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 wasn’t long before Mike and Mal’s love of storytelling began to shine. Mike became a news cameraman for NBN Television at just 21, while Mal kicked off his career as an 18-year-old cadet at Newcastle’s The Sun newspaper. But the brothers had their sights set on something bigger – the untouched heart of the Australian outback, waiting to be captured and shared with 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 closed its doors in 1992, 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 19 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. They extended the reach of Bush Camp and added our Kincumber and Lake Macqurie camp to the adventures.
In 2023, the Love and Higgins family sold the business to EdCamps Australia. Edcamps purchased Wombaroo in the Southern Highlands and took Bush Camp national with the aquisition of PGL Adventure Camps in 2025. This acquisition expanded The Great Aussie Bush Camp into Queensland and Victoria, giving more children the chance to experience the magic of our adventures and cemented Bush Camp as Australia’s largest outdoor education provider*
Today, more than 110,000 students choose The Great Aussie Bush Camp across as their adventure destination each year. True to the spirit of the Leyland brothers, our love for the outdoors runs through every experience we deliver. We make school camps fun, while giving students the kind of challenge, learning, and unforgettable memories that stays with them long after the bus ride home.
With standout facilities, a genuinely Aussie atmosphere, and a legacy built on real adventure, The Great Aussie Bush Camp is now a leader in outdoor education, delivering authentic experiences that help young people grow, explore, and discover what they’re truly capable of.
* By participant volume.