Saturday, everyone was able to do what they wanted. Everyone chose to stay in Melbourne and really spend a day in the city.  I decided to hop on a train and head to Bendigo, to visit the La Trobe Bendigo campus and meet with Glyn Thomas from the Outdoor and Environmental Education program.  Glyn was kind enough to meet me at the train station and give me a tour of campus, chat with me about his program, and also give me an introduction to Bendigo.

Bendigo (the city) has about 100,000 residents, so it really is a small city.  It’s a college town, so there are tons of shops, eateries, and coffee shops, and apparently a really active night life as well. It’s a mildly hilly town, so biking is really popular, and Glyn said that students can find used bikes for next to nothing, which is a great way to get around.  And, you can take your bike on the train, so a lot of students will take the train a few stops outside of Bendigo, and then bike back to town, really getting to explore some great parts of Victoria.

Bendigo (the campus) has about 3,000 students, and is a really lovely bushland campus.  Because the Outdoor and Environmental Education program has such a strong presence on campus, there are a lot of outdoor teaching areas and loads of things for the outdoor oriented to do.  The Bendigo campus also houses La Trobe’s fine arts program and some health sciences and applied science programs, among others. Since it was Saturday, most things on campus weren’t open (it’s still winter break), but we were able to look around a good bit. What really struck me is how perfect this campus is for a student looking for a truly Ozzie experience. The Outdoor and Environmental Education program is one of a kind, not just in Australia, but internationally as well.  Glyn had been living and working in Queensland, and moved his family to Bendigo simply to be a part of this program … it has that strong of a reputation!

As a student, I would choose La Trobe Bendigo because I want the small campus size and the small international student population.  Also, living just 2 hours from Melbourne, you can be in the city for a day or weekend trip easily, but you have the lower cost of living and slower life style of the small city.

As an advisor, I would recommend La Trobe Bendigo because it will allow students to really see how your average, non-city living Australian lives.  Bendigo is an Australian college town. Great academics and a great student to teacher ratio. Vibrant student center ensures that students will be fully active on campus, and helps them to really take advantage of all Bendigo (both the campus and the city) have to offer.