Travel Notes on a Self-Drive Tour of Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Cairns, and Other Places in Australia (Part 1)
Sydney - Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge
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 - The Twelve Apostles
Melbourne - Cityscape
Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Memorial Arch at Eastern View
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Eagle Rock
Canberra - Parliament House
Sydney - Sydney Opera House
Sydney - Sydney Opera House
Gold Coast - Scenery along the way
Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach
Gold Coast - Suburban scenery
Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Koala
It has been a few years since our self-drive tour of Australia, and for various reasons, I've only recently had the chance to compile the sights and experiences from the road trip. First, I want to share the beautiful scenery and culture there with everyone; second, I want to tell you that self-driving in Australia is very convenient, and once the pandemic is effectively under control, friends who enjoy road trips should definitely go there; third, the detailed itinerary can serve as a reference for those who want to go on a self-drive tour, hoping it will be helpful for your trip.
This self-drive tour of Australia lasted 16 days in total, from May 1 to May 16. We traveled along Australia's east coast, visiting many cities and scenic spots including Melbourne, Apollo Bay (Great Ocean Road), Canberra (capital), Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), and others. The entire self-drive journey covered over 2,400 kilometers. Although the time was not long, thanks to the advantages of self-driving, we were able to visit all the conventional tourist destinations and main attractions along Australia's east coast in one go.
Melbourne - Fitzroy Gardens
Melbourne - Victorian Arts Centre
Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Cape Otway Lighthouse (Split Point Lighthouse)
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - The Twelve Apostles
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge
Sydney - Sydney Opera House
Sydney - Cityscape
Canberra - Parliament House
Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach
Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Kangaroo
Cairns - Kuranda
We arrived in Melbourne, Australia, from Christchurch, New Zealand, by plane on the evening of May 1. On May 2 and 3, we spent two full days exploring Melbourne using public transport and taxis. After staying in Melbourne for two nights and three days, we left for Apollo Bay (Great Ocean Road) on the morning of the 4th and officially began our self-drive rental car journey.
During this trip, we rented cars twice. The first time was in Melbourne; we then drove along the Great Ocean Road, through Canberra, Sydney, Gold Coast, and other places, stopping and sightseeing along the way, covering over 2,200 kilometers to reach Brisbane. After finishing our visit to Brisbane, we returned the car and flew to the final stop of our Australian self-drive tour—Cairns (Great Barrier Reef). The second time, we rented another car in Cairns and returned it only when we left.
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - London Bridge
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Loch Ard Gorge
Sydney - Sydney Opera House
Sydney - Queen Victoria Building
Melbourne - Cityscape
Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach
Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Seawalker training
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Seawalker
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Snorkeling
Australia is vast and sparsely populated, with cities far apart. The conventional tourist route along the east coast covers over 4,000 kilometers. If traveling with a tour group, aside from the commonly criticized rush and superficial sightseeing, groups that go to the Great Ocean Road, Sydney, and Melbourne generally do not go to Cairns (Great Barrier Reef); conversely, groups that go to Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) do not go to the Great Ocean Road, Sydney, or Melbourne, because the distance between the two sides is too great—several thousand kilometers. Moreover, places like the Gold Coast and Brisbane are usually not included in tour group itineraries. Therefore, for this specific reason, self-driving is the best choice for touring Australia.
Australia has a developed economy and well-established tourism service facilities. Its extensive road network and simple and reliable car rental services provide a solid foundation for self-driving tours. The feeling and experience of self-driving here is that the journey is convenient and efficient, and the trip is comfortable and enjoyable. It is especially worth mentioning that rental companies offer reasonably priced one-way rental services, so there is no need to worry about backtracking, which is particularly important for self-drive travelers. This makes the entire journey much less troublesome and saves a lot of time, which is really commendable.
Melbourne - Federation Square
Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Gibson Steps
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - The Twelve Apostles
Canberra - Suburban scenery
Sydney - Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney - Sydney Opera House
Melbourne - Fitzroy Gardens - Conservatory
Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach
Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise Beach
Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Koala
Cairns - Kuranda
1. Car rental companies in Australia offer a range from high-end to budget options, catering to all budgets, with plenty of choices. It is best to purchase full insurance for the rental car. Although buying full insurance adds a lot to the cost, it is money well spent. With full insurance, if an accident occurs, the risk is greatly reduced. With full insurance, the rental fee is slightly higher than renting a car in China; without full insurance, it is cheaper than in China.
2. Public transportation in Australia is relatively well-developed. The 2,400-kilometer journey we covered was mostly on flat roads and highways, and the road conditions were quite good. Renting a sedan or SUV is fine.
3. After getting your driver's license notarized and obtaining an English translation in China, you can drive there. However, cars in Australia have right-hand drive and drive on the left side, which is the opposite of China. You may feel a bit unaccustomed when you first get the car, so caution is needed. However, experienced drivers generally adapt quickly. Before going abroad for a self-drive tour, it is recommended to learn about local traffic rules online. When you are out, be sure to follow the rules to ensure safety.
4. Parking in the city is mostly paid. Most roadside parking spaces accept payment via meter with credit card or coins. Some areas not only charge fees but also limit parking duration, with some allowing only 15 minutes. Never park in disabled parking spots; the fines are heavy. Parking and payment methods vary, so make sure to carefully check before parking, otherwise, you might unexpectedly get a ticket.
Melbourne - Yarra River
Melbourne - St Paul's Cathedral
Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Vineyard
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Bells Beach
Sydney - Darling Harbour
Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach
Cairns - Port Douglas
Gold Coast - Cityscape
Sydney - Sydney Opera House - Night view
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Great Otway National Park - Wild koala
5. Staying at apartment hotels or motels in the suburbs is a good choice for self-drive trips; most offer free parking and no parking fees. The small kitchen facilities also allow you to cook simple meals to your taste and adjust your diet.
6. It is not difficult to find Chinese restaurants in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but they are rarer elsewhere. However, the food in these Chinese restaurants is often adapted, and the taste can be quite different from that in China, and it is also not cheap. Buying ingredients from supermarkets or seafood markets and cooking yourself is not only tasty but also very affordable. The lobster and oysters there are really delicious, so if you have the chance, be sure to try plenty. When traveling, you should feast your eyes as well as your stomach.
7. Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the time difference with China is only 2-3 hours, the seasons are completely opposite. December to February is summer, March to May is autumn, June to August is winter, and September to November is spring.
8. The weather in May was generally good, but because we visited many places along the way, covering a large area with long distances, the temperature difference was significant. On this trip, the temperature ranged from a few degrees above zero on the Great Ocean Road to nearly 30 degrees at the Great Barrier Reef, so we needed clothes for almost all seasons.
Melbourne - Carlton Gardens - Royal Exhibition Building
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - Gibson Steps
Melbourne - Great Ocean Road - Port Campbell National Park - London Bridge
Grafton - Bed and breakfast hotel
Canberra - Apartment hotel
Canberra - Apartment hotel
Grafton - Scenery along the way
Gold Coast - Suburban scenery
Gold Coast - Suburban scenery
Gold Coast - Coolangatta Beach
Brisbane - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Koala
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef
