Chain of Ponds Buffel Bust - Volunteer Working Bee

Join us for the Chain of Ponds Buffel Bust – a fun day clearing invasive weeds in Trephina Gorge Nature Park!

Chain of Ponds Buffel Bust - Volunteer Working Bee

Join us for a fun-filled day of hard work at Trephina Gorge Nature Park. Park rangers are working around the clock to clear invasive weeds from our protected areas and we need your help. After the rain, the cascading pools in the beautiful Chain of Ponds walk will be flowing, the soil will be soft, and it will be the perfect conditions to pull out some buffel grass before it goes to seed. Earn a sweat to be proud of, meet like-minded people, and then take a refreshing dip in one of the many pools in the Chain of Ponds (John Hayes Rockhole).

Fitness:

We will be dividing into two groups so you can choose how challenging you want your hike to be. One group will go upstream, following the Chain of Ponds walk, which is graded as Grade 5 difficult and involves some rock scrambling. The second group will stay downstream at the end of the Chain of Ponds walk, near the campground, which is an easier walk. Both groups will be removing buffel grass from the watercourse and will be able to go for a swim afterwards if you so choose. If you are unfamiliar with the Chain of Ponds walk or if you're not sure which option is best for you, feel free to call us on (08) 8951 8247.

Camping:

For all participating volunteers, we can offer free camping the night before at Trephina Gorge campground, as well as a campfire ranger talk. This is to say thank you for your contribution and make it easier for you to start at 8am on Sunday. We will need to leave the campground at 7.30am. When registering, please make sure to tick 'yes' for camping and we will contact you with details.

Vehicle Access:

John Hayes Rockhole is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Alice Springs. The road from Trephina Gorge into John Hayes Rockhole is 4WD access only. We highly recommend coming in a 4WD. If you do not have access to a 4WD, it does not exclude you from volunteering but please let us know when you register. We have some capacity to transport volunteers from Trephina Gorge to John Hayes Rockhole if you do not have a 4WD.

What to Bring:

We ask you to bring your own hiking and camping equipment (if camping the night before). You will need to pack all meals including a packed lunch to have while hiking on Sunday. We recommend carrying at least 4L of drinking water during the working bee so you will need camelbaks/ water bottles. If you have gardening gloves or small mattocks that you would like to bring, please do so. Park Rangers will also bring buffel removal equipment. Good hiking shoes and sun protection are a must! You may also want to bring your swimmers and towel for a refreshing swim.

Registration & Cancellation:

This event is limited to 25 people, aged 14 years and over. Children aged 14-18yo need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers over the age of 75yo are very welcome but will be contacted beforehand to discuss our insurance limitations. All volunteers will need to register by buying a free ticket. Please include:

• Your contact details,
• If you are travelling in a 2WD or 4WD
• If you require camping the night before (Saturday 14 March)

We will only use your contact details to contact you about this event. This event will be postponed in case of extreme heatwaves or heavy rain. Please let us know if you register as attending but then need to cancel.