Arcadia Australia

So you’ve decided to study in Australia over the winter?

With so many choices ... Welcome to paradise! 

Wanting some relief from the chilly winter winds? The Whitsundays in Tropical North Queensland have average daily temps of 25 degrees or 77 Fahrenheit. The weather is clear, the skies blue and water temps still nice enough to snorkel. Wanting more greenery? Head further north to Cairns or Port Douglas where the Daintree rainforests will greet you warmly.

Missing White Christmas? Have Christmas in July! Yes it does actually snow in Australia and we even have ski fields in Northern Victoria and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. Check out Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Perisher, Thredbo, and Mount Buller. Or skip next door to our neighbours in New Zealand.

Remember Dory from Finding Nemo? She could speak Whale! Winter is the perfect time to spot whales off the coast of Australia – we have more than 45 species of whales and dolphins with an expected number of 2400 - 2500 expected to migrate to southern waters! NSW: Try Eden and Port Stephens. QLD: Hervey Bay, Whitsundays. Vic: Warnambool, WA: Exmouth, Albany Tas: Bruny Island

Winter is also the best time for hiking in Australia – no searing heat that will strip the moisture from your body in an instant and the extra advantage: snakes tend to be slower and sleepier so there is less chance you’ll meet our slinky friends. Thinking local? Try the national parks nearby to the big cities – within an hour of two from town you’re in a whole different world. Thinking big? Try Uluru or Kakadu – still hot during the day, but it’s a comfortable hot – not a deathly melting hot like the summer. Why not turn it into a road trip!

Need more culture: Find it in Darwin at the Beer Can Regatta – yep, races of boats, created with empty beer cans. Only in Oz moment number…. 1 million and 3? Or try the Henley-on-Todd Regatta the only boat race in history which was cancelled due to water actually being IN the river. Usually participants ‘run’ their boats by sticking their legs out the bottom of their holey boat Fred Flinstone style! For traditional culture in the outback there is Arnhem Land’s Garma Festival with lessons on bushcraft and digeridoo lessons in the month of August.

Whatever you wish for there’s somewhere in Australia that can provide it… get creative, buy a mystery flight, hire a car, get a campervan. Get some friends together or try a solo trek but GET OUT THERE!