Australian universities and online colleges are considered world class and extremely popular within international student. In fact, the most recent report by the Australian Education Department, Higher Education and Research Facts and Figures, showed that 400,000 foreign students undertook courses in Australian Universities in 2015.
Of these 400,000 international students, 32,000 currently study in Adelaide! After the introduction of an educational program that linked students to local businesses for internships, the South Australian education sector boomed. From this, we suspect that there are quite a number of international students looking to take a break from studying and explore the fun Adelaide has on offer.
In between growing your career options and kick-starting your professional journey at Queensford College, take a study break and check out these 10 unique experiences you can do this Saturday in Adelaide!
Go Shopping in Rundle Mall
Rundle Mall is without a doubt the biggest shopping destination in South Australia. Home to over 1,000 retail stores and services extending from fashion, beauty, lifestyle and food, the mall is one of the longest and busiest in Australia, attracting over 400,000 visitors each week. Perfect for tourists and locals, the mall also regularly hosts events, pop-up stores and launch events! A great break from shopping. Situated between the city’s buzzing east end and vibrant west end, it lies in close proximity to Adelaide’s busy food and nightlife precincts. Some speciality stores exclusive to Adelaide’s Rundle mall to check out include BNKR, Haigh’s Chocolates, Coopers Burger Shack and Koko Black.
Price: $20+
Go Out for Brunch in Glenelg
Take a 40 minute bus ride from Adelaide Central to Glenelg, a popular beach-side destination just 12km out of the city. This pristine sea-side suburb is the perfect place to take a break from studying! Whilst you spend some time enjoying Glenelg’s sandy white shores and bustling shops, why not pull up a chair at one of its boutique cafes or restaurants for a classic Australian brekkie (think smashed avocado and feta on toast or an Acai bowl topped with fresh fruit!). After brunch, try your hand at one of the many beachside activities Glenelg has to offer including dolphin and seal watching, sailing, scuba diving, playing volleyball or if that’s all too much, relax and take a dip in ocean!
Price: $15+
Go to the Zoo
A short 15 minute walk away from Adelaide CBD lays a must see sanctuary of spectacular animals. That’s right! Adelaide zoo! Who doesn’t love spending a day admiring rare and beautiful animals? Adelaide Zoo is home to more than 1,800 animals and almost 300 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. The zoo’s major exhibits include the Immersion South East Asian Rainforest, Seal Bay, and Australian Rainforest Wetlands walk-through aviary, Nocturnal House, Reptile House and Bug Barn! However, the Zoo’s most notable attraction are Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Funi; two animals of a severely endangered species brought over in 2008. At the zoo you can watch the zookeepers feed the animals or join a free walkabout tour and listen to animal history and facts. These tours depart every half an hour from 9:45am – 3:30pm.
Price: $35
Visit the Adelaide Museum
The Museum is always a great place to zone out and relax. The Museum of South Australia is one of the most visited museums in Australia, holding a collection of local, national and international significance. Not only is this 150 year old heritage building a leader in remote and regional community engagement, it also paves the way in displaying and celebrating Australian Aboriginal heritage. Perfect for those students interested in learning more about Australian Aboriginal history.
Price: $10
Go on a Hike at Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty is a majestic peak at the top of the Mount Lofty Ranges in Adelaide Hills, just a 25 minute from Adelaide City centre. Perfect for a Saturday morning adventure, hiking Mt Lofty provides spectacular panoramic views across Adelaide’s city skyline and coast. An incredible 710 metres above sea level, this hike guarantees breath-taking views and a great workout with friends. The most popular walk to follow to the summit is Waterfall Gully. This trail is 3.9km long and will take you about 3 hours to complete a round trip. There are a number of different trails you can try, that vary from beginner to expert. Click here for more details.
Price: Free
Grab a coffee and Hang out in the Botanical Gardens
When you spend all your time in class or inside studying it is good to get out and enjoy the calmness of nature. Grab your mates and head to the Adelaide Botanical gardens and explore the beauty and diversity of plants from all around Australia and around the world! There is a Garden of Health sporting over 2,500 plants used to heal and promote human wellbeing, an International Rose Garden with thousands of species of roses blooming in Spring and a Cactus and Succulent garden just to name a few. To top it off, there is also a range of cafes and restaurants open to grab a coffee and a piece of cake – perfect for a morning tea catch up with friends and family.
Price: $4
Go to the Mega Adventure Park
The mega adventure park is every thrill seekers dream! Grab your friends and family for the ultimate adrenaline rush experience as you glide through a series of ladders, ropes and other obstacles over this Sky Challenge aerial course! Boasting 50 obstacles 20 metres in the air the Mega Adventure Park is the perfect way to let off some steam! This aerial adventure park offers multiple activities, the most popular being the Sky Challenge; a challenge that sees you attempt up to 65 unique challenges on the Sky mate structure, Para Jump; a free fall simulator 18 meters high and the Mega Bounce, a huge trampoline with elastic power cords that’s allows you to launch yourself 8m into the air.
Price: $59
Take a Walk through Adelaide Central Market
Gourmet cheese, freshly baked bread and beautiful home-grown flowers! The Adelaide Central market is an absolute foodie dream, offering a huge range of fresh food including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, bakery, small goods and health foods, along with some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes. Established in 1869, this market has been a thriving hub of food and culture for almost 148 years! Filled with lots of buzz, colour and personality this market is a perfect way to get amongst the hustle and bustle of Adelaide city, and interact with locals.
Price: $10+
Hire a City Bike and go for Cycle on the Linear Park Cycle Track
Rent a bike through Adelaide City Bike Hire for free and take off on an adventure around Adelaide CBD with your best mates. There are plenty of tracks to choose from, but the most popular is the River Torrens Linear Park Trail, taking riders from hill to sea and in and around Torrens Lake! The best part is you can tailor the track to your fitness level. As a whole, the complete track from start to finish is 35km long, but you can choose smaller 4km, 7km, and 12km tracks within the parkland. Along this route you will find many notable landmarks including the Adelaide Zoo, the Adelaide Oval and the old Goal! Learn more about Adelaide City Bike Hire here.
Price: Free
Visit Beerenberg Farm and go Berry Picking
This legendary strawberry farm has been operating since 1975 and has been providing the people of Adelaide with the freshest strawberries Australia has to offer! At the Beerenberg Family Farm people are invited to pick their own strawberries from the patch themselves! Once you have paid $4 entry into the farm and picked your strawberries, you must pay $9.95 per kilo for the strawberries you have picked. You can only pick strawberries when they are in season (typically November to April) so put it in your diary! For more information visit the Beerenberg Farm here.
Price: $4
Become a qualified chef, aged care worker, business manager or accountant at Queensford College. Take a look at our range of courses here. For more information, email us at info@queensford.edu.au. Or if you prefer to speak to a Course Advisor, call us on 1300 236 364.