July 6: Departure Day, Los Angeles to Alice Springs
Group Meeting:
At 7:30 PM, meet your group leader and fellow students at the Qantas Airlines check-in counter (outside of security) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is the official start of your Putney program!
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Qantas flight #12 departing Los Angeles (LAX) at 10:30 PM on July 6, arriving in Sydney, Australia (SYD) at 6:30 AM local time on July 8. The group will continue on Qantas flight #790 departing Sydney at 9:40 AM and arriving in Alice Springs, Australia (ASP), at 12:30 PM local time on July 8 (15 hours en route). July 7 is lost crossing the International Date Line.
July 8 – 11: The Outback
Begin your adventure in Alice Springs with group orientation before heading into the Great Central Desert with Mulga’s Outback Adventures. See kangaroos, wallabies, and brumbies, and learn about the desert’s fire-dependent ecology. Try traditional bush food and camp out beside the warmth of a campfire under the constellations of the southern hemisphere. Hike through ancient rock formations, learn about rock art, and hear stories of the Dreamtime from local Aboriginal guides. Speak with locals about the effects of the assimilation and protection of the Aboriginal people. Watch the sunrise over the majestic Uluru before catching a flight back to Sydney.
July 12 – 14: Sydney
Head to the cosmopolitan city of Sydney and get familiar with urban life in Australia. Have a traditional brekkie and stroll the promenade of the Rocks District. Become acquainted with the colonial history and explore this coastal harbor city. Take a ferry to the Taronga Zoo, go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Sydney opera house, or go to a local rugby match.
July 15 – 19: Airlie Beach and Sailing the Whitsunday Islands
Fly to Hamilton Island, board a sailboat, and spend four days sailing through the Whitsunday Islands and exploring the Great Barrier Reef region. Our knowledgeable skipper and his crew teach us about the marine ecology and take us to some of the best dive sites in the region. Snorkel, swim, and explore the islands during the day and sleep on board the sailboat at night. Lend a hand to the boat crew and learn the basics of sailing. Spot dugongs and whales as we traverse the seas. Please note that you can only SCUBA if you have your certification before the trip. Regulations in Australia require you to bring proof of certification and your logbook from past dives. Return to Airlie Beach for our final night in Australia.
July 20: Christchurch, New Zealand
Arrive in New Zealand in the evening and spend the night in Christchurch before departing for Wanaka in the morning.
July 21 – 24: Homestays in Oamaru
Venture west down the coast and become part of family life in a traditional Kiwi sheep or dairy farming community. The rural town of Oamaru boasts a colonial-style downtown surrounded by rolling hills dotted with massive boulders. This otherworldly landscape made the Oamaru area a favorite filming location for both the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia. During your homestay week, the group will meet up from time to time to go see a rugby game, participate in events at the local high school, or visit the nearby Moeraki boulders.
July 25 – 28: Wanaka
Say goodbye to our host families and travel west across the mountainous South Island to the picturesque town of Wanaka. Spend three days skiing or snowboarding Treble Cone mountain. Have a cup of hot cocoa at the lodge and visit some of the galleries in the quaint town square. Become acquainted with the modern Kiwi culture and explore Wanaka’s appropriately named Puzzle World. Spend evenings back at the lodge, where we break into cooking crews to produce the group dinners, and relax around the fireplace after a day on the slopes.
July 29: Temuka
Immerse yourself in history during an overnight stay in a traditional Maori marae. We will stay in the meeting house and prepare a hangi, or traditional meal, with our hosts. Through discussions with the elders, learn about the culture’s ties to the land. The area is well known for its Maori rock art preserved in limestone shelters and caves.
July 30 & 31: Christchurch
Transfer to Christchurch and explore the cobblestone streets and gothic architecture of this coastal city. Witness a city rebuilding after the earthquakes of 2012, with a thriving graffiti art scene and outdoor shopping area constructed completely of shipping containers. Wrap up your time in New Zealand and prepare for your early morning flight to the white-sand beaches of the Fiji Islands.
August 1 – 5: Namatakula, Viti Levu, Fiji
Fly from Christchurch to Nadi, Fiji. Settle in on the Coral Coast and spend five days enjoying the vibrant culture, beaches, and tropical weather of Fiji. Visit local villages, play a game of pick-up rugby with local kids, kayak, and snorkel. Participate in a kava ceremony and learn about the cultural history of the island nation. Students who are scuba certified will have the opportunity to dive with local guides. With your fellow Putney students, reflect on the journey you have taken over the course of the past month and prepare for your travels home.
August 6: Return Day, Nadi to Los Angeles
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Qantas Airlines flight #3839 departing Nadi, Fiji (NAN), at 9:40 PM on August 6, returning to the International Arrivals Area of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 1:25 PM on August 6 (10 hours, 45 minutes en route).