Patrick Foley returns to Australia after a forty-year absence and hitchhikes to his tiny hometown of Dungog. He drops his backpack on the porch of the general store and wanders to a nearby farm. The vacationing Daley family stops at the store for gasoline and food; while parents Ross and Bettina go inside, their ten-year-old son, Shawn, waits on the porch. He sees Foley’s satchel and notices a Native American medicine bag inside. Meanwhile, Foley swallows pain medication and visits his old friend, Christian Neilson. Foley tells Christian that he is heading to his father’s farm and although Christian wants to spend time with him, Foley says he is leaving right away and will not return. Christian realizes that Foley is ill and wants his friend to stay in Dungog, but Foley refuses. They argue until Christian’s wife, Meg, interrupts and welcomes Foley to stay. Christian does not want his friend to die alone and cries, but Foley is determined to return to his remote homestead. Before leaving the Dungog area, Foley visits another friend, Red, and presents him with fishing lures wrapped in the medicine bag. In return, Red provides a horse for Foley to ride partway home. The next morning, Foley releases the horse at a river and starts hiking. Meanwhile, in Dungog, Red stops at the general store. The Daley family is at the store again, and as Shawn waits for his parents, he notices the medicine bag. Red sees Shawn’s interest and gives the bag to the child, claiming it will keep evil spirits at bay. The Daleys, guided by a local map, drive their van into the mountains toward what they believe is a special camping spot. When they stop by a river for lunch, Ross jumps into the water but Shawn refuses to join him, fearing the water is too cold. Later, the family drives further into the hills and they stop at a cliff’s edge for dinner. Shawn gathers firewood as Bettina cooks inside the van. Realizing that he has parked too close to the edge, Ross tries to move the van to safety but the vehicle rolls over the cliff and crashes onto the rocks below. From a nearby peak, Foley sees Shawn scramble down the cliff to rescue his parents, but they are dead. Shawn finds the medicine bag, tucks it into his shirt and huddles by the van, but he becomes scared by the wildlife surrounding him and hides among nearby rocks. The next morning, Shawn sees Foley by the river and follows him. When Foley stops for a nap, Shawn tries to steal food but Foley hits the boy with a stick and Shawn runs into the river, yelling for his parents. Foley leaves, mumbling aloud that he cannot take the boy with him and there is not enough time to take him back to Dungog. However, Shawn draws closer when Foley roasts meat over a fire. Foley asks for the boy’s name, but Shawn is too traumatized to speak. Foley is angry to be saddled with a child who is alone and helpless. Although Foley orders Shawn to follow the river back downhill, promising that someone should find him within a few days, Shawn shadows the man and sleeps near him that night. The next morning, Shawn is finally able to reveal his name. When Foley learns that Red gave Shawn the medicine bag, he begrudgingly allows the boy to join him. As they hike in the mountains for several days, Foley is stern and teaches the boy survival techniques, including hunting, trapping animals and fishing. One morning, Shawn pulls a rabbit out of their trap and returns to the campsite, but Foley is not there. Shawn follows Foley’s footsteps and finds him climbing a rocky cliff. Shawn is frightened, but Foley will not help him, even when a pack of wild dogs, following the rabbit’s scent, run toward the child. The dogs nip at Shawn’s heels as he climbs out of their reach. Halfway up the cliff, Shawn freezes in fear. Foley orders him to try harder and promises to help Shawn cook the rabbit when he reaches the top, motivating the hungry child to finish the climb. The men continue to hike and hunt until reaching their destination. As they admire the spectacular vista, Foley says he designated the site on a local map forty years ago and Shawn realizes that this is the location his parents were trying to reach. Foley’s family home is falling apart, but he does not care. He reminisces about a wonderful childhood under his father’s tutelage, but admits that when he grew into a young man, he became angry and dissatisfied, so he left to make his own way in the world. Later, Foley came to value life in his homeland and has returned to be buried next to his parents. Foley watches proudly as Shawn catches and cooks a fish, and they form a greater bond while walking the farm and soaking in hot springs. Foley prepares a pack for the boy’s trip back to Dungog and directs him on the route to take but Shawn does not want to leave without him. Foley tells the boy not to be afraid and the two admit their love for each other and then embrace. After Foley dies, Shawn buries his friend and leaves the medicine bag on the grave to keep evil spirits away. Remembering Foley’s words of advice, Shawn shoulders his pack and heads back into the mountains toward Dungog.