Written by Mikayla Howard
The Port Macquarie campus is the epitome of coast to bush living, with beaches and green spaces galore. When it comes to iconic spots on campus, the Port Mac campus does not disappoint!
Firstly, I will give you a little bit of insight into the history of the campus. The campus officially opened in 2012, claiming the spot of Charles Sturt University’s very first regional coastal campus. The next stage of construction was completed in 2018, with plans for more new buildings and facilities in the future. The campus could not be situated in a better spot… close to beaches, and rainforests alike, with an overwhelming amount of native wildlife who also call the campus home.
When arriving to campus the first thing that you will lay your eyes on is the huge set of rainbow stairs – painted as a reminder of the campus’ great inclusivity and diversity.
What uni has a shopping centre literally attached to the campus?! Just a few steps across the yellow brick road (aka pedestrian crossing) and you are spoilt for choice with lovely cafes and juice bars, Zamberos, Coles, and even an awesome burger joint. Once you have stocked up on food supplies, you can even pop into the nail salon for a quick manicure and pedicure.
The campus also offers a fabulous roof-top study area where students can access the peace and tranquility of an outdoor environment filled with sunshine, fresh air and birds chirping… if that doesn’t provide the much-needed motivation to complete those assignments I don’t know what will!
Now, while we are on the topic of trees and fresh air, take a break, have a wander around, and do some koala spotting. That’s right, the campus has it’s very own resident koala – he or she pretty much keeps to themselves, snoozing and snacking in the trees that surround campus.
Even if you aren’t lucky enough to spot a real koala, you can easily spot the metre high Koala statue that also lives on campus as part of the Port Macquarie Hello Koala sculpture trail.
Once you’ve exhausted all your energy from shopping, studying and koala spotting, the brand-new hammocks are the perfect spot. Situated in a quiet corner of an open field in the heart of campus, with protection from the elements, it’s the perfect place to curl up and have a midday siesta.
Another great way to take a break from study, is to drop by the Commune Grounds coffee cart for all your caffeinated snacks and maybe even a cheeky piece of caramel slice. If caffeine isn’t your thing take a break by playing a quick round of giant chess!
So that’s just a few of the many iconic spots on the Port Macquarie campus. I could go on forever with more, but we would be here all day… the Port campus really has it all!
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative
