The Adventure of a Lifetime!
Dates of Travel:
4 - 8 April: Melbourne
8 - 11 April: Sydney
11 - 17 April: Brisbane
17 - 22 April: Cairns
22 - 30 April: Gold Coast
 |
| Doing the Aussie East Coast! |
----------------------------------------------
Melbourne
Airport to Melbourne City
One of the easiest and cheaper ways of getting from the Airport to Melbourne CBD is via the Skybus. The SkyBus is the convenient way to travel between Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and the heart of Melbourne city in comfort. The bus goes from the airport kerbside to the bus interchange at Southern Cross Station which is just in the heart of the CBD and Free Tram Zone.
The cost of one ticket is $19 per way, unless you have 3 or more people, than taking a taxi will be more cost efficient.
For more information, you can visit the website at https://www.skybus.com.au/!
Free Tram Zone
One of the easiest and cheaper ways of getting from the Airport to Melbourne CBD is via the Skybus. The SkyBus is the convenient way to travel between Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and the heart of Melbourne city in comfort. The bus goes from the airport kerbside to the bus interchange at Southern Cross Station which is just in the heart of the CBD and Free Tram Zone.
The cost of one ticket is $19 per way, unless you have 3 or more people, than taking a taxi will be more cost efficient.
For more information, you can visit the website at https://www.skybus.com.au/!
Free Tram Zone
One thing you must know about Melbourne's transport, is that there's free tram within the CBD/Free Tram Zone! It is very convenient, especially for tourists like us who need to get around the city hassle-free! We basically used the free tram service to get around the city! It got to a point where we were lazy to take the 10min walk back home and we just hopped onto a tram for just one stop!
 |
| Free Tram Zone |
The Free Tram Zone covers major landmarks like Flinders Street, State Library of Victoria, Federation Square, Museums, and Southern Cross Station. If you're in the city and trying to catch the trams, just keep in mind that almost all the trams within the Free Tram Zone operate in a parallel and perpendicular manor. If your route is like an 'L'shape for example, you need to change trams. Otherwise, you can very easily take any tram number in the direction you want to. Of course, there are friendly staff at popular tram stops who will assist you with directions and tram numbers if you have any questions! Also, you do not need to tap on or off when travelling within the free tram zone! If you're going to the casino or places outside the free tram zone, you do need to tap when you board the tram. You can pick up a copy of a map of the Free Tram Zone at the airport when you arrive!
 |
| melbourne tram |
Melbourne Free Walking Tour
Time: 10:30am and 2:30pm everyday
Duration: 2½ – 3 hours
Meeting Location: From the statue of Sir Redmond Barry in front of the State Library of Victoria.
Website: http://www.imfree.com.au/melbourne/
I did not join the walking tour when I was in Melbourne, but I enjoyed Sydney's tour a lot!! I even got my boyfriend to join this tour when he was transiting in Melbourne before he met me in Cairns. He enjoyed it a lot and said the guide was very knowledgable and he was so intrigued by all the rich history!
State Library of Victoria
I think this is one of the most beautiful libraries I've ever been to! It was built in the 1850s and over the course of many years, different parts of the building, rooms and annexes were built and added on.
There's a huge chessboard outside the library and when I visited, two men were having a go at a game! There's lots of grassy lawns and wooden benches where people are just reading, people watching or just watching the game of chess.
I think this is one of the most photographed room of the State Library of Victoria! The library has several reading rooms and plenty of exhibitions and sculptures.
Queen Victoria Market has stalls ranging from souvenirs to clothes, vegetables to meats to seafood! There's even a section that sells furniture!
The vegetables were all so huge, fresh and colourful! They were all grown locally as well!
Plenty of stalls that sells burgers, sandwiches, etc. Basically deli stuff. Meats and cheese and I wanted to buy everything!!
Of course, one of the highlight of visiting Queen Victoria Market was to eat the fresh oysters!! $14 for a dozen oysters! So worth it! In restaurants, it is being sold for $30/half dozen! It is so fresh and the taste just explodes in your mouth!
Of course, my sister had to have her long black coffee for the day.
Phillip Island Tour
Website: http://www.phillipislandtour.com.au/
Cost: $104 / pax
Time: 9am - 9pm
Included: Afternoon tea, all park entrance fees, wildlife viewing, picnic style lunch, friendly informative tour guide and Melbourne CBD or St Kilda pick up/drop off
We took the Phillip Island Tour as we didn't have a car and it would have been difficult to get around. Anyway, renting the car and admission tickets would probably cost more than the than the tour itself. We were picked up at the Immigration Museum which was just a short 10 mins walk (or 1 tram stop away) from our Airbnb.
First stop was the Maru Wildlift Park! We had a quick breakfast of breadrolls with ham and coffee or tea. As it was raining, we didn't really explore the compound much as there were puddles everywhere and I didn't want to get my brand new shoes wet or dirty. Haha.
We first went to see the Koalas and Wallabies. After a pit of pushing, the Wallabies were not interested in our hand fed grains and grass. So we proceeded to the big Kangaroo enclosure! I must say that they kangaroos were almost my height and they were quite aggressive when it comes to the grass that's on my hand. They were shoveling and pushing each other to get a space on my hand.
Chocolate Factory
Next stop was Panny's Chocolate Factory! Not only does it boost a cafe and amazing chocolate confectioneries, it also have a small little museum! There's a carnival like section in the museum where you play little games like trying to get a wooden ball into a hole and at the end of the games, you can exchange the wooden balls for real chocolate balls to take home!
Woolamai Beach
Woolamai Beach is perfect place for a barefoot walk or sit back and watch surfers catch wave after wave. The area is so special, the region was recently declared a National Surfing Reserve for its pristine environment and surf.
The view is amazing and the winds are so strong!
Nobbies Information Center
The meandering boardwalk crafted from wood curves around the Nobbies and is the perfect place to explore on a warm summers day or even out of season when the surf crashes against the rocks.
Following the wooden walk offers breath-taking views along the coast and just past the penguin parade where the small black and white birds tumble and fall you will find seal rocks.
Penguin Parade
The famous Penguin Parade is held every evening at sunset on the island where tourists and locals alike can experience the Peguin Parade - Phillip Island penguins in their natural habitat. During the parade, the penguins make their way from the water to the sand and finally to their homes. The best part? You get to watch!
Tickets to the Penguin Parade put you up in the viewing area to watch the largest colony of penguins waddle home. If you’re in the mood to spend a little more for an unforgettable experience, you have the option to buy a premium viewing ticket, where you get up-close-and-personal with the penguins. Although you are getting a better view, there is no flash photography allowed during the Penguin Parade, so we have no photos of that.
Great Ocean Road Tour
Website: http://greatoceanroadmelbournetours.com.au/
Cost: $96 / pax
Time: 7am - 9pm
Included: Morning tea, delicious restaurant lunch, all park entrance fees, wildlife viewing, Melbourne CBD or St Kilda pick up/drop off, friendly informative tour guide
Anglesea
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
The arch was built in honour of the 3,000 returned soldiers who worked on the road and its creation during World War I. They started construction on the Great Ocean Road in 1919 and completed the 243 kilometers stretch of road in 1932. There is also a The-Great-Ocean-Road-Memorial-Arch-Workers Statue sculpture that was commissioned on the road’s 75th anniversary on the side of the arch. The sculpture is of two returned soldiers working on the Great Ocean Road. During the construction of the road, some soldiers lost their lives due to the grueling task of building a road by hand. The road itself was built as a memorial for all those who lost their lives in the war. It is the longest war memorial in the world.
Kennett River
We stopped at Kennett River where we were supposed to spot wild koalas. We did see wild koalas wandering around the eucalyptus trees, but the main highlight were the native Parrots and Lorikeets! We bought a small bag of bird seeds and before you know it, the friendly and bold Lorikeets swoosh down on your palms and head!
Otaway Forest
When exploring the wonders of the Great Ocean Road make sure to embrace the beauty of the Otway ranges in the national park. The park offers many incredible walks Tree in Maits Rest Rainforest Otway National Park Great Ocean Road Victoria Australias panning almost a hundred kilometers from the town of Apollo to Glenample Homestead.
You can meander through the rich trails, ride horses across the rugged peaks and swim in the sweet lagoons that sit under the thundering cascades of the regions waterfalls. We took a 10 min mini trail/hike around the forest and enjoyed the coolness and beauty of the rain forest.
12 Apostles
Over twenty million years ago the powerful surf and the salt of the erratic and moody Southern Ocean started to erode the rugged limestone cliffs along Victoria's Coastline. The constant wind and water carved out cavernous caves in the soft rock. As time ticked on the caves became majestic arches framing the sea. Yet the surf and the storms were relentless and eventually the arches collapsed to make towering stacks that soared up to 45 meters in the sky and isolated from the cliffs.
Many people travel across the globe to witness the splendour, the myth and the mystery of the 12 apostles. Throughout the day the colours and the light ebbs and flows across the rock changing the face and the feel of the mighty rocks. As the sun rises on her mast the golden colours spill across the rocks with flecks of rose and red. As the sun starts to fall exploding the sky with burn oranges and lavender hues the same colours drip across the rocks and adorn the apostles with rainbow colours before they loom into foreboding shadows.
Royal Stacks
Address: 470 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia 3000
Tel: 97932133
Website: http://royalstacks.com.au/
Royal stacks was a short walk from our Airbnb and we decided to head there for lunch! We had the Miss Elizabeth and Prince Harry. Located in the heart of CBD and there's plenty of seats insides with nice decor.
The burgers were so good despite it looking kind of... flat.. The meat was juicy and goes so well with all the sauces!
Rare Steakhouse
Address: 6/61 Little Collins St (enter via McGraths Lane)
Phone: +61 3 9663 3373
Opening Hours: Lunch: Mon to Fri, Midday - 3pm; Dinner: Mon to Sat, 5.30pm - Late
Website: http://www.raresteakhouse.com.au/
This steakhouse was recommended by our Airbnb host and so, we decided to try it on our first night. It was quite a bold decision as I had to space my money out considering that I'll be in Australia for a month. Splurging on steak wasn't exactly a good idea for the first night on my month-long trip.
Yup, we went anyway. We had steaks and chips and mash... It was good despite the reviews online stating otherwise. It cost us $70 total and I would say it was worth it. Steak was juicy and well seasoned. It was also thick and just ooooooozing with flavour.
Manchester Press
Address: 8 Rankins Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone:+61 3 9600 4054
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 07:00 - 17:00; Sat-Sun: 09:00 - 17:00
Website: https://www.facebook.com/manchesterpress
On first sight, you wouldn’t really notice any signage that would lead you to the café. It's located inside an alley and I just had to trust Google Maps and just walked into the alley way! Thank God it was day time and there's plenty of people filtering in and out of the cafe at the end of the alley.
Ordered an open-faced smoked salmon with capers and dill cream! Suuuuuper yummy! Want the best of two worlds? Order an ice-cream latte!! Coffee gives life, and ice cream soothes the soul. Of course, the coffee and ice-cream isn't really the best thing to have first thing in the morning... Just make sure you can get to the toilet in time for the works.
I did not join the walking tour when I was in Melbourne, but I enjoyed Sydney's tour a lot!! I even got my boyfriend to join this tour when he was transiting in Melbourne before he met me in Cairns. He enjoyed it a lot and said the guide was very knowledgable and he was so intrigued by all the rich history!
Where to go in Melbourne
I think this is one of the most beautiful libraries I've ever been to! It was built in the 1850s and over the course of many years, different parts of the building, rooms and annexes were built and added on.
 |
| huge chess board outside |
 |
| La Trobe Reading Room |
Queen Victoria Market
 |
| Queen Victoria Market |
Queen Victoria Market is located at the edge of the Free Tram Zone. It is one of the last stops within the Free Tram Zone, so remember to hop off! It is also closed on Mondays, so do visit other days and not make the same mistake as we did (it was like a dead town on Monday)! We returned on Tuesday and it was so lively!
 |
| clothes and toys section |
Queen Victoria Market has stalls ranging from souvenirs to clothes, vegetables to meats to seafood! There's even a section that sells furniture!
 |
| local produce |
 |
| deli store |
 |
| oysters |
 |
| coffee |
Phillip Island Tour
Website: http://www.phillipislandtour.com.au/
Cost: $104 / pax
Time: 9am - 9pm
Included: Afternoon tea, all park entrance fees, wildlife viewing, picnic style lunch, friendly informative tour guide and Melbourne CBD or St Kilda pick up/drop off
We took the Phillip Island Tour as we didn't have a car and it would have been difficult to get around. Anyway, renting the car and admission tickets would probably cost more than the than the tour itself. We were picked up at the Immigration Museum which was just a short 10 mins walk (or 1 tram stop away) from our Airbnb.
First stop was the Maru Wildlift Park! We had a quick breakfast of breadrolls with ham and coffee or tea. As it was raining, we didn't really explore the compound much as there were puddles everywhere and I didn't want to get my brand new shoes wet or dirty. Haha.
 |
| hand fed wallabies |
Chocolate Factory
Next stop was Panny's Chocolate Factory! Not only does it boost a cafe and amazing chocolate confectioneries, it also have a small little museum! There's a carnival like section in the museum where you play little games like trying to get a wooden ball into a hole and at the end of the games, you can exchange the wooden balls for real chocolate balls to take home!
Woolamai Beach
Woolamai Beach is perfect place for a barefoot walk or sit back and watch surfers catch wave after wave. The area is so special, the region was recently declared a National Surfing Reserve for its pristine environment and surf.
The view is amazing and the winds are so strong!
Nobbies Information Center
The meandering boardwalk crafted from wood curves around the Nobbies and is the perfect place to explore on a warm summers day or even out of season when the surf crashes against the rocks.
 |
| after a storm |
Following the wooden walk offers breath-taking views along the coast and just past the penguin parade where the small black and white birds tumble and fall you will find seal rocks.
 |
| it is tooo cold! |
The famous Penguin Parade is held every evening at sunset on the island where tourists and locals alike can experience the Peguin Parade - Phillip Island penguins in their natural habitat. During the parade, the penguins make their way from the water to the sand and finally to their homes. The best part? You get to watch!
 |
| sunset |
 |
| waiting for penguins! |
Great Ocean Road Tour
Website: http://greatoceanroadmelbournetours.com.au/
Cost: $96 / pax
Time: 7am - 9pm
Included: Morning tea, delicious restaurant lunch, all park entrance fees, wildlife viewing, Melbourne CBD or St Kilda pick up/drop off, friendly informative tour guide
Anglesea
We stopped at Anglesea on our way to the Great Ocean Road for some cookies and tea! Beautiful park with a small playground and lake!
 |
| Anglesea |
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
The arch was built in honour of the 3,000 returned soldiers who worked on the road and its creation during World War I. They started construction on the Great Ocean Road in 1919 and completed the 243 kilometers stretch of road in 1932. There is also a The-Great-Ocean-Road-Memorial-Arch-Workers Statue sculpture that was commissioned on the road’s 75th anniversary on the side of the arch. The sculpture is of two returned soldiers working on the Great Ocean Road. During the construction of the road, some soldiers lost their lives due to the grueling task of building a road by hand. The road itself was built as a memorial for all those who lost their lives in the war. It is the longest war memorial in the world.
 |
| memorial arch |
Kennett River
We stopped at Kennett River where we were supposed to spot wild koalas. We did see wild koalas wandering around the eucalyptus trees, but the main highlight were the native Parrots and Lorikeets! We bought a small bag of bird seeds and before you know it, the friendly and bold Lorikeets swoosh down on your palms and head!
 |
| Lorikeets |
When exploring the wonders of the Great Ocean Road make sure to embrace the beauty of the Otway ranges in the national park. The park offers many incredible walks Tree in Maits Rest Rainforest Otway National Park Great Ocean Road Victoria Australias panning almost a hundred kilometers from the town of Apollo to Glenample Homestead.
You can meander through the rich trails, ride horses across the rugged peaks and swim in the sweet lagoons that sit under the thundering cascades of the regions waterfalls. We took a 10 min mini trail/hike around the forest and enjoyed the coolness and beauty of the rain forest.
 |
| huge tree |
12 Apostles
Over twenty million years ago the powerful surf and the salt of the erratic and moody Southern Ocean started to erode the rugged limestone cliffs along Victoria's Coastline. The constant wind and water carved out cavernous caves in the soft rock. As time ticked on the caves became majestic arches framing the sea. Yet the surf and the storms were relentless and eventually the arches collapsed to make towering stacks that soared up to 45 meters in the sky and isolated from the cliffs.
 |
| beautiful |
Many people travel across the globe to witness the splendour, the myth and the mystery of the 12 apostles. Throughout the day the colours and the light ebbs and flows across the rock changing the face and the feel of the mighty rocks. As the sun rises on her mast the golden colours spill across the rocks with flecks of rose and red. As the sun starts to fall exploding the sky with burn oranges and lavender hues the same colours drip across the rocks and adorn the apostles with rainbow colours before they loom into foreboding shadows.
 |
| 12 apostles |
 |
| Sunset Views |
Where to eat in Melbourne
 |
| royal stacks |
Address: 470 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia 3000
Tel: 97932133
Website: http://royalstacks.com.au/
 |
| nutella everywhere! |
 |
| yummy! |
 |
| royal stacks menu |
Rare Steakhouse
Address: 6/61 Little Collins St (enter via McGraths Lane)
Phone: +61 3 9663 3373
Opening Hours: Lunch: Mon to Fri, Midday - 3pm; Dinner: Mon to Sat, 5.30pm - Late
Website: http://www.raresteakhouse.com.au/
 |
| Steakhouse |
Yup, we went anyway. We had steaks and chips and mash... It was good despite the reviews online stating otherwise. It cost us $70 total and I would say it was worth it. Steak was juicy and well seasoned. It was also thick and just ooooooozing with flavour.
Manchester Press
 |
| Manchester Press |
Address: 8 Rankins Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone:+61 3 9600 4054
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 07:00 - 17:00; Sat-Sun: 09:00 - 17:00
Website: https://www.facebook.com/manchesterpress
 |
| Menu |
 |
| smoked salmon |
 |
| Ice Cream Latte! |
----------------------------------------
Aussie East Coast Series:
Melbourne
Gold Coast
