Description

Service and Sun
Miles of sandy beaches, lush rainforest, and majestic mountains await you along Australia's famous Sunshine Coast. Based at Rustic Pathways' beautiful Glasshouse Mountains Base in the hinterland of Australia's east coast, the Sunshine Coast Service and Adventure program offers you the chance to enjoy exciting community and environmental service projects in the beautiful Land DownUnder. You'll visit beaches and mountains, stay in the heart of the Australian bush, immerse yourself in city life, and meet loads of friendly Aussies along the way. This program is an awesome combination of meaningful community service, sightseeing, and high adventure DownUnder!

Lend a Hand
You will meet loads of locals through your service projects, which will include volunteering at the Wonder Factory at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane, helping with projects in a rural Aussie township, and assisting a local environmental organization with beach cleanups, waterway restoration, and tree planting. Australians love their beautiful country, and they will really appreciate your work.

An Aussie Adventure
When not engaged in service projects, you will have time to enjoy life on the Sunshine Coast. Hike the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains, stroll Hastings Street in cosmopolitan Noosa, and spot koalas in scenic Noosa National Park. For an up-close look at the continent's exotic wildlife, you'll head to Steve Irwin's world-famous Australia Zoo for a day of feeding kangaroos, hanging out with koalas, and watching crocodiles. Visit Eummundi (home to Australia's largest outdoor market) to pick up a few souvenirs. Take a daytrip to Brisbane, where you can get your adrenaline pumping by climbing or rappelling on the Story Bridge while the traffic zooms past below. Then cruise the river and explore the city center before lending a hand at the Royal Children's Hospital. In the evenings, you'll help prepare home-cooked meals with locally grown foods at our legendary Australian Base House and share stories with your new mates as you listen for koalas in the bush. This is as good as it gets!

For a true Outback experience, you'll spend two nights at an Australian bush camp and learn to cook on the campfire, handle horses, throw boomerangs, crack whips, and play a didgeridoo. And during all of this, the kangaroos will jump past and the kookaburras will laugh from the trees. In the evening, relax around the fire, enjoy a delicious dinner, and roll out your swag for a night sleeping under the stars.

Highlights

DISCOVER breathtaking mountain views, miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, and the true-blue Aussie way of life on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

LEND A HAND at a children's hospital and get involved in meaningful service with environmental organizations.

EXPLORE Steve Irwin's famous Australia Zoo, hike the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains, and choose from optional activities such as skydiving, rappelling, or climbing the Story Bridge in Brisbane.

LIVE the Outback life at an Australian bush camp and learn how to play a didgeridoo, throw a boomerang, find the Southern Cross in the night sky, and work with horses on the farm.

HAVE FUN! Learn some Aussie slang, try life in the bush, spot a 'roo or two, and laugh like a galah with the locals.

Travel Types

• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Skydiving
• Student Tours
• Tours

Qualifications

Students must be 14-years old and up to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Student Tours

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 1,795

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as "optional".

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Childcare/children
• Environment

Age Range

14-18 years old.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Scholarships are Available

Scholarships are available annually for students interested in Rustic Pathways programs on an application basis. The scholarships are for all Rustic Pathways programs across the world and not only for this particular program. Applications for scholarships are available starting in late January or early February for students and interested parties should contact Rustic Pathways directly to learn how to apply.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983