Spring Semester Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawai’i Itinerary

Hawai’i

Big island

1. Fly from O’ahu to the Big Island, the youngest and largest of the Hawai’ian islands chain and the site of the most active volcanoes
2. Learn about the concept of Aloha, and its importance as a key ethic and worldview in the Quadruple Bottom Line
3. Learn about ecological evolution on one of Earth’s most diverse islands, containing 10 of the world’s 14 life zones
4. Explore the black sand beach of Punalu’u to understand the geologic processes of volcanism
5. Travel to the southern-most point of the United States, Ka Lae

Volcanoes

1. The most visited tourist attraction on the Big Island, Volcanoes National Park is a UNESCO World heritage Site and the ancestral home of Pele, the Fire Goddess
2. Guided (~4 hour return) hike across the Halema’uma’u crater, Kilauea’s most active vent, to understand the cultural and biophysical features of volcanoes

Mauna Kea

1. Star gaze from atop Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain on Earth and one of the world’s preeminent observatories

Kona

1. Snorkel Kahalu’u Beach Park, an important site of Hawaiian cultural heritage and marine biodiversity
2. Learn about sustainable business plans at the Natural Energy Laboratory in Kona
3. Experience the spiritual sanctuary of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau and one of the great engineering feats of ancient Hawiians at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
4. Visit Hulihe’e palace, Kona, and learn about the ahupua’a traditional Hawai’ian resource management

Hilo

1. Conduct a iNaturalist study, a citizens science project, to understand the natural biodiversity of the Hawai’ian Islands
2. Explore the Hilo Farmers Market (only on certain days of the week) in one of Hawai’is most traditional and historic towns, Hilo

New Zealand

Queenstown

1. Known as the Adventure Capital of the World (renowned for bungy jumping, paragliding, river surfing, jet boating, and canyoning)
2. We explore the sustainability practices of one of the world’s most progressive towns
3. Hike to the summit (or plateau) of Ben Lomond to discover how the Southern Alps were formed (and to get majestic views of the Queenstown region)
4. Learn about sustainable sheep farming at Fork Farm near Wanaka

Fiordland

1. Travel to one of the southern-most points on earth (before Antarctica) in Fiordland National Park
2. Travel via 4WD coach and stay at Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound, perhaps the most remote and picturesque place in New Zealand
3. Learn about the geography and nature of the national park and its Greenstone (Pounamu) heritage; one of the few places in the world to spot a kiwi in the wild
4. Cruise Doubtful Sound and enjoy the sound of silence, along with the marine wildlife (Fiordland crested penguin, Southern fur seal, and bottle nose dolphin) and spectacular cascades and waterfalls

Aoraki

1. Stay at the Alpine Lodge in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, at the foot of the highest mountain in New Zealand
2. Hike the Hooker Valley track, one of only a few places in the world you can walk to a glacier
3. Learn about glaciation, climate change, biodiversity, and protected areas management in the Mueller and Hooker valleys

Kaikoura

1. Stay at one of the most sustainable places on Earth, Kaikoura was the world’s first township to be Green Globe certified
2. Swim with hundreds (yes) of Dusky Dolphins with Dolphin Encounter and learn about their ecology, behaviors and characters in one of the most unique natural experiences anywhere on the planet
3. Hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway (~3 hours) to learn about Maori culture, natural history, and observe native wildlife including seals, sea lions, and possibly humpback whales

Abel Tasman

1. Hike the golden beaches of Abel Tasman Coast Track , one of New Zealand’s Great Walks
2. Take a guided sea kayak ofGolden Bay and learn about the ecology, behaviors and characters of the wildlife which includes the New Zealand fur seal and blue penguin

Australia

Sydney

1. Stay at the Rocks (site of the first European settlement in Australia), only a 1 – 2 minute walk to Circular Quay, where you will find the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge
2. Only a 10 minute walk to the entertainment hub of Sydney, Darling Harbor
3. Visit NSW State Parliament for a guided tour and introduction to Australia’s political system
4. Take a walk through time on a Mana-Nura Aboriginal tour to learn how the indigenous Cadigal people lived in the area for thousands of years
5. Engage in cohort-specific activities (such as ESG, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, global health) with local leading organizations in Sydney

Great Barrier Reef

1. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Area
2. Take a 40-minute flight (cost included) from the mainland to Lady Elliot Island, an eco-resort on the GBR, and home of the manta ray, where you will also encounter a vast array of corals, fishes, green (and possibly loggerhead) turtles, and most likely reef sharks (maybe even a tiger shark!)
3. Learn about the animals and diversity of the reef through daily snorkels and reef walks, as well as management of the GBR
4. Participate in Reef Check, a worldwide citizen science project
5. Optional scuba diving (and Discover Dive) available through the eco-resort

Outback

1. Spend three nights with an Aussie family in an outback farmstay and learn about how humans have lived in this fertile region on the edge of the outback
2. Greet kangaroos up, close, and personal, as well as many other Australian wildlife, on the farmstays
3. Engage in a Caring for Country project to learn about indigenous worldviews and approaches to sustainability
4. Learn from a National Park Ranger about the natural and cultural history of Chillagoe-Munagana Caves National Park and study the southern sky at night (naked eye and telescopes) at the Chillagoe Observatory

Noosa

1. Stay at Coral Beach resort and Say Hello to Noosa, one of Australia’s premier surfing and seaside vacation destinations, home to only two traffic lights, no buildings taller than the highest tree, and extensive walking/biking paths
2. Guided canoe tour of Noosa Everglades
3. Engage in a socio scientific issues simulation for a proposed marina on Noosa River
4. Guided 5-mile hike through Noosa National Park, connecting Noosa Main Beach with Sunshine Beach
5. Visit the Original Eumundi Market, the largest arts and crafts market in Australia and learn about sustainability through a local Make it, Bake it, Sew it or Grow it environmental philosophy

Fraser Island

1. Visit the World Heritage Listed, K’Gari (Fraser Island), to learn about the cultural and natural history of the largest sand island in the world
2. Observe wild dingoes and learn about their behavior and management
3. Understand the cultural history of the indigenous Butchella people
4. Take a dip in Lake Mackenzie, a perched lake (contains only rainwater) and its unqiue ecological system
5. A guided 4WD tour of the Island’s geological and ecological assets

Rainforest

1. Stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park
2. Participate in two guided hikes (each ~4 miles and ~9 miles) through the ancient Gondwana rainforests of Lamington World Heritage Area to learn about the natural diversity of a rainforest
3. See some of Australia’s wildlife in its natural habitat (including king parrots, Brush-turkeys, wallabies and pademelons, platypus, and glow worms)

Brisbane

1. Learn about sustainability efforts in Australia’s third most populous city, Brisbane
2. Get up close with Australia’s iconic wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils, with an educational tour of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
3. We’ll visit some of Brisbane’s notable landmarks including South Bank, Queensland Art Gallery, and the Queensland Museum with their innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

Fiji

Viti Levu

1. After your first nite at the Tanoa International hotel in Nadi, travel by coach to Pacific Harbor with a short stop at the Sigatouka market to pick up a sulu (for your village stay) en route
2. At the end of the program, stay at the Pearl Resort for final work and activities

Lawaki

1. Travel by boat (~1 hour) to, and stay at, the Fijian-owned Lawaki Beach House with Sam and Christine, owners
2. Snorkel the coral reef of Beqa Island and participate in a Coral Reef Survey, citizen science project, with Marine Ecology Fiji

Village homestay

1. Spend two nights in a traditional village homestay
2. Stay with a family and engage in cultural activities at Naceva village or Naiseuseu village on Beqa Island