Melbourne and Brisbane help

[boroangel]

YEAH! Already collected the e tics for the flight there liao and also booked the Toyota Tarago liao...

16th: 7 of us are flying on the 15th July 1140 pm...reach Melbourne at 855am...then meet my bro whos coming from Brisbane...then rent the Tarago and drive down from Tullamarine airport and have our lunch at Geelong...after lunch continue the drive south and reach Apollo Bay by evening.Then dinner there and do a glowworm tour at night.

17th: Wake up early for sunrise shots either at Apollo Bay or Cape Otway.
Might visit Triplet Falls near the Otway Fly tree-top walk and Maits Rest walk 15 km southwest of Apollo Bay, and the Sheoak Falls walk northeast. Then after that continue our drive to Port Campbell and see the 12 Apostles. will decide over tehre whetehr to catch the helicopter flight Catch sunset at 12 Apostles before drivign on and stay for 1 night at Warnambool.

18th: Might detour to Prt Fairy for short visit before driving up to Grampians. Still yet to decide what to do at Grampians (maybe only have time for Barooka lookout) but staying overnight at Halls Gap.

19th: Think we will we leaving for Melbourne around 10 am...then drive on to Ballarat and have lunch there and a quick look around. Continue and hope to reach Melbourne city around 4pm. After that dunno if should stay in the city or drive on to Dandenoong to take a look and catch the sunset of the city from there. At night main plan is to visit the Crown casino.

20th: Visit victoria's market in the morning , lunch in the city and visit University of Melbourne before rushing back to the airport to catch our flight to Brisbane at 4pm. Once reach Brisbane, dinner there and visit Mount Cootha for the night view of Brisbane.

21th: Havent decide what to do in the morning but my bro's convo is in the afternoon. Maybe will take a ferry ride along the Brisbane river and go round the city and visit his uni. For nighttime, dunno whether to stay overnight in Brisbane and stay over at his place for a while before leaving for Bryon Bay at 1 to 2 am to catch the sunrise there.

22th: Will reach Gold Coast in the morning. Bring cousin to the theme parks and also move around Gold Coast. Stay overnight at gold Coast.

23th: Drive back to Brisbane in late morn and catch out flight at 245 pm back to singapore.

1. So what do you guys think of the itineary? Any comments or more suggestions on what to do and any problems u envisage?

2. We got 7 adults (not very big sized) and 1 small child but still going to the Toyota Tarago. Heard that the seats are comfy or 8 adults but luggage space is a bit limited. Problem is we prefer moving around together so we will try to bring less luggage and squeeze.

3. We are looking for self contained or serviceapartments for 1 night stays. For Apollo Bay I am thinking of Seafarers

http://www.seafarers.com.au/toplodges.asp

Anyone tried it?
Anyone can recommend any self contained apartments and accomodation in Apollo Bay, Warnambool, Halls Gap,Melbourne city, Brisbane and Gold Coast? Safety and cleanliness is our priority. Though can see pics of the accomodation from the websites but my frd told me its quite unreliable and u have to see the place for yourself sometimes. so I hoep can get some first hand info from those who have stayed at such places and your recommendations.

Thanks guys!

 

[slooow]

Dinner at mt cootha is cheaper from 5pm to 7pm… 50% off main course

City has nothing much… uni has nothing much… go to this place called “eagle street pier” on a Sunday is awesome

Sit on the city cat “ferry” can show you the whole of Brisbane river which is cool

Can drop by many places… like southbank… and walk over to westend

If you got time in goldcoast, visit factory outlets there, DAMN cheap prices for branded stuff…

Go to byron bay at 2am is okie… once you enter NSW highway, drive carefully as there is a speed camera as soon as you enter NSW state

Sunrise within 3minutes… were the sun is like an egg yolk… bring a solid tripod and prepare from 530am onwards… it is cold and wind is strong… so wear more…

After sunrise, take many many pics… walk down and up the cliff… then make your way down to the byron “small village” … there very little shops are open…. Find a café with A LOT OF LIFE and CUSTOMERS…. Order the “BIG BREAKFAST”

cautions – the breakfast is reasonably priced but really big

on the way back from byron to Brisbane. Please drop by “HUMBLE PIE” …. A very big sign on the highway… it is the best pie in aussie… about 30minutes of driving after leaving byron

 

[slooow]

if you want to rent cheap cars in brisbane, let me know... [maybe your bro knows]

i studied there as well... love and hate that place

will be going to melborne in june and driving up to brisbane [a bit more adventurous than you]

sorry i dont know melbourne well, only been there for 4~5 times... so not much advice there...



btw how much and where did you get your ticket from? e-tix direct from the airline website? which airline company?

 

[slooow]

you like clubbing?
go to "family" at fortitude valley.... powerful also hehehe but must bring passport and dance nice nice

 

[Velvetine]

You are going to the two places I've been in Australia.

I love the Grampians and don't forget to have the "Stairway to heaven" ice cream at the Ice Creamery at Halls Gap. Do NOT even consider buying the chicken from several shops right of the ice creamery. It was really bad.

If you can, try The Kookabura Restaurant at HG. You will need to reserve a table. We were very happy with the food but be prepared for glance and looks from the locals caucasians.

You will love Mount Coota but it was very windy and cold when I was there (June/July). Byron Bay was very nice when I was there a few years ago but please be very very careful. We read of an attack on a Caucasion family while they were in Byron Bay last November.

The Mayor said it isn't that bad but just be careful and be ready to hantum really hard if needs be. Don't be afraid to do so.

And please remember that you are "looked at" when you are there.

 

[boroangel]

if you want to rent cheap cars in brisbane, let me know... [maybe your bro knows]

i studied there as well... love and hate that place

will be going to melborne in june and driving up to brisbane [a bit more adventurous than you]

sorry i dont know melbourne well, only been there for 4~5 times... so not much advice there...



btw how much and where did you get your ticket from? e-tix direct from the airline website? which airline company?

We bought open jaw tickets directly from SQ ($700 + 279 + 50 service fee cos I dont have credit card so haev to pay by cash at theri service centre and they charge 50 per tic for that!). when I try to buy from Chan brothers it was $750 + 279 so its the same. Although SQ charge 30 for the visa applciation and Chan Brothers charge $5. I had booked earlier and when I tried to book on chan brothers the price for that class alrady sold out liao. You should still be able to get the $600 flight to Melbourne its available for 2 to go I think until next year.

As for cars we rented from Hertz cos we are going to take the max cover and I think onyl they ahve it and their cars are newer. A Tarago cost AUD 80 per day in Mel and AUD 66 per day in Brisbane.

On the places to go within each location I still can tweak uit but for the accomodation its a bit urgent cos I m thinking of prebooking them. Thats why I need some recommendations quite urgently from those who have tried it.

Velvetine, will check out that ice cream place...thanks. My cousin will love it.

 

[boroangel]

Hoofing this thread in case anyone can recommend any self contained apartments and accomodation in Apollo Bay, Warnambool, Halls Gap,Melbourne city, Brisbane and Gold Coast...found quite a few listings on websites such as visitvictoria and greatoceanroad.org but would like to hear from those who have tried it.

 

[engta]

Hi boroangel,

Nice to know your plan to visit Melb Uni, it's a beautiful campus. When you are there, try to visit the residential colleges too.. Newman, Ormond, Trinity & Queen's.. they are all on campus.

Have fun!