Australia 4-Week

We fly directly to Sydney, Australia where we meet our Global Works leaders at the airport and transfer to our lodging in central Sydney. Travel time is 12 hours, yet we arrive two days later than we departed thanks to the International Date Line! We arrive early in the morning, and have time for orientation activities and rest from the long flight. We explore the Sydney Harbour on an Aboriginal boat tour and get a wonderful introduction to Australia by the traditional owners of the land. We will learn about the indigenous history of the area and mybe a little "Aussie lingo" from our Aboriginal guides. Next, we 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. A trip to the observation deck of the 1000ft Sydney Tower rewards us with views of all 600 square miles of Sydney.

Days 5-8 The Blue Mountains and Kangaroo Service- For the next few days, we will work alongside local volunteers at a wildlife sanctuary outside of Sydney. We contribute our time and effort to its education and conversation mission. Here, we get an up-close view of kangaroos, koalas, emus, and many more of Australia’s unique animals. Characterized by sandstone plateaus, deep gorges, and high mountain peaks, the Blue Mountains get their name from the blue tinge they have when viewed from far away. See if you can spot a koala bear nibbling on a leaf in one of the many eucalyptus groves during a day hike through the bush!

During our stay we will participate in a variety of meaningful service projects with schools, environmental groups, and other community organizations. Activities include learning to ride the waves in a surfing paradise, hanging out with the kangaroos and koala bears at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and exploring the beauty of a World Heritage Site, Fraser Island.
After departing Fraser Island we head to the beachside town of Agnes Water. Local instructors will take us through “surf camp” where surfers of all levels will be catching waves in this beautiful sunshine coast setting.

Our last stop is Cairns (pronounced “Cans”), located on the northern coast of Queensland. After exploring the metropolitan city of Cairns, we will head to our base at Crocodylus, a truly unique resort situated between the World Heritage rainforest areas of the DAintree and Cape Tribulation National Parks, and the Great Barrier Reef. We have the unique opportunity to participate in environmental service work at Daintree, the oldest living rainforest in the world. We punctuate our trip with a snorkeling and SCUBA dive trip at the Great Barrier Reef- a chance of a lifetime! Our evenings will be spent under the Southern Cross  reflecting on an incredible three weeks of service, adventure, and friendly people. Come join us!