Itinerary
Aussie Surf and Service
Summer 2009

Day 1 (Monday): Australia here we come!  
Your group will depart Los Angeles for Brisbane in the evening on our group flight. The flight will take about 14 hours, plenty of time to get to know the rest of your group before arriving Down Under.

Day 2 (Tuesday): 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 (Wednesday): Welcome to Australia
Arrive into Brisbane today where you will be welcomed by Rustic Pathways on-ground Australian staff. 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, you will get a real taste for the laid back Aussie surf culture. Put on your boardies and get ready to catch some waves!

Day 4 (Thursday): Morning Surf and Afternoon Service
You’ll get up early this morning and head out for your first surf. Beginners and experienced surfers alike can take a lesson and take advantage of the guides know-how. This afternoon, work along side the water and land care group Night Eyes. Collecting rubbish from local foreshores and waterways and planting trees will be the prime function of today’s service work. We will also help out with sea grass and estuarine monitoring, an important part of tracking our water conditions.

Day 5 (Friday): Don’t Waste It
Today you head off to the local recycling facility and landfill. We will start off with a great lesson on recycling and then take a tour of the facility and the landfill. After that will start the service work at the Recycle Markets. The group will rescue items from the landfill that can be resold and reused. You will have fun sorting through this stuff and putting it on shelves to get it ready for the big Saturday Recycle Markets. 

Day 6 (Saturday): Beautiful Noosa
This morning you’ll drive north to check the waves at one of Australia’s most famous beaches, Noosa. Noosa National Park features spectacular coastal scenery and provides an important refuge for native wildlife including the koala, glossy black cockatoo, ground parrot and wallum froglet. Have a surf, take a hike through this incredible national park and then hit the great shops and bustling streets of the famous town of Noosa.

Day 7 (Sunday): Underwater World
Ready for more awesome surfing? Today is another day to take on the waves. Take a lesson and get some great practice on one of the many great beaches here. This afternoon you will visit the awesome aquariums at Underwater World and learn about the importance of conserving our precious oceans. Then, explore the beach town of Mooloolaba and enjoy some pickup soccer on the beach.

Day 8 (Monday):  Surf, Surf, Surf and Service
 In addition to time on the breaks today you will volunteer with one of many local organizations today. Join forces with local park ranges or community organizations to clean up beaches and manage erosion.

Day 9 (Tuesday): Optional Day
You will  have the day to take advantage of the many other fantastic optional activities that the Sunshine Coast has to offer, which  include tandem sky diving, kite surfing, go-karting, shopping……………. the list is almost endless.

Day 10 (Wednesday): Returning home or continuing onto your next adventure
If you are returning home to the USA or travelling 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 travelling on to one of our other countries your Rustic Pathways staff will help you with your flight arrangements.

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
Aussie Surf and Service
Summer 2009

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay at Rustic's base house in the Glasshouse Mountains. The house has four large bedrooms with bunk beds and ensuite bathrooms. Males and females will be in separate rooms. The house has great views of the mountains, it's set on 50 acres of bush and rainforest, and is a 30 minute drive to the beach

2 - 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.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
Food in Australia is quite similar to American cuisine and options such as pasta, sandwiches and pizza are readily available.  The group will prepare some meals together at the hostel and eat at local restaurants. Vegetarians and other dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated.

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

5 - 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.

6 - 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/.

7 - 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.

8 - 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).  

9- 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.