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38 maltatoday SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2017 Travel THE NATIVE Travelling is always risky business – getting stuck in a touristy area and terrible meals. The same can be said of sightseeing, hotels and nightspots. Travelling to a place where you know people to recommend the right places makes your stay all the more enjoyable. Eleanor Borg (21), was born in Malta and is currently living in Wollongong, Australia on a student exchange at the University of Wollongong for one semester. NEED TO KNOW How to get there Wollongong is just 80km south of Sydney. Emirates offer daily flights to between Sydney and Malta with a stop over in Dubai. Once you get to the international airport, you can hop into a car and take the Grand Pacific Drive if you're looking for an adventure. You will experience costal rainforests, quaint seaside villages and the 665-metre Sea Cliff Bridge all before you arrive at your destination. If you're in a hurry, there is a motorway that can get you there in under 90 minutes. Alternatively you can hop on a train to Wolli Creek Station from any international airport. Once you arrive you need to disembark and board the South Coast Line train to Wollongong. . Best time to visit The weather in Wollongong is fairly temperate with average temperatures rarely dropping below 20C. Though this is quite mild you're not going to spend the day at the beach either. If you're after warmer temperatures visit between February and November. Currency Australian dollars Visas European Union passport holders can apply for a holiday visa free of charge. However, you will not be allowed entry into the country without the proper documentation. BEST ADVENTURE ACTIVITY Everyday is a day for adventure in Australia. Whether you're an experienced hiker or one who enjoys a passigata along Sliema front there's something for everyone. If camping is your thing, hop on a train and spend the weekend at the Blue Mountains and explore all they have to offer. The Royal National Park also offers some stellar camping spots and provides you with views for days. If you're just looking for a day trip there's Belmore Falls, numerous treks round The Royal National Park and the Sublime Point hike. If you're not a Wild Thornberry at heart or would just prefer something a bit more chilled out, there are some amazing coastal walks such as the Bondi to Cooggee Coastal walk and the Kiama Coastal Walk. Both require a trip by train so think ahead and pack some snacks. BEST PLACE FOR A NIGHT OUT If you're travelling as a student, check out the various student parties throughout the week, the most notorious being Wednesday night at the Grand Hotel and Thursday night at the Illawarra Hotel. Wednesday at the Grand is definitely always interesting. There are three rooms all playing different music from High School Musical mash-ups to Jay-Z to Tiga. A typical night at the Grand ends in a snack pack from Fat- boy's and running to catch the party bus before it leaves. You can only catch the party bus if you're a student at the University of Wollongong as this takes you back to the student accommodation premises on campus. Thursday at the Illa is retro night. It's good fun and people are always down for a dance. If Dancing Queen and Mr Brightside are not for you, there's another dance floor that plays hip hop / R 'n' B music. Once again, no night out is complete without a trip to Fatboy's. BEST SPOT FOR SIGHTSEEING Just 80km south of Sydney, Wollongong is a place of natural beauty. The hike up Mount Kiera is a must. It's a one and a half hour hike each way – longer if you get lost – which is very easy to do. Once you get up there you have an unob- structed view of the whole of Wollon- gong. It's pretty breathtaking. Nan Tien Temple also deserves a men- tion. This is a large Buddhist temple, a short drive out of Wollongong in the suburb of Berkeley. Culturally it is rich, and there are a variety of activities you can participate in. Its grounds are im- pressive and definitely worth wandering around. North Wollongong Beach is a pretty beach 15 minutes away from North Wollongong Station. It's the perfect place to grab a good cup of coffee and a couple waves. Wollongon, Sydney Eleanor Borg, was born in Malta and is currently living in Wollongong, Australia