Top 3 Must Do’s While Studying Abroad in Australia

Hello, my name is Adrienne and I studied abroad in Gold Coast, Australia at Bond University. I am from Massachusetts in the United States and go to the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I study kinesiology. I decided to go study in Australia because of the warm weather, beautiful environment, and unique wildlife.

Choosing to study in Australia was the best decision I could have made. During my time abroad I got to learn how to surf, travel to nearby countries, and meet so many amazing people from all over the country. A normal day for me consisted of waking up to take an exercise class at my university gym or going for a walk around by the river, going to class, and then relaxing at the beach or pool, it doesn’t get better than that! I instantly fell in love with the lifestyle in Australia.

All the locals are extremely active, social, and gracious. There was never a moment where I didn’t see people outside enjoying the sun or taking a run, which really stuck out to me. Four months was not enough time in Australia, even though I did make the most with my time there. Returning home was hard for me because of how much I loved Australia. Just when I felt like I was getting used to living there, it was time to pack up my bags to go home. It was a bittersweet goodbye as I was happy to go home to see family and friends, but I also had to say goodbyes to new friends I made that I might never see again.

My time in Australia was very special to me and I will forever cherish it. I decided to earn this micro-credential to make the most out of my program. It was a great opportunity to show international experience on my resume. My dream career is to be a travel nurse, and this micro-credential would help me achieve that.

Some advice I would give to future abroad students is to just say YES!! If you have the opportunity to try something new, do not be afraid to go for it. You will never regret doing it, you will regret NOT doing it. On that note, here I am going to share my top three favorite things I did in Australia. I definitely recommend doing all of these activities when coming to the country, starting with my number one favorite activity… 

1. Snorkeling At The Great Barrier Reef 

Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was the first activity I did in Australia. It was an awakening moment for me as it was the first experience that made me feel like I was actually Australia and not the United States anymore. I had never been snorkeling before, so I was very excited to be able to do it at such a beautiful location. I didn’t know what to expect going into this activity and what I experienced did not disappoint.

As soon as I put on the mask and dipped my head in the water, it was like I was in another world. It is surreal to see the beautiful coral of the reef and the marine animals that live within. I saw hundreds of different species of fish, like rainbow fish, clownfish, butterflyfish, coral trout, and many more. To top it all off, I saw a sea turtle and luckily got to take a picture with it. I have never seen a sea turtle before, it felt like I was in a dream and I would be woken up at any second. I also saw many stingrays and jellyfish.

I never thought I would get to see or let alone get up close and personal to these types of animals. I spent hours snorkeling, mesmerized by the wildlife and coral. Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef is definitely a must when traveling to Australia!!!

2. Visit Currumbin Wildlife Animal Sanctuary & The Australia Zoo 

Coming to Australia, I was most excited to see the different wildlife they have. I was praying I was going to be able to see kangaroos and koalas, and wasn’t prepared for all the other types of animals I would see along with them. My first encounter with kangaroos was in NorthStrade Brook Island, which is another must do on my list, but the sanctuary and zoo were a whole other experience. I visited the Currumbin Wildlife Animal Sanctuary first and it did not disappoint.

As soon as you walk into the sanctuary there are kangaroos everywhere roaming the grounds. We were able to go right up to them, pet them, and even feed them. I never thought I was going to feed a kangaroo while I was in Australia. They also had emu’s roaming around freely, which are one of my favorite animals. I also discovered my new favorite animal… a red panda! They are one of the cutest animals I have ever seen and I became obsessed with them right away.

They also had capybaras, lemurs, and wallabies. The Australia Zoo has even more types of animals. Of course they had kangaroos, koalas, and red pandas, but they also had non-Australian animals like tigers, elephants, zebras, and more. The Australia Zoo is known for their crocodiles as it is ‘home to the crocodile hunter’. This wildlife conservation facility was created by Steve and Terri Irwin. Sadly Steve has passed away, but the facility has been taken over by his son Robert and daughter Bindi alongside their mother Terri.

This zoo was huge and took about 3 hours to get through every attraction. They also have shows throughout the day including their most famous crocodile show Crikey! I was so happy I got to visit this iconic zoo. If you want to see Australian wildlife, the best place to do so is at the Currumbin Wildlife Animal Sanctuary and Australia Zoo.

3. Surf Lessons 

Surfing was the one activity I wanted to try while studying abroad in Australia, and I am so thankful that my CIS Abroad site director scheduled this activity for our entire program! We went to Currumbin Beach, which is about a 25 minute drive from Gold Coast. This beach was absolutely beautiful and the waves were perfect for beginner surfers. At first I was nervous about being able to stand up on the surfboard, but to my surprise I was a natural. The instructors set us up on our boards when a good wave was coming, and gave us a countdown on when to stand up. My first wave I caught right away and instantly fell in love with the feeling of riding a wave.

Surfing is not a popular sport from where I am from, so I am so glad I got this opportunity to try it while in Australia. I felt like a true Aussie while in the water on my board. My favorite part was being able to watch everyone in my program have just as much fun as I was. This sport is definitely intimidating at first, but as soon as you hop on the board you will never want to get off. If you're debating on whether to take surfing lessons or not, consider this a sign to do so!

Check out all of CIS Abroad's programs in Australia here!