Australia
Australia was my dream vacation. I have a huge heart for animals and Australia is known for its wildlife. I had never been more excited or had so much anticipation to go somewhere before. I made the decision to seek out a travel agency, About Australia for some help. My travel agent fit in everything that I wanted to do in my two-week time frame, for a total of $3,800. I knew that I wanted to see as many parts of Australia as I could, and as many of the creatures that inhabit the beautiful country.
Sydney:
1. Sydney Opera House: This famous opera house is well-known for its architecture and performance venues. Its huge white outer shells make this building a stand-out on the Sydney harbor. The venue offers a few different tour options, one being in the evening that includes a show, or one during the day. My mom and I opted for the day tour, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the different theaters, and the beautiful views of Sydney Harbor from the glass-enclosed foyer. Having majored in sound design, it was cool to hear how the noise in each of the rooms varied, and to learn about the current design projects and theater productions.
2. Sydney Harbour Cruise Express: Sydney offers hop-on, hop-off boat shuttles that go to various stops and islands of Sydney. There are eleven stops the ferry makes, including different parks and wildlife reserves. I recommend hopping on one just for the sake of the ride, which is what we did. My only regret is not going to Taronga Zoo.
Sydney Harbour Cruises
3. Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb: This is an absolute must if you visit Sydney. It is a 3.5 hour guided hike to the top of the bridge. You will learn a ton about the construction of the bridge, why it was designed the way it is, and stories of those who built it. You will be clipped in at all times to a harness along the inner part of the bridge just over traffic, and then to the outer dome as you make your way to the peak. I loved seeing the inner structure and foundation of this amazing bridge.
For those who cannot climb, there is an option to go up one of the towers to the side of the bridge as well. The views are still amazing!
The bridge is made up of several steps that take you to the top. At the top, your guide will stop for photos and take a short video of you, available for purchase at the end of your tour. (You are not able to bring anything with you to take photos of your own.)
4. Blue Mountains Deluxe Tour: This experience is an all-day adventure. You will be on a shuttle bus to the Blue Mountains and making various stops along the way. The first stop is at a place called Calmsley Hill Farm, home to kangaroos, koala bears, and emus. You will get a tour of the farm and be up close to the kangaroos that roam freely as well.
The next few stops of the Blue Mountain Tour are various viewing points and outlooks of the Blue Mountains and Jamison Valley. Eaglehawk Lookout is on the list, where you can view the famous Three Sisters rock formations.
The tour also included lunch at the Boiler House Café. The meal was two courses and the food was absolutely delicious. I had a salad for my main course and a fruit bowl for dessert. The views from the backyard of the café were stunning as well.
After lunch, we made our way to Govetts Leap, one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. This spot is a photographer’s dream. Not only do you see the Blue Mountains, but Bridal Veil Falls can be seen clearly as well.
I definitely recommend having a free day or two just to explore Sydney.
Cairns:
1. Great Barrier Reef Cruise- The cruise we took was an 8-hour adventure. We left dock early in the morning and set off towards the reef. The ship anchored at a location in the middle of the ocean and the activities began. There were many things to do while on this cruise: swimming, snorkeling, helmet diving, two different boat tours, and helicopter rides (for a fee). We participated in both of the boat tours over the reef. The one boat had seats that were submerged halfway underwater so you could watch the coral and fish go by right out your window. The other boat had a glass bottom so you could watch the sea life below. Both of the guides were really informative on the different types of coral and fish that make up the Great Barrier Reef.
The ship’s crew had sectioned off a few different areas in the water for everyone to swim in and use the different snorkeling and scuba equipment. The helicopter ride looked fun as well but was a bit pricey for a 20-minute ride. Overall, I would probably recommend a shorter, perhaps private, tour of the reef so you are not stranded at sea for longer than you wish to be.
2. Kuranda: The most beautiful voyage I’ve ever made was taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway to Rainforestation Nature Park. The train is very old-fashioned and is an original experience for sure. There are wooden benches for seats, and each section has its own window to take in the rainforest views as you make your way up the mountain.
The first stop on our tour was Kuranda Village for some local shopping and coffee. Australia is known for its Opals, so if you are a fan of jewelry, this is the place to go. My mom actually purchased a ring for herself while we were here, and I picked up some gorgeous earrings.
Rainforestation Nature Park is an absolute must in Cairns! There is no shortage of things to do here and the property is amazing. We first took an Army Duck boat tour through the rainforest and water, where our guide pointed out the different vegetation, fruits, and butterflies.
Once back at the dock, we took what is called the Dreamtime Walk. Our guide taught us all about the Aboriginal Culture and also how people used the land to survive. He showed us plants from the forest that were used for various things like hand soap.
Aboriginal Dreamtime Walk
The last part of our tour was visiting the Koala and Wildlife Park. We decided to pay the fee to hold both a baby crocodile as well as a koala bear. The crocodile’s skin was rough and scaly, in contrast to how soft the koala bear’s fur was. The koala bear was super gentle and it was hard to believe I was actually holding a bear.
After our photos, we made our way into the rest of the wildlife park. Our first stop was the kangaroos. There were three of them resting in the center of the park and they were huge! We were allowed to go right up and pet them, so we did.
There are many other animals to see, including the well-known emu. These birds are beautiful and mighty. Their black and blue feathers are a vibrant display, while their legs are strong and fast.
3. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway: After our visit to the Koala and Wildlife Park, we were supposed to hop on the skyrail back to meet our shuttle. Unfortunately, there was a car accident at one of the electric poles and we were not able to participate.
Nonetheless, I would’ve loved the chance to take a ride over the rainforest canopy and see the trees below. I can’t even imagine the eagle-eye views from above.
4. The last planned tour we had in Cairns was a trip to Hartley’s Crocodile Farm. Here, they have hundreds of crocodiles that live on the swampy property. They have several walking paths that take you over and around the different habitats. You can even pay to help feed the hungry beasts, with supervision of course.
The farm also has a lagoon cruise where you get an up-close look at these powerful animals in water. Your guide will do pole feedings to the crocodiles as well, which make for great pictures and give you a real idea of how strong their jaws are.
The crocodile farm is also inhabited by turtles, wallabies, and cassowaries. The wallabies in particular are super friendly and have no problem coming right up to you.
One of them kept biting at the Velcro on my rain jacket.
Melbourne:
1. Hidden Secrets of Melbourne Tour: The Melbourne Lanes and Arcades tour is a must if you don’t want to miss out on the city’s hidden hotspots and history of its architecture. The tour was a 3-hour experience that included several stops, one being a local café that served delicious coffee and chocolate truffles!
Our guide took us through European-style streets hidden between buildings, where a lot of family-owned restaurants and cafés are tucked away. We also learned the backstory behind one of Melbourne’s popular shopping centers and about how small architectural details came to be.
After the tour, my mom and I actually returned to one of the cobblestoned alley-ways for lunch. We ended up getting savory, layered crepe pizzas that were deliciously cheesy and homemade. We also ventured back to the shopping center to a very popular bakery for some eye-catching cake. Overall, the tour was a great way to see Melbourne through new eyes and to get a little taste of local decadence as well.
2. Eureka Skydeck 88: If you have control over your fear of heights, and want to get a bird’s eye view of Melbourne, the Eureka Skydeck 88 is a must. It is the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere.
When you arrive, there are two elevators that will take you up to the viewing deck. There are windows that go around most of the floor, with an outside terrace as well. There are also viewfinders that help you to seek out popular landmarks below. The more adventurous option though, comes from participating in the “Edge Experience.”
The staff will select a certain number of people to enter the glass cube at a time. Once inside, the floor shifts as the glass cube moves outwards from the building, so you are now standing on clear glass over the city. You almost feel like you are free falling.
The Skydeck is a great place for many photo opportunities and panoramic videos.
Eureka Skydeck 88
3. Penguin Parade: Being a wildlife lover, I knew that I wanted to experience seeing penguins in their natural habitat; Phillip Island was top priority.
Summerland Beach is home to Victoria’s largest penguin colony. If you decide to watch the popular penguin parade, I suggest booking tickets that get you upgraded seats. It was not as crowded and we were closer to the penguins going back to their burrows.
I’ve heard that the Penguin Parade can be hit or miss depending on the night, but I would recommend taking the chance. That night we had a purple and pink sky backdrop as the sun began to set. It took a little patience, but eventually a wave of tiny heads came up over the sandy hill and the penguins started their approach.
The penguins were a lot smaller than I had anticipated, and so much cuter.
We were so close to them, just getting to walk side-by-side with these adorable and amazing creatures was a dream. Their partners stood outside their individual burrows as each one made its way back home.
Summerland Beach prohibits any pictures / flash photography, and you are not allowed to touch or feed the penguins either.
The whole experience is to witness the natural process of the penguins marching home.
I remember that night specifically, the stars were the biggest and brightest I had ever seen as well. The entire night made for an everlasting memory.
Melbourne was my favorite out of all three places we stayed in Australia. I’m a city girl who also loves the water, and Melbourne had the greatest balance of both. This city felt like home to me. There is even a Chinatown where we had a delicious vegetable curry one night. The nightlife and art scene is very apparent as well, and there are so many local options for coffee and eating.
Australia was an unforgettable dream vacation. The country is packed with wildlife and people who are passionate about wildlife conservation. There is no shortage of beaches to visit, or tours to take. Using a travel agency made all the difference for us because there was no stress involved. My only regrets are not seeing a platypus, and not having another day of free-time in Melbourne. If you decide to take the 14-hour flight from California to this magnificent continent, make sure you give yourself enough time to explore it to the maximum. Rest can come later.