Touchdown in Brisbane – your gateway to Queensland. Infuse Program Leaders will be on hand to welcome you to this exciting and innovative educational student tour.

Once all the students have arrived, we’ll head to the Sunshine Coast for an afternoon of orientation by the beach.

You’ll spend today at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, where the education coordinator will give you a private tour of the zoo. You’ll learn how Bob and Steve’s humble beginnings evolved into one of the world’s leading wildlife parks. Visiting the zoo today will help you understand how revenue is generated to fund wildlife conservation around the world, including the reserve that you’re going to visit tomorrow!

Here we go! Today is when the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve Expedition really begins!

Your adventure starts with a flight from Brisbane to Cairns. Then, you’ll connect to Weipa, a small town in remote Cape York Peninsula. As you travel over Far North Queensland, be sure to look out your window, as the views below are stunning.

Upon arrival in Weipa, we’ll be met by Australia Zoo staff and then we’ll transfer by 4WD through spectacular country to the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR). The reserve was gifted to Terri Irwin by the Australian Government and is now an important centre for high-level research projects by scientists from all over the world.

This evening you’ll receive an official welcome and orientation from Australia Zoo staff and Infuse Program Leaders.

Once on the reserve, you will spend 5 days volunteering alongside Australia Zoo rangers, scientists and researchers. You’ll support the critical conservation work they are doing and contribute to the ongoing development and management of the reserve. Projects may include building facilities at the research base and removing intrusive vegetation. You may also be shadowing researchers on a range of ecological-based activities.

Whilst at the reserve, you’ll have access to people and places that are exclusively available through this program. We think that your time here will blow your mind and change your world!

In addition to the valuable service work, you’ll receive guided day and evening tours by the rangers. On these evening excursions, you’ll look for crocs, kangaroos, goannas, wild pigs, snakes and many other rare and endangered wildlife species.

Your accommodation will be in swags at the research station camp, which is affectionately known as Coolibah. The camp is rustic, with basic toilet and shower facilities - so be prepared for a true Infuse adventure in a remote and undeveloped part of the world. That means on this educational student tour, you can also expect great food, great friends and Aussie experiences that you’ll never forget!

After an incredible 5 days on the reserve, it’s time to finish up our educational student tour.

First, we’ll transfer back to Weipa, where we’ll say farewell to the Australia Zoo team and thank them for our time there. Then, we’ll make our way down to Cairns and settle into a nice comfortable hotel. After our remote wilderness experience on the reserve, we guarantee you’ll appreciate the hot shower! Then it’s time to head out and explore the vibrant tropical city of Cairns.

No trip to northern Australia is complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef!

With the world’s largest reef system as your playground, there’s no telling what you may see. Snorkel – or scuba dive if you prefer – at 2 different sites during this day outing on one of the great wonders of the world. You’ll have ample opportunity to spot fish, turtles and reef sharks! There will be marine biologists onboard to teach you about the reef system as you discover this underwater wonder. Trust us, this will be an experience you’ll never forget.

This morning you will head to the airport check-in for your flight home. We hope you’ve had an exciting and enriching experience on this educational student tour! Safe travels!