Australia
The Ultimate Wildlife Adventure
RAINFORESTS, RAFTING, & BEACHES
The Experience
EXPLORE THE WHITE-SAND BEACHES OF AUSTRALIA’S GOLD COAST AND NORTHERN RIVERS REGION WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE UNIQUE WILDLIFE THAT CALL AUSTRALIA HOME.
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
- Snorkel with Green, Hawksbill & Loggerhead Turtles
- Surf’s up with a local instructor on Australia’s iconic waves
- Two-and-a-half day white-water canoeing adventure through the rainforest
- Kayak with dolphins
- Get up close with Australian Wildlife like Koalas and Tazmanian Devils
- Visit a world-renowned Wildlife Sanctuary & Hospital and get behind the scenes to learn directly from experts
Australia
The Ultimate Wildlife Adventure
Program Overview
Explore the white-sand beaches of Australia’s Gold Coast and Northern Rivers region while learning about the unique wildlife that call Australia home. Get up close and personal with some of Australia’s fascinating animals as we work alongside environmentalists and biologists to learn about conservation and the value of protecting natural ecosystems.
Enjoy an adventure packed itinerary where we will enjoy snorkeling with turtles, white-water canoeing, kayaking with dolphins, and surfing the iconic waves of Australia’s Gold Coast!
KEY DESTINATIONS
REGION: ASIA & THE PACIFIC
COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA
CITY: BYRON BAY, KINGSCLIFF, CLARENCE RIVER, BALLINA, BRISBANE
Australia
The Ultimate Wildlife Adventure
"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 Australia!
Our Teen Travel Network Trip Leaders will meet you in the Brisbane airport wearing their TTN t-shirts. Together we’ll travel to your new home away from home. Get settled into your room and start getting to know your fellow travelers.
After you settle in you will head out to explore Brisbane on bike. We’ll eat at a neighborhood restaurant where we will get to know each other and meander along the suburb of Southbank, into the Botanical Gardens and across the Brisbane River as you get familiar with the biggest city in Queensland.
Day 2: Rainforests, Waterfalls & Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Over 180 million years ago, the supercontinent Gondwana connected Australia to Antarctica. Remnants of the ancient Gondwana Rainforest still exist today. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Listed rainforest, Springbrook National Park is home to an ancient species of Beech tree originating in Antarctica–some over 3000 years old! Today we will experience the earth’s evolutionary history firsthand as we hike behind waterfalls and through biodiverse forest ecosystems.
Discover what makes Australian wildlife so unique with a visit to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Go behind the scenes and meet with conservation biologists & keepers to learn about conservation efforts underway for koalas and Tasmanian Devils; hear stories of the Wildlife Hospital on the Hospital Deck and get up close and personal with some of Australia’s weird and wonderful wildlife! From crocodiles and dingoes to koalas and kangaroos, you will be sure to find your new favorite animal here!
Day 3: Snorkel with Turtles & Environmental Service (Kingscliff)
Get ready for an adventure this morning, as you board a boat out to Cook Island Nature Reserve! Accompanied by local marine guides, explore the turquoise waters around the Gold Coast. Snorkel amongst the resident population of Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead turtles and marvel at the hard and soft corals of the reef that provide lots of hiding places for cheeky clown fish, anemones and wobbegongs!
Learn about conservation efforts currently underway and help spot dolphins on the way out. After a traditional Aussie BBQ at the beach this afternoon, join your leaders in a series of fun beach games and explore the clear mangrove-lined creek systems.
Day 4: Surfing & The Big Prawn (Ballina)
Rise early this morning to meet Aussie surf coaches down at the beach. After a skill building session, head out to carve up some waves! Beginner or advanced, our professional instructors are experienced surfers who will have you riding waves in no time!
After lunch back at our accommodations, head further south toward the town of Ballina. Along the way, stop at one of Australia’s ‘Big Things’ – The Big Prawn! Standing at 29.5 feet tall and weighing over 38 tons, this oversized shrimp is nothing short of a landmark for this coastal fishing town and makes for a great photo opportunity. In the evening, we will begin to prep for the next adventure tomorrow on the Clarence River.
Day 5: Into The Wilderness (Clarence River)
Time to head further inland to the Clarence River region of New South Wales where we will spend the next two and a half days navigating vast river systems while camping in untouched wilderness.
With over four thousand hectares of land preserved in a wildlife refuge, there is incredible biodiversity to explore – including the best opportunity to see the elusive platypus! Partner with ecologists to learn about the environment and contribute to ongoing regeneration projects through tree planting. In the evening, begin to develop the skills needed for the next three days on the river. Join your fellow travel mates around the campfire for a mid-trip check in to reflect on your Aussie experiences so far!
Days 6- 7: Whitewater Canoeing
Rise early to begin a two and a half day white water canoeing adventure led by expert river guides. During the journey spend time living and moving down the river together as a community. Travel downstream as a tribe, carrying everything we need to survive and thrive in our canoes, and all contributing to cooking and camp creation.
Learn the skills, features and safety tips needed to give whitewater canoeing a go. An open-minded, positive outlook and sense of adventure will be all we need to bring to have the best time out in nature. The excitement of the Grade 1 and 2 rapids is well complemented by the peaceful, pristine gorges that engulf us as we venture further downstream. Wilderness campsites far from civilization provide the backdrop for impressive stargazing opportunities as we commune around the campfire by night.
Day 8: Whitewater Canoeing & Byron Bay
We will finish our canoe journey today, stopping along the way to learn about this magnificent wilderness environment. Time to bid farewell to our canoeing guides and make your way to back to the coast to the famous Byron Bay!
Take a tour of Byron Bay with a local guide. As an artist’s stronghold, Byron Bay is home to many famous artists, musicians and actors/actresses. Keep your eyes peeled because you might see Zac Efron or Chris Hemsworth walking by!
Day 9: Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary & Hospital
Time to head up into the hinterland behind Byron Bay to visit the Byron Wildlife Sanctuary. See more of Australia’s most iconic animals in their natural habitat and go behind the scenes to learn from keepers about animal husbandry and the role sanctuaries like this play in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. We’ll head to the wildlife hospital to see how specialist veterinarians take care of sick and injured wildlife.
Continue to explore this rustic area with a short hike and a visit to a local waterfall before heading back into Byron Bay for sunset on the beach.
Day 10: Markets, Lighthouse & Indigenous Culture
Stroll through the expansive Byron Bay Markets this morning. Do some souvenir shopping as we walk through the hundreds of stalls filled with local produce and artisanal products. Head to the beach for some games and relaxation before taking a trip up to Cape Byron to learn about the whaling history of early Australia from the best vantage point in Byron Bay: the Lighthouse.
Here we will meet with a local Indigenous elder to talk about local bush medicine, culture and food. Keep your eyes peeled as this is a great location to spot turtles, whales and dolphins from above.
Day 11: Kayaking with Dolphins
Rise early this morning to meet our local kayak guides down by the beach! Get fitted with a life jacket, paddle and vessel as we head out on the ocean this morning in search of the resident dolphin pod.
Cruise alongside these curious and playful inshore bottlenose dolphins and keep an eye out for other marine wildlife! After lunch, bid farewell to Byron Bay and return to Brisbane for a final group discussion and closing ceremony–take time to capture the learning moments of your program to process and share with your community back home. This evening, our group will head out for one final celebration dinner as we share stories and memories from the last eleven days.
Day 12: Departure Day
Before we know it, our Aussie adventure 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 Brisbane airport and check them in for their flights home.
As you settle into your seat for the journey home, reflect on the things you saw, the people you met, and places you went. We’ll see you on your next adventure! Welcome to the Network!
Australia
The Ultimate Wildlife Adventure
Dates & Tuition
12-Day Travel Program
| 2024 Dates |
|---|
| JUL 14 – JUL 25, 2024 |
All-Inclusive Tuition
CONNECT THROUGH TRAVEL
Request a Free Catalog
