Australia Expedition
Outback, Rain Forest, and Reef
20 Days
- Meet Aborigines and learn about their spiritual beliefs
- Learn to play traditional instruments like the didgeridoo
- Snorkel with marine biologists along the Great Barrier Reef
- Ride a camel in the outback
Nat Geo Expert
Photojournalist and filmmaker Ulla Lohmann will join both departures.
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How To Apply
• About the Application Process
• Apply Now
• Call or Email Us
Itinerary — 20 Days
With roughly the population of metropolitan New York City and the landmass of the continental United States, Australia is the most sparsely populated continent on the planet after Antarctica. Its isolation for millennia allowed unique ecosystems and cultures to thrive. Explore rain forests, deserts, and the world's largest coral reef; and spot fascinating wildlife. Meet members of the Aboriginal community—the world's oldest living culture, which settled here more than 50,000 years ago. Experience Australia through the lens of your On Assignment project—Photography, Wildlife & Conservation, or Filmmaking.
Sydney
4 days. The expedition begins with an orientation in the vibrant coastal city of Sydney. Break into teams to begin working on your On Assignment project. Visit Cockatoo Island, a former prison and shipyard, and learn about Australia's colonial history; explore the lively Rocks District and cross the city's iconic bridge on foot. Discover the ghost stories of old Sydney on a nighttime tour. Attend a game of rugby or Australian football, or take in a show at the Sydney Opera House. Meet your first koalas and kangaroos at the famous Taronga Zoo, and visit the Sydney Aquarium to get acquainted with the marine life you will encounter on the great Barrier Reef.Uluru and the Outback
5 days. Fly directly to Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), a colossal sandstone monolith rising abruptly from the desert plain, and Kata Tjuta. These awe-inspiring formations are considered sacred and figure prominently in Aboriginal mythology. Visit a working cattle ranch, examine ancient rock art and medicinal plants, and listen to Dreamtime stories told by our Aboriginal guides. Ride a camel through the desert, and sleep under the brightest stars you've ever seen. Spot the Southern Cross and Scorpio, and learn a whole new set of Southern Hemisphere constellations. Interview Aboriginal people about their traditional beliefs and contemporary challenges, or shoot a series of photographs highlighting the legends of the Dreamtime.
Then, travel overland to one of the most remote and sparsely inhabited environments on earth: the great desert of central Australia. Settle into the rhythms of life in the outback in Alice Springs, the region's largest city and an important center of Aboriginal culture. At the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, learn how education and health care are disseminated to remote communities across the vast Outback by plane. Drop in on an Aboriginal-run radio station. Try your hand at playing Australia's traditional instrument, the didgeridoo, at a workshop and performance. Go for a bush walk on the Larapinta Trail. Discover the role of fire in this unique desert ecosystem, and learn to safely handle snakes and lizards at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre.
Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef
10 days. Fly to northern Queensland, our hub for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Set out on a two-day snorkeling adventure with marine biologists. Anchor at the outer reef and snorkel along brilliant fields of coral. Spot sea turtles, giant parrotfish, and the harmless reef shark. Discover the reef through hands-on instruction from marine biologists on board, and learn about the pressures being felt by this unique ecosystem and the efforts being made to protect it. Back on land, hike through the lush, tropical Daintree National Park to see cassowaries, wombats, crocodiles, and other endemic wildlife. Spend the night in a rain forest lodge and encounter native species of the surrounding rain forest, wetlands, and grasslands. Pay a visit to the spectacular Mossman gorge and experience the nocturnal rain forest on night hikes. Then, wind down on the coastal side of the park, relaxing on the white-sand beaches of remote Cape Tribulation.
The program ends in Cairns with On Assignment presentations and a final celebration.
Accommodations
In Sydney, Alice Springs, and Queensland, we will stay in small hotels. In Daintree National Park, we stay in a small, family-run eco-resort, and in Uluru we camp in semi-permanent tents.Apply now for this program or call us for more information at 877-877-8759.
