Join ABSA for 8 Days of Softball, Culture, and Adventure in Australia!

**Itinerary dates are subject to change.

Travel Information: Sydney & Brisbane

Australia is a vibrant country with a rich sporting culture, making it an incredible destination for softball enthusiasts. Sydney, known for its stunning harbor and iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, offers a blend of modern city life and beautiful coastal scenery. Brisbane, with its warm climate and welcoming atmosphere, is a hub for outdoor activities and sports.

Trip Highlights:

Activities Included

• Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Tour

• Guided Tour of the Sydney Opera House

• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – Get close to kangaroos and koalas.

• Stand-up Surfing – Learn to surf on the Gold Coast.

• Day Trip to Byron Bay – A famous Australian resort town.

Travel Expectations:

• Traveling outside the United States means experiencing different customs, traditions, and cultures. Embrace the differences and immerse yourself in the local lifestyle.

• Some sporting amenities in Australia may differ from those in the U.S., including field conditions, bathroom facilities, and internet availability.

• Trips may feature competitive tournament play or community-based softball outreach programs.

• As an ABSA representative, you will play a key role in fostering international friendships and promoting the spirit of softball worldwide.

We encourage all participants to research their destination in advance to enhance their experience. Utilizing tools like Google Street View can provide helpful insight into the areas you’ll be visiting.

Important Note:

• All travelers under the age of 18 MUST travel with a parent or guardian.

Pack your glove, your sense of adventure, and get ready to make unforgettable memories with ABSA in Australia!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance from InsureMyTrip!

We are proud to partner with InsureMyTrip, the premier platform for comparing travel insurance plans and finding the right coverage for your needs. With thousands of plans to choose from and a one-of-a-kind recommendation engine, InsureMyTrip makes it easy to select the perfect plan. Most importantly, their team is available to assist you before, during, and after your trip—especially when it comes to claims with your provider.

Why Travel Insurance is Important:

Travel insurance is strongly encouraged when traveling with ABSA. Policies often provide protection against cancellations or delays caused by airlines, illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to select a policy that includes coverage for COVID-19-related cancellations and delays, as well as any other needs specific to your trip.  

Our Recommendation:

We highly recommend speaking with a travel insurance agent to ensure your policy is tailored to your needs. A knowledgeable agent can address any questions or concerns you may have, including those related to COVID-19 coverage.  

Invest in peace of mind and protect your adventure with the right travel insurance!

Passport and Entry Requirements

To travel to Australia, you must have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling to any destination outside the United States are required to present a valid U.S. passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date.

Some countries may also require a visa for transit or entry. It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they have all necessary documentation for entry. All names on travel documents must match the legal name on your photo ID, and travel document details must match your tickets.Please visit the U.S. State Department website at https://travel.state.gov for more information on entry and visa requirements.

Additional Notes:

• Immunizations may be required depending on the destination.
• Failure to comply with these regulations may result in denied boarding, denied entry, or government-imposed fines.
• If you are a citizen of another country, there may be additional requirements. Please check with the nearest consulate or embassy of the destination for entry requirements specific to non-U.S. citizens.

This information is subject to change. Please verify all requirements prior to booking.

You may enter Australia un-vaccinated. There is no need for masks or quarantine if you are unvaccinated, restaurant's and bars will also be open to the public.

***This information is subject to change. Please verify prior to booking. 

Policy 

Please note that all trip deposits and balance payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. A $250 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on this trip.We strongly recommend reviewing all payment policies carefully before finalizing your booking to ensure a smooth and informed experience.

Payments 

We offer flexible payment options to make the trip more accessible:

• Monthly Payments: Can be adjusted to fit your specific needs.
• Affirm Financing: Convenient financing options to spread out your payments.
• Fundraising Opportunities: Support options to help offset costs.

Important Note:

Flight details will be provided at a later date. If you choose to book flights outside of the designated time, you will be responsible for your own transportation.

**Please be aware that the trip starts and ends in different countries. Do not book a roundtrip ticket unless you are also arranging your own transportation to the departure airport at the end of the trip.

You will need book THREE flights for this trip. 

Example:

Flight 1-USA to Sydney, Australia (SYD)

Flight 2-Sydney to Brisbane, Australia (BNE)

Flight 3-Brisbane to USA

***Sample-Subject to change.

***Sample-Subject to change.

Day 1- Fly USA-Sydney, Australia (SYD)

Fly to Sydney, Australia (SYD)

Day 2- In Flight 

Day lost crossing the International Dateline. 

Day 3-Arrive in Sydney 

Arrive in Sydney this morning and your Australian ABSA Tour Manager will greet you at Sydney Airport. You will be transferred by bus to your Gold Coast accommodation.

ABSA Tour Manager: Will travel with the team for the entire tour, to make sure your stay in Australia is well organised, fun and stress free.

Bondi Beach: This morning there will be time to visit and explore Australia’s most famous Bondi Beach. Explore this coastal resort beach right in the heart of Sydney. Relax on the beautiful beach, enjoy the great shops and cafes.

Option to explore the Bondi to Bronte Clifftop Coastal Walk. A spectacular walk with amazing views of the ocean and beaches.

• Lunch (own expense)

Bus transfer to Sydney Accommodation and check-in. 

Accommodation: Sydney (3-nights / 3-3.5 star)

• Dinner (included)

***Sample-Subject to change. 

Day 4- Sydney 

• Breakfast (included)

Sydney Harbour Bridge: Catch a ferry from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay and go sight-seeing around the famous Sydney Harbour and view the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Opera House: Participate in a guided tour of one of the world’s most amazing buildings- the Sydney Opera House.

The Rocks: This afternoon thee will be time to explore and shop at 'The Rocks', The original settlement in Australia on Sydney Harbour. 'The Rocks' settlement, is at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Softball Game: ABSA vs. Sydney Team 1

Location: Blacktown Olympic Centre Time: Evening

Great opportunity for ABSA softball to play games against quality Sydney teams on diamonds used for the 2000 Olympic Games. 

• Dinner (included)

Day 5- Sydney

• Breakfast (included)

Darling Harbour: Bus transfer to the beautiful Darling Harbour waterfront and time to explore this Harbour precinct with its interesting activities, great shopping and cafes.

Paddy's Market: This morning, you will have the opportunity to go shopping and experience Paddy' Market. This is where you will find everything and anything! It is also where you will get some of the cheapest prices on Australian items. 

• Lunch (Own expense)

Bus transfer from Darling Harbour to your accommodation. 

Softball Game ABSA vs. Sydney Team 2 

Location: Blacktown Olympic Softball Centre

Time: Evening game

• Dinner (included)

Day 6- Sydney- Brisbane- Gold Coast 

• Breakfast (included)

Bus transfer from accommodation to SydneyAirport to fly to Brisbane. 

Flight information: Fly Sydney (SYD) to Brisbane (BNE) 

(morning flight-deopart between 9 - 10 am)

• Lunch (own expense) 

Bus transfer from Brisbane Airport to your accommodation on the Gold Coast. 

Afternoon check into Gold Coast accommodation

Accommodation: Gold Coast (5-nights/3-3.5 star) 

Free time to explore the Gold Coast

• Dinner (included)

***Sample-Subject to change. 

Day 7- Gold Coast (Brisbane) 

• Breakfast (included)

Your ABSA team will be competing against Australian teams, in a 2-day tournament at Downey Park in Brisbane. Expect to play 4-5 games over the weekend. 

Brisbane Softball Tournament 

Softball Games vs. Australian teams

Location: Downey Park, Brisbane 

• Dinner (included)

Day 8- Gold Coast (Brisbane)

• Breakfast (included)

More great softball today...

Brisbane Softball Tournament

Softball Games vs Australian teams 

Location Downey Park, Brisbane 

• Finals this afternoon
• Dinner (included)

Day 9 - Gold Coast 

• Breakfast (included)

Surfing Lesson: This morning you will have the awesome opportunity to experience learning how to surf. Professional surf coaches will teach you how to catch waves and stand-up on a surfboard.

• Lunch (included)

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: This afternoon you will visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you can see Australia’s native animals in their natural surroundings.

The Sanctuary is an oasis with over 27 hectares of landscaped surrounds and bushland catering for over 1400 Australian mammals, birds and reptiles. Plenty of kangaroos and koalas! Be there at bird feeding time for the opportunity to hand feed some of the thousands of wild birds that make Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary home. 

***Sample-Subject to change. 

Day 10- Gold Coast

• Breakfast (included)

Byron Bay Day Trip: Travel to Byron Bay, a destination with beautiful beaches and marine life, including dolphins, whales and sea turtles. Cape Byron is Australia’s most easterly point where the in-service lighthouse is famous as one of the most popular whale- watching locations in Australia. Each June/July thousands of humpback whales travel past Byron Bay.

• Lunch (own expense)

The town of Bryon Bay is a thriving coastal town with great shops and cafes, which are surrounded by beautiful hinterland mountains. We take a 30-minute beach walk up to the lighthouse, whilst spotting whales and dolphins along the way.

Dolphin Kayak Paddle (Amazing optional activity at own expense)

Take in some of the best sights the east coast of Australia has to offer. Enjoy paddling your own sit-on-top kayak (no experience needed) out through the surf to catch waves, get close to dolphins and if you are lucky, marvel at the size of the Humpback whales. A guided tour of fun, surf, marine life and the beauty of Cape Byron. (Cost US$55)

• Dinner (included)

Day 11- Gold Coast- Brisbane 

• Breakfast (included)

There will be a bus transfer from your Gold Coast accommodation to Brisbane Airport.

Depart on a flight to the USA.

Flight Information: Fly Brisbane (BNE) - USA

(Morning flight)