Aussie Surf and Service

Give back to the environment and surf the waves of the Sunshine Coast

Life’s A Beach
With more than 80 percent of the country’s population living somewhere along the coastline, surfing, swimming, and beach time are a way of life in the Land DownUnder. If you love the beach and are up for a real adventure, then Aussie Surf and Service is the trip for you! Grab your camera and pack your bags, it’s time to head to Australia.

Fun on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast offers more than 100 kilometers of pristine coastline, countless beach breaks, and an almost endless number of places to catch a wave. You’ll stay in a typical Aussie house by the beach, where you will surf until your legs turn to Jell-O and check out local sights such as Noosa National Park and cosmopolitan Hastings Street. Have a go at cable-skiing, lend a hand on some of our local service projects, and choose an optional activity such as jumping out of a plane or riding a camel along the beach. Chill out at the surf house in the evenings with your new mates or play games on the beach while gazing up at the incredible night skies. Come join us DownUnder for an authentic Aussie experience!

Surf the Coast
Whether you’re honing your surfboard style or just learning how to catch a wave, come join us! This program is suitable for both experienced surfers as well as students who want to learn the basics of surfing and ‘have a go’ on some great Australian waves. These beaches have a choice of gentle waves close to shore and some bigger peaks further out. Your coaches for the week will be true-blue Aussie surf instructors who will teach you all the basics, and then help you refine your technique and skills. Once you’ve mastered the waves on the Sunshine Coast, you’ll head to Moreton Island to surf along magical beaches with bottlenose dolphins while humpback whales glide by.

Magical Moreton Island
Just off the coast of Brisbane, Moreton Island feels a world away. Load up the four-wheel drive and take the ferry to this spectacular sand island that’s full of lush forests, towering sand dunes, glistening lakes, and sensational lagoons. You’ll spend an action-packed couple of days camping out near the beach, kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, feeding the fish, sandboarding down the dunes, hiking up to incredible views, and getting involved with some service work. And at the end of an awesome day, relax on the beach and watch the glistening sun set over the ocean. Add in good times with new friends and some close encounters with the native wildlife, and you’ll never forget your magical Moreton Island experience.

Giving Back to the Community
Throughout your trip you will work on various service projects as well as helping to preserve the pristine environment you’re enjoying while in Australia. Partner with several local environmental organizations working to rehabilitate Australia’s beautiful natural environment and help out with beach cleanups and waterway restoration. You’ll also spend an afternoon coaching basketball to special-needs students. No experience is required – just bring a smile, and you’ll have new friends as soon as you walk in the door.

Join our Australian Surf and Service adventure for one great week as a stand-alone trip, or connect with one of our other fantastic South Pacific programs for an unforgettable summer. Life in Oz is amazing, and we’d love to share our waves, our islands, and our other hidden treasures with you!

Questions about this program? Please email us at australia@rusticpathways.com.

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Itinerary

Aussie Surf and Service

Day 1 (Tuesday): Australia here we come!
You will depart Los Angeles for Brisbane in the evening on our escorted group flight. The flight will take about 14 hours – plenty of time to get to know the rest of your group before arriving DownUnder.

Day 2 (Wednesday): In Transit
Today is ‘lost’ as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too much… you will get it back on your way home!

Day 3 (Thursday): Welcome to Australia
Welcome to Australia! Your Rustic Pathways Australian staff will meet you at the airport in Brisbane when you land. You will then drive about one hour north to the beautiful beaches of the Sunshine Coast.

Exploring the charming beach towns that hug the coast will give you a real taste for the laid-back Aussie surf culture for which this region is famous. In the afternoon you’ll head to a basketball coaching clinic, where you’ll assist special-needs students with fitness and skills. With plenty of smiles and high fives, this will be a fun and engaging first afternoon in Australia. In the evening, you will settle into our Surf House, where you can get to know your staff members and fellow students.

Day 4 (Friday): Morning Surf and Afternoon Service
Put on your ‘boardies’ and get ready to catch some waves. This morning you’ll head out for your first surf lesson! No previous surf experience is required – our team of expert coaches will teach you everything you need to know. And whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer, you’ll be up and riding waves in no time.

When you dry off from your surf lesson, you will head out to work with a local nonprofit organization called Maroochy Waterwatch. These dedicated volunteers help monitor and preserve Australia’s waterways and coastline, and you will join them in their mission for the afternoon.

Day 5 (Saturday): Surf and Ski
This morning you’ll head down to the beach for another surf session. This second day on the waves will offer the chance to review what you learned yesterday and continue to perfect your style. After a few hours in the surf, you’ll be hungry for a famous Aussie pie and a ‘lamington’ from a local bakery. Then you will head over to the cable water-sports park for some afternoon thrills. Try knee-boarding, waterskiing or wakeboarding and have heaps of fun as you develop new skills!

Day 6 (Sunday): An Island Adventure
Check out the surf this morning, catch some final waves with our instructors, and then get set for an island adventure! You’ll drive south to Brisbane, meet our four-wheel-drive vehicle and local guide, board the ferry, and steam across the bay. Located 25 miles off the coast of Brisbane, Moreton Island is a national park that is known for its natural beauty and wildlife. The wonders of the island will surround you for the next two days and nights as you camp at a well-established site near the beach. As today comes to an end, you’ll search for dolphins as the sun sets over the ocean and then head to the camp site for a night under the stars!

Day 7 (Monday): The Magic of Moreton
After giving back to this magical island through environmental service with the local park rangers, you will head out for an afternoon full of sun and adventure. With opportunities to go snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, swimming, and surfing, there really is something for everyone here at Moreton. Learn how to sandboard on the island’s biggest dunes, and then hike up to the lighthouse and spot humpback whales as they migrate along the coast. You never know what surprises are in store for you here, and there will be plenty of stories to share around the fire at the end of the day.

Day 8 (Tuesday): Back to The Mainland
This morning will offer your last chance to get your fill of Moreton Island. You may surf some of the deserted breaks, four-wheel drive along the beach, lend a hand at a service project, or explore some of the many beaches and coves. After an early lunch, you’ll catch the ferry back to Brisbane and return to our Surf House on the Sunshine Coast.

Day 9 (Wednesday): Optional Day
Today is your last full day in Australia, and you will have the chance to take advantage of the many fantastic optional activities the Sunshine Coast has to offer. Whether tandem skydiving, riding a camel on the beach, go-karting, shopping, or going on a surprise activity, you will never forget this action-packed day. You will end the afternoon in style at the beautiful town of Noosa, and then head out to dinner at a local restaurant to finish off an amazing week in Australia.

Day 10 (Thursday): Returning home or continuing on to your next adventure
After many fond farewells with new friends, it will be time to bid Australia good-bye. If you are returning home to the USA or traveling on to Fiji or New Zealand, your flight will depart Brisbane this morning. If you are continuing on to another Rustic Pathways adventure in Australia, you will connect with your new leaders in Brisbane this morning. If you are connecting to another Rustic Pathways destination, your staff will help you with your flight arrangements. Wherever you are headed, we wish you happy travels and hope you return to the Land DownUnder soon!

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

FAQ’s - Aussie Surf and Service
1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay at a rented house in the coastal town of Peregian Beach, near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. The house has ocean views from the lounge room and balcony, and is a 1 minute walk to the beach. Girls will sleep downstairs in bunk beds, and boys will be upstairs in a separate room. There are shared bathrooms and toilet facilities.

For two nights on Moreton Island, students will be camping in tents at a permanent, established campsite near the beach. The tents will be 2-3 person, and comfortable camping mats will be supplied. There are toilet and cooking facilities at the campsite.

2 – Isn’t it winter in Australia? Won’t it be cold and raining?
It is Australia’s winter time, but the weather is generally warm in this part of the country. June/July/August in Queensland is the drier time of year, and normally the days have clear blue skies and sunshine. Temperatures will range from 65 – 75 degrees through the day, but it does get quite cool at night.

3 – OK, so I’ll bring a couple of sweaters. But won’t the water be freezing cold?
It depends where you come from. The water temperature will generally be around 66 – 69 degrees. We provide you with a good quality full-length Quicksilver wetsuit, so you won’t get cold!

4 – Do I need to know how to surf before I come?
No. The majority of students who come on this trip have never surfed before. It’s a fun sport to try, and our Aussie surf coaches will teach you all the basics. Just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, and you’ll have great fun in the waves!

5 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?
Water is safe to drink from the tap throughout the regions where students will be travelling. Bottled water is not provided, although it is widely available throughout the country should students wish to purchase it on their own.

6 - What kind of food will we be eating?
Food in Australia is similar to American cuisine, including cereal, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. There are lots of foods in Australia that you don’t get in America, so you’ll be able to try these as well! Students will eat primarily at the Base House where they will assist in preparing meals, but some meals will be at local restaurants and cafes. Vegetarians and other dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated.

7 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
Participants on our programs are generally 60% female and 40% male.

8 - How does this program connect to other programs?
This program connects easily with other programs in Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, as well as those in Asia. Connections to all Australia programs are made in Brisbane and all flights to the USA, Fiji and New Zealand depart from Brisbane Airport.

Students connecting to programs in Asia must do their Australia program first. Students will then typically fly from Brisbane to Sydney for connecting flights to Asia.

9 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
Yes, US citizens are required to apply for a tourist visa to Australia. Students are responsible for arranging their own visas. Visas can be obtained through a simple online application at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/. Residents of other countries may need to take additional steps and can find more information at http://www.immi.gov.au/.

10 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

11 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activities, snacks and souvenirs are not included in the program cost. Optional activities that may be available during this program include: sky diving (approx. $300-500), go-karting (approx. $25-$50) and kite surfing (approx. $200).

12- Do I need my own surf board or other surfing gear?
No. Surfboards and wetsuits will be available for students in Australia. However, you are welcome to bring your own gear if you wish. Please note that airlines typically charge extra to transport surfboards and you are responsible for any such fees.

Departs Tuesday	Returns Thursday
22 June	1 July
29 June	8 July
13 July	22 July
20 July	29 July
27 July	5 August

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Aussie Surf and Service

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