Tiger Tales

Study Oz

For an education in low-cost meals, drinks, shopping and diversions in five very different Australian cities, Sarah Etchells turned to five budgetconscious students for their top tips

illustrations: Lee Mun Mei

SYDNEY

Student: Elaina Melashich, 24
School: University of Technology
Major Subject: Business and Marketing

Cheap Eats: The Sultan’s Table in Enmore looks like your average kebab shop from the outside but walk through to find a welcoming outdoor dining area and enjoy delicious and affordable Turkish food. You can bring your own bottle of wine and the servings are huge. I always leave with a takeaway bag. The Sultan’s Table (197 Enmore Rd, Enmore, tel: +61 (0)2 9557 0229)

Wallet-Friendly Adventure: I love to do the Bondi-to-Bronte walk. Starting from Bondi Beach, walkers travel about 2.5km to the south along some of the city’s best coastline, while being treated to fantastic views. It takes about an hour and at the end you can cool off in the ocean. Bondi to Bronte (www.waverley.nsw.gov.au)

Cut-Price Watering Hole: During the week, Kuleto’s, a funky little cocktail bar in Newtown, has two-for-one cocktails from 6-7:30pm. Cheers! Kuleto’s (157 King St, Newtown, tel: +61 (0)2 9519 6369, www.kuletos.com.au)

Dress for Less: On Sundays, Bondi Markets is one of the best places to pick up a bargain. You can buy cheap handmade and vintage clothes as well as jewellery, houseware and pretty much anything else you can think of. Bondi Markets (Bondi Beach Public School, Campbell Parade, Bondi, www.bondimarkets.com.au)

Best-Kept Secret: Mille Vini, a small Italian bar and restaurant, is a real gem. There’s a huge selection of wines and bite-size Italian delicacies. It’s dark and easy to miss, so keep a sharp eye out! Mille Vini (397 Crown St, Surry Hills, tel: +61 (0)2 9357 3366)

ADELAIDE

Student: Rachel Liang, 24
School: University of Adelaide
Major Subject: Accounting and Finance

Freebie Fun: If you’re a chocolate lover like me, you’ll enjoy the free Haigh’s Chocolate Tour. The best part is the complimentary chocolate and coffee afterwards! Haigh’s Chocolates Visitor Centre (tel: +61 (0)8 8372 7077, www.haighschocolates.com.au)

Cut-Price Watering Holes: The Crown & Anchor Hotel has AU$3/S$4 pints every Friday from 4-7pm. On Thursdays, enjoy “vodka night” at PJ O’Brien’s, also with drinks from AU$3/S$4. Crown & Anchor Hotel (196 Grenfell St, tel: +61 (0)8 8223 3212); PJ O’Brien’s (14 East Terrace, tel: +61 (0)8 8232 5111, www.pjobriens.com.au)

Cheap Eats: Being from China, I love going to Chinatown for its cheap and yummy Asian food. In the food courts, you can get a big serving of wonton noodles for roughly AU$8/S$9. Chinatown (Moonta St, Adelaide Central Markets precinct between Grote and Gouger Sts)

One-Day Getaway: About 20 minutes from the city is a town called Hahndorf that’s like a little piece of Germany. Enjoy a drink at the historic Hahndorf Inn or indulge your sweet tooth at the German Cake Shop. Hahndorf Inn (35 Main Rd, Hahndorf, tel: +61 (0)8 8388 7063, www.hahndorfinn.com.au); German Cake Shop (2 Pine St, Hahndorf, tel: +61 (0)8 8388 7086)

Best-Kept Secret: I love to escape to the Botanic Gardens. It’s relaxing to leave noisy city life behind for awhile and be surrounded by nature. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide (North Terrace, tel: +61 (0)8 8222 9311, www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au)

PERTH

Student: Tom Reynolds, 23
School: University of Western Australia
Major Subject: History

Cheap Date: Head to Annalakshmi, where you can enjoy a bargain-priced Indian meal while looking out over the Swan River. The restaurant’s motto is “eat as you like and pay as you feel”. Annalakshmi (Jetty No 4, Barrack St, tel: +61 (0)8 9221 3003, www.annalakshmi.com.au)

Cut-Price Watering Holes: The Court and The Amplifier make for a great night out, with drink prices that won’t dent your wallet, music and space to dance. Amplifier Bar (393 Murray St, tel: +61 (0)8 9321 7606, www.amplifiercapitol.com.au); The Court Hotel (50 Beaufort St, tel: +61 (0)8 9328 5292, www.thecourt.com.au)

Wallet-Friendly Adventure: Perth has an excellent network of bicycle paths throughout the city. Although you need to be mindful of traffic and pedestrians, cycling is the best way to enjoy the foreshore. About Bike Hire, Point Fraser Reserve (1-7 Riverside Dr, tel: +61 (0)8 9221 2665, www.aboutbikehire.com.au)

One-Day Getaway: It’s a drive of about 30 minutes to the scenic village of Kalamunda, in the foothills of the Darling Ranges, where a craft market is held on the first Saturday of every month. On Sundays, the village hosts a farmers’ market. Kalamunda (www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au)

Best-Kept Secret: The Luna screens independent and foreign-language films. On Monday nights, enjoy a double-feature for just AU$10/S$12. Luna Palace Cinemas (155 Oxford St, Leederville, tel: +61 (0)8 9444 4056, www.lunapalace.com.au)

MELBOURNE

Student: Alysha Roe, 22
School: Melbourne School of Fashion
Major Subject: Fashion Design

Freebie Fun: Take a walk down the Southgate Promenade and check out the quirky street performances. Federation Square often holds free events, such as sports broadcasts on a giant screen. Southgate Complex (www.onlymelbourne.com.au); Federation Square (www.federationsquare.com.au)

Cheap Date: The parks and gardens that line the Yarra River are ideal for a romantic picnic. You can also step aboard one of the river cruises leaving from Southbank. It’s a great way to see the city while sipping on a glass of wine. Yarra River Cruises (www.melbcruises.com.au)

Cut-Price Watering Hole: Head for Brunswick and Smith Streets in Fitzroy to discover plenty of affordable pubs and bars. The Black Cat is a cool place with a DJ and has happy-hour prices weekdays from 10pm-1am. Black Cat (252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, tel: +61 (0)3 9419 6230)

Dress for Less: Start at the Chapel Street Bazaar for some vintage clothing and then check out the rest of the street, which is lined with funky shops. The Queen Victoria Market is another good place to pick up one-of-a-kind garments. Chapel Street Bazaar (217 Chapel St, Prahran, tel: +61 (0)3 9529 1727); Queen Victoria Market (Victoria and Queen Sts, www.qvm.com.au)

Best-Kept Secret: Within the city’s laneways are many hidden treasures. One of my favourites is the quaint, rustic bar, Sister Bella. Ask a Melburnian for directions. Sister Bella (Sniders Ln, off Drewery Ln)

CANBERRA

Student: Jess Chou, 22
School: Australian National University
Major Subject: Commerce

Freebie Fun: A visit to Parliament House is always interesting. Take a free guided tour of the halls of the nation’s seat of government. You can even sit in the public gallery and catch all the action. Parliament of Australia (tel: +61 (0)2 6277 5399, www.aph.gov.au/visitors)

Cut-Price Watering Hole: Don’t let the name fool you, Uni Pub is a popular after-work drinks destination as well as a local student hangout. Along with cheap drinks, there are nightly food specials including crispy chicken schnitzel and a cook-your-own-steak bar. Uni Pub (17 London Circuit, tel: +61 (0)2 6247 5576)

Cheap Date: Lake Burley Griffin is a great place for a romantic stroll. Afterwards, head into the city for coffee and dessert at one of the many cosy cafés at Garema Place such as Café Essen. Lake Burley Griffin (www.nationalcapital.gov.au); Café Essen (6 Garema Pl, tel: +61 (0)2 6248 9300)

Wallet-Friendly Adventure: If you are feeling especially energetic, take a trek up 195.2m Black Mountain Tower. Be warned though, this journey is not for the faint of heart (or the weak-kneed). The reward is a panoramic view of Canberra from the indoor observation deck, two outdoor viewing platforms and the revolving restaurant. Black Mountain Tower (www.blackmountaintower.com.au)

Best-Kept Secret: Tasuke is a little Japanese ramen house tucked away in the city bus interchange. Hand-drawn illustrations adorn the walls. Beyond ramen and rice dishes, offerings include pan-fried squid legs with a mayonnaise dipping sauce and golden brown braised pork. It is like a little piece of Japan in the heart of Canberra. Tasuke, Sydney Building (122 Alinga St, tel: +61 (0)2 6257 9711)