australian environment, wildlife and...

UNSW Study AbroadSummer School 201215 June - 19 July

BEES0010Australian Environment, Wildlifeand Conservation

Global EducationGlobal Education Global Networks Global Opportunities

UNSW Study Abroad

The University of New South Wales

Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

Phone: +61 2 9385 3179

Fax: +61 2 9385 1265

Email: [email protected]

CRICOS Provider No. 00098G

Contents

Course Syllabus 2 Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation 2 Course Objectives 3 Assessment 3 Textbooks 4

Course Information 4 Location 4 Program length 4 Program fee 4

Summary of Course Itinerary 6 Darwin and Kakadu 6 Blue Mountains 7 Sydney 7 Cairns and the Daintree 8

Cultural and Social Activities 10 Contact Details 11

Course Syllabus

Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation page 2

Course Syllabus Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation

Course Code: BEES 0010

The University of New South Wales presents a practical and theoretical introduction to ‘Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation’.

From its rainforests, coastlines and coral reefs to its arid interior, Australia offers a diverse range of natural and cultural landscapes and ecosystems to explore. Evolving from origins in ancient Gondwana and millions of years of geographic isolation, Australia boasts geographical and natural features found nowhere else in the world.

This program provides a unique opportunity to consider human impacts on the natural environment, and measures to address these impacts, focusing particularly on protected conservation areas. Australia provides a valuable and unique case study in this regard. The course is contextualised within the global ecological crisis and considers the development of environmental values and awareness and describes environmental controversies and how they are addressed. In consideration of these issues, Australia’s unique flora and fauna are examined and the various climatically varied regions visited are highlighted throughout the course.

The program outlines and exposes students to the challenges in managing natural and cultural heritage in the 21st century. There is a strong emphasis on Aboriginal perspectives of the Australian landscape and its importance to this ancient culture. The program will familiarise participants with the spiritual and ecological ties of Aboriginal culture with the landscape and how this is incorporated in management of national parks.

This course is an introductory level science course, which is also relevant for broader environmental and cultural studies programs. It assumes no, or very little previous tertiary-level biological science, however, biology students would have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, particularly in practical application of biological science, and in environmental management. Care has been taken to secure experienced guides and speakers for the delivery of this course to ensure a first-class educational and cultural experience.

Course Syllabus


Course Objectives The course provides a range of learning experiences designed to:

1. Experience diverse landscape types existing in Australia, including:

§ Wet/Dry tropics: Northern Territory Wildlife Park, Kakadu National Park; § Coastal temperate: Sydney Harbour National Park, Blue Mountains National

Park; § Tropical rainforest: Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, Cairns; § Marine: Green Island, Great Barrier Reef (Cairns).

2. Provide insight into the geological development of Australia and how this has influenced the evolution of Australia’s unique flora and fauna.

3. Introduce some of the unique flora and fauna of Australia through direct experience with key examples.

4. Develop an appreciation of Indigenous culture in the Australian landscape.

5. Present Australian ecosystem conservation as a case study within the context of the global ecological crisis.

6. Introduce natural and cultural heritage conservation management principles, practices, legislation and issues.

7. Develop an appreciation of the influence of cultural issues in the management of wildlife and conservation in Australia.

8. Provide a framework for co-management of protected areas involving traditional owners and conservation management agencies.

Assessment Field notebook 30% Written short reports 20% Group presentation 20% Final exam 20% Participation 10% (These assessments are subject to change)

As this is a course of the University of New South Wales, assessments will be marked in accordance with the Australian marking scheme: Fail <50% Pass 50-64% Credit 65-74% Distinction 75-84% High Distinction >85%

An international grade equivalence sheet will accompany the official UNSW transcript when mailed to the student following completion of the program.

Course Information


Textbooks The following textbooks will be provided to students on arrival in Australia and lent free of charge for the duration of the program. If they wish, students will be able to buy the texts from UNSW Study Abroad at a reduced cost on completion of the program.

Lindenmayer D. & M. Burgman (2005). Practical Conservation Biology. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia.

Goodfellow, Denise. (1993) Fauna of Kakadu and the Top End, Colemans Printing

Course Information The ‘Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation’ program is one of six programs that make up the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School in 2012. Each program has approximately 20-30 participants and all travel a similar itinerary within Australia, with a course-specific field trip in week one, three and five. Generally, all groups will be staying at the same destination at approximately the same time; however, programs will break up into their individual groups for classes and field excursions.

Location The ‘Wildlife’ course starts in Darwin, at the ‘Top End’ of Australia, including a three-day camping expedition to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park to experience its spectacular scenery and its distinctive plants and animals. From Darwin, the program journeys to the Blue Mountains, Australia’s most visited World Heritage-listed National Park. Three days will be spent exploring the ancient and dramatic landforms of the region.

Students will then be based at UNSW, located 20 minutes from downtown Sydney for two weeks. A number of fieldtrips to various locations will be included in this section.

The course will then move to the tropical far-north of Australia with a stay in the Daintree Rainforest, the only place in the world where reef meets rainforest. The program concludes in Cairns, where students have the opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

Program length

The course consists of 75 hours of class contact time over five weeks comprising field trips, lectures and presentations. The program is valued at 6 units of credit at UNSW; international equivalent of 6 or 8 units of credit each, subject to home institution policy.

Program fee The program fee includes:

• tuition • all accommodation • all meals in Kakadu National Park and in the Daintree Rainforest • breakfast and lunch in the Blue Mountains


• breakfast and lunch in Sydney • breakfast and a final program dinner in Cairns • all excursion travel and entry fees • orientation program and airport shuttle services • Internet device • UNSW student card (allowing access to all UNSW facilities). •

Other meals and airfares are not included in the program fee.

Summary of Course Itinerary


Summary of Course Itinerary Darwin and Kakadu

Date Time Activity Wednesday 13 June 11.20pm Depart Los Angeles on QF 16 to Brisbane

Friday 15 June 6.10am Arrive Brisbane

Transfer to Brisbane Domestic Airport

9.15am Depart Brisbane on QF 824 to Darwin

12.55 pm Arrive Darwin Met at Darwin International Airport by UNSW Summer School staff and taken to accommodation Staying at: Melaleuca on Mitchell Backpacker 52 Mitchell St Darwin, NT 0801 Australia Ph: +61 8 8941 7800 Fax: + 61 8 8941 7900

http://www.momdarwin.com/

3.00pm – 4.00pm Collect course materials

4.30pm - 6.00pm Orientation and introduction of academic staff

6.00pm - 7.30pm Welcome Reception

Saturday 16 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Introduction to the course

Presentation: Gondwana - the biophysical making of Australia Presentation: Australian landscapes of today Intro to Kakadu NP (dry camp)

Sunday 17 June- Tuesday 19 June

All Day 3-Day Field Trip to Kakadu National Park

Wednesday 20 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Kakadu Debrief Presentation: Taming the Great South Land – a socio-historical perspective Presentation: Protected area management - natural & cultural heritage

Case study: Native mammals as pets Presentation: Impacts of climate change and fire on Australian ecosystems

Thursday 21 June 8.30am - 5.00pm Field Visit - Northern Territory Wildlife Park

Friday 22 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Class exercise: Park management scenario Presentation: Wildlife management in the Northern Territory (NT Parks & Wildlife Commission)

Saturday 23 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentation: Conservation definitions and metaphors Introduction to the Blue Mountains

1.00pm - 4.00pm Visit Northern Territory Museum and Botanic Gardens



Blue Mountains Date Time Activity Sunday 24 June 7.30am Depart Darwin for Sydney on flight QF5074

12.20pm Arrive Sydney, take bus to Blue Mountains (2hours)

4.00pm Settle into accommodation

Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St Katoomba, NSW 2780

Monday 25 June 9.00am – 10.30am Gundungurra Welcome to Country

11.30am - 3.30pm Guided walk at National Pass, Wentworth Falls (includes lunch)

Tuesday 26 June 9.00am - 3.30pm Bushwalk - Grand Canyon and Field exercise

4.30pm - 6.00pm Visit native mammal captive breeding centre, Secret Creek, Lithgow

Wednesday 27 June 9.00-11.00am

11.00am- 1.00pm

Indigenous cultural talk and walk - Echo Point to Katoomba kiosk

Management of fire and introduced species (National Parks ranger)

1.00-2.00pm Lunch

2.00pm Bus to Sydney

Sydney Thursday 28 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Blue Mountains debrief

Presentation: Conservation and the global state of the environment

Friday 29 June 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentations:

Ecology & Management of Australian Arid Ecosystems and coastal temperate ecosystems

Landscape conservation

Saturday 30 June – Sunday 1 July

Free Days

Monday 2 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentation: A history of acclimatisation and introduced species in Australia

Managing introduced species – case studies include cane toads and feral horses

The Australian Dingo – a conservation management dilemma

Tuesday 3 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Threatened species conservation - including reptiles

1.00pm - 5.00pm Field Trip: Botany Bay National Park

Wednesday 4 July – 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentations: Managing Conservation Issues in Sydney Harbour & Botany Bay



Thursday 5 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentations: Wildlife population management – case studies include kangaroos and wetland birds

1.00pm - 5.00pm Excursion: TBA

Friday 6 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Presentations: Wildlife conservation through sustainable use

Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 July

Free Days

Monday 9 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Course review and discussion

Tuesday 10 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Student group presentations

Wednesday 11 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Student group presentations

Cairns and the Daintree Date Time Activity

Thursday 12 July 9.15am Depart Sydney QF924

12.25pm Arrive Cairns Bus transfer to Daintree Rainforest

Accommodation at: PK’s Jungle Village Cape Tribulation Rd Cape Tribulation Qld 4873 Phone: +61 7 4098 0040 Fax: +61 7 4098 0055

http://www.pksjunglevillage.com.au/

Kuku Yalanji guided walk en route to Mossman Gorge

Friday 13 July 9.30am – 11.30am Walk/talk/Lecture: Rainforest Ecosystems

PM Night walk

Saturday 14 July Morning

Daintree Discovery Centre visit

Guided rainforest walk Bus transfer to Cairns

3.00pm Bus transfer to Cairns Accommodation at: Rydges Esplanade Resort Cnr The Esplanade and Kerwin Street, Cairns Queensland 4870 Phone: +61 7 4044 9000 Fax: +61 7 4044 9001 http://www.rydges.com/hotel/0/RQESPL/Rydges-Esplanade-Resort-Cairns.htm

Sunday 15 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Lecture: Introduction to Australian Marine Park

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Monday 16 July 9.00am - 12.00pm Final Exam

Final Program dinner



Tuesday 17 July to Wednesday 18 July

End of academic program

Relax in Cairns Optional trips to Great Barrier Reef diving/snorkelling, white water rafting, bungy jumping and skydiving.

Thursday 19 July 6.20am Depart Cairns on QF 921 to Sydney (ETA 9.20am)

1.05pm Depart Sydney on QF 11 for Los Angeles (ETA 9.45am, 19 July)

Note: Both this itinerary and accommodation are subject to change

Cultural and Social Activities


Cultural and Social Activities During your stay in Australia, UNSW Study Abroad will be coordinating a range of cultural and social activities for you to do in your free time. These are optional. UNSW Study Abroad offers all activities at cost price. Students will be given the opportunity to sign up for these activities upon arrival in Darwin and again in Cairns.

Below is a list of some of the activities that may be offered. Prices are given in Australian dollars (US$1.05 = A$1.00 - September 2011) and are based on 2011 prices, so are subject to change.

Darwin Sailing on the harbour afternoon $60 - $80

Cinema evening $12

Fish feeding $10

Cairns Day on the Great Barrier Reef $165

White water rafting day $140

Day trip to the Daintree Rainforest $110

Skydiving $270 - $300

Bungy Jumping $100

Sydney Blue Mountains Day Trip $99

Two-hour “Learn to Surf” lesson at Bondi Beach $55

Ticket to a Rugby League game $16

Ticket to an Australian Rules game $22

Symphony at the Sydney Opera House $40 - $65

Opera at the Sydney Opera House $80 - $95

A play/musical in Sydney $40

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb $200 - $300

Wine Tasting trip to the Hunter Valley $99

Overnight stay at Taronga Zoo on Sydney Harbour $150

Contact Details


Contact Details Program Convenors

The program convenors for the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School are Clare Mander, Tom Küffer and Nick Dowd. They can be contacted on: Clare Mander Program Coordinator UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 1656 /mobile 0415 033 101 Email: [email protected] Tom Küffer Program Coordinator UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 3178 /mobile 0412 894 282 Email: [email protected]

Nick Dowd Senior Short Course Manager UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 1445 / mobile 0414 262 214 Email: [email protected] Fax: +61 2 9385 1265

Contacting Students At any time during the program students can be reached by mail at the following address:

Student's Name c/o UNSW Study Abroad Summer School UNSW Study Abroad Office Level 16, Mathews Building The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

Messages can also be left for students using the contact details above for Clare or Tom. Hotel/hostel contact details appear in the Course Itinerary section of this pack. They are

however, subject to change.

UNSW Study AbroadSummer School 201215 June - 19 July

BEES0010Australian Environment, Wildlifeand Conservation

Global EducationGlobal Education Global Networks Global Opportunities

UNSW Study Abroad

The University of New South Wales

Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

Phone: +61 2 9385 3179

Fax: +61 2 9385 1265

Email: [email protected]

CRICOS Provider No. 00098G

Travel Arrangements

Contents

Travel Arrangements 2 Flight Bookings 2 Insurance 3 US Passport and Australian Visa Information 4 Post Program Options 4 Checklist 4

General Information 5 Weather: 'Summer School' during the winter 5 Accommodation 5 Eating and drinking 6 Getting around 7

Service Facilities 8 Accessing and changing your money 8 Phones and phone cards 8 Computers 8 Gymnasiums 9 Useful websites 9

Packing List - What to bring? 10 Luggage: What to put it all in… 10

Contact Details 11

Travel Arrangements


Travel Arrangements

Flight Bookings Recommended Travel Agent

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has made arrangements with STA Travel, the worlds leading student travel company to reserve seats and provide discounted pricing to students from the US participating in the UNSW Study Abroad Summer programs. You are under no obligation to use this service, and may book your travel with any agency you wish. However, if making your own bookings you should ensure that you book your internal Australian flights to mirror the following itinerary for the program:

Flight Itinerary QF 16 13 June LAX/BNE 2320/0620+2

QF 824 15 June BNE/DRW 0915/1255

QF 5074 24 June DRW/SYD 0730/1220

BY BUS 24 June SYD/BLUE MOUNTAINS

BY BUS 27 June BLUE MOUNTAINS/SYD

QF 924 12 July SYD/CNS 0915/1225

QF 921 19 July CNS/SYD 0620/0920

QF 11 19 July SYD/LAX 1305/0945

Airline Ticket Price The price for the complete package itinerary ex-Los Angeles is US$1619.00 plus fuel surcharges and taxes. These additional taxes and charges fluctuate and are subject to change. STA Travel will advise you of the exact amount at the time of booking.

If your journey originates from a city other than Los Angeles, you will need to organise a connecting flight. Please remember to mention this to your STA Travel advisor who will arrange for a competitively priced ticket for you.

Options are available for you to break your journey returning from Australia in Fiji, Hawaii or New Zealand. This incurs and additional cost, so please remember to ask your STA Travel Advisor about the stopover packages.

Cancellation Policy The STA travel cancellation policy states that ‘individual flight ticket cancellations after full payment has been received and ticketing completed will incur a cancellation fee of A$300’. Before departure, no date or destination changes are permitted. After departure, date changes are subject to an amendment fee of A$50. If you reroute your ticket you will be charged a fee of $75 plus fare difference. Both are subject to availability with Qantas. Taxes and fuel surcharges in effect the day

Travel Arrangements


tickets are issued will apply and must be paid. If using your own travel provider, please check their cancellation policy.

How to Book STA Travel has a team of people ready to assist you in booking your package:

• Log onto http://b2b.statravel.com/unsw.html and select your specific program from the list - Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation

• Complete the form with all required information, including the payment details – all major credit cards are accepted.

• STA Travel will attempt to contact you within 24 hours to confirm the flights you have requested and book your connecting flights, if required.

Should you wish to speak to an STA Travel advisor, a FREE CALL number is available for UNSW Study Abroad participants.

1-800-632-4365 (Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm Eastern Standard Time)

We recommend that you make the reservations as soon as possible. The deadline to sign up is 10th April 2012.

ISIC Card You may require an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). This will provide you with some discounts throughout Australia, as well as at home in the USA. Your card is valid for a full year from the date it is issued. Your card should be purchased at the same time as your flights, please ask your STA Travel advisor when booking. The cost of the ISIC card is $22.

Baggage Allowance The international baggage allowance on your flights is 2 pieces of luggage - each piece should weigh no more than 50 pounds each.

Rules vary for connecting domestic flights however, the 50-pound weight allowance will apply (ensure that you indicate that you have an international ticket if there are problems). Please seek clarification from your STA Travel advisor at the time of booking.

Australian Arrival / Airport Pick-up A representative from UNSW Study Abroad will meet all students arriving on the Qantas flights booked through STA Travel at the Darwin International Airport. Students booking on other flights should advise UNSW Study Abroad of their arrival details so that pick up can be arranged.

Insurance Fully comprehensive travel insurance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and should be purchased at the same time as your flight package. The costs of policies differ, so please ask your STA Travel advisor to assist you.


Note: UNSW Study Abroad highly recommends that you take out travel insurance, particularly relating to any medical, baggage and trip cancellation claims.

US Passport and Australian Visa Information All US citizens require a passport and visa to enter Australia. The length of the summer programs (five weeks) allows US students to enter Australia as tourists. A Student Visa is not required. Therefore, US citizens (and Canadians) travelling to Australia do not require a visa stamped in their passport when their intended stay is less than three months. Australian Immigration officials have authorised travel agents and airlines in the US to issue an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is an electronic visa allowing you entry into Australia. STA Travel will automatically issue your ETA when your flight arrangements are confirmed, provided you have completed all the personal information requested on their Travel Reservation Form.

There is no application fee and no contact with the Australian Embassy in the US is required.

Remember! Renew your passport early

You do not need a student visa - ask for an electronic tourist visa.

Label your luggage clearly

Keep your luggage to one large suitcase plus a carry on bag

Post Program Options Should you wish to change your return flights and extend your stay in Australia (provided no change to the routing is made), then a change fee of only $50 is applicable (subject to flight availability).

Should you wish to reroute your ticket through New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii, this is normally available for an additional fee (subject to availability). Your STA Travel advisor will also have some ‘on location’ travel options for you at these destinations.

Checklist • Complete your webform on http://b2b.statravel.com/unsw.html • Book your connecting flight to Los Angeles • Purchase your ISIC card • Remember to look into insurance for your journey • Make sure you have a valid passport and remember to ask for an electronic visa.

General Information


General Information Weather: 'Summer School' during the winter

You will realise that you'll be spending your Summer School in the southern hemisphere winter. However, our program is tailored to ensure that you will spend half of your stay in Australia in our warmest regions during your travels.

In Darwin and Kakadu the temperature will be approximately 800F to 900F in the daytime 650F to 700F in the evenings.

The Blue Mountains will experience temperatures as low as 350F to 400F.

A Sydney winter will normally have 550F to 700F days and 450F to 500F overnight (please pack accordingly)

In the Daintree and Cairns, the daytime temperature will be very pleasant at approximately 750F, however, there can be a cool breeze in the evenings.

It is advisable to bring clothing that can be layered to cater for the range of climates experienced during the program. You will also need a warm jacket for the cooler destinations.

Note: Accommodation in Australia may not be heated as effectively as you are used to in the Northern hemisphere. Sydney dorms may be cold at times.

Accommodation When visiting destinations other than Sydney, the standard of accommodation will vary from shared, budget-style hotel and hostel (bunks) accommodation to twin share hotel rooms.

In Darwin, students will stay in the centre of Darwin in a large backpackers hostel. There will be from four to six in dorm rooms, with a spacious deck and pool area where students can relax and study. Wireless Internet is available in these shared areas. While it is very clean, students will venture out of their rooms to use the communal bathroom and showers.

Students will be camping in tents during the three-day trip to Kakadu National Park. All meals are catered for here. It is recommended that you bring a medium-weight sleeping bag, a flashlight and snacks.

In Blue Mountains students will stay in a youth hostel in Katoomba, in shared rooms.

In Sydney, students will be accommodated in single rooms in a residential college (dorms) on The University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus. The residencial college has a non-alcohol policy on its premises to which students will be required to adhere.

The program finishes in Cairns, where students will be accommodated in the lovely Rydges Esplanade hotel, five minutes from the centre of Cairns. Students will be in twin or triple share hotel rooms with a full buffet breakfast provided.

Bedding will be supplied at all locations, and students will have access to laundry facilities (at their own expense) at all locations.

General Information


Eating and drinking Some meals are included in the program fee, however, for other meals you will need to dine out or get a take-away.

Program fee The program fee includes:

• all meals in Kakadu National Park • breakfasts and lunches in the Blue Mountains • breakfasts and lunches in Sydney • all meals in the Daintree • breakfasts in Cairns and a final program dinner

In Darwin, you will be housed in a hostel in the city of Darwin. Supermarkets, cafés and restaurants are abundant, so you will have the opportunity to buy supplies and prepare some meals for yourselves – or eat out. Cheap meals are available at the Mindil Beach Asian food stalls (Sundays and Thursdays), approximately A$10 per serve; while dining out at restaurants can cost approx A$20-$30 for a main course. A large kitchen is available to enable self-catering for all groups.

In Sydney hot breakfasts and lunches will be provided at the dormitory cafeteria. A range of inexpensive options is available locally to cater for the evening meal. It is possible to get a meal for less than A$15 at a number of cheap eating locations in the Coogee Beach/Randwick/Kingsford area near UNSW. All types of cuisines are available so you will have the opportunity to try everything from Thai to Indian to Lebanese. Of course, dining out at the many upmarket restaurants can cost A$20-A$30 for main courses.

In Cairns a full buffet breakfast is included in the program. Cairns caters to a tourist clientele all year round, therefore, though there are many takeaway outlets and cafes, as well as Asian food courts, these types of meals generally cost the same as in major cities. Similarly, a main course in one of the many seafood restaurants along the Esplanade can cost A$35.

Australians tip modestly (between 5% and 10% of the meal cost), though you are under no obligation to tip at all. Waiters and waitresses do not depend on tips for their wage.

BUDGET: Allow $800-$1000 for food if you utilize the food markets, prepare your own lunches and eat at cheap restaurants

Allow $1200-$1600 if you prefer to eat out for all meals


Some typical prices for items in Australia All prices are in Australian dollars and are subject to change. US$1.05 is buying approximately $1.00 Australian dollars (September 2011)

Item Estimated cost Notebooks $3.00

Batteries (4 x AA) $10.00

Sunscreen (250ml) $14.00

Disposable razors (pkt 10) $10.00

Newspaper $1.20

Pre-paid phone cards $10.00 -$20.00

Movies $16.00 ($11 on Tuesdays)

Big Mac $4.60

Cappuccino $3.50

Soft drink $3.00

Potato chips $2.50

Chocolate bar $2.00

Getting around Darwin and Cairns have very small city centres that can be covered easily on foot. In Sydney, however, there is an extensive network of trains, buses and ferries to get you to everywhere you would like to visit.

UNSW is served by many buses and the cheapest way to travel on these is by using the MyBus TravelTen or Weekly bus passes which can be purchased from on-campus shops, selected newsagents, bus depots and railway stations.

§ MyBus TravelTen tickets allow 10 trips with no time limit. The MyBus 2 used for the distance between the campus and the city centre costs $26.40 (saves 20% on each single fare); the MyBus 1 for local journeys around the campus, and to Coogee Beach, costs $16.00.

§ MyMulti DayPass or Weekly allow unlimited travel with buses, trains and ferries around the inner city a day, costs $20.00 (DayPass) or $41.00 - $48.00 (Weekly)

Taxis are numerous and reasonably inexpensive, especially if shared between a few people. There is a standard flag fall fee and then a charge per kilometer (cost approximately $8 to Coogee from the campus and approximately $22 (depending on the traffic) to the city centre.

Service Facilities


Service Facilities Accessing and changing your money

All major credit cards are accepted in Australia, Visa and MasterCard being more widely accepted than American Express. Depositing the funds you wish to access onto your credit cards before departing is a good way to avoid cash advance charges and give you easy access to money within Australia. Cirrus, Maestro and Plus systems exist in Australia. A pin number attached to your credit or debit card allows you to withdraw money at any ATM within Australia.

You MUST have access to a credit card to book activities and social events during your stay.

Money changing facilities are located in the Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin airport terminals. You should have at least A$50 upon arrival in Darwin to cover immediate expenses. On weekdays, banks are generally open between 9.30am and 4.00pm. Banks are not open in Australia on weekends, but you will have 24-hour access to ATMs. While Travellers Checks are safe, it can be time-consuming and inconvenient to change them.

Tips: Make sure you have at least TWO cards to draw money from, and keep these separate at all times. Carry your banks emergency contact numbers with you and keep photocopies of your bankcards and passport.

Phones and phone cards Many students arrange for their own cell phones to have International roaming access while they are away. However, network coverage may not be available in remote locations.

Phone cards, which enable inexpensive calls back home, are readily available from many shops in Australia. It is best to wait until you arrive in Australia to buy a card that allows for international outbound calls.

Computers It is highly recommended that students bring their personal laptop computer. UNSW Study Abroad will supply a USB modem that will allow students to access the Internet on their personal laptops wherever there is phone coverage during the five-week period. If students wish to use more data than that allotted by UNSW, they may purchase this at their own expense. Printing at all locations other than Sydney will be at personal cost to the student. Students can print for free in the UNSW Study Abroad lounge during their stay in Sydney.


For students that do not bring a laptop:

§ In Darwin there are a number of Internet cafes around the city centre that can be accessed (at personal expense).

§ In Sydney, the residential college has outlets for personal laptops in each dorm room. Payment for this service (UniWeb) is made through the IT Services Desk at the UNSW Library (4.4 cents per Mb downloaded/uploaded). You also will have to the UNSW Study Abroad Student Lounge within business hours (8.30am – 5.30pm Mondays to Fridays).

§ In Cairns, the accommodation has a business centre that students can utilise for approximately A$6 per hour (i.e. covering stop and start usage to a total of one hour).

Gymnasiums Students will be able to visit a gym at most locations for discounted rates that have been arranged by UNSW Study Abroad.

Useful websites Darwin: www.tourismtopend.com.au

Sydney: www.sydney.com.au and www.sydney.citysearch.com.au

Cairns: www.tropicalaustralia.com.au

Packing List - What to bring?


Packing List - What to bring? Suggestions for the items you should bring with you.

Personal items Clothing Equipment Medium weight sleeping bag (highly recommended)

Beach/bath towel

A photocopy of your passport stored separately in your luggage

Any prescribed medication you require

A hat

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Insect repellent

Water bottle

A day pack

Rainwear/umbrella (just in case…)

T-shirts, shorts, jeans

Sweatshirts/sweaters

Swimming costume

Underwear, socks

Jacket (very warm), raincoat

One or two nice outfits (for warm weather and cold weather) e.g. for a night out at Sydney Opera House and the Final Program Dinner in Cairns

One pair of dress (nice) shoes to wear out in the evening (Opera/Nightclub)

Tevas / sandals / flip flops (however, note flip flops are not allowed to be worn in pubs and clubs)

A pair of sneakers

Hiking Boots (optional)

Laptop computer (highly recommended)

Battery operated alarm clock

Camera

Binoculars (optional)

Underwater camera (optional)

Flashlight

A small padlock

Pens / Small notebook

Luggage: What to put it all in… Remember, you will be travelling extensively during the course of this program, so be warned that whatever you bring YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY! Students are notorious for bringing far too much luggage - remember you are sure to accumulate items during your stay as well.

It is best that students limit themselves to one large backpack or rolling suitcase – plus an extra smaller bag would also be very useful for the camping trip into Kakadu National Park, the short stay in the Blue Mountains, in the Daintree and for Sydney.

Note: We recommend that you do NOT bring electrical appliances- hairdryers ect, as the standard voltage in Australia is 240V, you would need a voltage adaptor to operate 110V appliances (A$80).

The electrical plugs used in Australia are typically 3 flat pins (one earth pin). You will need to bring an adaptor plug with this pin configuration for your laptop or can purchase one on arrival for approximately A$10.

Contact Details


Contact Details Program Convenors

The program convenors for the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School are Clare Mander, Tom Küffer and Nick Dowd. They can be contacted on:

Clare Mander Program Coordinator UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 1656 /mobile 0415 307 733 Email: [email protected] Tom Küffer Program Coordinator UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 33178 /mobile 0412 894 282 Email: [email protected]

Nick Dowd Senior Program Manager UNSW Study Abroad Summer School Ph: +61 2 9385 1445 /mobile 0414 262 214 Email: [email protected]

Contacting Students At any time during the program students can be reached by mail at the following address:

Student's Name c/o UNSW Study Abroad Summer School UNSW Study Abroad Office Level 16, Mathews Building The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

Messages can also be left for students using the contact details above for Clare or Tom

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