Australia / Fiji
- What will we be eating?
- Do they have modern conveniences in Fiji?
- What are the service projects like?
- Do I need to be SCUBA certified in order to come on this adventure?
- I’m already SCUBA certified, will I be stuck redoing classes that I have already taken?
- If I don’t want to go SCUBA diving, will I be left behind while everyone else is diving?
- How will we travel once we arrive in Fiji and Australia?
- What will the weather be like? Isn’t it winter in the southern hemisphere?
- Will I be able to send and receive mail while in “the land down under”?
- What is the time difference between Australia and the USA?
- What kind of wildlife will we see?
- How much time do we spend on beaches?
- Do I need a passport to go on this Adventure?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
- Can my family meet me in Fiji or Australia at the end of my adventure?
Do they have modern conveniences in Fiji?
As a former British colony, Fiji has many of the modern conveniences you would find in the western world, such as air conditioning, large grocery stores, ATMs, and modern hospitals. However, during our time in the villages, you can expect a much simpler lifestyle. All buildings are open air, and women traditionally cook on a fire. Villages often can support themselves by growing their own vegetables and selling them at local markets for income. Agriculture is a big part of Fijian life. Few people can afford cars, so most people travel by foot or public bus.
What are the service projects like?
ARCC has been operating programs in Fiji for over a decade, and we have built relationships with local Fijians who enjoy hosting ARCC student groups. We have designed the service projects to help their communities. The service projects will vary from painting and repairing the local school, helping young students with their English skills, or making repairs on the village sea wall. We may also help out on a farm, collecting vegetables, coconuts or planting trees.
What are the service projects like?
The food we will eat will be 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.
Do I need to be SCUBA certified in order to come on this adventure?
Absolutely not. You and your group mates will go through a 5 day PADI SCUBA certification course. After completing this course, you will be able to dive anywhere in the world.
I’m already SCUBA certified, will I be stuck redoing classes that I have already taken?
No. All students who are already 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 and boat dives as well as a night dive, and improve upon your skills.
If I don’t want to go SCUBA diving, will I be left behind while everyone else is diving?
No, if you choose not to dive you will still be able to travel with your friends to their dive sites. Once there you can snorkel, swim, or just enjoy the sun, always staying right in the mix of things.
How will we travel once we arrive in Fiji and Australia?
While in Fiji and Australia we will get to each activity using various means of transportation. Sometimes we will travel great distances between cities using Australia’s national airline. Once we get to our destination city we will use public and private charter buses, as well as boats to get to the start of our particular activity. To get to the start of our rafting section, we must use a helicopter-the only way in to this pristine wilderness area.
What will the weather be like? Isn’t it winter in the southern hemisphere?
Yes, it is winter in the southern hemisphere. However, we spend most of our time in tropical north Queensland, which has a comparable climate to the Caribbean. We also spend time in the outback of Northern Territory, where warm days and cold nights are perfect for camping. In Fiji, the island climate does not change much with the seasons, and we will be there during the dry season. When we are in the Fijian highlands nights can get a little chilly after sunset.
Will I be able to send and receive mail while in “the land down under”?
Yes. It does take a bit longer but we will make regular stops throughout our stay in order to pick-up and send mail. Upon signing up for this adventure we will provide you with an address that parents and friends can send mail or packages to. If you are going to be receiving mail, be sure to have friends and family check with their postmaster in order to be sure it will arrive before our departure date.
What is the time difference between Australia and the USA?
Australia is eighteen hours ahead of the USA (Pacific Standard Time) during the summer. If it is 12:00am on Friday in California then it is 6:00 am on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
What kind of wildlife will we see?
Australia and Fiji, being isolated islands, host an array of unusual animals and species that exist nowhere else in the world. On our rafting adventure we may spot water dragons (an iguana like lizard) and tropical birds as we float through the rainforest. We will see all kinds of fish and dazzling reef life as we dive on the Great Barrier Reef, including colorful corals, giant fish, and harmless white-tipped reef sharks. This trip is full of unique animals that only reside in Fiji and Australia. In Fiji we may see the crested iguana and several different kinds of turtles, in addition to countless tropical birds.
How much time do we spend on beaches?
In Fiji we spend several days on a deserted island with a fantastic beach all to ourselves. During the five days we spend learning to SCUBA dive we will also be camping right next to the beach. We will take a ferry out to Fitzroy Island and camp within a minute’s walk to the beach. These beaches are sandy and the water is a turquoise blue. These may easily be the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Do I need a passport to go on this Adventure?
Yes. ARCC requires that all students traveling to Australia have a valid passport. 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 adventure. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.
Do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
Yes. In the forms booklet you receive once you enroll in this adventure there will be a visa application form. All you need to do is fill this form out and send it back. We will take care of all the processing that comes along with obtaining visas.
Can my family meet me in Fiji or Australia at the end of my adventure?
Yes, but with reservations. Several families each year decide to use the countries visited by ARCC adventures as destinations for family vacations. Please note, however, that groups travel to Australia first and to Fiji second and vice versa. We will not have groups finalized until late spring, so we will be unable to tell you until then where your group will finish its trip. If you and your family plan to do this, give us a call at the ARCC office and we will discuss options.