AUSTRALIA | Driving Trip in Australia (from/to Melbourne Airport)
Day 1 (LCCT Kuala Lumpur - Melbourne Tullamarine Airport):
Flight at 1.40pm (m'sia time), arrived at melbourne airport 8 hours later (11.30pm Aus time). The rental car opened at 5am the next morning. So, we spend more than 5 hours at the airport. It is very convenience for muslim since they have prayer room at the airport. Half of the time we spend sleeping in the prayer room.
Day 2 (Melbourne Airport - Port Campbell):
At 5.30am, get the car (Toyota Camry and Garmin GPS) and drive to Apollo Bay (190km from Melbourne) via the great ocean road passing Anglesea and Lorne. Arrived at Apollo Bay around 9.00am. Check-in to Apollo Bay Backpackers Lodge 2-bed apartment that cost us AUD120/night
Take a bath and make brunch, after heading Port Campbell (another 90km) for the 12 Apostles and Loch & Gorge. Driving passing very beautiful cow/sheep/horse farm. Compared to Malaysian, their animals are bigger and look healthier than ours, maybe because of the weather and the grass. Below's photos taken at the Gibson Steps (pix will be upload later) and 12 Apostles viewpoint. The admission for all is free of charge. It is worth spending your money for petrol (AUD1.20/liter), accommodation and car rental to get here to see the spectacular view.
Later at late noon, went to Loch & Gorge and other amazing big structures nearby (London Arch, Shipwreck coast, Blowhole and many more)
At 5.30 pm after sunset, went back to Apollo Bay to our rest house. Cooked for dinner (just simple mix and match pasta) and Zzzzzzz...
Day 3 (Apollo Bay - Phillip Island):
The distance from Apollo Bay to Phillip Island is 330km. Start at 10.30 am (consider very late than the planned time - everybody overslept and forgot to set alarm). The journey to Phillip Island is via Barramunga, Forest, Barwon Down, Princess Highway, Winchelsea, Buckley, Geelong, get into M1 freeway and highway, and later to South Gippsyland Highway (Road A420) and Bass Highway. The road is so clear, no traffic jammed but we can't drive faster due to traffic strict's law. Arrived at Phillip Island at 2pm. Spend an hour at Churchill Island (Click for more details)
and an hour and half at Koala Conservation Centre,
Later, went to Penguin Parade at 4.30 pm. We waited on a very cold and windy open seat for bunch of cute Penguin coming ashore at dusk. No camera allowed inside the penguin habitat. Below photos of us at the penguin guided home sweet home.
Total for the 3 passes admission is AUD24.50 per person online (Normal price is AUD35) and free admission to The Nobbies. Check-in to A Maze n thing holiday park later at 8.30 pm. Stay here and pay AUD97 per night per cabin (1 queen bed and bunk bed). The cabin is small, but with all basic cooking facility that we need most (fridge, microwave, kettle, room heater, hot shower and heater mat). A very comfy and highly recommended place to stay. However, you need to bring your own pillowcases and bed sheet for the bunk bed to save AUD10 extra charge per person. Immediately after check-in, cooked for dinner and clean-up before going to bed..Zzzzzz
Day 4 (Phillip Island - Lake Mountain Alphine Resort - Melbourne):
Wake up early, prepared breakfast and packed lunch, ready for the next Aussie's adventure..before that Kodak moments at A maze n thing..start driving at 8.30 am
Stop at Pakenham to buy groceries
and other a few stops..later at 1pm arrived at Lake Mountain Resort. Due to very limited time we just spend playing the Toboggan, which is also very fun. This is our first time meeting SNOW and also the wild wombat and the date went extraordinary very well..hehehe
at 4.00 pm, continue driving to Melbourne City..arrived 3 hours later. Check in to Melbourne International Backpackers (MIB). The rate for 6-bed dorm (only 4 of us in there) was AUD23/person/night. and for the parking is free outside the hostel from 7.30pm-7.30am.
Day 5 (St. Kilda, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Observation Deck)
Went to St. Kilda for Luna Park, Palais Theatre and Brighton Beach Hut. I am aware that Luna Park is only opened over the weekend, but for the sake of taking photos, we just went there since it's just a few kilometers away.
Later, went to Melbourne Zoo (entrance fee was AUD24.4/person) to see unique, rare, never seen animals (Koala, Kangaroo, Gorillas, Meerkat, Red Panda, Brown Bear)
at 2.00 pm, went back to melbourne city. Parking at muti-level car park in front MIB (with disc. from MIB pay only AUD12 for 24 hours parking). Have lunch at Indonesian restaurant (eat fried rice for AUD9/plate and coke for AUD1.50/can). Walk around the city, Melbourne central and going back to MIB for an hour-two rest.
at night walk to Melbourne Observation Deck - Rialto. The admission fee is AUD11.60/person (with 25% disc. coupon - normal rate is AUD15).
end of 5th Day's activities...
Day 6 (Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Cruise and 2 hours shopping)
Shopping for souviners for our nieces, nephews, mom and dad at Queen Victoria market. Things here were cheaper than what they sell in store.
Later went for Melbourne Cruise..we choose the AB cruise (2.5 hours)..costed us AUD25/person.
Back to the city walking (melbourne cruise located walking distance from MIB and near to Flinders' station). Shopping, have dinner and drive to Melbourne Airport, return the car (AUD77/day inc. GPS, tax, ins.), check-in Airasia and back to our home sweet home but very hot country, Malaysia at 11.30pm.
Day 7 (Kuala Lumpur)
Arrival at LCCT Kuala Lumpur at 7.00 am. I felt in love with the cold, hardly sweat weather of Australia. will be back someday...
Below is the plan and the real cost spent in Malaysian Ringgit exclusive foods that we brought in Malaysia. Actually we can reduce the cost more. Currently, AirAsia promotion return flight ticket to Australia from KL is only RM400++. Happy browsing and happy travelling!!!
THIS IS THE PLAN:
AND THIS IS THE REAL COST
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