With deadlines looming over us, thank goodness we were sent a special something called Easter Break to push all of those back by a week. Easter Break gotchu fam.

Instead of basking in the pool of procrastination until the panic and anxiety kick in, GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF and plan these precious seven-ish days well because as soon as they’re over, it’s Week 8. Then you’ll blink once and before you know it, the red carpet would have been rolled out for the VIP of your semester - the hellish Week 12. Yup. Time to hustle.

The perfect Easter Break can be broken down into a simple formula, i.e.

Below we have broken down the formula into its three core components along pro tips for smashing each of them ;)

Study

If you’re going to be studying a whole lot in one week, you’d want to mix it up a little, rather than dragging your sleepy self to the same measly corner in the library where no one can hear you snacking. Right? Here are a few conducive places to get back to the grind.

1. Baillieu Library Level 2

   • The OG library floor. My soft spot. Its not too bright, plenty of study spaces and the abundance of power ports has me going all heart eyes over this part of the library. One of the quiet libraries listed here.

2. Cosy corners in Arts West

   • For those who need to have a quick chat with their friend/ prefers white noise rather than dead silence, Arts West offers the same level of cosy combined with a more chill vibe as well as really cute light fit outs and seating. However you’d want to get here quick because spaces run out quicker than BTS concert tickets. Warning.

3. Starbucks

   • Are WiFi and coffee your two staples for effective study? SB’s here to provide, along with a chill ambiance where you can drown your thoughts in passers by and the aroma of roasted coffee beans wafting from the counter. Keep a lookout for their regular specials ($3 sweet treats from 3pm, B1F1 hot chocolate on Tuesdays etc).

4. City Library Melbourne

   • If you’re looking for a change of “scenery”, City Library is a good place to check out. Tucked away in Flinders Lane, it’s a spot not everyone will stumble upon. Nevertheless as a public library, it’s great environment to study and is literally steps away from rows and rows of restaurants, cafes and dessert places around Degraves St. They also have a designated quiet room so quiet you’d even make a sound from moving in your seat.

5. Kathleen Syme Library

   • Those of you staying around uni and Carlton, head over to Kathleen Syme Library. Often walked past, not many realize this historical-looking building is a full-fledged, fully equipped library. It has a nice lounge area, a quiet room and even tables outside for the warmer autumn days when you’d rather be around nature and a calming breeze. A stone’s throw from Lygon St with a myriad of dinner options to treat yourself after a day of study.

Fun

No one can work 25/7 without playing and loosening up a little - and I’m not even going to mention that saying about Jack being a dull boy. Whether you’ve got 2-3 days or just an evening to let your hair down, there’ll be something for you.

1. Apollo Bay

• Just a little less than 3 hours’ drive away, Apollo Bay is a scenic getaway where the fun doesn’t stop at the photo taking session for Instagram. There are koalas to be spotted, the historic Cape Otway Lighthouse and even a 2 km treetop walk over a 30 m treetop canopy walkway that is the longest and tallest walkway of its type in the world. And did I mention freshly caught seafood straight from ocean to plate?

2. B. Lucky and Sons

• The iconic Asian-inspired arcade that serves up alcoholic bubble tea. That is all. Be prepared to spend on lots of drinks and endless rounds of taking a chance on the arcade games available. You can find it at the top floor of Melbourne Central.

3. Melbourne Zoo

• Zoos always take me back to my childhood, and I think that it’s a really good way to escape the stress of growing older and having responsibilities pile up by the day. Let the waddling penguins and sleepy koalas take your troubles away for the day. Tickets aren’t too expensive either.

4. Suburb exploring

• All too familiar with the CBD yet never stepped a foot out of the city? Melbourne has many suburban gems not too far from the city centre, so if a long car ride is not your thing, you can get to any of the mentioned ‘burbs below by public transport! It almost feels like traveling to a completely new place, as each of these suburbs has an entirely different vibe compared to the city!

  • South Yarra

    An almost boutique-like suburb, South Yarra is home to many of the best brunch spots in Melbourne. The iconic long stretch of Chapel St is a melting pot of diverse cuisines and tastes. There are all kinds of food places, op-shops and designer/ non-designer boutiques in a street-mall setting. Not to mention seeing a doggo every block. By night, it transforms to become a culinary hub bustling bar scene including LGBT friendly ones.

  • Richmond

    Say hi to one of the Vietnamese precincts in Melbourne (the least shady compared to Footscray and Springvale)! Along Victoria St you will find an array of Vietnamese restaurants to choose from, including dedicated supermarkets, butchers, grocers, bakeries and more. Yes, this is pho real! This is one mint suburb. After the banh mi crawl, take any tram that goes all the way down Victoria St to stop at IKEA where you can spend another few hours looking through impeccable house furnishings and the iconic IKEA photo… need I say more?

  • Box Hill

    Get transported to China. It’s even more legit than Chinatown, or Swanston St because this is where all the real Chinese at. Chinatown who? We’re talking amazing Asian food - authentic Peking duck, dumplings, amazing roast meats, Sichuan cuisine, hotpot, dimsum, boba, Hong Kong treats, EVERYTHING. Almost everyone around here is Asian, and signs are all in Chinese. This place is just a food escapade though, there isn’t anything much to do besides eat.

  • Fitzroy

    Another must-go, Fitzroy is the epitome of hipster meets grunge and artsy. Featuring a slew of vegan, vegetarian options as well as interesting fusion places, you’ll also spend a lot of your time browsing through vintage articles and snapping street art better than Hosier Lane, all while holding a crumbly Lune croissant in your hand.

Socializing

With 7 days off uni, there’s finally time to catch up with that friend you’ve been meaning to make a date with, but had a schedule that disagreed. And what better way to cry over uni sorrows than over a cup of coffee as black as your future, and a beautiful brunch spread to contrast with how your life is falling apart? Here are some unique places to have that meal/ cuppa.

1. Bentwood, Fitzroy

   Luxuriously spacious (think floor to ceiling windows) in an industrial setting is what Bentwood is about, complemented by food that hits the spot every time.

2. One Plus Piece, Balwyn

   A cute anime-themed cafe serving up delicious burgers, poke bowls, thick shakes and alcoholic freak shakes.

3. Third Wave Cafe, Port Melbourne

   That video you always see on Facebook with the huge platters of BBQ ribs and crazy loaded fries? This is the one. BBQ stands for Better Be Quick to make that booking, or you may not get a seat!

4. Drumplings, CBD

Dumplings with a fun (and sometimes, wacky) twist. Get ready to try their signature drumplings with fillings like beef rendang, cheeseburger and pepperoni pizza (other than the regular fillings)! Don’t be taken aback though, the people know what they’re doing. A gorgeous neon pink purple lighting welcomes you as you enter.

5. Son in Law, Collingwood

Besides the regular Thai offerings, SIL has adorable Winnie The Pooh, Pikachu and Sanrio custard buns, drinks served with a huge cloud of cotton candy on top as well as milk tea served in little light bulb shaped cups!

6. Mork Chocolate Brew House, North Melbourne

Artisan hot chocolate has another name- and that’s Mork. If chocolate runs through your veins, head over to this professional chocolate brewer where you can tweak your hot chocolate based on different percentages of cocoa intensity. They also have the signature Campfire set, which is a theatrical recreation of a campfire scene that comes with toasted marshmallow, hot chocolate and an overturned cup of smoke for you to put together.

Now that you’re all set, remember to keep your priorities in check and make this the best Easter break you’ve ever had. Time to enjoy the holidays aaaand let’s get that roti!!