Clayton is a big place, it'll take you ages to explore it all 😂
Can confirm. I was there for 4 years. I have still yet to see all of it. Especially due to the fact that half of the places I initially went to have now been refurbished or are currently under renovations.
Recently my timetable had a massive shakeup and I now have some lovely 4 hour holes between classes, three 4 hour gaps to be specific.
I had a 4 hour gap specifically made so I could study, as I was crazy enough to work two part-time jobs while studying 4 units for 2 years. I usually used it to study, revise, read up on the next prac, complete assignments, eat, listen to music or catch up with friends.
That is true. I've found a mini scavenger hunt list of things to try and find at Clayton. This include an aquarium and animal tank, and geological rock and fossil samples. That should take some time to find.
Most of those can be found in two buildings. Hint hint.
Here's a quick list of things that might be worth doing:
Spoiler
Places/ things to find/ visit at Clayton campus:
- Most of the buildings. (Some will be restricted access as they're labs and/or staff only.)
- Level 8 of Menzies by walking up the stairs from the ground floor; tbh, good exercise and awesome scenery if you can find the big window. (Take a photo and please share, if you do!)
- JMR (Jock Marshall Reserve) - the campus swamp (you heard me right). A good 10 - 15 minute walk from Campus Centre. Supposedly there's a ghost story that occurred there. May not actually be able to go in, per se, due to access, but see if you can make it to the entrance of the building with a curved tunnel entrance.
- Vending machines. Bonus points if you can find more than 5 or 6 different types.
Things to do might cost a little money at Clayton campus:
- Head to the gym, sports courts/ fields and pool.
- Eating at any restaurant.
- Buying a bunch of things from Campus Centre and various other places.
- Getting a coffee, tea or other beverage of choice from any place that offers it. (Challenge: if you have some disposable income, try a similar drink each place you go and provide a review.)
- Joining some clubs and events.
- Printing and binding at the libraries.
Things to do outside of campus that may cost a little:
- Eat at the Macca's across the street.
- Check out Clayton Road's shops.
- Chadstone's not too far...
- Ditto, except at The Glen. It's been renovated over the last few years.
- Going to club events, balls, etc..
- All of the above, except with friends.
- If you have a SO, go on a date somewhere nearby.
Free things to do at Clayton campus:
- Study somewhere.
- Ask questions and meet up with your lecturers and other staff.
- Nap somewhere. Anywhere, as long as it's relatively safe and sensible e.g. lawns on a nice day.
- Some clubs and events are free.
- Meet up with friends and simply hang out or catch up.
- Find weird places that people don't seem to find.
- Study with other people, usually at the group areas of libraries or shared study areas elsewhere.
- Attend public lectures and random events e.g. there's sometimes a petting zoo in Week 12.
- Scanning and other services at libraries. Attend free events at libraries to brush up on different skills.
- Watching the big screen or the smaller screens at Airport Lounge. Big screen outdoors usually has sports matches or the news. During graduation periods, you can watch people graduate. Airport Lounge has security PSAs and news.
- Listen to the uni radio station or read Lot's Wife.
- Check out the SURLY (formerly the John Medley library) and Manga Library for fun. The former has fiction books, manga, comics, DVDs, CDs and games to play. The latter has mostly Japanese media that are written in a variety of foreign languages (not just English and Japanese).
- Binge watch Netflix if you already have it. Listen to music. Do whatever you want on your own device.