USU Day Trips Semester 1 2026

USU Day Trips Semester 1

Welcome to Sydney! Explore your new home with our fun sightseeing tours at USU Day Trips. These trips are the perfect opportunity to discover iconic Sydney landmarks, explore unique cultural experiences, and make new friends along the way.

Please make sure to read all terms, conditions, and the Q&A section before purchasing your ticket!

The first half of semester 1 day trip is below 

The second half of semester 1 trips are below:

All tours have a $20 refundable fee - Attend the tour to receive your refund.

🔭 27th Feb | Blue Mountain Scenic World

 Breathtaking Views & Nature Adventures! Explore the stunning Blue Mountains and enjoy an unforgettable visit to Scenic World. Ride the world’s steepest railway, take in the breath-taking Three Sisters view, and stroll through ancient rainforests.
📍 Meet Up: Herman's Lawn 8:20am -4pm

06th Mar | Cultural Cruise

🚢 Discover Sydney's Aboriginal Heritage on the Mari Nawi! Dive deep into the rich cultural history and stories of Sydney Harbour aboard the Mari Nawi (Big Canoe). Learn about the Gadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal, and Wallumedegal peoples who are the traditional custodians of the land surrounding one of the most beautiful harbours in the world.
Meet Up: Eastern Pontoon, Circular Quay – 7 Macquarie Street, Sydney at 12:10 pm

14th Mar | Australian Football League (Saturday) 

A True Aussie Experience You Can't Miss! Watching an AFL match is a must-do part of Aussie culture — it’s loud, fast, and full of action! Join us for a thrilling day soaking up the local footy spirit, learning the rules, and cheering alongside passionate fans at a live game.

📍 Meet Up:  at 6:30 pm Infront of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Door gate E&F.

20th Mar | Tour at the Opera house

The Sydney Opera House is Australia's iconic performing arts centre, welcoming visitors to hundreds of shows and exhibits throughout the year. On this 1 hour trip you'll get to journey through the Opera House with a tour guide, learning the history and stories behind its award-winning architecture.

📍 Meet Up:  Meet us at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse of the Opera House.

For session 1 : 9:40am

For session 2 : 10:40am

27th Mar | Art Gallery Encounter

Come join an Art Gallery Encounter walk with USU to celebrate your hard work and well-deserved relax time featuring Ron Mueck Exhibition and free lunch!

📍 Meet Up:  Infront of Art Gallery NSW (Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000) at 11:10am

10th April | Harbour View Cinema

Experience a magical outdoor cinema at Taronga Zoo’s Harbour View Cinema, where you can watch a movie under the stars with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour. Bring a picnic rug, relax on the lawn, and enjoy a unique night surrounded by wildlife and the iconic Sydney skyline.

📍 Meet Up : Directly at Taronga Zoo at 6:10 pm
Or Meet at 5:30 pm at Hermann’s Lawn (in front of Hermann’s Bar) – we will take a hired bus to the zoo together

17th April | China Town Food Tour

Dive into a delicious food tour in Chinatown. Taste the rich flavours of the diverse culinary scene.

 📍Meet Up: Meet us in front of the Market City Shopping Centre at 2:15 pm

24th April | Comedy Festival

Experience the funniest highlights of the Sydney Comedy Festival in one action-packed show. Best of the Fest brings together a surprise lineup of top local and international comedians performing their sharpest and funniest sets for a night guaranteed to have you laughing from start to finish

📍 Meet Up: Factory Theatre at 6pm

1st May | QVB Tour

Historic Architecture & Hidden Stories! Explore one of Sydney’s most beautiful landmarks, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB). Discover its stunning stained-glass windows, grand dome, and famous Royal Clock while learning about the building’s rich history and unique design.

📍 Meet Up: QVB - at the Concierge Desk, located on the Ground Floor at 10:45 am

🕵️‍♂️8th May | The Rocks Ghost Tour

Come and see the underground, spooky side of Sydney's history... with ghosts and ghouls and the macabre side of Australia's history you'll be in for fun and fright! 👻

📍 Meet Up:  on the lower forecourt of Cadman’s Cottage which is located on the lower corner of George Street and Argyle Street The Rocks 5:45 pm

15th May | Chinese Garden of Friendship tour

Escape the city and step into the serene Chinese Garden of Friendship. Discover tranquil ponds, traditional pavilions, and hidden pathways as you learn about Chinese culture and landscape design.

📍Meet up :Meet us Infront of  Chinese Garden of Friendship 1:00 pm

22nd May  | Anzac Memorial Tour

Delve into Australia’s military history with a guided tour of the Anzac Memorial.  

📍 Meet Up: Meet us at Anzac Memorial  at 1:10 PM.

4th June | Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour

Join your First Nations guide for a journey through the Botanic Gardens, where you'll learn about the rich heritage of Indigenous bush foods, their traditional uses, and their adaptations into modern cuisine. During this one-hour tour, explore the Cadi Jam Ora garden, delve into the world of popular bush foods, and sample some delightful treats.

📍 Meet Up: Botanic Garden of Sydney at 10:30 AM.

Immerse yourself in a merry medley of tasty treats and foodie delights as over 150 producers showcase the best in artisan food, wine, and curated products for gifting and styling.

Frequently asked questions:

What is USU Day Trips?
USU Day Trips is an event series for USYD international and domestic students to make new friends and explore all the best parts of Sydney. In semester 1, we're running weekly Day Trips to various highlights, from AFL to a movie night at Hoyts, and so much more!

Who can join Day Trips?

Day Trips are open to all USU Members. If you aren’t a member yet, make sure you sign up today so you can come along and enjoy all the fun. The best part is, it's free for all USYD students! Sign up for USU membership here.

What if I don’t receive my confirmation email?
Please email us if you don't receive confirmation of your registration.

What happens if it's bad weather?
Most of the USU's Day Trips will go on regardless of the weather, so make sure you pack appropriately! Make sure you have water and a hat if it's sunny, and an umbrella if it's raining. If the weather is too severe for the Day Trip to go on as scheduled, you will be notified via email and offered a refund or a change of date option.

Tickets are sold out. What do I do now?
Please click join the waitlist on Humanitix. Note that the waitlist is limited as well. But don't worry if you miss out on this Day Trip, the next one is just around the corner!

Can I join on the day if someone doesn’t show up?
Since our day trip events are typically very popular and have a high attendance rate, it's unlikely that spots will open up on the day. However, if you're still interested in joining, you can sign up on the "on the day waiting list ". About an hour before the event starts, a waitlist link will be added to the event information on Humanitix (you’ll find it in the event description section under that specific day trip). Just keep an eye out and fill it in once it appears!

When and how will I receive my refund?
You’ll receive your refund within 10 business days to your original payment method after attending the event and getting checked in. If you haven’t received your refund, it may be because you didn’t check in on the day or used an international bank card. If this happens, please reach out to us directly for assist

I bought a ticket but can’t attend. Can I still get a refund?
Yes, don’t worry! We accept refund requests if they’re made within a certain period before the event.
Please note: If you don’t notify us in time or simply don’t show up, we won’t be able to process a refund.
For urgent cases like illness, you’ll need to provide a valid medical certificate.

Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims and Assumption of Risk:
By participating in this event, I agree to the terms and conditions:
1. Participants are responsible for their own behaviour and any resulting consequences. The University of Sydney Union shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings or any injury to the individual or others resulting from the event. Furthermore you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of this event.
2. I consent to being contacted by the USU via email about upcoming events and activities. I can opt out of these communications at any time.
3. I consent to being photographed by USU during the event for future promotion content on USU socials and communication channels.

4.This event is strictly for participants aged 18 and over. By purchasing a ticket, you confirm that you meet the age requirement. ID may be checked at entry.

5.The USU reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather, safety concerns, or venue issues). In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to notify ticket holders and process refunds .
5.This event is a shared space for all attendees to enjoy. Please be respectful to staff, other students, and the venue at all times. Anyone displaying inappropriate, unsafe, or disruptive behaviour may be asked to leave the event.

6. Entry will not be granted to latecomers — if you arrive late, your spot will be given to someone on the waitlist and counted as a no-show.

7.This event is exclusively for USU members. Each membership number is valid for one ticket only per day trip, and must be used for your own registration. If multiple tickets are purchased under the same membership number for the same trip, only the first ticket will be honoured; all additional tickets will be cancelled

Looking for more?

🦘 G’day Gatherings
Make new friends and practise English at USU G’day Gatherings!
Come along to our fortnightly Tuesday sessions, where we welcome you to Sydney, teach you some slang, some common Aussie food and drink and sports 👋
Meet other international students, learn about the most iconic spots around USYD Campus and Sydney city, plus enjoy FREE bites at Manning Bar .

💛 Language Exchange
Want to learn new languages, make friends around the world, and share language skills? Then Language Exchange is the perfect program for you!
You can find more on our Semester 1 Language Exchange program here!

👋 Join our V-Team!
The VTeam is our group of enthusiastic and friendly student volunteers who help make all our amazing events and activities on campus possible!
You can read more and register here!