Extended Education and International Programs

Discover Australia with Erin Batura

Erin is a Cinematic Arts and Technology major. She studied abroad at Deakin University in Australia (Spring 2023).

The koala, kangaroo, and ocean pictures are all from a day trip to Phillip Island that I went on with a company called REAL Australia, which I can’t recommend enough! We stopped at Maru Koala and Animal park where we fed kangaroos and got to see koalas, Tasmanian devils, dingos, and more! We did a hike along the beach to that awesome viewpoint at Cape Woolamai and I even got to see the famous penguin parade at the end of the night (no pictures of the penguins are allowed in order to protect them).

The rainbow beach shack is from my beach day trip to Mount Martha Beach! The whole beach is lined with super colorful shacks/huts, making for a great picture spot.

I rode the Puffing Billy Railway to see some awesome nature views with a friend I made from the University of Hawaii. I stopped in a town called Emerald and had lunch at Lake Treganowan before heading back through the eucalyptus trees and massive ferns. I even saw a couple of Kookaburras!!!

Finally, the last/most recent spot I’ve visited was the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). It was built to honor the service and sacrifices of Australians in war and peacekeeping. It was originally just made for those who served in world war 1 but has since been broadened to all Australians who have served in war. I have never seen a bigger or more ornate memorial in my life. It was also a wonderful spot to watch the sunset with the city skyline in the back.