TAP students got a workout at Franks Gym with some boxercise from Joel the personal trainer.

Punching, kicking, skipping and flexing was this afternoon’s activity. Joel had the TAPs start off with a few jabs and kicks then got their heart rate up with some skipping exercises followed by an abdominal work out. They definitely burnt off the calories from the bowling lunch on Tuesday!

The TAPs have been loving their surfing lessons in Byron Bay!

The TAPs are embracing the Byron Bay lifestyle and heading out to catch some breaks… and wow are they catching a lot!

Underwater World at Mooloolaba was the place to be on a Monday afternoon.

What activity is there to do when it’s raining? Visit the creatures that lurk under the sea! The students were amazed at the large sharks and the lazy crocodile. They were especially mesmerised by the different seahorses that floated effortlessly and gracefully in the water. They were not too keen on the crawly creatures though!

The TAP students had a visit from Daniel and a few of his cold-blooded friends today.

Some students cheered, others cried and some just hugged their bags and cowered in the corner… there is always some reaction when you pull out a snake from a bag! The most popular reaction is the worried smile as you can see in most of the pictures below. Daniel gave an informative chat about the reptiles then each student had a hold or a touch of the lizards and snakes… but not without a few wardrobe malfunctions! All the students got to take a picture with their favourite snake or lizard which was great as for some it is their last week in Australia. They will go home with a few fond memories and photos to prove it.

The new TAPs learnt to surf today with some amazing results!

It was a slow start with wetsuit and board fittings but finally the students headed to the beach for their first lesson of surfing. After a thorough lesson by the instructors it was time to test how well the students listened. To the instructors surprise the students started surfing almost straight away and the first timers seem to catch more waves than the old skool TAPs! A special mention to Takeshi who ripped it up today! Watch that dude make it to the pro circuit!

TAP students learnt how to save a life at the beach and use the different equipment that the Australian surf life savers use.

They had fun getting wet and racing around like Bondi Rescue for the afternoon!

Byron Bay TAPs enjoyed kayaking through the waves on a gorgeous winters day last week! The fun never stops for these students!

TAP students visited the heart of Coolum today.

Some did a spot of shopping for Australian Souvenirs while others hung out on the beach and admired the view. Some Japanese students collected their own souvenir of beach sand to bring back home to their family. They said they have never seen sand so small and fine. It was a relaxing afternoon and a great start to the week!

The TAP students enjoyed a Friday afternoon barbecue by the Noosa River.

There was plenty to do by the water’s edge on Friday. Soccer, Volleyball, playground, sunbathing, bird feeding, swimming… and eating! For half the TAP students it was time to say goodbye to their new-found friends and to Australia. It was a sad affair as the sun went down, the full moon came up and students said their last goodbyes. We will miss you all!Hope to see you back in Noosa next year!

TAP tennis students are enjoying learning from their professional tennis coach John at the luxurious Noosa Springs Resort Tennis Club.

Students say they are learning a lot and really improving their technique… they are not too keen to do push ups though! TAP Tennis students also enjoy learning to play tennis in Australia at this time of year as their country is in the middle of summer and it is too hot outside to play and concentrate on their technique.They love their coach John. They say he is funny and the girls think he is handsome. Don’t miss out on the best professional and fun training next year!

The Noosa River gave the TAPs a winding today as they attempted their first paddle boarding experience.

Even though it was a soft coastal breeze, some could not keep their balance and took a surprising dip in the river. Others headed in all directions but eventually they all made it back to shore. The adventurous TAPs grabbed a board and went back out for 2nds while the others made ‘man castles’ on the beach… cheeky boys!!

It was all spikes, digs, hits and misses today at Nomads volleyball court.

The sand was soft, the ball was hard and the students were set out to win the competition. The TAP students were divided into four teams; Team 1, B Team, C Team and Tim Tam. They all had game but, like the name says, Team 1 ended up as team 1 and won the tournament by only 2 points! We also spotted a TAP koala taking a quiet nap during the tournament… so cute!

TAPs went for a scenic walk in the Noosa National Park today.

Students walked to Dolphin Point then half of them trekked to Hells Gate while the other half walked down to Noosa Main Beach and relaxed. Both parties were desperately trying to spot koalas, dolphins and whales but they all seemed to be hiding today. Better luck next time!