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School Camps

School camp is an important place for students to develop life skills, relationships (both with their peers and teachers), independence and resilience.

Our school camp programs focus on developing a child’s love for the outdoors through challenging and fun activities – from canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing, bike riding and ropes courses, to archery, hut and raft building, bushwalks, orienteering, bush cooking and so much more!

School camp programs are catered towards cultural and indigenous awareness, environmental consciousness and sustainability.

Our school camp program outcomes can be mapped to the Victorian curriculum to help schools meet their curriculum needs.

We are specialists at hosting:

  • Primary School Camps
  • High School Orientation Camps
  • Secondary School Outdoor Education Camps
  • Music Camps
  • Sports Team Camps
  • Journey Based Expeditions
  • Pastoral Retreats
  • Duke of Edinburgh
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Residential Camps

At Silverband Lodge, we understand that not all students have received an outdoor education before, and for many Cave Hill Creek is their first experience being away from their family. This makes our Residential Camps the perfect entry point for a student’s first time school camp. During Residential Camp we host outdoor activities that are facilitated by camp staff and school teachers.

It is suitable for students ranging from Year 3 to Year 7 attending their first ever camp, and also as a pastoral retreat for Year 11s and 12s.

Residential Camp is also popular for school music groups and school sports teams. All meals and equipment are provided Camp Out programs (where students sleep in a tent at camp) can be arranged to complement and extend a residential camping experience.

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Journey Based Camps

The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is one of the best destinations in Australia for educational journey based programs. It features:

  • bucket list walks, including the Grampians Peaks Trail,
  • easy access to achievable and fun bike trails,
  • full day and overnight canoe trips, and
  • some of the countries best abseiling and rock climbing locations for students

At Silverband Lodge we host guided overnight walks and journey based camps to satisfy your students adventurous spirit. Our experienced expedition coordinators can tailor guided walks to your School group needs, Silverband Lodge journey based programs are fun and rewarding outdoor experiences for secondary school students aimed at developing independence, resilience and teamwork.

From introductory to more advanced programs our specialist guides lead small school groups on a fun and rewarding journey. Meals and equipment (e.g. backpacks, tents, sleeping mats, cooking stoves etc.) are provided throughout their journey.

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Join us

Join us for an extraordinary experience in the heart of the Grampians / Gariwerd and get in touch today. We are accepting bookings now for 2024 and beyond!

Join us for an awesome adventure

Group Stays

Silverband Lodge is the perfect weekend or school holiday group accommodation venue for your bushwalking club, youth group, family gathering, faith community event, church group, music camp, craft retreat, sporting club get together, corporate or business retreat.

With catered and self-catered options, ensuites in every room and multiple gathering and break out spaces, Silverband Lodge makes organising your group stay easy.

Located just a short walk from the Halls Gap shops, Brambuk: The National Park and Cultural Centre and numerous other tourist attractions, with a tennis court, swimming pool and self-lead outdoor activities onsite, your guests will want to come back year after year.

Be sure to climb to the Pinnacle Lookout and spot your accommodation down below.

Accommodation

186 beds over two
accommodation facilities

Pinnacle (91 beds)
Wonderland (95 beds).
32 rooms in total, all with ensuites
2 dining areas, 2 commercial kitchens, 3 lounge areas
Catered and self-catered stays available.

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Onsite Activities

  • High Ropes
  • Basketball/Tennis court
  • Volleyball
  • Swimming Pool
  • Archery
  • Bush Cooking
  • Fire Pit
  • Table Tennis

Offsite Activities

  • Abseiling
  • Canoeing
  • Mountain Biking
  • Rock Climbing
  • Grampians Zoo
  • Adventure Golf
  • Bushwalking
  • Waterfalls

About Us

Silverband Lodge (formerly UC Camping’s Norval Lodge and Norval House) is one of Victoria’s best school camp, group accommodation and outdoor recreation venues.

Located in the heart of Halls Gap, and set against the spectacular landscape of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, Silverband Lodge is the perfect base for your school camp and large group stay.

Every day we are excited create life long memories for hundreds of people – be it via the joy of school camp, the thrill of outdoor adventure, or connections made when gathering with family, friends and community for a group stay.

Under new management from Dec 2023, and now a sibling venue to the award winning Cave Hill Creek, we look forward to building on the many years of work by dedicated UC Camping staff and volunteers.

Nestled on 47 acres of bushland flush with native flora and fauna, at Silverband Lodge you have access to the vast trails and natural wonders of the National Park whilst enjoying convenient access to the facilities and services on offer in Halls Gap.

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Join us at Silverband Lodge

Join us for an awesome adventure

Careers

We’re looking for people devoted to going above and beyond for our guests. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear more from you. To learn more check out our current job listings.

Acknowledgement of Country

Halls Gap has for thousand of years been a meeting place of the Djab Wurrung and Jadawadjali peoples to meet, socialize and trade. It is a privilege for us to continue that tradition here today. In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge their connection to land, waterways and community, and honour the history, culture and spirituality of their Elders and Ancestors.