AUSTRALIA & FIJI

Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Australia/Fiji: Island Village Initiative packing list.

When in Australia, we spend most of our time in tropical north Queensland, which has a comparable climate to the Caribbean, sporadic showers and temperatures in mid 70s – mid 80s. During our time in Sydney, the weather can be a bit cooler (in the 60’s) which is perfect for exploring the city! In Fiji, we will be there during the dry season and island climate temperatures range from mid 70s – mid 80s.

ARCC has been operating programs in Fiji for over nearly twenty years, and we have built relationships with local Fijians who enjoy hosting ARCC student groups. We have designed the service projects to help their communities. Projects will vary from painting, repairing and/or building additions to the local school, helping young students with their English skills, or making repairs on the village sea wall and footpath. We look to the Fijian community for ideas as to what will help their communities the most. We may also help out on a farm, collecting vegetables, coconuts or planting trees.

ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your program begins in Australia and Fiji. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).

During our time in Cairns, Australia we stay in a guesthouse in dorm-style rooms sleeping 4-6 students. We spend one night on a live-aboard boat while diving/snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. In Sydney, we stay in a centrally located youth hostel in dorm-style rooms sleeping 4-6 students. In Fiji, we stay in a guesthouse for the start and end of our time, also in dorm-style room sleeping 4-6 students. During our service project on Beqa Island, we stay in two basic homes in the village and consider it ‘camping style’ as we roll out our sleeping pad and bags for added comfort.

While in Australia and Fiji we will get to each activity using various means of transportation: plane, bus and boat. We travel between Cairns and Sydney using Australia’s national airline and between Sydney and Fiji on Fiji Airways. We use both public and private charter buses once in Fiji and Australia. In Fiji, we travel by boat to get to the start of our service section.

The food we eat is a mix of Western-style food (sandwiches, pizza, etc.) and traditional local food such as fish, taro, cassava and noodles. Breakfast often consists of fresh fruit and doughnut-style pastries. We will have a chance to sample coconuts right off the tree as well as a variety of other fresh fruits. Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date.

We suggest you bring $75 per week + $25 for each travel day. This is for souvenirs, laundry, phone cards, clinic visits, and other incidentals. ARCC pays for all meals, lodging, transport and activities. There is time to shop for souvenirs both in Australia and Fiji. We recommend that your main source of spending money is in the form of an ATM card or pre-paid credit/debit card to avoid carrying a large sum of cash. We suggest you carry no more than $50 in cash (smaller bills) to have available during travel days. As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.

Yes, all students traveling to Australia and Fiji need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is valid at least six months after you travel. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this program. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.

Yes, you do need a visa to travel Australia. In the online enrollment packet you will receive soon after officially enrolling, there will be a visa application form. All you need to do is fill this form out and we will take care of all the processing that comes along with obtaining the Australia visa. There is no visa needed for Fiji.

Fiji is on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) +12 which is 16 hours later than New York (Eastern Time), 17 hours later than Chicago (Central Time), and 19 hours later than San Francisco (Pacific Time).

Australia is on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) +10 which will be 14 hours later than New York, 15 hours later than Chicago, and 17 hours later than San Francisco.

Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the program the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.

Although completely optional, if you would like to bring some donations for the Fijian communities we are working with, recommended items include: used or new books, notebooks, pens, coloring books, art supplies. Please keep in mind, you will need to be able to pack this in your main bag, so smaller items are best.

Absolutely not! You and your group mates will go through a 4-day PADI Open Water SCUBA certification course. After completing this course, you will be able to dive anywhere in the world.

No. All students who are already Open Water certified will go through a 3-day PADI Advanced Open Water Course where we can make sure everyone is up to PADI standards. During this section, you will get a chance to do deep dives as well as a night dive, and improve upon your skills.

No, if you choose not to dive you will still be able to travel with your friends to their dive sites. Everyone stays overnight on a live-aboard boat, enjoying the best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. Off the boat, you can snorkel, swim, or just enjoy the sun, always staying right in the mix of things.