Depart Los Angeles in the late evening for the overnight flight to Sydney.

Evening: Depart the USA on overnight flight to Australia.

In Transit: Cross International Dateline

Group Arrival/City Orientation/Program Overview/Explore the City/Getting to Know You

Morning: Welcome to Sydney! Sydney’s stunning natural harbour forms the centrepiece of a dynamic city that has grown dramatically since its beginnings as a prison colony. Situated in the temperate area of Australia, Sydney is surrounded by National Parks and has a beautiful range of flora and fauna. It is Australia’s largest city with nearly 5 million citizens thriving in a multi-cultural society in a congenial climate. Sydney is dominated by Sydney Harbour, of which Port Jackson is only a small part. The city covers a large area, twice the size of London with half the population, and has large parks and sparkling sandy Pacific Ocean beaches, such as the well-known and very popular Bondi. Upon the arrival of the group flight (QF108 arriving in Sydney from Los Angeles at 7:40am), you will be met by our friendly team. We begin with an excursion to orientate us to Sydney via the eastern beach-side suburbs en route into the centre of the city. Upon arriving at the hotel, we will have our Program Overview and a lecture introducing us to Sydney.

Lunch: We have lunch in the hotel.

Afternoon: After settling into our rooms, we have a walking exploration of Darling Harbour and the areas of the city in the environs of our hotel. The remainder of afternoon is at leisure to give you some down time to wind down from your flights.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Enrichment Activity: We spend some time getting to know our fellow participants before we have an early night.

Lodging: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Introduction to Australia/Settlement of Sydney/Opera House/Harbour Cruise/Sydney Observatory - the southern night sky

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We have a local professor lecture to us this morning giving us an Introduction to Australia, its Discovery & Settlement. We then visit the historic Rocks area, where the European settlement of Sydney began, to learn something of Sydney's Colonial Past. We also visit Macquarie Street and Mrs Macquarie's Chair affording us stunning views of the magnificent harbour.

Lunch: We have lunch at a restaurant in The Rocks.

Afternoon: Sydney's unique Opera House is one of the architectural wonders of the world. We have a guided tour of this exquisite building. We then board a cruise to see Sydney from its most wonderful natural highlight - Sydney Harbour.

Dinner: We have an early dinner tonight at a local restaurant before we head to Sydney Observatory.

Evening: At Sydney Observatory we have a guided tour of the exhibits to learn about Southern Hemisphere astronomy. Weather allowing, we view some of the unique night-time sights of the southern sky. We return to our hotel by coach.

Lodging: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In your hotel

Morning: This morning we take a coach to a local primary school to learn about being a student in Sydney. By interacting with the school students we experience multicultural education in Australia. We then coach to a local secondary school.

Lunch: We interact with the high school students over a lunch they have prepared.

Afternoon: We coach to the Powerhouse Museum where our leader guides us through the exhibits of science and technology.

Dinner: We walk from the Powerhouse to dinner at a local restaurant in the Darling Harbour precinct.

Evening: Remainder of evening free.

Lodging: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we coach across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Taronga Zoo, located on the north shore with delightful views across the harbour to the city. Here we begin our study of Australian fauna. We meet kangaroos, koalas & wallabies and hope for a glimpse of the rather more elusive wombat, echidna and platypus.

Lunch: We have lunch at Taronga Zoo.

Afternoon: The rest of the day belongs to you to explore Sydney at leisure. You will be given a ferry ticket for the journey back to Circular Quay. You can stay at the zoo as long as you wish or return to the city and visit other areas of personal interest.

Dinner: Dinner is at own arrangements this evening.

Evening: Evening free.

Lodging: Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Flight to Brisbane/Australia Zoo/Coach to Mooloolaba/Surf Lifesaving in Australia

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: We coach to Sydney Domestic Airport this morning and check in for our flight to Brisbane. Once in Brisbane we board a coach and drive to the Sunshine Coast. One hour’s drive north of Brisbane on Australia’s eastern coast, the Sunshine Coast takes in the tranquil hinterland of the Glass House Mountains, the Blackall Range and the Mary Valley as well as more than 60 miles of white sandy beaches stretching through coastal towns such as Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Coolum and Noosa. Our first stop is Australia Zoo.

Lunch: We have lunch at the food hall of Australia Zoo.

Afternoon: This afternoon we learn about Australia Zoo - the unique Animal Conservation Sanctuary created by the late Steve Irwin. We have a guided tour and view the show. We then coach to our accommodation at Twin Waters.

Dinner: We have dinner at our hotel.

Evening: Evening free.

Lodging: Novotel Twin Waters Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we first experience the historic town of Eumundi and explore Australia's largest local produce market. We carry on to Noosa River where we will have a field trip among the Noosa River Everglades. We pair up with our grandparent/grandchild and paddle our own two-seat kayak following our guide as we explore the tranquil waters of the Noosa National Park.

Lunch: During our kayaking field trip, we pause for a picnic lunch alongside the river in the National Park.

Afternoon: Our kayaking field trip in the Noosa National Park continues after lunch. We then return to our hotel with free time to hit the pool before dinner.

Dinner: At our hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Novotel Twin Waters Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: SURF'S UP! We coach to Noosa and hit the beach for our learn-to-surf lesson. Let's Go Surfing - we all learn how to stand on a surfboard and attempt to ride the waves. Our instructors will also teach us something of Australia'a surf life-saving culture.

Lunch: After a bit of time to play in the surf, we return briefly to our hotel to wash off the sand before we have lunch at a local cafe.

Afternoon: This afternoon we visit the Underwater World aquarium in Mooloolaba, home to turtles, sharks, rays, coral and much aquatic life. Here, with our guide, we examine the effects of humans on endangered eco-systems and marine habitats.

Dinner: At our hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Novotel Twin Waters Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we transfer to Hervey Bay and the Fraser Island mainland terminal. We board the catamaran for our transfer to Fraser Island. World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and stretches over 75 miles along the coast of southern Queensland. The Island features complex dune systems and is home to a surprising range of vegetation from coastal heath to subtropical rainforest. Fraser Island is also home to many sites of archaeological, social and spiritual significance to its original, indigenous inhabitants.

Lunch: We are greeted with refreshments upon our arrival at the resort and are then led to lunch in one of the cafes on-site.

Afternoon: This afternoon we have an eco-walk with our ranger through the grounds of Kingfisher Bay before having part of the afternoon at leisure. We come together for a Memories And Shared Highlights program review session before dinner.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Evening free at leisure.

Lodging: Kingfisher Bay Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Today we take a 4WD safari to explore the Great Sandy National Park. Our schedule today may include such sights as the gorgeous Lake McKenzie; Wanggoolba Creek; Pile Valley’s stunning Satinay and Brush Box forests; Seventy-Five Mile Beach's famous highway; the Maheno shipwreck and the coloured sands of The Pinnacles; the temperate, fresh waters of Eli Creek; and the mighty Stonetool Sand Blow.

Lunch: We have a picnic lunch whilst on our 4WD exploration of the Island.

Afternoon: Our 4WD safari continues this afternoon.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: After dinner we gather around the campfire to sing songs and hear the telling of Aboriginal Legends. Maybe, if we are lucky, the thrum of the didgeridoo will be heard in the background. We can also view the southern stars and try to apply what we learnt at Sydney Observatory.

Lodging: Kingfisher Bay Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we have a guided nature walk to the look-out and mangroves, followed by a fishing clinic with our ranger.

Lunch: In the hotel.

Afternoon: We have this afternoon at leisure to relax and explore. Perhaps you can persuade your leader to coach you in a game of beach cricket...

Dinner: In the hotel - experience bush tucker. As part of our dinner tonight, we will learn something of, and get the opportunity to sample, the native foods found growing in the Australian bush.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Kingfisher Bay Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning we check out of the resort and join a catamaran transfer to the mainland terminal, before we coach to Brisbane Domestic Airport.

Lunch: At the airport.

Afternoon: This afternoon we fly to Cairns. Upon our arrival in Cairns, we have a short orientation to the city en route to our accommodation.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: This evening our Site Coordinator gives us a course overview & introduction to Cairns.

Lodging: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: This morning our local rainforest guide gives us a lecture to the Wet Tropical Rainforests of North Queensland and teaches us what it is like to live on the edge of the rainforest. We then coach to the village of Kuranda where we first visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary for a guided tour of the aviary. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is home to over 1500 magnificent tropical butterflies that are hand-reared on the premises. All are local rainforest species, including the iconic Kuranda butterfly, the beautiful electric blue Ulysses Butterfly.

Lunch: We walk Kuranda's bustling main street for lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Croc alert! After lunch, we take a riverboat cruise on the Barron River - keeping on the look-out for crocodiles in their natural habitat going about their daily business. We then walk to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to take the stunning five mile cableway journey sweeping above the canopy of World Heritage-listed rainforest. En route to Caravonica, we stop at the Rainforest Interpretive Station where our guide will lead us on a rainforest walk teaching us more about this special environment. We take the coach back to our hotel where our Site Coordinator will lead us in some snorkelling practice in the hotel pool.

Dinner: In the hotel.

Evening: Our local marine biologist will give us a lecture this evening on the Great Barrier Reef and the issues endangering its existence. He will give us an insight into what we might see tomorrow on our cruise out to this World Heritage-listed icon.

Lodging: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In the hotel.

Morning: Today we have a full-day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef where we can view the World Heritage-listed coral reefs in the company of our dedicated marine biologist. We will be able to snorkel among the coral reef out from our pontoon and/or view the reef from a semi-submersible vessel.

Lunch: We have lunch on board our cruise vessel.

Afternoon: Our Great Barrier Reef cruise continues after lunch.

Dinner: We return in the late afternoon and have dinner tonight at own arrangements allowing us to sample the myriad cafes and restaurants within a short stroll of the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hartley's Crocodile Farm/Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park/Program Review

Breakfast: This morning we coach to Hartley's Crocodile Farm for breakfast.

Morning: At Hartley's Crocodile Farm we learn about the habitat & lifestyle of crocodiles, the rather intriguing cassowary & wetland wildlife. We see what is involved in both farming and conserving crocodiles.

Lunch: We coach to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in time for lunch.

Afternoon: My boomerang won't come back! This afternoon at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park we learn about the North Queensland Coastal Aborigines. Here we try to throw Aboriginal spears and boomerangs. We learn indigenous painting techniques as we paint our own boomerang. We return to our hotel for a Memories And Shared Highlights program review session before our farewell dinner.

Dinner: We have our farewell dinner at our hotel tonight.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At accommodation.

Morning: This morning is free in Cairns to relax, run last-minute errands or check out some more sights by yourselves.

Lunch: At own arrangements.

Afternoon: We come together at our hotel and transfer to Cairns airport for our flight to Sydney.

Dinner: We have dinner on board our flight to Sydney.

Evening: We transfer from Sydney Airport to our airport hotel where we overnight.

Lodging: Mercure Hotel Sydney Airport

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: At accommodation.

Morning: After an early breakfast, we transfer to Sydney International Airport and check in to our flight bound for Los Angeles. QF107 departs Sydney at 10am.

Meals Included: Breakfast