Locations
- Sydney
- Blue Mountains
- Cairns and the Tablelands
- Great Barrier Reef
- Canggu, Bali
- Ubud, Bali
Courses Offered
- Active Living Leadership | PLF4M
- Human Dimensions | IDC4U
- English | ENG4U
- Studies in Literature | ETS4U
- Writer's Craft | EWC4U
Program Fee
Refunds and Cancellation
We've made it easier to plan your education while minimizing your financial risks.
9:1 Student to Staff Ratio
Open
Why Take this Program?
Scuba diving, beach volleyball, mountain hikes, sunrise yoga—all in the land of sun, surf, and kangaroos. If adventure is what you are after, then this is the perfect summer program for you! You’ll travel up the coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, before flying to discover the beautiful island of Bali. Come and see what you’re made of and experience what a phys-ed course can be outside of a gym.








What People Are Saying


Being able to travel to the other side of the world was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to explore a whole new part of the world as well as earn credits for my grade 12 year. My teachers and the people around me opened my eyes to so many new things about myself that will stick with me forever. I came back from my trip with a new appreciation for learning and the world. I will forever be grateful to MEI for this amazing experience.
Taysia Byam
Student, Adventure Down Under, 2019
Program Itinerary
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!



Program Preparation
Online Foundation Work
Departure
Day 1: All of our programs begin at our study-abroad departure hub, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Five hours before departure, a short meeting is held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs, T-shirts and MEI Journals, and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31.






Sydney
Days 2-9: Upon arrival in Sydney, students get the lay of the land with a walkabout of Circular Quay along the harbour and visit the famed Opera House and Harbour Bridge. During their stay, students compete in rugby games, explore the grounds of the University of Sydney, and play Ultimate Frisbee on the white sands of Bondi and Manley beaches. While in the city, our academic focus is on the refinement of theses in academic writing and the development of persuasive arguments.
Blue Mountains
Days 9-13: From Sydney, students commence their four-day hiking excursion into the Wolgan Valley, west of the Blue Mountains. Our daily walks, hikes, and mountain biking adventures set the stage for students to develop long-lasting personal fitness plans. While living in ecolodges, students also try their hand at cricket and other group sports. As we explore the beautiful Bells Grotto and tree fern forests, students’ study of regional literature connects their adventure to Australia’s founding mythology. Additionally, students learn the stories passed down by the island’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, that tell of the mythic creatures whose epic battles shaped the landscape into what it is today.






Cairns and the Tablelands
Days 13-20: From the Blue Mountains, we fly north to Cairns, located on the coast next to the famous Great Barrier Reef. As it is the nation’s waterfall capital, we begin our adventure with a trek into the Atherton tableland region to reach some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Our time here is structured around daily excursions that range from canoeing to mountain biking. Here, we are afforded the opportunity to delve into essay workshops and poetry writing inspired by the beauty of the region.
Great Barrier Reef
Days 20-22: Making our way back to Cairns, students take to the seas of the Outer Great Barrier Reef to enjoy a three-day live-aboard sailing tour, where we have the chance to snorkel and scuba dive in one of the world’s premier diving sites.






Canggu, Bali
Days 22-26: We then fly to the tropical paradise of Bali, Indonesia. Here, students decompress from their journey along the beach-lined coast. Residing in Canggu, an adventurer’s paradise, students workout on the beach and hone their surfing skills with lessons. Our days are spent exploring the island teeming with kingfishers, wild orchids, and monkeys, while our evenings are spent engaging in book chats over bowls of fresh curry and grilled seafood.
Ubud, Bali
Days 26-30: From Canggu, we travel northeast to the nearby city of Ubud, where our exploration of Balinese culture continues and takes us to the Tegallalang rice terraces, in the Monkey Forest, and to the Goa Gajah ‘Elephant Cave.’ Here, students write their final exams and afterwards, they celebrate their journey as they conclude their adventure through Oceania. On their last evening together, students reminisce over dinner and prepare for their flight home.
Departure from Denpassar Airport (Day 30)






Online Final Evaluation Week
During this week, you will have time for one-on-one presentations and discussions using Zoom. This week will give you time to complete additional research and pull together the work and insights you gained from your travel experiences. You will also complete culminating assignments and an online, interactive examination. MEI students and teachers have found this evaluation style enjoyable and the most authentic and thorough method to demonstrate what you have learned and experienced during the summer.
Program Itinerary
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!



Program Preparation
Online Foundation Work



Departure
Day 1: All of our programs begin at our study-abroad departure hub, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Five hours before departure, a short meeting is held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs, T-shirts and MEI Journals, and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31.



Sydney
Days 2-9: Upon arrival in Sydney, students get the lay of the land with a walkabout of Circular Quay along the harbour and visit the famed Opera House and Harbour Bridge. During their stay, students compete in rugby games, explore the grounds of the University of Sydney, and play Ultimate Frisbee on the white sands of Bondi and Manley beaches. While in the city, our academic focus is on the refinement of theses in academic writing and the development of persuasive arguments.



Blue Mountains
Days 9-13: From Sydney, students commence their four-day hiking excursion into the Wolgan Valley, west of the Blue Mountains. Our daily walks, hikes, and mountain biking adventures set the stage for students to develop long-lasting personal fitness plans. While living in ecolodges, students also try their hand at cricket and other group sports. As we explore the beautiful Bells Grotto and tree fern forests, students’ study of regional literature connects their adventure to Australia’s founding mythology. Additionally, students learn the stories passed down by the island’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, that tell of the mythic creatures whose epic battles shaped the landscape into what it is today.



Cairns and the Tablelands
Days 13-20: From the Blue Mountains, we fly north to Cairns, located on the coast next to the famous Great Barrier Reef. As it is the nation’s waterfall capital, we begin our adventure with a trek into the Atherton tableland region to reach some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Our time here is structured around daily excursions that range from canoeing to mountain biking. Here, we are afforded the opportunity to delve into essay workshops and poetry writing inspired by the beauty of the region.



Great Barrier Reef
Days 20-22: Making our way back to Cairns, students take to the seas of the Outer Great Barrier Reef to enjoy a three-day live-aboard sailing tour, where we have the chance to snorkel and scuba dive in one of the world’s premier diving sites.



Canggu, Bali
Days 22-26: We then fly to the tropical paradise of Bali, Indonesia. Here, students decompress from their journey along the beach-lined coast. Residing in Canggu, an adventurer’s paradise, students workout on the beach and hone their surfing skills with lessons. Our days are spent exploring the island teeming with kingfishers, wild orchids, and monkeys, while our evenings are spent engaging in book chats over bowls of fresh curry and grilled seafood.



Ubud, Bali
Days 26-30: From Canggu, we travel northeast to the nearby city of Ubud, where our exploration of Balinese culture continues and takes us to the Tegallalang rice terraces, in the Monkey Forest, and to the Goa Gajah ‘Elephant Cave.’ Here, students write their final exams and afterwards, they celebrate their journey as they conclude their adventure through Oceania. On their last evening together, students reminisce over dinner and prepare for their flight home.
Departure from Denpassar Airport (Day 30)



Online Final Evaluation Week
During this week, you will have time for one-on-one presentations and discussions using Zoom. This week will give you time to complete additional research and pull together the work and insights you gained from your travel experiences. You will also complete culminating assignments and an online, interactive examination. MEI students and teachers have found this evaluation style enjoyable and the most authentic and thorough method to demonstrate what you have learned and experienced during the summer.
Sydney
Blue Mountains
Cairns and the Tablelands
Great Barrier Reef
Canggu
Ubud
Program Photos
What's Included
Fee Breakdown
Program Costs
- Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
- Custom course pack
- Student Login
- MEI journal
- MEI T-Shirt
- Digital yearbook
Travel Costs
- Hotels and accommodations
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
- Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
- Approximate airline departure taxes, surcharges and fees
- Airfare between countries
- Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
- Transportation for all listed program excursions
Program Fee Does Not Include
- Lunches
- Insurances
- Gratuities
- Local Transportation
- Course texts
- Medical Insurance and Cancellation Protection†
- Non-refundable $95 Registration Fee
† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical Insurance.
**Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee or any airline taxes or fees. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.