Australia Summer Program

Conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel through Australia

This summer program gives you the chance to experience Australia’s incredible environment and unique culture. During this one-month program we spend a week doing rewarding volunteer conservation work on an island in Keppel Bay Islands National Park, based from an environmental education centre. A further three weeks of insight, exploration and adventure take us canyoning in the Blue Mountains, learning to surf over 3 days in coastal national parks, kayaking with dolphins in Byron Bay, backpacking on beautiful Fraser Island and exploring the Whitsunday Islands by boat. There’s also time to explore vibrant Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. Throughout your time in Australia you’ll learn an enormous amount about Australia’s environmental and ecological history and how that unique history has shaped Australia’s flora, fauna and people.

This travel-study abroad summer or gap year program is suitable for students, graduates and non-students, ideally 18 – 25 years.

Australia's warm climate, friendly people, unusual wildlife and dramatic natural beauty make it a fantastic destination. With a landmass comparable to the United States, but a population of only 20 million people, Australia is sparsely populated, yet home to some of the world's most vibrant cities. Australia's natural diversity is staggering - the world's largest coral reef, lush rainforests, and the most beautiful beaches. Wildlife is abundant, colorful and visible - kangaroos, koalas, flocks of raucous parrots, sea turtles and colourful reef fish.

Australia Summer Program Highlights

• Rewarding week-long volunteer conservation project in Keppel Bay Islands National Park
• Exploring Sydney - harbor, beaches, museums
• Thrilling Tiger Snake Canyon in the Blue Mountains - rappelling, scrambling and hiking
• 3-day learn to surf safari at secluded coastal national parks
• Soaking up the ambience of Byron Bay
• Ocean kayaking to see wild dolphins
• Visit amazing Australia Zoo and learn about wildlife and the conservation initiatives of founder, Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter
• 3-day backpacking trip on Fraser Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• A day island hopping among the spectacular Whitsunday Islands
• Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
• Rainforest walks and beach-time at stunning palm-fringed Mission Beach
• Informal lectures and discussions on history, culture, society and environment
• Very personalized small group experience – maximum of 11 participants (compare with other programs of up to 40 students)
• Fantastic program leader/s supported by local guides

"Traveling with Pacific Discovery has been one of the most personally rewarding things I have ever done. The program's small group sizes and focus on responsible travel allows you to interact with a country's local culture, customs, and environment on a much deeper level. I had the time of my life on the trip!” M Lowrey, participant 2007

Academic credit available on the Australia Summer Program

Click on the link below to view course and registration information for optional transferable credit available on this program.

Seattle Central Community College
Credit is available through the Seattle Central Community College Office of Cooperative Education and Service Learning. Whether you are from the US, Canada, or elsewhere, you are able to undertake this optional independent-study credit while on a Pacific Discovery program. Courses can be taken for 5 or 10 quarter credits and a maximum of 20 credits can be taken per quarter. This credit is a particularly good option for gap-year students and students wanting an economical credit option.

Australia Summer Program Itinerary

Conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel through Australia

Day 1-2. Sydney . Bold, brash and beautiful, Sydney is arguably the world’s most vibrant city. Settle into our downtown accommodation near Sydney Cove, where the first European settlement in Australia was established, over 200 years ago. A detailed program briefing takes place before we explore Sydney’s famous harbor and beaches by ferry, visit the Opera House and check out the local shopping areas.

Day 3-4. Blue Mountains National Park. Just two hours from Sydney but a world away, are the rugged sandstone escarpments of the Blue Mountains. We base ourselves from the main township, Katoomba, where we'll watch an IMAX documentary on what makes the Blue Mountains so special, then get outdoors to discover for ourselves. We have a full-on day canyoning in Tiger Snake canyon, involving hiking, scrambling and four rappels.

Day 5-7. Surf Camp. We journey north to an isolated section of coast where we stay in a surf-camp and learn to surf on the myriad breaks in the area. We’ll be staying right on a beach and have surfing gurus as instructors. Spend evenings around a campfire debriefing each day and hearing the instructor’s wild stories before going to sleep to the sound of the waves pounding the beach.

Day 8-9. Byron Bay, beaches and kayaking. On a sensational section of coastline, Byron Bay has been a hippy hang-out since the 1970s and is today, the quintessential surfing town. Tie-dyed hippies mix with bronzed surfers, artists and large numbers of local and international tourists, there to enjoy its beaches, boutiques and cafes. While here, we'll do a half-day ocean kayaking trip to see wild dolphins.

Day 10-11. Sunshine Coast and Australia Zoo. From Byron Bay we drive north into Queensland, exploring Brisbane before continuing on to the Sunshine Coast to stay beside yet another gorgeous beach. The next day at Australia Zoo we’ll learn about the zoo’s wildlife and the conservation initiatives of founder, Steve Irwin – the Crocodile Hunter, before continuing north to Hervey Bay, gateway to Fraser Island.

Day 12-15. Fraser Island National Park. Our favorite place in Australia! We head off on a three-day backpacking trip across Fraser Island...turtles, dingoes, diverse forests and stunning freshwater lakes lapping white sand beaches. Fraser Island is the largest sand island on earth and each day we’ll hike through varied forest types to camp beside a different lake for the night. After coming off Fraser Island we make our way north to the Great Barrier Reef and our volunteer conservation project.

Day 16-21. Volunteer Project – Keppel Bay Islands National Park. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park surrounds the Keppel Bay islands. Together they form part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the world's largest reef and island system. North Keppel Island is the national park's largest island and aside from the environmental education center is otherwise uninhabited. Fringing reefs, nine beaches and a varied landscape of rugged cliffs, steep grass-clad hills, forests and palm groves provide a stimulating and idyllic environment for our volunteer work. Our work will be facilitated by staff from the North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre. The week will be an awesome opportunity to learn about Australia’s unique flora, fauna and Aboriginal culture.

Day 22-23. Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands. From the township of Airlie Beach we spend an action-packed day island hopping among the Whitsunday Islands aboard an eco-certified motor boat. Enjoy snorkeling and visit spectacular Whitehaven beach, often voted ‘best beach in the world’.

Day 24-26. Mission Beach and Great Barrier Reef. A long travel day brings us to palm fringed Mission Beach, where the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area meets the rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Serious beach time, rainforest hikes and a multitude of optional adventure activities are on offer – a fantastically relaxing place to spend our last days together.

Day 27-28. Cairns. It’s a short drive to Cairns for the last day of the program. We'll explore the city and you'll have time to catch up on laundry, and last minute souvenir shopping before an evening program wrap. Depart Australia with an immense sense of satisfaction from the work you've completed, challenges you've overcome, and an increased knowledge and understanding of Australia's complex biodiversity.

Australia Summer Program Notes

Conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel through Australia

Suitability

Open to students, graduates and non-students, ideally 18-25 years. This program is suitable for anyone of average fitness with an enthusiasm for conservation and new experiences. You need to be committed to, and prepared for, some physical work whilst on the volunteer component of the program i.e. trail building, tree planting or painting. You don’t need to have had previous experience with travel or any of the activities offered.

Accommodation

Our accommodation will be a mixture of comfortable and clean hostels and lodges, and 3 nights camping (tents supplied). Laundry, postal, telephone and email facilities will be available most days, except while in the field on the first volunteer project and on Fraser Island. Accommodation is diverse, comfortable and carefully chosen to fit our needs.

Meals

Food is a highlight when traveling. Special dietary requirements and vegetarians are catered for. More than two thirds of meals are included in the program cost. Meals are fresh, tasty, healthy and varied. Food preparation, shared by all participants, is fun, social and often a highlight. For the meals not included, you will have the option of dining out, or self-catering with others in the group.

Transport

For most travel we will use our own private van with trailer.

Program fee

Program cost for Summer 2010 is $3,950 USD (change currency).

Program fee inclusions

Visa (with optional group flight); All in-country travel and transport; All accommodation; More than two thirds of meals (see ‘meals’ above); All activities, excursions, entry fees and adventure travel as described in the itinerary; Week-long volunteer conservation project; Informal lectures from resident experts on conservation and eco-tourism; Experienced program leader/s and local guides; Online image library for your program. Refer information booklet for international flight options.

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