Escape the Winter and Travel Down Under!

A guide for students & youth – ditch winter and spend the summer in Australia and New Zealand

For many young Brits, escaping the UK winter for the heat of an Australian or New Zealand summer is a rite of passage – and an appealing one at that! Forget dark nights, cold mornings, and continuous rain, when travelling down under you can expect warm weather, sand between your toes, and the opportunity to make incredible travel memories.

With the freedom to travel to Australia and New Zealand finally possible following the pandemic, and peak summer hitting between December and March, there has never been a better time to pack your bags and head on a trip of a lifetime. Whether it’s a year-long working holiday visa or six weeks backpacking your way across the country, there is so much to see and do Down Under, and the cheapest flight and accommodation deals can be found with StudentUniverse.

The experts at StudentUniverse – the world’s largest student and youth travel marketplace – know all about what attracts young travellers to this part of the world, so have shared their top must dos and must sees for spending time in the southern hemisphere…

Summers seaside in Sydney

Bondi Beach

In the summertime, Sydney is at its best. From the famous Sydney Opera House steps, to the Bondi Icebergs swimming pool along bustling Bondi Beach, to the bars and restaurants of Darling Harbour, you’ll soon be the envy of all your friends back home when they see your Instagram stories and TikToks.

Festival Fun in the Fields

The summer festival season in Australia and New Zealand is colourful and eclectic, with a stellar line-up of events that cater to many genres and tastes of music.

Escape the Winter and Travel Down Under festivals Australia and New Zealand

Notable music festivals include Rhythm and Vines (Gisborne, NZ) and Bay Dreams (The Mount and Nelson, NZ) which both provide world-class acts to end your new year and start the next in style.

Bathe in the beauty of The Coromandel

With slightly cooler summer temperatures (around 25-30 degrees in the daytime), New Zealand makes for the perfect antidote to the sometimes-blistering heat of Australia. The Coromandel, famous for its idyllic beaches and care-free atmosphere, is a popular destination for those seeking a beach break away from the main towns of New Zealand.

The Coromandel New Zealand Escape the Winter and Travel Down Under

Not only can you relax on the beaches and adventure around the various coves, but we’d also recommend diving and kayaking around Cathedral Cove – an Insta-worthy spot if ever we’ve seen one.

Whisk away to the Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Situated within the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays are a cluster of islands off the coast of Queensland. They are home to world-class beaches, snorkelling and diving, overnight sailing, raft tours and even helicopter experiences.

Whitsunday Islands Australia Escape the Winter and Travel Down Under

With temperatures averaging at around 30 degrees over Christmas time, a sailing trip around the sunny Whitsundays makes for a picture-perfect escape. No trip is complete without a stop at the famous Whitehaven Beach. With powder like white sands and awash with swirls of turquoise, blue and green water, this stunning protected park has got to be seen to be believed.

Inspired to travel Down Under? Don’t delay with booking flights or festival tickets, they go like hotcakes at this time of year! Keen to learn more about the Australia and New Zealand working holiday visa schemes?

Read more about the Australia Working Holiday Visa here: https://www.australia.com/en-gb/youth-travel/working-holiday-visa/faq.html and the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa here: https://www.newzealand.com/uk/working-holiday/

For more information about how to get exclusive student flight prices with StudentUniverse, visit www.studentuniverse.co.uk

All images from Canva