Arcadia Australia

We can’t wait to see you all in beautiful New South Wales this Fall. We have some amazing co-curricular activities planned for the upcoming semester. Please take a look below to see just what is on offer.

Please note that as well as the formal events listed below we also hold regular coffee catch ups, dessert bar evenings and local hikes. So make sure you sign up to the Arcadia Australia NSW Local facebook group for any extra events and updates.

Night tour at the Sydney Observatory

Spiritual Australia / Indigenous Australia / Local Australia

There are so many differences between America and Australia, and one difference that really intrigues students is the difference between our constellations in the night sky. In Australia we don’t have the North Star and there is no such thing as the ‘South Star’. So what constellations do we have and why is our night sky different from the Northern Hemisphere?

During this informative evening, we take students to the Sydney Observatory for an evening of star gazing. Students will get the opportunity to gaze through the telescope and spend time in the digital planetarium, hearing first hand from a local guide about how Australians interpret the stars and what the changes in the night sky may mean for them. Students will learn to identify the Southern Cross and will be given the chance to use the observatory’s telescope to view Jupiter and other planets. For any student who loves astronomy, star gazing, indigenous studies or the wilderness this is a perfect evening for you.

Secret Gems of Sydney Walking Tour

Local Australia / Spiritual Australia

There is so much to see and love about Sydney but more often than not students only visit the big ticket places such as the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This day excursion encourages students to look beyond this and to interact with the locals, the art, the architecture and the food. Our staff who live and breathe all things Sydney, will take students on a walking tour uncovering some of the hidden gems Sydney has to offer. These are the places that students really must see, but they are also the places that students would never find on their own.

During the course of the day students will examine some of the great architectural highlights in the heart of the city such as the Goodes Line, the Frank Gehry building at UTS and the ‘Vertical Gardens’ by Patrick Blanc, which was the winner of the best tall building in the world in 2014. Students will also visit a number of hidden gems possibly including the White Rabbit Gallery, which some people say is the best art private gallery in Sydney; the Brett Whitely Studio, the studio of an iconic Australian artist, or even a backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House Company to try on costumes and experience up close the goings on behind a production. Students will be introduced to local food institutions such as Spice Alley, as well as having an opportunity to unleash their inner artist.

This excursion includes lunch and afternoon tea, entrance fees and guided tours.

Invictus Games

Local Australia / Active Australia

This October Sydney will play host to world the Invictus Games. The word ‘Invictus’ is Latin for ‘unconquered’ and embodies the fighting spirit of wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women.

Come and join Arcadia in supporting more than 500 competitors from 18 different nations around the world, as they compete in 11 adaptive sports. What better way to be involved in Australian culture, than through sport. We are sure there will be quite a few Americans for you to cheer on too!

Broken Bay Excursion

Indigenous Australia / Australian Landscapes

Broken Bay is about 1.5hrs north of Sydney by train and sits at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Broken Bay provides the perfect place to take in Australia's natural environment as it is surrounded by bushland and waterways. This weekend excursion will give students the opportunity to recharge and reflect, and to learn about Australia's rich indigenous history.

During the weekend we will explore Ku-ring-gai National Park which is home to Sydney’s most concentrated collection of Aboriginal heritage sites. We will cruise the beautiful Hawkesbury River waterways on a catamaran, accessing indigenous rock art that is only accessible by water. Students will learn about creation stories and about the native plants and animals that are important to the area.

During the weekend students will also be given the opportunity to go on a hike and to learn to throw a boomerang. The evenings will be spent around a bushfire learning to make damper, a form of bread – a very Australian tradition.

Wollongong Coastal Day Excursion

Local Australia / Spiritual Australia / Active Australia / Australian Landscapes

Wollongong is Australia’s 10th largest city and was originally established to harvest the great forests of the area. It subsequently became an industrial town when coal was discovered in the nearby area. Wollongong occupies a narrow strip of coastline, with a mountain escarpment offering spectacular views over the city and its many beaches.

During this full day excursion students will experience the many facets that make up Wollongong, or as the locals affectionately call it, the ‘Gong’. This excursion is perfect or both Wollongong University students as well as those studying in Sydney, as we take you to places that are hard to access without personal transport. It is a day not to be missed.

The excursion will start in Helensburgh with a short walk through the old abandoned train tunnels. If you dare to walk in far enough you will even see some glow worms. From here we will drive to Bald Hill which offers one of the most famous and most spectacular views over Wollongong. We will stop here to have a hot chocolate while we watch the paragliders circle above us before walking along the famous Sea Cliff Bridge. From here we will drive South of Wollongong City to the Nan Tien Temple, which is the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere where we will have a vegetarian feast. We will then drive through the Steel Works and its port, which is a major part of Wollongong's industrial history. We will finally head back into Wollongong to have some time to walk around the lighthouse and the beautiful Wollongong Harbour. Make sure you pack your cameras for the day as the sights are sure to impress.

This excursion includes bus transport, entry fees, lunch and snacks.

Welcome and Farewell Dinners

Local Australia

The Welcome and Farewell dinners are a great opportunity to catch up with your Arcadia Australia Family. They will be arranged according to the groups class and travel schedules. In the past we have held both formal lunches, dinners and even breakfasts. We work together with the students in country to come up with ideas and dates that best suits their needs and wishes. Arcadia will pay for your meals and sign up will be through Facebook. There are often awards, gifts and celebrations given out on the night, so they are an event not to be missed.