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Study Tours

Varied Programs of Study Tours for Society Members

The Geographical Society of New South Wales supports a varied program of study tours that open up opportunities for members of the general public as well as specialist geographers to see and experience places in ways that might not otherwise be possible.

Over several decades, the Society’s study tours have visited almost every part of the globe, and exciting plans are underway to provide even more groundbreaking study tours in the future.

The Society’s study tours are currently organised by several experienced leaders.

Heather Rushton

Heather Rushton

Heather Rushton, Tours Manager at ACR, is a keen traveller. Her first extended overseas trip was in 1982 and since then she has visited over 120 countries on all seven continents. A ‘veteran’ of 20 Geographical Society Study Tours with Colin Sale, Heather understands the appeal of more unusual destinations. Although Heather’s background is English and History teaching rather than Geography, she has a great interest in the way that environment has shaped and continues to shape the way people live. Since 2014 Heather has led tours to diverse locations from the Caribbean to the Arctic Circle. Copies of her Newsletters with information about upcoming tours can be viewed here. To receive information about these tours contact Heather by email at heather@acrtravel.com.au. 

Colin Sale

Colin Sale

Colin Sale, the Senior Group Tours Manager at ACR Travel, has been organizing and leading group tours to all parts of the world since 1975, and most particularly, since 1988, the last 58 Study Tours programmed by the Geographical Society of New South Wales. Besides having been a Geography teacher in High Schools in Australia, England and Canada, and a Lecturer in Teachers Colleges, Sydney University, and at a college in USA, he has been travelling the world for much of his life, and has explored more than 120 countries. Colin recently announced his intention to step down from leading any more study tours, but he expects to be overseeing all future Study Tours that are operated by ACR International Travel & Tours for the people who have replaced him – Heather Rushton and Stephen Codrington.

Upcoming Study Tours

Lying at the cross roads of Europe and Asia are the Caucasus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. From the shores of the Caspian Sea and historic Baku, through the vineyards of Kakheti and into the spectacular Caucasus Mountains, the tour will be following in the footsteps of Silk Road traders, Crusader Knights and Ottoman Princes. The region is packed with legends, stunning scenery and hospitable people.

A few places have become available on this tour. Please contact Heather for more details heather@acrtravel.com.au

Causasus 1 Causasus 2 Causasus 3

Japan is undeniably beautiful during the time of Sakura (cherry blossoms), but it is equally so when Koyo (colourful leaves) abound. This tour is designed to showcase Japan in Autumn.

Departing 5th November, the tour will start in Tokyo and travel across Honshu by bus and fast train visiting castles, gardens, temples, cities and historic villages, all enhanced by fabulous displays of autumn colour. Included in the tour are well known places such as Mt Fuji, Takayama, Kanazawa, Hioroshima, Miyajima, Osaka and delightful Kyoto. Accommodation will be in both modern and traditional style hotels. 

Contact heather@acttravel.com.au for details

Japan Image 1

Japan Image 2

Japan Image 3

The north east states are very different from other parts of India and worthy of the claim to be ‘Paradise Unexplored’. Its stunning mountain scenery, cultural diversity, National Parks and (mostly) agrarian lifestyle make this a fascinating part of the world.

 The 23 day tour commences with a day in Delhi before flying into the blue hills of Manipur. Based in Imphal, the group will take day excursions to beautiful Lake Lotak and other scenic and cultural locations in the district. Passing through the terraced mountains, the tour then moves on to Kohima in Nagaland, site of the vibrant Hornbill Festival that showcases the traditions of the different tribal groups.

The tour then descends to the lowlands and crosses into the tea state of Assam, dominated by the mighty Brahmaputra River. Wildlife sightings are assured on safaris in Kaziranga NP, home of the Asian One Horned Rhinoceros.

The group will then fly north and climb into the Himalayas to incredible Darjeeling where there will be visits to a tea plantation, a Tibetan refuge and a ride on the Toy Train. The tour then enters picturesque Sikkim, the ‘handsome brother’ among the ‘seven pretty sisters’ (states). The tour concludes in Kolkata before returning to Australia.

A reasonable level of fitness is required for this tour especially as much of the time is spent at altitudes of over 2000m asl and cities located in the mountains mean that there are plenty of steps. 

Contact heather@acrtravel.com.au for details.

North East India Image 1

North East India Image 2

North East India Image 3

 

Plans for this tour have commenced. Expressions of interest are invited.

Sicily

Malta

Cyprus

Past Study Tours

Colin Sale has led 58 Study Tours with more than 1000 people having participated, and with many becoming regulars undertaking more than 10 tours each. His more recent past tours include:

2011 South America study tour
2011 East Canada and New England
2008 China, Balkans and India tours - Newsletter No. 98
2009 Spain and Portugal tour - Newsletter No. 99
2010 Indian Ocean study tour - Newsletter No. 100
2011 South America study tour
2011 East Canada and New England
2012 Myanmar, Yunnan and Tibet
2012 Scandinavia
2012 Mekong in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
2013 Western USA National Parks
2013 Ethiopia and East Africa
2014 Bangladesh

To access and download these study tour reports go to our resource library.

For reports on Colin’s earlier Study Tours see the Society Newsletters. A list of all study tours that Colin has led is available here.

Heather Rushton has now led five Geographical Society tours.

2014 - South Korea and Mongolia 

2015 - (March) South India

2015 - (Nov) Japan

2016 - Tropical South America 

2017 - Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland 

2018 - North East India

2018 - Namibia/Botswana

2019 - Sri Lanka

To see reports about any of these tours please go to our resource library.

Stephen Codrington has led five study tours for the Geographical Society as follows:

            • 1986 - China (via Thailand, Burma and Hong Kong)

            • 1989 - Papua New Guinea and Indonesia (Irian Jaya)

            • 1991 - USSR (Russia, Estonia and Uzbekistan)

            • 1996 - Myanmar (Burma)

            • 2015 - North Korea and China

To see reports about any of these tours please go to our resource library.

For more information about Stephen and the places he has travelled (including his travel diaries) please got to his website: http://www.stephencodrington.com/Hub/Travel_Diaries.html