Studies in Australia are not only about classroom lectures and assignments. Australia has a lot more to offer all its students, including to the international ones, than just textbook type of education. In Australia, a great emphasis is put on the importance of engaging in a variety of extra-curricular activities for the overall growth and development of a student’s personality. Involvement in these activities enables a student to develop a stronger bond with his/her classmates, improve the teamwork and understanding between them and shape their career and future. At the same time, it also encourages a student to find his/her passion and channelize his/her energy and creativity in that direction. Nightlife and leisure activities for International students in Australia.

Nightlife and leisure activities for International students in Australia

Emphasis is laid on each student finding his/her calling and working towards perfecting it. Australia offers a variety of activities like orchestras, music bands, debating groups, performing theatres, a variety of thrilling sports, fundraising activities, and community services, etc. There are a variety of students associations also that help international students to actively participate in their campus and social life.

Since as international students, you’re always on the lookout for the smallest of opportunities for having a good time, it’s important to grab every single option.

Here, we present to you some of the nightlife and leisure activities that you can indulge in:

  1. Clubs or societies of one’s interest and passion

As an international student, one can start by joining any club or group of his/her choice. There are a variety of clubs and societies dedicated to sports, art, culture, politics, and book, etc. One just has to enroll in a club of interest and meet like-minded people with whom one can gel comfortably. Joining clubs or societies of one’s home country is also a good start, for students who find it a bit difficult to immediately mix with the Australian or students of other countries. Most of the universities host a lot of events throughout the year, so an international student will always have his/her calendar full of fun activities to do. Campus tours, exhibitions, boat cruises, food festivals are some of the many events where an international student can let his/her hair down and just enjoy as well as learn something new and exciting. Apart from these, a lot of welcome parties are organized by the facilities or councils of the universities, where international students can socialize with their peers and have a memorable time.

  1. Engaging in Sports

Australians love sports, naturally almost all colleges and universities have specific sports programs that the students can avail of. Beach volleyball, basketball, rowing, cricket, hockey, etc. are amongst some of the many sports that are popular in Australia.

  1. Traveling

Australia is a huge, vibrant, and colorful country. Students can discover this by exploring this great country by traveling through the length and breadth of this country. Getting to know the country through its people, culture, food, art, and music is a must and for that traveling around and meeting people is the first important step. Students can team up and organize trips on their own or they can take the help of their student support staff if needed. Australia is blessed with a variety of lovely beaches, rugged outback, huge rain forests, and an almost unending wilderness. Exploring it is possible through various recreational and leisure activities like boating, biking, hiking, swimming, surfing, etc.

  1. Fundraising and volunteering programs

Another great way to socialize with people is by taking part in fundraising and volunteering programs. Programs for the mentally handicapped, the deaf and dumb, victims of domestic violence or abuse, etc. are prevalent and one just has to enroll in a specific program to volunteer and contribute towards society building. This is a great way of traveling from place to place, interacting with several people, and working diligently for a noble cause.

Students can also work on environmental issues like the problems of littering, the importance of reusing, recycle and reducing waste, and many more such issues. This will enable the student to develop his/her interpersonal skills, convincing, and communicating skills at the same time, the student will be able to study these problems from a closer angle. Opportunities are also available for an international student to volunteer and work for the betterment of Australia’s huge and impressive wildlife.

Nightlife activities

Australia is a land of people who love to party. So naturally, having exciting nightlife is one of the main attractions. Whether it be a corner bar, a happening club, a DJ event or a rock-and-roll hang out, Australia has it all! So for the party animals, Australia is a haven! With so many choices to choose from, one is almost spoiled for choice. From a Spanish-themed bar to Balkan music nights to a hand-on-food menu, Australia offers this and more.

Following is a brief about the various Nightlife attractions in some of the most popular places of Australia:

  • Sydney:  is famous for the seaside place Bondi which is a hit amongst the bathers. Another attraction is the side-bar where the party goes on till the wee hours of the morning. Some of the best bands can be found playing there and then there are always those exciting beach parties which one just can’t afford to miss!
  • Perth: is home to several backpacker hostels, clubs, and bars, where students can socialize over cheap beer. Villa where DJs from around the world play music to the frenzied crowd, to Amplifier which boasts of live music and dance parties to the Deen, which is reported to be one of the biggest pubs showcasing nine exquisite bars and also entertains in the form of both electronic and dance music are some of the exciting options in Perth.
  • Byron Bay: Has the Treehouse, which is famous for its awesome live music and the popular Woody’s surf. Both these promise to give a great time.
  • Melbourne: offers live music, street art and are one of the coolest places to party.
  • Darwin: is home to Shenanigans, an Irish pub, and Chilli’s Backpackers, and both are frequented by the backpackers and offer cheap beer. Another popular club is Discovery, which is also reputed as Darwin’s largest club when one can unwind and just chill out!
  • Gold Coast: offers one of the biggest parties around the surfer’s paradise. It is home to several clubs, including the Wicked club and Hangover, etc. The music is great and the venue promises a night to remember.
  • Magnetic Island: hosts the famous Full moon party, where thousands of revelers, their bodies painted, are known to swirl and dance to the tune of DJs, both local and international.
  • Nimbin: is one of its kind hippie towns, which is at its extravagant best during the Mardi Gras, where the little town and its streets are swarming with colorful floats and people in colorful costumes. It is much like a fun carnival where everyone is seen dancing to the tunes of the bongo drums. Definitely a place worthy of a visit for an unforgettable experience.
  • Cairns: is sure to give one a hangover, since it is home to many hostel bars like Nomads, Gilligan where backpackers and students on a budget can enjoy the chill and cheap beer. There are also some famous pubs where one can hang out and have a swell time.
  • Airlie Beach and Whitsundays: The obvious hit in this party town is the party cruise around the Whitsundays, which boasts of bars on the boat along with a slide to add to the fun and excitement in the crowd. Of course, the party does not end once the boat ride is over and many are seen visiting the Mama Africa Bar to continue their party of booze and fun.

Leisure activities

Australia boasts of several leisure activities which are a mixture of both indoor as well as outdoor activities, be it swimming, hiking, sports, music, shopping, painting, listening to music, and food festivals. Some of these are described in the following paragraphs below:

  • Outdoor activities: Australia is blessed with clear skies and a great climate. Naturally, when in Australia, a student can enjoy a lot of outdoor leisure activities. Sports, traveling, hiking, surfing, swimming, horse-riding, bicycling, bushwalking, barbecue parties are some of the most popular leisure activities that are possible in Australia. While other students can go and watch movies in theatres, and some may like visiting galleries, museums, and operas or ballets. To indulge the child in you, the student can also visit any one of the numerous theme parks, zoos, and amusement parks sprawled across the country.
  • Indoor activities: Of course, not all are for these types of outdoor activities and some would rather spend their time indoors listening to music or meditating or painting or reading. Many Australians also love to spend their leisure time playing video or board games at home so students can also indulge in the same.
  • Water activities: Most Australians live near the coastline. Naturally, a lot of exciting water activities thrive here and one who loves water just cannot help but indulge in the various water sports that Australia has to offer. Be it surfing, sailing, diving, kayaking, or snorkeling, Australia has it all.
  • Sports: is another passion amongst Australia and cricket, tennis, rugby, and football continue to remain their favorite sports.
  • Shopping: is another huge experience for the shoppers with all major cities and towns having malls, supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. Some of the famous stores are Aldi, Woolworths, Kmart, Big W, etc. Many also offer great discounts and are a favorite with students, who have to survive on a tight budget. Some malls also offer late night shopping up to 9 pm; while some supermarkets and convenience stores are open 24 x 7.
  • Food: for the foodies, Australia is one haven! Australia, being home to a variety of people, also offers a variety of food. Be it the pho of Vietnam, the espresso coffee of Europe or the hot and spicy curries of India- Australia has it all. World cuisine is available at most of the restaurants, cafes, and takeaway joints in the country. Besides these, Australia’s very own cuisine like the meat pie, the ANZAC biscuits are also readily available and deserve to be tasted at least once.

Unique activities: Some of the other unique activities that a student can indulge in are as follows:

  • Sailing at Whitsunday islands.
  • Fireworks at Sydney harbor on New Year’s Eve: Sydney harbor puts together a firework-like no other to welcome the New Year. It is a spectacular show telecast around the globe through televisions, but nothing can quite compare with watching it live. So if you are in or around Sydney around New Year’s Eve, the Sydney harbor is the best place to be!
  • Diving with white sharks: Port Lincoln offers one an experience of a lifetime! Swimming underwater with a great white shark is not exactly everyone’s idea of fun, but for the thrill-lovers, it is sure to be on their bucket list, and what better way to tick it off your bucket list than just dive in there and swim with a white shark in an aluminum cage. Moreover, no experience in scuba diving is required for this adventure!
  • Tasmania: a road trip across Tasmania is a foodie’s delight. From bagels to doughnuts and apples and oysters and Belgian style chocolates to Tasmania’s signature wine- called the pinot noir, this road trip is sure to give your taste buds a rich experience.
  • Fun at the roller coaster and water slides on the Gold coast: Gold coast offers an unbelievable theme park experience with combination passes for Sea World, Wet and Wild, Warner Bros Movie World.
  • Riding a luxury train across the tropics, the mountains, the desert, and the red center promises to be an experience of a lifetime!
  • Watching turtles hatch in Queensland: is a unique experience that is bound to stay with the student for quite a while. The Mon Repos Conservation Park is one famous spot where one can observe the marine turtles’ nests. There are even night-guided tours on the beach.
  • Visiting the Pinnacles Desert- which has numerous limestone pillars which are both unique and just out of this world, almost extraterrestrial. It is also home to wonderful beaches, exquisite wildflowers and is bound to give one a splendid experience.
  • Skiing the slopes of the southern end is also a unique experience. Skiing and snowboarding or dog sledding or snowshoeing are the other winter activities that are bound to give a student goosebumps.
  • Snorkeling or diving the Great Barrier Reef, hiking through the Daintree Raintree are some of the ways to explore tropical north Queensland. Cape Tribulation is one of the few places in Australia where one can spot the elusive cassowary.

To conclude, an international student can get a perfect taste of the culture, heritage, and history of Australia if he/she engages in any of the activities mentioned in this blog. So that when the student finally graduates, the student will not be rich only in terms of educational knowledge but will have rich knowledge and experience of the life of Australia!