Trek for the Stars 2024

Today, 3 million Australians are living in poverty and almost 740,000 are children.

Poverty can seem insurmountable, but sometimes, all that people need is a chance to break the cycle of disadvantage. Grow A Star provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to pursue their passions and break through the barriers holding them back. 

Join Grow A Star on an epic trek to explore the breathtaking terrain of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. You’ll join a team of like-minded adventurers united by the desire to make a change in the lives of young people. 

On this 6-day trek you’ll make your way from the colourful and chaotic Christchurch to the ultimate adventure destination of Queenstown. Every day you’ll be challenged by alpine hikes past glacial lakes, up steep mountainous slopes and through valleys, forests and snowfields.

Your efforts will be rewarded by some of New Zealand’s most spectacular sights including Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka and the famous Tasman Glacier.

Best of all, every step of the way you will raise vital money to support Grow A Star on their mission to help disadvantaged young people follow their interests and ambitions, and make their dreams come true.

After three years of postponements and rescheduling as a result of the global pandemic, Home in Place’s inaugural fundraising adventure Trek for the Stars finally took place in November 2022, with nine participants on board raising over $31,000 for their youth mentoring and scholarship program, Grow a Star.

In addition to coordinating the event, Home in Place’s Events & Community Relations Manager Michelle Faithfull also took on the role of Team Leader for the trek, managing the requirements of participants from all over Australia and coordinating logistics alongside local guides for the week. Two Home in Place staff, Grow a Star Coordinator Shane Marshall and Professor Dave Adamson also participated in the adventure, raising valuable funds for the program.

The crew gathered for a debrief dinner in Launceston, Tasmania on the 7th November 2022, with their Team Leader Michelle Faithfull, before meeting their local guides and setting off for their five day adventure in Cradle Mountain the following day.

Day 1 saw the team take the two-hour drive to Cradle Mountain, stopping off at the picturesque town of Sheffield for morning tea and then onto their final destination, with some lunch at the Visitor’s Centre before heading off on a 9km walk along the Cradle Valley Boardwalk to Ronnie Creek, onto the Overland Track across the button grass plains to the historical Waldheim Cabin.

Day 2 was significantly more challenging, with a 9km return hike over 6 hours up to Hanson’s Peak and the Twisted Lakes. The day began with a gentle incline alongside Dove Lake which ultimately turned steep with some vertical climbs up the face of the mountain, assisted by chains. It was a hot day, and the pace was steady, with all participants managing to complete all sections as they enjoyed the spectacular flora and fauna along the way.

Day 3 the team enjoyed much cooler weather as they set out for their 10km round journey on the Lake Lilla Track, via the Wombat Pool up to Marion’s Lookout. Stopping at Crater Lake, the team split into two, where some pressed on for the steep climb in the cold up to Marion’s Lookout, while the rest took the gentle walk back down the mountain for some lunch in the rainforest.

Day 4 was a favourite for much of the team as they explored the spectacular rainforest scenery on the 6km track around beautiful Dove Lake. The flat gravel and duckboard track was easy-going beneath the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain looming overhead. They enjoyed a mix of terrain with scrubby button grass, sandy beaches and cascading streams. The highlight of the day was the mindfulness walk through the Ballroom Forest.

On their final day, the team packed up and headed to Mole Creek to explore the stunning rainforest and Westmorland Falls before heading back to Launceston to say their goodbyes.