NSW Premier Mike Baird, deposed Labor premier Nathan Rees, rock star Kirk Pengilly, champion surfer Layne Beachley, Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly, art gallery boss Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, businessman Tim Pickles and author Jock Cameron started on the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory on Tuesday.

Eight teenagers, who had overcome homelessness to get their lives back on track, were walking with them.

Mr Baird wanted to take the teens to a "beautiful place", talk to the mentors, and broaden their perspectives on life. By the end of the week, something else had happened.

"Most of the time it has been us being inspired by them," he said.

"We all face challenges, there are political challenges. But to hear these guys' stories, their resilience and determination to forge ahead, despite the cards they have been dealt, it gives you perspective. They are unique and have so much to offer."

Mr Baird had approached each of the mentors and asked the Oasis Youth Support Network in the inner city, Youth Off the Streets, Southern Youth Family Services in Wollongong and Brookvale Youth Reach to choose eight teenagers to take part in Project Uplift.

He said when the Liberals took government, a former politician had advised him: "It goes really quickly. You have to look for opportunities you are passionate about to get involved and make a difference."

Mr Baird had already been working with two youth homeless services and wanted to do more.

"Gail Kelly was supposed to be guest speaker at a global McKinsey conference this week, but she chose to do this, and to put something back into young Aussie lives," he said.

Youth Off The Streets program manager James Townsend said the diversity of the mentors, spanning sports, politics and business, should show the two boys the service had chosen for the trek the possibilities life held.

"I hope that they really see that they are not different from anyone else," Mr Townsend said. "If they want to be premier, they can get there."

The barrier between power elite and former street kids was falling as the campers shared stories at night, and the mentors revealed their past.

"People have had a lot of struggle as children, and come a long way in their career and journey," said Mr Baird. "It's a privilege to be here and listening."

The trek had been planned long before terrorism fears engulfed NSW. Mr Baird said he was determined to keep his commitment to the young walkers, but was monitoring events in Sydney. He had spoken several times to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione by satellite phone.

"Its a tough time in Sydney and across the country at the moment," he said. "I am confident of what our police and agencies are doing."

Brookvale Youth Reach manager Rhonda Moore said completing the challenging walk would show the teenagers they had the strength to realise their full potential. The group will finish on Monday.

Mr Baird said the hiking was tough but rewarding. "Seeing their faces when we reach the peaks, and knowing we did it ... they are seeing beauty, something they haven't had a lot of in their lives."