Activities / Immersion
Our local staff arrange various activities during the semester designed to help immerse you in the local culture. These activities are included in your semester program. In addition, if you have a specific interest or hobby, your Sydney-based TEAN Resident Director will be able to point you in the right direction. Below are examples of previous activities arranged for students. Note that activities change each semester.
In addition to the TEAN-organized events, to make sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities, our local staff send out frequent emails letting you know what is happening in Sydney. Ranging from community events to music festivals, we tap you into the local culture right from the start.
RUGBY LEAGUE
In Australia, each state has a sport that dominates. In New South Wales, rugby league is the dominant sport. We join the local crowds to see a game, and your local TEAN staff provide an explanation of the rules.
Sydney Opera House Tour
Go beyond the typical tourist experience of simply taking a photo of the Sydney Opera House by going inside the famous structure for a behind-the-scenes tour. Our guide will show us the iconic opera house’s secrets as we discover places usually closed to the public and explore the impressive theater that hosts more than 1,600 performances a year.
Learn to Surf
Australians love the beach – being an island nation with beautiful coastlines and 85% of the population living within an hour of a beach, it’s not surprising. Surfing is the favorite pastime of Aussie beachgoers so we introduce you to this sport early on in the semester with a lesson to get you started riding the waves.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
During the semester, you’ll be busy with class and exploring your local area on the weekends. With this in mind, TEAN encourages students to get to know New Zealand better or travel to even more exotic destinations with excursions organized during school breaks. Participating in these excursions will depend on your program dates and semester abroad.
SYDNEY WEEKENDER
From the world famous blue water and white sands of Bondi Beach to the iconic Opera House & Harbour Bridge, this adventure is the perfect way to experience the diversity of Sydney. During your long weekend, you will get a birds eye view of the city from the Sydney Tower Eye, explore the Botanical Gardens, hit the waves with a surf lesson, cruise along the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk, and enjoy a spectacular dinner cruise on Sydney Harbor, and so much more. This weekend, designed to expose you to the life of a Sydneysider, will leave you wanting more of Australia’s largest city!
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BYRON WEEKENDER
The laid-back coastal city of Byron Bay is paradise for those who want to experience a vibrant and eclectic community of people and beautiful beaches. Surfing is a favorite past time for the locals and tourists alike. Students will have the opportunity to kayak with the dolphins, visit a local organic farm, and check out the farthest eastern point of Australia and the famous Byron Bay lighthouse.
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