Our STory
The Great Aussie Bush Camp has its roots in adventure, innovation, and some Aussie legends.
It all began as a theme park and movie studio, founded by two pioneering documentary filmmakers and entrepreneurs, Mike and Mal Leyland. The brothers were icons of Australian television in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, blazing a trail for documentary filmmaking in Australia.
Originally hailing from England, the Leyland family made the move to Australia in 1950, and it didn’t take long for Mike and Mal’s passion for storytelling to take off. Mike started out as a news cameraman at NBN Television at 21, and Mal as a cadet at Newcastle’s The Sun newspaper at just 18. But they had bigger ideas – Australia’s vast, untapped outback was waiting to be shown to the world.
Their first regular TV series, Ask the Leyland Brothers, aired from 1976 to 1980, with a return in the early 80s. It gave Australians their first real glimpse of the rugged outback and was one of the country’s first truly authentic documentaries. The show played a big role in shaping how we saw ourselves as a nation, capturing the true Aussie spirit, and hinted at things to come for a burgeoning nation.
Leyland
Brothers world
In 1990, Mike and Mal took their love for adventure to the next level, opening Leyland Brothers World near Tea Gardens on the Pacific Highway – the now site of the Tea Gardens location of The Great Aussie Bush Camp. The site included the iconic 1/40 scale replica of Uluru, as well as amusement rides, playground, a roadhouse, museum and a 144-student capacity bush camp.
While the theme park eventually closed its doors, the spirit of outdoor adventure lived on as an outdoor recreation centre.
In 2009, family members Sarah and Brad Love, and Simone and Brad Higgins, purchased the site which had been operating for 21 years as an outdoor education centre. With their passion for childcare, business, and creating unforgettable experiences, they rejuvenated the now-famous Great Aussie Bush Camp, transforming it into a leader in outdoor education.
In 2023, the Love and Higgins family sold the business to EdCamps Australia.
Today, The Great Aussie Bush Camp is the go-to destination for over 65,000 students every year. Carrying on the spirit of the Leyland brothers, the love for the great outdoors can be found through all our camps. With a focus on unforgettable learning experiences, our camp takes the hassle out of planning school trips and delivers the kind of fun, adventure, and growth that sticks with you for life.
Combining top-notch facilities, an unbeatable sense of fun, and a rich, uniquely Australian heritage, The Great Aussie Bush Camp stands tall as a leader in outdoor education, offering experiences that are as authentic as they are adventurous.
