Mountain biker walking his bike uphill

University in Albury-Wodonga – where study and adventure meet

When you start your uni journey, you know study will be a big part of your life. But going to uni should also be an adventure, right? That’s where Albury-Wodonga comes in. Living and studying at university in Albury-Wodonga gives you the best of both worlds – city living wrapped in country hospitality. It’s adventurous and homely at the same time. Add some awesome natural surroundings and you’ve got one seriously unique place. Just like Charles Sturt University. Which is handy, because Albury-Wodonga is one of our homes too.

Of course, you can do as much or as little as you like, but when there’s so much to do, why wouldn’t you make the most of it?

So let’s dive into what Albury-Wodonga has to offer – and what better place to do so than the river.

Take a ride on the mighty Murray

Albury-Wodonga is actually two cities – yep, you guessed it, Albury and Wodonga. Smack bang on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, they are separated by the mighty Murray River. Here’s where some serious downtime can be had.  

As soon as the weather warms up, grab your friends and a lilo, slap on the sunscreen and head to the Mungabareena Reserve to start the ‘river ride’. Among the towering red gums on the banks of the Murray, this is the meeting place for the Wiradjuri people – and has been for generations. You’ll soon realise that it’s a special place. Pack your picnic or just dive in. Your four-hour float down the Murray will be the most relaxing rite of passage you’ll ever experience – because by the end you’ll know you’re a real local.

Love the water but don’t fancy looking like a prune after hours in the drink? Try the ‘loop float’ a five-minute drift from Oddies Creek Park to Noreuil Park Foreshore. It’s the best way to clear your head and refocus after a day over the books. Just don’t forget your noodle.

Bored? You must be joking!

Not a water baby? No worries. There’s plenty to fill your bucket list in Albury-Wodonga.   

If you’re a fan of retail therapy (even on a budget) you’ll love the range of boutique and big-name shops. Anytime of the year you can wander through markets, head to the theatre, catch a comedy show or bust a move at a live gig.

Always making friends with food? Your tastebuds will be tickled with what’s on offer from the cafés and restaurants and the regular food truck events. Foodies will love the annual North East Food and Wine Festival – a twilight festival showcasing local produce, where hundreds of stallholders serve up their best chews and brews.

Be active and energised

Making sure you find time to study will be your biggest challenge in Albury-Wodonga but, hey, don’t they say exercise is good for you? Just as well.

Lake Hume is the perfect playground if you’re an adrenaline junkie. Water-ski, wake board, knee board or ride the tube. Stuff your pack or pump your tyres and tackle the 30-kilometre trail along the lake’s foreshore.

At the Baranduda Bowl you can show off on your scooter, skateboard, BMX or rollerblades. The bowl boasts two grind rails, a sub-box and shallow and deep sections.

You can canoe or kayak the Murray, belt a ball around the 18-hole golf course or drop a line and try your luck at freshwater fishing.

Check out the new 1.7 kilometre cross-country mountain bike track on the Charles Sturt University campus. It’s classified as ‘easy’ by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, so everyone can have a go, but the track also has optional jumps, balance beams, see-saws and a 500 metre-long skills loop if that’s how you roll.

When the weather turns nasty, you don’t have to hibernate. On Albury-Wodonga’s doorstep are snowfields like Falls Creek. In less than two hours you can find yourself hitting the slopes and shreddin’ the gnar – just hop on the shuttle bus that leaves from campus.

We really like to spread the healthy living message and you can join one of our many sporting clubs. Lunchtime yoga, a running club, or perhaps you want to pull on a jersey and become a university Mud Dog (men’s rugby league and women’s league tag). We’re happy to help you keep healthy.

You’re unique and so are we!

We know everyone is different and that’s a good thing. We’re a little different here at Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga too, and we like to celebrate it.

Our campus stretches over 87 hectares, giving you plenty of room to do your best thinking. Designed with sustainability in mind, the campus has a distinct focus on the environment. (Not to brag, but we’ve received international attention for our environmentally sensitive design, six green star rated building and focus on sustainable living.)

That means the buildings you’ll live and study in are environmentally friendly and sustainable. They’re jam-packed with recycled materials and made of rammed earth, so are low energy and are fantastic at keeping you snug during winter and cool, calm and collected during the summers.

One of our favourite parts of campus are the wetlands, a happy home to a huge variety of native flora and fauna. Frogs, fish and birds all enjoy this safe haven and you can, too. Take your break with a walk through the wetlands – it will invigorate your mind, body and soul.

Get qualified at Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga

These wetlands – and the other incredible natural landscapes on and around the campus – makes Albury-Wodonga the perfect place to study environmental science and outdoor recreation. But that’s not the only passion you can pursue with us here on the border.

There’s a wide range of degrees you can study on campus at Albury-Wodonga in areas including:

The campus also has a range of services and facilities to keep you on track to success.

  • Learning Commons open 24 hours
  • Free wi-fi
  • Dental and Oral Health Clinic
  • Community Engagement and Wellness Centre, including podiatry, physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities and clinics
  • state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching facilities
  • Gums Café

Living on campus will feel just like home, except with your mates rather than your ‘rents, and we have accommodation options to suit your lifestyle and budget.

You’ll get to meet students from a range of courses and there are loads of opportunities to connect with the community, so you can build your networks, broaden your horizons and give a little back. You’ll find our allied health students visiting the community centre and nursing students lending a hand at aged care centres.

Check out Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga

To learn more about what it’s really like going to university in Albury-Wodonga, join us on-campus at our Open Day 2023 series this July-August!

Or you can get in touch with our team. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to your new home soon!