Day 18-21(1/24/2026-1/27/2026)

This was our first free weekend of the trip, so a group of six of us decided to get out of the city and rent a house near the beach in Geelong. It was really nice to have a change of pace from Melbourne and spend some time somewhere quieter and more laid back.

Before heading down to Geelong, we went to a concert in Melbourne, which was a great way to kick off the weekend. It was extremely hot that day—over 100 degrees—and you could definitely feel it, especially being out in the city. Even so, the concert was a lot of fun and set the tone for a great weekend.

The next morning, we slept in and then made our way down to Torquay to spend the day at the beach. Torquay was absolutely beautiful and had that classic surf-town feel. The coastline was unreal, the water was clear, and the town itself was full of small shops, cafés, and surf culture. One thing I really noticed was how different the atmosphere felt compared to the city. People in the suburbs seemed more relaxed and genuinely welcoming, which made the whole experience even better.

That night, we went out in Geelong and explored the town a bit. Even though it’s much smaller than Melbourne, it still had a lot to offer. There were plenty of places to eat, walk around, and hang out, and it was cool to see how lively it was without feeling overwhelming.

The next day was easily my favorite of the trip so far. We went back to Torquay, rented surfboards, and spent the day in the water. The weather was perfect, the views were incredible, and getting to surf in such a well-known surf area was an unreal experience. Being out there with everyone, away from school and schedules, made it one of those days I know I’ll remember for a long time.

After we got back to the house, we watched a couple of movies and had a chill night in, which was a perfect way to wrap up the weekend. Unfortunately, the next day we had to head back and Uber to Melbourne. Before fully getting back into the routine, we all went out for a group dinner at a really good Italian restaurant. It was a great way to close out an awesome weekend and reset for the week ahead.