With exams completed and university applications filed away, this year's graduating class of 2022 faces one last question: what are they going to do for schoolies?
The end-of-year bash originated on the sunny strip of the Gold Coast but has since spawned into a national tradition in Australia.
In Victoria, coastal towns along the Great Ocean Road become crowded with teenagers happily letting their hair down after 13 years of full-time schooling.
However, that may not be the case this year.
Liz Price, general manager of the Great Ocean Road Tourism Group, said after a big year last year numbers were down in 2022.
"I think it might be a bit of a quiet-palooza," she said.
Ms Price suggested the opening of international and interstate travel had given students other options rather than attending schoolies on the Great Ocean Road.
"I've heard of some really strong numbers at some of the interstate destinations and even students going back internationally," she said.
On the other side of the bay, numbers are slightly more promising.
The reception manager at North Pier Hotel on Phillip Island, Toby Woll, said about 112 teenagers had booked in for schoolies, which was about on par with the previous year.
Jasmine Emonson at Rye Beach Motel, was looking at hosting around 39 students only.
Not for everyone
Moama Anglican Grammar student Jamison McFadden was one of the graduates blowing off schoolies for their own mini getaway.
"I'm planning on just doing a small road trip with one of my closest friends," she said.
"I don't particularly enjoy the whole idea of just constantly drinking in crowded clubs.
"I think in general schoolies is … a lot less popular."
Ms McFadden said the isolation of the COVID pandemic had resulted in her being less interested in meeting new people.
Further south, students at Warrnambool's Emmanuel College will be travelling further than the Great Ocean Road or even the Gold Coast.
Instead of hitting the pubs or clubs, students can join a school volunteer group heading to East Timor.
"Our students engage with the local school, assist with English lessons and other school activities," principal Peter Morgan said.
Mr Morgan said students had been unable to participate in this opportunity for the past few years, but the school hoped to "reconnect face to face [with East Timor schools]."
Work not play
Students at Balmoral Community College often decided they would rather stay home and work than go away, according to principal Jo Amott.
Instead of spending money, her students were earning it.
"Farming at this time of year is too good of an opportunity to save up some money," she said.
"Some [students] have plans to go to university and so there's an extended cost for students as they're moving to university in a different regional centre or in Melbourne."
Ms Amott said the pandemic meant that many students had not even had "the opportunity to interact with their own peers" and many would rather just spend time with their close friends than an entire cohort of students.
But she was not convicted that was the way it had to be.
"Maybe it's about their schools and their families having discussions with them about what they want to get out of the social activities," Ms Arnott said.
Schoolies traditionally runs for about three weeks, concluding in mid-December.
