Australia Major Cities: Melbourne (Part 1)
I'm back back back after a long time, quite busy with my schedule and "traveling" (HAHA!)
I have been traveling to several cities, but I've never had a chance to share it here.
Then my best friend asked me about how my trip was and she asked me to tell the whole story. Suddenly, I realized why not I return back to blog and share it.
My trip this time was in PEAK season in my country. It's called "Hari Raya" holiday and everything related to travel overseas could be categorized as expensive or above the normal rate.
I won't share you about budget but would share you about the journey~ the trip~ the itinerary~ the situation~ My laziness~ Around the city, even though I had limited time~
What you need to prepare (as Indonesian), before you go to Kangaroo/cute Koala/too many Garden country, Australia.
First, of course you need a visa!Don't forget to make a tourist visa before you travel or buy the ticket. The process won't take long, just like thousand days a week or more. If you are lazy or don't want any hassle, then just ask the tour travel to make your visa (you need to pay for sure). Visa is valid for forever 3 years only, different from United States/ Canada which has 5 years validity. Australian Tourist Visa is invisible inside your passport. No stickers, no stamps. I can't collect the stamps ;(
Second, after visa please buy flight ticket or you can fly with your wingssss. You can hunt your promo ticket every day, hour, time, second, just kidding. Just find the suitable airlines for your style. In my case, after hunting for several months, I found Singapore Airlines for the best price during the dates that I wanted. Booked! If you have plans to go to other cities, you can book domestic flight too. If you do a road trip, then you don't have to worry because you only need to rent a car which you can do online or at the airport. They also have many options for renting a car.
Third, book accomodation where you want to stay. You can use booking.com and I will provide the link if you want to get a discount cash back 25CAD (after your stay).
Use this link please:
Or Airbnb for discount up to 35CAD.
Fourth, change money to Australian Dollar (AUD) or bring credit/debit cards.
Fifth, plan your itinerary trip, where you want to visit. If you are planning to visit theme parks, zoo and other tourist spots, I suggest you to buy it online because it's cheaper than you buy on the spot.
(I proved it myself, I bought it on the spot and no promotion was given~ SAD ㅠㅠ
Sixth, it's Packing Time!! Don't forget to check the weather forecast if it's winter, spring, summer, fall~ prepare what you need to wear according to the weather. Bring passport, adaptor for charging, camera, money and bla bla bla...
Melbourne!
I couldn't sleep at all inside the plane, so just like that I skipped my night. Reached in the morning and ready to sleep explore. Took a cab from airport and it was around 55AUD. If you go alone or with couple, take the bus it's cheaper 18-19AUD per person. How about Uber? You can check the estimate in google maps or uber application before you request. Check-in hotel nearby Southern Cross Station. It's a good location because it's in the area of free tram zone. What is that? From its name you know it's FREE. Basically you can see the map online or through the tram station about the route. Take 35 city circle to see tourist spots. And you can use other trams as long as you get in and get off inside FREE TRAM ZONE. The other complicated thing is by using train to southern cross station which costs you the cheapest among other kind of transport unless you want to walk from airport. It's complicated if you travel with heavy luggage and if your hotel is far away from station so you have to hop on and off several times. It's cool if you travel alone with simple luggage.
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| Southern Cross Station |
I visited Little bourke street area in Melbourne, had late lunch. The restaurant there has their schedule daily; for example they open for breakfast and lunch only or lunch and dinner with their vary times. So for example if you want to eat around 4 PM, it would be a bit difficult to find restaurant in some areas. Don't worry, not all restaurants are closed, you still can find other restaurants or cafes. Other than restaurant, the shopping malls are also closed around 6PM, except for Thursday they will close at 9PM. I don't know why it's just on Thursdays.
So yeah..Melbourne..
I visited Parliament House and joined the free tour that they provide. Walk a bit then you can visit St. Patrick's Cathedral and also Fitzroy Garden nearby. You can find Captain's cook cottage to take pictures and also you can go inside but you have to buy the ticket from the information center next to it.
Next day, I used to walk around Etihad Stadium, it's 5 mins walk from Southern Cross Station and if you walk more, you can see a Harbour New Quay view in front of Etihad Stadium. You also can explode more by using free tram to upper side; Harbour Town which has factory outlets, then following the route of 35 city circle, hop to Queen Victoria Market (which I didn't go because I spent long time in other places lol), State Library of Victoria (has unique composition view inside and you can play big chess outside the library), Old Melbourne Gaol, Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum. I was kinda a non-rush traveler, so I could visit 1 place for 1-2 hours just to enjoy it except only taking pictures outside the building.
The next day, I bought myki day pass for Adults $8.20 and you can take any tram, subway, bus to any place in Melbourne. You can get a cheaper price in the weekend. Why I bought myki, because I wanted to visit Luna Park Melbourne, Brighton Beach, Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria Art Centre, so after calculating with my good math skill which is calculator and logic I bought myki. You don't want to waste your money to use Uber or Taxi for return trip there because it will cost you more. Myki day pass is better if you want to travel far far away. If you hop on and off inside free tram zone, no need to tap myki otherwise it would charge your balance (if you don't use day pass).
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| View from Shrine of Remembrance |
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| Shrine of Remembrance |
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| Brighton Beach Boxes |
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| Luna Park Melbourne |
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| Victorian Art Centre |
You also can stroll around Yarra River from near Flinders Street Railway Station, just looking around or sitting near Federation Square which you also can see St Paul's Cathedral. If you like casino, Melbourne has Crown Casino.
End of the day in Melbourne, I had to go to airport for domestic flight to Gold Coast!
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