I expected that uni would be a lonely experience and I wouldn't make many friends and I would concerntrate on my work. I was quite wrong. My friends at uni are quite awesome and because they're from all around Australia/the world, I have free accommodation should I travel to a bunch of different places

I actually think it's much easier to make friends if you aren't commuting into uni everyday.
I don't regret it at all. I don't really wonder much about what it would've been like if I took arts at uom, but I knew I would wonder what the PhB at ANU would be like if I didn't take up the opportunity. Financially, I would have been in a better situation if I went to uom though.
You can also combat homesickness by just staying busy. By the end of first year, I didn't really get homesick at all and before then, after the first term or so, I only got homesick when I was stressed with assignments/exams.