Explorica Summer Academy - South Pacific Cultures of Australia

  Australia

• Sydney: 
Sydney
• Gold Coast: 
Gold Coast
• Brisbane: 
Brisbane
• Great Barrier Reef: 
Great Barrier Reef
• Queensland: 
Cairns,  Sunshine Coast,  Fraser Island,  Port Douglas,  Cape Tribulation
• Northern Territory: 
Alice Springs,  Ayers Rock

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: You'll fall hard for Down Under. Rich in beautiful beaches, great waves, and gorgeous scenery, the South Pacific also boasts an incredible cultural heritage. Spend three weeks exploring rainforests and deserts, hiking beneath the dry magnificence of Ayers Rock and diving into the watery cool of the Great Barrier Reef. Experience the history and culture of the Aborigines and multicultural Hawaii and spend time surfing some of the best beaches in the world.

Highlights: Great Barrier Reef full-day excursion
As natural wonders go, the Great Barrier Reef is impossible to beat. It has a wide assortment of superlatives: The world's largest living organism, the richest marine resource known to man, and the best diving and snorkeling on earth. At more than 1,200 miles long and up to 50 miles wide, the Reef is composed of billions of the bony skeletons of coral polyps knitted together to form one large structure that shelters countless unique plants and animals. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Mossman & Cape Tribulation National Park full-day excursion
Mossman is a tiny rain forest village at the foot of the incredibly beautiful waterfalls of Mossman Gorge. Here, within the Daintree Rain Forest, new species of plants and animals are still being discovered and the vegetation is every bit as impressive as the Amazon Basin. From here, travel by boat up the Daintree River, a wide, muddy saltwater river and a favorite spot for crocodiles. As you approach the north side of the river, the Cape Tribulation National Park begins. This park is a ecological marvel - with coastal plains, rain forest, mangroves, coral and sea all come together. The forest itself has some of the oldest known flowering plants, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world.

Ayers Rock sunrise visit
Truly awesome. Ayers Rock (Uluru to the locals), the ultimate icon of the Australian Outback, rises 1100 feet above the surrounding plain (and many geologists suspect that it goes down at least twice as far underground). Its sandstone glows bright red in the daytime, fading spectacularly as the sun sets through a range of reds and oranges to a quiet gray.

Sydney guided sightseeing tour
See Sydney, Australia's beautiful waterfront city. A licensed, local guide will take you to Darling Harbor, a bustling entertainment and shopping center. At "The Rocks" see historical and contemporary Australia stand side-by-side. On this stubby peninsula on the western side of Sydney Cove, modern Australian history started with the landing of the first ships in 1788. From here, Sydney evolved from convict outpost to the most beautiful metropolis on the Pacific Rim. Next, visit one of the city's most well-known symbols, the Sydney Opera House, majestically poised between the Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Garden. Then travel to the top of the Sydney Tower, a 1000 ft. golden minaret-topped spike. From the observation deck you can see all 600 square miles of Sydney.

Cost in US$: Starting at $6699

Includes:
- Round-trip airfare
- Pretour orientation in Los Angeles
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
- Full-time services of a professional Tour Director
- Full-time services of an experienced chaperone
- Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
- Tips for tour directors, bus drivers, etc.
- Tour Diary

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Australia Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of of up to 30 travelers

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Explorica Summer Academy's Mission Statement: Explorica Summer Academy stemmed from the idea that students should have opportunities for in-depth cultural exploration outside the classroom. So with a management team that boasts 150 years of combined industry experience, Explorica offers high-quality, road-tested tours for adventurous students and teachers. Our three-week programs let high-school students from across the country, ages 14 to 18 years old, combine international travel, study, and adventure as they learn about the world from teachers and from each other. And each three-week tour presents unique learning opportunities with accredited institutions, from French schools on the Cote d' Azur to conservation organizations in Costa Rica or South Africa.