Embark on a 21-day cultural adventure across the diverse landscapes of Australia and Fiji. From the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the traditional highland villages of Fiji, this program weaves together exhilarating outdoor activities and immersive cultural experiences. Begin by traveling to Fiji to participate in service projects that connect you with local communities, engage in meaningful cultural exchanges, and gain a deeper appreciation for island traditions. Next, explore the natural wonders of Australia—earning your SCUBA certification, meeting iconic wildlife, and discovering the vibrant city life of Sydney. Whether diving into underwater ecosystems or learning age-old customs, this program blends adventure and service, offering a truly transformative experience.
Australia & Fiji
Island Village Initiative
21 days
Trip duration
9th - 12th
Grades
21 days
Jun 26 - Jul 16, 2025
Jul 10 - Jul 30, 2025
Los Angeles, CA
Arrival & Departure
$6,995
Tuition
21 days
Trip duration
Jun 26 - Jul 16, 2025
Jul 10 - Jul 30, 2025
9th - 12th
Grades
*Airfare for group flight from Los Angeles additional
Overview
Highlights
- Earn Your Open Water or Advanced SCUBA Certification on the Great Barrier Reef
- Spend a Night on a Liveaboard Boat, Diving by Day and Stargazing by Night
- Get Up Close with Kangaroos and Koalas at a Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia
- Visit Sydney’s World-Famous Opera House
- Participate in a Community Meal Program, Supporting Fijian Women’s Initiatives
- Experience the Daily Rhythms of Village Life at an Off-Grid Eco Retreat in Fiji’s Breathtaking Highlands.
- Camp on the Beach and Experience Island Life in Fiji
- 15 Hours of Hands-On Service Learning
Want to learn more about traveling with ARCC or have more questions about this program?
Schedule a Call with Amy Coolidge
SCUBA Diving the Great Barrier Reef
Dive into one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth as you earn your SCUBA certification in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Over the course of three days, develop your skills with expert instructors, transitioning from pool training to open water dives. Experience the thrill of swimming among vibrant coral gardens, tropical fish, and sea turtles, culminating in a two-night stay on a liveaboard boat, where you have unlimited access to the reef’s diverse marine life. This immersive experience not only builds your diving expertise but also fosters a lasting connection with the ocean and its incredible biodiversity.
SCUBA
Island Village Immersion in Somosomo
Step back in time as you immerse yourself in the island culture of Somosomo, a small Fijian community located on the island of Taveuni. Here, you engage in daily life by learning to fish, weave, and build bamboo rafts, all while participating in traditional ceremonies. Spend your days snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring the local environment, and your nights camping on the beach under a canopy of stars. Through this unique cultural exchange, you gain a firsthand understanding of island traditions and a deep respect for Fijian customs and hospitality.
Culture
Wildlife Encounters & Aboriginal Culture in the Daintree Rainforest
Explore Australia’s ancient Daintree Rainforest, guided by members of the Kuku Yalanji tribe, who share their knowledge of the land and traditional hunting practices. As you trek through one of the world’s most diverse rainforests, you gain insight into Aboriginal history and how the local people have sustained a deep connection to the environment for thousands of years. This experience offers a rare blend of cultural learning and environmental education, highlighting the delicate balance between people and nature.
Jungle
Common Questions
All food, lodging, transportation, and activities are paid for with your trip tuition. Group airfare is additional and the cost depends on the program.
In order to be sure there are enough seats available on international group flights, ARCC books the international tickets in advance and families are invoiced for the cost of the international airfare.
Families are also responsible for booking flights or arranging transportation for students to meet their leaders and other group members at the program’s arrival airport. The leaders and students then fly internationally together as a group.
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. This list will be sent to you as part of your Pre-Trip Welcome Packet upon enrolling.
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 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.
There will be opportunities for regular showers during the trip, however you should not expect to take showers every single day. There will be no shower opportunities during the backpacking section due to the remote nature of the backcountry. There will be at least two laundry stops during the trip. For ease of travel, quick dry clothes are recommended on the packing list.
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.
Have questions? Speak to one of our Program Directors, give them a call at (415) 332.5075 , they love talking about their trips!
