Attendees of the Southern Hemisphere 2023 Assembly need to be members of OBOD (The Order of Bard, Ovates and Druids). Membership is granted with application for the Bardic Grade of study. It is recommended that you complete at least the first ten gwersi (lessons) before attending. Those wanting a Bardic initiation will also need to have completed the self initiation ritual before attending. Find out more about OBOD at www.druidry.org

Family Non-OBOD family members can come to this event, however as the main focus of the event is the initiations, we would like to give preference to OBOD members. Our numbers are very limited so this may not be a possibility. Thank you for your understanding.

Glenrock Scout Camp

It will be in Newcastle, Awabakal Country, NSW:
Glenrock Scout Camp, 157 Scout Camp Rd,
Whitebridge NSW 2290

Glenrock Scout Camp is within the Glenrock State Conservation Area

https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/glenrock-state-conservation-area/visitor-info#Maps-and-downloads

Coming from far away?

If you are coming from overseas or interstate and need help getting bedding, let us know and we may be able to help find some you can borrow locally.

Driving Directions from Sydney - approx. 2 hours

• Take the M1 North
• Take the exit towards Palmers Rd/Toronto 0.6 km
• Turn right onto Palmers Rd 0.5 km
• Turn left onto Wakefield Rd 7.6 km
• Turn right onto Rhondda Rd 3.2 km
• Turn left onto Railway St 0.8 km
• Turn right towards William St 0.1 km
• Continue onto William St0 .6 km
• Turn left onto Anzac Parade 0.5 km
• Turn left onto Five Islands Rd/B53 1.3 km
• At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto The Esplanade/B57 3.2 km
• Turn left onto Fairfax Rd/B57Continue to follow B57 1.0 km
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Medcalf St/B57 0.6 km
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Hillsborough Rd/B57 2.7 km
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Hillsborough Rd/B57Go through 1 roundabout 1.9 km
• Turn left onto Pacific Hwy/A43 2.9 km
• Turn right onto Fernleigh Loop 0.1 km
• Slight left onto Gun Club Rd (Restricted-usage road)

Driving Directions from Brisbane - 8 Hours 4mins

• Head South on A1 to M1
• Keep right to stay on M18 2.8 km
• Continue onto Pacific Hwy/A11 29 km
• Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A13 2.9 km
• Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 3.6 km
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 18.6 km
• Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 20.4 km
• Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or on certain days 317 km
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 7.2 km
• Turn left onto Maitland Rd/Pacific Hwy/A43 4.9 km
• Slight right onto Newcastle Inner City Bypass/A37 4.9 km
• Slight left towards Newcastle Rd/A15/A37 0.1 km
• Turn left onto Newcastle Rd/A15/A37Continue to follow A15 3.2 km
• Turn right onto Turton Rd/B63Continue to follow B63 2.6 km
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Bridges Rd/B63 Continue to follow B63 2.0 km
• Turn left onto City Rd/Pacific Hwy/A43 0.7 km
• Turn right onto Fernleigh Loop 0.1 km
• Slight left onto Gun Club Rd - Restricted-usage road

Nearest Airport - Newcastle: https://www.newcastleairport.com.au/,  Flights To/From this airport:

• Cairns
• Whitsunday Coast
• Sunshine Coast
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Ballina/Byron Bay
• Lord Howe Island
• Auckland
• Sydney
• Canberra
• Melbourne
• Adelaide
• Cobar

Accommodation and site access are charged at the same rate. Our ticket price of $260 includes accommodation and other costs, but if you would like to stay off site, this fee still applies for access. Catering is a separate charge of $115.
Accommodation options include dorms, camping (approximately 20m uneven walk from carpark), or bringing your own campervan that can be parked in the carpark area. There is limited space for campers so please let us know if you are bringing one in advance.
Dorms are between three and six people per room. The dorms are fairly small so we will only be using the bottom bunks so that the top bunks can be used for your gear storage. There are some single beds available in the cottage for those with mobility needs, please note this on your form if needed.

Dorms - There are a number of bunk bed dormitories that will sleep three to six people.
Cottage - The cottage is an extra area that has single beds, a workshop room, and the self-catering kitchen.
Dining Hall - The dining hall has a full kitchen for catering use only, a clean up room, tables and chairs for meals, a sunroom where we will have the market stalls, and two balconies. There is also a BBQ area outside.
Main Hall - the main hall is a beautiful wood floor room with views out over the grass and lagoon. It has ground level entry, but has a balcony looking out over the grass. It has seating and a projector screen.
Carpark - the carpark is level and can be used for campervans, but there is a limited space, so please let us know ahead of time so we can mark off an area for you to park.
Camping - the camping area is a 20m walk from the carpark down some stairs and an incline. It is a level grassy area with trees around it next to the dormitories and near the toilet block. There is plenty of space.

Accessibility

The buildings are all ground floor. There are some steps. The only flight of stairs are to the lower grassed areas and the camping area. There is a shared toilet block for both dorms and the cottage with a ramp to it. There is also a toilet 20m from the main hall. There are no ensuite bathrooms available. The carpark is very close to the buildings.
The rituals will be held outdoors behind the main hall if weather allows. It is level ground to this area from the buildings with some inclines but no steps.
The dorms have double bunks but no top bunks will be allocated so that these can be used for storing gear as the rooms are fairly small.
For those who may struggle with a lower bunk, there are a limited number of single beds in the cottage. Please let us know if you will need one of these.
The lower grass areas of the venue and the lagoon  may be difficult for some people to get to as there is a steep inclined path. We are trying to prioritise accessibility at this event and will use this area for group activities as little as possible, though attendees are free to use it if they are able.

If you have any other questions please get in contact with your inquiry.

Ticket Prices:

Fully catered ticket: $375

Self-catering ticket: $260

This event is fully catered at a flat rate of $115 per person. We will be providing breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and drinks available through the day. Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free and allergy options will be available only if you mark this on your booking form. There are facilities for self-catering in the cottage with a small fridge, microwave, stove, sink etc. If you would like to self-cater, just purchase the Accommodation/Site access ticket without ticking the catering box.

Schedule

This schedule is subject to change. A more detailed schedule will be available when you arrive

Friday Night

• Checking in from 3pm
• Meet and greet
• Opening ceremony
• Dinner
• Bardic circle and fire

Saturday

• Breakfast
• Morning ceremony
• Workshops and initiations
• Lunch
• Workshops and initiation
• Beltane Ritual
• Dinner
• Bardic Circle

Sunday

• Early Morning ceremony
• Breakfast
• Workshops and initiations
• Lunch
• Grade circles
• Dinner
• Eisteddfod

Monday

• Breakfast
• Closing ceremony
• Packing up and heading home by 12 noon

Initiations

Grade initiations will be available for Bards, Ovate and Druids. Please indicate your request for initiation in your booking form. More information about your initiation will be sent to you before the event.

Workshops and Talks

If you have a workshop or a talk you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. There are various spaces at the venue both indoors and outdoors. There is a lot of beautiful bushland nearby, grassy areas, a fire pit, and areas with picnic tables undercover outside that would make great areas for outdoor workshops. There is also a smaller room inside the cottage that would be good for craft activities or workshops around a table, and a large hall that has a projector screen and lots of seating. We have room for a few workshops, preferably between 30mins and 1hour long. Looking forward to hearing your ideas. Make sure you fill out that section in the booking form.

Bardic Circles and Eisteddfod

The bardic circles will be casual. Those wanting to share a song, story or poem etc, can do so without needing to book a place in advance. For the eisteddfod, please let us know what you plan to perform on the booking form including an estimated time.

Market Stalls

There is a lovely sunroom space next to the main dining hall where we will set up tables for market stalls. If you have something to share, you’re welcome to bring along your wares. We ask for a $50 donation (or 10% of your sales if that is less than $50) per market stall that will go towards putting on the next event. Market stalls can be there all weekend for participants to see. There won’t be a specified time for the markets but attendees should have time for a browse around meal times.

• Single fitted bed sheet, blanket, pillow, sleeping bags.
• Towel and swimsuit – there is a beach and a lagoon nearby
• Comfortable clothing, ritual clothing
• Wet weather gear, sunscreen, hat
• Musical instruments
• Notebook and pen
• Torch for getting around the venue at night

Coming from far away?

If you are coming from overseas or interstate and need help getting bedding, let us know and we may be able to help find some you can borrow locally.

What NOT to bring

This is an alcohol-free venue. Please respect the venue rules so that we might be able to use the venue again in the future. Perhaps consider it a spiritual fasting? Recreational drugs are also not allowed. Thank you for your understanding.

Note: deposits are non refundable after 1st September. Payments need to be finalised by 1st October.

What NOT to bring
This is an alcohol free venue. Please respect the venue rules so that we might be able to use the venue again in the future. Perhaps consider it a spiritual fasting? Recreational drugs are also not allowed. Thank you for your understanding.

NOTE: Whether you are using the dorm accommodation, camping, bringing a camper or staying off site, the compulsory “Accommodation” fee applies for site access. If you do not choose the catering option we will assume you are self catering. There is a kitchen available for those who are self catering separate to the kitchen for catering.