Self-driving Tour Experiences in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Cairns, etc. in Australia (Part 2)

📍 Melbourne · 👁 9066 reads · ❤️ 36 likes

Melbourne - Cityscape

Melbourne - Federation Square

Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Twelve Apostles

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Bells Beach

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge

Canberra - Lake Burley Griffin

Sydney - Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney - Sydney Opera House

Sydney - Cityscape

Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach

Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach

Gold Coast - Suburban Scenery

Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Koala

Cairns - Port Douglas

Australia boasts world-class attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, the Great Ocean Road, and the Great Barrier Reef. With its unique flora, fauna, and natural landscapes, it is a top destination for Chinese tourists traveling abroad.

May is autumn in Australia. In this beautiful season of golden autumn, we were fortunate to visit this picturesque country, embarking on a 16-day free and self-driving tour, covering over 2,400 kilometers of driving.

During this trip, we visited many scenic spots in Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Canberra, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Great Barrier Reef. The delicious food and stunning scenery along the way were a feast for both the stomach and the eyes. The folk customs of this foreign land were unforgettable, and everything left us with wonderful memories.

Sydney - Cityscape

Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - London Bridge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Twelve Apostles

Canberra - Suburban Scenery

Sydney - Sydney Opera House

Sydney - Queen Victoria Building

Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach

Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach

Gold Coast - Suburban Scenery

The detailed itinerary is as follows:

D1 (May 1) Christchurch - Melbourne

Qantas flight QF204, 20:30-22:15, from Christchurch, New Zealand to Melbourne (direct flight, approx. 4 hours, including time difference)

Stay: Oaks on William Melbourne, studio (35 sqm), parking fee, WiFi fee

D2 (May 2) Melbourne

Visit: Victoria Arts Center - not only the most prominent building in the city, but also the best place to enjoy opera, ballet, symphony, fine arts, and installation art; Yarra River - the mother river of Melbourne; Federation Square - the most iconic building in Melbourne and a microcosm of its art scene, hiding profound significance beneath its magnificent exterior; St Paul's Cathedral - a representative of Australian Gothic architecture; Carlton Garden - a World Heritage site; Royal Exhibition Building - a World Heritage site; Fitzroy Gardens - filled with tall elm trees, the paths and lawns covered with yellow fallen leaves in autumn, full of poetry; Cook's Cottage; The Block Arcade - a well-known local building and one of the best-preserved 19th-century shopping arcades; Stroll through Melbourne's streets

D3 (May 3) Melbourne

Visit: Yarra Valley - located about 40 km northeast of Melbourne, famous for its wineries. A green kingdom with winding river valleys and neatly arranged grapevines, like a fairy tale world away from the city's hustle and bustle; Wander around Melbourne's suburbs, visit friends and relatives

Complete car rental procedures (Hertz Rent-a-Car)

Melbourne - Victoria Arts Center

Melbourne - Federation Square

Melbourne - Yarra River

Melbourne - Cityscape

Melbourne - Flinders Street Station

Melbourne - The Block Arcade

Melbourne - St Paul's Cathedral

Melbourne - Carlton Garden - Royal Exhibition Building

Melbourne - Fitzroy Gardens

Melbourne - Fitzroy Gardens - Cook's Cottage

Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard

D4 (May 4) Melbourne - Apollo Bay, 190 km

Visit: Great Ocean Road - a winding coastal highway nearly 300 km long, officially designated as an Australian national park in the early 1980s. It is Australia's most famous self-driving route and one of the world's best tourist destinations, featuring tranquil beaches, lush rainforests, magnificent waterfalls, and the world-famous "Twelve Apostles." Exploring it offers a perfect visual feast; Split Point Lighthouse Tours; Eagle Rock; The Great Ocean Road Arch; Apollo Bay - located in the middle of the Great Ocean Road, offering an excellent view of the vast bay

Stay: Apollo Bay Waterfront Motor Inn, two-bedroom apartment (50 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

D5 (May 5) Apollo Bay - Port Campbell, 90 km

Visit (Day 2 of the Great Ocean Road): Great Otway National Park; Cape Otway Lightstation - eucalyptus forests along the roadside with many cute wild koalas; Gibson Steps; Twelve Apostles - the most iconic attraction on the Great Ocean Road. These sedimentary rocks form 12 uniquely shaped independent rock stacks that resemble human facial profiles from a distance, a masterpiece of nature; Loch Ard Gorge; The Arch; London Bridge - not actually a bridge, but a naturally formed sea-eroded cliff. The surging waves have carved a huge arch-like hole beneath the rock, creating a spectacular sight

Stay: Southern Ocean Villas (Port Campbell), luxury villa (99 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

D6 (May 6) Port Campbell - Canberra, 880 km

Visit: Scenery along the way

Stay: BreakFree Capital Tower Apartments (Canberra), two-bedroom lakeside apartment (109 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - The Arch

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Eagle Rock

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Split Point Lighthouse

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Gibson Steps

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - London Bridge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - London Bridge

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Twelve Apostles

Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Great Otway National Park - Wild Koala

D7 (May 7) Canberra - Sydney, 290 km

Visit: Parliament House - a world-famous building; Lake Burley Griffin - located between Capital Hill and Parliament Hill, a symbol of Australia's capital Canberra

Stay: Meriton Serviced Apartments Zetland (Sydney), two-bedroom apartment (82 sqm), parking fee, free WiFi

D8 (May 8) Sydney

Visit: Sydney Harbour Bridge - an iconic early building of Sydney, known as the world's largest single-arch bridge; Mrs Macquarie's Chair - a must-visit for tourists in Australia, offering the best viewing spot for the Sydney Opera House; Sydney Opera House - not only the artistic and cultural hall of Sydney but also its soul, recognized as one of the world's ten wonders of the 20th century. This white building radiates breathtaking beauty against the blue sky and sea; Martin Place; Queen Victoria Building - Sydney's largest shopping center, where you can also admire unique historical artifacts such as the Royal Clock on the second floor; Pitt Street Mall; Hyde Park; St Mary's Cathedral - located east of the Hyde Park fountain, a grand Gothic Revival church; Royal Botanic Gardens - home to an impressive collection of plants from around the world, also a great place to view the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge; Watch a symphony concert at the Sydney Opera House concert hall

D9 (May 9) Sydney

Visit: Darling Harbour - composed of port docks, green spaces, flowing water, and various building complexes, it is Sydney's most colorful tourism and shopping center; Sydney Fish Market - Sydney's largest fish market, selling a variety of freshly caught seafood

Canberra - Parliament House

Canberra - Suburban Scenery

Sydney - Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney - Sydney Opera House

Sydney - Cityscape

Sydney - St Mary's Cathedral

Queen Victoria Building

Sydney - Fitzroy Gardens - Conservatorium of Music

Sydney - Cityscape - Night View

D10 (May 10) Sydney - Grafton, 640 km

Visit: Scenery along the way

Stay: Clarence River Bed & Breakfast (Grafton), three-bedroom cottage (approx. 120 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

D11 (May 11) Grafton - Gold Coast, 250 km

Visit: Surfers Paradise Beach - almost as famous as the Gold Coast itself, a must-visit for tourists. The golden sandy beach and excellent surfing conditions, combined with luxurious seaside apartments and bustling shops, create a perfect paradise; Stroll through the city streets

Stay: Meriton Serviced Apartments Broadbeach (Gold Coast), two-bedroom sea view apartment (99 sqm), parking fee, WiFi fee

D12 (May 12) Gold Coast - Brisbane, 85 km

Visit: Coolangatta Beach - charming beach, clear surfing waters, and lively shopping areas make it an ideal travel destination; Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - the only place in Australia where you can hold a koala, and the largest koala sanctuary in the world

Stay: The Summit Apartments Brisbane, two-bedroom apartment (75 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

Grafton - Bed & Breakfast

Grafton - Scenery along the way

Gold Coast - Scenery along the way

Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach

Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach

Gold Coast - Suburban Scenery

Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Koala

Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Kangaroo

D13 (May 13) Brisbane - Cairns

Visit: South Bank Parklands - the site of the 1988 World Expo in Australia, now a waterfront park

Complete car return procedures

Virgin Australia flight VA791, 16:50-19:20, from Brisbane to Cairns (approx. 2.5 hours)

Complete car rental procedures again upon arrival in Cairns

Stay: Mantra Esplanade (Cairns), city view two-bedroom apartment (95 sqm), free parking, free WiFi

D14 (May 14) Cairns

Visit: Port Douglas - a place combining ocean, rainforest, and desert. With its picturesque scenery and peaceful environment, its unique attractions draw many visitors; Shopping

D15 (May 15) Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

Visit: Great Barrier Reef - one of the seven natural wonders of the world, a World Heritage site, the world's largest and longest coral reef system, stretching along the northeast coast of Australia. It is one of Australia's most proud natural attractions, also known as the "Wild Kingdom in the Clear Blue Sea"; Outer Reef day trip: Moore Reef, snorkeling, underwater walking

D16 (May 16) Cairns - Hong Kong - Shenzhen - Shantou

Visit: Stroll around Cairns

Complete car return procedures

Cathay Pacific flight CX146, 12:45-17:55, from Cairns to Hong Kong (direct flight, approx. 7 hours, including time difference)

Hong Kong - Shenzhen - Shantou

Brisbane - South Bank Parklands

Cairns - Port Douglas

Cairns - Kuranda

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Snorkeling

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Briefing on Underwater Walking

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Underwater Walking