Program Directed by
Devon Swinburne
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Leadership
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Immerse yourself in the culture and wonders of the South Pacific on this summer program for high school students to Fiji and Australia. Experience the island paradise of Fiji and the rugged Outback and spectacular coral reefs of Australia. Go beyond the typical tourist experience and engage with places and cultures in exciting ways.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Nadi, Fiji. One day is lost while crossing the International Date Line. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Start your adventure at an ecolodge in Fiji, a tropical paradise in the South Pacific. Get to know your Putney group and immerse yourself in island life. Learn about Fijian culture and home life in a coastal village that depends on the ocean for sustenance. Participate in a traditional kava ceremony, help prepare meals, and explore the spectacular coast together with local friends. Travel up the Navua River by longboat to visit a remote highland village. Float your way back by innertube, stopping to swim at a secluded waterfall.
Immerse yourself in the multicultural city of Nadi, visit the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, and enjoy the therapeutic goodness of a mineral-rich mudbath. Contrast the bustling and urban way of life in Nadi with the slow-paced traditional life experienced in Pacific Harbour. Explore the white sand beaches and crystal blue waters of the Yasawa Islands. Snorkel and scuba dive through vibrant underwater ecosystems and partake in a coral restoration project with marine biologists and the local community. Reflect on your time immersed in this incredible culture and prepare for life down under.
Bid goodbye to the tropical beauty of Fiji and fly to experience life in lively Sydney. Take in a rugby match, explore the city by bike, visit the world famous Taronga Zoo, or have a picnic lunch down on “The Rocks.” Visit the Sydney Opera House, go surfing, and enjoy cafés and galleries as you explore the streets and “laneways” of this thriving, cosmopolitan city.
Head to Airlie Beach, Australia, to board a yacht for a multi-day sailing trip through the spectacular Whitsunday Islands. Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, sleep on deck under the brilliant Southern Hemisphere stars, and relax on white-sand beaches. Lend the crew a hand as you learn the basics of sailing. Spot whales, tropical fish, spectacular coral reefs, and dolphins from the ship as you make your way among the islands.
After another quick overnight in Sydney to get your land legs under you, set out to adventure across the Outback toward Uluru, the largest monolith on earth. Steeped in mythology, this colossal piece of sandstone rises abruptly from the desert plain. Trek between the giant rounded domes of adjacent Kata Tjuta on the lookout for bright green ring-necked parrots, plunge into the cool waters of desert swimming holes, examine ancient rock art and identify medicinal plants, then camp out in “the bush” and sleep under the stars. Listen to Aboriginal dreamtime stories, catch a sunrise over this otherworldly landscape, and learn about the cultures that have lived here for over 40,000 years. Cap your amazing adventure with a final BBQ dinner around the campfire and reflect on your experiences with new friends.
Fly from Uluru, Australia, to Los Angeles, by way of Sydney, with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Nadi, Fiji. One day is lost while crossing the International Date Line. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Start your adventure at an ecolodge in Fiji, a tropical paradise in the South Pacific. Get to know your Putney group and immerse yourself in island life. Learn about Fijian culture and home life in a coastal village that depends on the ocean for sustenance. Participate in a traditional kava ceremony, help prepare meals, and explore the spectacular coast together with local friends. Travel up the Navua River by longboat to visit a remote highland village. Float your way back by innertube, stopping to swim at a secluded waterfall.
Immerse yourself in the multicultural city of Nadi, visit the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, and enjoy the therapeutic goodness of a mineral-rich mudbath. Contrast the bustling and urban way of life in Nadi with the slow-paced traditional life experienced in Pacific Harbour. Explore the white sand beaches and crystal blue waters of the Yasawa Islands. Snorkel and scuba dive through vibrant underwater ecosystems and partake in a coral restoration project with marine biologists and the local community. Reflect on your time immersed in this incredible culture and prepare for life down under.
Bid goodbye to the tropical beauty of Fiji and fly to experience life in lively Sydney. Take in a rugby match, explore the city by bike, visit the world famous Taronga Zoo, or have a picnic lunch down on “The Rocks.” Visit the Sydney Opera House, go surfing, and enjoy cafés and galleries as you explore the streets and “laneways” of this thriving, cosmopolitan city.
Head to Airlie Beach, Australia, to board a yacht for a multi-day sailing trip through the spectacular Whitsunday Islands. Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, sleep on deck under the brilliant Southern Hemisphere stars, and relax on white-sand beaches. Lend the crew a hand as you learn the basics of sailing. Spot whales, tropical fish, spectacular coral reefs, and dolphins from the ship as you make your way among the islands.
After another quick overnight in Sydney to get your land legs under you, set out to adventure across the Outback toward Uluru, the largest monolith on earth. Steeped in mythology, this colossal piece of sandstone rises abruptly from the desert plain. Trek between the giant rounded domes of adjacent Kata Tjuta on the lookout for bright green ring-necked parrots, plunge into the cool waters of desert swimming holes, examine ancient rock art and identify medicinal plants, then camp out in “the bush” and sleep under the stars. Listen to Aboriginal dreamtime stories, catch a sunrise over this otherworldly landscape, and learn about the cultures that have lived here for over 40,000 years. Cap your amazing adventure with a final BBQ dinner around the campfire and reflect on your experiences with new friends.
Fly from Uluru, Australia, to Los Angeles, by way of Sydney, with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
The South Pacific is an area as rich in cultural history as it is in biodiversity and scenic beauty. From the white-sand beaches of the Fijian islands to the stunning coral of the Great Barrier Reef, we explore the unique landscapes and cultures of these two island nations. Through visits with Fijian and Aboriginal communities, we learn how Indigenous cultures in the region are managing to maintain their traditions in increasingly diverse cultural landscapes.
English is an official language in Fiji and Australia. In Fiji most of the population also speaks either Fijian or Hindi.
Fiji is tropical, with days and nights hovering around 85°F (29°C). Temperatures in Australia range from 50–70°F (10–21°C) in Sydney, up to 85°F (29°C) in the Whitsunday Islands, and dip down to 30°F (-1°C) at night in the Outback.
Traditional Fijian cuisine incorporates seafood, root vegetables, and coconut milk into many dishes, as well as fresh tropical fruits. The strong British influence in Australia can be seen in its cuisine: meat pies, fish and chips, stews, and hearty breakfasts. Recent immigration has brought along with it cuisine from the Mediterranean and Asia.
The South Pacific is an area as rich in cultural history as it is in biodiversity and scenic beauty. From the white-sand beaches of the Fijian islands to the stunning coral of the Great Barrier Reef, we explore the unique landscapes and cultures of these two island nations. Through visits with Fijian and Aboriginal communities, we learn how Indigenous cultures in the region are managing to maintain their traditions in increasingly diverse cultural landscapes.
English is an official language in Fiji and Australia. In Fiji most of the population also speaks either Fijian or Hindi.
Fiji is tropical, with days and nights hovering around 85°F (29°C). Temperatures in Australia range from 50–70°F (10–21°C) in Sydney, up to 85°F (29°C) in the Whitsunday Islands, and dip down to 30°F (-1°C) at night in the Outback.
Traditional Fijian cuisine incorporates seafood, root vegetables, and coconut milk into many dishes, as well as fresh tropical fruits. The strong British influence in Australia can be seen in its cuisine: meat pies, fish and chips, stews, and hearty breakfasts. Recent immigration has brought along with it cuisine from the Mediterranean and Asia.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
To learn more about our Exploration programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn about the impacts of coral bleaching as you explore the Great Barrier Reef, master the rules and culture of rugby in the South Pacific, or create a recipe book with Fijian recipes.
This is a physically active summer travel program and you should be enthusiastic about outdoor exploration and varied daily activities. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. Throughout the program you must be willing to contribute to daily chores that are a part of living cooperatively.
Accommodations range from small family-run inns to campsites in the Australian Outback and berths on a sailing yacht. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, socializing, etc. Leaders reside together with students throughout the program.
We experience many different types of cuisines throughout our adventure that are culturally specific. We form cooking and cleaning crews for the Outback portion of the itinerary, and eat most other meals at restaurants, as picnic lunches, or in the homes of our Fijian and Aussie friends.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
To learn more about our Exploration programs click here.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—learn about the impacts of coral bleaching as you explore the Great Barrier Reef, master the rules and culture of rugby in the South Pacific, or create a recipe book with Fijian recipes.
This is a physically active summer travel program and you should be enthusiastic about outdoor exploration and varied daily activities. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities. Throughout the program you must be willing to contribute to daily chores that are a part of living cooperatively.
Accommodations range from small family-run inns to campsites in the Australian Outback and berths on a sailing yacht. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, socializing, etc. Leaders reside together with students throughout the program.
We experience many different types of cuisines throughout our adventure that are culturally specific. We form cooking and cleaning crews for the Outback portion of the itinerary, and eat most other meals at restaurants, as picnic lunches, or in the homes of our Fijian and Aussie friends.
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Providing immersive summer travel programs for middle & high school students since 1951.