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Sydney
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The course will begin with a two-day
orientation in Sydney, the population center of
Australia. A guided tour of Sydney Harbour by foot and ferry
will retrace the history of British exploration, convict
settlement, and urban expansion.
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Great
Barrier Reef
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A short flight will take us to
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, the largest
living entity and the only biological structure visible from
space. Settling at Fitzroy Island as our base, we'll
explore mangrove trees and snorkel (all equipment provided)
nearshore in a fringing coral reef. The highlight of our
exploration is a high-catamaran trip to Moore Reef to
snorkel in an outer coral reef with its unbelievable
diversity of marine life.
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Tropical
Rainforest
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Returning to the mainland, we'll
travel to the rainforests and waterfalls of the Atherton
Tablelands, home to the greatest concentration of
endangered Australian species. Field excursions will include
morning sightings of the platypus, birdwatching kookaburras
and cockatoos, late-night spotlighting for nocturnal
marsupials, and numerous waterfalls.
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The
Bush
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At the edge of the rainforest, we'll venture into the
arid shrublands of the outback that comprises most of
Australia's interior. There we'll encouter giant termite
mounds, grey kangaroos at Mareeba, flying-foxes
(fruit bats) at Tolga Scrub, and perhaps a dingo, the
wild dogs of the Aborigines.
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Aboriginal
Rock Art
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The Oka, a custom off-road vehicle,
will next take us northward to Jowalbinna in the
Quinkin Aboriginal Reserve where we'll camp among one
of the finest galleries of rock art and learn about their
Aboriginal creators.
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Wetlands
and Billabongs
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Nearby at Lakefield we'll
search the streams and billabongs (water holes) for
freshwater and estuarine crocodiles, as well as goannas
(giant lizards).
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Coastal
Rainforest
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Returning to the coast brings us to
Cape Tribulation where the Daintree rainforest
has recently been protected from logging. Here you'll learn
about the conservation ethic of the Aborigines and have
breakfast among the birds at a wildlife sanctuary. Returning
to Cairns you can catch a flight home via
Sydney or continue with your personal travel
plans.
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Accommodations
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Accomodations during the trip varies from a recently
renovated hotel in central Sydney and tourist motels to
student dormitories with bunk beds. The most rustic
facilites are the furnished tent cabins with hot running
water at Jowalbinna Bush Camp, but otherwise no camping in
included in this trip.
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Day
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Date
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Activities
scheduled
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1
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Sat Jun 30
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Evening flight
from SAN FRANCISCO to Los Angeles on United Airlines,
connecting to Sydney on Air New Zealand.
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2
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Sun Jul 1
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Cross International
Dateline.
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3
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Mon Jul 2
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Morning arrival in SYDNEY.
Afternoon orientation and walking tour of Darling Harbour.
Best Western Unilodge.
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4
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Tues Jul 3
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Morning walking tour of Sydney
Harbour and The Rocks historical area. Ferry across Sydney
Harbour to Manley. Free afternoon. Evening visit to Kings
Cross. Best Western Unilodge.
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5
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Wed Jul 4
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Early morning flight
to CAIRNS, gateway to Great Barrier Reef and tropical
rainforests. Morning visit to mangrove boardwalk and the
esplanade for birdwatching shorebirds. Free afternoon. Coral
Tree Inn.
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6
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Thurs Jul 5
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Early ferry from to FITZROY
ISLAND. Morning glass-bottom boat tour of fringing coral
reef and optional snorkeling. Afternoon hike in island
rainforest. Fitzroy Island Beach Bunkhouse.
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7
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Fri Jul 6
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Morning visit to mangroves and
optional snorkeling. Afternoon hike along lighthouse trail.
Fitzroy Island Beach Bunkhouse.
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8
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Sat Jul 7
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Morning cruise to MOORE REEF
for glass-bottom boat tour or optional snorkeling in outer
barrier reef, plus buffet luncheon. Late afternoon return
and free evening in CAIRNS. Coral Tree
Inn.
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9
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Sun Jul 8
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Morning drive to tropical rainforests
of ATHERTON TABLELANDS. Afternoon visit to Granite
Gorge for rock wallabies and to renown Cathedral and Curtain
fig trees. Evening spotlighting for possums and other
nocturnal marsupials. Chambers Rainforest Lodge.
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10
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Mon Jul 9
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Early morning search for duck-billed
platypuses and the dawn chorus of rainforest birds.
Afternoon tour of Millstream and Millaa Millaa Falls. Visit
to Bromfield Swamp for roosting cranes. Chambers Rainforest
Lodge.
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11
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Tues Jul 10
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Morning visit to Tolga Scrub for
flying foxes (fruit bats) and grey kangaroos. Trek on
specially designed 4-wheel off-road vehicle to
JOWALBINNA. Jowalbinna Bush Camp.
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12
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Wed Jul 11
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All day tour of galleries of ancient
Aboriginal rock art at Brady Creek circuit. Afternoon swim
in billabong (waterhole). Jowalbinna Bush Camp.
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13
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Thurs Jul 12
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Morning drive to LAKEFIELD to
search for freshwater and estuarine crocodiles as well as
goannas (giant lizards). Late afternoon arrival in
historical port city of COOKTOWN. River of Gold
Motel.
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14
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Fri Jul 13
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Morning historical tour of Cooktown.
Afternoon drive to coastal rainforest at CAPE
TRIBULATION. Cocoanut Island Resort.
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15
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Sat Jul 14
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Morning guided walk in Daintree to
learn about rainforest conservation. Afternoon river cruise
for crocodiles and a visit to a bat sanctuary. Cocoanut
Island Resort.
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16
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Sun Jul 15
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Morning drive to PORT DOUGLAS
for breakfast with birds at a wildlife sanctuary. Return to
CAIRNS for a free afternoon and our last evening
together. Coral Tree Inn.
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17
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Mon Jul 16
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Early morning return
flight
to SAN FRANCISCO.
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