Events & Experiences

What can I do at Callicoma Hill?

Callicoma Hill is more than just a peaceful getaway. You can enjoy a range of nature-based activities on the land and the forests nearby.

We also organise events during the year: see each event further down this page. 

Here are some activities that you can do at Callicoma Hill and the nearby locality:

• Bush walking – either stroll on one of our property forest paths or experience some of the best walks in the Hunter Valley in nearby Mount Royal National Park.
• Mountain biking – ride a challenging 30 km loop ride through Mount Royal National Park.
• Kids in nature – fun, activity and learning for children to benefit their health and education.
• Nature studies, science and wildlife – learn about nature and the plants and animals on the land.
• Bird watching – wake early to hear the dawn bird calls, and see dozens of bird species.
• Campfire cooking – use the wood BBQs and cook delicious campfire meals in the open air (weather permitting).
• Games – bring your favourite games or use our selection of board games & puzzles for indoor times.
• Landscape & nature photography –  spectacular sunsets & clouds, distant mountains and plants and animals all around.
• Art and drawing – be inspired by the colours, landscapes and textures of the environment and changing weather.
• Music – bring your own instrument for uninterrupted rehearsal in an invigorating landscape.
• Writing – be inspired to write in your own cabin in the forest, and let the nature around you fuel your creativity.
• Lake St Clair – check out the fishing and boating opportunities, or just enjoy the scenic drive along this large lake.

Baerami Bush Dance & Campout: 20 April 2024

Our fully acoustic Baerami Bush Dance is held each year in April or May at the beautiful timber-lined hall at Baerami, in the Upper Hunter Valley (2 hrs from Callicoma Hill). In 2024 it will be on April 20th.

This traditional bush dance, with a full band of Hunter musicians, is fun for all ages. You don’t need a partner, and all dances are explained & called. Arrive from 4pm, and dancing starts at 7 pm and goes till late. 

Baerami Hall is at 1361 Bylong Valley Way,  west of Denman in the Upper Hunter Valley, and close to world heritage listed Wollemi National Park. The dance is 2 hours drive from Callicoma Hill, and also 2 hours west of Newcastle.

BYO food and drinks and a supper to share. There is a kitchen at the hall where you can prepare your food, or cook at your campsite. Bush camping is available at the hall and is included in the ticket price. A free Sunday morning bushwalk will be held near Baerami Hall in world heritage listed Wollemi National Park.

Tickets are available at www.trybooking.com/CNXJL and will also be available 'at the door' (cash only) from approx 4pm. They are a little cheaper online! Contact us for more information or if you would like to be placed on our email list.

Share the event with your friends at https://www.facebook.com/events/700251648837907
See videos and photos of previous dances on the 2019 Baerami Bush Dance Facebook page and at 'Concertinas go bush' Youtube snippet.

Guided Sustainable Homes Tours: seeing, thinking, doing

We hope to offer more of these tours in the future - the last ones were held in 2019. Please contact us if you're interested in a tour.

The following is info from our 2019 tours:

We invite you to see, hear and learn from our experience of over 25 years of off-grid sustainable building and living. This weekend will interest anyone building or renovating a house, wanting a sustainable lifestyle, or simply curious about how off-grid living works in practice. You can learn tips and gain practical insights.

Activities over the weekend are:
* Detailed 2-hour guided tours (choose either Sat afternoon or Sun morning) of sustainable buildings (one a mud brick house, the other a retrofitted timber building), including explanations of principles underpinning the design & construction of the buildings
* Possible Sat evening reel to reel screenings of 'retro' environmental and urban issue movies from the 1970s!
* Free campfire chat (Sat late afternoon)
You can choose which activities you attend.

Topics covered on each 2hr guided tour will include: relationship to site, design for climate, energy efficient design, solar energy & technology, mud brick, hot water heating, water supply and wetland wastewater treatment, healthy materials and insulation, comfort, minimising maintenance, and how to balance life & building. 

Bookings will be ESSENTIAL and are for adults only. Further info, times, prices and tickets will be listed on a Trybooking site closer to the date (previous tickets were $20/person). Accommodation is also available over the weekend by prior booking.

Inspo x nature

A free music competition inspired by the natural environment of Callicoma Hill

Please see the details of this competition on our News page. The competition was held in 2021, and was open to all NSW musicians. The winner was Tristan Coelho, who composed a work for piano and harp, performed by himself and Emily Granger. His entry can be heard at www.facebook.com/CallicomaHill/posts/6329155103792352. Tristan was excited to take up the prize of an artists’ retreat for a week at Callicoma Hill eco-cabin. Hear all the competition entries on our Facebook page.

Guided Bushwalks in Mt Royal National Park

Guided walks were held in 2021: these were led by an experienced guide from Callicoma Hill. See all details on our bushwalks page.

Acoustic music concerts in the forest

We have organised previous concerts in our forest, and hope to present more in the future. Please contact us if you're a musician interested in performing to an exclusive audience in our forest at sunset, or if you'd like to be kept informed of any future concerts we hold.

Our previous concerts were:

• January 2019: London based baroque cellist Anthony Albrecht, with his 'Bach to the Bush concert'.
• March 2021: Andrew Blanch (classical guitar) and the Gully Line String Quartet - Callail Rowley, Zach Choi (violins), David Banney (viola) and Matthew Banney (cello). Due to continuing rain, we had to move the concert 'into town' to All Saints Church Singleton.

Kids in nature

Callicoma Hill provides an ideal setting for your children or grandchildren. The health and education of children benefits from time in nature. Studies reviewed by the Children and Nature Network (2012) demonstrate that:

• Unstructured free play brings cognitive, social and health benefits
• Children’s play in natural settings provides a suite of benefits
• Time spent outdoors supports many aspects of children’s health
• Nature provides a variety of mental health and well-being benefits
• Physical activity and exposure to nature are important to good health.

You can help your child enjoy nature by camping at Callicoma Hill, bringing a bike, playing games outside, and going for short walks in the bush. Or you can stay in our accommodation, and enjoy the benefits without the hassle of camping.

At Callicoma Hill there is no TV or WiFi, and mobile phone reception is limited – ideal for time away from screens.

We are able to provide a location for structured children’s activities including exploring creativity with natural materials, building a cubby house, being outdoors learning in nature, and engaging in physical activity. These activities are primarily for children aged between 5 and 13 years.

Group Activites

Stay at Callicoma Hill eco-cabin for a small team building weekend, an educational seminar, or just some work time-out.

We are able to offer you a special activity to suit the group. Contact us to discuss the possibilities.