I’ve been to Australia twice before; Brisbane in the year 2000 & Perth in 2002. So this trip would be the third time I’m heading to the Land Down Under. As my grandma’s now pretty much immobile, we can no longer travel abroad as a family, so this marks the first time we go on holiday separately. It’s a refreshing thought, as it leaves me & my dad some father and son bonding time for about a week, with none of the ladies at home breathing down our necks. Here’s a day by day account of the Sydney-Melbourne escapade!
Day 1 – 23 Nov – Bon Voyage
Aunt Sok Eng, Mum & Sis sent us to the airport where we had dinner at Astons Specialities before our flight to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith. We arrived at Changi around 05:30pm, and since our flight was due to depart only at 08:40pm, we had lots of time to spare. Regular readers of yearningforlove will know that dad’s working for Singapore Airlines, so we were able to pull some strings and reserve the few rows of double seats on the upper deck of the A380, ensuring that dad & I had a window and aisle seat all to ourselves. And yes, if you were wondering, the flight was “on the house”.
Waiting To Board The Flight To Sydney
Day 2 – 24 Nov – Sydney Awaits
We touched down at Kingsford-Smith at about 07:30am, which was right on schedule. The flight was pretty smooth, and I managed to watch The Wolverine and RED 2, while getting some shut eye in between. Due to the strict customs regulations in Australia, we were quickly greeted by police dogs ready to sniff out any prohibited and restricted goods. Once we cleared the customs, we then headed to Sydney Central via the Airport Link ($15.90 AUD for a one way ticket), which was the quickest and most convenient way to get to the city. We were staying at the Rendezvous Studio Hotel (two minute walk from Central Station), which was a convenient location for us to get to the major tourist attractions around the city. As the check-in time wasn’t till 02:00pm, we had no choice but to leave our baggage with the concierge while we start with our day’s activities.
Arriving At Sydney’s Kingsford Smith
Our first stop was to make a detour to Sydney Coach Terminal (located within Central Station) to confirm our overnight journey to Melbourne on Day 5. This was crucial as if the coach tickets were not confirmed, we will have to search for alternative ways to get to Melbourne (either by train or domestic flight), which were much more expensive. We did manage to secure two spots on the 07:00pm coach operated by Firefly Express ($60.00 AUD for a one way ticket) which will see us arrive at Melbourne’s Southern Cross at 07:00am the next day. Whist at the coach terminal, we also booked ourselves on a day tour to the Blue Mountains ($168.00 AUD inclusive of the Scenic World Rides) for the next day. With the paperwork for the tours and coaches done and dusted, we were able to officially start the holiday proper.
Sydney Central Station
We headed down to the Sydney Fish Market via the Light Rail service ($6.00 AUD for a two way ticket) from Central Railway Station. The market is the world’s third largest fish market and it incorporates a fishing port, a wholesale market, seafood retail stores, a delicatessen, sushi bars, a bakery, gift shops, a fruit and vegetable outlet, a cooking school and an outdoor promenade for visitors. Since we hadn’t had a proper breakfast (breakfast was a muffin and coffee on board the flight), we decided to have an early lunch at the fish market. We ordered a platter of sashimi ($15.50 AUD for a combination of Tuna, Salmon & Kingfish) and a Medium Deluxe Platter ($70.00 AUD), which consisted of half a lobster cooked mornay style, a blue swimmer crab, 3 BBQ king prawns, 3 fresh oysters, calamari rings, a grilled salmon fillet, chips and salad. The sashimi was fresh with the fish delightfully sweet. The seafood platter was also great, with the cheese from the mornay topping blending in nicely with the lobster, and the prawns are one of the freshest I’ve ever eaten. The only thumbs downs were the soy sauce and wasabi mix, which had to purchased separately at an additional $1.00 AUD and the oysters, which the staff ruined by placing the cooked chips on top of them during the serving.
Lunch At Peters @ The Sydney Fish Market
After the very satisfying seafood lunch, we headed to Paddy’s Market located along Haymarket. Paddy’s Market is similar to a flea market, with many of the stores specialising in cheap imported clothes, giftware and souvenirs. There were also a couple of stalls selling adult fantasy wear, such as nurses costumes, fishnet stockings and various types of lingerie; one of the shops was even selling postcards featuring topless women.
Paddy’s Market @ Market City
The next stop for the day was the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which we visited after a quick stopover at the hotel to finalize the check-in and to freshen up. Along with the Opera House and the harbour itself, they make up one of the most iconic images of Australia. Though the staff at BridgeClimb tried their best to persuade us that scaling the bridge would be “the climb of your life”, we were put off by the rather expensive rates ($235.00 AUD for a Weekday Day Climb, $318.00 AUD for a Twilight Climb during peak periods). After visiting BridgeClimb, we proceeded to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sydney Opera House. The Opera House, which was opened in 1973, is renowned for its innovative architecture. It is constantly identified as one of 20th century’s most distinctive buildings and one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world. If any of you is planning a visit to Sydney sometime in March or April next year, be sure to catch Opera Australia’s staging of Madame Butterfly, which runs from 21 Mar – 12 Apr 2014.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Carnival Spirit Docked @ The Harbour with The Opera House In The Background
After a quick stroll at the Royal Botanic Gardens, we headed back towards Central Station, where we would pass by Sydney’s Chinatown, a place where we would not only settle the day’s dinner but many of our remaining meals in Sydney as well. For today, we ordered a plate of Phat Thai (stir-fried rice noodles in Thai style), a plate of 姜葱牛肉饭 (stir-fry beef with rice) and a serving of 饺子(dumplings). After dinner, we bought a box of the famous Emperor’s Cream Puffs ($5.00 AUD for a box of 20) which was sold by a bakery located at the end of Dixon street. The puffs which tasted like kueh bahulu filled with custard cream would make a perfect breakfast for the day after, as we were scheduled for pickup to the Blue Mountains at 07:00am the next morning.
Dad At The Royal Botanic Gardens
Freshly Baked Emperor’s Puffs
Day 3 – 25 Nov – Blue Mountains
Our morning call was set at an early 05:30am as we needed to be at the hotel’s lobby before 07:00am for the pickup to the Blue Mountains. After dragging ourselves out from bed, we had a quick breakfast of earl grey and the cream puffs which we bought last night. Just when we were about to leave, we received a call from the tour agent, informing us that the pickup would be delayed by 30 minutes due to a mechanical fault with the bus. We were afraid that this delay would affect the rest of the day’s schedule, but as it turned out, our fears were unfounded.
We headed down at 07:30am and was greeted by Steve, our driver and guide for the day. After a few other pickups from other hotels within the city, we headed for our first stop of the day, Featherdale Wildlife Park. Like most wildlife parks in Australia, Featherdale gives visitors the opportunity to feed the kangaroos, wallabies and emus, as well as take photos with the cuddly koalas, all of which are Australian icons. With this trip being my third in Australia, I honestly wasn’t quite hyped about feeding the animals or having a Kodak moment with the bears, since I’ve already been there and done that. And with this only being Day 3 of the tour, I was sure that we were going to visit many more similar wildlife parks or sanctuaries in the days to come.
The Wallabies Are Allowed To Roam Freely Within The Wildlife Park
After spending about an hour at Featherdale, we visited the Waradah Centre for a lesson on Aboriginal culture. Upon arrival, we were given a bracelet with beads featuring the colours of the Australian Aboriginal Flag. We were then treated to a short musical recital featuring traditional instruments such as the didgeridoo, where the guests were invited to dance along. The entire showcase was a fairly short one, which lasted only around 15 minutes, so we made used of the remaining time to go to the nearby cliff lookout and take in the breathtaking view of the Jamison Valley.
The Breathtaking View Of The Jamison Valley Outside Waradah Centre
Lunch was next on the cards, and we enjoyed a hearty two course at one of the mountains’ golf clubs. The main course was fish & chips with BBQ wings & garden veggies. Desert was a creamy chocolate cake and a nicely caramelized apple crumble. Lunch gave us the opportunity to mingle with the rest of the tour group, and I got to know this great Asian couple from San Francisco, Chuck & Elizabeth. During the short span at the lunch table, we shared our thoughts about stuff like mandatory national service in Singapore, Obamacare and life in the United States.
With our tummies filled, we were ready for the highlight of the day. The Blue Mountains. The name Blue Mountains was derived from the blue tinge the range takes on when viewed from a distance, and the region was incorporated as a World Heritage Site in 2000. As part of the tour package, we got to enjoy three thrilling rides whist at the Blue Mountains Scenic World. These rides include the spectacular Skyway heading across the mountains; the thrilling Cableway which rides into the valley; and the Railway, which is the world’s steepest railway. Taking a walk through the splendid canopy of the ancient subtropical rainforest, I could only gaze in awe at the giant rock formations, especially that of the Three Sisters.
The Three Sisters
The next stop was something that was unique to Anderson’s Tours. With Anderson’s ensuring that the size of tour groups do not exceed 20, they are able to maintain a fleet of mini coaches, unlike major tour operators like Gray Line, which mainly uses 50-seaters. As such, our small coach was able to drive in deeper into the valley, to a scenic point called Lincoln’s Rock. Lincoln’s Rock provided a spectacular backdrop of the plateau, and I had a picture perfect moment where I sat at the edge of the rock, allowing my legs to dangle into the cliff. One more step forward would be a sheer drop to the bottom of the valley.
With Steve at Lincoln’s Rock
Sitting At The Edge Of The Cliff
Following the stop at Lincoln’s Rock, we drove through the township of Leura, passing by the quaint antiques and crafts shops before heading back to the city, with a detour around the Sydney Olympic site. Our tour concluded with a cruise back into the heart of the CBD, which saw us glide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and past the Opera House, providing a good opportunity for more photos, before we docked at Circular Quay, where we bade each other goodbye.
The Opera House Viewed During The Cruise. We Were Just About Gliding Beneath The Harbour Bridge When I Snapped This Photo
It was approximately 06:00pm when we returned to Circular Quay, so dad & I went in search for some dinner. I had read somewhere before about a place called Hurricane’s Grill along Darling Harbour which serves good BBQ ribs. With no other alternatives on our minds, we decided to check the place out. Located at Harbourside Shopping Centre, Hurricane’s Grill is a steakhouse with a modern and chic decor, and was a hot favourite with the Sydney locals. We started with Garlic Mushrooms prepared with olive oil and butter, while dad ordered half a rack of Pork Ribs and I had a New York Strip done medium-rare. Both the main course were served with a baked potato with sour cream and chives. Rounding up the meal were Australian beers from Tooheys & Boag’s. The food was good, not great (the ribs could do with a little more charring, but that’s only my opinion), but the thing I like best about Hurricane’s Grill was that as long as your table had ribs on order, a server will come and put on a disposable bib for you. Hence, it’s a bonus if you managed to get a hot Aussie chick (or dude) to do you the honours.
Tooheys & Boag’s @ Hurricane’s Grill. (Sorry, No Photos Of Us In Bibs)
Day 4 – 26 Nov – Swimming Between The Flags & Walking 268 Metres Above Sydney!
We headed to the world famous Bondi Beach on the morning of Day 4 after a quick breakfast of Hungry Jack’s & Krispy Kreme at Central Station. (A return ticket from Central Station to Bondi Beach costs $9.20 AUD) Ever since I got my lifeguard licence and started watching Bondi Rescue, I’ve always wanted to go down to Bondi Beach one day and see the lifeguards at work. Lifeguarding may look easy, but it is a tough job as it drains you out both mentally and physically. I’ve seen my fair share of drama during my stints at Temasek Club & NDU, but Bondi poses a whole new different challenge, with the strong rips and tides dragging even the most experienced swimmers into deeper waters and away from the beach.
Bondi Pavilion
It was about 11:00am when we arrived at Bondi Pavilion. As it was a weekday and with the skies looking overcast, there wasn’t much of a crowd at the beach, bar a group of local surfers and the odd tourist. Nonetheless, two of the Rhinos were dispatched to patrol the beachfront, but with the skies starting to drizzle, the lifeguards were wrapped in their tracksuits and hoodies and not their usual bright blue shirts. Undeterred by the rain, I decided to strip to my shorts and took a dive into the waters, but gave up after a short while as the water was too cold and the chilly winds not providing me with any reprieve.
Getting A Full Sand & Water “Massage”
Waves Crashing On The Rocks
As the skies began to clear up, we took a slow stroll along the beach, passing by the surf clubs, Bondi Pavilion and Bondi Park, before ending at the “Icebergs”. The Icebergs is one of Bondi’s most iconic spots with its saltwater pool. At high tides, the waves will crash into the swimmers at the outermost lanes of the pool, making this one of the most difficult places to swim in. After watching a couple of surfers navigating their way back to shore, we headed back towards the changing rooms, but not before a quick photo call at the lifeguard tower and with a friendly lifeguard patrolling on the Rhino.
The Famous Icebergs Of Bondi
Do I Have What It Takes To Work At The Tower?
Posing With The Rhino And The Boys In Blue
Back at the city, we headed to the Sydney Tower, where we purchased a pass ($99.00 AUD) which allowed us to see five of Sydney’s most famous attractions; The Sydney Tower Eye, Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, Wildlife Sydney Zoo and The Skywalk at Sydney Tower. We planned to cover both the attractions at the Sydney Tower today and cover the other three on Day 5 before our overnight coach to Melbourne.
The Sydney Tower At Night
The Sydney Tower is Sydney’s tallest free-standing structure and boasts the highest observation deck in the southern hemisphere. With the observation deck at 260 metres high, The Eye provides beautiful views of Darling Harbour, George Street, Hyde Park and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But, the highlight of the day has got to be The Skywalk at Sydney Tower. Located a further 8 metres higher than the main observation deck, The Skywalk is Sydney’s highest outdoor viewing platform. Looking down on the city at 268 metres above sea level was a breathtaking experience. It was an unforgettable sight, even more for a French couple who were with us at the Skywalk, who decided on a spontaneous kiss while at the platform.
Walking 268 Metres Above Sydney
Doing My Best Mark Webber Impersonation (Silverstone 2012)
After the dizzying highs at the Skywalk, we concluded the day with dinner at Chinatown before heading back to the hotel to have an early night.
The View From Skywalk
Day 5 – 27 Nov – Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman & The Wolverine!
As we were leaving Sydney on the 07:00pm coach to Melbourne, we decided to check out early from Rendezvous before heading out for the day’s activities. After depositing our luggage at the hotel’s reception, we took a short stroll towards Darling Harbour, where Madame Tussauds awaits.
Madame Tussauds – A Must-See Attraction
Madame Tussauds have somewhat become a must-see for me whenever I visit cities with the attraction. Including Sydney, I’ve been to the one in Hong Kong & Amsterdam, but the one I really want to visit is the main branch in London. The star attractions at the Sydney’s outlet has got to be their home-grown stars such as Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue & Mark Webber. I also managed to pose with Hollywood icons that includes personalities such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe & Olivia Newton-John.
Aussie Beauty – Nicole Kidman
Aussie Supermodel – Miranda Kerr
With Olivia Newton-John
Lunch was next on the agenda. With the many alfresco restaurants and bistros located along Cockle Bay, we were spoilt for choice. We ended up at I’m Angus, a steakhouse which was offering set lunches at $18.00 AUD. I had a Angus Rump Steak (medium-rare as always), while dad had the Catch of the Day and we washed down the meal with a glass of Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice and Boag’s.
I’m Angus Steak House
We proceeded to the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium & the Wildlife Sydney Zoo after lunch where we spent some time with the various marine and wildlife. On display were an array of animals such as Stingrays, Dugongs, Wombats, the Tasmanian Devil and of course the Koalas & Kangaroos. It was an adventure to the Australian Aquatic life and the Outback all within the heart of the city.
Sydney Sea Life Aquarium
Wildlife Sydney Zoo
With evening fast approaching, we grabbed dinner (roast duck & braised assorted vegetables) at Chinatown (again) after dropping by George Street to pick up chocolates at Bon Bon & Haigh’s for the family, before heading to the Coach Terminal for our overnight coach to Melbourne.
Chocolates at Haigh’s
Day 6 – 28 Nov – Goodbye Sydney, Hello Melbourne!
We arrived in Melbourne’s Southern Cross just before 07:00am, a full 12 hour journey with stops at Liverpool and Wagga Wagga in between. While there was on-board entertainment (Tony, our driver had put in the DVD for The Bucket List on the coach’s media player), I slept in for the most part of the journey.
Melbourne’s Southern Cross
Upon arrival at Melbourne, we checked in at our Hotel (the Rendezvous Grand) before heading out for the day’s activities. We were booked on a Grand Penguins Tour (@ Phillip Island) which was due to depart from Federation Square at 10:00am. The first stop of the tour was the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park on the Mornington Peninsula. Like Featherdale and the Wildlife Sydney Zoo, Moonlit Sanctuary also houses Aussie animals such as dingoes, emus and wallabies.
At The Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Churchill Island was the next feature, where we explored a heritage farm and tried our hands at milking a cow and learn the art of sheep shearing. Lunch (included in the tour) was also settled at Churchill Island, where we enjoyed a country style Gippsland lunch of fish & chips and beef schnitzel burgers.
The Heritage Farm Was Filled With Flora and Fauna
A stopover at Phillip Island’s Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate gave us the opportunity to create our own chocolate flavours and we bought more of the addictive truffles and chocolate delicacies for friends and family. After sampling the delectable chocolates at Panny’s, we were whisked away by our guide and driver to The Nobbies. The Nobbies is an ecotourism destination located on the western tip of the island, with a network of boardwalks overlooking Seal Rocks. As the sun began to set, we had dinner at the Nobbies Centre (Beer Battered Fish & Salt and Pepper Calamari) before the undisputable highlight of the day – The Penguin Parade.
Sunset @ Philip Island (The Nobbies)
The Penguin Parade is a natural occurrence where Little Penguins come ashore at dusk. Seeing the world’s smallest breed of penguins arriving home and waddling across the beach to their sand dune burrows is a magical and surreal experience. As the moonlight shines on the beach at Summerland and with the cute seabirds up close, it is a loving place for couples to be at. A passionate kiss at the Penguin Parade couldn’t be more romantic.
The Little Penguins Coming Ashore At Dusk
Leaving Phillip Island just before 10:00pm, we arrived back into the city just before midnight struck. It was a tiring day, given that we had only arrived in Melbourne after a long distance coach ride in the morning, but the world phenomenon of the Penguin Parade; one of Australia’s most unique natural experiences was well worth it.
Day 7 -29 Nov – The Great Ocean Road Adventure
After a long and tiring day at Phillip Island, you would have thought that we might choose to sleep in a little late the next day. However, as we were heading to Great Ocean Road today (a two and a half hour drive away), we were up and ready to go by 08:00am. After a quick breakfast at Rendezvous’ Straits Cafe, we took a short walk along Flinders Street to Federation Square for our scheduled pickup from Gray Line. Midway through the journey to the coastline, we stopped for tea, where we enjoyed an Aussie style Bush Billy Tea with Lamingtons (a sponge cake of Australian origin), Vegemite and Crackers. We then continued with the journey, driving through the beach resort of Lorne, and looking over the precipitous coastal cliffs, long sandy beaches and rolling surf along the way.
Stopping For Tea
We arrived at the picturesque Apollo Bay, where we had a lunch (included in the Gray Line package) of Soup of the Day, Chicken Schnitzel, Thai Beef Curry and Dessert. After the satisfying meal, we hopped back on to the coach for Port Campbell’s National Park; famous for the stone monoliths of the Twelve Apostles. Dad and I opted to go for the optional helicopter ride over shipwreck coast, and I was given a free upgrade to the 25 minutes Bay of Islands Tour (usual price $235.00 AUD) instead of the 10 minute Scenic Flight ($95.00 AUD). Flying beyond the cliffs, the view of the Twelve Apostles and The Island Arch was simply breathtaking.
The 12 Apostles At 750ft Above Sea Level
Stunning Images Of The Great Ocean Road
Posing With The Chopper After Landing At The Airfield
Following the thrill on the helicopter, we drove to Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the tragic shipwreck of the “Loch Ard”. According to memorials at the site, there were only two survivors from the tragedy which occurred in June 1878. After being washed ashore, Tom Pearce (one of the survivors) climbed out of the gorge to raise the alarm with the local pastoralists. The Great Ocean Road Tour then concluded with a drive thru along Port Campbell, before we bid goodbye to the powerful coastline which provided the scope for amazing photography.
The Many Views Of The Loch Ard Gorge
Returning to the city at approximately 07:30 in the evening, we headed to the Chinatown Precinct in search for dinner, where we had a sumptuous meal of 燒臘 (siu laap/Cantonese styled roasted cuisines), after which we walked along Swanston Street and Collins Street admiring the Christmas lightings before heading back to the hotel to retire for the night.
Day 8 – 30 Nov – Queen Victoria Market & The Hot Jam Donuts
Sleeping in for the day, we checked out from the Rendezvous Grand only at 11:00am. After placing our bags at the concierge for caretaking, we took the City Circle Tram (free of charge) to the Queen Victoria Market. At over seven hectares, the Queen Vic is one of the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. The market offers a variety of fresh produce as well as deli foods and speciality delicacies. It also has a large non-food related section, selling a diverse range of wares from clothing, shoes, antiques and artwork. Dad picked up a couple of packets of locally produced nuts (almonds & macadamia), while I bought nougats for the boys at Dynamo. While the market has a diverse collection of goods, the one recommendation that I suggest you must try is the Jam Donuts. Serving Victoria Market for over 50 years, the donut kitchen has become part of the local tradition and is instantly recognizable as it takes the shape of a van (if you still can’t find it, just look for the winding queue). Priced at $5.50 AUD for 5 donuts, it is excellent value with the hot, sugary jam filled goodness making me scream out for more. Some have said that a trip to Victoria Market without having the donuts is a wasted trip altogether.
The Crowd At The Donut Kitchen
We had a couple of hours left to spare before having to head to the airport for our flight home, so we decided to head to South Wharf along the Yarra River. There was a Direct Factory Outlet Mall there, so we were hoping to do some last minute shopping. However, like most outlet shops, the stash they hold are normally out-of-fashioned or stocks that are left with odd sizes. I eyed a pair of Sperry’s which was going at a 75% discount but there was no sizes left that fit me. Leaving South Wharf empty handed, we returned to the city centre where we had dinner at Little Bourke Street before we headed to Tullamarine (via SkyBus $17.00 AUD for a one way ticket) for our flight home.
Day 9 – 1 Nov – Home Sweet Home
Our flight back home was due to depart at 01:05am. However, due to a fault with the air conditioning, boarding was delayed by around half an hour. Despite the hiccup, Singapore Airlines remains my top choice when it comes to flying. It’s not due to the free perks that my family enjoys, but rather, it’s the sight of the Singapore Girl on your travels home which is comforting.
The Singapore Girl, A Welcoming & Comforting Sight
Anyway, I will on most occasions, make use of the in-flight entertainment to catch up on movies that I’ve missed, but the past eight days really took the toll on me. Once we left the tarmac, I slept like a pig, only waking up during meal times. Not one movie I finished watching on the flight back, which should be a first for me, and before I knew it, I’m back in Singapore at home, in my bed writing this post and documenting the trip. Overall, it was an enjoyable holiday, allowing me to momentarily forget all about the Accounting Finals and Ethics Essays. The two regrets though, was missing out on visiting Canberra and Whale/Dolphin watching in Sydney due to the time constraints and the changing season respectively.
Just as well, this leaves me an excuse to return to Sydney again sometime in the future.
yearningforlove 