Australia
The Signature Experience
SYDNEY, SURF TOWNS & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The Experience
DISCOVER THE ICONIC SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST. PACKED WITH ADVENTURE, EXPLORATION AND STUNNING LOCATIONS, THIS UNFORGETTABLE TRIP WILL LEAVE YOU WANTING MORE OF THE LAND DOWN UNDER!
This trip will not be running during Summer 2024. If you like this trip explore our Trip Guide or check out our upcoming trips below to find another summer adventure with Teen Travel Network!
Trip Highlights
- Visit the famous Sydney Opera House & Manly Beach
- Snorkel over the vibrant and expansive Great Barrier Reef
- Get up close with koalas and Tasmanian devils at a wildlife sanctuary
- Stay active by kayaking, wakeboarding and hiking with knowledgeable local guides
- Surf in Byron Bay with our professional surf coaches
- Zipline through the Daintree Rainforest
Australia
The Signature Experience
Program Overview
This trip is a must for those who crave adventure: there’s never a dull moment on Australia’s eastern coastal region! Discover why Australia is a favorite location of thrill seekers, conservation enthusiasts and world travelers alike as we spend twelve days exploring the region from Sydney to Cairns and everything in between.
Start your journey in Sydney, taking time to get familiar with the famous sights, sounds and tastes of Australia’s capitol city. See the iconic Opera House and explore key ecological and cultural sites around the city before jetting off the Gold Coast for some time in the sun.
Swim, surf, sea kayak and hike your way through pristine beaches and misty rainforest reserves while learning from scientists, Australian Indigenous people and knowledgeable guides all about this unique area of the world. Next, we’ll add snorkeling and ziplining to our list, exploring the infamous Great Barrier Reef and surrounding jungle of Cape Tribulation.
KEY DESTINATIONS
REGION: ASIA & THE PACIFIC
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA
CITY: SYDNEY, CAIRNS, BYRON BAY, KINGSCLIFF, CAPE TRIBULATION
LANDMARK: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Australia
The Signature Experience
"THIS TRIP OPENED UP MY MIND TO THE FACT THAT THE WORLD IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I WANT TO TRAVEL AS MUCH AS I CAN."
SZÁVA F.; BUDAPEST
PROGRAM ITINERARY
THIS ITINERARY IS AN APPROXIMATION OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. THE ORDER OF ACTIVITIES ON YOUR TRIP MAY CHANGE.
IF A PARTICULAR SCHEDULED EXPERIENCE IS CANCELED, WE MAY REPLACE IT WITH AN ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY.
Day 1: Arrival Day
Welcome to Sydney!
Our Teen Travel Network Trip Leaders will meet you in the Sydney airport wearing their TTN t-shirts.
We will spend this first day settling into our accommodation and building connections with fellow travelers. Before we sleep off our jetlag, we will enjoy a local welcome dinner.
Day 2: Sydney
Make your way over to Barangaroo Reserve to meet your local Indigenous Australian guide for a cultural tour of Sydney’s newest waterside district. This tour will immerse you in the native history of Warrane (Sydney Harbour) and the importance of the land to Australia’s Aboriginal heritage and its significance to the clans of the Eora Nation.
Join an insider’s walking tour of the unique sandstone hills and laneways of The Rocks District and down into Circular Quay. From here, you get an unrivaled view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and explore the World Heritage recognized Sydney Opera house up close and personal! Hop on the ferry to travel to the suburb of Clontarf to begin the Manly Scenic Coastal Walk. The Northern Beaches is one of Sydney’s most beloved areas: embark on the Manly Scenic Coastal Walk, a spectacular 6-mile path that hugs sandstone cliffs and turquoise waters. Walk through old growth eucalypt forests and along secluded white sand beaches. Along the way see Aboriginal cultural sites, the Grotto Point Lighthouse and many scenic lookouts over the bay.
Days 3-4 : Kingscliff
Today is an animal lover’s dream! Bid farewell to Sydney this morning and hop on a flight north to the Gold Coast. Discover what makes Australian wildlife so unique with a visit to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Meet with conservation biologists & keepers to learn about conservation efforts underway for koalas and Tasmanian Devils, explore the stories of the wildlife hospital on the Hospital Deck and get up close and personal with some of Australia’s weird and wonderful creatures! From crocodiles to dingoes and koalas, you will be sure to find your new favorite animal here! This afternoon we’ll continue south to the town of Kingscliff–settle into your accommodation before heading out for a sunset dinner on top of one of the local headlands.
The following day we’ll venture to Cook Island Nature Reserve via boat. Snorkel amongst the resident population of Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead Turtles and marvel at the hard and soft corals of the reef that provides lots of hiding places for cheeky clown fish, anemones and wobbegongs! Learn about the conservation efforts currently underway and help researchers spot dolphins. Wrap up the day with beach games, swimming and a headland stroll.
Days 5-6: Byron Bay
Drive down the coast to Byron Bay, made famous by the numerous celebrities and movie stars that call this small beach town home. Our guides will take us to the Byron Markets and up Cape Byron to learn about the whaling history of early Australia from the best vantage point in the area: the lighthouse. Keep your eyes peeled as this is a great location to spot turtles, whales and dolphins from above. This afternoon you will head to the beach and learn to surf! Australia is famous for its surf culture and Byron Bay is the perfect place to learn. Hit the waves with professional coaches and develop your skills in what is perhaps Australia’s most beloved sport.
Next on the agenda: sea kayaking! Rise early and paddle out int othe ocean in search of the Bay’s resident pod of dolphins. Cruise alongside these curious and playful inshore bottlenose dolphins and keep an eye out for other marine wildlife! This afternoon we will head up into the subtropical rainforests of Byron Bay’s hinterland area and embark on a short hike to one of the many mountain waterfalls. Take a refreshing swim before heading back into town for dinner.
Days 7- 8: Cairns
Keep the adventure going with an early flight to Cairns in tropical North Queensland. Upon arrival, we will be given a brief orientation about life in North Queensland as we transfer to our accommodation in town. Later this afternoon we will meet with a project manager from the Marine Discoveries Research and Training Centre. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of critical issues such as climate impact, the roles of marine species and the importance of our coral reefs. This evening, enjoy a dinner at the Cairns waterfront as a group and soak up the lively atmosphere of tourists and buskers along the esplanade.
Try your hand at wake boarding at the Cairns Aqua Park. You will be “kitted out” with gear and given an introduction to wakeboarding (and/or knee boarding) before stepping up to the cable park and testing your skills. Discover what makes the wet tropics so special as you explore the surrounding jungle finishing at a secluded waterfall. Head back into town to visit the Cairns Night Markets and shop for locally made souvenirs.
Day 9: Cape Tribulation & The Great Barrier Reef
Cape Tribulation is known as “where the rainforest meets the reef,” and today we’ll explore both! Start with Mossman Gorge in one of the oldest rainforests on the planet. Stroll along the river with an Indigenous guide and hear about a traditional culture of the Kuku Yalanji, the traditional custodians of the land, that is still alive today. Take a wilderness cruise through the creeks and rivers of the Daintree Rainforest. Keep an eye out for cassowaries, colorful parrots, tree kangaroos and saltwater crocodiles basking on the waterway while learning about the ecological significance of the region. Take in 360-degree views from above as we zipline through the rainforest canopy–this is a fantastic opportunity to see wildlife that you don’t typically see from the ground!
Hop aboard our private boat and throw on your snorkel gear because it is time to explore the Great Barrier Reef. There will be ample opportunity to spot tropical fish, friendly reef sharks, turtles and much more! Savor the moment as you float above the world’s largest coral reef system and wonder of the natural world.
Day 10: Sydney
Bid farewell to your jungle home this morning as you leave the rainforest behind and head back into Cairns for your return flight to Sydney.
Once settled into our accommodation in Sydney, we will have a final group discussion, closing activities and last minute souvenir shopping. We will head out for our final dinner where we will celebrate all that we have learned and experienced together.
Day 11: Departure Day
Before we know it, our time in the land down unda has come to an end. Head to the airport with incredible memories, new friends, and confidence that will benefit you for life!
TTN Trip Leaders will accompany travelers to the airport and check them in for their flights home.
As you settle into your seat for the journey home, reflect on the shows you saw, people you met, and things you learned. We’ll see you on your next adventure! Welcome to the Network!
Australia
The Signature Experience
Dates & Tuition
12-Day Travel Program
| 2024 Dates |
|---|
| JUN 28 – JUL 9, 2024 |
All-Inclusive Tuition
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