Arcadia Australia

Fall Events for Sydney Region Students

We have some excellent co-curricular activities planned for the Fall semester! Take a look at what's on offer within your program and other regions.

Broken Bay Excursion

Theme: 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.

Note: This weekend is free for all NSW and ACT students and it is all inclusive. It will include transport and one night’s accommodation in Sydney for any students studying at the ANU.

Secrets Gems of Sydney Walking Tour

Theme: Local Sydney / Global and Innovative Sydney

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 and the architecture. Patrick Franklyn our Sydney Internship Director, who lives and breathes all things Sydney, will take our 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 galleries including the White Rabbit Gallery, which some people say is the best art private gallery in Sydney; and also the Brett Whitely Studio, the studio of an iconic Australian artist. Students will be introduced to local institutions such as the Burke St Bakery and the Spice Alley for lunch, as well as having an opportunity to unleash their inner artist.

The price includes lunch and afternoon tea, guided tours of the two galleries and an art lesson.

Wollongong Coastal

Theme: 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 area. It occupies a narrow strip of coastline, with a mountain escarpment offering spectacular views over the city. 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 for both Wollongong University students as well as those studying further afield as we take you to places that are hard to access without personal transport. It’s a day not to be missed.

The excursion will start with a walk along the famous Sea Cliff Bridge, followed by a stop at Bulli Beach for a coffee and a swim before heading to the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere, for a vegetarian lunch. We will then drive through the Steel Works and its port, which is a major part of Wollongong's industrial history. For those students that are keen and have the energy we will also hike up Sublime Point. This hike is not for the faint hearted as it does involve a few ladders, so please be warned!

Note: there will be two drop off points during the day both for those students wanting to do the Sublime Point hike, and for those who would prefer to explore the city or head home.

The cost for the excursion includes bus transport, entry fees, lunch and snacks.

Dreamtime Astronomy

Theme: Spiritual Australia / Indigenous 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 hear first hand from a local indigenous guide about how the Australian Aboriginal people interpret the stars and what the changes in the night sky 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.

Please note we can only take 15 students through at one time. We will therefore add extra evenings as needed depending on the demand for this event.

Bondi to Coogee Walk and Aussie BBQ

The Bondi to Coogee Walk is a popular 6km (3.7miles) walk along the coastline of Sydney. It features stunning views, beaches, cliffs and rock pools. The Arcadia group meets at Bondi Beach around 9am and does the walk together all the way to Coogee. The walk normally takes about 1.5 – 2hrs depending on the size of the group, its fitness level and how many swims we stop for. At the end of the walk we have a fabulous Aussie BBQ complete with kangaroo, lamingtons and other Aussie “treats” such as a hot chip sandwich!

The walk is a great opportunity for the students to catch up with the Arcadia friends they made during orientation and to see the Arcadia staff and chat about how you are settling into life in Australia. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to learn to use Sydney’s public transport system whilst also experiencing an iconic part of the NSW coastline.

We encourage all students to participate – you do not need to be super fit to complete this walk. This walk is for everyone. For those students who don’t want to do the walk, then we would still encourage you to join us at Coogee Beach for the BBQ.

Sign up for this trip will be via facebook.

Welcome and Farewell Dinners

Please note for the farewell and welcome dinners in NSW these will be arranged according the students class and travel schedules. In the past we have held both formal lunches, dinners and even breakfasts. We always consult the group on what they would prefer. These dinners will be free and sign up will be through facebook.

ANU / ANUIP Students

Please note that ANU and ANUIP students will be offered the opportunity to attend all the NSW excursions and events, but we will also hold customized day trips in Canberra based on the students’ timetable and interests. These events are all organized once the students are in country. In the past Canberra events have included a local hike, a bike ride around the lake, a trip up Black Mountain Tower, a visit to Old Parliament House, a visit to Cockington Green (miniature world), the Portrait Gallery, meandering through Western Park to see kangaroos in the wild, the Australian War Memorial, which is one of the world’s best war museums, a trip to the Canberra zoo and a visit to the food trucks in Braddon. The possibilities in Canberra are endless.

Australia Wide

Byron Bay Learn to Surf Weekend

If you've always wanted to see the incredible Northern New South Wales coast and the Easternmost Point of Australia then a quick flight up to the Gold Coast is for you!

• 2 x Transfers to and from Campus (Gold Coast/Brisbane)
• 2 nights accommodation at Byron Bay's premier surf hostel
• All meals included.
• 2 x Surf Sufaris (suitable for all abilities all equipment included)
  Entry into the Semi Pro Cup (Fun surf contest medals and trophies for the winning teams and individual prizes for most improved surfer, longest wave, surfer of the weekend, best Wipeout and most improved surfer.
• Semi Pro Cup awards ceremony
• 1 x guided lighthouse tour
• Free beach games to use
  • 15 % discount on all hire at our surf hire shop includes bikes, surfboards, snorkel gear
• Opportunity to book additional activities such as Kayaking with Whales and Dolphins (extra costs incurred)
• Free surf photos for each individual to take away and we also do a group video edit of the whole Weekend.

This is an amazing trip and well worth looking for a cheap flight up to the amazing Gold Coast - why not make it a long weekend and explore the beaches too!