Australia – Melbourne to Adelaide (via Great Ocean Road)

Next Stop: Adelaide via Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park

I left Melbourne really early at 6am as I need to catch my tour bus to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road. Total journey from Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road is approximately 8 hours if non-stop driving (727km). Great Ocean Road has been raved as one of the most scenic drive in Australia between Melbourne and Adelaide. Hence, I signed up for a 2 days 1 night tour for this scenic road via coach bus.

I think I am very fortunate and lucky that I got to meet another group of fellow Singaporeans during the tour. This time is 2 young girls in their twenties who were travelling together with their mother. They came to attend one of the young girls’ graduation ceremonies. The auntie was very concerned when she heard about me travelling alone. She even asked questions like “Wow, aren’t your parents worried when you travel alone? Do you often contact them while you are travelling?” and she often lookout for me during the trip, and even treat me to dinner, which I am really very thankful.

Journey to the Great Ocean Road

Scenery along the way

On my way to Adelaide, you will realise how beautiful the landscape around the Great Ocean Road is. We made several stops such as the Kennett River to spot the wild koalas and Kookaburra, bushwalking through Otway’s Rainforest, a very ancient temperate rainforest as if you are walking through the Jurassic Park, the famous Twelve Apostles, Loch Arch Gorge and London Bridge lookout point.

The bus driver cum tour guide is a very knowledgeable person. He is previously a biology lecturer in one of the universities in Germany, and migrated to Australia 15 years ago, and took up this as a part-time job. He currently writes papers and books about Aboriginal, in hope to set this in motion to have this introduced into Australia education system to educate people to understand more about Aboriginals and their cultures. Throughout the whole tour, I felt like I am travelling in a National Geographic journey, with a “live” narrator. Pretty cool right!

Check out the Kookaburra

Otway’s Rainforest: You’ll feel dwarfed as you stroll past towering fern trees.. Look like the T-Rex is going to jump out anytime 

Witnessed the rugged splendour limestone stacks that form the almighty Twelve Apostles

Great Ocean Road dramatic coastline

Loch Ard Gorge

Along the Loch Ard trail 

Loch Ard Gorge: A beautiful vista of towering cliffs, sparkling blue-green sea and a small, sandy beach. 

One of my favourite shot: Gandalf's beams of light 

Sunset at the Port Campbell National Park

London Bridge has fallen down... BUT it still makes a great photo 

Partial of remaining London Arch (formerly known as London Bridge)

We stayed overnight at Halls Gap; the heart of Grampians National Park. As the sky turned dark, driving to Halls Gap is never an easy task. Our bus driver had made a few E-brakes to avoid knocking kangaroos down and now you know why Australia is very strict with fastening of seat belts. Hence, when driving in this region, beware of kangaroos. It is also a common sight that kangaroos are found dead lying in the middle or side of the road; after they got hit by cars.  

We got up really early the next morning, to catch sunrise and breathe in fresh mountain air with pleasant walk at the Reed’s Lookout and a small hike to see beautiful McKenzie Falls, before heading to Adelaide in the afternoon.

I wish upon the star...

Sunrise at Reeds (Grampians National Park)

I am not a morning person, but I am thankful that I am alive to see this spectacular sunrise; I love sunrise. 

Newly met fellow Singaporeans! Thanks for everything throughout the journey!

One of my favourite shot: The Ballerina.... Solo traveller

Grampians National Park - Wild kangaroos grazing everywhere - Find the joey....

McKenzie Falls

Coincidentally, the whole travel group are all ladies except our tour guide, which is rare according to him; Girl Power!

Australia (Victoria) – Melbourne (Phillip Island)

Phillip Island is one of the must visit place when you are in Melbourne. I had booked myself to a 1-day tour to visit Phillip Island. The tour typically starts around 9am in the morning and ends at around 9pm. The tour bus has a few pick-up and drop-off points around Melbourne city where you can choose from.

At the Phillip Island, I get to visit the Australian Wildlife Park, get up close and personal shots with the koalas, kangaroos, wallabies etc… Personally, I think Phillip Island is one of photographers’ paradises, where the island is filled with great beaches, stunning rock formations and sheer-cliffs. See my photos and you will get what I meant.

Feeding time! Surrounded by the Kangaroos... They use their tongue gently lick up the feedings on your hand; Reminds me of how I fed my dear late Frosty the rabbit, I miss you Frosty.

We-fie with the wallaby and newly met solo traveller from Hongkong who was in the same tour 

Woolamai Beach - Awaiting for the perfect storm 

Seal Rocks and the Nobbies - Viewing from the boardwalk

Spectacular coastal views at Seal Rocks and the Nobbies

Taking a stroll along The Nobbies boardwalk, feel the waves splashing and enjoy Phillip Island’s rugged south coast. 

Love the surprise rainbow! Something that I least expected when I turned back to have a last look before heading back to the tour bus; sometimes turning back to have a second look is not a bad idea. 

Sunshine after rain... Do you see the double rainbows?

One of my favourite shot: Spot the Kangaroo...

One tree standing

Simply love the bright sun, blue sky and green grass 

Towards the end of the tour, we are treated to the famous penguin parade; seeing the world’s smallest penguins appear out of the surfing waves. Do note bright lights such as camera flash are harmful to the penguins’ eyes, hence, we were not allowed to take photos of the cute little penguins. I managed to capture a few in the dark without flash light. 

Being travelling alone, tends to allow you to be more open and make more friends. I am glad that I got to know a fellow Singaporean and a solo female traveller from Hongkong during this tour. This nice Singaporean lady brought her mother to Australia for a holiday trip. Knowing that I am travelling alone, it is very kind of her; she often look out for me to ensure I am ok during the tour. When the benches at the penguin parade area were wet, she even offered her disposable raincoat to share with me, so that our pants will not get wet when we are sitting on the benches while waiting for the penguins in the freezing cold wind.

Waiting patiently in the icy cold wind at the platform for the little penguins to surf up and parade to the shore 

Penguin!

So cute!

Australia (Victoria) – Melbourne

Yes, my very first solo trip! I boarded my flight to Sydney with mixed feelings; excited, nervous and with a little bit of fear to be travelling alone in a foreign land for the very first time and here I embark on my journey to the land of kangaroos and koalas!!!

To stay connected with my folks in Singapore, upon my arrival at Sydney before heading to Melbourne, the very first item that I had purchased in Australia is the Optus Prepaid Mobile Data Sim Card (cost AUD$30, valid for 30 days with 1.5Gb data) which is available in the Sydney Airport International T1 Arrivals near exits A.

First stop: Melbourne

I took a domestic flight from Sydney to Melbourne on the very first day once I have arrived Sydney. To take domestic flights from Sydney, I transferred from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 via Airport Link train, which cost AUD$5.80 (one way). The journey takes approximately two minutes and there are frequent services between 5am and midnight daily.

Check out the double-deck train in Sydney

Waiting for flight to Melbourne

After long flights from Singapore to Sydney and then Sydney to Melbourne, I took airport bus (Skybus) from Melbourne (Tullamarine) airport to Melbourne city to meet up with a friend who lives in Melbourne to catch up over a dinner before heading to my accommodation. When greeted by a familiar face in an unfamiliar land for my first day in Australia; somehow I felt relieved. 

I have always wanted to try out AirBnb. Hence, most of my accommodations for this solo trip were booked through AirBnb except for a few. The AirBnb host at Melbourne was very friendly and helpful; she even provided me with Melbourne city maps and travel guides and where the bus stops and tram station are in her neighbourhood to get to the places I wanted to go.

5 minutes walk from my AirBnb accommodation; beautiful boardwalk at Port Melbourne beach; 

Port Melbourne Beach

Melbourne is known for one of the most liveable cities in the world. Indeed it lives up to its name as you wander through the vibrant city streets, where you get to see historical buildings to modern buildings. Try exploring the Union Lane, alleys filled with colourful and impressive street art. You can easily explore the city and access the shopping district such as Swanston and Bourke Street via their free city trams, where you can hop on and off the tram around the city at no cost as long as you are travelling within the city tram zone.

In the colourful world

Union Lane street art 

Alleys at Union Lane filled with street art 

St Paul Cathedral

Flinders Street Station

Yarra River

Looking up from ground floor at Melbourne Central

One of my favourite places in Melbourne for fresh food is the Queen Victoria Market. I enjoyed shopping around the market for fresh food and Australia souvenirs. Do try bratwurst and chai latte from the Bratwurst Shop and Co, which is at a very affordable price when you are there; the bratwurst goes especially well with sauerkraut, mustard and cheese. Do save some stomach space for the Burek and churros too. The only minus point is there are no seats available for you to eat there, however, they do have some standing area for you to grab some quick bites.

There are days when I felt like cooking my breakfast or dinner after a long day out exploring instead of dining out. Believe it or not, one of my next most frequent places in Australia is their supermarkets Coles and Woolsworth, where I buy my greens, bacon, bread and nuts.

Queen Victoria Market 

Have you seen purple cauliflower before?

Bratwurst Shop and Co.

The yummy bratwurst

Crispy Burek; Sweet or Savory? 

How one can miss the beautiful beaches when you are in Australia? I have explored some of the Melbourne beaches such as the Brighton Beach to see the famous colourful bathing boxes and to the St Kilda Beach to catch a glimpse of the cute little penguins heading back to their nest daily after sunset.

The colourful bathing boxes at Brighton Beach

Yachts around Brighton Beach

Caught a glimpse of the little penguins at St Kilda Beach; apologies for the poor quality photo as flashlights are harmful to the penguins' eyes