Sydney may be famous for its natural harbor and world-class Opera House, but Melbourne is Australia’s hot ticket city. It is trendy, it is hip and it is buzzing with life. I’d often heard people rave about Melbourne during my travels. “You’re gonna love it there,” they’d say. And yet, though everybody seemed to love Melbourne, few could articulate exactly what it was that made Australia’s second largest city so special.

Thus, even before setting foot on Australian soil, I knew I’d enjoy Melbourne. I just wasn’t really sure why. 

And so, after a week of gallivanting around Sydney and driving along the Great Ocean Road, we ended our Australian adventure with two days in Melbourne to see what all the fuss was about.

Two Days in Melbourne

Melbourne sits at the eastern terminus of the Great Ocean Road, near sprawling beaches and the Yarra Valley Wine Region.

We spent two full days exploring Melbourne’s resplendent parks, its artsy laneways and its sprawling beaches. 

Melbourne may not be known for one thing in particular, but its funky vibe, its mouthwatering dining, its offbeat neighborhoods and its inclination toward the arts have attracted tourists, expats and young millennials in droves. The city’s architecture is modern, cutting edge and, sometimes, downright wacky. Bold colors, asymmetry and crooked lines are the name of the game here, and they blend together like a giant Tetris puzzle.

We booked a private room at the Urban Central Hostel and enjoyed the accommodation’s clean rooms, affordable prices and proximity to downtown. With a place to stay so close to Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD), we were able to maximize our time in the city–exploring its quirky neighborhoods on foot, from morning till night.

Day 1: Explore the Central Business District (CBD)

The Central Business District (known colloquially as the CBD) is the oldest part of Melbourne and and a logical starting place for self-guided city tours. During our first day in in the city, we walked along the downtown riverfront, took the free circle tram around the CBD and meandered through the city’s graffiti-covered laneways.

Melbourne has a bohemian and progressive subculture. The city is gritty, yet sleek. Trendy, yet classy. It is a city that isn’t afraid to take risks. It isn’t afraid to juxtapose old with new, traditional with modern. And nowhere is that more apparent than at Federation Square, at the heart of the city.

• Federation Square

Federation Square lies at the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. It is a central gathering place lined with wacky buildings that are incongruent in architecture and daring in style.

Occupying an entire city block cross from the asymmetrical jumble of steel, Flounder’s Street Station’s imposing yellow structure has become an enduring symbol of Melbourne.

The Melbourne Laneways

Downtown Melbourne is famous for being chock-full of narrow alleyways that are covered in colorful street art. These maze-like streets are filled with coffeeshops, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and eccentric boutiques.

The Melbourne Laneways are an open-air canvas that douse the city in color and creativity. Some are filled with tasteless graffiti, others contain poignant works of art. Centre Place, Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane are some of the most interesting laneways in Melbourne.

• The State Library of Victoria

Melbourne seamlessly integrates modern architecture into its historical past—creating a tapestry of Victorian buildings and glass skyscrapers that join together with elegance and grace. Nestled between flashy glass towers, are historic gems that have been beautifully preserved. Among them, the State Library of Victoria. 

Established in 1854, the Victoria State Library is the oldest in Australia and one of the first free libraries in the world. Its colossal interior is a paradise for scholars and book-lovers. At the heart of the library is the La Trobe Reading Room—an octagonal room that sits below a colossal dome. When was completed in 1913, the six story dome was the largest in the world.

• The Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market in the Melbourne CBD sits at the corner of Franklin and Swanston Street. It is one of the largest outdoor markets in the Southern Hemisphere and a great place to sample the variety of multicultural food on offer in Melbourne.

The historic 19th century market occupies two entire city blocks. Piled high with delectable foods, artisan crafts, and just about everything else, it is undoubtedly one of the top places to visit in Melbourne.

Melbourne Day 2: Discovering a Sports-Loving City

In addition to boasting a thriving arts scene, Melbourne is regarded as one of the world’s best cities for sports-lovers. It is home to Formula One races, the Australian rules football championships, cricket matches and the yearly Australian Open tournament.

The second day of our Melbourne brought us away from Melbourne’s quirky center, and revealed a city that is as much in love with sport as it is with art.

• Rod Laver Arena

On our second day in the city, we visited the Rod Laver Arena–the tennis complex that is home to the Australian Open. Though we didn’t take an official tour inside the arena, we enjoyed walking in the footsteps of some of tennis’ greatest stars.

True to Melbourne fashion, the architecture of the tennis complex is a sight in itself. 

From the Rod Laver Arena, we continued toward the beach—past the Shrine of Remembrance and along Lake Albert’s shores—to St Kilda’s bustling beachside promenade.

• Melbourne’s City Parks

Melbourne may be one of Autralia’s largest cities, but it is in no way lacking green space. On our second day in the city, we walked from the CBD, to the Rod Laver Stadium, to St Kilda Beach. For nearly the entirety of our walk, we strolled through open fields of green, past lakes, and along waterside trails. The abundance of nature within the city is one of the things I love most about Melbourne.

The sprawling patch of green between the CBD and St Kilda’s is home to numerous gardens and monuments—including the Alexandra Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance.

• St Kilda Beach

St Kilda is to Melbourne what Bondi Beach is to Sydney—a popular spot to lounge in the sand, soak up the sun and surf the waves. St Kilda is teeming with kite surfers and sunbathers. It is a popular place to escape the chaos of the city and revel in some of Melbourne’s best skyline views.

***

Prior to visiting Australia, I really didn’t understand what there was to see and do in Melbourne. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to include the city into my ten day Australia itinerary.

However, after wandering the streets, eating at hole-in-the wall restaurants and strolling through the city’s abundant green spaces I, too, was wooed by Melbourne’s culture, its cuisine and its irresistible lust for life. The city’s lure is powerful and its energy, infectious. 

It didn’t take me long to understand what all the fuss was about.

****

Additional Tips on Visiting Melbourne: 

• I suggest you check out Luke’s Ultimate Guide to Melbourne for more information on things to do in Melbourne. There, you’ll find comprehensive information on the city’s food scene, its colorful laneways and its vibrant neighborhoods.

The post Exploring Marvelous Melbourne: A Two Day Itinerary appeared first on Erika's Travels .

The Great Ocean Road in Australia is a 151 mile ribbon of pavement that winds along seaside cliffs and wide sandy beaches. It is one of the world’s great road trip destinations and a highlight of travel in the Land Down Under.

The world-famous Great Ocean Road is a coastal highway that connects Melbourne and Adelaide. Along the way, it stops by quaint seaside towns, iconic landmarks, and wildlife-filled nature reserves.

Originally constructed as a work project for veterans returning from World War I, it is often regarded as the world’s largest war memorial and one of the most spectacular coastal drives on the planet.

THREE DAY GREAT OCEAN ROAD ITINERARY

Many people visit Australia’s Great Ocean Road in one day. However, racing around hairpin turns and zooming past lookout points in order to reach the Twelve Apostles, would mean missing out on some of the drive’s most memorable highlights.

After kicking off our unexpected trip Down Under with a visit to Sydney, we caught a flight to Melbourne and spent the next three days winding past the sandstone cliffs, the windswept beaches and the koala-filled canopies of the Great Ocean Road.

We spent three days along the Great Ocean Road and took our leisurely time driving the route between Geelong and Port Fairy. Our three day Great Ocean Road itinerary brought us past jaw-dropping coastal scenery and plentiful wildlife–including koalas, kangaroos and colorful birds.

Along the way, we stopped at many of the recommended stops on the Great Ocean Road. These stops—from viewpoints, to wildlife sanctuaries, to sweeping beaches—highlight some of the best places to visit in Australia.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD DAY 1: GEELONG TO APOLLO BAY

We began our three day Great Ocean Road itinerary in Geelong, about an hour west of Melbourne. Setting out from Geelong allowed us to avoid the notorious rush hour traffic of Australia’s second largest city and gave us the freedom to enjoy our first day’s drive at an unhurried pace.

The winding coastal highway between Geelong and Apollo Bay brought us past precipitous landscapes and dramatic, windswept beaches. With each hairpin turn, we came face to face with towering cliffs and crashing waves. Some of the best surfing beaches in the world are located on this stretch of road.

• ANGLESEA GOLF COURSE

Since we had no intention of leaving Australia without at least one kangaroo sighting, we stopped at the Anglesea Golf Course for a near-guaranteed opportunity of seeing Australia’s beloved marsupials. Nicknamed by National Geographic as the “Kangaroo Golf Club,” the Anglesea Golf Club houses more than 300 kangaroos. It didn’t take long before we spotted a troop of them darting around the putting green.

The kangaroos at Anglesea are attracted to the nitrogen-rich grasses of the golf course. Though there is a fence around the fairways, the animals can come and go as they please.

• COASTAL LOOKOUTS

Satisfied with our animal encounters, we hopped back in the car and continued toward Lorne. Along the way, we stopped to admire the views at a number of places, including Point Addis, Airey’s Inlet and Teddy’s Lookout.

Lorne is a charming town that sits at the conflux of beach and rainforest. The seaside village is full of bustling cafes, unique boutiques and delicious fish and chips joints. We found it to be the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before heading onward, toward Kennet River.

• KENNET RIVER KOALAS

Prior to driving the Great Ocean Road, I spent a lot of time researching where to see koalas. I’d expected challenges in spotting the eucalyptus-eating fur balls amongst the thickets of trees and wanted to maximize my chances of leaving Australia with at least one sighting.

Yet, though I expected my search for koalas to be fruitless, Kennett River did not disappoint. In fact, we had hardly pulled into the parking lot before spotting our first koala. Within minutes, we found furry friends everywhere we looked.

After nearly filling our memory cards with photos of cuddly animals, we stayed the night at the lovely Eco YHA Hostel in Apollo Bay—a perfect option for travelers who are backpacking Australia on a budget.

ITINERARY DAY 2: APOLLO BAY TO PORT FAIRY

On the second day of our Great Ocean Road itinerary, we drove from Apollo Bay to Port Fairy, before doubling back toward Port Campbell. Apollo Bay sits at the doorstep of the Great Otway National Park–a lush, rainforest-covered region with waterfalls, hiking trails and koala-filled canopies.

As we headed west from the Great Otway Park, the landscape began to transform. The winding ribbon of road turned inland, away from the coast. It passed through fields and farmlands for roughly forty kilometers, before cutting back to the ocean and revealing the Great Ocean Road’s spectacular sandstone monoliths.

• THE TWELVE APOSTLES

While the first day of driving along the Great Ocean Road reminded me of the precipitous Highway 101 in Oregon, the second day was characterized by towering rock spires rising out of the sea. From the iconic Twelve Apostles to the Bay of Islands, the foamy ocean is littered with golden rock formations that have been chiseled and sculpted by winds and tumultuous waves. They rise from the turquoise sea, practically begging to be photographed.

For most tourists, the Twelve Apostles are the undeniable highlight of the Great Ocean Road. And, judging by the size of the parking lot and the visitor’s center, it was pretty evident that many people had skipped the surrounding viewpoints and headed straight to the landmark attraction.

But skipping the nearby lookouts would be a real shame, for each destination along the road is more incredible and jaw-dropping than the last. Particular sights of interest along the way include the London Bridge, the Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto and the Arch.

After oohing and ahhing at the marvelous scenery near the Twelve Apostles, we settled into our budget accommodation in Port Campbell and spent the late afternoon journeying toward the tiny lighthouse of Port Fairy.

• TOWER HILL RESERVE

Our main objective along the way, was to visit the Tower Hill Reserve. Tower Hill is a shallow, inactive volcano that contains a crater lake and a scattering of scoria cones. The reserve is free to enter and contains numerous picnic areas and hiking trails.

Though small, the park is arguably the best place along the road to see native Australian animals in their natural habitats.

While driving around the Tower Hill Reserve, we spotted emus, koalas and colorful birds. And when we passed by it later in the evening during our return from Port Fairy, we happened upon 68 kangaroos darting around an open field.

It was a wonderful way to cap off a long day’s drive through some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery.

ITINERARY DAY 3: RETURN FROM PORT CAMPBELL TO MELBOURNE

Had we had more time in Australia, I would have loved to spend extra days enjoying the delights of the Great Ocean Road. I would have loved to continue westward toward Adeleide and the Barossa Valley.

But with a limited itinerary and a return flight to the US on the horizon, we felt compelled to turn back.

As a result, our third day of driving consisted of retracing the route from Port Campbell to Melbourne. Along the way, we stopped at viewpoints we had previously skipped and spent time wandering the rainforest canopies of the Great Otway National Park.

• GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK

The Great Otway National Park is a 250,000+ acre natural area that stretches from Torquay into the hinterland. The park features rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, magnificent waterfalls and and dense forest.

Great Ocean Walk—a 91 kilometer path—passes through the national park and connects Apoollo Bay with the 12 Apostles. It is one of the top hikes in Australia.

Though we obviously didn’t have the time to include a multi-day trek into our three day Great Ocean Road itinerary, we nonetheless enjoyed traipsing through the area’s dense canopies and keeping our eyes peeled for koalas.

WHERE TO STAY ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Australia’s famous coastal highway is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. And the best way to experience its grandeur is by divvying up the drive over the course of multiple days.

The villages and coastal towns along the drive house a wide array of accommodation options that suit all travel styles and budgetary constraints. We chose to stay at some of the area’s fantastic Youth Hostels. Others may want to splurge with more luxurious stays at the Anchors Beach house in Port Campbell or the Alkina Lodge inWattle Hill.

In addition to hotels, many of the towns along Australia’s southern coast have small guesthouses for rent. Travelers looking for a more intimate experience may want to stay in one of the many fantastic Airbnbs along the Great Ocean Road.

WHEN TO VISIT THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

We visited the Great Ocean road in December, when top tourist attractions filled with road trippers, day trippers, and all in between. Though the temperatures were optimal during our visit, traveling in peak season also came with drawbacks.

To avoid peak season prices and crowds, February/March and October/November are the best times of year for travel along Australia’s Great Ocean Road.

While spring and fall generally bring lovely weather, July-August see the gloomier days and colder temperatures. Since tourism tends to drop in Australia’s winter months, accommodation prices often drop significantly.

***

The Great Ocean Road is among the world’s top scenic coastal drives. Like the Pacific Coast Highway, the Amalfi Coast and the Cape Peninsula, the drive contains numerous places of interest and affords postcard-worthy views at every turn. It takes travelers past world-class surfing breaks, by calm seaside towns and through pockets of rainforest.

Driving the Great Ocean Road is about more than just racing to the Twelve Apostles. It is about soaking in the area’s spectacular scenery and admiring its fascinating wildlife.

I could have easily spent more than three days enjoying the coastal highway, and I am glad that we decided against visiting the area as a day trip.

For the true highlight of the Great Ocean Road is not a particular destination, but rather the ensemble of twists and turns and roadside views that comprise the entire 320km journey.

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Sydney is a marvelous city with an outsized personality. It is worldly, cosmopolitan and architecturally stunning. The city boasts an eclectic mix of beaches, parks and funky neighborhoods. 

Sydney seamlessly integrates greenery into its cityscape. Forested parks ring the city’s outskirts and penetrate deep into its heart. A stunning natural harbor frames views of towering skyscrapers. It is a place where nature lives hand in hand with some of humankind’s most notable architectural feats. 

THREE DAY SYDNEY ITINERARY

I spent three days in Sydney, on a ten day trip that included visits to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. My original plan was to take my parents to Cuba. But, after an unsuccessful attempt at traveling standby to the Caribbean, we found ourselves on a 15 hour flight to the Land Down Under instead. 

Australia is notoriously expensive and Sydney is no exception. In order to stick to our budget, we stayed in the University of Sydney dorms (a perfect budget option for those visiting Sydney during school holidays), ate at inexpensive eateries and took full advantage of the city’s convenient and easy-to-use transportation system.

During our three days in Sydney, we divided my time between the city’s architectural highlights, its beaches and its nearby Blue Mountains.

DAY 1: THE SYDNEY HARBOR

On our first day in Sydney, we visited the city’s landmark attractions and soaked in its pretty harbor views. In order to travel seamlessly around the city, we purchased a public transportation pass.

Public transportation in Sydney centers on the reloadable Opal Card. The Opal Card is valid for buses, boats and trains. It is a pay-as-you-go system that caps off at $15 dollars per day ($5 on Sundays) and encompasses many of the neighborhoods and beaches within the Sydney city limits and beyond.

• CIRCULAR QUAY

We began our visit to Sydney at Circular Quay. A beehive of activity, Sydney’s Circular Quay is the city’s heart and main transportation hub. It is central to most of the city’s major attractions, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Rocks and the Sydney Opera House.

• THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

From Circular Quay, we made our way toward Australia’s most iconic manmade landmark—the Sydney Opera House.

The world-famous opera house faces the skyscrapers of Circular Quay and sits a stone’s throw away from the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is an innovative and dazzling urban sculpture, a masterpiece of 20th century architecture and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.  

Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the architectural masterpiece resembles the sails of a yacht. Its commanding presence is the defining feature of Sydney.

The interior of the Sydney Opera House contains five performance spaces for dance, concerts, opera and theatre.

• THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Dating back to 1816, The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney is the oldest scientific institution in Australia. It is among the most important historic botanical institutions in the world and an undeniable highlight of any Sydney itinerary.

The Royal Botanic Garden is free to visit and home to lush foliage and flowers from around the world. It is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and soak in views of the Sydney Opera House and harbor.

• SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE

From the resplendent gardens, we made my way toward the imposing Sydney Harbor Bridge. The iconic bridge is Sydney’s second most important landmark after the Opera House. As the world’s largest steel arch bridge, it represents an impressive feat of ingenuity and engineering. 

Adventurous travelers hoping to witness the Sydney Harbor from above, can attempt to climb the Harbor Bridge as part of a tour. The bridge climb costs nearly $200 per person.

Despite its steep price, it is considered one of the top things to do in Sydney.

• THE ROCKS

The Rocks is an early convict settlement that lies at the southern end of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The area was once associated with drunk sailors and prostitutes.

Today, the neighborhood has transformed into a pleasant area to visit. Filled with brewpubs, shops and cobbled streets, it is a great place to grab a bite to eat and wander around.  

DAY 2: THE BEST OF SYDNEY’S BEACHES

On our second full day in Sydney, we used our Opal Cards to soak up the sun at the beach and enjoy the city’s coastal views. Sydney is home to some of Australia’s most popular beach breaks. On warm days, their golden shores fill with families, beach-loungers ad sun-kissed surfers. 

• MANLY BEACH

The first stop on our Sydney beach itinerary was the popular stretch of sand at Manly Beach.

Manly Beach is vibrant and bustling. It is a magnet for shoppers, a haven for surfers, a great place to visit with kids, and a launching pad for nature walks along the harbor shores.

“Only seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care” is a phrase often quoted when describing Manly. And it was immediately easy to see why. The beach feels worlds away from the city’s skyscrapers, its traffic and its suit-clad businesspeople. 

• BONDI BEACH

After our morning at Manly, we headed over to the famous Bondi Beach. Like

Manly Beach, Bondi is a favorite place for tourists and Sydneysiders to hit the waves, lie in the sand and soak up a bit of Vitamin D. It is also the starting point of the Bondi to Coogee trail–a deservedly popular coastal walk that extends into Sydney’s eastern suburbs. 

• THE BONDI TO COOGEE COATAL WALK

The coastal walk is six kilometers long and features stunning views, sandy beaches, neighborhood parks and rock formations. Along the walk, opulent buildings line immaculate crescents of golden sand and sculpted, sandstone cliffs face a tumultuous, azure ocean. 

The walk is a definite must when visiting the Harbor City. 

If I’d had more than three days in Sydney and its surroundings, I would have loved to discover one of the city’s other coastal walks.

DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS FROM SYDNEY

Engrossed by Sydney’s natural beauty and greenery, we decided to spend the third day of our Sydney itinerary in the beautiful UNESCO-recognized Blue Mountains. Home to more than one hundred kinds of eucalypts and over 400 different animal species, this pristine wilderness is one of the most famous natural attractions in New South Wales.

Sydney’s public transportation network extends past the city’s western suburbs, to the town of Katoomba—the gateway to the Blue Mountains National Park.

• KATOOMBA

Katoomba lies two hours from Sydney by train and is an optimal launching point for hiking and admiring the sweeping mountain views. Katoomba is the biggest town in the mountains. It has a great selection of food and accommodation, and is a logical base for exploring the surrounding wilderness. 

The town of Katoomba itself is quaint and picturesque. Its downtown looks like the set of a Western film. I half expected to see cowboys sauntering by on their horses.

• THE BLUE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

From Katoomba, we walked to some of the most recognizable viewpoints overlooking the Blue Mountains National Park. There, we marveled at the triplet spires of the Three Sisters, gazed out over the vast expanse of eucalyptus-covered land and set out to explore the park’s scenic trails. 

Had it not been for the looming rain cloud, my inadequate footwear or the pesky flies that swarmed me during my Blue Mountains day trip, I would have likely spent more time hiking the trails that extend beyond the main observation areas. But as the flies and the weather and my shoes would have it, I headed back toward Sydney after a few hours in the Blue Mountains and spent my last evening in the city strolling around the Darling Harbor.

***

Sydney is full of things to see. And despite walking from sunrise till sunset to explore as many nooks and crannies as possible, my three days in Sydney barely scratched the surface.

I may not have originally intended to visit Australia, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time visiting the attractions in Sydney and beyond.

And while my visit to Sydney did little to quell my desire to visit Cuba, it was nevertheless the beginning of a wonderful and unexpected ten day jaunt to my sixth and penultimate continent. 

The post Three Days in Sydney: Australia’s Beautiful Harbor City appeared first on Erika's Travels .