Program Overview
Cross the International Date Line and prepare to be stunned by the beauty of Australia and New Zealand on this amazing service youth program in Oceania.
We’ll begin our journey in the Land Down Under: Australia. Here we will enjoy the best of the country’s marine wildlife while completing service work with a local conservation organization. Participants will become Great Barrier Reef advocates as part of this multifaceted program that facilitates Great Barrier Reef research, education, and conservation. Service will include a classroom component — training with marine biologists and developing the skills necessary for our work out on the water. Our hands-on work will involve trips with marine biologists to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef to survey reefs, collect data, and visit a turtle rehabilitation center. Over the years, our service work has had a huge impact on the community and our former students were even featured on the local news!
The adventure doesn’t stop there — spend time adventuring in the outback, explore Sydney, discover the Great Barrier Reef, and of course, immerse yourself in the relaxed lifestyle of Australian culture!
Next, we head to New Zealand to experience the country’s famed natural beauty with a boat cruise on picture-perfect Milford Sound nestled in the mountains. Make sure you keep an eye out for penguins, seals, and dolphins! Take an exhilarating ride on the world’s fastest jet boat zooming through rock canyons.
Come with us to this for a mix of fun, relaxation, adventure and cultural immersion that we’re sure you’ll never forget!
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 20 hours of community service working with Australia’s unique wildlife and flora
- Volunteer with marine biologists in the Great Barrier Reef surveying reefs, collecting data, and visiting a turtle rehabilitation center.
- Cruise through Milford Sound, one of the most gorgeous places on Earth
- Spot platypus, wallabies, koalas, and kangaroos!
- Scuba dive* or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
- Visit the iconic Sydney Opera House and explore the neighborhoods of Surry Hills, Manly and Bondi
- Suit up and climb to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge for incredible harbor views*
- Enjoy a whale-watching cruise in Moreton Island
*This is an optional add-on
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX)
DAY 2: CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
DAYS 3-7: CAIRNS > GREAT BARRIER REEF > GREEN ISLAND > KURANDA RAINFOREST
We spend our first day in Cairns which will be our home base during our service in the surrounding communities with the organization Reef Teach!
We begin our service efforts in the land down under by becoming Great Barrier Reef advocates as part of a multifaceted program facilitating Great Barrier Reef research, education, and conservation. Service will include a classroom component where we are training with marine biologists and developing the skills necessary for our work out on the water. Our hands-on work will involve trips with marine biologists to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef to survey reefs, collect data, and visit a turtle rehabilitation center!
We cruise the turquoise waters on the incredible Great Barrier Reef where we’ll have the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive* with sea turtles and exquisite sea life.
On our final day in Cairns, we spend the full day in Kuranda, learning how to throw a boomerang, practice playing the didgeridoo, and we’ll enjoy a traditional Aussie BBQ lunch.
DAYS 8-10: ATHERTON TABLELANDS > YUNGABURRA
Next up is our service adventure where we’ll head inland to the Yungaburra. During the next few days we work on a variety of local projects all related to the care and rehabilitation of native wildlife and flora. Get to know this part of rural Australia with incredible natural landscapes and stunning wildlife. See agile Wallabies living happily in suburbia before climbing the Great Escarpment onto the Atherton Tablelands where you visit a huge strangler fig and look for the smallest and most primitive of the kangaroo species.
DAYS 11-12: BRISBANE > MORETON ISLAND > TANGALOOMA
Hop on a quick flight and land in Brisbane. After exploring downtown, we’ll catch a high-speed ferry to the third-largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island. Choose how to spend your days — maybe feed wild dolphins, sand-board down giant dunes, or spend some time relaxing on the gorgeous beaches of the island. Explore the outback on your morning desert safari, then embark on a whale-watching cruise to round out the day!
DAYS 13-16: SYDNEY
We spend our last day in Australia in Sydney, where you will explore the urban and cosmopolitan excitement of the capital city, with its splendid harbor and world-class metropolis. Visit the Botanical Gardens, discover the history of the famed Sydney Opera House, check out a movie on the world’s largest IMAX screen, stroll down Bondi and Manly Beach, enjoy the city’s fantastic shopping in Surry Hills, and explore Sydney’s world-famous fusion food scene. To celebrate the life-changing adventure we’ll enjoy our final dinner with 360° views of this stunning city.
DAYS 17-19: QUEENSTOWN
Then you’re off to your next country to discover: New Zealand. Land in Queenstown and head out for some classic TFT adventure. Zoom through rock canyons in the world’s fastest jet boat and check out some favorite local eateries and hot spots of this bustling ski town. Then we’re off to cruise through the spellbinding Milford Sound and take in dramatic vistas composed of high mountains and rugged fjords, spot penguins and seals on the rocky shores, and watch dolphins playing in the waters around the boat.
DAY 20: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
Photo Gallery
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FAQs
Where do we stay?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Cairns we stay in the center of town a few blocks away from the Esplanade. On Moreton Island near Brisbane we stay in resort-style accommodation. In Sydney we stay in the heart of bustling Surry Hills, centrally located within walking distance of all the major attractions.
In Queenstown we stay a short walk from Shotover Street along the waterfront.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Cairns we stay in the center of town a few blocks away from the Esplanade. On Moreton Island near Brisbane we stay in resort-style accommodation. In Sydney we stay in the heart of bustling Surry Hills, centrally located within walking distance of all the major attractions.
In Queenstown we stay a short walk from Shotover Street along the waterfront.
What is unique about the Australia and New Zealand Service trip?
On Australia & New Zealand Service you will experience picturesque white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, swimming with sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, performing community service helping Australia’s indigenous wildlife, and cruising through Milford Sound are just a few things that stand out on this Oceania adventure.
On Australia & New Zealand Service you will experience picturesque white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, swimming with sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, performing community service helping Australia’s indigenous wildlife, and cruising through Milford Sound are just a few things that stand out on this Oceania adventure.
What is included on the Australia and New Zealand Service trip?
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches during the Fiji portion and service portion in Australia, and dinners.
Not included in the cost (not intended to be an exhaustive list): Airfare, visas and visa application fees, beverages other than filtered water at meals, lunches, activities and admissions not referenced in the itinerary or deemed not program related, such as movies, expenses incurred by the participant that are outside the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters, as well as personal and medical expenses.
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches during the Fiji portion and service portion in Australia, and dinners.
Not included in the cost (not intended to be an exhaustive list): Airfare, visas and visa application fees, beverages other than filtered water at meals, lunches, activities and admissions not referenced in the itinerary or deemed not program related, such as movies, expenses incurred by the participant that are outside the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters, as well as personal and medical expenses.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Australia and New Zealand are very multicultural countries with an incredible array of cuisines from around the world. With large migrant populations the food is as authentic and delicious as you would find in the original country. Greek, Italian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, the choice is yours! For the adventurous eaters there is also kangaroo, crocodile and emu to try.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Australia and New Zealand are very multicultural countries with an incredible array of cuisines from around the world. With large migrant populations the food is as authentic and delicious as you would find in the original country. Greek, Italian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, the choice is yours! For the adventurous eaters there is also kangaroo, crocodile and emu to try.