Australia: Seven Wonders

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Australia. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.

Today is lost as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry. You’ll get it back on your way home!

Arrive at Sydney Airport (SYD) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Make sure you look out the window as you land into Sydney and catch an aerial glimpse of the famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Once you have arrived you will head to your accommodation to settle in after a long travel day. Stay with 5-6 students in dormitory-style accommodation, separated by gender. Join the group for an orientation discussion.

Participate in an exciting, full day of service. Learn about the key social issues of the city of Sydney and how you can make a positive impact. Partnering with Our Big Kitchen, test your cooking skills by preparing meals for refugee communities and the homeless in Sydney.

Join another community service project in the afternoon, which our Community Impact Manager will identify based on the current needs of our service partners. This could involve anything from planting trees in one of Sydney’s National Parks, assisting in the classroom at a local school, or even providing social interaction for local elderly residents.

Explore Australia’s most famous city. Start with the spectacular Port Jackson, then walk through the famous Rocks District, admire Sydney Harbour Bridge, and ponder the Opera House. Cruise through the harbor to the seaside suburb of Manly and experience its well-known surf shops and beautiful beach.

Head back to the city and admire the sunset from the ferry. Enjoy your last taste of Sydney before moving onto the next phase of your Aussie adventure tomorrow.

Travel to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the center of Australia. Discover the enormity of the country and the desolation of its central deserts. Head out to see the cultural center and explore the different walks around the base of Uluru, which spans nearly six miles. Marvel at Uluru, knowing that you’re witnessing one of the world’s largest monoliths. At sunset, watch it change color and as the daylight disappears. The brightness of the Outback night skies will be a sight you’ll never forget.

Spend tonight at a local youth hostel with shared rooms and private and/or shared bathrooms with hot water and flushing toilets.

Start the day with an unforgettable sunrise camel walk.
Finish the morning walking through the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta, another rock formation famous for its spectacular domes. The sunset here can be as equally impressive as Uluru itself.
Road trip through the Outback and make your way through a land that has been looked after by indigenous Australians for more than 60,000 years. Driving through the desert, keep an eye out for wild camels as you approach Kings Canyon.

Spend the next two nights camping in safari tents with permanent beds and shared bathrooms. You’ll stay at King Creek Station, a cattle ranch where they also catch and export wild camels! Join your group for a mid-program reflection where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

The Red Centre is famous for its red sand and stunning Outback landscapes. Hike around the rim of Kings Canyon, a truly magnificent part of Australia. On your way around the canyon, pass the tropical pools of the Garden of Eden and the beehive rock formations called the Lost City. Be sure to stop and take in the scenery—Outback views don’t get much better than this!
Have you ever wondered what would you eat if you were to get lost in the Australian desert? This afternoon, try the local food or bush tucker. Take a tour with an indigenous Australian and learn all there is to know about Aboriginal culture! Make your way back to camp for some hot chocolate and marshmallows around the campfire.

Drive back to Uluru and enjoy the Outback sunrise one more time. Say goodbye to the Red Centre and catch a flight to Cairns; home to the world renowned Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest get ready to be blown away!
You will spend the next 2 nights at a youth hostel in Cairns. Shared rooms with private and/or shared bathrooms with hot water and flushing toilets.

Spend the morning visiting Kuranda Markets for some traditional and unconventional souvenir shopping.
The rest of the day is spent working at a wallaby rescue center. Work with a team of local volunteers to plant trees, build enclosures, paint and learn about the Agile Wallaby. These beautiful creatures are threatened by housing developments and deforestation, driving wallabies out of their natural habitat. Our partners are working hard to rescue and relocate these furry friends, so you will be helping a great cause!

Sail out to the magical Great Barrier Reef. With the world’s largest reef system as your playground, there’s no telling what you might see. Snorkel at two different sites during the day, giving you ample opportunity to spot fish, turtles, and reef sharks.

Still wondering what you saw down there? The team of marine experts on board will help you identify the species and teach you all about the reef system, which will be an experience you’ll never forget.

Travel north along the coast to the magnificent Mossman Gorge. Be welcomed by local Kuku Yulanji indegenous people. Continue across the Daintree River and immerse yourself in the sounds of the rainforest, from the whistling of the birds to the gushing sound sound of the rain and waterfalls.

Head out to the inner reef on a boat to snorkel with turtles! Continue exploring the underwater world, then play afternoon games on the beach in Cape Tribulation where the reef meets the rainforest.

Visit our local service partner and help maintain the Daintree Forest. Partnering with Rainforest Trust, your service project will be a combination of collecting seeds, removing poinsonous weeds, planting trees, and learning about all the different plants and animals that make this place so special. Keep your eyes open in case a cassowary decides to show up!
Relax after service and enjoy some ice cream made from local tropical fruits.

Test your bravery by riding on a high-speed jungle swing over the water and treetops. After you catch your breath, travel back to Cairns and take an afternoon flight to Brisbane.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your program leaders will take you to the airport for your flight home or to your next Rustic destination.

If you’re continuing on to another Rustic Pathways adventure in Australia, you’ll transition between programs by spending the day on Australia’s famous Gold Coast with other students and leaders also joining new programs. If you’re returning home to the United States or traveling on to another country, your program leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you reflect on your adventure in Australia.