2027 Australia

Venture with us into the rugged wilderness of Tasmania, the iconic vistas of the Great Ocean Road, and the spiritual heart of the continent at Uluru, encountering Australia’s unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and Aboriginal culture.

We’ll begin our adventure in Tasmania, Australia’s island state which we affectionately call “the Land Down Under the rest of the Land Down Under!” Here we’ll explore pristine wilderness, including national parks like Maria Island, Freycinet, and Cradle Mountain, and Lake St. Clair; encounter unique wildlife like wombats and Tasmanian devils; and connect with the island’s vibrant colonial and Aboriginal history and culture. 

Then we’re off to mainland Australia, starting in Melbourne. We’ll travel to nearby Phillip Island to see the world’s largest colony of little blue penguins waddle ashore, heading to their burrows for the night. We’ll also travel along the stunning Great Ocean Road, taking in dramatic coastal cliffs, the Twelve Apostles, and charming seaside towns, all while encountering koalas, kangaroos, and other wildlife.

Our journey then moves to the heart of Australia at Uluru, the sacred red monolith of the Anangu people. We’ll hike around Uluru and the nearby rock domes of Kata Tjuta, participate in cultural walks, see ancient rock art, experience the award-winning art installation “Field of Light Uluru”, and witness unforgettable sunrises and sunsets over the desert landscape of the Red Centre in the Australian Outback. We’ll explore more of the Red Centre as we visit Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park and the Outback town of Alice Springs, where we’ll have a sunrise balloon ride over the red desert landscape.

Our journey wraps up in Sydney, where we will explore iconic sites such as the Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Bondi or Manly Beach, and the Blue Mountains.

We’re working on the details … please check back! 

We’re working on a custom-designed itinerary. When it’s ready you’ll be able to view – and download or print – the most up-to-date itinerary here.

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Donna McMillan and Steven Bayne are excited to again travel with fellow St. Olaf Alumni and Family Travel adventurers, this time exploring the wildlife, landscapes, and cultures of Australia.

Donna is Professor Emerita of Psychology at St. Olaf. Her work focuses on understanding people, psychological well-being, and ways that both culture and our relationship to the natural world affect us psychologically.

Steve retired after teaching political science for more than 20 years in the Minnesota State College University System, particularly at Century College. Steve’s interests include international relations, political theory, and history.

Donna and Steve love traveling, exploring, and learning, and they have been fortunate to sojourn to 27+ countries on five continents. They have hiked around Uluru in Australia, slid down a mountain in Switzerland (not on purpose), sailed on the Nile, and trained from Shanghai to Beijing. Together, Donna and Steve led St Olaf’s 5-month-long Global Semester, taking 28 students around the world. Just before the pandemic hit, they led a 2020 Alumni & Family Travel program on a Tanzanian safari; then in 2023 a walking trip in Italy & Slovenia; and in 2025 a Costa Rica parks and nature journey. In addition, Donna has seven times taught an off-campus January course on Environmental Psychology at Rocky Mountain National Park; she spent a semester as a visiting faculty member in Denmark; and she co-taught a course for the St. Olaf Band during their tour of New Zealand and Australia.

All of this is to say that Donna and Steve are frequent and enthusiastic travelers — with a particular passion for wildlife and national parks — who look forward to exploring Tasmania and other wonders of Australia with you!

Expect an adventure!

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and of being a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing y;ou some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages. 

The tour price is PENDING and will be based on double occupancy. A supplement for single occupancy will apply.

Inclusions: discussions led by Donna McMillan and Steve Bayne; full time guide for the duration of the tour; accommodations; meals, entrance fees, and activities listed in the itinerary; internal program flights; private vehicle transportation unless otherwise noted in itinerary; gratuities for all local guides, drivers, meals, and porters; and some limited medical coverage while overseas.

Exclusions: Airfare between the U.S. and Australia is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers, any passport fees, the required Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, beverages at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, and any meals not specifically included on tour itinerary.

This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                  $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:   $475 if you cancel on or before May 31, 2026. If the deposit is made after May 31, 2026 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:  $3,000 on June 1, 2026
Refund if you cancel:   $1,500 if you cancel on or before January 19, 2027

Balance due:                   January 20, 2027
Refund if you cancel:   None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver (in draft stage).

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Check your passport to ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. State Department for instructions. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required for entry. We’ll provide information on obtaining your ETA at the appropriate time prior to departure.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

Mark your calendar for the month of April 2027. Even once we know the specific dates, do not book non-refundable air until we can confirm the tour is a go. Meanwhile see our tips on Booking Your Flights.