Australia
Discover Australia Summer Program

Discover Australia
Discover Australia is your chance to see many wonderful and exciting aspects of Australia, from its cosmopolitan cities to its magnificent coastline and outback country atmosphere. During your stay, you will see that Australia offers great diversity in both natural beauty and culture through such experiences as day and overnight trips throughout the State of Victoria. You will stay with an Australian family, relaxing with your host family and getting to know "Aussies" from the inside out.

If you are one of the students who choose to come on this unforgettable six- week adventure to Australia, you will enjoy a true Aussie experience. You will be based in  Melbourne, Victoria and have an opportunity to visit many of the highlights of the State. These include attending local sporting functions such as an Aussie Rules A.F.L. Football Match with tens of thousands of other screaming fans.  If beaches or the outback are your scene, you'll get the taste of some of the best outback rural and coastline scenery in the world. How about Australia's unique wildlife - or shopping, shopping, shopping! Melbourne is Australia's shopping capital. There are plenty of reasons you can get lost in the atmosphere that makes Australia so unique!

Some of the highlights of your trip may include:

City of Melbourne Tour You will have opportunity to see the highlights of this city, walk the streets, shop, and enjoy its world famous parks and gardens. The Melbournian lifestyle has been greatly influenced by people from more than 140 nations who have made this city their home, creating a rich multicultural society. There is a huge array of multicultural foods, sights, and sounds to explore in this bustling city.

Aussie Rules A.F.L. Football Match This is a sporting game which is close to every Australian heart. What better way to immerse yourself in Aussie culture than to cheer with 100,000 other fans, eat Aussie meat pies dripping in sauce, and scream until you're hoarse. Like all great inventions, Australian Football did not develop overnight. Its birthplace can be traced to Melbourne in 1858. It's a game of speed, skill, and fitness with teams trying to transfer the ball to the other end of the field by running, kicking, and punching the ball. The speed and agility of this game can be seen nowhere else in the world.

Great Ocean Road On your adventure you will have a chance to see some of Australia's most beautiful natural marvels. The mighty 12 Apostles are world-recognized icons of the Great Ocean Road. These giant rock stacks soar from the swirling waters of the Southern Ocean and are a central feature of the area. If you like the beach, you will love the area as you discover the tranquil bay beaches, wildlife waterfalls, and historic towns.

Puffing Billy Ride Australia is a country full of rich history. One of the ways that you will get to explore this firsthand is through trips like "Puffing Billy." This is a century-old steam train which is still running on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the scenic Dandenong Ranges, just 40 kilometers east of Melbourne, Victoria. You'll enjoy this train ride along with the other summer students on an adventure through the Victorian hills like days gone by. A great day out!

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Australia has such wonderful and unique wildlife that you will not be able to see anywhere else in the world. Your Australian adventure will take you to some of the most unique places in Victoria, where you can see Australian wildlife in the wild. Phillip Island Nature Park is renowned as home to one of Australia's most popular wildlife attractions. You will have a chance to see the world famous Penguin Parade, where Antarctic Fairy penguins make their trip home from the cold waters of the Antarctic to nest in the foothills of the sandy Australian beaches. You will also have a chance to see seals and koalas in their natural habitats. This wildlife adventure is truly something special with its natural beauty, sandy beaches, tranquil wetlands, prolific birdlife, majestic walks - plus a unique wildlife.

Ballarat and Sovereign Hill You may have heard about Australia's sordid history of convicts and gold rushes. You will have an opportunity to experience some of this firsthand on your adventure. Get lost in the Gold Rush atmosphere of times gone by. Imagine going back over a century to Victoria's gold rush days and reliving the history and excitement of the era. You can at Sovereign Hill - Australia's foremost outdoor museum! Built on a 25 hectare (60 acre) site linked with the richest alluvial gold rush in the world, Sovereign Hill faithfully depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851.

Canberra You will also have a wonderful opportunity to go on a road trip with all the other student adventurers to our nation's capital. What better place could there be to get to know our country than in its capital? The must-see attractions of Canberra include the national institutions that embody the past, present, and future of the nation. Enjoy a four-day trip with all the summer students. This will be one of the best highlights of your summer experience.

These are only a few highlights of your trip away. There is so much more to Australia than meets the eye. Have an Aussie BBQ, learn how to speak "Australian" with phrases like "She'll be right mate" and "G'Day Mate", make life-long friends Down Under, try Veggie Mite on toast for breakfast, and experience the warmth and charm of a real Australian family.

All YFU Programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 01:20 PM