Secondary School
Our team of passionate educators believe that our engagement and relationship with nature is paramount to our wellbeing and to the wellbeing of our ocean-planet home.
Education is the key to unlocking a continued understanding of the many and complex issues that exist. We want to inspire our youth to consider their individual footprints and become empowered to take responsibility for protecting our oceans, beaches, rock pools, creeks, rivers, and our unique country, now and into the future.
Experience measurable syllabus outcome-based presentations and field studies in the unique and diverse ecosystems of Hastings Point. We cater to your needs and offer the opportunity to build your own camp program across a range of nature, science based and team building sessions and activities.
Let us inspire your students by booking a private visit to the Marine Discovery Centre, for your school.
Welcome to North Star Holiday Resort, home to Marine Discovery Centre Hastings Point, one of Australia’s largest, privately funded museums. Our award-winning haven located on the pristine Tweed Coast, approximately 90 minutes from Brisbane CBD and 50 minutes for the heart of Surfers Paradise.
Hastings Point
Hastings Point is an ideal living classroom and mindfulness setting due to the presence of four easily accessible coastal ecosystems: an unsurpassed intertidal rock platform, a healthy Mangrove wetland and tidal estuary as well as stretches of beaches and sand dune forests which extend back into a Wallum Heathland and freshwater Paperbark Tea Tree Wetlands.
Marine Discovery Centre
The recently refurbished Centre is a showcase of state-of-the-art light and sound technology, fitted with interactive digital terminals and world-class marine and coastal science displays. This space is ideal for presentations, education sessions complimented by using our microscopes or simply a self-guided exploration of our zones
Accommodation
North Star’s comfortable dorm-style accommodation has been designed specifically for school groups. Dorms are air-conditioned, have two bathrooms, two separate showers and sleep up to 10 people. Teachers’ accommodation is conveniently located opposite the dorms in the Jubilee Lodges. These two-bedroom cabins are air-conditioned, have a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor patio.
Catering
The fantastic team at North Star’s onsite Ripples Licensed Café have years of experience in catering for large school groups. A range of meal options is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with menus designed to suit all ages. They can also cater for special dietary requirements if advised at the time of booking.
BUILD YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE
Want to know more? Build your ultimate camp with additional sessions at the Marine Discovery Centre, field studies, recreational and team-building exercises. The choice is yours! Please fill out the below and add the activities you feel will best suit your group. Once submitted our friendly group coordinator will be in touch with a detailed quote. If you have something specific in mind that isn’t noted below, please ask!
Base Package 
Outdoor Education 
Envrio Care 
High Tide 
Low Tide 
Duration 
Team Building 
Wellbeing
Kayaking
- This high tide activity is a fun and relaxing way to appreciate the ecosystem created by the Mangrov...[more]
Introductory ecology walk
- General Ecology Walk to discover basic principles of ecology – the study of living spaces, liv...[more]
Human Impact Walk
- Hastings point sits on a fragile edge as increasing human activity influences and shapes the ecosyst...[more]
Rocky Shore
- An abundant Rocky Shore offers a wonderful opportunity to encounter and learn about marine life with...[more]
Wallum Heathland
- The Wallum Heathland is a dry and fire-prone ecology that develops on old tracts of sand found furth...[more]
Sand Dunes
- The long quiet beaches and healthy sand dune forests at Hastings are easy and fun places to learn ab...[more]
Shoreline Plastic & Rubbish Survey
- A guided walk around the shoreline of the beach, rocky shore and estuary with a focus on plastic and...[more]
Ecology Sand Sculpting
- A fun team-building activity where students will be encouraged to work together in groups to collabo...[more]
Orienteering
- Our spin on traditional orienteering with a fun Amazing Race vibe. This team-building activity is a ...[more]
Trivia
- Our trivia quizzes for school groups are designed to encourage teamwork while providing a fun experi...[more]
Marine Centre presentations
- The Marine Discovery Centre is a highly engaging space and a perfect setting to deliver educational ...[more]
Wellbeing
- Experience a guided journey through mindfulness. Wild n Awake is about relaxing in the peace and vit...[more]
Beach Games & Sand Castles
- Enjoy a session of fun beach games and sandcastle building. Students will work in teams to collabora...[more]
Private Life of Marine Turtles
- Marine turtles are among the most threatened species globally and Northern New South Wales provides ...[more]
Conservation & Management
- This program focuses on the global status and threats facing marine mammals and their habitats. It e...[more]
Cetacea Communication
- Learn about the intricate and fascinating communication systems of dolphins and whales, the properti...[more]
Cetacea World Program
- This program provides an academic outline of the biology and ecology of whales and dolphins. This pr...[more]
Marine Food Webs
- All organisms in food webs are classified into trophic levels. The marine food webs are made up of a...[more]
Conserving Mangrove Forests
- Dolphin Research Australia provide OCEAN Education Programs to engage participants to learn, connect...[more]
Dolphin World Program
- Our Dolphin World Program provides children an introduction into the natural lives of dolphins and w...[more]
Intro to plastic pollution
- Our highly engaging, interactive presentation will educate students about the global problem of plas...[more]
