An Aussie Summer

By Tara Brougham, University of Melbourne, Australia

One of the benefits of going on exchange in the Southern Hemisphere is that their seasons are switched around – so your exchange tends to be an entire year, with a long summer break across December and January.

Although this means longer away from home, it also gives you much more time to really settle into your host city, and even explore more of your new country.

When Melbourne’s summer holiday came around, I decided to make the most of my 4 month break and go travelling – a great way to see the rest of Australia while living here for the year. I cannot recommend this enough, if you find yourself with the opportunity – I have learnt nearly as much in the last few months of backpacking as during my actual exchange.

So, if you do one day find yourself with a few months to spare while on exchange in Australia, a backpacking trip up the coast is a good way to spend it. This post aims to give you an idea of the places you could visit, and some handy tips I learnt along the way.

Beginning in Melbourne, I caught a six hour greyhound bus up to Australia’s capital – Canberra. An interesting stop for me as a politics student and with other exchange student friends to visit – but on the whole, if you are after the quintessential Australian summer, this is not the place to spend it. 

Therefore, most people’s first stops on their east coast trip is Sydney – definitely not one to miss. I spent ten days in total exploring Sydney, staying in both Coogee Beach and Haymarket, closer to the city centre. This was a good idea, as Sydney’s public transport is far from as efficient as Melbourne’s and it meant I was well located to explore each area while staying there. Aside from the obvious trips to see the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach, Sydney offered much more to explore. My personal favourites include the walk from Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay and beach hopping all along this coast, as well as exploring the museums and NSW Art Gallery. 

If you have time in Sydney, it is also worth making the two hour train journey west to see the Blue Mountains, and the famous Three Sisters. The main town here is called Katoomba, famous for both its gorgeous hikes and a cafe run by a cult – something for everyone. 

Next, my favourite stop along the East Coast, Byron Bay. I spent a week here, though could easily have stayed for longer. As it is such a backpacker hub, it was easy to meet people and I ended up becoming friends with a group of German girls for the week. We spent it relaxing on the beach, taking a surf lesson, doing the iconic lighthouse hike at sunrise and of course, singing our hearts out in the piano bar. 

The next unmissable stop along the east coast is K’Gari, a sand island just north of the beachy Noosa. I booked a two night tour here (though you can visit for just a day), and it was a sure highlight of the summer. All the tours are similar, visiting spots such as Eli Creek, the Champagne Pools and Lake McKenzie. Expect a few days of incredible scenery and lots of laughs and car singing, as you drive around the island in 4WDs with others from your tour group. 

Other popular stops along the coast include Surfer’s Paradise, the Whitsunday Islands (think of the prettiest beach you can imagine, and it’s prettier) and Cairns – a good base in North Queensland for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

Overall, Australia’s East Coast has heaps to offer in terms of adventure, beaches and social travelling – a great place to explore if you find yourself able to have an Aussie Summer.