Melbourne - Cairns - Sydney, from Beautiful Coastline to Bustling Metropolis: A Detailed Guide to a Budget Self-guided Tour of 3 Cities in 12 Days

📍 Cairns · 👁 4665 reads · ❤️ 2 likes

Day 1 Departure from Shanghai

Day 2 Arrival in Melbourne, check into Airbnb, rest in the morning to recover energy, explore Melbourne city in the afternoon

It's summer in Melbourne, the sun hasn't set at 8 PM. Despite a long nap during the day, there's plenty of time to explore the city. Melbourne's city center is compact, easy to walk around (though still requires some stamina). There's a free vintage tram, the City Circle Tram Route 35, that loops around the city's attractions—convenient and free.

At the most bustling area of Melbourne, we visited the historic and architecturally unique Flinders Street Station, the majestic St. Paul's Cathedral, and the artistic Hosier Lane graffiti. Strolling along the Yarra River, enjoying the riverside breeze, watching the crowded floating bars on the water.

St. Paul's Cathedral is diagonally across from the station.

The graffiti laneways are visible on the street from the station to the cathedral.

The Yarra River is right behind the station.

Day 3 Humble Rays + Melbourne City + Puffing Billy Steam Train + Chocolate Factory + Penguin Parade

Today's main itinerary was the steam train and Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Since the penguins return after 8 PM, we booked an online one-day tour that departed from Melbourne city at noon. That gave us an extra morning to explore the city. We woke up naturally, walked to the trendy brunch spot Humble Rays for a late breakfast. It's said there's always a long queue, but we were lucky—only two or three people in line, so we got in quickly. We ordered Benny Egg, Crab Meat Scramble, and a dessert French Toast Forever. It truly lived up to its reputation as a trendy spot—delicious and beautiful, highly recommended.

The soft-shell crab scramble with a croissant was excellent.

The French Toast Forever was too sweet for us; the first two dishes were enough for two people, so we didn't finish it.

After eating, we passed a striking building—a public toilet.

We walked along the street to see the diverse architecture of RMIT University and quickly glanced at the State Library Victoria.

After the morning stroll, we gathered at the square near the State Library to join the tour group. Melbourne city is far from the steam train and Penguin Island, so driving isn't cost-effective; I recommend searching on Taobao. We booked a one-day tour online and joined a group of fellow Chinese travelers. Heading towards the steam train. The train is open-sided; in the past, you could sit on the window ledge with legs hanging out. Unfortunately, that move is now considered a safety hazard and is not allowed. Still, the ride was very enjoyable, with both the station and train having a long history and vintage feel, making you feel like you're in a toy.

The train wound through the jungle, and people on the road would stop and wave to the passengers. One kid even got off the train to wave at everyone—very amusing.

The next stop after the train was Charlie's Chocolate Factory, full of all kinds of chocolate creations, eye-opening. You could even play games to win chocolate beans. After the chocolate factory, we had dinner and then headed to Penguin Island to wait for the penguins to come home. We chose the premium viewing platform; the regular one was indeed too far away. By the time we arrived, people from various countries had already taken most spots, so we found a corner to sit. But later it turned out position wasn't crucial. The penguins emerge from the sea far from the platform—you must bring binoculars to see the little penguins hopping on the rocks in groups or pairs. Afterward, the penguins came very close, and we could see the adorable little penguins along the path. Words can't describe how cute they are; photography is not allowed on site, so I can't share. Highly recommend seeing it live—it's overwhelmingly cute!

There was also a large chocolate waterfall.

After the penguins, we returned to our accommodation at midnight. So be mentally prepared—it's physically exhausting.

Day 4 Rent a car in Melbourne city in the morning, start the Great Ocean Road self-drive tour.

Route: Melbourne - Geelong (see the painted puppets) - Split Point Lighthouse - Memorial Arch of Great Ocean Road - Lorne - Apollo Bay - accommodation

As we sped along the winding road, suddenly around a bend, a vast deep blue sea burst into view—very impressive. This section of the Great Ocean Road is blue: sea on the left, mountains on the right, winding along the foothills, stunning scenery.

PS: Australia drives on the left, the Great Ocean Road is curvy with speed limits not low. So either be a skilled driver or drive slowly. The driver can't enjoy the scenery much—must focus on driving.

First stop: Geelong's painted wooden puppets

Second stop: Split Point Lighthouse

Third stop: Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch

Fourth stop: Lorne town. We didn't do enough research; Lorne has a lookout with a beautiful view of the Great Ocean Road—we missed it.

Arrived at our Airbnb in Apollo Bay in the evening, a small village on the outskirts. The houses were various styles, delicate and lovely.

Day 5 Great Ocean Road Day 2 Route

A perfect day, starting with sunrise and ending with sunset

Apollo Bay sunrise - Cape Otway Lighthouse vicinity - Gibson Steps - Twelve Apostles - Loch Ard Gorge - Port Campbell accommodation - The Arch - London Arch - The Grotto sunset.

Our village was at the foot of Marriners Lookout. We drove up before sunrise. It's the highest point in town; when we arrived, some people already had professional camera gear set up to shoot the sunrise over the sea.

The sun slowly rose from the horizon, spreading golden light over the town, covering all the roofs and lawns. I lamented my photography skills—I couldn't capture the beauty of the sunrise.

From above, you can see the entire Apollo Bay, with its two headlands reaching into the sea, feeling like standing on a map.

After sunrise, we went back for a nap, packed up, and had breakfast in Apollo Bay town. We made a point to visit the award-winning, one-of-a-kind ice cream shop Dooley's Ice Cream—it lived up to its reputation.

Continued the Great Ocean Road drive. Next was the green section: tall trees on both sides, feeling like traveling through a dense forest.

Next attraction: Great Otway National Park. Short on time, we skipped it. We planned to visit Cape Otway Lightstation; along the road, koalas occasionally cling to trees on both sides—free to see. Koalas are small and easy to miss. But there's a trick: if you see cars pulled over and people pointing cameras at a tree, stop and you'll see a koala. At the lighthouse entrance, we learned it's a paid lighthouse (unlike Split Point), and the entrance is far away, out of sight. Based on photos, it's a short, stout lighthouse; after seeing a tall, slender one, no need to pay to see a similar one.

Zoomed in with the camera to capture a koala high in the tree.

Continued driving into the yellow section of the Great Ocean Road.

Emerging from the dense forest into open grasslands. Rolling hills, manicured lawns.

Some had bales of hay stacked, others had herds of cattle grazing.

The road wound through the hills, rising and falling—the scenery kept the camera clicking nonstop.

After crossing vast grasslands, we reached the final and most famous section of the Great Ocean Road, the rock formations led by the Twelve Apostles. A combination of nature's craftsmanship and human imagination, each rock has its shape and story. Over time, waves and erosion have changed them, giving rise to stories like the gradually disappearing Twelve Apostles and the London Bridge that broke, trapping people. Truly a case of seeing them before they're gone.

The Twelve Apostles are incredibly beautiful—the live view surpasses photos.

The viewing platform is between the apostles; the ones on the other side didn't photograph as well due to lighting.

Next stop after the Twelve Apostles: Loch Ard Gorge.

The previous rocks were close together. After Loch Ard Gorge, we drove to our accommodation in Port Campbell. After resting, we went to see The Arch, London Arch, and The Grotto before sunset. Australian summer is great for travel—long daylight gives you enough time to see the sights.

London Bridge was gradually formed by wave erosion.

In 1990, the rock connecting it to the mainland suddenly broke, trapping a couple from London on the bridge; a helicopter rescued them. Their story remains with the site.

Now only a lonely bridge stands in the sea, disconnected from the mainland.

Then to The Grotto, where the opening frames the horizon—a great photo spot, but we arrived too late, and the sea and sky were gray.

At The Grotto, the sun was just setting—a beautiful sunset over the sea, with brilliant clouds in the sky.

Day 6 A transit day: drove from Port Campbell to Melbourne Airport in the morning, flew to Cairns in the afternoon, arrived at Cairns Airbnb in the evening.

Day 7 Sunlover Moore Reef Great Barrier Reef day trip

Booked through Taobao in advance. We chose the boat round trip + 10-minute helicopter package, prepared seasickness pills. If you don't get seasick, this package is economical—enjoy the sea view on the way out, sleep on the way back without noticing, and the 10-minute helicopter is enough to see the beautiful reef. If you get seasick, go to the open deck on the second level, where crew members provide sick bags—indeed, many people were throwing up.

Passed by Green Island on the way; some passengers who planned to go there got off. The rest continued to the deep sea, arriving at the Moore Reef pontoon around noon.

The pontoon has many activities: semi-submersible, glass-bottom boat, marine life touch sessions on a schedule. There's a large snorkeling area; you can rent gear and go into the sea—but we don't know how to swim and didn't even bring swimsuits, missing the chance to get up close with the deep sea.

On the glass-bottom boat, we saw colorful coral, swimming fish, and leisurely turtles through the transparent bottom.

The best part was the helicopter ride, viewing the Great Barrier Reef from above—the deep blue sea with patches of reef in varying shades, breathtakingly beautiful.

It's said the reef is slowly dying due to environmental impact, another natural wonder to see before it's gone. Hurry to experience the visual impact!

The helicopter circled the reef and the pontoon, then landed back on the helipad.

The seawater is very clear; from the pontoon or the underwater observatory, you could see deep-sea fish swimming by, colorful and diverse.

The fish looked surreal, like stepping into a TV show about the underwater world.

Day 8 Cairns Botanic Gardens day trip

Apart from the Great Barrier Reef, another famous attraction in Cairns is the rainforest. Unfortunately, the one-day rainforest tour couldn't fit our flight to Sydney that afternoon, so we skipped it. Instead, we visited the Cairns Botanic Gardens—a relaxing day.

At noon, we went to Waterbar Grill by the beach to enjoy the seaside view and a big meal. Then headed to Sydney in the afternoon.

Waterbar Grill's T-bone steak was quite good.

Day 9 Another day of sleeping in. At noon, we met up with some friends to tour the University of Sydney, had a rare Chinese meal, then strolled around the city and shopped in the afternoon.

Sydney's city center has the historic Hyde Park.

Next to Hyde Park is St. Mary's Cathedral.

Behind Hyde Park is Sydney Tower.

The shopping district houses the Queen Victoria Building, over a hundred years old.

The interior of the Queen Victoria Building is magnificent and luxurious.

Day 10 Taronga Zoo + Sydney Opera House day trip

In the morning, took the bus to Circular Quay, then a ferry to Taronga Zoo. Circular Quay is flanked by the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The ferry offers great views of both. The zoo has all kinds of animals; of course, Australia's specialties are koalas and kangaroos—both can be seen up close. We also watched a seal show, a bird show, and the zoo's highlight: a recently acquired big tiger from Asia.

In the kangaroo area, visitors can go in and get close.

From one corner of the zoo, you can see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge—a great spot for photos together.

On the ferry back and forth, you can enjoy views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from various angles. After the zoo, we returned to Circular Quay and transferred to a ferry to Manly Beach. When we arrived at Manly's wharf, we thought the small beach next to it was Manly Beach, wondering why it's so famous. It wasn't until we walked a bit that we realized the main beach is further away. By then, we were exhausted from the zoo, but we dragged ourselves to the beach and understood why it's famous.

Back at Circular Quay, we went to the base of the Sydney Opera House to get up close to this iconic building. Despite being tired, the beautiful architecture and sea breeze revived us.

In the evening, we visited a trendy restaurant, Pancakes on the Rocks, with branches in The Rocks and Darling Harbour. Their specialty is waffles. We ordered a plate, but I found the waffles average—not recommended.

We also ordered a plate of pork ribs, which were delicious—typical Chinese palate!

Day 11 Harbour Bridge + The Rocks + Darling Harbour fireworks

Took the bus to the base of the Harbour Bridge, rode the elevator to the deck to experience the bridge's charm. Traffic flows on the deck, and you can feel the bridge vibrating. The bridge has a climbing activity; that day, we saw a group climbing under a guide—brave!

It was Saturday, so we encountered the weekly market at The Rocks. Lots of trinkets.

As the oldest district in Sydney, The Rocks has historic and distinctive architecture, a popular spot for Instagram-worthy photos.

We had dinner at Nick's Seafood in Darling Harbour, waiting for the weekly fireworks show.

Nick's is mainly seafood, including the famous Australian lobster, but it's expensive. Baby lobster was barely affordable. But it was really delicious—lobster tastes great. You must have lobster in Australia.

We also ordered a seafood platter; though not much, it was tasty.

Even though it's a weekly event, the bridge area was packed during the fireworks, so you need to secure a spot early.

The big ferris wheel at Darling Harbour looks beautiful when lit up at night.

Day 12 Fly from Sydney to Shanghai

This is a budget self-guided tour for two people, 3 cities in 12 days, costing 30,000 RMB.

Eating out for all meals is expensive, often costing AUD 10-20 each time. For example, a simple breakfast (wonton + noodles) in Apollo Bay cost about 100 RMB. So visiting trendy restaurants only occasionally, and using smart strategies for other meals, saves a lot.

We usually had whole wheat bread for breakfast. Australian whole wheat bread is super cheap—about 30 slices for only 10 RMB, covering several breakfasts, so breakfast costs were negligible.

Instant noodles are allowed into Australia. We didn't research well before leaving and brought a lot of food—only two packs of noodles. Other food couldn't clear customs and was thrown away. Luckily noodles were allowed; they sustained us for one meal. Regret not bringing more.

Fast food: Burgers, which are relatively expensive in China, are the cheapest Western food abroad. We went to Hungry Jack's; a meal for two cost about 70 RMB, quite economical.

Given hotel prices, we gave up and stayed in Airbnbs the entire trip.

Booking method: Airbnb app.

Booking time: For popular places, book at least 1 month in advance.

Discount: New users get a 100 RMB voucher.

Tips: Set filters (recommend choosing Superhost), combine with map positioning, and read reviews.

We monitored flight prices a month ahead and bought budget tickets throughout. Even though it was Australia's peak tourist season, we managed to find cheap flights.

International - Xiamen Airlines: Free checked luggage, 23 kg per person, carry-on 5 kg (usually not strict), free headphones, free blanket (for red-eye flights).

Domestic Australia - Jetstar: Budget airline, need to purchase checked luggage. Jetstar allows 7 kg free carry-on. For excess, you can buy additional luggage online: 180 RMB for 15 kg, 200 RMB for 20 kg.

From Melbourne Airport to city: Take Skybus; buy tickets in advance in China.

In Cairns city: Use bus with cash.

In Sydney city: Buy an Opal card in advance in China; it works on buses and trains.

PS: Download Google Maps in advance; it can tell you when the next bus arrives.

Car rental: Free delivery of international driver's license translation (just pay shipping), book in advance, pick up locally.

Buy insurance from the rental platform in advance; no need to buy locally. If an accident occurs, pay up to AUD 6,000 upfront, then claim reimbursement from the platform after returning to China.

1. Left-hand drive: remind yourself "Keep Left".

2. Right of way: On empty roads, ensure no vehicles within 100 meters on the main road before entering.

3. Honking: Almost never honk except in special circumstances.

4. Parking fee: Most places have free parking.

5. Some roads may have tolls. At the time, we didn't know there were fees or how to pay. After returning to China, we received a credit card bill of about 200 RMB for tolls and late fees.

Choose to shop in the last city to avoid carrying luggage around.

Chocolate: AUD 4, Pawpaw ointment: AUD 4 (from Woolworths)

Goat soap: AUD 2.5, Lanolin cream: AUD 4 (from Chemist Warehouse)

Note: If you spend over AUD 300 in the same store, you can claim a 9% tax refund at the airport.

(1) Download the TRS app in advance.

(2) Spend over AUD 300 in the same store.

(3) Get documents stamped at the airport (TRS stamping counter in arrivals hall).

(4) After customs, find the TRS refund counter at Sydney Airport.

(5) Provide the bank card used for payment and show the QR code from the app.

(6) Refund arrives within one month.

SIM card: Purchase Telstra data SIM online.

Cost: 66 RMB per person, unlimited internet + unlimited calls to China and within Australia.

Note: Activate only after arriving in Australia.

1. Payment methods abroad: Cash, credit card, Alipay (rare).

2. Special note: For non-USD transactions, VISA charges a foreign currency conversion fee (about 1.5%). Cash exchange: buy rate 4.88%, sell rate 4.63%. Credit card USD repayment (requires buying USD from bank, plus a conversion fee).

Bank of Communications' credit card discount only applies on UnionPay POS machines abroad; VISA doesn't qualify. Overseas UnionPay is mainly available in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Credit card types: distinguish between VISA and multi-currency cards.

Visa application: E-visa, apply online through an agent.

Cost: 855 RMB per person.

Processing time: within one month.

Required documents: all electronic, including company business license, employment certificate (with specific travel dates), one-inch photo, bank statements (total balance over 30,000 RMB per person).

Before entering Australia, the airline may distribute and require you to fill out an arrival card, or you can get one at the airport. Note: Do not bring eggs, meat, fruits, vegetables, etc. Personal medication does not need to be declared.

Travelogue Directory:

1. Melbourne

2. Cairns

3. Sydney

4. Budget Tips – Food, Accommodation, Transportation

5. Car Rental / Self-Drive

6. Shopping Tips

7. Mobile Internet

8. Currency Exchange, Credit Card Use

9. Visa and Customs Declaration

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