NIE
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Excursion
Your Ticket To Sun, Sand and Sea

For those undergoing practicum or exchange programmes at the Griffith University in Queensland, this guide is for you!

Griffith University in Australia is located in South East Queensland. Often referred to as the Sunshine State, Queensland has a subtropical climate boasting an incredible 283 days of sunshine a year. In other words, plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beautiful beaches and the great outdoors, which are easily accessible from all of the Griffith campuses, located primarily in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. | Read More |

Brisbane

Brisbane has all the advantages of a modern metropolis while retaining the relaxed and friendly nature of a smaller town. It is recognised as a safe, welcoming and clean city with beautiful parklands and green open spaces. With a population of just over two million people, it has a vibrant nightlife, multicultural restaurants, lush riverfront parklands, historic buildings as well as a range of internationally acclaimed arts, cultural and sporting events.

Things to do:

  • Visit Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane’s most beautiful look out and best at sunrise or sunset.
  • Explore Brisbane on a bike hired from CityCycle, which has 140 stations scattered across the city.
  • Catch the Australian Football League at the Gabba (also known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground)
  • Wander around South Bank and visit Streets Beach – a man-made beach!
  • Grab a cuppa with some delicious brunch – enjoy a taste of Australia’s coffee culture.
  • Take the CityCat ferry to New Farm Park, the grand old dame among Brisbane’s parks.
  • Enjoy a walk around Howard Smith Wharves to Eagle Street Promenade.
  • Gear up for some rock climbing at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
  • Scale new heights with a climb up Story Bridge.

NIEWS picks:

  • Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) – Awake your inner artist with a visit to this beautiful venue, straddled across two adjacent river-side buildings.
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Queensland is the only state in which it’s possible to cuddle a koala.

Gold Coast

With 100,000 hectares of World Heritage-listed rainforests and pristine beaches, it is no wonder that this tourist hot spot attracts more than 12 million visitors each year. This combined with its vibrant mix of shops, cafes, bars and world famous theme parks, makes the Gold Coast a unique destination. Did you know the Gold Coast was voted #1 for affordability in Australia this year in the QS Best Student Cities Guide?

Things to do:

  • Explore the natural wonders of Springbrook and Tamborine Mountain National Parks.
  • Get your shopping fix at Pacific Fair and Australia Fair or pick up some bargains at Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre.
  • Enjoy a night out in Surfers Paradise – also known as ‘the glitter strip’.
  • Take a surfing lesson or try stand up paddle boarding.
  • Visit Yatala Drive-In – a 1950s style drive-in movie theatre.
  • Hang out with locals at the farmers’, art, craft or food market.
  • Have a Barbie! Cook up some snags (sausages) at one of many free public BBQ facilities overlooking the beach.
  • Go theme-park hopping between Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet ‘n’ Wild.
  • Watch surfers and the sunset on Burleigh Heads.
  • Enjoy live performances, lakeside strolls, art and cinema at Home of the Arts (HOTA).

NIEWS picks:

  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – feed kangaroos and rainbow lorikeets and enjoy entertaining animal shows.
  • Surf World Gold Coast – Queensland’s only surfing museum, next door to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Griffith University became NIE’s latest partner for semester exchange and international practicum in 2018. A progressive and highly respected university dedicated to learning, leadership and innovation, Griffith has been deeply connected to the Asian region since its establishment over 40 years ago. It is also a socially and environmentally conscious member of its community. Its teaching and research span six campuses in South East Queensland.