Spend a month in Australia and live the coastal lifestyle the Land Down Under is famous for while gaining experience and qualifications in a variety of water sports and aquatic activities. Based in Queensland – beautiful one day, perfect the next – your month of fun in the sun includes the opportunity to learn to surf, gain competency in ocean sailing, learn to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and try your hand at windsurfing and ocean kayaking. You’ll also live and train with some of Australia’s famous surf lifesavers.
Your month-long adventure will start on Australia’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Live at our rustic base overlooking the grand Glasshouse Mountains. Wake each morning to the sounds of the Australian bush and perhaps spot the occasional wallaby or kangaroo grazing on the front lawn. From our base, you will travel each day to beautiful beaches for surf lessons and an introduction to beach life in Oz. With a variety of waves stretching across nearly 100 kilometers of coastline, you should be hanging ten and having the time of your life in no time.
Also included in your time on the Sunshine Coast will be several days learning and living aboard an ocean-going yacht. During this exciting period of your trip, your knowledgeable leaders will teach you the basics of how to navigate your way around the vessel and the ocean. Sails, knots, winds, currents, and sailing techniques are all mixed into a fun five days off the coast of Australia. What a way to explore the South Pacific and challenge yourself along the way!
Next, you will fly north to tropical Cairns. Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is an exciting tourist town that offers an almost endless array of fantastic activities and places to explore. The next leg of your adventure will have you learning how to scuba dive and includes time living aboard a specialized dive boat on the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. Explore the underwater wonderland of the largest living organism in the world while earning a dive certification that will enable you to scuba dive almost anywhere in the world. Warm water, friendly Aussie instruction, beautiful diving, and classic summer weather – what a way to scuba dive!
From Cairns, you will return to the Sunshine Coast and spend the remainder of your time enjoying a variety of water activities, including windsurfing on beautiful Golden Beach and kayaking around Noosa National Park – keep an eye out for the local dolphins who like to check out the paddlers! You’ll also enjoy several days under the guidance of our friends at the local surf lifesaving club. They will teach you water safety, ocean knowledge, and basic water rescue techniques. You’ll also have time to indulge in some optional activities. If a skydive or a visit to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo is on your to-do list, you’ll have no problem fitting it in during your time in Australia.
For anyone who wants to visit the grand Land Down Under, sample the laid-back Aussie lifestyle, and spend time in and around the water, Build Skills Australia is a fun-filled, action-packed adventure you won’t want to miss!
For more information on this Gap Year module or any of our other extensive Gap Year offerings, please e-mail us at gap@rusticpathways.com.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day One – The Sunshine Coast
* Arrive into Brisbane Airport
* Met by Aussie staff and transferred to The Sunshine Coast
* Afternoon tour of The Glasshouse Mountains
* Dinner
* Sleep
Day Two – The Sunshine Coast
Breakfast at Base House
Orientation at Glasshouse Mountains Overlook
Lunch at Base House
Hike through Mt Tibrogargan.
Dinner in Beerwah
Days Three to Six – Learn to Surf
Breakfast each day at Base House
Head out to King’s beach for surf lessons
Lunch in Caloundra
Continue surf lessons after lunch at a variety of surf spots
Dinner each night at Base House
Days Seven to Eleven – Sail with the Royal Yachting Association off the coast of Mooloolaba
Breakfast each day onboard boat
Learn skills of sailing on the ocean
Lunch each day on board boat
Continue sailing skills
Snorkeling at various points
Dinner each night onboard boat
Day Twelve – Fly to Cairns
Breakfast in Mooloolaba
Drive to Brisbane
Fly to Cairns
Lunch in Cairns
Spend afternoon exploring city
Dinner in Cairns
Day Thirteen – Day in Cairns
Breakfast in Cairns
Optional day at spa
Lunch in Cairns
Afternoon swimming or shopping
Dinner in Cairns
Days Fourteen to Eighteen – Scuba Diving lessons and live aboard boat excursion
Breakfast each day will be on boat
Learn scuba diving skills and dive each morning
Lunch on boat
Scuba dive in the afternoon
Dinner on boat
Day Nineteen – Day in Cairns
Breakfast in Cairns
Optional deep sea fishing excursion
Lunch in Cairns
Afternoon swimming or shopping
Dinner in Cairns
Day Twenty – Fly from Cairns to Brisbane
Breakfast in Cairns
Fly to Brisbane
Lunch in Brisbane
Optional Brisbane bridge climb
Dinner in Brisbane
Day Twenty One – Windsurfing on The Sunshine Coast
Breakfast at Base House
Windsurfing Lessons at Golden Beach
Lunch at Moffat Beach
Continue windsurfing lessons
Dinner at Kings Beach
Day Twenty Two – Ocean Kayak Day
Breakfast at Base House
Ocean kayaking around Noosa National Park
Lunch while kayaking
Continue kayaking
Dinner at Base House
Days Twenty Three to Twenty Seven – Surf Lifesaving Certification
Breakfast each day at Base House
Each day work towards Bronze Medallion certification in surf lifesaving skills
Lunch each day at Dickey Beach
Continue surfing skills after lunch each day
Dinner each day at Base House
Days Twenty Eight to Twenty Nine – Optional Activities
Breakfast each day at Base House
Optional activities for these days include
Skydiving, a visit to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Go-Karting, Slingshot, rock climbing
Lunch each day will depend on location
Dinner will be at Base House
Day Thirty – Departure
Breakfast at Base House
Depart Australia
Build Skills September – Packing List
Build Skills Australia
The climate in this region of Australia during September will generally be mild and tropical. During your first twelve days on the Sunshine Coast, it will probably be between 60 and 75 degrees, but further north in Cairns, it is warmer and you can expect about 75 to 85 degrees during the day. At nights there will be clear, starry skies, so bring warm clothes for the evenings! All of the items below are guidelines, but please remember that you have to carry your bags, so pack lightly!
Carry-On Luggage:
Passport and Wallet
Sunglasses
Toothbrush and toothpaste (2oz. or less)
Camera
Journals and Pens
Music, books etc.
Checked Luggage:
Jeans (1 - 2)
Shorts (2)
T-Shirts (5 or 6)
Tank tops (3)
Hooded sweatshirt
Fleece jacket or warm sweater (1 – 2)
Underwear (10)
Socks (7)
Swim Suits (2 - 3)
Sneakers
Sandals or Flip-Flops
Cap or Sun Hat
Flashlight/Head-lamp
Towels (1 bath, 1 beach)
Sleeping Bag
Basic toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner etc) - MUST BE BIODEGRADBLE
Personal First Aid Kit
Sun-screen/ lip balm (bring plenty of sunscreen – you will spend a lot of time on the water)
Insect Repellent
Any Medications
Contact lenses, solutions if required
Optional:
Lightweight Rain Coat or Poncho
Picture of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, pet fish, etc.
Books, music, games (deck of cards etc)
Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas)
Build Skills Australia Q: Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
A: No, Australia’s tap water is very clean and safe to drink.
Q: Do we need to get visas for this program?
A: Australia requires an electronic visa waiver for all US citizens, which students must obtain before departure. Students who are not traveling on a US passport should check with our office regarding visa requirements.
Q: What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
A: This trip will stay in a variety of accommodations; please see descriptions below. Overall, the accommodations will always be clean, comfortable, and safe. This trip contains a lot of camping on the grass in four-man tents, but there will also be hotels with twin and triple share rooms. You will also spend a night or two at the Rustic Pathways base house, which is located in the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains.
Q: What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
A: All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We 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 or the World Health Organization at www.who.org.
Q: What costs are not included on this trip?
A: Students will require some allowance money for optional expenses such as souvenirs, personal phone calls, internet, laundry and optional activities. Students also need to bring money for half of their lunches and dinners. Program costs include all breakfasts, half of the lunches and half of the dinners.
Q: How long is the flight to this country?
A: The flight departs Los Angeles in the evening and takes about 14 hours to reach Brisbane, Australia. If you are coming from Fiji, the flight is only 3.5 hours.
Q: What kind of food will we be eating?
A: Staff take advantage of the great local fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood available throughout Australia. We can cater for most diets, including vegetarian, low-fat and diabetic. Please advise our office of any special dietary needs at the time of application.
EARN your PADI scuba certification while diving the
famous Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural
wonders of the world. Explore the city of Cairns.
LEARN important ocean safety and rescue skills. Ride
the waves during expert surfing lessons along golden
beaches and live at a classic Aussie surf club.
SAIL aboard a seafaring yacht, learn the ropes and
hone your skills as a competent deckhand.
KAYAK through peaceful ocean waterways in search
of pods of playful dolphins as you perfect your paddling.
TRY your hand at windsurfing along the windswept
beaches of Australia’s Gold Coast. Enjoy the company
of the true Aussie characters you meet while they teach
you some of the colorful local lingo.
Spend a month in Australia and live the coastal lifestyle the Land Down Under is famous for while gaining experience and qualifications in a variety of water sports and aquatic activities. Based in Queensland – beautiful one day, perfect the next – your month of fun in the sun includes the opportunity to learn to surf, gain competency in ocean sailing, learn to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and try your hand at windsurfing and ocean kayaking. You’ll also live and train with some of Australia’s famous surf lifesavers. 
aboard an ocean-going yacht. During this exciting period of your trip, your knowledgeable leaders will teach you the basics of how to navigate your way around the vessel and the ocean. Sails, knots, winds, currents, and sailing techniques are all mixed into a fun five days off the coast of Australia. What a way to explore the South Pacific and challenge yourself along the way!
From Cairns, you will return to the Sunshine Coast and spend the remainder of your time enjoying a variety of water activities, including windsurfing on beautiful Golden Beach and kayaking around Noosa National Park – keep an eye out for the local dolphins who like to check out the paddlers! You’ll also enjoy several days under the guidance of our friends at the local surf lifesaving club. They will teach you water safety, ocean knowledge, and basic water rescue techniques. You’ll also have time to indulge in some optional activities. If a skydive or a visit to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo is on your to-do list, you’ll have no problem fitting it in during your time in Australia.
