YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY :)
I got my first choice volunteer project.....two weeks in Walkabout Wildlife Park :D
We'll be working with the animals that reside there...which include Koala's, Kangaroos, wombats, Dingos, Bandicoots, wallabies and other native endangered species. Admittedly, I've never heard of some of these animals but i bet they are sooo cute (as long as they're not poisonous :s)
Tasks sound pretty strenuous but being able to experience the animals will be soooo much fun!
We will be working between 8am amd 4 pm monday-friday, and we are warned to wear 'work gloves' just incase we uncover any funnel-web spider nests....eeeeek!
Tasks involve......
-Maintain the integrity of the fox-proof electric fence. This is essential to protect the many animals residing in the Park. Therefore, one of the main tasks to be completed by ISV this year will be maintenance of the fence, which is now over ten years old. The bulk of the upgrading work was completed in the last three years, so the work in 2010 will be maintenance and upkeep. However, the specific tasks will be to remove overgrown vegetation and replace the apron of mesh that prevents foxes and rabbits from digging under the fence.
-Maintain the Eucalyptus plantation established by ISV in 2007. This will ensure the food supply for the Parks koalas.Plant more shrubs and add soil in the koala breeding facility.Connect irrigation pipes to water the koala food trees.Plant more grass for native animals such as kangaroos and wallabies to feed on, and weed the existing kangaroo grazing area.
-Maintain existing public walking tracks, and the construction of new walking tracks. The maintenance of these tracks is essential to visitor enjoyment and safety, and the number of visitors coming through the Park directly relates to the success of our conservation Programs and employment of staff. We also hope to establish a new sensory track for guests in wheelchairsand a new track accessing the Wollemi Pinecolony.
-Protect Aboriginal art sites. Several Aboriginal sites were discovered last year with the help of ISV. Volunteers this year will have the chance to work with local Aboriginal people to protect these sites for future generations. Add new interpretive signage. The tracks have recently been given Aboriginal names, and signs need to beerected detailing track distances for visitor safety.
So looks like we'll be kept pretty busy...we are given 2-3 days off during that 2 weeks and sydney is only an hour away by train so maybe a few nights out in Sydney could be on the agenda :) there is also nearby beaches in Calga to explore and a little town of Gosford is a 15minute drive away and has internet cafes, pubs,shops etc.
Winter in Calga can reach 'freezing' in the nights but the days are expected to be sunny...so the freckles may even make an appearance :)
My group of volunteers involves 12 of us mainly girls but 1 or 2 boys and involves us living and sleeping in the Wildlife Park dormitories...with onsight bathrooms,bedrooms and kitchen facilities....there is also a laundry room which im sure will come in verrry handy!
wow this is the most i've blogged so far...but as you can tell im pretttty excited :)
After the 2 weeks in the wildlife park, we travel back to Sydney Airport and get a domestic flight straight to Cairns.....woohoo hot weather :) Then for the next 2 weeks we make our way southbound.
Day 1:We stay in Gilligan's Backpackers Hostel http://www.gilligansbackpackers.com.au/ which look soooo cool!We get a night out where we can explore the city of Cains nightlife. Cairns is also the adrenaline capital of Australia so skydiving and bungee jumping is on the cards eeeeek!
Day 2: We will visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park to learn about the history and cultures of the aboriginal people and australia. Then we experience a Reef Teach all about the Great Barrier Reef to prepare us for our snorkling the following day.
Day 3: Spend the day of the Great Barrioer Reef snorkling, scuba diving and generally experiencing the marine life there.
Day 4: Today is a free day to explore Cairns...options include skydiving,bunjee jumping and more.
Day 5: We depart Cairns to the Tully River for a day of white water rafting through the rainforest!
Day 6: We move to Airlie Beach and stay at the Airlie Cove Resort http://www.airliecove.com.au/. Here we can soak up the sun in the hot tropical weather...yaaay and go ocean rafting through the Whitsunday Islands :) We get to snorkel on the Barrier Reef again and get lunch on Whiteheaven beach! Then we travel overnight by bus to meet the ferry for Fraser Island.
Day 7: We then set up shop in Frazer Island and The Eurong Beach Resort http://www.eurong.com/.
Day 8: We get to explore the largest sand island in the world then we trek to the emerald Green Lake Wabby in the afternoon to swim in the lake.
Day 9: Today we 4-wheel drive along the 75mile coast of Frazer Island, swim in the freshwater Eli Creek, see the famous Maheno Shirwreck and climb to the top of Indian Head....we may even see migrating whales and dolphins :)
Day 10: today we travel to Byron Bay from Frazer Island. And lodge in Aquarius Backpacker Motel. http://www.byron-bay.com/aquarius/ We get a night out in Byron Bay to enjoy the atmosphere and chill out :)
Day 11: (recover from the hangover hahaa) Today we learn to surf on Byron Bay Beach and swim amongst the dolphins (and hopefully NO sharks)
Day 12: We get a free day to enjoy Byron Bay and venture to Cape Byron....australias most eastern point! Here we can take part in activites like skydiving and kayaking! Then we take an over night bus to Sydney from Byron Bay.
Day 13: After arriving from our overnight trip we get a free day to explore Sydney. We set up home in Wake up! Sydney Central. http://www.wakeup.com.au/ Visit the sydney harbour bridge, sydney aquarium and sydney tower...then we get a sunset cocktail harbour cruise around sydney harbour :)
Day 14: Today we drive 40 miles west of Sydney to The Blue Mountains. We stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park to experience more wildlife. Then in the Blue Mountains we will see 'the three sisters' rock formation then rappell down the mountains in the afternoon. Then we return to Sydney for our final dinner and another night out :)
Day 15: Depart Sydney Airport for London Heathrow :(
I'm not boasting or anything but how amazing does this trip sound!!!
Trip of a lifetime...definately!
Im soooooooo excitttedddddd!can you tell???
Speak soon xxx
Friday, 25 June 2010
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
4 weeks to goo....
Ok...so if International Student Volunteers are correct in their estimations i SHOULD be receiving my full itinery, e-ticket and project placement through the post any.day.soon!
However, me and my friend Louisa (due to pre-travel excitement) just HAD to go shopping this weekend gone. However, that's easier said than done when we haven't actually received our comprehensive packing list or project placement.....so we wandered round town, grabbed a starbucks (naturally) and bought lots of plain vest tops......i do believe you can never have too many....so far my travelling fashion will be vest-tops galore! i also managed to buy a pair of light cottom pjs H&M bargain £3 :)
I am getting slightly worried about packing now...as from my estimation i will be taking 5 pairs of shoes let alone everything else....flipflops,sandels,hiking boots,uggs and heels.... i may have to forget about the uggs as i have been reassured that 'even though its winter' it'll still be warm during July/August!
Me and Lousia have decided to share toiletries and electrical equiptment e.g. hairdrier and straightners so that should hopefully lighten the load a bit!
I shall update next when i have received my full info through the post and let you lovely people following me no of my itinery and destination and information about my voluntary project.....hopefully this will be sometime this week!
xxx
However, me and my friend Louisa (due to pre-travel excitement) just HAD to go shopping this weekend gone. However, that's easier said than done when we haven't actually received our comprehensive packing list or project placement.....so we wandered round town, grabbed a starbucks (naturally) and bought lots of plain vest tops......i do believe you can never have too many....so far my travelling fashion will be vest-tops galore! i also managed to buy a pair of light cottom pjs H&M bargain £3 :)
I am getting slightly worried about packing now...as from my estimation i will be taking 5 pairs of shoes let alone everything else....flipflops,sandels,hiking boots,uggs and heels.... i may have to forget about the uggs as i have been reassured that 'even though its winter' it'll still be warm during July/August!
Me and Lousia have decided to share toiletries and electrical equiptment e.g. hairdrier and straightners so that should hopefully lighten the load a bit!
I shall update next when i have received my full info through the post and let you lovely people following me no of my itinery and destination and information about my voluntary project.....hopefully this will be sometime this week!
xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)