Name: Australia: July 10-21, 2023
Start: 2023-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Sydney NSW, Australia

Bookbag Tours

Email address verified

144 reviews

Jul 10 - 21, 2023

Group size: 20 - 25

Australia: July 10-21, 2023

Sydney NSW, Australia

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Bookbag Tours

Email address verified

144 reviews

Jul 10 - 21, 2023

Group size: 20 - 25

Note** Itinerary Subject to Change**

Because of the time change, you MUST book your flight so that it leaves the US on July 8.

Sign up today for the trip of a lifetime where you can spend time in the Australian education system and even meet koalas at the zoo! Embark on an adventure to one of Australia’s largest cities filled with delicious delicacies, wonderful wildlife, and vibrant views. From the iconic Sydney Opera House to the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef, enjoy your journey “down under” while experiencing and learning in the classrooms of Australian educators.

Register with personal email only!

PD CertificatIon Given: 25 hours of Professional Development

Schools: Yes, elementary and secondary

Home Stay Option

Terrain: Mostly flat, slightly hilly city walking

Please note, when we offer school visits, we are not guaranteeing you will be in your exact grade level. We will do our best to put you in a position to have an experience where you should be able to find a nugget or two to bring back to your classroom, and maybe even a classroom connection.

Questions? Visit our FAQ page at Bookbag Tours FAQ page.

Leaders:

Mike and Lori Soskil

20+ PD Hours
20+ Professional Development observing and working with teachers in Bowen, Australia!
Hotel
Hotel stay in Sydney/Bowen; Home stay option in Bowen
Breakfast
Breakfast every morning
Summit Dinner
Conclusive Summit Dinner at end of PD Trip
Welcome Reception
Welcome Reception/Orientation
Walking Tour of Sydney
Background Check
3 Event Sightseeing Pass
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower Eye, Tangora Zoo
Ground Transportation
All in country ground transportation- Does not include taxis.
Great Barrier Reef
We will take a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel
The BBT Team
Your amazing trip leaders, your professional development facilitators, our trip managers, and our on-site and off-site team members!

Blue Mountain Tour with Lunch

$99

Night Bridge Climb

$230

Great Barrier Reef Trip Snorkel Only

$230

GBR trip Non Certified Dive

$350

GBR trip Certified Dive

$335

Stay in the Home of Teacher in Bowen

Extra Hotel Night in Sydney (Shared)

$90

Extra Hotel Night Sydney (Private)

$160

Home Stay - No Extra Charge

We have a limited number of homestay options. It will be assigned by date of selection first. You will stay in the home an educator.

Tami - Auckland

$825

Pullman Hotel Auckland - July 21 - 24

Citadines in Sydney - July 24 - 25

Extra Luggage per bag

$50

For flight to and from Bowen

Day 1-July 10
Day 1-July 10
Check in day
You will leave the states on July 8 and arrive on July 10. I know, crazy!

We will check into the hotel and then have an orientation around 9:00 AM at the hotel.

Then we will explore Sydney.

At orientation, you will receive your 2 Day Unlimited Iventure Card. With this card, you can choose to do whatever you like, or you can do what we arrange.

Today, after orientation, we will head to the Featherdale Wildlife Park - Included - Iventure Card

Then we will explore - Stay awake until at least 7PM.

Get in Early, book your own edventure using the link below:

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
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Day 2-July 11
Day 2-July 11
Sightseeing in Sydney
Today with the group we will visit:

9:15 AM - Sydney Opera House

3:30 PM - Sydney Harbor Bridge Night Climb - additional cost - Latching on at the Climb Base below the Bradfield Highway, you will walk below the road deck until you reach the South-East Pylon. There you will go up four ladders to the start of the upper arch. With the Summit in your sight, your journey continues along the Bridge’s upper arch on the Opera House side until you hit the top. After a Summit celebration with your group, you will cross to the Darling Harbor side to make your descent to Climb Base.

Or, book your own edventure using the link below:

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
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Day 3-July 12
Day 3-July 12
Optional Side Trips
Optional Side Trips - Additional Costs

Blue Mountains Day Trip - Pick up at 7:30 return around 5:30

Highlights
• Less touristic small group tour run by young fun Aussie guides aboard “Trudy” – Australia’s coolest Aussie bus.
• Great for solo travelers or those seeking to see only the best spots and make new mates in Sydney.
• Check out the Three Sisters rock formations and hear the aboriginal dream time story behind it.
• Check out some secret viewing points and waterfalls including the amazing Wentworth Falls & Lincoln Rock and sometimes Govetts Leap.
• Enjoy a freshly made picnic lunch and BYO drinks. We stop at a bottleshop.
• See wild kangaroos (not always) and often Kookaburras and occasionally Lyre birds.
• We have Tim Tams & Vegemite on the bus to trial.

Or, book your own edventure using the link below:

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
Read more
Day 4-July 13
Day 4-July 13
School PD in Sydney
Today we will visit a school in Sydney and have PD.

Book your own edventure using the link below: be ready for PD by 2 PM

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
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Day 5-July 14
Day 5-July 14
Head to Bowen
Welcome reception with our new friends in Bowen!
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Day 6-July 15
Day 6-July 15
Great Barrier Reef
Free Day in Bowen or Airlie Beach

Great Barrier Reef Trip - additional cost - Departing either Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or Daydream Island, spend a full day exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the World Heritage-listed wonder off the Queensland coast. The journey here through the lush Whitsunday Islands will have you reaching for your camera – watch for migrating Humpback Whales between July and September – but underwater is really where the magic happens. Incredible numbers of bright tropical fish and more than 1,400 species of coral await.

I am limited in what I can put on the trip selection site so here are some things to know about the Great Barrier Reef Trip.

1. In the description "GBR" is Great Barrier Reef

2. Non Certified Dive is for people that want to scuba but ARE NOT certified. They will get you ready and give you all the equipment you need.

3. Certified Dive is for people who are certified. They will give you all the equipment you need to dive.

4. If do not want to scuba, snorkeling is the basic package.

Or, book your own edventure using the link below:

https://www.viator.com/Airlie-Beach/d28628-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
Read more
Day 7-July 16
Day 7-July 16
Free day in Bowen
Today you can choose what to do.

We will have a day at the beach to relax, swim and we will have a BBQ with our Bowen friends!
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Day 8-July 17
Day 8-July 17
Learn about Schools in Queensland
Learn about schools in Queensland. Spend time with Bowen teachers.
Read more
Day 9-July 18
Day 9-July 18
Professional Development/School Day
Get to know some students and teachers.
Read more
Day 10-July 19
Day 10-July 19
Professional Development and Summit Dinner
Professional Development

Summit Dinner with new friends!
Read more
Day 11-July 20
Day 11-July 20
Back to Sydney
Say goodbye to Bowen and head back to Sydney

Free evening in Sydney

Book your own edventure using the link below, after 10 AM.

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086
Read more
Day 12-July 21
Day 12-July 21
Time to head home
Time to head home or extend your trip.
Read more

Day 1-July 10

Check in day

You will leave the states on July 8 and arrive on July 10. I know, crazy!

We will check into the hotel and then have an orientation around 9:00 AM at the hotel.

Then we will explore Sydney.

At orientation, you will receive your 2 Day Unlimited Iventure Card. With this card, you can choose to do whatever you like, or you can do what we arrange.

Today, after orientation, we will head to the Featherdale Wildlife Park - Included - Iventure Card

Then we will explore - Stay awake until at least 7PM.

Get in Early, book your own edventure using the link below:

https://www.viator.com/Sydney/d357-ttd?pid=P00008694&uid=U00009140&mcid=58086

I had an incredible experience on the Bookbag Tours 2024 Egypt trip. The partnership with the travel company Egypt Unlimited and Mohammad Mostafa and his excellent guide, Mohamad Badway, made for an all around incredible and truly memorable trip. The accommodations were superb, the restaurants visited showcased some of Egypt’s amazing cuisine, and I felt safe throughout all of our journeys. We visited some of the most renown sites but also stopped by some hidden gems as well. Our team was met with nothing but hospitality and kindness and I couldn’t recommend this trip enough, or travel through Bookbag Tours enough.

By Jennifer B for Egypt: July 14-26, 2024 on Aug 09, 2024

Australia was a great trip! Jeremy, Paula, Lucy, and Fairlie were amazing leaders and so knowledgeable. We were able to see and do so many things in Sydney, the Explorer Pass was great because we had so many options for things to do. Climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge was a bucket list item and it lived up to all the expectations and so much more. Getting to spend time with the teachers in Bowen was also a highlight. My home stay family was the best and I would highly recommend the home stay option for others. This was a trip of a lifetime and I am so glad I was able to experience it with this group of teachers!

By Sarah W for Australia: July 6-19, 2024 on Aug 06, 2024

New Zealand was an amazing trip! Kirsten and Anisa were great leaders who were up for any adventure. It was great getting to explore Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown-getting to see both the North and South Islands were part of why I wanted this trip. Queenstown was stunning and is a must go back location after this trip!!

By Sarah W for New Zealand: July 15-27, 2024 on Aug 06, 2024

I absolutely loved my time in New Zealand!! There was plenty of free time to explore the cities and try new experiences. I learned so much about the Māori culture. The guides we all amazing and it was so nice visiting a school and having the opportunity to learn from teachers in another country! I am definitely signing up for a 2026 trip!

By Brandi B for New Zealand: July 15-27, 2024 on Aug 05, 2024

The Australia trip was truly incredible. This was my third trip with bookbag tours so I knew it would be well planned, but this one really exceeded my expectations. I greatly enjoyed the variety of time spent in Sydney, Airlie Beach and Bowen. All of the activities were either included or offered as side trips (bridge climb, opera house tour, Great Barrier Reef) and I thought it was a perfect balance of adventure and learning. The home stay/school experience in Bowen was truly amazing and unforgettable. The only criticism I could give would be potentially choosing an airline other than Jetstar for the domestic flights. And perhaps one more day in Airlie beach would have been nice. Overall it was the trip of a lifetime!

By Amanda Ashley K for Australia: July 6-19, 2024 on Aug 05, 2024

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Australia: July 10-21, 2023

Australia: July 10-21, 2023

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Blue Mountains Day Trip - Pick up at 7:30 return around 5:30

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