Gold Coast, The Sunshine State

This is my final sneak peek from my recent trip, Australia. From the capital city in the state of Queensland, Brisbane, we took train to the sunshine state, non other than Gold Coast. This is our final pit stop before leaving this beautiful and amazing country. I can't deny that travel around Australia is indeed pretty easy and convenient with their extensive, efficient and reliable public transport system.

#1: Sea view of the Surfers Paradise beach - directly from the aparment we were staying

#2: Once we arrived Gold Coast, we went Harbour Town for shopping in DFO (Direct Factory Outlet)

#3: Warner Bros Movie World - A visit to Gold Coast is incomplete without visit any of these thrilling theme park.

#4: The well-known Surfers Paradise beach

#5: Up close with the penguins, dolphins, sharks and more in Sea World

#6: Sydney, Brisbane & Gold Coast unlocked. Another fruitful & unforgettable Australia trip. I'll be back someday.

From Sydney, We Headed To Brisbane!

From Sydney, we flew to Brisbane, the capital city in the state of Queensland and we will staying there for 3 days 2 nights. When many people commented that nothing much can be done and seen in Brisbane, I tend to ignore that and went with my friends to see what Brisbane can offers.

#1: Flew off to Brisbane with Jetstar. Their check-in process were so efficient, fast and hassle-free. 

#2: I always assigned to get the window seat cause I just love to witness the aeriel view

#3: Kick off our Brisbane adventures by visiting Queen Street Mall

#4: Look ma! I'm cuddling koala bear this time around.

#5: Kangaroo feeding in Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

#6: Sushi roll - my favourite. It's everywhere in Brisbane and I can have these almost everyday.

#7: Just when I thought staying in South Bank is not a wise choice, I was wrong. This South Bank Parklands is amazing structure.

#8: Ended our day by taking Wheel of Brisbane 

And now we are wandering around Brisbane city centre once again before leaving this beautiful and peaceful city permanently to another city again. 

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G'day Sydney!

G'day everyone! I'm currently in Australia for my short vacation, after not flying anywhere for almost two months. You know for someone who being bitten by travel bugs, the addiction of travelling would getting worst if not travelling for a certain period. This is my second time to Australia but it's my maiden visit to Sydney.

#1: My third experience flying with AirAsia X, after Seoul and Melbourne.

#2: Once we settled everything, we went Paddy Market for souvenir hunting, as always

#3: One of my favourite photos. Nope, we didn't rent any bike here but instead we walked a lot

#5: We took bus to this mesmerising and awesome Bondi Beach

#6: Seafood platter for lunch in Sydney Fish Market

#7: Finally one of my travel wishlist accomplished - Seeing Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Currently, I am blogging this from the domestic airport while waiting for another flight to another city. 

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Summary of My 8D7N Melbourne, Australia Travelogue (2012)

Day 1 (30th September 2012)
Maiden Visit & Wandered Around Melbourne City


Day 2 (1st October 2012)
Puffing Billy


Eureka Skydeck 88


Day 3 (2nd October 2012)
1 Day Great Ocean Road Classic Tour

The cost for this tour was AUD$120 which included all park entrance fees, morning tea & biscuits and also Aussie BBQ lunch. It even included pick-up and drop-off from where I stayed. 

Day 4 (3rd October 2012)
1 Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour

The cost for this tour was AUD$125 which included all park entrance fees and pre-packed dinner at Penguin Parade. It even included pick-up and drop-off from where I stayed.

Day 5 (4th October 2012)
1 Day Mornington Peninsula Ultimate Tour

The cost for this tour was AUD$145 which included all park entrance fees, morning tea & biscuits and lunch. It even included pick-up and drop-off from where I stayed.

The three full one day tour packages above, I booked them directly from Bunyip Tours.
You can book online at their website www.bunyitours.com or go to their office:
Bunyip Tours
570 Flinders Street,
Melbourne Victoria,
Australia 3000

Day 6 (5th October 2012)
Queen Victoria Market and Flinders Street Railway Station

Queen Victoria Market is open five days a week except for Mondays and Wednesdays.

Melbourne Aquarium


Fitzroy Gardens, Cooks' Cottage & DFO South Wharf


Day 7 (6th October 2012)
Tesselaar Tulip Festival


Day 8 (7th October 2012)
I Almost Missed My Flight Due To Daylight Saving Time


Extra Posts:

• Melbourne, Australia (2012) Sneak Peek
• My Travel Loots & Expenses

Literally, I spend 8 solid days in Melbourne itself without going any further cities like Tasmania or even Sydney like what most traveller did, but trust me, even 8 days isn't enough for you to explore the whole city of Melbourne. Most of the Melburnians I met, they told me 8 days wasn't enough and even advised me to spend and stay in Melbourne for at least two weeks. How I wish  I could have such a long holiday break for that?

My Travel Loots & Expenses of Melbourne, Australia (2012)

Now let me reveal what I bought from Melbourne. 

#1: Foods and typical souvenirs are what I bought when I was in Melbourne.

#2: Australia's favourite snacks and potato chips specially for Boyfie. 

#3: Variety of Tim Tam chocolate biscuits flavours which hardly found back in Malaysia and they were incredibly cheap. Cause they are originated from Australia.

#4: Arnott's Shapes savoury biscuits

#5: My friend told me that these chocolates taste yummy. Hence, I bought 10 bars instantly.

Note: #2-#5 I purchased from Woolworths Supermarket of QV Centre (nearby the State Library of Victoria).

#6: Plush kangaroo and koala bookmarks and of course, plushies 

#7: Fridge magnets, obligated to buy especially for someone who went Australia for the very first time.

#8: More fridge magnets which bought from Queen Victoria Market. These type - 6 for AUD$10

#9: For these, 8 for AUD$10. Also from Queen Victoria Market

#10: A set of keychain for AUD$4

#11: Gold plated bookmarks - 6 for AUD$10

#12: Themed T-shirt is another must! AUD$5 each but the kind lady seems to be given me exta one for free.

#13: Tote bag - 4 for AUD$10

#14: Melbourne photo frame

Note: Except for #7, #6-#14 I bought from Queen Victoria Market. So now you know where to hunt for those typical souvenirs, especially if you wanna buy in bulk.

#15: Car road sign stick for AUD$1.50. Bought these from one of the souvenirs shop nearby Flinders Street Station. 

#15: This could be consider the most pricey tote bag I ever bought. Bought this in Federation Square

And the following is my sharing of the full details of my travel expenses that I spend throughout the 8 days and 7 nights trip around Melbourne, Australia:

 
(The rate as at the time I changed; RM3.26 : AUD$1)

Note:

1. The original airfare is RM640 and RM10 is for the credit card charges.
2. My friend helped me to prebooked before I arrived Melbourne.
3. Due to daylight saving time, I missed my Skybus and bought another last minute airport bus ticket.
4. Myki costs AUD$6 for the card itself and has no value on it. 
5. The original fare for train ride is AUD$41 but then, I got the discount voucher from Melbourne's Visitor Guide Book which I took from Melbourne's Visitor Centre, hence I got 30% off.
6. Because I booked 2 full one day tours at the same time, they gave me the Melbourne attraction passes for free which includes entry to Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck and a choice between Old Melbourne Gaol or Polly Woodside. 
7. The cost for this tour is AUD$125 which included all park entrance fees, morning tea & biscuits and also Aussie BBQ lunch. It even included pick-up and drop-off from where you stay.
8. The cost for this tour is AUD$120 which included all park entrance fees and pre-packed dinner at Penguin Parade. It even included pick-up and drop-off from where you stay.
9. The original tour package was AUD$149 but then, was given 10% off. 
10. Most of my souvenirs and shopping haul are as above photos. Also including postcards and stamps which I bought and sent out earlier.
11. I applied through local travel agent.

I Almost Missed My Flight Due To Daylight Saving Time

Have you guys ever heard of daylight saving time? If not and ever wondering what it is? Oh well, according to Wikipedia, it is the practice of advancing clocks during the lighter months so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. Let's take example of this, currently the time difference between Malaysia and United Kingdom is where the latter one is 7 hours behind the local time of Malaysia but during daylight saving, it will be 8 hours different. Although not practiced by the majority of the world's countries, daylight saving time is common in the Western World. 

I knew about this when I was in United Kingdom and Europe for 4 months, although I had never experienced it. I also knew that Australia does have daylight saving but then, I never thought I was so unlucky that it eventually happened on the last and final day before I left Melbourne. Before the first few days, Australia local time was 2 hours ahead of Malaysia, but on the final day, it changed to 3. Indirectly due to this, I missed the Skybus, the express bus I supposedly take to airport.

Then, when I decided to take tram to the nearby coach terminal for the next airport bus, the tram will only arrived in 45 minutes cause it's weekend and the frequency of the tram is lesser compare to weekdays. Another sign I might miss my flight. Of course, I was freaking worry at that moment but what I know was I need to keep calm and think of my next move. So, I decided to walk to the coach terminal instead of waiting for the tram. OK, here comes another problem. I know where the coach terminal is located but then I wasn't too sure on how to walk from my friend's hostel to there. Plus, all my Melbourne maps were kept and locked inside my luggage bag. Third sign I might miss my flight. Without thinking any longer, I just walked aimlessly and as fast as I could while dragging my 20 kg luggage bag. Out of sudden, my friend called me and asked me to wait for her cause she is going to accompany me to the coach terminal by taking taxi, instead of walking cause according to her, even by walking, it will takes at least 40 minutes (and this apply for those who have long legs). Thanks to her, I reached the bus station within 10 minutes and managed to catch the airport bus to Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport.

In the end, I arrived airport around 8 am of Australia local time when the estimated of departure time is 9:35 am. Thank goodness! One thing that apparently save me was I always make sure I will arrive airport at least by 3 hours earlier (mostly apply for bustling and big cities like Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia). I rather reach the airport earlier rather than miss the flight and the worst part is buying the last minute expensive airfares. I came across that majority people missed their flights due to heavy jam, woke up late or even wrongly looked at the flying time, I might be among the first person to miss flight due to daylight saving. So, the biggest lesson I learnt from this trip which in my next upcoming trips, be aware and take note of DAYLIGHT SAVING!

Here are few snapshots I took within Tullamarine Airport, the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest airport in Australia. 

 #1: Last minute souvenirs hunting

 #2

 #3

 #4: My own in-flight meals as I didn't pre-booked earlier. 

#5: With my latest luggage tag I bought from DFO South Wharf. Goodbye, Melbourne! Till then, wish to see you again.

By the way, have any of you ever missed your flight or nearly missed flights just like me? If ever, feel free to share your interesting story with me.