Australia (New South Wales) – Sydney

It so happened that Sydney is having their annual Vivid Sydney event while I was travelling there. This event was organised yearly to welcome the winter (usually held between May to June) when Vivid Sydney shines and warm up the city with vibrant lights, music and ideas. Take your time to get yourself mesmerized in the animated lights along the buildings from the Sydney Bridge to the Opera House at Circular Quay. You can also catch the weekend fireworks from Darling Harbour which happens on every Saturday at 8.30pm.

Buildings at Circular Quay are vibrantly lighted up for Vivid Sydney

Night shot of the Sydney Bridge is pretty too

Vivid Sydney at Opera House

Vivid Sydney at Opera House

Fireworks at Darling Harbour

How one can miss the iconic Opera House and Sydney Bridge when travelling at Sydney?

You can take a ferry either from Circular Quay to Harbourside in Darling Harbour or Circular Quay to Manly, on your way you can take great shots of both Opera House and Sydney Bridge.

The iconic Sydney Opera House 

One shot is simply just not enough

On the way to Manly via Ferry

Approaching Manly

Coastal walks anyone? I love majestic coastal cliffs. You can do a picturesque coastal walk in Sydney starting from the Watson Bay to Bondi Beach and if you have the stamina, continue to walk from Bondi Beach followed by Coogee Beach.

I started off my day early with a sumptuous breakfast at Circular Quay before taking ferry to Watson Bay. Followed by having lunch at Watson Bay’s fish and chips from Doyles Fisherman Wharf Cafe Bar; highly recommended! Time to burn off some fats and coastal walk here I come!

The BIG breakfast, yummy! 

Doyles Fisherman Wharf Cafe at Watson Bay

The highly recommended Fish and Chip from Doyles

The Gap at Watson Bay. Stunning isn't it?

Dramatic coastal formations

Lighthouse along the coastal walk from Watson Bay to Bondi Beach

Simply love lighthouses - Macquarie Lighthouse

This marks my last entry for my solo trip to Australia. 
Hope you have enjoyed reading my entries on my solo trip to Australia as much as I had enjoying this solo trip. This is my first solo trip but definitely not my last. I have learnt more about myself than I could ever imagined and lessons that you can't get out of a book.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.  – Mahatma Gandhi


Lookout for my next upcoming entries on my recent journey to the Northern Europe (Iceland and Norway) to chase the mysterious Northern Lights a.k.a Aurora.

Australia (South Australia) – Adelaide

Goodbye Melbourne and Hello Adelaide!

Adelaide is a pretty laid back city, which is centrally located among some of the oldest and finest wine producing regions of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. The city can be easily explored by foot, trains, trams and buses. There are free city-loop buses, which run frequently until about 6pm most days and 9pm on Fridays daily that can get you around the city. The slower pace here is something that I was not used to when I was here during the first few days. Also, most of the shops close early, and I mean really early, like 5pm, except for dining places such as restaurants and cafes. Hence, you have to plan and start your day early.

Time for some shopping around Rundle Street

How art has been in-cooperated into Rundle Street's rubbish bin

As I have mentioned previously, one cannot miss the beautiful beaches when you are in Australia. One of my favourite places in Adelaide is the Glenelg beach. I enjoyed taking strolls around the beach with the cool sea breeze. Do try the risotto at Cardone's Seafood & Grill when you are at Glenelg beach, it’s delicious. Glenelg beach can be easily accessed by the Glenelg Tram via the city (30 minutes). So what are you waiting for... hope onto the vintage tram and travel to the beach 

Simply love the cloudy peaceful sky

What are you waiting for?

The seagulls are having a great time too!

Moseley Square at Glenelg Beach

Yummy risotto from Cardone's Seafood & Grill

Victor Harbour and visiting one of the wine producing regions is a must visit places when you are in Adelaide. I had booked myself to a 1-day tour to visit Victor Harbour, Granite Island and McLaren Vale. The tour starts at 9am in the morning and ends at around 5pm. The tour bus provides centralised pick-up and drop-off point at Adelaide Central Bus Station. 

Wonder through the main street at the Victor Harbour and have the must-eat fish and chips for lunch at The Original Fish Shop. After lunch, explore the Granite Island which can be easily reached by foot across the bridge or take the horse tram.

Whale lookout point near Victor Harbour

Granite Island

Horse tram anyone?

Awesome fish and chips by the Original Fish Shop

One of the reasons why I have decided to travel Adelaide is because I have a friend whom we have not met for 12 years since she migrated there. Hence, I took this opportunity to visit her. Nothing beats meeting up an old friend in a foreign land, catching up over meals and hanging out together, and visited some of the places where the locals frequent. One of the interesting cafes she brought me to was the Eggless Dessert Cafe, they serve great desserts and often change/introduce new desserts every month. 
We also went to Adelaide Central Market, done some shopping at the Rundle Mall, and even had a chance to visiting the Haighs Chocolate Factory (Australia home proud chocolates). The chocolate factory offers free tours around their factory and you also get to sample some of their chocolates too. Trust me, their chocolates are really so heavenly good!! 

Great catch-up with my dear friend and thank both her and her husband for bringing me around Adelaide. Checkout the cute photo bombers.

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!