Every year, students from Chatswood Public School pack their bags, jump on a bus and travel seven hours to visit the tiny community of Coonamble in the NSW north-west.

And every year, students from Coonamble Public School travel to Sydney to spend time with their peers in the city.

It’s part of a sister school program between the two schools that not only allows students from the city to experience the bush, and vice versa, but helps students to better understand culture, Country, language and connection.

“It’s such a special experience to be at Coonamble Public School,” Chatswood Public School Deputy Principal, Rani Holstein, told ABC Sydney after the school’s most recent trip.

“When we’re there, we’ve been involved in language lessons in the Gamilaroi language, learning different animal names and also learning about the emu in the sky,” she said.

“It’s definitely a beautiful experience for city kids to go to the country, learning the different ways of life and the freedom that’s there, but also the rich cultural knowledge.”

For the students, a key part of the visit is experiencing a new environment and making connections.

“The people were amazing. They’re really nice. The space is amazing and the landscape as well,” Chatswood Public School student Ava Battaglia told ABC Sydney.

“There were kangaroos at school. They also had goats, chickens, yabbies and fish,” Ava said.

Coonamble Public School Assistant Principal, Jodi Prentice, said the annual trip to Sydney, and Chatswood Public, was a chance to reward and acknowledge students who had maintained great attendance and demonstrated good behaviour.

“Our trip is open to students in years 4, 5 and 6. So some of our students have the opportunity to participate sometimes three years in a row,” she said.

“We spend a week in Sydney. It’s for our high attending students that have over 95 per cent attendance and exemplary behaviour.

“For our kids, we’re on Country all the time. Our students have the benefit of seeing what the city is like. It’s that different perspective.”

Coonamble Public students will head to Sydney and Chatswood Public in late Term 3.