Melbourne, Australia Day 3: 1 Day Great Ocean Road Classic Tour

Date of Visit: 2nd October 2012

To enjoy most of Melbourne's fascinating places and attractions, most of them were located on the outskirt of the city center; such as Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula and more. So in the case where you are travelling with a group of friends and family, you can opt to rent a vehicle and plan for unforgettable road trip. But if you are travelling alone just like me, the downside was getting to those places by general public transport would be difficult. Hence, I got no choice but to book from the local tour operator and my friend recommended Bunyip Tour. From there, I bought two full one day tour packages - 1 Day Great Ocean Road Classic Tour as well as 1 Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Ultimate Eco Tour. In return, besides the 5% off for each tour, but I was given a free admission ticket to Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck and option between Old Melbourne Gaol or Polly Woodside. It was indeed a really great deal for me.

 

#1: Bunyip Tours bus 

The spectacular Great Ocean Roas is one of the world's most beautiful and naturally maintained secrets. This prestigious road is built by the returned soldiers dedicated to soldiers killed during the World War I, making this road is the world's largest war memorial. Every twist and turn exposes to stretches of broad, pristine beaches, dramatic coastlines and the lush rainforests of the Otway Ranges - all of which provides an amazing postcard backdrop for all the photo memories.

#2: The first pit stop, Bells Beach, one of Australia's famous surfing beaches and world renowned for the Rip Curl Surfing Pro. We even had morning tea and watched few surfers catch waves for surfing.

 #3: Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View

 #4: Wye River, a popular place for Melbournians to holiday

#5: Cape Patton Lookout offers spectacular views east towards Apollo Bay and Skenes Creek

#6: For the very first time in my life, I saw wild koala bear. Not just one or two, but we spotted more than 5 koala bears. Lucky us!

 #7: The iconic Cape Otway Lighthouse, mainland Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse.

#8: We even had Aussie BBQ as lunch at the park nearby the lighthouse

 #9: The Twelve Apostles is a collection of gigantic limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park

 #10: Walking down the boardwalk for this beautiful views of the coastline along The Great Ocean Road 

#11: Magnificent rock stacks that rise up from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline

#12: Originally, there was 12 but then decreased over the time due to erosion and up to date, leaving eight remaining.

Option

If you don't mind to pay extra for breathtaking scenic view over the 12 Apostles from the top, take a helicopter flight which cost AUD$95.

#13: Loch Ard Gorge, a small network of clifftop walks and there is a staircase leading down to a beach gave us the opportunity to view the fantastic rock formations all around

#14: Our final pit stop of the day, Gibson Steps

#15: Perfect place for wedding photoshoots, perhaps?

Before spending another two and half hours ride back to Melbourne city centre, we stopped by a small Chinese restaurant for dinner. As I had Asian meals for the two previous nights, I opted for fast food instead and there were two world famous fast foods nearby that particular neighbourhood - McDonald and KFC.

#16: At the end, I choose KFC cause I found out it was more extraordinary compare to McDonald - Bacon & cheese burger, something which couldn't be found in elsewhere.

Note: 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 you stay.

This tour package I booked 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 

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[ADV] Kinabalu Guest House

Located strategically right in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, Kinabalu Guest House is one right place for budget travellers who are looking for cheap, convenient, comfort and clean with access to wide array of restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, 24 hours convenience stores, department stores, shopping mall and more. Kinabalu Guest House is just within 5 minutes walk to Handicraft Market, Esplanade, seafood restaurants, Centre Point Shopping Complex, Warisan Square and more.

It is perfectly suited for a group of families and even couples too.

Kinabalu Guest House consists of:

• 3 bedrooms - 2 Queen-sized beds & 2 Single beds
• Air-conditioning in spacious living room and bedrooms
• Open plan living and dining area
• Television
• Kitchen equipped with cutlery, glassware,  microwave, kettle, toaster and refrigerator 
• Hot heater bathroom with basic toiletries
• All linen and towels are provided
• Drinking water

 #1: Air-conditioning spacious living room with television 

 #2: Dining area with drinking waters provided

 #3: Kitchen equipped with cutlery, glassware,  microwave, kettle, toaster and refrigerator 

Note: For safety purpose, no cooking is allowed on the premise. Warming of foods shall be allowed.

#4: Microwave, toaster and kettle

#5: Cutlery and cooking utensils

#6: Master bedroom with queen-sized bed

#7: Master bedroom with private bathroom

#8: Secondary master bedroom with queen-sized bed

 #9: Two single beds room

 #10: Bathroom for secondary master bedroom and single bedroom 

 #11: Towels, basic toiletries and hair dryer are provided

Room Rates:

RM40 per person

Kinabalu Guest House is suitable for 6 pax but can stay up to 8 pax. 

Location:
Block 5, 4th Floor, Room 5,
Lorong Api-Api2,
Api-Api Center,
88000 Kota Kinabalu.
(Nearby U Mobile and Digi Telecommunication Centre)

For reservation and enquiries, kindly please email them: kinabaluguesthouse@gmail.com
Terms and conditions applied. To get more information and details about this guest house, click HERE.

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Melbourne, Australia Day 2: Eureka Skydeck 88

Date of Visit: 1st October 2012

From the oldest stream train in Australia, Puffing Billy, my next destination was Eureka Skydeck 88, the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. But somehow, I stuck in Belgrave Station for almost an hour before reach back to the city town due to my clumsiness and it was indeed waste a time.

After an hour of waiting and an hour train ride from Belgrave Station, finally back to the Flinders Street Station and from there, I walked to Eureka Tower without the help of any maps. All I did was keep looking and heading through to this highest tower instead. The walking distance from Flinders Street Station to Eureka Tower was not really that long, roughly around 10 minutes. As the tower itself is located adjacent to the beautiful Yarra River, I didn't even feel boring at all but turned out, I was pretty enjoying myself eventhough I was walking alone along this river. Some were enjoying their cup of coffee at the cafe nearby the river, cycling, jogging, walking with their cute and adorable dogs, and more. 

#1: I don't mind walking everyday with this kind of view. Will you?

#2: Tadaa... Finally, I reached Eureka Skydeck 88 after almost 10 minutes walk

#3: Skydeck Admission Fare. The good thing was FREE for me. I didn't pay any single cents. Why?

I will explain later. 

#4: Southern Hemispheres Fastest Lift - It takes just 38 seconds from the ground Floor to 88th Floor.

Initially, Eureka Tower was the world's tallest residential tower, until surpassed by two tall buildings in Dubai. Currently, it is the 14th tallest residential building in the world and listed as the 98th tallest building in the world. Too excited with the awe inspiring view of Melbourne until I totally forgot to take the photos of the inside of Skydeck itself. What I remembered was there is a kiosk offers takeaway coffees, soft drinks and snacks.

(Note: For few of the photo below, I used miniature effects and this makes them looks like miniature scale models.)

#5: Flinders Train Station

#6:

#7: Olympic Parks Stadium

#8: The white colour building is Government House, the office and official residence of the Governor of Victoria

#9: While waiting for the sunset, I took the opportunity to write postcards and post them from Australia's highest post box.

#10: The mesmerizing sunset view from Eureka Skydeck 88

The best time to visit Eureka Skydeck 88 would be before the sunset take place and spend some time roaming around the Skydeck to wait for the sunset as well the magnificent Melbourne skyline nightscape. There is no time restriction for the visitors, so don't even bother to see the time. Just enjoy the awe inspiring view of Melbourne!

#11: Pressed Pennies - My latest travel collections and I collect quite numbers from United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and Taiwan.

#12: This is how actually Eureka Tower looks like

The souvenir shop is located in the ground floor, same floor as the ticket purchasing counter. It has a wide range of exclusive Eureka Skydeck merchandise as well as a selection of Melbourne and Australian souvenirs to choose from and I really had some hard time to decide which will be the best to bring back home as memento. Right after done browsing the souvenirs, immediately met my friend who was waiting for me outside patiently for dinner.

#13: Another night for Asian meals again - fried dumpling, curry pork rice and fried rice.

The reason why I got to visit Eureka Skydeck 88 for free was because I bought two full one day tour packages from a local tour operator which recommended by my friend, in return I was given a free admission ticket to Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Skydeck and option between Old Melbourne Gaol or Polly Woodside. Wasn't a great bargain, right?

Opening Hours
Open daily from 10am until 10pm (Last entry is 9:30pm) except for New Year Eve and Christmas Day, it close at 5:30pm (Last entry is 5pm). 

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Melbourne, Australia Day 2: Puffing Billy, Australia's Favourite Steam Train

Date of Visit: 1 October 2012

Second day in Melbourne mark the official day where I wandered alone. Nervous? Scare? Worry? Apparently, I wasn't cause I ever wandered around London alone few years back. But somehow, being a solo traveller wasn't really my favourite type of travelling at all. Just read "Runaway Juno - Sometimes, I Don't Really Care for Solo Travel" and you know why I dislike of solo travel. I still prefer to travel along with my friends or even with my family better.

As I was alone, I decided to go to those famous spots that easily accessible by train. Coincidentally, I came across this Puffing Billy from Kaki Berangan's blog and even my friend highly recommended me to go to this place too. Without thinking any longer, packed my bag with some snacks and water and ready to explore Melbourne alone.

So, what is this Puffing Billy anyway? Puffing Billy is the oldest stream train in Australia and one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. With the open-sided carriages, one will be amazed and mesmerised with the stunning views and beautiful forests throughout the journey when the train travels through the forests, fern gullies and farmlands of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges.

#1: From Flinders Station, wait at the Platform 4 heading to Belgrave Station, it's where Puffing Billy's primary starting point is located. 

#2: Wait for the right train to arrive and not every train in Platform 4 is heading to Belgrave Station. I learn my lesson when I was in London where I simply jumped in into the wrong train.

#3: After almost an hour train ride, finally reach Belgrave Station, the last station. Just follow Puffing Billy's direction and the ticket purchasing counters are few minutes walk away.

#4: Luckily I arrived 15-20 minutes earlier to board on the train.

#4: The fare information

I choose the one from Belgrave to Lakeside (Emerald Lake) because I want to spend more time to explore Melbourne city center later on. For more details especially the timetables, services and fare, click HERE. It is advisable to check the timetable first in order to avoid from wasting your time to wait for the next train.

#5: As a smart traveller, I bought the return ticket instead. The reason why I got AUD28.70 only (that's 30% discount) because I got this discount voucher from Melbourne's Visitor Guide Book which I took from Melbourne's Visitor Centre. 

Travel Tips:

Visit Melbourne's Visitor Centre at Federation Square of Flinders Street to look for more guides, advises, handbooks, brochures, maps and even discount vouchers which are applicable for some famous tourist spots.

#6: The overview of Puffing Billy. It's free seating by the way but I prefer to sit on the right-hand side instead for more stunning views.

#7: Another type of Puffing Billy's train that it's still functioning.

#8: The train officers

#9: From Belgrave, the Billy's first stop was at Menzies Creek.

#10: The beautiful countryside view

#11: Exactly an hour ride on this steam train, finally Billy reach Lakeside or known as Emerald Lake.

#12: Canary? Parrot? Ok, I really confuse!

#13: Emerald Lake Park, which offers pleasant walks, a pool and paddle boats but only in the summer time. 

It was pretty cold when by the time arrived this lake and I believe there's no one ever thought of getting wet or even soak into the pool in this kind of weather. Given less than an hour stop at the Lakeside, most of them were here mainly for family picnic. How I wish I could do so but I was alone - only with the accompanion  my chocolate stick snacks which I bought from Hong Kong few days ago on my left-hand side and water bottle on my right-hand side. Sounds so pathetic right! And that's was my lunch anyway, in case if you are wondering cause having a proper meal in Melbourne was indeed cost a bomb to me.

#14: Puffing Billy across the Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge

#15: Looks like the kids were pretty enjoying themselves hanging their legs out the windows. 

Overall, I pretty enjoy the train ride as well, like the rest of the kids. Just that I didn't hang my legs out from the windows cause I worry I might accidentally drop my camera or even my smartphone due to my clumsiness. This attraction is indeed highly recommended especially for those family who travel with their children along cause I believe they will enjoy as much as I did. And in case if you are travel in a group, don't forget to pack some foods and do picnic! Oh boy, I love to do that again someday - like I did quite number of times when my friends and I was in United Kingdom.

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