Finishing school is always a reason for celebration, and after many months of studying, the only thing students want to do is get out of the city and go for a trip somewhere to clear their heads. As grads tend to not venture too far from home, those from Australia tend to stick to Oceania. So here are the best spots around Oceania for the grad trip of your life:
Gold Coast
Not only is it quite close to the Aussie grads, but the Gold Coast is a great option for those looking to have a big old party. It’s quite famous for the nightlife, including everything from parties on the beach to major nightclubs. It’s a populated area, so you’ll have no problem finding accommodation, transport and places to fulfill all your food, caffeine and party needs. And if you’re tired of the partying and want to do something a bit more fulfilling, there are some great museums and attractions you can visit while there.
Great Ocean Road
If you want something more intimate, where it’s just you and some of your best friends, then how about a road trip? Get a car, pack up your stuff and start driving down the Great Ocean Road, stretching between Torquay and Allansford. It’s not just a common road – it’s a war memorial that soldiers returning from World War I built to commemorate their fallen allies. It’s a road filled with things to see, from a natural rainforest and hauntingly beautiful beaches, to lighthouses, surfing breaks and farmland. Bring your camping gear and bathing suits because you’re going to want to make this trip last. You can plan your road ahead of time, or just set off and get out of the car wherever you feel you want to take in the environment.
Fiji
One of the top destinations for young people in Oceania looking to have a good time and forget about their worries is definitely Fiji. It’s just remote enough to feel like you’re on another planet, but everything is pretty safe and familiar, making it a popular destination for schoolies in 2019. Whether you want to just lay on the beach soaking up the sun, read a book in a hammock with the background noise of ocean waves or party the day away with your friends in the sea or sand, you can do it all here. You can also enjoy nearly every water sport known to man with professional tutors around to help you get the hang of the board or any instrument you choose.
Camping in New Zealand
If you really want to have an adventure in nature, there is no spot more beautiful in the world than the vast plains of New Zealand. Pack up a bag with essentials, roll up your sleeping back and get a tent with a few buddies and set off to the set of The Lord of the Rings. There are some truly amazing destinations to choose from, both for waterside camping like Urupukapuka Bay and for forest adventures like Te Araroa Holiday Park. Remember that camping is all about respecting the host in whose home you’re staying – in this case nature itself, so if you’re planning on a party-packed, loud holiday, this might not be the option for you.
Cruise
How about seeing all the best parts of Oceania with one trip? If you hop on a boat and take a cruise around, that’s exactly what you will see. To make sure you don’t get bored of the open ocean, book a cruise that has plenty of stops on different islands and that has guides through all of them, so that you can actually get to know the places you’re stopping at. This is a great option for those who don’t like too many surprises and want to have a relaxing vacation, as cruises are usually all-inclusive, and you will have accommodation, food and entertainment all booked in advance, with nothing else to do but enjoy the ride.
Remember that grad holidays are more than just partying and burning your study notes – they are an opportunity to see the world with the freedom you seldom had before. Use the time to discover and learn something new, both about the world and about yourself, because there’s really no better school than setting off from the nest and discovering the world.
