36,000 RMB per Person for 5-Star Hotels and Business Class: Australia 14-Day Travel Diary (Part 5) - Melbourne, the World's Most Livable City

📍 Melbourne · 👁 8928 reads · ❤️ 32 likes

After finishing our trip in Cairns, the next stop is Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia, and also the most livable city in Australia (ranked first in the 2016 Global Livable Cities Ranking) - Melbourne.

Before introducing it, let me briefly describe our itinerary:

Day 1: Depart from Cairns at 9am, land at Melbourne International Airport at 1:30pm. After being picked up by our private guide, we headed straight to the Great Ocean Road, staying overnight in Apollo Bay, with about 4 main attractions along the way.

Day 2: Depart at 8am, continue the Great Ocean Road trip, ending around 3pm. The highlight of the Great Ocean Road tour included 5 main attractions. Return to Melbourne takes 3 hours, arriving at the hotel around 6pm. No activities in the evening, dinner on our own.

Day 3: Rest in the morning, wandered the outlets downstairs at the hotel. Depart at 1pm, take the steam train first, then go to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade until 10pm, returning to the hotel near midnight.

Day 4: Depart at 10am for Sovereign Hill gold mining town, play all day. Return at 4pm, arrive at hotel at 6pm, no evening activities, dinner on our own.

Day 5: Check out at 10am, explore the city center with about 4 main attractions. Arrive at the airport at 3pm, fly to Perth at 5pm.

Note: The original plan for Day 1 was to see the penguin parade after landing, but I changed it to the Great Ocean Road to avoid tiring the elderly and children. The two-day itinerary was compressed into half a day, making it very rushed. This also caused Day 3 to have no activities in the morning, wasting some time. So, adjust according to your situation.

Another reason for arranging it this way was to avoid switching hotels. If we went to Penguin Island first and then the Great Ocean Road, we would have to check out of the Melbourne hotel and check in again later, which is troublesome.

Early the next morning, we went to Cairns Airport again and boarded the flight to Melbourne. We departed at 8:45am, flew for over three hours, and arrived in Melbourne around 1pm, giving back the hour we gained earlier.

Our private guide kept in touch via WeChat outside the airport and guided us to the pick-up area. After a brief chat, we found out she was also from Beijing, which immediately made us feel close. This was our first experience with a private guide service.

The cost for 4 days was RMB 10,934, covering the full cost of the car, all expenses for the private guide (meals, accommodation), and overtime pay (for the penguin parade night shift). Split among five people, it was less than RMB 550 per person per day, which was quite reasonable considering we traveled over 100 km each day on average.

One thing to note: we booked a 7-seat SUV, but the last row was a bit cramped. If I book again, I would choose an MPV.

Our private guide has been in Australia for over ten years, having done delivery, owned a shop, and now working as a guide. She receives Chinese tour groups in Australia from January to April and July, August, and October, and spends the rest of the time in Beijing with her parents or traveling the world, living a life I envy. Decades in Australia have made her truly understand the essence of life: there's no need to live so tired; enjoying life in time is what matters.

After picking us up, the guide told us that the afternoon schedule was very tight. The travel agency originally recommended a two-day Great Ocean Road itinerary, with the arrival day for the penguin parade. But that would require changing hotels twice, which was troublesome, so I theoretically changed it to go to the Great Ocean Road right after landing. As a result, a one-day itinerary was compressed into half a day, forcing us to hurry, otherwise we might have no food when we reached Apollo Bay, and driving without lights at night is very unsafe. If friends come to Melbourne and are traveling independently, it's better to follow the travel agency's advice and not use our itinerary.

Great Ocean Road outbound: Geelong, Split Point Lighthouse, Eagle Rock, Great Ocean Road starting point, wild koalas.

The Great Ocean Road is about 500 km long with many scenic spots along the way, so it's usually a two-day trip, staying overnight in Apollo Bay.

On the outbound trip, there are the painted wooden poles of Geelong, the Cape Otway Lighthouse and Eagle Rock, the Great Ocean Road memorial arch, and a small town where you can see wild koalas. Due to time constraints, we rushed through everything, and combined with fatigue from previous travels, we finished the day's itinerary in just 4 hours.

First stop: Geelong's painted wooden poles.

The first stop was the town of Geelong, about half an hour's drive from Melbourne. It is famous for its painted wooden poles, originally mooring posts at the dock, painted by an artist (sorry, the guide told me but I didn't remember, and I was too lazy to look it up) into cartoon characters. They are scattered along the entire Geelong waterfront, becoming a cultural landmark. Unfortunately, due to time, we just stopped briefly, took a few photos, and considered it done.

Geelong is a small but beautiful town. We even encountered a traffic jam at 3pm. According to the guide, property prices here are no lower than those in Melbourne's high-end communities, making it a typical wealthy area.

Second stop: Split Point Lighthouse and Eagle Rock.

The second stop was the Split Point Lighthouse and Eagle Rock. To be honest, I wasn't particularly interested. On a lonely coast stands a lighthouse with a red top, and opposite it, a huge rock called Eagle Rock connected to the shore, also exuding loneliness. The scenery was nice, but it felt cold - a kind of lonely cold.

Third stop: Great Ocean Road starting point memorial.

Legend has it that the Great Ocean Road was built by idle veterans after World War I over 100 years ago. It reportedly involved over 3,000 people and took 13 years to complete. So our third stop was the symbolic starting point of the Great Ocean Road (according to the guide, not the actual start) for photos.

It was quite simple; a few tourists were taking photos, not crowded, and no enthusiastic vendors selling souvenirs.

Lorne's wild koalas.

Driving along the coast, the scenery of Australia's southern coast was spectacular compared to the northern coast of Cairns we had just left. But due to time, we couldn't stop along the way, just enjoying the view through the car window because we had to reach Lorne before dark to see wild koalas.

Around 5pm, we finally arrived in Lorne. We parked outside a quiet town, and the guide led us up a hill. At the entrance, we saw a group of people gathered around a tree taking photos. There was a koala eating. It was cute and unafraid of people; no matter how many photos were taken, it just kept eating.

Going further, we saw two more in front of a house, quietly eating and playing alone, looking very relaxed. We also saw several large, colorful parrots flitting through the trees.

This completely shattered our impression from online news that koalas were endangered due to the Australian bushfires. The guide told us that koalas are very numerous in Australia, and there's no risk of extinction. Bushfires occur every year in Australia as a natural adjustment, but this year, due to inadequate fire prevention measures and abnormal weather, the fires got out of control, but it's not as scary as reported. We need to see for ourselves.

Overnight at Apollo Bay.

After saying goodbye to the koalas, we rushed on and arrived at Apollo Bay before 7pm, more than an hour earlier than the guide had estimated. The hotel front desk was still open, the supermarket was still open, and restaurants were still open, so we had made good time.

The hotel in Apollo Bay was actually a high-end motel - a typical roadside Motel. It was a small circle with rooms all around, no outdoor pool or restaurant. The room was a duplex with 5 beds and one bathroom. The accommodation was motel level, costing over RMB 1,800 a night, which felt a bit of a rip-off. Compared to the motel we later stayed at in Western Australia, the value for money was far worse, possibly due to being on the Great Ocean Road and during the peak Spring Festival season.

Apollo Bay has a commercial street with restaurants and supermarkets, quite lively in the evening. For dinner, we went to a Chinese restaurant recommended by the guide, rated 4.5 stars online. However, the dining experience was a bit unpleasant. Probably because the guide brought us, the waiter kept pushing lobster and steak. Fairly speaking, the prices were reasonable - lobster 70 AUD, steak over 30 AUD, average in Australia.

But we just wanted hot noodle soup, so we ordered beef noodle soup, plus two dishes: Kung Pao Chicken and Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs. Obviously, this didn't meet the restaurant's expectations, and the service became less enthusiastic. Later, the sweet and sour pork ribs turned out to be sweet and sour pork tenderloin, mostly batter, but the restaurant insisted it was Australian-style sweet and sour ribs, leaving us speechless, and charged 8 AUD more. Reminder for travelers: try to order common dishes when traveling to avoid disputes.

Presumably, the guide's meal was complimentary from the restaurant - the cost is passed on. When faced with customers like us, if they don't try to squeeze more, they lose on this order. But business should be transparent; before the meal, we offered to treat the guide, but she insisted on eating the complimentary meal due to company rules. They could have just been upfront; that would have been more acceptable than such tactics.

Day 2: Otway National Park - Treetop Walk.

Nothing eventful happened that night. The next morning, the guide recommended a paid activity: the Otway National Park Treetop Walk, costing 20 AUD per person. Since we came all this way, we gladly went.

I personally found the Treetop Walk very worthwhile: eucalyptus trees are Australia's most common trees, and many species are very tall, reaching 20-30 meters.

This activity uses the valley's terrain to build a skywalk in the eucalyptus forest, allowing you to walk from the forest floor to the treetops. Standing on a suspension walkway 5 stories high, overlooking the whole forest, is thrilling and refreshing. The entire attraction takes about an hour, covering about 5 km. It only requires leaving an hour earlier, not affecting the whole day's schedule. Walking in the natural oxygen bar in the early morning, slightly sweating, feels very invigorating.

A special reminder for interested friends: go before the sun comes out; once it's out, the insects in the forest will hide. On the way back, we were more harassed by bugs, and the guide got bitten by flying ants twice.

Also, it's worth noting that many natural landscapes in Australia are free, while some paid attractions are due to man-made facilities or services, like the treetop walk. The 20 AUD we paid was clearly an entrance fee. So overall, Australian attractions are fair and transparent; don't automatically associate paid activities with domestic overpriced tourist traps. If you have the chance and means, do visit as many as possible.

Small transit stop, friendly old man.

We left early, so the restaurants in town were not open. We had breakfast at a gas station in a small town along the way. The owner was an elderly Australian man, very kind. The food was Western-style. The guide particularly recommended various pies. I had a beef pie for 5 AUD, very generous portion; one was enough to last half a day.

Beside the gas station, the old man had set up many small wooden houses for birds and provided bird food. Many wild parrots came for breakfast, creating a lively scene. I had never seen so many parrots up close. Before leaving, the old man gave my son a small toy, truly experiencing the peace and warmth of Australians. This small stop allowed me to delve more into Australian life and appreciate the benefits of a private guide tour.

The highlight of the Great Ocean Road: Twelve Apostles and other scenic spots.

After 40 minutes of driving, we reached the highlight of the Great Ocean Road: the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, and a series of scenic spots.

These spots are called a series because they all belong to Australia's southern coast, a unique coastal landform formed by constant erosion by seawater. Compared to the delicate and warm tropical coast of Cairns with its coconut palms, beaches, and sunshine, the southern coast of the Great Ocean Road is majestic and spectacular with cliffs, crashing waves, and strong sea winds.

The sea wind pushes waves to crash against the towering rocks, sending up white foam and roaring sounds, inspiring awe. We stood on the high platform, admiring its majesty. Even now, looking at the photos, I can still feel the shock. If you have the chance to go to Australia, don't miss it; it shows the mighty side of the sea.

These attractions are arranged along the coast, spaced a few kilometers apart. Most visitors are self-driving or in groups. The attractions are free to visit, and the scenery is completely natural. For example, the Twelve Apostles currently only has eight left; the others have collapsed naturally over time.

One thing to note: there are many flies, so avoid applying too much sunscreen or cosmetics, or it will affect your experience. Also, if you have time and budget, you can take a helicopter to overlook the entire coastline. According to the guide, it's about 15 minutes per round and costs over 100 AUD per person.

After finishing the Twelve Apostles and other spots, we concluded the entire Great Ocean Road trip. Including driving and sightseeing, it took about 4 hours and left an unforgettable impression, comparable to the Great Barrier Reef. We took the highway back, which took about 2.5 hours, returning to Melbourne city center. We had booked the Pan Pacific Melbourne in the city center, conveniently located right off the highway. We checked in at 6pm on time, ending a busy day.

The travel agency recommended the 5-star Pan Pacific Melbourne, next to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, on the Yarra River in the city center, and close to the W2 freeway. It was in a great location with convenient transportation. The lobby was simple but luxurious, reflecting the Pan Pacific brand's business-oriented, practical, and convenient features. However, to better cater to travel needs, the hotel offers family suites with two bedrooms, making it easier for family trips. Our travel agency booked that type of room for us.

The hotel provides Chinese service, warm and attentive, and answered my questions in detail. We had originally booked two nights at RMB 2,300 per night, and we extended for one more night, which cost more, around RMB 2,570 per night. Both included breakfast for two. Since it was a suite for two families, the cost per person was quite reasonable, half the price of the hotel in Sydney (partly due to the travel season).

The room consisted of two symmetrical rooms, each with a bathroom. One room had a king bed, the other could be adjusted to king or twin beds. By the window was a large shared living room with a dining table, bar, and sofa. Our room faced southeast with a vast view: the convention center in the near, the busy M2 freeway in the middle, and the busy Melbourne port in the distance. Every night, the headlights of cars on the M2 formed a river of lights, along with the distant harbor lights, creating a picture like the Milky Way and stars in the night sky, quite breathtaking. The opposite-facing rooms should have a view over the lively Yarra River banks and the entire city skyline, presumably even more beautiful.

The hotel facilities and amenities were excellent. Breakfast was very rich, with self-brewed coffee and beautiful latte art. More impressively, there was ice cream, which is rare for breakfast. The electric blackout curtains were the best feature, completely blocking out light for a peaceful sleep. The hotel provided toothbrushes, slippers, and electric kettles. I should note that all the hotels we stayed at during this trip, except those in Cairns and later the Pan Pacific Perth, provided these items, contrary to the travel agency's reminder that Australian hotels are environmentally friendly and require guests to bring their own toiletries and slippers.

We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant, nor was there a Chinese restaurant. We had dinner at the nearby DC restaurant. About a 10-minute walk from the hotel is the so-called largest DC in the Southern Hemisphere - Crown DC. I took a quick walk around; it was indeed very large, and quite casual, without the strict rules of European DCs. The security at the entrance only selectively checked passports, even looser than Macau.

There are many restaurants around DC, including several high-end Chinese and Western restaurants. However, we went to the food court because it was cheap and delicious, with a wide variety, especially Chinese food, mostly Cantonese and Hong Kong style. If you stay along the Yarra River, I recommend eating here; a meal costs 17 AUD, ensuring quality and quantity.

Also, there is an outlet downstairs at the hotel, open from 10am to 6pm, extended to 9pm on Fridays. We went shopping after breakfast the next morning. Overall, the prices weren't that cheap. Tax exemption applies only when spending over 300 AUD in a single store. Comparing prices with Taobao and JD, the advantage was not significant, not worth carrying thousands of kilometers back. In the end, we bought a few FILA sports pants and T-shirts for about 20 AUD each, which was reasonable. CK underwear on sale was also cheaper than in China. According to the guide, good deals in Australia are on meat, dairy, and wine; daily items like clothing aren't particularly cheap. However, luxury goods like GUCCI are very affordable. We brought one bag back, and after tax refund, it was about 40% cheaper than in China, so definitely worth buying.

The highlight of the next day's trip was to see the little penguin parade on Phillip Island. Since the penguins return after 9pm, and the island is over 100 km from the city, the day's schedule was from 1pm to 11pm.

Here's an explanation of the private guide's car service. The standard service time is 10 hours per day; overtime is charged. Also, if service runs after 8pm, there is a night surcharge. So plan the guide's schedule ahead. That's why the travel agency originally planned the itinerary: fly from Cairns to Melbourne and go directly to Penguin Island upon landing. Economically, it makes sense, but physically, it's more demanding and tiring.

Puffing Billy Steam Train.

The morning passed quickly resting at the hotel. My parents were also tired from the past few days, so it was good for them to relax. At 1pm, we started our afternoon itinerary. First, we experienced Melbourne's very old steam train, Puffing Billy. The train has no assigned seats; you sit wherever there is space. There are no windows, and it moves slowly. On both sides are countryside cottages, even older and more rustic than the train in Cairns.

The train is steam-powered, but not by burning coal; instead, it gets recharged at the station. After we got off, the locomotive disconnected to recharge, allowing us to see the interior up close. Although old, it's very well maintained.

Since it's steam-powered, I recommend sitting in the middle to rear; the front carriages have some smoke and dust. Also, if heading out of the city, sit on the side facing the platform for better scenery.

At intersections, pedestrians and drivers on the road would wave to people on the train, which was quite heartwarming. The locomotive is not coal-fired but filled with gas at the station; that was interesting and new to me.

Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and Meat Feast.

After the train, the guide picked us up and continued to Phillip Island. Phillip Island is southwest of Melbourne, an independent island connected to the mainland by a bridge. There are many attractions on the island, with the penguin parade being the main event. We arrived around 5pm, which was awkward timing: some attractions like seal watching were closing, and it was too early to eat and then watch penguins. So the guide recommended the Chocolate Factory. It cost 15 AUD per person, but the attraction felt too commercialized for group tours. It was mostly games, and the actual factory had already closed, so we couldn't see the production process. For future visitors to Phillip Island, I suggest arriving earlier to see seals and other things.

Dinner was at a local Western restaurant, highly recommended by the guide, and it was indeed great value. We ordered a 12-inch meat-lover pizza, a plate of pasta, and a steak, totaling only 75 AUD, and four of us almost couldn't finish (my father had beef noodle soup separately). The steak at 36 AUD was delicious and generous; we had a wonderful meal, once again appreciating the advantages of the private guide service.

After dinner, we headed to the destination: watching the penguin parade. These penguins are not the tall Antarctic ones we imagine; there are many types. Here, they are small, only 20-30 cm tall.

They go out to sea to feed during the day and return to land after dark. The attraction has built viewing platforms and walkways along the coast and near their nests for close observation. No photography is allowed, so I have no images to share. I'll respect their wishes and not spoil the details.

Here are some tips for those who want to go:

1. The most expensive ticket is for the underground viewing platform, where you can see penguins at the closest distance, passing right in front of you. You won't feel cold from the wind, and the area is limited, so it's not crowded. The only downside is you can't see the panoramic view of the return; you have to watch the coast via CCTV.

2. The second-tier ticket is for the open-air stands above the underground platform, offering a panoramic view of the coast with better visibility. The downsides: it's crowded, arrive early to get seats, and the sea wind makes it very cold at night. Penguins don't come right underfoot, so you can't see them up close.

3. There is a third-tier ticket on another stand farther away; we didn't go there, but most penguins return from this side, so choose carefully.

4. Finally, for those on the open stands, definitely bring thick clothes, especially for the elderly and children. Even though it's summer, it's very cold at night. We wore the down jackets brought from Beijing. Also, sit early; otherwise, you'll only see the backs of heads.

5. Absolutely no photos or videos. If you accidentally use a flash, it can blind the penguins, and you will face severe penalties. So be a civilized tourist.

The penguins started returning around 9:10pm. We watched until 10pm before reluctantly heading back. Many were still watching intently. We had to hurry because we still had over 100 km to drive back with no highway. It took 1.5 hours to get back to the hotel. A very tiring day. Thinking about following the travel agency's plan - coming from Cairns early in the morning and going non-stop until now - would be too exhausting.

As the epidemic developed, many countries imposed entry restrictions, making our return uncertain. Finally, on February 7, we confirmed that our return Singapore Airlines flight was canceled and had to be refunded. At that time, there were no direct flights from Australia to Beijing; only one daily flight from Australia to Shanghai and Guangzhou, with economy tickets skyrocketing to over 10,000 RMB each. Our return plans were disrupted.

Meanwhile, with the epidemic in Beijing worsening, friends and family advised us to extend our trip and not rush back to cause trouble. Considering all opinions, we decided to extend our stay, at least 14 days in Australia, to prepare for a possible transit via a third country.

During this process, the travel agency's customer service was constantly interacting with me on WeChat, exchanging information and providing advice, fully demonstrating the benefits of a customized tour. After much communication, we decided to extend our trip to Western Australia and also extended our stay in Melbourne by one day. Thus, the original plan to return home after visiting Sovereign Hill on the last day was changed, allowing us to explore Melbourne city center properly.

Day 4: We spent the whole day at Sovereign Hill.

At 10:30am (since we returned late the previous night, we departed later), we drove to Sovereign Hill, in northwestern Melbourne.

This gold mining town dates back to the mid-19th century. The entire area preserves the look of a gold rush town. Highlights include watching gold smelting, touring an underground mine, riding a horse-drawn carriage, and panning for gold. There are Chinese services; just don't miss the Chinese guided tours.

We arrived around 11am. At 12:30pm, there was a Chinese gold smelting demonstration, followed by a Chinese underground mine tour. After that, at 1:30pm, we caught the flag-raising ceremony, had a simple lunch, and at 2:30pm lined up for the carriage ride. Finally, we panned for gold until after 4pm. Despite being one attraction, the activities were very fulfilling and well-organized.

The underground mine tour was the most interesting: we first rode a mine cart in complete darkness for a minute, an exhilarating experience, then entered the old tunnels to get a real feel for mining. I once read about stress index ratings; going down a mine is among the top three stressful activities.

Of course, the current tunnels are luxuriously refurbished (relative to original) and safe. They are 3 meters high and wide enough for a car, with electric lighting and air conditioning. Although it's dark and cold, it's absolutely safe. Just bring a jacket if you're sensitive to cold.

The guide explained that the real mining environment required crawling in and out, with candle lighting, poor air, and constant dangers like gas leaks and cave-ins. Yet, the temptation of gold still attracted people from afar.

To better depict the conditions and miners' mentality, the site has made short films for different nationalities. We watched the Chinese version, telling the story of a pair of Chinese brothers gold digging. The content and setting were excellent, with a good moral; I won't spoil it. The differentiated explanation service shows the site's thoughtfulness.

Besides the mine, the gold smelting show was also good, lively and interactive, in Chinese. Other activities were typical tourist things: the carriage ride was optional, not particularly special. The flag-raising ceremony was simple, mainly for photos. The commercial street featured local handicrafts; check them out if interested. For food, there was a larger Western restaurant and a simple pie shop. The taste was just Western food; I couldn't judge its quality.

Now let me focus on the last activity we did: gold panning. Since it's a gold mining town, gold panning is a must. There is a creek in the area because it's on a gold vein, so the water contains gold. The site provides free shovels and aluminum pans, with a guide to explain. The rest is up to you - how to extract glittering gold from the sand.

Our private guide was great; she quickly taught us the trick. The gold is actually tiny flakes about 1 mm in size. Don't expect to get rich; it's just for fun.

Once you collect the flakes, you can buy a small bottle for 1 AUD to store them. The gold is so tiny that picking it up is difficult. But everyone enjoyed it, working in an assembly line: some shoveled sand, some washed, some searched for gold, some picked it up, some held the bottle - very busy.

Here's a tip: only keep sand, remove all stones. Then, use centrifugal force by slowly spinning the pan; the gold will stick to the bottom and eventually be revealed. Give it a try! After about two hours, we collected about ten flakes, and the staff praised our skill.

As we reluctantly left the site, we saw a model of a gold nugget in the display window, valued at several million RMB, found nearby with a metal detector less than a meter below the surface in recent years. It made us want to go back and pan more. It seems there is still wealth waiting to be discovered; maybe you'll be the lucky one.

Our Melbourne itinerary was near the end. On the last day, we had a 5pm flight to Perth, so we chose to explore Melbourne's city center.

At 10am, we checked out (Australia's standard is 10am, different from China). The private guide first took us to the University of Melbourne - Australia's top university. The campus is open for visits, located north of the city center.

The campus wasn't very large, incomparable to many newly built Chinese university towns. But it was clean and preserved many old buildings, full of cultural atmosphere. It was probably during break time, so there were few people around.

After the University of Melbourne, we drove to the Royal Botanic Gardens. It's also free to enter. The area is large and very pleasant, featuring plants from many countries, each with an explanatory sign. We even saw leaves from southern China. From a high point in the garden, you can also see the Australian Open courts.

Leaving the gardens, we wanted to see the F1 track, but there was a cycling race causing massive traffic jams in the western part of the city, so we had to give up. Instead, the guide took us to see Flinders Street Railway Station, Hosier Lane (graffiti street), and St Peter's Church, all in the same area.

Hosier Lane is typical of Western culture, with many people taking photos. We just looked; not very interested. Flinders Street Station is Melbourne's old station, with European classical architecture. Due to time, we just took photos from across the street.

St Peter's Church is also typical European church style; you can enter if dressed neatly. No photography or loud noise inside; remember that. We sat inside for a while to feel the atmosphere and happened to see a local Chinese congregation praying for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping the virus would pass soon. Truly, we are all one family.

We spent about 20 minutes at these three spots, then the guide drove us through Chinatown. Due to the epidemic, there were almost no tourists, and nearby Chinese restaurants were reportedly heavily affected. Subsequently, we went to the last stop of the day: the State Library of Victoria. Also free to visit. I was surprised that in a country known for laziness, so many people were reading on the weekend. There was also a small exhibition, which I couldn't read but was deeply impressed by the learning atmosphere.

After half a day, I had a general impression of Melbourne's city center.

Melbourne's city center is not large, just a few streets, but my feeling was much better than Sydney. The roads are wider, and the buildings are set back at a reasonable distance from the roads. The residential areas are not as crowded as in Sydney, fully matching my earlier imagination of Australia.

Most importantly, Melbourne's climate is much more comfortable than Sydney's because it's closer to Antarctica, so it's not as hot; the evenings are cooler. Through conversation, the guide confirmed my impression; living in Melbourne is more relaxed and comfortable than Sydney. It truly deserves the title of the world's most livable city in 2016.

The magnificent scenery of the Great Ocean Road, the cute penguins, the fun gold mining town, and the comfortable and modern city center together left me with an unforgettable and wonderful impression of Melbourne. And the private guide's enthusiastic service and cheerful personality added many points. Before parting, she took us to eat a famous local Vietnamese pho and gave us two Vietnamese bread hot dogs. They were incredibly delicious and very affordable, only 13 AUD per person. If you go to Melbourne, be sure to try them; they are in the direction of the airport. This meal perfectly ended our Melbourne trip.

Finally, a summary of the costs for the Melbourne trip:

Since it was part of the journey, I won't count the flight costs.

Pan Pacific Hotel: RMB 2,400 per night for a two-bedroom suite for five people. Three nights total, for four adults, equivalent to RMB 1,800 per person.

Apollo Bay Hotel: RMB 1,800 per night, for five people, for four adults: RMB 450 per person.

Private guide total: RMB 12,300 for five days, for four adults: about RMB 3,100 per person.

Attractions: Puffing Billy train + Penguin Island underground viewing platform: RMB 577 per person.

Sovereign Hill ticket including all internal activities: RMB 322 per person.

Other meal costs: estimated at 30 AUD per person per day for five days, total approximately RMB 750 per person.

In total, the cost per person was about RMB 7,000 for a 5-day Melbourne trip.

This includes three nights in a 5-star hotel, five days of private guide with car, and the best attraction tickets. This is for reference.

Travel diary directory:

1. Overview of Melbourne itinerary

2. Day 1-2: The spectacular Great Ocean Road trip

3. Day 2 night: Staying at Pan Pacific Melbourne

4. Day 3: Penguin parade, Puffing Billy steam train, and Chocolate Factory