National Geographic Student Expeditions - Australia - Travel Programs for High School Students

The Expedition

With roughly the population of metropolitan New York City and the land mass 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. Spot fascinating wildlife, from kangaroos and wallabies to koalas and cassowaries. 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, Filmmaking, or Exploration.

Sydney

5 days. The program begins with an orientation in the vibrant coastal city of Sydney, Australia's largest metropolitan area and financial center. 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; or 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.

Uluru And The Outback

7 days. Fly 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 region 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.

Then travel overland 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.

Queensland AND THE Great Barrier Reef

7 days. Fly to northern Queensland, our hub for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Hike through lush tropical rain forests to see cassowaries, wombats, crocodiles, and other endemic wildlife. Board a classic yacht for a multiple-day sailing trip along the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef. Discover deserted white-sand beaches on remote uninhabited islands, and snorkel among coral reefs frequented by porpoises, sea turtles, and giant reef fish. Anchor at the outer reef and snorkel or dive* in crystalline waters above colorful coral and schools of tropical fish. The program ends with On Assignment presentations and a final celebration before departing for home.

*Students who are scuba certified may dive at the Great Barrier Reef, accompanied by a guide.

National Geographic Expert

Photojournalist, filmmaker, and adventurer ULLA LOHMANN is based in the German Alps, but spends much of her time working with indigenous cultures in Australia and the South Pacific. Ulla is a regular contributor for the National Geographic Channel and National Geographic magazine (France), and has appeared in several television programs for National Geographic and BBC. Her work as a photo- and video journalist has taken her on active expeditions into jungles, deserts, alpine terrain, caves, and the underwater world. Ulla will join the group at the Great Barrier Reef.

Choose one of these On Assignment projects. Throughout your expedition, break into teams to delve further into your selected area of focus.

icon for Photography On Assignment Project PHOTOGRAPHY: Capture the unique people and landscapes of Australia in a photo-essay. Set out with your team to shoot portraits of the people you meet. Catch the brilliant reds and oranges of sunset on Uluru. Capture images of ancient rock art and Australia's endemic wildlife.

icon for Filmmaking On Assignment Project FILMMAKING: Join a group of film-makers to investigate a facet of life in Australia or document your journey. Interview an Aboriginal guide, film bounding kangaroos in the outback, or capture your teammates as they crew a sailboat near the Great Barrier Reef. Use mobile-editing technology to produce a short documentary film.

icon for Exploration On Assignment Project EXPLORATION: Pursue a topic of your choice that will help you explore more in-depth. Catalog the animal life you spot in the central desert and on the Great Barrier Reef. Examine relations between white Australians and Aboriginal groups, or learn the legends of the Dreamtime by interviewing elders or sketching Aboriginal cave art. Learn the history of Australian Rules football, or survey young people about their favorite music.

Airfare is not included. We have arranged group flights from Los Angeles to Sydney, Sydney to Alice Springs, Alice Springs to Cairns, and return to Los Angeles. Click here for information on transportation to and from expeditions.

Accommodations: In Sydney, Alice Springs, and Queensland, we will stay in small hotels. We'll sleep in bunks on the yacht at the Great Barrier Reef and camp in tents at Uluru.

Your participation in a National Geographic Student Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.