1) If you don’t want to live in halls don’t be afraid of heading out a couple of weeks early and looking for a place – there is plenty around and a ton of temporary accommodation available as well
2) If you play any sport GO TO UNIGAMES, it was one of the most fun things I did all year, even if you don’t play a sport, make something up and go anyway
3) Make the most of Paddington market on Saturday mornings, I always found something to buy when I went and even if you don’t find anything in the market, that part of Oxford Street is really cool for shopping as well
4) Obviously it will vary for different degrees but with history I found the history department was very flexible and conducive to help you make the most out of your courses – capitalise on this!
5) Don’t be sucked in by the postcard lure of Bondi Beach, people who go there are tourists! It’s worth a look, but if you want a real Aussie beach head to Maroubra for some good surf, Coogee for the banter or Manly for a lazy afternoon
6) Having been up the East coast, beaches around Melbourne and Western Australia, I still think that the best Australian beaches are on the West coast, if you get a chance to do a tour from Perth I would recommend it!
7) Definitely do the typical hot spots – the east coast, Melbourne, Ayer’s Rock etc but if you can there are some really cool low key towns dotted north and south of Sydney which are really fun and lots to do
Australia is a MASSIVE country and you’ll have your time and money sucked up pretty easily in terms of travelling, but if you can swing it, make the most of New Zealand and Fiji being a short plane trip away, especially if you don’t know when you’ll next be on that side of the world, might as well make the most!
9) Have a BBQ on the beach for Christmas dinner, cliched but FUN
10) You’ll be given a bus map during orientation – carry this with you at all times, it will be your bible in Sydney to get you everywhere and anywhere, also buy travel ten bus cards to get around, cheaper!
