Set sail for the Whitsunday Islands and have your picture taken on the sands of Whitehaven Beach. Then return to Airlie Beach and dance the night away with your friends, and get to know many of the other travelers, from all over the world. 

Schoolies Week is something you have heard about forever, you have probably even heard your own parents discussing their time during their own Schoolies Week stay. Therefore, you have given it much thought, and now finally, your time has come, and you want to make it the best possible experience you can. Airlie Beach can help you make your Schoolies Week Dreams, become a reality.

For Schoolies in Airlie Beach, there are a wide range of affordable cafés and restaurants to choose from, as well as pubs, bars, and all are within a walking distance of each other. There are many shopping plazas, boutiques, markets, as well as marinas and secluded beaches. Perhaps try biking on the beach.

There are several Charters launching from Airlie Beach such as Bareboat Charters, Private Crewed Charters, both offer their own specific advantages, to give you a memorable sea voyage. There are also numerous Sailing expeditions, rental equipment and water activities available. Whitsunday waters are sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef, making the water conditions perfect and marine life abundant. Activities in Airlie Beach are endless explore the local markets, swimming lagoon, go horseback riding, para-sailing perhaps, and for the thrill junkie, there is bike riding adventures and sky diving available. Put your imagination to good use, you can have as much fun as you allow yourself to. Ever dream of flying? Well, if so, then Airlie can also make that dream come true for you as well. There are also helicopter and Seaplane rides available. Witness Australia’s true beauty while soaring in the sky, the view is sure to be awe inspiring. Take a 10 minute scenic flight, or a full day inter-island tour, whichever you choose, both will take your breath away.

Dive training, and education in Airlie Beach are a popular choice. There are astounding diving trips suitable for both the new and experienced diver, all guaranteed an amazing view of the marine life. Combine a dive training course and wonderful diving experience into a single trip, is an amazing way to witness, and get a better understanding of just what all is hiding below the surface of the Whitsunday’s waters.

With a little imagination, you can give yourself that pleasure adventure full of thrills, and chills you have always desired, and Airlie Beach can help you achieve exactly what you wish for. Rent a Jet Ski, Motor Cruiser, or Yacht perhaps. Go on a sailing adventure, enjoy a chartered ride, and take part in a diving trip. Go sky diving, fishing, swimming, surfing, or just kick back and get sun tan. Whatever you desire can be yours, put that mind of your to good use, and visit Airlie Beach for your Schoolies Week holiday.

Schoolies got top marks from law enforcement for their safe celebrations during Schoolies Week in 2009. That is being due to the involvement of volunteers, law enforcement and business owners throughout the community. Schoolies Week only comes around for school leavers once in a lifetime. Therefore, you want to have a good time, but be safe while doing so. Lorne can give you all of that and more.

Lorne has wonderful Schoolies accommodations, and many activities to choose from.  Be sure to visit Angahook- Lorne State Park, it is full of hilly, lush rainforest, and over 50 kilometers of walking trails. Venture down Great Ocean Road, it stretches from Lorne to Apollo Bay, and the view is unlike any you have ever experienced. This amazing road hugs the coast on steep cliffs, and many lookout spot, and sandy beaches, you can stop and enjoy along your journey. Otway National Park is another activity to take advantage of. The Otway Ranges are west of Lorne and run parallel with the Southern Ocean coastline. There are many walking trails, picnic areas, camping sites, and amazing wildlife, and bird watching to take pleasure in. Lorne’s pier is also another wonderful thing to take advantage of. This pier is simply a fisherman’s paradise; there is a wide variety of fish to catch ranging from, mullet, garfish, Australian salmon, barracuda, and delicious calamari. The pier is lined with fishermen both day and night.  The Gable is another amazing place to visit, which lies between Lorne Twelve Apostles, a truly enchanting experience. Here you have high cliffs, and breath taking views, and you don’t want to miss out on Thunder Cave. It will undoubtedly be a memory you will not soon forget. There was a bridge between two jutting cliffs originally, but it collapsed quite some time ago. Now days there is a viewing platform at the bottom, that tends to discourage adventures from going into the cave. However, for the thrill seekers out there, that tends to be more of an invitation. Once you witness up close and personally, how you would access the cave, it will be easy to understand why, it is in-fact very dangerous. There is an amazing roar from inside the cave, and it is hard to believe that such little water movement can cause such a loud commotion. Nevertheless, despite the dangers, and the noises, the experience itself, is simply magnificent.

Lorne is simply an amazing place to spend you Schoolies Week celebration. With its peaceful atmosphere, amazing feel and picture perfect surroundings, it has been attracting school leavers for more than a century. Lorne is full of charm and class, surrounded by crystal clear beaches, and gorgeous rainforest terrain. It sounds like paradise to me. With its mild weather, café’s, boutiques, art galleries and shopping plaza’s, what else could you ask for? Lorne Schoolies

What is Schoolies exactly, you ask yourself? This matter is very interesting. Schoolies first began in the 1970’s at Broadbeach Australia. However, it has expanded over the past four decades to many different destinations in Australia, and is known as “Schoolies Week.”

Every year high school graduates are given a week all to themselves to celebrate their transition into adulthood. There is a tradition known as the plunge of freedom. Thousands of high school graduates run down the beach and dive into the ocean, symbolizing that school for them is finally complete. This is a major event, and many gather to witness and take part in this tradition.

There are many terms that are associated with Schoolies. Schoolies or Leavers, are the graduating party of that year. Another term is Pre-Schoolies, these are students, whom have not yet graduated, meaning they are on holiday, and are still in school. Foolies is also another term. This term is associated with the younger adolescences that become attracted by the celebrating Schoolies students. Toolies, is my favorite term yet. These are the older adults that haven’t seemed to grown up yet, pretty pathetic if you ask me. This group of people referred to by the locals as “Toolies” or “Hangers On” have been known to clash violently with the celebrating Schoolies.  This term came from an Australian slang word ‘tool’ meaning idiot, or unpopular. Just like the old saying, “There’s one in every crowd.”

Schoolies Week, like every national event, comes with certain risks. Given that millions of teenagers are celebrating for three weeks, and are being accompanied by several different crowds of people, obviously that makes us more concerned about their safety. After all it’s their first week alone, without their families. Therefore, they seem to go a little crazy. Of course alcohol, drugs, violence, and sex will be an issue. Schoolies Week has stepped up all law enforcement during those weeks, in all the Schoolies destinations, making it harder for the young adults to find themselves in those kinds of situations. Many of the different destinations give the Schoolies a badge id, and building passes, and only allow dance parties, and strict no alcohol policies. The streets are surrounded by licensed security guards, and law enforcement to better ensure the Schoolies safety. With every major event around the world, there are risks, but then again there are risks with everything we take part in. We take a risk every time we get in our car. I find this Schoolies Week event to be a great experience for the high school graduates to celebrate their arrival into the adult world. Plus, there are structured activities, along with a strong police presence to ensure them to have a week full of fun, without the getting into trouble.

This event takes place between mid November through mid December at Surfers Paradise. It gives the graduates a chance to finally be themselves, and socialize with their peers, and just have fun, without being accompanied by their families.

During this week event, an estimated 35,000 school leavers will visit Surfers Paradise to celebrate their graduation. However, because most of the students are under age, and not legally allowed to drink alcohol, there are many underage events, ensuring them a good time, such as dance parties, concerts, and movie screenings. The central section of Surfers Paradise walk way, and beach will be fenced each night for exclusive access by the school leavers. This area is known as Schoolies Hub, and it hosts a free entertainment program over nine nights, with two stages, LED screen, DJ’s and late night screenings. The Hub is open most nights from 7:30 p.m. through 1:30 a.m. In order to enter the free Schoolies Hub, the school leavers need an official wristband, which can be obtained on proof of their graduating year photo id.. However, if a student id isn’t available, there are alternative forms of id that will be accepted, such as driver’s license or learner’s permit, or Australian passport.

Along with the Australian Schoolies, an estimated 10,000 school leavers will also visit Surfers Paradise during the Schoolies Week celebration, and they are usually older than the Australian school leavers.

Many school leavers accommodate themselves in high-rise apartments in Surfers Paradise, while some venture to the neighboring suburbs of Main Beach and Broadbeach. More than 350 volunteers patrol the beaches and streets, to ensure the teenager’s safety, giving them advice, and even walking them home. In order to become a volunteer, you must be over 18 years of age, and must attend a training session. Law enforcement tends to patrol the party areas throughout the three week event, ensuring that underage drinking is not taking place. The law enforcement also patrol that area more looking for “Toolies” the older crowd, that usually causes trouble for the Schoolies during those weeks.

Surfers Paradise remains the highest ranked place visited by the high school graduates every year.  That is due to it’s structured activities provided just for the school leavers every year. Millions of people are attracted to this specific destination, because of not only the school leavers, but the local volunteers as well. Although bad publicity has been an issue in the past for this Schoolies Week event. Many of the Schoolies destinations have stepped up the law enforcement, and with the community’s involvement, the school leavers are sure to have the time of their life, without the unnecessary trouble that tends to come with it. Surfers Paradise is beautiful, and is one of the most recommended destinations in Australia to visit during this intriguing Schoolies Week festival. You can’t hang onto your children forever, give them the chance to make life long memories while jumping into adulthood.

We picked that location because of its high involvement by the government and community agencies. They seemed to put a lot of work into keeping the school leavers safe and well entertained. Although, it’s not as easy as it may appear, my advice to the next generation of Schoolies would be, plan ahead.

It is very important that you book your trip ahead of time. It is most likely that everyone else has the same idea you do. Therefore, the accommodation packages tend to fill up quickly. Perhaps, you and a group of friends could reserve a house or apartment together, for, this will cut down on the costs, and ensure your safety as well. There are many accommodations close to the beach and café’s that way you will not have to rely on transportation to get you from place to place.

Another tip I can give you is. We all know Mother Nature is very unpredictable. Therefore, keep all conditions in mind while packing for the trip. Be sure to pack things like, groceries, and non refrigerated items before you leave, for, it will be cheaper, than waiting until you get there. The price of the same items intends to sky rocket, especially during Schoolies week.

Safety is also a thing to keep in your mind at all times during your stay. A number of school leavers have had to spend their money on fines for drinking in public or underage drinking during my stay. However, this could have been easily avoided if they had just respected the law. Another good idea is to leave the address of where you are staying by the phone, in-case of an emergency. Then your group or party can give law enforcement the right addresses if an emergency situation occurs. Everyone knows how crucial it can be to stay in groups while staying away from home, even more so at night. Travel down the well lit streets, even if that means, you have to spend an extra 10 minutes to get back to your destination. Don’t just think of yourself, also think of your friends, and stick together, it will not only ensure your safety but theirs as well.

Since you will be in an unfamiliar territory it is very important that you and your friends look after one another during your stay. Never swim alone, or allow your friends to either. Be sure to check on your friends every so often, especially if they have had a few drinks. Also, be sure that at least one person knows where you are at all times. Remember to be considerate during your stay. Share household chores, such as cooking, driving, and make sure to pitch in with the expenses as well. That will definitely ensure your stay to be a fun one, and avoid possible conflicts, and arguing while you’re there.  The main issue is to have a good time. This will be your first trip away from your family, while venturing into adulthood. Have a good time, but be responsible, wise, and considerable while doing so. Making smart choices while your there will definitely be a good way to make your mark on the long road to come.

It is merely a short distance from Brisbane, Noosa, Coolum, Caloundra, Alexandra Headlands, and Mooloolaba. The accommodations at these specific destinations are amazing.

Noosa is home to the famous Hastings Street, which offers a wide variety of café’s, deli’s, restaurants, and designer boutiques. Noosa National Park is one of the most intriguing parks all around Australia. Observe its gorgeous terrain, and astonishing parentage of wildlife, and not to mention the waves the beaches have to offer there.

Coolum is the perfect destination for school leavers to spend their time surfing, and just having fun. This is a laid back town atmosphere, and everything is within walking distance. Coolum offers world class food, while being surrounded by beauty.

Caloundra is surrounded by 30 kilometers of crystal clear beaches, a fisherman’s paradise. On top of that it is also the home of four amazing mountains, Beerwah, Tibrogargan, Ngungun, and Coonowrin, which are fully protected. This gives you school leavers a perfect opportunity for that bush walking adventure, and a climber’s dream come true.

Alexandra Headlands, better known as Alex is a relaxed town. This town offers a large patrolled surf beach, very popular for surfers. Alexandra Headlands is home to Alex Surf Club and a large skate boarding area. It is possible to view Mount Coolum and the Maroochy River. 

Mooloolaba offers both beachfront and riverfront accommodations. This is the perfect place to enjoy surfing and fishing. It is also home to the famous Underwater World, a great place to learn about, and encounter numerous different types of sea creatures, including sharks. There are also many boutiques, café’s, and shopping plaza’s to choose from.

Brisbane, is the largest city in Queensland. When you think of a city, you think of something like New York City. However, Brisbane’s atmosphere is slow, relaxed, and welcomes new comers with open arms and huge smiles. A reputation most cities would be glad to have. They have slow moving traffic, high-rise buildings, and crowded streets, typical of city life. However, it also offers the beauty of a typical Australian town, like its museums, and botanic gardens. You’re sure to find empty beaches on North Stradbroke Island and an abundance of dolphins around Moreton Island, both are easy to reach from the city.

All of these destinations are unique and have something different to offer, but guaranteed to give you a chance to make the most of your first unsupervised holiday. Whichever destination you choose, you are certain to take home with you an adventure unlike any other. Schoolies Week is a once in a lifetime opportunity you don’t want to let pass you by. Therefore, research all of your possibilities, and whatever you decide upon will give you a week full of experiences, and memories to cherish for years to come. Go get a tan, socialize with your friends, and of course party like you never have before.