Arcadia Australia

Spring 2018 Events for New South Wales Students

We have some amazing co-curricular activities planned for the upcoming 2018 Spring semester! Take a look below to see just what is on offer in New South Wales this Spring.

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.

ARCADIA Australia Signature Excursion - Come and Conquer the Capital

Local Australia / Spiritual Australia / Active Australia / Australian Landscapes / Indigenous Australia

Come and Conquer the Capital of Australia. This three day excursion will show you many of Canberra's highlights including The National Museum of Australia, Telstra Tower, NASA's Deep Space Communication Complex, and you can test out your athletic skills at Australian Institute of sport.
We will take you to a moving last post ceremony at the Australian War memorial and we will also take the time to visit Tidbinbilla Nature reserve to spot koalas, emus, kangaroos and the very rare platypus in the wild.

We will explore the Australian Parliamentary Triangle at night (including rare full access to Old Parliament House), and we will have dinner by the lake at the Night Noodle market as part of the amazing Enlighten Festival which showcases spectacular architectural projections, international installations, live entertainment and food galore as Canberra is turned into a nocturnal playground.

There is no better time to visit Canberra!

During the weekend we take you on a beautiful hike up Mount Ainslie to show you how an American town planner's vision for a Capital city has been brought to life. It’s a great history lesson for all Americans and will showcase just how much influence one American’s dream has had on Australia’s capital city.

This excursion will cater to all students as it explores Australia's Capital City and its rich diversity of culture, sport, politics, art and nature. The cost for the weekend includes transport from Sydney or Canberra (Note: Melbourne or Queensland based students will need to book flights into Canberra), dorm style accommodation, all meals and entrance fees.

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.

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 and interesting 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.

Please note we can only take 16 students through at one time. We will therefore add extra evenings as needed depending on the demand for this event.

ATTEND an Aussie Sporting Event

Local Australia / Active Australia

Come and experience a great Australian pastime; watch a Rugby Union game with Arcadia staff who will be there to help you learn about the history and traditions, understand the rules, and get to know the background of some of the players. What better way to be involved in Australian culture than at one of Sydney’s biggest sporting stadiums!

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.

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.

WOLLONGONG Coastal

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. In NSW 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.

ANU Students

Please note that ANU 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 local hikes, 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 Australian War Memorial (which is one of the world’s best war museums), a day trip to Tidbinbilla to look for koalas, platypus’ and kangaroos; and dinner at the food trucks in Braddon. The possibilities in Canberra are endless.