On arrival in Cairns you will be met by our experienced guide and taken to your centrally located hotel. Here we will have a full trip and safety briefing as we discuss all aspects of your journey. We then meet with a local Aboriginal elder to join a welcome to country. Tonight we will join a local indigenous artist to participate in an art project that reflects the ties to land that the Gimuy Wallabura Yidjini peoples have.

Meals:  L,D

This morning we rise for breakfast before heading North to the Daintree Rainforest on what is described as one of the most scenic drives in Australia! Our first stop is at a local Native Tree planting project. Toting your shovels and gloves, we join a Cairns not for profit organisation helping to plant native trees this morning. The tree planting helps to revitalize areas that have been degraded by agriculture or development. You planting trees helps to moderate temperature and humidity and to create niches for other plants and animals. The area where you’re working is area is a ‘hotspot’ for biodiversity and your service work here is helping to protect a buffer zone to a World Heritage area. By working with seedlings, digging, planting, and watering today, you get to support these hard working local volunteers, to help the environment and to contribute to the community. This afternoon we travel to our accommodation located in the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation. This is a magic area hosting the oldest continually growing rainforest on earth. Your lodge for the night has a swimming pool and BBQ area located in a beautiful section of the rainforest. Overnight Rainforest Lodge

Meals:  B,L,D

After a night of immersion in the rainforest, you wake to birdcalls and the chatter of the jungle. If it is hot we can wake early and walk to the nearby crystal-clear rainforest swimming hole used by locals and a perfect place to cool off. We then head to the award winning Daintree Discovery Centre. This world class interpretive facility that allows you easy access to this unique rainforest wilderness via a boardwalk tour, a 23-metre high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre. In the company of your guide, we can discover what’s tasty on the Bush Tucker Trail, follow the flight of the brilliant blue Ulysses butterfly, look for the endangered giant cassowary in the underbrush, and learn about why the Idiot Fruit is so important. With a large indoor display area, the latest touch screen technology, audio visual theatre and sweeping, all-weather verandas, the Centre provides easy-to-understand information about one of the most biologically complex spots on the planet and you’ll leave with a greater appreciation of this special place. This afternoon we assemble in the kitchen to put our culinary skills to great use as we prepare a meal for the homeless and needy. This is very hands on with the group using a commercial kitchen with the help of a local caterer and the meal is prepared for patrons from Rosies Friends on the Street or Anglicare – both of which are local charities that serve the homeless and needy. We will learn more about the people who we are creating the packs for. The students will also prepare Comfort Packs which are given out to those two organisations along with Wheels of Wellness and Queensland Health – Indigenous Health Unit.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is a special day! This morning after breakfast we transfer to the pristine Fitzroy Island. A fringing coral reef surrounds the island, part of the inner Great Barrier Reef, providing a sheltered home for a wide range of marine life. We join a marine naturalist for a safety briefing and background on the island and its inhabitants before we walk straight into the water to explore the reef system. After some exploration we will join a Coral watch and data collection program along with a reef restoration program, addressing climate change and coral bleaching. The data collected goes to the University of Queensland's Coral watch scientists who analyse the results. All students will receive a graph of their findings. Students will then set up camp on the island. Overnight camping on Fitzroy Island

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we wake and prepare breakfast before we visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on Fitzroy Island. The CTRC is a volunteer operated, non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles. A number of these are seriously threatened by a diverse range of natural and, more significantly, human induced factors. We will meet some of the volunteers and see hands on the great work being done here. We then join a marine biologist aboard a catamaran and travel out to a special section of the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and one of the most bio diverse places on the planet! The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. Our boat will dock at a floating pontoon as we embark on a snorkeling tour with our specialist guides. Our marine biologist will explain about the importance of the reef and its hidden creatures in marine ecosystems. We hope to see a rainbow of hard and soft corals, turtles, butterfly fish, clown fish (think Nemo!), parrot fish and giant Maori Wrasse. We will receive training and join the Eye of the Reef data collection program run by the Great Barrier Reefs Marine Park Authority Rapid Monitoring Team to help maintain and manage the long term sustainability of this special place. Today we can also participate in a semi submarine and glass bottom boat ride, underwater observatory and marine life touch tank. Tonight we return to our hotel in Cairns and enjoy our last meal on tour and reflections on our incredible learning journey.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we join the Mandingalbay Yidinji people to explore their country straddling the wet tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage areas and learn about their connection to country and culture. We join a boat ride across the inlet, past mangroves, and are welcomed to country with a traditional smoke ceremony. We listen to our hosts stories about their spiritual cultural connection to country before joining a range of immersion programs and activities including bush tucker and maintaining land with local aboriginal rangers. We will have plenty of time to discuss totems and the protection of animals, native title acts and biodiversity studies as well as spirituality and connection to country. After returning to Cairns, you have some free-time to swim in the lagoon and visit the famous Cairns Night Markets. Featuring over seventy retail outlets, this is the place to find a bargain. You can find opals, pearls, silver, clothing, massage oils, t-shirts, arts, crafts, Australian food products, toys, and plenty of souvenirs and gifts. Night Market opens from 4:30pm.

Meals:  B,L,D

Your service project today involves working together with the local government to protect waterways, ocean and reef. By stenciling messages on drains, you contribute to raising awareness of urban stormwater pollution and its impact on the local marine environment. Every hour, 1580kg of plastic waste enters Australian oceans – much of this makes its way from land through our drains and creeks. There are more than 260 drains and waterways in the Cairns Region that flow out to the Great Barrier Reef. When it rains a variety of rubbish, oils, pesticides, and fertilisers are carried down the drains and into our local creeks that flow to the ocean. This stormwater is not treated, nor sieved for items that shouldn’t be in there, like plastic. The colourful and creative designs are a pleasant way to remind the community that all rubbish drains to the ocean. This afternoon we join an indigenous service program, learning to make “Moon Sick Pads” to distribute to Indigenous women who live remotely. These pads provide women with a healthier, more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable sanitary products. During this activity you master some basic sewing skills, gain an understanding of the complex cultural barriers that affect women in remote communities in the world, and learn about the environmental and social benefits of reusable sanitary products.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning after breakfast we travel to a property owned by a aquaponics gardener for a fun, hands on look at how to produce organic fruits, herbs, veggies and fish in a sustainable way in your school or backyard. Today is a very hands on experience where you will make your own mini aquaponics system that you can replicate at home of back in your school to produce your own food. Today is a creative exercise that will spark discussion about global themes of agriculture, food security, hunger issues and sustainability. Tonight we return to Cairns for a farewell dinner and celebration.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we rise for breakfast and pack our gear before we are transferred to the airport for our onward flight

Meals:  B,L