Sydney
- 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
- Only a 10 minute walk to the entertainment hub of Sydney, Darling Harbor
- Visit NSW State Parliament for a guided tour and introduction to Australia’s political system
- 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
- Engage in cohort-specific activities (such as ESG, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, global health) with local leading organizations in Sydney
Great Barrier Reef
- The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Area
- 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!)
- Learn about the animals and diversity of the reef through daily snorkels and reef walks, as well as management of the GBR
- Participate in Reef Check, a worldwide citizen science project
- Optional scuba diving (and Discover Dive) available through the eco-resort
Noosa
- 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
- Guided canoe tour of Noosa Everglades
- Engage in a socio scientific issues simulation for a proposed marina on Noosa River
- Guided 5-mile hike through Noosa National Park, connecting Noosa Main Beach with Sunshine Beach
- 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
- 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
- Observe wild dingoes and learn about their behavior and management
- Understand the cultural history of the indigenous Butchella people
- Take a dip in Lake Mackenzie, a perched lake (contains only rainwater) and its unqiue ecological system
- A guided 4WD tour of the Island’s geological and ecological assets
Rainforest
- Stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park
- 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
- See some of Australia’s wildlife in its natural habitat (including king parrots, Brush-turkeys, wallabies and pademelons, platypus, and glow worms)
Brisbane
- Learn about sustainability efforts in Australia’s third most populous city, Brisbane
- Get up close with Australia’s iconic wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils, with an educational tour of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- 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
*The itinerary includes activities that are representative of a program but, we cannot guarantee that all activities will always be included. For an example of a previous year program, click on the Sample Itinerary AU QLD Winter