Just to add to what's been said, if your partner's eligible a WHV does seem the best way to go. They're pretty much automatic to get if the quota for your country hasn't been used up and much less paperwork than under the family stream. The only problem is that you can (if it hasn't changed) only work for three months for one employer (working for different people through the same temp agency is fine though).
After living together for a year, you can then apply for PR on partnership grounds, and a family stream work visa whilst the application is being processed.
Student visa's aren't limited to people under thirty, but you do have to pay overseas tuition and can only work part time, if at all.