The Winter Trip

80 Students.

9 Days.

9 Towns.

The trip of a lifetime.

The Big Lift plays a vital role in involving young people in volunteering and is on a mission to show university students that they have the capacity to positively impact the world around them through actions big and small.

Are you ready to #JumpOnBoard?

Each July, we invite UTS students from ALL degrees on a road trip to regional communities where help is needed. This one-of-a-kind social initiative takes a total of 80 students on two buses to 9 regional communities in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Starting from Sydney, our aim is to leave lasting and meaningful impacts on the communities we work with through various service projects, such as environmental conservation, general refurbishing and maintenance. In doing so, we hope to foster a sense of civic duty and leadership in our participants.​

Read about our 2025 Winter Trip here.

FAQs

  • Applications for the 2026 Winter Trip close on May 3rd. Keep an eye out for the application release on our social media.

  • For the Winter Trip 2026, we leave early morning on the Saturday July 4th and arrive back late on the Sunday July 12th.

  • The Winter Trip costs $550. This covers travel, food, accommodation and of course guarantees an incredible experience. This averages out to around $61 a day.

  • The Big Lift focuses on rural communities with a population of between 300-2000 people. For the 2026 Winter Trip, these towns will be located between Sydney and Surfer’s Paradise.

  • We have an incredible team of 18 comprised of Crew and Operations. We like to call them the CROPs. Each member is an ex-participant so rest assured you are in safe hands!

  • We arrive in our towns just before dinner time and eat delicious food prepared by the local community there. The next morning, we wake up well rested and keen for a fun day of volunteering.

    After lunch, we pack up, say our goodbyes and make our way to the next town. Our bus trips are where some of the best memories are made; stunning views, bus games and deep and meaningful chats are all part of the TBL bus culture!

  • We sleep in areas provided by the local community. This usually comes in the form of town halls, schools, churches, etc.

    On the trip we bring our own sleeping bags and mats. Air mattresses are discouraged due to their size and noise.

  • This is dependent on the facilities and capabilities of the town. Some towns may have one shower, some may have an entire shower block and some may not have showers at all. Most likely you will not go more than 2 days without a shower but with the amount of people on the Winter Trip, long showers aren’t a luxury we can afford.

    Wet wipe showers have become a classic part of Winter Trip culture.

  • Various forms of unskilled labour. This includes gardening, mulching, painting, general maintenance and more! There’s something for everyone and you will never be forced outside of your comfort zone.

  • Short answer, yes. All dietary needs are gathered and accounted for well before the trip.

Talk to us

If you have any questions regarding the Winter Trip, feel free to reach out to us by filling out our Contact Us Form.

Contact Us