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From Discovery and CruisingTo Advanced Mountaineering Expedition
Our journeys starts by flying into Monkey Mia, a world heritage marine reserve in the Shark Bay Marine Park, via Geraldton. The main attraction are the Bottlenose dolphins that have been coming close to shore for more than fifty years. We get to meet the Dolphins and other marine creatures at the World Heritage Centre and Marine Park as we are joined by a marine scientist for a engaging program including beach clean up service. We then join a special three day indigenous immersion program with local traditional land owners learning about their culture and heritage and connection to country. This is a special purpose built program run by the Wula Gura Nyinda team heads in restricted territory and focuses on cultural awareness, leadership and communication. We have the opportunity to see the incredible marine life and stunning environment kayaking in the Francois Peron National Park and visit remote Aboriginal Heritage sites in the area. From here we have a very long drive to Exmouth and the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. On route we stop at the dramatic Stromatalites at Hamelin Pool, one of the main reasons for Shark Bays Heritage listing. On arrival at Exmouth we can trek along the stunning white sandy beach coast and swim with turtles, dugongs, tropical fish amongst stunning reef at the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. We learn about life below water and the importance of reefs in marine ecosystems. We then head inland and travel to Karijini National Parl. Enroute we will stop and spend a night stargazing at a true outback working station at Cheela Plains. In Karijini National Park we explore walking trails, stunning gorges and swimming pools. Karijini known for its spectacular rugged scenery, ancient geological formations, a variety of arid-land ecosystems and wonderful swimming spots.
PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE SEVERAL DAYS OF LONG 5 - 7 HOURS A DAY DRIVING INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM YOU MUST PREPARE YOURSELF FOR.
Countries:
Activities:
Grading:Introductory to Moderate
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Day 1
Fly Melbourne to Monkey Mia, full trip and safety briefing, explore Ocean park
After all the planning and preparation the wait is finally over. Today we fly to Monkey Mia via Perth arriving after lunch. On arrival you will be met at the airport by our experienced guide and taken to your accommodation to check in. Here we will have a full trip and safety briefing for your adventure. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have regarding your journey. We then join a marine biologist at the award winning Ocean Park. Part research facility, part marine animal rescue/rehabilitation and part aquarium, the Ocean Park will give us the opportunity to get up close with some amazing sea creatures. We finish off our conservation program with a beach clean up learning about the damage micro plastics and other rubbish is doing to this pristine environment. Overnight Monkey Mia dorms
Meals: D
Day 2
Morning Dolphins, Indigenous immersion program, kayaking, bushtucker, connection to country
After an early breakfast, we transfer to the beach for an experience you will remember for a lifetime. Today is not only a lot of fun but highly educational. On the beautiful white sandy coastline we will get the opportunity to see, and interact with the resident bottle nose dolphins. The Dolphins come in to the shore line under their own steam every day. This is a great opportunity to learn more about these intelligent creatures as well as interact with them. Then it's time to get out on country as we join a special indigenous immersion program. We will be picked up in the morning to head into the heart of Malgana country, and set up camp at Big Lagoon eco site at Francois Peron National Park. (40km) This site has heavily restricted access and is exclusive to the Wula Gura Nyinda Eco team who we will we travel with. Francois Peron National Park is an impressive area of acacia-cloaked red dunes and arid shrublands surrounded by turquoise water. Peron Peninsula is known as Wulyibidi to the local Malgana Aboriginal people who occupied the area prior to European settlement and continue to live in Shark Bay today. There are about 130 registered Aboriginal Heritage sites in the area, including quarries, rock shelters, burial sites and middens. This rich cultural history will be brought alive by our local guides. Today we will have a safety induction before we focus on exploring the marine eco systems by kayak as part of our cultural awareness learning. Our program will include team building and learning about connection to country, environmental awareness, and promoting the World Heritage values. We launch the kayaks and spend the day exploring the coast including swimming and snorkelling opportunities. We will use our local knowledge to search for turtles, dugongs, fish, sharks, and birds. We explore the fragile mangroves communities and their ecosystem. We will return for lunch at the camp site. This afternoon we continue our exploration hiking along the big lagoon coast looking for bushtucker, learning about medicinal plants and animals tracking. On the way back to camp we will collect firewood and prepare for dinner. Tonight after dinner the local team will engage in storytelling and encourage group discussions about the day activities and connection to country. Overnight camping Francois Peron National Park
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3
Indigenous immersion program, explore heritage sites, 4WD adventure, trek to Cape Peron
Today we rise to the sound of birds and in our stunning setting. Our day will be spent exploring the Francois Peron National Park and will focus on land based activities and the environment, discovering the World Heritage values and cultural awareness by bushwalking, looking for bush tucker, animal tracking, learning about medicinal plants and uses, sightseeing, fishing, snorkelling and swimming. We will explore key locations including Cattlewell (Aboriginal midden site), Skipjack Point lookout and Cape Peron. Weather permitting we can collect oysters, swim, snorkel and hike on the Wanamalu walk trail from Skip Jack point to Cape Peron (1.5km). This afternoon we return to our camp site at Big Lagoon, collect firewood & prepare for dinner. This evenings activities will include didgeridoo meditation around the campfire, storytelling, group discussions about the day’s activities in relation to core modules. This evening we travel the short distance to Peron Homestead for a dip in the hot springs. Peron Homestead was a working pastoral station in the early 1900s and provides an insight into life on a sheep farm during the earlier part of the last century. Overnight camping Francois Peron National Park
Day 4
Drive to Exmouth, explore the dramatic Stromatalites at Hamelin Pool enroute
We wake early and pack up camp and hit the road for our long days drive to Exmouth, home to the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef and Marine Park. On our way, we will stop off at the extraordinary Stromatalites at Hamelin Pool. These are no ordinary "rocks", these guys are the reason for Shark Bay's World Heritage listing. You will literally be seeing oldest eco-system on Earth. We can spend time exploring and learning about the curios formations before continuing to Exmouth in the afternoon, and getting settled in for our next round of activities. Overnight camping Exmouth
Day 5
Explore Ningaloo Reef snorkelling
The famed Ningaloo reef lays in waist deep water off the beach. It is one of the most extraordinary and accessible reef systems on the planet. Manta Ray, turtle and dugong sightings are not uncommon, and of course it will be teaming with various tropical fish and coral. There are a number of sites we can explore along the coast, and we will make use of the time as best we can to be in the water. We will learn about the reef system and it's importance to life underwater. Overnight camping Exmouth
Day 6
Trek and snorkel Cape Range National Park, Mandu Mandu Gorge and Yardie Creek
Today we will explore Cape Range national park, with a series of walks, snorkels and swims along the coast. We will have the opportunity to spot rock wallabies and an incredible array of sea life. We will explore Mandu Mandu gorge gaining wonderfull views over Ningaloo Reef and make our way to Yardi creek that flows between spectacular sheer cliff faces. Overnight camping Exmouth
Day 7
Drive to Cheela Plains, overnight outback station
This morning we wake early and join our vehicle for a true outback station stay at Cheela Plains where we will experience first hand the workings of the station. Tonight we will be amazed by the night sky of the desert. Away from the glare of light we will have the opportunity to see the sky lit up by millions of stars. Overnight camping Cheela Plains Outback Station
Day 8
Drive Cheela to Karijini National Park via Tom Price
Today we wake up to outback station life before packing up and driving to Karijini National Park located in the Pilbra. This area is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna. The drive should take us around 3 hours with a stop in Tom Price. We head straight to one of Australia’s most beautiful gorge systems, Dales Gorge. We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring Dales Gorge on foot, with Circular Pool, Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool all offering wonderful swimming and walking opportunities. In the evening we set up camp for the next two nights at Karijini. Overnight Eco Retreat campground Karijini National Park
Day 9-10
Trek Karijini National Park along trails
Over the next two days we will explore the trails in Karijini National Park. The walks are magnificent and can be modified depending on the weather and energy levels of the group. From one side you’ll have the vista of Karijini Range; from the other an iron ore mine. Your guide will discuss the flora and fauna of the area as well as local folklore. We will have a picnic lunch en-route during our walks. Overnight Eco Retreat campground Karijini National Park
Day 11
Fly Paraburdoo to Melbourne via Perth
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Melbourne via Perth.
Meals: B
A World Expeditions Schools adventure is a unique learning experience. Our journeys are designed to encourage thriving and positive youth development along with leaving the communities and environments where we travel in a better condition than when we arrived. The programs are designed to enhance the following life skills that will help you grow as an individual: • the confidence to lead a group and make decisions• the value of working together as a cohesive team to achieve a common objective• the ability to face mental and physical challenges• the ability to adapt to new environments outside of their 'comfort zone'• to appreciate and care for the natural environment. The environments we trek through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers and also the local peoples• basic outdoor skills obtained on trek such as personal hygiene, pitching a tent, helping to prepare mealsImportantly our adventures help increase general well-being and build resilience in young citizens to help them deal with adverse situations in life.
What's included
What's not included
Per Person, Twin Share
The terrain is rocky and uneven, and there is a lot of ascending and descending – both for the peaks and the gorge walks.
This trip is for almost anyone with a moderate level of fitness and competent swimming ability. The walks are not long, but you will be walking on rocky and uneven terrain, so balance, agility and strength are very important on this trip. You will need to be comfortable walking on rocky paths, and at times, scrambling or shuffling through narrow gorges. If you have any questions about your suitability please give us a call and speak with one of our staff members. We are more than happy to discuss additional information about what you can expect.
The trip runs in May, June and July which we think is the best time to visit the Karijini and Ningaloo. At this time of year the weather is generally cooler and dryer. Night time temperatures can be cold, but day time temperatures are pleasant for walking.
Days are usually dry in the low 30’s. However, some evenings can be very chilly, particularly in June in the Karijini, with overnight temperatures dipping to minimums of 10 - 15 deg. It can rain at any time, so please be prepared.
On day 1 we will pick you up at the airport in Paraburdoo. The flight that we recommend booking is the one that leaves Perth at 1:30pm and will get you to Paraburdoo by 3:30pm. (On the 15th May 2020 there isn’t a 1:30pm flight so we recommend the 2:40pm flight).
There is patchy phone coverage in Karijini National Park however in some of the higher spots like Mount Bruce you may get a text away! In Tom Price and Exmouth you should be able to get reception from most service providers, however Telstra is the most reliable. Generally, Telstra is your best bet for providers outside of major cities anywhere in Australia.
We have the ability to charge cameras/phones/ipads/kindles in the vehicle. However, we can only charge two or three at a time. Bring your own USB charging cables. Please ensure your cameras are fully charged at the start of the tour.
Drinking water is always available. Guests may bring a small quantity of alcohol. If possible please purchase beer and wine ineither cask or cans as opposed to glass. There will be an opportunity to purchase alcohol in Tom Price and Exmouth. There is limited capacity for cooling drinks.
There are washing machines at Tom Price caravan park and Exmouth Caravan Park. At the Eco Retreat Caravan Park, there is water available for bucket washing of clothes.
We can fully customise a School Travel Program to suit your students' learning objectives and budget. Whether you require a Service Learning program, physical challenge, cultural immersion or certain curriculum targets - talk to one of our educational travel experts about the elements you need in your itinerary. We pride ourselves on developing unique itineraries to meet the learning requirements for schools.
World Expeditions Schools is a division of one of the world's leading adventure travel companies, World Expeditions. We can develop itineraries in any destination that is offered by World Expeditions, which is to every continent on earth.
Use our simple Expedition Design Form to contact us with your requirements and an educational travel expert will be in touch to assist.
Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.
Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.
Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.
Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.
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Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.