Australia: Zoo and Wildlife Rehab Project

Arrive in Sydney International Airport this morning and board your connecting flight to Brisbane later this morning.

Upon arrival into Brisbane, meet your Australian program leaders, who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to our 50-acre Rustic Pathways Base House in the Glasshouse Mountains to settle in and relax after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion and an introduction to the local culture and wildlife projects you’ll undertake.

Arrive early at the zoo for an education session that’ll prepare you for your work. Afterwards, split into groups to complete tasks with the keepers in different departments. Tasks may include completing maintenance projects, cleaning enclosures, preparing food or making enrichment activities for the animals. Get behind the scenes and experience zookeeper life in a well-resourced and funded facility. Witness the hard work and passion that comes from caring and rehabilitating our wildlife.

Enjoy lunch and watch the famous Croc Show at the Crocoseum. Then tour the wildlife hospital and continue developing your understanding of wildlife rehabilitation. Spend the evening in the Glass House Mountains, having campfires and stargazing.

Explore the golden beaches of the Noosa North Shore on the Sunshine Coast. Swim in its turquoise waters, walk through a coastal national park, and take a jet boat ride to see the beautiful coast from the water. Have dinner along the coast while watching the sun set over the water, and join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you’ll begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Head to Toowoomba to support a grassroots wildlife rehabilitation center. Join a wildlife caretaker who has dedicated her life to nursing injured wildlife on her 40-acre property. See echidnas, kangaroos, and native birds. Learn about her work and the ecosystems she supports. Apply the skills you collected at the Steve Irwin Zoo at this grassroots operation. In the evenings get a glimpse of small town life and enjoy the company of your fellow group members

This morning you’ll bid farewell to Brisbane as you catch a flight back to Sydney.

After landing in Sydney, transfer to your accommodation in the city. This afternoon, your program leaders will take you on an insider’s walking tour of the unique sandstone hills and laneways of the Rocks District and Circular Quay. From here, you’ll get an amazing view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and explore the Sydney Opera House up close and personal!

After a farewell dinner, the students join in a closing discussion and the traditional Rustic Ties ceremony. This unique and powerful activity allows students to capture their memories and contemplate ways to share what they’ve learned with their communities back home.

This morning will be full of fond farewells as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare for your journey home. We hope you return home with valuable and unforgettable memories of your amazing time in Australia!