It’s easy to blow a lot of money in a new place – especially when studying in the best country in the world (in my humble opinion…). Fortunately, the fun doesn’t have to stop when your cash flow does. There are a number of things to do in Oz for cheap or even free. Here are my tips on where to go when you got no dough!
Sydney: The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk [FREE]
Sydney is known for its picturesque beaches, so why not get to see six kilometers worth of them for free? A paved path guides you across the coast from Bondi Beach, past the famous Bondi Icebergs all the way to Coogee Beach. You’re going to want to take lots of photos along the way – the views are breathtaking!
Melbourne: See the Penguins in St. Kilda [FREE]
Melbourne’s quaint beach town of St. Kilda holds a lot of fun, including an amazing beach, Luna Park, tons of cafés and quirky thrift stores. When you’re feeling stressed out from classes and need to go hang with some cute animals, check out St. Kilda in the evenings to see the little penguins that live below the pier!
Melbourne: Nosh on $4 Pizzas at Asian Beer Café
The heart of Melbourne holds large malls with hundreds of stores to explore, but when you’re looking for a great cheap meal, head over to Melbourne Central and get a pizza from ABC. Pizzas are only four bucks before 4pm with a student ID. They’re filling, inexpensive, and have fun toppings like tandoori chicken and roasted pumpkin at no extra cost.
Gold Coast: Burleigh Heads National Park [FREE]
Get the best views of the Gold Coast from the Burleigh Heads National Park. It’s a brief walk to the top where you can look out over the coast and see the city in the distance. Be sure to snap some photos too; you’ll get the freshest Instagrams everyone will be jealous of.
Cairns: Wade in the Esplanade Lagoon [FREE]
Chances are that any time you’re in Cairns it will be crazy hot, so why not take a relaxing dip in the city’s public swimming pool? It’s a great place to get some sun and look out over the beautiful Pacific Ocean from the pool’s edge. It’s also a popular place for backpackers to gather, so you’ll easily make some new friends there too!
Anywhere: Cheap Flights
If you’re looking to take some weekend trips, discounted airlines like TigerAir and JetStar sell cheap airline tickets within Australia. However, proceed with caution. The tickets prices are cheap, but you’ll get charged extra if you want a specific seat or if your bag exceeds the weight limit, so make sure to read the fine print when buying tickets.
Anywhere: EXPLORE!
E.B. White famously said to “always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder”. You would be amazed how much wonder you can find just wandering. Get away from your screen and simply walk around. Find the perfect sunset lookout, explore a new neighborhood, or take a new route to work or class. Some of the most amazing things you can find may be in the most unknown of areas.
Izzy Sandoval is a TEAN Alum and recent graduate from College of Charleston, she studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia.
