TROPICAL REEF AND RAINFOREST

Tropical Reef and Rainforest

Day 1 (Tuesday): Depart USA
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!
You will set foot on The Great Southern Land today! Your gateway city will be Brisbane, and after meeting our staff, you'll fly further north to Cairns. Get settled in to the tropical environment, make yourself at home at the lodge in Cairns, and then head out to explore this vibrant town with your new group of friends.

Day 4 (Friday): Rainforest and Markets

This morning we drive into the hills behind Cairns to the small town of Kuranda. Famous for its markets, Kuranda will offer the perfect chance to find some unique Aussie souvenirs. Have you ever seen a kangaroo skin bikini or man-kini? They sell everything here and more! After a couple of hours in Kuranda, your guides will take you to see Barron Falls before giving you the option of taking the Skyrail cable car (optional) over the rainforest canopy and back down the mountain. We then head to the cable ski park (optional) where you can waterski, wakeboard or kneeboard around the lake – awesome fun!

Day 5 (Sunday): The Great Barrier Reef - An Underwater Wonderland
This morning you'll steam out to the magical Great Barrier Reef. With the world's largest reef system as your playground, there's no telling what you may see. You will snorkel – or scuba dive if you prefer – at two different sites during the day, giving you ample opportunity to spot fish, turtles, reef sharks, or even a dwarf minke whale! With marine biologists onboard to teach you about the reef system and put this incredible ecosystem in a global context, this will be an experience you'll never forget.

Day 6 (Sunday): Optional Activities – Skydiving, Bungee Jumping and more…
For those with an urge to jump out of a perfectly good plane, now is your chance! See how fast your heart beats as you free-fall from 14,000 feet for 60 seconds. Then take in the view of the ocean as you glide back down to ground. Or maybe bungee jumping is more your style! We'll then take you to a Croc Farm where you'll see crocs do the death roll and jump out of the water! You'll also get to hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos and experience other Australian wildlife. The day will come to a close further north of Cairns in the resort town of Port Douglas.

Day 7 (Monday): Experience Traditional Aboriginal Life!
This morning you will spend a few hours with some local Aboriginal men whose families first settled the area thousands of years ago. Walking through the mudflats with a spear in hand, you'll hunt for mud crabs and gather mussels and periwinkles. When you emerge from the mangroves, learn about bush 'tucker,' medicinal plants, and other aspects of traditional Aboriginal life.

You will then continue farther up the coast, crossing the Daintree River (watch out for crocs!) and into the Daintree Rainforest. Here you will find a veritable paradise comprised of pristine white-sand beaches and incredible rainforest that grows right down to the sea. In the evening, you can lie on the beach and search the night sky for the Southern Cross – a great end to an awesome day!

Day 8 (Tuesday): Sunrise Sea Kayaking (optional) and Service
This morning you'll have the option of a sunrise sea kayaking tour around the Daintree coast. An invigorating way to start the day - experience the serenity of this area from the water! The rest of today will be focused on community service. Some of the projects our groups are involved with include assisting teaching at a local school or contributing to environmental conservation projects. The focus of today's service will be to support local people and your efforts will be greatly appreciated!

Day 9 (Wednesday): Rainforest, Gorges and Beaches
Today you'll head out to explore the Daintree Rainforest, relax on the beach, swim in the clear waters of Mossman Gorge, and then make your way back down to Cairns. Grab the last of your souvenirs and finish the trip with a final dinner out on the town. Then stroll along the esplanade as the sun sets and reflect on a week of great memories.

Day 10 (Thursday): A Final Farewell
After saying good-bye to your new friends in the morning, you will fly back down to Brisbane, where you will connect to your international flight home or on to another Rustic Pathways adventure. We hope to see you back in 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 – Tropical Reef and Rainforest

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: Approximately 75-85 degrees during day then mild at night (40-50 degrees)
Sleeping: Bunk beds at hostels and self-contained apartments
Washing: Self-serve laundry once during program

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)
• SCUBA certification card (if you are a certified diver)

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

FAQ’s - Tropical Reef and Rainforest

1 – Is this the same trip as last year’s Sydney, Reef and Rainforest?
NO. This is a new itinerary and is now a ten-day program that ’s based in Cairns, and does not visit Sydney. Tropical Reef and Rainforest is a new, exciting, more affordable program in the tropical north of Queensland!

2 – Will I still get to snorkel with whales?
Possibly! The research boat we have previously chartered is unfortunately no longer operating, so we cannot offer the same trip as in previous years. However, the company we’re using for our trips this year has a Minke Whale permit, which allows participants to snorkel with whales that approach the boat. Hopefully the opportunity will arise, but at the very least, there is still a high chance of seeing whales from the boat. The trip visits the outer reefs, and snorkeling on this part of the Great Barrier Reef is some of the best in the world!

3 – Can I go scuba diving on the reef?
Absolutely! While out on the reef for the day, you can scuba dive if you wish to. Even if you’re not certified, you can still try scuba diving. Please note that diving is an additional cost ($70). We go to three magnificent sites on the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs, where the water is crystal-clear and the corals are incredible.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
Food in Australia is quite similar to American cuisine. Some meals will be cooked in kitchens at the lodges, and a couple of meals will be out at local restaurants or cafes. Vegetarians and other dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated. Australia also has many unique foods, and students will have the opportunity to try these as well!

4 - What will the accommodation be like?  
Students will stay in lodges near the centre of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cape Tribulation. There will be dormitory style accommodation with 5-6 students per room in bunk beds. Each room will have private en-suite facilities with hot showers. Two of the lodges have swimming pools and restaurants, and all are very close walking distance into the centre of the towns.

5 – 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. This program is in Cairns, near the very north of Queensland. June/July/August here is the ‘dry season’, and normally the days have clear blue skies and sunshine. Temperatures will range from 70 – 85 degrees through the day, but it does get quite cool at night.

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

7 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Your gateway city is Brisbane, and when you arrive into Australia, you will connect up to Cairns. On your departure day, you will fly internally from Cairns back to Brisbane, where you can connect onto another Rustic program, or join the international flight back to the USA.

This program easily connects with programs in Fiji and New Zealand, with direct flights from Brisbane. Students connecting to programs in Asia must do their Australia program first, and typically fly from Brisbane to Sydney for their connecting flights to Asia.

8 - 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/.

9 - 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.

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activities, snacks and souvenirs are not included in the program cost. Snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef is included; however, there is also the option for students to scuba dive at an additional cost. Other optional activities include sky diving ($300-$400), mountain biking ($70), bungee jumping ($100), and a rainforest swing ($80).

11 – Do I need my own snorkel/dive gear on this program?
No. All snorkeling and diving gear will be provided for you on the boat.