Stories of Distant Lands: Australia (Sydney + Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles + Melbourne)

To be honest, when I was a child I imagined that one day I could visit some purely Western white-faced countries, but Australia was not the first place that came to mind as a must-visit in my lifetime. Before that, my knowledge of Australia was limited to a few keywords: kangaroos, koalas, and the Sydney Opera House. I knew very little about it. The reason I chose to go to Australia was simply because the visa threshold was easier than countries like the US and Canada, and the airfare to Australia was more attractive. But I clearly know that I have no regrets about this impulsive travel plan... Because from deciding where to go, to applying for the visa, to buying the tickets, we did everything in one go without much comparison. As soon as we saw the cheapest ticket from Macau to Sydney, we placed the order. We didn't care whether the price would go up or down later, because I always believe that the decision at the moment was our best choice at that time.

Day 1: From Guangzhou, we took a Didi directly to the Hengqin Port, crossed smoothly, and then headed straight to Macau Airport (for a family of four, taking a taxi is recommended. Of course, if you're not in a hurry, you can take the free shuttle bus to The Venetian and then transfer to Macau Airport. If there are many people, it's more convenient to take one taxi, costing around MOP 100+). Flew from Macau to Singapore, had a short stopover of a few hours, then immediately flew to Sydney Airport. Flying is just exhausting. For long-haul flights, be sure to bring a neck pillow – a hard-learned lesson! (Wealthy people can directly buy a neck pillow at the airport; along the way, I didn't see any priced below RMB 200.)

Day 2: The first latte after landing in Sydney in the morning – nothing a coffee can't solve. If it really can't be solved, then have a second cup ^_^ (Coffee at Sydney Airport is not expensive, about RMB 25, and there are many wraps and burgers at acceptable prices.) After coffee, we bought Opal cards at the airport. In the following journey, the Opal card was used very frequently. I recommend everyone gets one. On the same day, once you reach the daily cap, you can ride for free, including ferries. (When using the Opal card, tap on when boarding and tap off when alighting; tap in and out at stations. Otherwise, you will be charged the maximum fare!) P.S. Actually, our transfer wasn't so smooth. It took us almost an hour from the airport to the train station to buy the Opal card. Not because the distance was far, but because we hadn't done detailed planning, so we were like headless flies asking around everywhere. Eventually, we found a local elderly woman who was attending an exhibition, and she told us how to take the train. This experience almost got us down. Travel always has its bumps, but luckily we had plenty of time.

Since our hotel was booked near Darling Harbour, the location was quite good. After a brief rest, we set off for our city walk. (Sydney's night streets, the Sydney Opera House I had dreamed of seeing, art exhibitions along the way.) August in Sydney is cool and the air is particularly fresh. Strolling along the streets was really pleasant.

Day 3: Australia is only 2 hours ahead of China. Traveling with family, we almost only set out around midday every day (strictly following China time, haha). First stop: visit the University of Sydney. We took the bus with our Opal cards. Along the way, we met a law professor from the University of Sydney who was heading back to campus. He was very friendly and led us into the campus, enthusiastically explaining every place worth visiting. We were incredibly lucky. (The scenery at the University of Sydney is really beautiful. Harry Potter was also filmed here. We saw many study tour groups visiting the museum inside the university. It's free, so if you go on a study tour yourself, it's more cost-effective. As long as you're bold enough, you can directly ask the on-site staff to explain the exhibitions.)

Today's itinerary was quite full. After leaving the University of Sydney, we walked to Hyde Park and St Mary's Cathedral (both places are close, walkable. After the pandemic, there are fewer people, so walking and stopping was quite comfortable). We happened upon someone proposing. After the plane finished spraying those 'Marry me' words, I felt it not only healed love but also cured my cervical spondylosis o(╥﹏╥)o

Day 4: Today we visited the Art Gallery of New South Wales. We encountered quite a few students sketching. My child directly asked the front desk staff for paper and pens and joined in (as long as you're thick-skinned, nothing is impossible ^_^). If you book in advance, you can participate in various free classes or experiences. The art gallery and museum are nearby; if you have time, you can visit them all – they are free.

On the road, we met a mounted police officer, looking dashing.

Look at our daily white people food. (Authentic white people food, delicious, but can't eat it for more than 3 days in a row o(╥﹏╥)o)

Through the art gallery, there is a small path. Walking along it, you'll discover more beauty. How can you not love such a Sydney? (I've seen many travel magazines about Australian scenery or weather forecast reports showing Australia, and this landscape appears. It turns out the sky can really be so blue and clear...)

On the way back to the hotel, we happened to encounter activities related to the FIFA Women's World Cup. We signed up and could participate in free football activities. Another stroke of luck! (P.S. My younger one also gathered courage and signed up. He had never spoken English before, but for the first time he responded to the host's 'What's your name?' The mother felt so comforted. Taking him on this trip allowed him to grow, to break free from his timid personality, and to express himself bravely. This journey was worth it!)

Day 5: Today's destination – Blue Mountains National Park. A friend recommended we go there. Before setting off, we hadn't thought of visiting this park, thinking parks are man-made and everywhere. But after my colleague's enthusiastic recommendation, we quickly did some research and set off for the Blue Mountains. These days, we always transferred through Sydney Central Station. This time, we took a bus to Sydney Central Station, then took the Blue Mountains Line to Blue Mountains Park (after getting off, we had to take a minibus. It takes about a whole day to go to the Blue Mountains). Although the weather was good, the wind was really strong. From the angle of the photos, you can see we were climbing halfway up the mountain, and the wind made my legs tremble. But I have to say, the scenery of the Blue Mountains National Park is truly unbeatable – a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. P.S. As always, you have to experience it yourself to know if it's worth going. I didn't have high expectations before setting off, but this trip completely changed my view. It's really worth a visit. I won't use fancy words to describe this place. My phone photos have no filters. But it stood so majestically in front of me, I couldn't help but admire the wonders of nature. Everything was like a dream, like an illusion, so incredibly beautiful...

Day 6: Before ending our Sydney itinerary, we had one important thing to do – treat our Chinese stomachs. We visited Sydney's Chinatown and had a bowl of ridiculously expensive noodles. Although expensive, it was authentic enough. (I've never missed Chinese food so much. After eating white people food for several consecutive days, even a bowl of ordinary tomato and beef brisket noodles tastes like a state banquet o(╥﹏╥)o)

Day 7: Originally, we planned to drive from Sydney to Melbourne, but considering we didn't know the area well and were afraid of encountering wildlife on the long drive, we booked flights from Sydney to Melbourne online at the last minute. The normal price was RMB 500 per person. It was also an experience of Australia's domestic flights. The flight took about an hour. Melbourne's domestic airport is Avalon. From the plane, we could clearly see the 'green' and 'blue' of Melbourne. We were really looking forward to the next part of our trip. We had booked a car online in advance. When we arrived at Avalon Airport, we went straight to handle the rental procedures. There weren't many people. We just needed to show our driver's license and translation. First time driving a right-hand drive car. Inner voice: left, left, left, but always ended up right, right, right. (Tip: Be sure to read the rental terms carefully. Buy full insurance, don't take chances. Remember to take photos of the whole car. Check if the fuel is full when you pick it up; you must return it full, otherwise you'll be fined.)

Day 8: On the Great Ocean Road, we stayed at a different hotel or B&B every night. Accommodation on the Great Ocean Road is a bit more expensive than in the city, but you can choose different types. Drive and stay wherever you like; no need to rush the itinerary – that's the most comfortable. Today we officially started our Great Ocean Road trip. At first, the weather was a bit cloudy, with some rain. At Geelong's waterfront area, there are many painted wooden poles. Since it's winter in Australia, the beach was quite quiet, but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm for having fun. (Maybe because it's winter, parking was free. We parked the car directly in the beach parking lot. There was a helicopter experience on the shore, about RMB 2000 per person. I hesitated and thought about trying it, but the weather wasn't great, and I was worried it would affect the view. In short, one word: not enough money.) We drove along the coastline, everything so beautiful and natural. Indeed, it is the most beautiful coastline. This is the entrance to the Great Ocean Road, our must-pass route.

Second stop: Cape Otway Lighthouse. Our luck was truly incredible. We spotted a wild kangaroo! Many people say you often see wildlife in Australia, but witnessing it with your own eyes made the trip worthwhile. Initially, we were just driving aimlessly on the Great Ocean Road, stopping and starting, stopping wherever the scenery was beautiful, and staying there. That's the real meaning of a road trip. Life is probably like that too...

Third stop: The legendary Twelve Apostles, located in Port Campbell National Park along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. They have stood by the coast for 20 million years. Formed by the accumulation of hundreds of millions of small stones, they were gradually buried under the sea until strong tides and wind exposed them to become the famous Twelve Apostles. Because their number and shapes closely resemble the twelve apostles of Jesus, they were named after the biblical story. I don't know how to express it in words. Look at the pictures... (taken with a phone, not as good as a professional camera, but still very beautiful. P.S. These attractions are free.)

Day 9: When I thought I had seen the best scenery of the Great Ocean Road, I discovered that there is always something better. We drove along the Great Ocean Road and occasionally found this town (located at Port Campbell Beach). The scenery was absolutely stunning. We decided to stop and stay the night. The tranquility, the contentment – this was the perfect place to get rid of the workplace vibe. A simple beach could be so beautiful. We even caught the sunset. Grateful for all this, grateful for this simple beauty...

Day 10: Every section of the Great Ocean Road is worth stopping for. Many scenes cannot be expressed in photos or words. You can only let your eyes at that moment feel the endless beauty, or perhaps only your heart can comprehend it. I strongly recommend a self-drive on the Great Ocean Road. On the last day, we drove all the way back to Melbourne city from the Great Ocean Road (if you have time, you can continue along the Great Ocean Road, but we had an itinerary, so we drove directly back to Melbourne). The city is really not suitable for self-driving. There seem to be many more cars in Melbourne than in Sydney, and it's easy to miss an exit. Fortunately, Australia doesn't have highway tolls – if you miss it, you just drive back o(╥﹏╥)o. When we rented the car, we agreed to return it in Melbourne city. Returning in the same city is cheaper, but since our next part of the trip was in Melbourne, we had to choose a different city for return. The return process was simpler than we imagined. Next, experience the day and night of Melbourne...

Various museums (also free to visit)

Day 11: Trams within Melbourne's CBD are free. Going around the city center, stopping here and there, is also a good choice. The hotel front desk was very enthusiastic, showing us a card of the free tram zone in Melbourne, allowing us to get on and off within that area, saving transportation costs. (Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market closes at 3:00 PM. If you want to experience it, remember to check the time.)

There are many graffiti walls on the streets of Melbourne. We also wandered aimlessly around the city, eating and drinking.

Day 12: Visit the State Library Victoria

Continue walking to the University of Melbourne – felt like my legs were about to fall off.

Day 13: St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne + Federation Square

My 'Chinese stomach' endurance had reached its limit. I couldn't stand the daily pizza, burgers, and everything with cheese. The good thing about Melbourne is that it's easy to find Asian supermarkets. You can buy white rice, noodles, and pasta. The finest ingredients require only the simplest cooking methods – baked pork bone congee coming up... (P.S. The hotel basically has an oven and microwave. Salt and pepper are standard. Remember to check – don't buy that bottle of salt for RMB 10 at the supermarket. Don't ask how I know o(╥﹏╥)o)

Day 14: Melbourne has a stronger sense of life than Sydney. The weather was good, mostly endless blue skies. Shared bikes and electric scooters were everywhere on the streets, along with old trams... and the pigeons my child kept thinking about. This was our last day in Melbourne.

Last Day: The Australian visa allows visa-free entry to Singapore. On the return trip, we chose a transit time of 10 hours, then entered Singapore smoothly (in 2023, Singapore still required a visa. Taking advantage of the savings, we saved a visa fee and spent RMB 500 to take a trip around Singapore: taxi + food). After 7 years, returning to Singapore brought many feelings. Just a simple city walk ^_^