Submitted by Tori Binder on the 2025 Winter program in Australia…
We spent the last week of our Australia trip in the Barossa Valley and Adelaide! We got the chance to explore and enjoy tastings at some of the most famous wineries in the world, as well as explore the city of Adelaide and all that it has to offer. It was a wonderful last week to a great trip, and I’m glad I got to enjoy these activities with the new friends I’ve made! (Submitted January 30, 2025)
Wine Barrels at Pennfolds Winery outside of Adelaide
Submitted by Ariana Castiglione on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
We had the opportunity to go to the famous Walkabout Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia! I loved getting the opportunity to see and pet all the different animal! I still can’t believe I pet a kangaroo and koala! (Submitted on January 24, 2025)
Submitted by Ariana Castiglioneon the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
We went on a walking tour of Watson’s Bay, which has some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen! After the beautiful views we got to relax by the beach! (Submitted on January 24, 2025)
Submitted by Tori Binder on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney and Adelaide Australia…
During the past few weeks, we got to visit a lot more cool places! One highlight was visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park outside of Sydney Australia! We were able to take photos and visit with Koala Bears and even pet and feed the wild Kangaroos! These animals are the heart of Australia and getting to meet them has definitely been a high point of the trip for me! (Submitted on January 22, 2025)
This is a picture of me with a Kangaroo friend who was enjoying a snack, he was super friendly and loved being pet!
Submitted by Ariana Castiglione on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney Australia…
We got to experience an amazing tour of the inside of the iconic Sydney Opera House! This was so interesting to get to experience and learn all about the different shows they put on. The inside of the opera house is beautiful and I’m so glad I was able to do this! (Submitted on January 17, 2025)
This is an image of the view of the Sydney Harbor when I was on the tour of the opera house! We weren’t allowed to take images of the inside of any of the actual theaters sadly
Submitted by Tori Binder on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
Manly Beach
We arrived in Australia last week and have already seen and done so many cool things! We toured the Sydney Opera House, got to do a lot of sight seeing around Manly Beach, and have experienced some amazing dinners and wines together as a class. One thing I’m super excited about, is how many awesome people I’ve met here in only a week, and the amazing friends and bonds I’ve made with other students on the trip. I’m excited to see where these next few weeks take us! (Submitted on January 15, 2025)
Submitted by Ryann Pinter on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
This was feeding time, or “round up”, for the animals. The ranger shook the bucket of food and all the kangaroos, emus, and wallabies came running (or hopping). I’ve only seen kangaroos hop on video, it looked so surreal in person.
When I first saw my itinerary months ago, I knew the wildlife sanctuary visit was what I was most excited about. The thought of seeing kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies in their natural habitat fascinated me. Once we arrived, the experience exceeded all my expectations. Kangaroos were hopping all around us, and we even got to pet them! To my surprise, they were very friendly… as long as you touched only their lower backs. The surprises didn’t end there. I had the chance to hold a python, which turned out to be the second-largest snake in Australia! While holding the snake was thrilling, the highlight of the day came when they introduced us to an 11-month-old wombat. He was so sweet and trusting that he fell asleep in my arms.
We later went on a tour of the bush, where we not only met Arnold the koala but learned about the Aboriginal population that once inhabited the area. The insights into their culture and connection with the land were truly enlightening. My favorite part of the entire day was seeing all the animals happy and roaming freely in their natural environment. At this sanctuary, we were the ones in cages, which was such a refreshing experience. It left me with a deeper appreciation for wildlife and conservation efforts. (Submitted on January 15, 2025)
Submitted by Alexandra Falcone on the 2025 Winter program in Australia…
After 2 short weeks exploring Australia with my family over Christmas and New Years, it was finally time to start my study abroad journey! Saying goodbye to my family was bittersweet, but it has been so exciting to see all the new sights and meet all of the new people who I will be spending the next few weeks with. This trip is focused on international cuisine and culture and advanced wine and beverage management. We started off the trip with a bang, exploring the town we are staying in, Manly Beach. The group is staying in a hostile for almost 3 weeks which is a short ferry ride away from Sydney before flying to Adelaide, Australia. One of the first days in Manly, a group of us went to watch the sunrise over the gorgeous crystal blue water, before sight seeing in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Along with sightseeing, we have had many amazing multi-course meals with wine pairings and even enjoyed some afternoon tea. There is lots to look forward to on this trip and can’t wait to see and learn even more. This first week has been filled with so many amazing memories with the hopes of making so many more! (Submitted on January 13, 2025)
Both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge on our Ferry Ride into the city.
Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…
All good things must come to an end. Today I celebrated my final day in Sydney. Tomorrow morning I will wake up and fly home. This week I finished up all of my projects at work and celebrated a great Internship with my coworkers. I ate at my favorite restaurants for the last time. I took my time walking around saying goodbye to the city, the Opera House, and the beaches. It was very emotional. I had time to reflect on my experiences here. I believe I have accomplished a lot and grown as a person into a more independent self. I have been dreaming of Sydney since I was in third grade. Coming here was a dream come true. Leaving is bittersweet. I am so excited to see my friends and family again, and tell them all about my experiences here. I am very sad to leave this beautiful country and all of the memories I have made here. This was truly a remarkable experience and I am so fortunate to have been able to be part of it. My time in Sydney has changed my life for the better and it is something I will never forget. (Submitted on May 10,2024)
Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…
I am entering the final stretch of my study abroad. I am feeling both excited and sad to leave. I have been working hard at my internship and trying to enjoy my last couple days in Sydney. The weather has been and continues to be rainy and gloomy, which is unfortunate, but I am making the best of it. This weekend I went and saw Challengers in the movie theater. My roommate and I got dinner and ice cream together. On Saturday, I went to six different markets for some last minute souvenir shopping. I went to Kibrilli, Glebe, Paddy’s, The Rocks, and the Paddy’s Night Market, which hosted several food vendors. I was able to try some delicious Greek Souvlaki and enjoy one of my last trips touring around the city of Sydney. (Submitted on May 5,2024)