The top 7 things to do while studying down under

Moving internationally to go to university is one of the biggest decisions you will make. There’s so much to think about besides just your course. Where will you live? What is the weather like? What is the food like? Are the people nice? 

But the biggest question is what will you do in your free time? Taking the opportunity to be a tourist in your new country while studying is an important learning experience that is worth exploring. 

One of the great tourism (and living) regions in the world is the Australian state of Victoria. Victoria has the perfect mix of urban, rural and coastal experiences to make everyone happy. It also has Deakin University, one of the top 1% of universities in the world. 

‘There are many exciting and unique things to do near Deakin campuses to get the most of your Australian university experience.’ 

Deakin’s largest campus is in Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. There are also campuses in the regional cities of Geelong and Warrnambool, on the south coast of Australia. With this diversity, there are many exciting and unique things to do near Deakin campuses to get the most of your Australian university experience. Here are just a few. 

Top 7 things to do near a Deakin campus 

1. Explore Melbourne, one of the world’s most livable cities and the 5th best city for students. Deakin’s Burwood Campus is a short trip from the city centre. Melbourne is a welcoming multi-cultural city. There is a festival almost every weekend that celebrates different cultures, food, events, sports, and more. There are so many great restaurants, from cheap eats to fine dining, that you can try. There are galleries and museums to explore. The architecture is amazing and you might discover some old abandoned places. 

‘Living in Melbourne, Geelong or Warrnambool will give you access to some of the country’s most beautiful, relaxing and unique parks.’ 

 2. Have a picnic in a park with new friends you meet at university. Justin Lawson, a lecturer in Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development says that connecting with nature has physical and mental health benefits. ‘There’s a sense of awe to being in nature,’ he says. ‘There’s research about how experiencing natural environments can make you more alert, yet also calm. You don’t necessarily have to take a hardcore camping trip into a national park to reap these rewards, The local park costs you nothing.’ Living in Melbourne, Geelong or Warrnambool will give you access to some of the country’s most beautiful, relaxing and unique parks. 

3) See some unusual animals. Southern Victoria is a great place to see some of the world’s most amazing wildlife that Australia is known for. Seeing a kangaroo or a koala in the wild is an experience you will never forget. Warrnambool and the rural areas near Geelong and Melbourne are ideal for seeing them! But there are also places like the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary near Melbourne or the Werribee Zoo near Geelong where you can get close to them. 

4) Go to an Australian Rules Football game. The locals call it footy. It is a sport that started in Melbourne. Deakin has a partnership with the Geelong Cats of the Australian Football League, and as part of that partnership, international students have access to free tickets to some games. 

5) Take a road trip to see the 12 Apostles. The drive from Deakin’s Geelong campuses to Warrnambool is along the world-famous Great Ocean Road. One of the highlights of this scenic coastal journey is the 12 Apostles, a rock formation in the Bass Strait. Don’t have a car? No worries! A bus service takes passengers along the Great Ocean Road regularly. 

6) Learn a new language – Australian slang! Australians speak English but it is their own version of it. These international students played a game of ‘learn the Aussie slang’ while living in on-campus accommodation at Deakin. 

7) Explore the rest of Australia. The southeast corner of Australia is incredible and there are so many things to do. But maybe you want to see more while you are here. There are easy flights from Melbourne or Geelong to many of Australia’s other highlights like Uluru or the Great Barrier Reef. 

Visiting new places, meeting new people and experiencing other cultures is an important part of learning. Being able to do everything that Australia offers while studying at Deakin University is a life-changing experience. Why not make Deakin the next step in your journey? 

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Learn more about our Melbourne Burwood Campus 

Learn more about our Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus 

Learn more about our Geelong Waterfront Campus 

Learn more about our Warrnambool Campus