Bright Lights and City Sights

Bright Lights and City Sights

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 fourteen 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
Today you will arrive into Brisbane, where Rustic Pathways’ on-ground Australian staff will welcome you to your program. You will then transfer to the domestic airport and catch a flight to Melbourne. After making your way to the hostel, you’ll start your orientation and get set for an amazing week in Australia!

Day 4 (Friday): Melbourne
Today you’ll start your team challenges and head out around the city in small groups with a counselor. Follow the clues and race other teams while discovering the old capital of Australia. Melbourne has the largest tram network outside of Europe, and you’ll catch trams to trendy suburbs such as St. Kilda, South Yarra and Fitzroy. Visit famous landmarks, shop in boutique stores, and discover the hidden secrets of one of the world’s most livable cities. Melbourne is also known as the home of sport, and it hosts several major events, including the Australian Open, the Formula One Grand Prix, and the grand final for Australian Rules football. Tonight head out to a local Aussie Rules football match and experience the incredible passion Australians have for their sport.

Day 5 (Saturday): Melbourne and Sydney
Most of today will be spent in and around Melbourne. Visit the Queen Vic Markets, Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Southbank Precinct. Experience the multicultural side of Melbourne life, meet local people who will tell you about their lives, and learn about the history of this part of Australia. In the afternoon, you will say goodbye to Melbourne and fly up to her rival, Sydney.

Days 6-7 (Sunday - Monday): Sydney and Her Sights
You will continue the team challenges today around the city with a new list of items on your scavenger hunt. You’ll split up into teams and meet staff members at checkpoints by certain times to receive your next set of clues. Cruise on a ferry through Sydney Harbour, take a guided tour of the Opera House, and walk across the Harbour Bridge – or climb up it for sensational views (optional)! Shop at local markets, catch the train around the city, and ferry from site to site while watching the clock and collecting items to complete your challenges. Tonight will be the finale and awards night for the challenges of the last four days.

Day 8 (Tuesday): Rest and Relaxation Aussie Style
Leaving Sydney and the cities behind this morning, you will fly up to Brisbane and head towards the Sunshine Coast. You will spend most of today at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, where you’ll have the essential Aussie experiences of patting kangaroos, holding koalas (optional), and watching the Wildlife Warriors show in the Crocoseum. In the late afternoon, you’ll head up to Noosa Heads, a picturesque coastal town with gorgeous beaches, great surf, and a bustling main street.

Day 9 (Wednesday): Back to Brissy
After a relaxing morning in Noosa and an optional surf lesson, you’ll check out the local sights, chill on the beach, and then make your way back to Brisbane (Brissy). This afternoon you will head out for a gelato on the Southbank Promenade, check into your hostel, and then dress up for a final dinner out by the river.

Day 10 (Thursday): Departure
If you are returning home to the United States 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 traveling on to another Rustic 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.

Packing List – Bright Lights and City Sights

Please use the list below as a guideline of what to bring. If you are doing a combination of trips over two or three weeks, be sure to check the packing lists for all sections of your trip.

To Help You Come Prepared…
Trip Length: 8 days in Australia, 2 days in-flight
Weather: Generally blue sunny skies, some days overcast with chance of rain
Temperature: Varies between 65-75 degrees during day then cool at night (30-40 degrees)
Sleeping: Bunk beds in hostels
Washing: Self-serve laundry once during program
Internal Flights: Please note the baggage allowance is 20kg (44lb) on internal flights. Students are responsible for paying their excess baggage charges ($10/kg).

Carry-On
A small backpack is the best carry-on bag and will be useful throughout your program for day trips.

• Passport and wallet
• Photocopy of passport (2 additional photocopies should be carried in checked luggage)
• Sunglasses
• Journal and pens
• Book / magazine
• Reusable water bottle (eg: Nalgene bottle)
• Personal medications (Be sure to bring medications in your carry on in the event that your luggage gets delayed in transit!)
• Camera

Checked Luggage
A medium sized duffel bag, wheeled bag, or a large backpack will be suitable. Students must be able to carry and load their own luggage.

• Jeans (2)
• Sweat pants (2)
• Shorts (2)
• T-shirts (4)
• Hooded sweatshirt (1)
• Fleece jacket or warm jacket (1)
• Underwear (7)
• Socks (4)
• Swim Suits (1)
• Lightweight rain coat (1)
• Sneakers (1)
• Flip-Flops (1)
• Cap or Sun Hat
• Flashlight/Head-lamp 
• Towels (1 bath, 1 beach)
• Pillow case
• Basic toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner etc, small bottles only)
• Personal first aid kit
• Sun-screen/ lip balm (SPF 30+)
• Photocopies of passport (2)
• Travel adapter for Australia (see www.korjo.com)
• Books, music, iPod speakers, games, guitar, cards (optional)

Additional Notes
While most programs in Australia require a sleeping bag + sheet, these are not necessary for the Bright Lights and City Sights program. If you are connecting on to another program, please check to see if you require a sleeping bag for that trip.

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.