Teen Tours in Australia
RUSTIC PATHWAYS IN AUSTRALIA
Rustic Pathways actually began its operations in Australia and has been running trips DownUnder for 28 years. With offices and bases near both Melbourne and Brisbane, Rustic Pathways has a deep and heartfelt attachment to Australia. We offer summer programs for high school students, as well as fantastic Gap Year programs and customized itineraries for private groups and families throughout the year.
AIRLINE INFORMATION and PROGRAM CONNECTIVITY
Rustic Pathways offers a weekly escorted flight from Los Angeles to the South Pacific throughout the summer for students on our high school programs. Students from around the United States meet in Los Angeles and travel together with their flight leader to and from the South Pacific. Please see rusticpathways.com/flights for complete information about air travel. Our programs in Australia all connect directly and can also be easily combined with our programs in New Zealand and The Fiji Islands.
| FACT FILE | |
| Population | 22.5 million (not counting the kangaroos) |
| Capital City | Canberra – the Australian Capital Territory |
| Currency | Aussie Dollar – 1 U.S. dollar buys about 1.10 Aussie (as of September 2010) |
| Language | English with a classic Australian accent |
| Well-Known Attractions | The Great Barrier Reef – 1,600 miles long and visible from space The Outback – home to Uluru and the world's largest cattle stations Sydney Harbour – the iconic bridge and the Opera House |
LOCAL LINGO
| Fair Dinkum | Speaking honestly or telling things the way they really are |
| Mate | What you call everybody you meet, know and like |
| G'Day | Quintessential Australian greeting |
| No Worries | Everything is fine, no problems |
| Didgeridoo | Aboriginal musical instrument made from a hollowed out branch |
DID YOU KNOW?
Australia is the largest inhabited island and the smallest continent in the world. It is also the only continent occupied by only one country. It is one of the world's largest exporters of coal, wool, alumina, diamonds, lead, refined zinc ores, mineral sands, and sheep. Australia has three times more kangaroos than people and 1 million wild camels in its deserts. Emus can't walk backwards, and the word koala is an Aboriginal word meaning "does not drink." The platypus, which is a rare semi-aquatic mammal, is only found in Australia! The country is also home to echidnas, wallabies, and kookaburras – a cornucopia of strange and wonderful animals unique to the Land DownUnder. Australians love the beach, and the country boasts more than 37,000 miles of coastline. This gives the aquatically inclined Aussies plenty of space to enjoy some of the world's finest beaches, surfing, and scuba diving.
