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Australia
Australia has a much more outdoorsy culture than the UK, revolving around the beach and barbie lifestyle! This jostles alongside suburbia in Oz, which is every bit the Neighbours dream.
There is a wonderful indigenous culture – suppressed for a while but now wholeheartedly embraced in Oz – you just have to visit Uluru to see that.
Getting There
You need to arrange for a flight arriving in Adelaide on the first Thursday of the month of your choice. To get you started you will receive an arrival package in Adelaide. This includes a transfer from the airport to a city-based hostel, a city sights day tour and two nights dorm accommodation.
On the Saturday, you will then catch a bus to nearby Stirling, (this will cost no more than a few dollars and will take about 40 minutes), where you will be met and taken to the wildlife sanctuary. The volunteer work then starts on the Monday!
Free time
You will have free time each day outside of the scheduled activities. Most free time is available in the evening from about 5pm (except once or twice per week when some animal monitoring tasks are scheduled).
Full weekends are always scheduled as free time for volunteers, starting at 5pm Friday afternoon. Sanctuary staff can arrange to drop you off at bus stops if you would like to spend the weekend in Adelaide, though you are expected to return at a reasonable time Sunday afternoon!!! Here are a few ideas:
In Adelaide
- Botanic Gardens (with moonlight cinema during the summer)
- Art gallery of South Australia
- South Australian museum
- Theatre
- Torrens River cruises
- Adelaide Zoo
- Shopping
- National aboriginal cultural institute
- Adelaide Oval cricket ground
- Lots of restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs!
Beaches
- Glenelg beach - 30-minute tram ride from the city. Calm water to swim and windsurf. Surf skis, body boards and snorkels available to hire. There is also a bike track and mountain bikes to hire. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes.
- Brighton beach – 25-minute train ride from the city. An old fashioned, sleepy place!
- Gulf St Vincent beaches; often know as the wine coast. Good for surfing and snorkelling.
- Victor harbour – where whales, sea lions and penguins can be spotted!
Trips from Adelaide
- Barossa valley is a famous Australian wine-producing region. Day tours of the wineries are available and are popular with other backpackers!
- Fleurieu peninsula. Beaches on the coast and wineries inland – good for walking and cycling!
- Kangaroo Island. An unspoilt island, host to an astonishing range of wildlife.
If you do choose to participate on any activities during your free time, all costs associated with that activity (e.g. transport, tickets, accommodation etc) are your own responsibility. Also, any meals missed during free time activities cannot be reimbursed.
Climate
The weather conditions are varied. During the Australian winter (June - Aug) day time temperatures are generally between 7-15°C (45-60°F) and night time temperatures 0-10°C (32-45°F). The temperature at other times of the year can be quite high with spring and summer (Sept – Feb) temperatures varying between 9-40°C (48-106°F).
Please ensure you check as to what season you will be visiting and bring appropriate clothing. Even if you are visiting during the warmer months you can still expect to experience widely varied conditions so warm clothing and wet weather gear is essential.
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