Budget-friendly ways to spend this mid-semester break

Change up your study location

Need to hit the books but craving a change of scenery? Try studying at a library outside your usual area – Sydney has some gems, from the State Library in the city to local favourites like Green Square Library with its lush indoor garden.

Prefer the great outdoors? Pack your notes and head to a local park. Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Wentworth Park, or even a quiet patch of Victoria Park near campus are great for a sunny study session.

If you're studying on campus and need a change of pace, there’s more to campus than Fisher – try the Law Library for quiet zones, the Susan Wakil Health Building for open, light-filled study spots, or one of our Learning Hubs.

Explore Sydney on foot 

Whether you’ve just arrived in Sydney or have lived here all your life, it’s worth spending a day or two exploring the city on foot.

Spring is perfect walking weather and Sydney’s packed with scenic strolls and leafy trails. From harbourside walks, like the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, to heritage bushwalks like the Three Sisters walk in the Katoomba area of Blue Mountains National Park (two hours by train from our Camperdown campus) and the Aboriginal Heritage walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, there's plenty to see and do while walking in Sydney. 

If you're keen to stay in the city, why not try one of Sydney's self-guided walking tours, like in and around The Rocks or Chinatown and Haymarket. You can even learn about Sydney's past by taking one of the many self-guided history walks. 

Best of all, most walking locations in and around Sydney are only a bus, ferry, train or metro ride away. 

Enjoy our beautiful beaches 

The ocean might be cooling down, but Sydney’s beaches are still perfect for a sunny stroll, reading session or picnic with friends.

From popular surf spots like Bondi and Manly to secluded ocean pockets like Milk Beach Vaucluse and Salmon Haul Reserve Cronulla, there’s a swimming spot for just about everyone in Sydney. Plus, most beach locations in Sydney can be easily accessed by public transport. 

Even as we head into cooler months, sun safety is key. Always make sure you apply sunscreen, wear a hat, seek shade and if swimming, stay between the flags at all times.

It's also a good idea to pack your own lunch and snacks so you’re not tempted by the expensive café food by the water!

Get some culture 

If the weather’s looking drab or you’re just keen to spend the day indoors, visiting one of Sydney’s many cultural museums and attractions is a great, cheap way to spend the day. 

For art-lovers, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art and our very own Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), Verge and Tin Shed galleries are all free to enter and boast an array of art and sculpture collections. 

Or why not check out our free and award-winning Chau Chak Wing Museum? The museum is home to the Egyptian Galleries on Level 2, the largest permanent Egyptian collection in Sydney as well as exhibitions like DANCE PROTEST: PROJECT BANABA.

Visit a market 

From food and produce to clothing and knick-knacks, there are a variety of different markets on offer across Sydney City and the suburbs. Best of all, they’re free to browse!  

The Sydney Fish Market in Pyrmont (soon to have a new home close by in 2025 – see the new Sydney Fish Market plans), Bondi Farmers Market and Cambridge Markets are just some of the incredible food and produce markets on offer throughout the year in Sydney. If you’re looking to get out after dark, the Chinatown Night Market takes place every Friday night and is the perfect place to dazzle your tastebuds on a budget.

For those who are after vintage goods, Rozelle Collectors Markets and Paddy’s Swap & Sell Markets are great places to explore – browse for free or give yourself the challenge to find something for a bargain. 

Updated 29 November 2025