am 12.30pm (children 14 years and over only)
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 Holiday 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.
• Age range is a guide only.

All activities include a ranger-led walk through the forest looking at the forest environment and how it is managed.

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 helmet cut out. You could also create your own piece of art using nothing but paint and bark.

Possum Pals (3-6years)
Discover more about the possums that live in Cumberland State Forest and other State Forest throughout NSW. Learn interesting facts about the different species, what they eat and where they live. Then finish off by making your very own possum mask to take home.

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.

Come and explore this unique urban forest with our range of programmed weekend and school holiday activities. Theres 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 Sydneys 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.

Plant man (6-10 years)
Why are trees important and what do forest 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 mini-beasts within the forest.  Adopt a worm to take home and learn about how they live in a worm farm.

Timber magnets (6-10 years)
Discover amazing facts about timber and carbon storage in forests on a ranger led walk, then decorate your very on carbon storing timber magnet to use at home.

Forest Board Game (6-10 years)
Use popular forest products to make your own forest board game. Decorate your cardboard base and search for gumnuts and seeds to use for the pieces. Take it home and share hours of fun with friends and family

The forest at home (6-10 years)
What forest products do you have in your home? Houses are filled with forest products - furniture, paper, tissues, house frames. Make a sign for your bedroom door using items from the forest. Hang it on your door and remind yourself everyday of all the things we get from the forest!

Flying High (6-10 years)
Learn the art of successful paper aeroplane construction. Paper is an essential forest product and what better use for it than folding and shaping it into a flying machine. Learn about how paper is made and finish off by testing out your creations in an aeroplane flying competition.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders (6-10 years)
Walk the trails of the forest and listen for the birds that live here. Create a pine cone bird feeder to take home. Hang it in your garden to help attract birds to your home and garden.