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? Make the most of the warmer spring weather by packing your notes and heading 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 and its surrounds 

Whether you’ve just arrived in Sydney or have lived here all your life, mid-semester break is a great excuse to explore somewhere new.

Spring is perfect walking weather and Sydney is 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. 

For another low-cost way to see the city, hop on a ferry and make the journey part of the day out. Routes to Manly, Watsons Bay or along the Parramatta River offer some of the best views of Sydney Harbour without the price tag of a sightseeing cruise.

Enjoy our beautiful beaches 

With the weather warming up, Sydney’s beaches are perfect for a sunny stroll, reading session, picnic with friends or even a swim.

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.

As we head into the warmer 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!

Check out some art and 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 Gallery and Tin Sheds Gallery 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? Alongside its permanent collections, you can explore current exhibitions including Migrating Modernism: The Architecture of Harry Seidler, Fibre Optics: First Nations women in fibre, Tracey Moffatt Sorted – a look at her Archive and more.

Just down the road in Eveleigh, you can also check out Shipwreck Odyssey at Carriageworks, an interactive digital marine adventure inspired by the shipwreck Jenny Lind. Entry is free on weekdays, including Wednesday 30 September, Thursday 1 October and Friday 2 October, with no booking required.

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!

Right near campus, the Carriageworks Farmers Market in Eveleigh is open every Saturday from 8 am–1 pm, bringing together fresh seasonal produce, flowers, baked goods and other offerings from growers and producers across NSW.

The new Sydney Fish Market, Bondi Farmers Market and Cambridge Markets are just some of the other 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, Glebe Markets, 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.