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

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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 unique flora, fauna, and natural landscapes. Its rich tourism resources make it a popular destination for Chinese travelers.

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

On this journey, we visited many scenic spots in Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Canberra, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Great Barrier Reef, among others. The delicious food and beautiful scenery along the way were a feast for both the palate and the eyes, and the local customs and culture were unforgettable. 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 specific itinerary is as follows:

D1 (May 1) Christchurch - Melbourne

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

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

D2 (May 2) Melbourne

Visit: Victoria Arts Center: Not only the most prominent building in the area, but also the best place to enjoy opera, ballet, symphony, fine art, and installation art; Yarra River: Melbourne’s mother river; Federation Square: The most iconic building in Melbourne, a microcosm of Melbourne’s art, hiding profound connotations beneath its majestic exterior; St Paul’s Cathedral: A representative work of Australian Gothic architecture; Carlton Garden: A UNESCO World Heritage site; Royal Exhibition Building: A UNESCO World Heritage site; Fitzroy Gardens: Filled with tall elm trees, the paths and lawns are covered with yellow fallen leaves in autumn, full of poetic charm; Cook’s Cottage; The Block Arcade: A renowned local building, one of the best-preserved 19th-century shopping arcades; Stroll through Melbourne’s streets

D3 (May 3) Melbourne

Visit: Yarra Valley: Located about 40 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, famous for its wineries. It is a green kingdom with winding valleys and orderly arranged grape trellises, like a fairy tale world away from the city’s hustle and bustle; Stroll around Melbourne’s outskirts, visit friends and relatives

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

Melbourne - Victoria Arts Center

Melbourne - Federation Square

Melbourne - Yarra Riverbank

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 kilometers

Visit: Great Ocean Road: A winding coastal highway nearly 300 kilometers long. Officially designated as an Australian national park open to tourists in the early 1980s, it is Australia’s most famous self-driving route and one of the world’s best tourist viewing spots. It features tranquil beaches, lush rainforests, majestic waterfalls, and the world-renowned 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 section of the Great Ocean Road, offering excellent views of the magnificent bay

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

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

Visit (second day of the Great Ocean Road): Great Otway National Park; Cape Otway Lightstation: There are many cute wild koalas in the eucalyptus forest along the roadside; Gibson Steps; Twelve Apostles: The most iconic scenery on the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles are sedimentary rocks formed from the seabed, consisting of twelve uniquely shaped rock formations. From a distance, these rocks of various sizes resemble human facial contours, showcasing nature’s extraordinary craftsmanship, hence the name; Loch Ard Gorge; The Arch; London Bridge: It is not actually a bridge but a naturally formed sea-eroded cliff landscape. The surging waves pass under the rock cliff, carving out a giant hole shaped like an arched bridge, making it a spectacular sight

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

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

Visit: Scenery along the way

Stay: BreakFree Capital Tower Apartments, 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 kilometers

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

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

D8 (May 8) Sydney

Visit: Sydney Harbour Bridge: An iconic building of early Sydney, known as the world’s largest steel arch bridge; Mrs Macquarie’s Chair: A must-visit spot for tourists in Australia, as it offers the best view of the Sydney Opera House; Sydney Opera House: Not only the殿堂 of Sydney’s art and culture but also the soul of Sydney. Recognized as one of the top ten wonders of the 20th century, this white building exudes breathtaking beauty under the blue sky and sea; Martin Place; Queen Victoria Building: Sydney’s largest shopping center, where on the second floor you can see unique historical artifacts such as the Royal Clock; Pitt Street Mall; Hyde Park; St Mary’s Cathedral: Located east of the musical fountain in Hyde Park, a grand Gothic Revival church; Royal Botanic Gardens: Besides a dazzling array of plants from around the world, it is also a great place to view the Sydney Opera House and Sydney 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, and various buildings, it is Sydney’s most vibrant tourism and shopping center; Sydney Fish Market: Sydney’s largest fish market, offering various 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 Garden

Sydney - Cityscape - Night View

D10 (May 10) Sydney - Grafton, 640 kilometers

Visit: Scenery along the way

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

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

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 shops, create a perfect paradise; Stroll through the city streets

Stay: Meriton Serviced Apartments Broadbeach, ocean view two-bedroom apartment (99 sqm), paid parking, paid WiFi

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

Visit: Coolangatta Beach: Charming beaches, clear surfing waters, and a bustling shopping area make it an ideal travel destination; Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary: The only place in Australia where you can hold a koala, also the world’s largest koala sanctuary

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, later converted into a waterside riverfront park

Complete car return procedures

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

After arriving in Cairns, complete car rental procedures again

Stay: Mantra Esplanade, 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. Scenic and serene, its unique charm attracts many travelers; Shopping

D15 (May 15) Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

Visit: Great Barrier Reef: One of the seven natural wonders of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the world’s largest and longest coral reef system. It stretches along Australia’s northeastern coast and is a natural treasure Australians are most proud of, also known as the “transparent and clear underwater wild kingdom”; 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, about 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 essentials

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Moore Reef - Underwater walking