this post is going to be mostly words, photos will be via a link to those posted on facebook (it's a hassle to post photos on blogger - disappointed that it hasn't changed after so long.) and so the awesome story begins.
Day 1 & 2 photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255808&id=525583158&l=21b6e2b9f6
Day 1 - Singapore - Melbourne - Philip Island
So it all begins at Changi Airport, where we took a night flight to Melbourne, arriving the next morning. Emirates is a good airline to fly, good food, inflight entertainment and service. After getting the much needed calling card, we took a airport shuttle, STAR Bus (Return for A$26), to Southern Cross Station, where we transferred to a V-Line Bus to Cowes, Philip Island, via Khoo Wee Rup. That should be the fastest and cheapest way to Cowes: the journey took about 2 hours, and cost A$10.50, if i'm not mistaken.
Upon arrival, we hunted for our accommodation, Cowes Caravan Park. it's about 10-15min walk away from the central, but that meant that it's quiet and peaceful. There were huge houses along the way...not a bad place to retire. After dumping our bags, we took a walk along the beach back to Cowes. Awesome view i must say.
Cowes, unfortunately, is a rather boring place. We walked around alittle, and then decided to head to the Penguin Parade. It was quite a mistake, because there's really nothing there, except the cute fairy penguins of course. We travelled by taxi, which is the cheapest way if you go in a group and did not follow a day tour to the Penguin Parade. There's a bus shuttle which will bring you to the venue at a stipulated time and bring you back to Cowes once it ends, but it's rather expensive, A$15 per pax. The taxi meter jumps at a crazy speed, but with 7 of us each paid less than A$10 return. And after looking at the cute penguins come to shore at dusk (it was really cold), we headed back to rest.
Day 2 - Philip Island - Stony Point - Frankston - Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula
We woke up early to catch the inter-island ferry to Stony Point. We got a shock initially as the jetty was pretty abandoned, less a few people fishing there. The only ticketing booth was closed. It turned out that tickets were sold on board the ferry, at A$10 (or somewhere there) each. And we happily boarded the ferry. BUT - If the previous night's sea breeze was cold, this was say 10 times worse? We sat at the uncovered section of the ferry. Served us right, but if given another choice I would take the same seat. It was a freezing 45min ride before we arrived at Stony Point, where we then transferred to the metro to Frankston. it was a quick half an hour journey. We had breakfast there, before taking a bus to Sorrento, which cost A$6 per person, with the journey lasting about an hour and a half.
Once again it was checking out the accommodation - YHA Sorrento - first. It wasn't too far off the town centre, and we met a Canadian traveller there, who gave us abit of information. the reception gave us ideas on what to do, and what good and cheap food there is at Sorrento. We had 2 family rooms with a shared toilet. It was comfortable, the only problem was the toilet - 7 of us had to share one.
We decided to do one of the trekking trails, which is about 4km, and then walk a bit to Portsea. The view along the trail is gorgeous, and we spent the time just playing along the beach and enjoying the scenery. The final part of the trail was through forests, which seemed a little like bashing to us. But the scenery was awesome, so it was all worth it. By the time we arrived at Portsea it's about 5, too late for snorkelling or any other sea sports. It was a pity, but not everyone wanted to do it, so i guess it wasn't that disappointing. And the water was cold, it kinda deterred us from trying also. we were tired and hungry by then, so we took a bus back to Sorrento (A$3 per person, expensive) and had pizza, as recommended by the hostel's reception. it's like one of the few shops open in the evening, so it's easy to find. Really good and cheap.
Day 3 and 4 photos -
Album 1 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255824&id=525583158&l=2e2ac508ba
Album 2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=256049&id=525583158&l=985914e4cd
Album 3 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=256078&id=525583158&l=50d8d68936
Day 3 - Mornington Peninsula Day Tour - Melbourne
After two days of moving around on our own, we decided to follow day tours by Bunyip. The first one was through parts of Mornington that were either unaccessible by public transport or places that were not that well heard of. The bus picked us up from our hostel at about 9.30am, and then the tour began! First we were brought to Fort Nepean Nature Park, where a quarantine centre and army fortress was situated. Really good views of the sea once again, though the weather kinda spoiled things a little. The transporter at the park was really cool; it's driven by a tractor. We then went to the hot springs. We didn't enjoy the hotsprings of course, but we did enjoy a foot reflexology walk and a foot bath. Really relaxing after 2 days of walking. No photos, because of privacy. Had lunch there too. We then stopped briefly at a strawberry farm, and bought some strawberries (they weren't as sweet as we thought they would be). No strawberry picking because it's not the season. Then we headed to a vineyard for a wine tasting session. We had mixed response to the wine that we were served; i think it was pretty good. The final stop was Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens. We had great fun with the mazes there, really fun and interesting. And the flowers there are just beautiful - especially the lavenders and dasies.
The day tour was disappointing because we were expecting to go places like Cape Schank, Point Nepean and Arthurs' Seat, as indicated on their website. But I guess the great service and the Maze Gardens came as a pleasant surprise to all of us. Plus we already had 2 days of great views, of the lack of scenic views didn't come as much of a loss.
We arrived back at Melbourne just in time for dinner. So we dropped into one of the chinese restaurants near our serviced apartment - more on that in the next paragraph. it turned out that the owner is a Singaporean who migrated to Melbourne thirty years ago. Her restaurant is celebrating 29th Anniversary, and I guess partly because we're Singaporeans, she gave us a great deal - 6 dishes + dessert for A$19 per pax. Really worth it. And when she brought out a handkerchief with a map of Singapore and pointed out where she stayed, which was Jurong - she really looked like she was about to cry. Must be really emotional for her.
And our serviced apartment for our stay in Melbourne - Knightsbridge Apartments. Really clean and comfortable, and a quick 15min walk to the city central. And it's affordable, we paid an average of A$50 per pax per night for our entire stay. The only disappointing part was the Wifi which didn't work. If you are there only for the Wifi, then I would suggest that you choose a hotel instead.
Day 4 - Great Ocean Drive Tour
This is a highlight for most people who go to Melbourne, and I must say the views are spectacular, if not awesome. Some of my friends preferred the views of the sea on Day 2, but I say it's subjective. We followed Bunyip again, for they give us free vouchers, including free entry to the Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck and River Cruise, with every 2 day tours booked. Really great savings for people who are on budget.
So we left our apartment as early as 6.30am, and only returned at 9pm, clocking a total of 560km in a day. really amazing. just a side note, it's best not to follow this tour on a friday if you are shopping, as shops in melbourne close at 9pm on fridays, the latest in the entire week.
Our first stop is a lighthouse, a typical white coloured one you see in movies. well, as a matter of fact, it did appear in a tv serial before. Along the way, we stopped at a few scenic lookouts for photographs. Our tour guide was really good. Having done the tour so many times, she knew where the best lookouts were located, and what time to go to which attraction so that we could attract the crowds. She's really an amazing woman. At a young age of 31, she's been to so many places, worked at so many parts of Australia, and even in Spain. Really courageous, really admirable.
Then it was lunch at a park, where wild koalas, parrots, kookabaras were found almost everywhere. Although lunch was just a simple sandwich, eating together with the wildlife is an awesome feeling. Moving on, more scenic lookouts, a rainforest that hid a waterfall - timely walk to wake all of us up from the travelling, and the final 3 key attractions of the Great Ocean Drive - The London Bridge, the Loch Ard and the Twelve Apostles (though only 7 is left). I took the helicopter ride, which cost A$75, and I tell you the views from above is just spectacular. It was worth every cent. If you are the adventurous type, you could follow a walking tour, the Great Ocean Walk, which will cover you from Apollo Bay, somewhere mid-point of the Drive, to the Twelve Apostles. It will take a total of 6-7 days to cover 100+km, covering an average of 22km per day. My amazing tour guide did such tours before, and said it's really a good way to see the place.
And we bade the place goodbye. with the sunset behind us, it really was a enjoyable day tour, with lots of great scenic views. the best 560km i've travelled in my life.
Day 5 - 9 photos (Cont'd from album 3)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=256078&id=525583158&l=50d8d68936
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=256092&id=525583158&l=0510270e39
Day 5 - Melbourne: CBD
We decided to spend the entire day exploring the Central Business District (CBD). A bit of introduction - Melbourne, especially the CBD, is a very walkable place. Everything is in grid form, so it's very easy to find your way. And if you are feeling lazy and don't feel like walking, there's always the City Circle Tram (Tram 35) and Free Tourist Shuttle Bus that you can make use of. Either one brings you to key attractions within Melbourne.
Our first stop was St Paul's Cathedral, which is just next to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, all 3 iconic of Melbourne's CBD. After which, we walked to Bourke Street to have breakfast at Pancake Parlour - Really awesome pancakes! The shortstack (2pancakes) cost A$9.90, which is rather pricey, so be sure to bring the vouchers that give 1 for 1. The vouchers should be available in most apartments. If not, try the breakfast meals instead. Bacon and Eggs with 2 pancakes at A$15. definitely more worth it.
We then took the free tram back to Fed Square, and explored Centre for the Moving Image. Cool exhibits, but no photo taking. We walked to Federation Wharf, by the Yarra River, where all the river cruises are located. We decided against going for one even though we had the vouchers - it's one hour, and we could easily walk by the river in less than half the time. So we continued walking along Flinders Street, and went into the Melbourne Aquarium. King Penguins, and lot's of other kinds of animals. Really awesome.
We then popped to Duty Factory Outlet (DFO) at Southwharf, which was just across Flinders Street. The shops close darn early there, so we only had one hour to shop. It's a huge shopping centre, with many brands going on clearance sales. The things are not cheap in absolute terms, but if you think in terms of quality and the price of those brands in Singapore, it's definitely worth the buy. The bad thing though - many things are out of size, especially the pants.
Then it was dinner. We were walking along town and didn't know what to eat. So we just popped into this really posh restaurant cum bar, and it turned out to be a surprise fine dining experience. We weren't the richest kids, so we made do with only the main course and a bottle of wine. It was worth it actually, we paid from A$30 - A$40, depending on our main course, and the food was delicious, not to say the least. You can never get a fine dining experience in Singapore at this price.
The sun sets only at 8+, so we were just on time for the sunset at Eureka Skydeck after dinner. Really awesome view from above, and we were glad we caught the sunset. We then walked along Yarra River to Federation Square and to a street where Ding Dong Lounge, a pub with live bands was located. Good band performances, and good and cheap beer. Had a great night's out with my gang.
Day 6 - Queen Victoria Market, St Kilda's Beach
We took the free tourist shuttle bus to Queen Victoria Market. It's a huge market, with stalls selling everything from general retail, to fresh food to cooked food. We did breakfast and lunch there - the hotdogs are real good. Leave half a day to really complete the market, but note that it's closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
We then took the free shuttle bus to St Kilda's, where we passed by the Shrine and the Royal Botanic Gardens. We chose to walk all the way to St Kilda Beach, which took us an hour and a half including breaks. There's always a tram you could take at A$2.80, which is really fast. Gets you there in less than 10min?
St Kilda's Beach is a really busy place. As the weather is getting warmer, there are many people sun-tanning, walking dogs, doing water sports. And it's a crazy party place at night, with so many pubs and night spots. It may get abit dodgy at night, so leave before the sun sets if you don't want to be caught in it. That's what we did, we left after dinner at one of the restaurants there. pretty awesome western food, at a reasonable price.
We took a tram back to CBD because we were all tired, and I must say the tram drivers there are humourous. They do communicate with the passengers via a PA system, and their comments are really funny. And the machine to buy the Metlink tickets is down, so we ended up taking the tram for free. Kudos to the tram driver!
Day 7 - State Library, Old Melbourne Gaol, Shopping at Smith Street, Dinner at Lygon Street
State Library was our first stop. Cool dome-shape architecture, good exhibits, and extremely condusive for studying. Old Melbourne Gaol is just nearby, it costs A$21 to get in, do get the 15percent voucher card if you can. Inside, you get to see how the very recently closed prison works. There's this guided part where you get treated as criminals, which is quite interesting.
Moving on, we walked to Smith Street, another duty factory outlet, where all the sports brands concentrate. it's not a shopping centre though, it's a street with many shops next to each other. What caught our attention, however, is not the sports outlets, but this shop called Lost & Found. You can find lots of vintage stuff there, from cameras to clothes to gramophone discs. Some of my friends spent 2 hours in there. There's also other flea shops along the street; I got a pair of 2nd hand D&G jeans for A$10. If you're meticulous enough, there're lots of hidden bargains to e found. They close at 6pm, so be there early.
Dinner was at Lygon Street, the famed street that sells awesome Italian Food. Tourists beware though, we got touted there when we were looking at their prices. Decide on which restaurants you want to go to, and go straight in. We ended up in DOC, a pizza shop out of Lygon Street. It's opened by native Italians, so it's really good. Other restaurants to recommed is Dolce Freddo, which is closed on Mondays, and a shop that has Ferrari decorations all over. For ice cream/coffee/hot choc, Brunetti is a good choice. We then took a half an hour walk back to our apartment.
Day 8 - Shopping at DFO Southwharf, Spencer Street
Today is shopping day! We spent the entire day at 2 DFOs, firstly at Southwharf, which houses the bigger one, and secondly at Spencer Street, located just above of Southern Cross Station. My friends had dinner at a Spanish restaurant, while I met up with a old friend. My friends said it wasn't that bad, but was a little pricey. Maybe because of the sparkling water - If you want plain water, say you want tap. Just a small tip.
Day 9 - Final Shopping + Coffee at Degraves Street
The pancakes at pancake parlour was so good, we went back for the second time. And then it was shopping. Some of us went back to Spencer Street, some to Chinatown to get nougats (slightly cheaper than Singapore), and some went to the casino at Crowne Plaza. Our last stop was Degraves Street, a small lane very near to Federation Square. It's a street famous for designer coffee, a cup of mocha only costs A$3.50, and it's really good.
And that ends our trip at Melbourne. It's a good place to be, good scenic views are just less than an hour's drive away. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, hope my friends feel the same.
I hope this post will be useful to those who are looking to go to Melbourne in the near future. If you need any clarifications just leave me a comment, I will try my best to answer. =)
Labels: travel