NOLS students take it all in at Morgan Falls, Kimberley, Australia. Photo: Jim Chisholm

NOLS Australia Facts Year Founded: 1996 Operating Season: March-Aug. Location: Broome In-town Staff: 7 Skills offered: Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Canoeing

Merely the name Australia brings to mind dozens of images: unusual wildlife and wide open space, flora found nowhere else on Earth, friendly people and different cultures. The Land Down Under is a wild continent that awaits discovery. It’s a land of waterfalls and crocodiles, of adventure and exploration.

NOLS has been in Australia since 1996, and in that time we’ve concentrated our explorations in northwestern Australia, in places like the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Dramatic landscapes and intense colors define these regions—from vast plains and ancient mountains to huge tidal rivers and spectacular waterfalls in breathtaking gorges; you’ll never tire of the unique beauty of either place. Both areas are recognized as being the most remote territory on a continent known for its sparse population and untraveled expanse. On your course, you too will discover this remoteness, learning from your instructors and enjoying the opportunity to explore a landscape not known to many.

Our Australian headquarters is located in Broome, a community of less than 15,000 that was founded in the 1880s as a hub of the pearling industry. You’ll spend a day or so in this interesting little town before traveling into the field via four-wheel drive, bus or plane.

For a number of years NOLS has also been involved with local Aboriginal groups. As a result, our semesters and backpacking courses have fantastic opportunities to mingle with these people, learning from them and their way of life. NOLS Australia is an adventure and an experience; you’ll live and travel here in ways no other program can offer.