Absolutely Amazing Australian Adventure

In Summer 2015 I embarked on the ISV Australia 4-Week Program, and it was undeniably one of the best decisions of my life. I would happily do it again and would recommend the program to anyone looking to have the time of their lives.
The first two weeks of this program were devoted to the Volunteer Project. My particular project assignment involved forest management and beautification in Coffs Harbour. This portion involved lots of hard work but felt incredibly rewarding, and the evenings and weekend off allowed for exploring a truly amazing location in the world that not many tourists are able to experience.
Following the Volunteer Project, the next two weeks involved the Adventure Tour. This portion of the journey involved traveling down the Australian East Coast from Cairns to Sydney. I must have packed more activities into these two weeks than at any other time in my life. From scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef to skydiving and bungee jumping in the same day to surfing the refreshing waters of Byron Bay to exploring the streets of Sydney, there was never a dull moment.
I also participated in the one-week Fiji Excursion following the Adventure Tour. This provided an amazing opportunity to relax and unwind after the Australian experience. Snorkeling the warm waters of Barefoot Island with the manta rays, visiting local Fijian villages, and standing on the beach of Mondriki Island (where Tom Hanks was stranded in the movie Castaway) were some of the highlights of this portion.
Overall, this was an incredible journey, and the memories and friendships will last a lifetime. I recommend this program to anyone with an open mind, sense of adventure, desire to make a positive impact on others and themselves, and willingness to step out of the comfort zone to try new things (foods, activities, etc.) I am looking into participating in another ISV program in the near future.
One final note: Maybe it's just me, but Vegemite is not as bad as a lot of people say it is. I actually liked it. I definitely recommend giving it a chance-you might be surprised