Mini semester · Australia

Sydney to Cairns in six weeks

Canyon in the Blue Mountains, learn to surf at Crescent Head, explore K’gari and Magnetic Island, and finish on the Great Barrier Reef.

Check dates & apply Get the itinerary

WhereAustralia

Length6 weeks

GroupMax 12 · ages 17‑22

Tuition$11,500+ flights est. $2,800

ActivityMedium

College creditOptional · University of Montana

What makes this program different

Group standing on coastal rocks looking out to sea

The whole east coast, by road

Travel overland from Sydney to Cairns in our own group van, through the Blue Mountains, Byron Bay, Stradbroke Island, K’gari, Airlie Beach and Magnetic Island.

Two people walking along a beach below a sandy cliff

Service, then surf

Three days of conservation work with our Ecological partner at Crescent Head, followed by three days learning to surf.

Group in stinger suits and snorkel masks on a boat

Reef learning in Cairns

Three days with learning about coral, marine life and ocean sustainability, with snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Three students in snorkel masks standing in clear shallow water

All-inclusive On The Ground

3 Meals a day, lodging, in-country ground travel, activities, entry fees and guides are included.

Your journey at a glance

Route map from Sydney north along Australia’s east coast to Cairns

Week 1Orientation in Sydney and the Australian Museum, then canyoning in the Blue Mountains from Katoomba
Week 2Conservation work with Maratus Ecological and surf lessons at Crescent Head
Week 3Kayaking and the headland walk in Byron Bay, a cultural tour in Brisbane, and sandboarding on Stradbroke Island
Week 4Australia Zoo, a K’gari island tour and a day trip to Keppel Island from Yeppoon
Week 5–6Ocean rafting at Airlie Beach, wildlife on Magnetic Island, then Reef Teach, Mossman Gorge and Josephine Falls from Cairns

Where you’ll stay

Hostels

Clean, comfortable hostels and shared accommodations.

Students gathered for a meal at a campground in Australia

Campgrounds & holiday parks

Campgrounds at Crescent Head, Byron Bay and Airlie Beach.

Lodges & island stays

A lodge on Stradbroke Island, a beach house in Yeppoon and a stay on Magnetic Island.

Week by week

Download full itinerary

Week 1Sydney & canyoning in the Blue MountainsSydney → Katoomba, Australia

You’ll meet your Program Instructors in Sydney, where we spend three days on orientation, getting to know each other and the program, with a visit to the Australian Museum. Then we head to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, our base for a full day of canyoning: abseiling, swimming and jumping through the canyons of the national park. At the end of the week we drive north to the coast at Crescent Head.

Orientation
Culture
Canyoning

Student abseiling down a rock face above a forested valley

Week 2Conservation & learning to surfCrescent Head → Byron Bay, Australia

We start the week with three days of service with Maratus Ecological, doing hands-on bush regeneration and dune conservation work on the coast. Evenings are spent at Waves Campground. Next come three days learning to surf. Whether it’s your first time on a board or you’ve surfed before, the instructors cater to everyone. Then we pack up and drive north to Byron Bay.

Conservation
Surfing
Camping

Week 3Byron Bay, Brisbane & Stradbroke IslandByron Bay → Brisbane → Stradbroke Island, Australia

In Byron Bay we head out kayaking with dolphins and hike the Byron headland walkway. Then we drive into Queensland for a cultural tour with Nyanda on the way to Brisbane, and a day exploring the South Bank Parklands. From Brisbane we cross to Stradbroke Island, known to locals as Straddie. Here we join a cultural tour, spend an afternoon sandboarding and have a day to explore the island.

Kayaking
Culture
Sandboarding

Week 4Australia Zoo, K’gari & Keppel IslandRainbow Beach → K’gari → Yeppoon, Australia

We take the ferry back to the mainland and visit Australia Zoo, learning about its wildlife and the conservation work of its late founder Steve Irwin, before a night at Rainbow Beach. Next is a K’gari island tour. K’gari is home to over 350 bird species as well as dingoes and echidnas, and we swim in its freshwater lakes. Then we continue north to Yeppoon for a day trip to Keppel Island, before driving on to Airlie Beach.

Wildlife
Island
Swimming

Week 5Airlie Beach & Magnetic IslandAirlie Beach → Magnetic Island, Australia

At Airlie Beach we spend a day out on the water with Ocean Rafting and a day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon. Then we take the ferry to Magnetic Island for four nights. Over half the island is national park and bird sanctuary, with a large koala population. We join a wildlife tour, have a day to explore, and hire paddleboards and kayaks at Horseshoe Bay. At the end of the week we drive north to Cairns.

Ocean
Wildlife
Paddleboarding

Sunset over the sea framed by palm trees

Week 6Reef Teach & the tropical northCairns, Australia

Our final week is in tropical Cairns. Over three days with Reef Teach we learn about coral, marine life and sustainability for our oceans, with snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef. We also visit Mossman Gorge and take a day trip to Josephine Falls. We finish with our program wrap, reflecting on everything we’ve experienced and learned together, before flying home from Cairns.

Marine science
Snorkeling
Program wrap

This is a guide to what you can expect to do on program. The order in which activities occur might vary. Itineraries are subject to change.

Learn while you travel

Reef Teach in Cairns

Three days learning about coral, marine life and sustainability for our oceans, with snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Optional college credit

Earn college credit through the University of Montana. 529 education funds can be used to pay for your credits and your Pacific Discovery program tuition.

How college credit works

For parents: how we keep students safe

24/7 Emergency Line

Parents, students and instructors can reach a real person at any hour. Every call is logged and passed to our on-call staff member by phone.

Wilderness First Aid & Live Risk Assessment

All our instructors hold Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification and have extensive training in group leadership and risk management.

Accredited Safety Systems

Our safety systems are assessed and accredited by the Gap Year Association (USA), Year Out Group (UK) and OutdoorsMark (NZ). Students on Go Overseas voted us one of the top gap year providers for safety.

Insurance & Health

Comprehensive travel insurance is required, covering medical costs and emergency evacuation. Check vaccinations with your doctor, and pack a first-aid kit and any personal medication. Our instructors can't legally give students any medication.

Read our full safety approach

What it costs, all in

Program tuition$11,500

Flights (estimate)~$2,800

College credit (optional)$1950

That’s about $1,920 per week of tuition.

App Fee: $250 · Deposit: $2250 · 529 funds can cover tuition

Included

All in-program travel and transport
All accommodation
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (not including snacks)
All expeditions, activities, excursions, volunteer projects and entry fees
Experienced Program Instructors and local guides
Informal lectures from resident experts on conservation and eco-tourism
Experiential core curriculum
Certificate of Program Completion

Not included

International flights
Visas
Travel insurance
Personal spending and snacks
College credit fee
Optional activities or adventures

Pick your start date

11 Mar – 21 Apr 2027Spring

OpenApply

Not sure yet? Talk to an advisor.

Questions we get about this program

Do I need to know how to surf?

No. You’ll spend three days learning to surf at Crescent Head, and the instructors cater to everyone, whether it’s your first time on a board or you’ve surfed before.

How fit do I need to be?

The program suits anyone of average fitness with an enthusiasm for the outdoors. You don’t need experience with any of the activities, but be ready to try canyoning, surfing, kayaking and hiking. The conservation project also involves some physical work.

Where will I stay?

Mostly clean, comfortable hostels and lodges, plus campground and holiday park stays at Crescent Head, Byron Bay and Airlie Beach.

How do we get around?

We travel in our own group van for the whole program, with ferries to Stradbroke Island and Magnetic Island.

What's included, and what isn't?

Tuition covers all in-country transport, accommodation, meals, and the activities and entry fees in the itinerary. It doesn't cover international flights, visas, travel insurance, spending money, optional college credit or optional activities.

How much spending money should I bring?

About $15 a day for snacks, laundry, personal shopping and optional activities. It varies from student to student.

Can I stay in touch with home?

Yes. We encourage keeping phones on flight mode so you stay present, and wifi is available where we stay in cities and towns. There will also be a photo album that students and instructors can upload photos and video to, so parents and caregivers can stay up to date.

Do I need a passport or visa?

Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months after the program ends. All the information you need in regard to visas will be available in your student portal.

Spring 2027 is filling. Hold your place.

$2500 holds your spot.

Apply now Request the itinerary