Victoria University International invites all new international students to your Official Welcome Event.

Join VU students and the International Student Support (ISS) team for lunch, meet new people and experience Melbourne's summer culture with an afternoon of activities at the beach.

You must register to attend the Big Beach Day Out. Registrations may close before the end date above if all tickets are taken and a waiting list will be activated. Lunch and the afternoon activities are free for new international students. Your ticket is paid for by ISS and the Rootvij Kadakia Foundation.

You will be participating in activities on the sand or in the water (you can choose which) during the afternoon.  All water activities are in shallow water, closely supervised by lifeguards, and lots of fun, so it's safe to go in the water even if you are not a good swimmer. Many people wore clothes into the water last year because they didn't plan to go in, but changed their mind when they saw everyone else having a great time!

Please select one lunch ticket (all food is halal) from the options above to commence your registration.   You will receive an email with a link to your ticket.  Please print the ticket and bring it with you on the day. 

What to bring

•  Swimsuit (in Australia they're also called bathers, togs, boardies, swimmers), shorts or spare clothes to wear in the water.  Even if you don't plan to go in the water, bring your swimsuit or spare clothes in case you change your mind, as lots of people have at past events!
• A towel
• A drink
• A snack in case you get hungry during the afternoon
• A hat & sunscreen 

What NOT to bring

•  A lot of cash (money). There are a couple of small shops at the beach where you can buy drinks & snacks after the program finishes but the only other thing you will need to buy is your train, bus or parking ticket, so please leave most of your money at home. 
• iPod or other valuables that could easily get lost at the beach.

Travel information – Williamstown Beach is in Zone 1

Hosts will meet and travel with you if you are travelling from Flinders Street or Footscray stations.  Meeting times and places will be emailed during the week before the event to people who have registered.

By train  you are travelling to Williamstown Beach Station  

From Flinders Street station: Catch the 11.08am Werribee line train (often leaves from platform 10).  

From Footscray station.  Catch the 11.20 Werribee line train (from platform 4). 

Get off at Newport Station (the station after Spotswood).    At Newport Station wait about 2 minutes on the same platform then get on the 11.30am Williamstown train.  Get off at Williamstown Beach (the station after North Williamstown).

If you miss trains at the times above please ask station staff to help you find the next train.

By bus you are travelling to the last bus stop, Williamstown SLSC

Bus 471 goes to Williamstown from Sunshine via Altona. 

Bus 472 goes from Moonee Ponds to Williamstown. 

See the metlink website at: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ for timetables and more information.

By car

The park where we will have lunch is on the corner of Giffard Street and The Esplanade in Williamstown.  It's called LA PARKER RESERVE.  There is unrestricted parking in Giffard Street and pay parking along The Esplanade.  Go to http://www.whereis.com/ for directions and a map.

We look forward to enjoying a great day at the beach. Please email iss@vu.edu.au if you have any questions.

If you register but cannot attend please email iss@vu.edu.au as soon as possible so that we can cancel your ticket and offer the place to someone else.

We look forward to seeing you there!