Budget-friendly ways to spend this mid-semester break
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.
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 & 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 or train-ride away.
The Three Sisters in Katoomba, Blue Mountains National Park.
Enjoy our beautiful beaches
Weather permitting, spending the day at one of Sydney’s many beautiful beaches is a relaxing and budget-friendly way to spend the break.
From popular surf spots like Bondi and Manly, to secluded ocean pockets like Milk Beach Vaucluse and Salmon Haul Reserve Cronulla, there’s a swim spot for just about everyone in Sydney.
It’s a good idea to pack your own lunch and snacks so you’re not tempted by the expensive café food by the water!
Most beach locations in Sydney can be easily accessed by bus, ferry or train, and during the Easter long weekend (Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April) there may be extra transport services to these locations.
Bondi Beach, Sydney.
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 (including their newest wing, Sydney Modern), 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. This year, the Biennale of Sydney is happening in seven locations accross Sydney, showcasing contemporary art with free entry to all exhibits.
The Australian Museum and our very own Chau Chak Wing Museum are also free to enter and feature interesting, ever-changing exhibitions.
Impressions of Greece exhibition at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney.
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, Bondi Farmers Market and Cambridge Markets are just some of the incredible food and produce markets on offer throughout the year in Sydney. The Ramadan Night Markets in Lakemba are always incredible and coincide with the mid-semester break, running until Monday 8 April.
For those who are after vintage goods, Rozelle Collectors Markets and Paddy’s Swap & Sell Markets are great places to explore.
Rozelle Collectors Markets, Rozelle. Photograph: Anna Kucera.
Updated 19 March 2024