The Best Places to Travel from Sydney, Australia

Looking for some time away during spring break, or even just a weekend? Australia has so many cool places to offer, so take the chance to travel outside of New South Wales. Whether you’re looking for the best snorkeling, or the chance to feed a kangaroo, you can’t go wrong with these options! And, CEA now offers summer internships abroad in Sydney. 

Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

I’ve seen a lot of beaches in my lifetime, but nothing beats the Great Barrier Reef. It’s warm there anytime of the year, and the water is so blue you feel like you’re dreaming! I swam with turtles, hiked to a beautiful lookout, and even rode in a seaplane. You can stay in the town of Airlie Beach and the islands are just a boat ride away!

Melbourne, Victoria

If you’re the adventurous type, head down to Melbourne to experience the Great Ocean Road. It’s 249 miles of coastal views, with tons of amazing places to stop along the way. Quaint towns, iconic surf spots, and breathtaking waterfalls can all be found on this drive. Melbourne is also a great spot for museums and restaurants.

Brisbane, Queensland

Brisbane is the perfect central location to stay in between two great spots, the Australia Zoo and the Gold Coast. The Australia Zoo is owned by the Irwin family, and is a great place to encounter wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, and lemurs. The Gold Coast is home to Surfers Paradise, a great place to catch a wave, and a fun beach town for shopping.

Cairns, Queensland

Cairns is located in Northern Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef. Besides taking a scuba trip out into the reef, there are many places in the surrounding area to explore. Take a trip to Fitzroy Island to relax on the beach or hike around. There is only one hotel on the island, and a limited amount of boats going there and back each day, so you can escape mainland crowds. You can also book a bus trip to the nearby Kuranda Rainforest, where you can ride a cable car up in the treetops, and walk around.

There’s only so much time in a semester, so these are just the places I was able to travel to. However, I’m hoping to return so I can see Perth, the Outback, and Tasmania, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to go anywhere you can!

Alexis O'Sullivan is a CEA Alumni Ambassador who studied and interned abroad in Paris, France, during the Spring 2019 semester. She is currently a student at Marist College.