9D9N Melbourne Trip 2018

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my very first blog! My first travel blog to Melbourne i might add :). (**am excited!:D)

This is my first self-planned trip since the past 26 years! (**sounds old heh?) And Melbourne turned out to be my country of choice. Previously, I had followed trips to other countries offered by different travel agencies with my family. It has been my dream to be able to travel independently. 

Today, I'm proud to say that my dream came true. And I have to say that Melbourne is definitely a good choice to start off, especially for a beginner like me! Just in case you are clueless about how to arrange your trip in Melbourne, this is my itinerary which you can refer to:

Click here to view my itinerary in Melbourne!

[ Transportation ]

Melbourne is a beautiful city where tourists can explore conveniently. Trams, trains and buses are available in most places in Melbourne city. If there are 3 to 4 of you, yo itu can choose to rent a car as it is an affordable and convenient option. By having a car, you can plan your road trip to places that are further from the city. Since there were only two of us most of the time during the trip, we relied a lot on the public transportation as it is a cheaper option to travel. All you have to do is to purchase a Myki card and you are ready to go!

We purchased our Myki cards at the airport as soon as we landed in Melbourne. (Note that we did the payment using credit cards. Cash was not acceptable at the counter in Melbourne airport.) Or you can also buy your Myki cards at convenient stores like 7-eleven. Free tram services are provided if you are in the free tram zone. While for places that are out of reach by means of public transportation, we booked our day tours through Klook and KKday before the trip itself. You can also book your day tours from the travel agencies in Chinatown if you didn't plan ahead of your trip.

[ Accommodation ]

We booked our accommodation through Airbnb. After weighing the pros and cons, we decided to stay in Kensington, which was outside Melbourne CBD. As there were only two of us, it was relatively more expensive for us to rent a room in the CBD. You might be able to rent a spacious and affordable room in the city if you're travelling in a group of 3 or more . After much hesitation, we chose to stay further from CBD, yet somewhere near the public transportation. It ended up to be a wise choice as Kensington was a quiet and lovely town.

Moreover, the expenses we spent on transportation was lower than that of staying in the CBD. The only con of this location was we might need to have our timing well planned as the frequency of the train available at night and during the weekend were lesser. There were times where we had our day tours ending late at night(roughly 11.15pm) and we needed to wait for a longer time for the train to get us back to Kensington. However, most of the day tours do offer drop-off service to the hotels in the CBD after a tiring day. So, it is definitely one of the perks of staying in the city, not to mention easier access to restaurants and public transportation.

[ Budget ]

We bought our tickets to Melbourne through AirAsia Free Seats Promotion. The tickets were purchased within RM1100 per person inclusive of  luggage, seat selection and in-flight meal. The budget for this Melbourne trip was expected to be RM5000 per person but it ended up to be lower than that. 

I do understand that there are a lot of things to worry about in your preparation for the trip, I know I have. If you would like to know more about how to travel worry-free in Melbourne, do CLICK HERE as I had compiled all the important tips based on my personal experience.

Without further ado, let's start to recap on my amazing journey in Melbourne! (**Yay :D)

[ PLACES TO GO ]

1. Free Walking Tour

Taking part in this tour is a good choice to start off your Melbourne trip. And most importantly, its FREE (**of course, you can choose to tip the tour guide at the end of the tour if you find it interesting!) 

No booking is required. The free tour is available twice a day (10.30am and 2.30pm everyday). Each tour lasts for 2.5 to 3 hours. All you need to do is to wait for your tour guide (a person in bright green T-shirt) near the statue of Sir Redmond Barry in front of the State Library of Victoria. 

We joined the tour at 2.30pm. A brochure containing very useful information such as a map of Melbourne CBD, hidden laneways, free galleries, local eats, cafes, famous markets, details on public transportation and what not was given to every tourist. We  used the map whenever our phone batteries were running low or when we lost our way in the city!

Laura was our tour guide. She shared a lot of Melbourne's history and stories as we walked through every part of Melbourne.

The only downside of the walking tour was that the time we stopped at each destination was short. We were not given enough time to take photos at every stop. That is the reason why we revisited some interesting places, just to take more photos. (**hahaha!) The last stop of the guided tour was Southbank. 

Anyways, remember to wear comfortable shoes and apply sunscreen before you join this walking tour as you will need to walk a lot, and I mean A LOT.

2. Night Noodle Markets

Fortunately, we were in time for the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets at Birrarung Mar during our trip as it was only held for specific period of time. The crowd was insane! 

There were stalls selling dishes inspired by street food from all corners of Asia. The markets were cash-free and food could only be purchased using credit cards. Long long queue at every food stall.

The weather was perfect for picnics like this. (**It was a bit hot tho!) We found a shady spot and sat down to have our dinner. The wagyu beef dumplings tasted good.

3. Queen Victoria Market (QVM)

We went to Queen Victoria Market (QVM) twice during this trip. It is only opened on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Do take note of the opening days and hours so that you won't end up with disappointment.

QVM is a great place to shop for coffee, fresh products, seafood, souvenirs and so on. If you are looking for affordable roasted coffee with good quality, you can look for Melver's Coffee & Tea Merchant. 

We also tried the hot chocolate from Koko Black. You can definitely taste the thick and rich chocolate with a slight hint of bitterness.  It did not taste too sweet which was to my liking. If you are a chocolate lover, there is a wide variety of chocolates at Koko Black for you to choose from.

Another highlight in QVM was to get to try their fresh raw oysters, starting from about AUD$1.50 each which were actually very cheap. Since we are oyster lovers, it is definitely a MUST for us to try them out (**how exciting!) At last, we bought a dozen of raw oysters from "George the Fishmonger" out of  many stalls as their price were the lowest compared to the others. 

Having oysters together with beer is just PERFECT. However, do remember to wash the oysters with water first if you do not want to swallow any worms unintentionally. We found some worms on some of the shells after having our first oysters. We were so worried right after that but luckily we ended up all fine. It's still funny now thinking about our reactions back then!

We also gave the bratwurst a try from Bratwurst Shop & Co after seeing a long queue outside the stall. It did not taste as amazing in comparison to the crowd.

There were restaurants as well as stalls selling fruits, nuts and even souvenirs at the other side of QVM. Too bad we'd already bought our souvenirs before we found QVM. The cheapest key chains (AUD$5 for 12) and magnets (AUD$10 for 5) that we had managed to come across was sold by a stall located near The Nut Guys (if they do not move their stalls around). There were, of course, other stalls selling affordable and cute souvenirs.

It was such a waste not being able to enjoy the nice coffees Melbourne has to offer as I am allergic to coffee. Market Lane Coffee is one of the recommended coffee shops in Melbourne. Since I was not able to try it out myself, we bought one packet of coffee from Market Lane Coffee as a souvenir.

4. Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station, one of the historical iconic buildings in Melbourne, is proudly located at the corner of Flinders Street and Swanton Street. You can gain access to a few tourist spots from here such as St Paul's Cathedral, Federation Square and Yarra River. It has a classical Victorian exterior with an average interior.

The sun was too bright I could hardly open my eyes!

5. St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is located just a stone's throw away from Flinders Street Station. It is a beautiful building inside out. However, we did not manage to take photos of the inside of the church as visitors were not allowed to take photos unless one paid for it via a photo license that could be purchased on the spot. Too bad!

6. Hosier Lane

Hosier Lane is the one of the famous laneways for its street art (**perfect spot for Instagram photos!) Every corner of the laneway is meant for beautiful photos. All you need to do is keep posing while admiring the vibrant and creative details :D

7. Block Arcade

Located in the heart of Melbourne, Block Arcade is the heritage shopping arcade that can bring one back to the past. It looks quaint inside with the well preserved mosaic-tile flooring and facades. Definitely a place worth wandering through to enjoy the ambiance.

Felt so Christmas-y with the Christmas tree in the middle of the arcade! 

And this is the famous Hopetoun Tea Rooms! We passed it by twice during our trip and there was always a queue outside the shop. We did not manage to give it a try at last. Feeling a bit sad to think about this...

8. Melbourne Central

Melbourne Central is a shopping center with suburban trains stop right underneath it. It was our most used station back in this trip. I, personally, prefer this station the most compared to others because it is not only close to many landmarks, everything you need is also available here! Coles (supermarket) can be found inside Melbourne Central and it was our favourite choice for grocery shopping.

This is the Coop's Shot Tower under the glass cone inside Melbourne Central. 

Opposite the shot tower is the Melbourne Central Clock.

It made our day by being able to see the clock going through its one-hour routine as we were there sharp at 2.00pm, how lucky!:D The birds would be singing hourly to keep you reminded of the time.

9. State Library of Victoria

Right after wandering around Melbourne Central, State Library of Victoria was our next stop. I could still vividly remember that we were pretty exhausted by the time we'd reached the library and it was so comfortable and quiet inside that my boyfriend fell into a deep sleep on the table :'D 

Of course, before that we were totally impressed by the amazing architecture of the Dome Reading Room. It was simply stunning!

This was what we did when other people were studying hard downstairs haha!

10. Carlton Gardens

"Beautiful" is the word I would use to describe Carlton Gardens. It is definitely the perfect spot for a picnic, or maybe a relaxing evening walk. We saw many people having picnics and sun tannings in the park. You will also find the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum within the park.

We even saw a wedding ceremony being held in the middle of Carlton Gardens. 

11. Eureka Deck 88

If you would like to view Melbourne in a different way, Eureka Deck 88 is the place to go. It is a skyscraper located in Southbank. We went to Eureka Deck 88 just before sunset so that we could view both Melbourne city in both day and night. We did not try "The Edge", anyways! But I believe it will be quite an experience to view the city in a glass box especially when the edge starts to slide you out of the building.

There is a coffee shop at the observation deck. You can enjoy the food and drinks while immersing yourself in the beauty of Melbourne city.

12. National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

National Gallery of Victoria serves as the oldest art museum in Australia. Entrance to the NGV itself is free of charge. You might need to pay for certain exhibitions and special events. It is opened everyday from 10am till 5pm. 

NGV is so huge that we didn't manage to see everything inside. If you are an art lover, NGV is a "must-go". If you are not, it is still a great place to wander around.

13. The Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is a national war memorial of Victoria, Melbourne in honour of the soldiers of Victoria who sacrificed during World War 1. The building itself is visually stunning, surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is easily accessible, even by public transportation. 

Looking away from the camera as the sun was too bright :D

14. South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne Market is another market of choice other than QVM. It is an indoor market that only opens on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Same as the QVM, South Melbourne Market offers everything you need. We were there for their fresh oysters but then we discovered the one we had back in Queen Victoria Market was the cheapest. What a good deal!:D It was just as crowded as QVM. 

This was the seafood platter that we bought from one of the seafood stalls. Long tables with different types of sauces and disposable cutlery were prepared for customers to enjoy their food on the spot.

15. Great Ocean Road (GOR)

Great Ocean Road (GOR) should be in your "must-go" list when you are in Melbourne. As it is quite far from Melbourne CBD, you can either drive or follow the day tour. It would be great too to spend few nights at different towns along GOR. We booked the day tour through KKday before the trip. I was very happy as I finally didn't have to walk that much hahaha! 

    
Here's Loch Ard Gorge!      
                                

The crystal blue sea water looked so surreal❤

                                                                                

If you have a higher budget, you can take a helicopter ride for an unrivaled perspective of The Twelve Apostles. 

Gibson Steps

16. Grampians National Park

If you are keen on getting closer to the nature, Grampians National Park is one good pick. We followed a one-day tour for this. On the way to the park, we stopped by Eureka, Ballarat to have nice morning tea prepared by our tour guide. 

                                                               

It was a total of three-hour drive to Grampians National Park. After having our lunch at Halls Gap, we headed for Silverband Falls. We had an easy short walk through a forest before reaching the falls.

The view from Boroka Lookout was simply breathtaking!

Don't you feel that it looks like a big painting behind us? 

From Reeds Lookout, you can enjoy view overlooking Victoria Valley. I, personally, didn't find it as amazing as Boroka Lookout, though.

Next was the highlight of the tour-MacKenzie Falls. It is Victoria's largest waterfalls. The track down to the falls is a good mixture of easy and strenuous. We already could feel the fine mist from the cascading water from the side.

Soon after we visited MacKenzie Falls, it started to rain cats and dogs. In the end, we didn't manage to make it to The Grand Canyon. On our way back, we stopped by Halls Gap and saw a few wild kangaroos in the park.

17. St Kilda

We went to St Kilda for only one reason-THE PENGUINS!! The penguins will come back to the shore at St Kilda Pier after sunset. Before that, how could I forget to take photo with the eye-catching front door of Luna Park? 

It was a freezing cold night with horrifying strong wind that could blow my phone away while I was taking photos as we walked to the pier. 

The outcome was worth the effort when we finally saw the little penguins. We were so close to the penguins. They were very cute!! Remember not to open your flash light while taking photos of the penguins as it will scare the penguins and damage their eyes. 

18. Brighton Beach

Brighton beach is famous for its bathing boxes. They were originally built so that women could modestly change into swimwear and not expose their bodies on the beach. It was very windy the day we went. I guess that was the reason why not many people were there.

Can you feel the strong wind? Actually, I couldn't really stand still with one leg on the ground. I felt as if I was going to be blown away.

So freaking cold!!

                                                                 

19. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

We stopped by Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park before heading to Philip Island. It was part of the day tour. We were very excited as we had the chance to get really close to the animals by feeding them. You can buy the food (AUD$2) for kangaroos and wallabies before entering the park. Remember to grab the guide map at the entrance.

The kangaroos and wallabies we encountered were very gentle and didn't bite. Those that approached us for food were all juveniles. So tiny, right? The adult one can be very big in size.

What worried me the most was the birds or ducks (I don't know) wandering around me while I was feeding the kangaroos and wallabies. I was so scared that their beaks would hurt me (**hahaha!)

The koalas were, mostly, sleeping during our visit. They curled themselves into a ball when they were sleeping to conserve energy. The keepers will give a range of talks on the animals according to the daily schedule. These presentations are included in the admission fee. There was also a slot for wildlife show everyday.

The wombat looked the cutest to me. So chubby!! Feel like bringing them home :D

20. Philip Island Nature Parks

The highlight of the day tour to Philip Island was the penguin parade. Before we headed for the parade, the tour guide dropped us at The Nobbies Centre. I had been looking forward to stroll along The Nobbies boardwalk after seeing so many beautiful photos captured there. Too bad, luck was not on my side. It rained D': 

I had to gather so much courage just to take this photo outside the centre as it was SO COLD!

After our dinner, we headed for the penguin parade. Thanks to our tour guide for having the time well arranged. We managed to sit at relatively front row before the place was flooded with the crowd. Remember to bring your outerwear along as it is so freaking cold there!! I was already in three layers of clothes but still, they did little help in keeping me warm.

I was, actually, very touched to see the effort of the Philip Island Nature Parks in conserving the environment and penguins. After all, this is what God wants from us human beings right? To love what He has given us❤ No photography is allowed as a measure to protect the penguins. As darkness fell, we saw penguins waddled all the way home. They are the world's smallest penguins. They looked so cute from far! We even saw some penguins beside the boardwalk when we were on our way out of the centre.

21. Puffing Billy Railway 

Puffing Billy is the most well-preserved steam railway in Australia. It is quite convenient to travel there using public transportation. We took the metro train all the way from Melbourne CBD to Belgrave Station via the Belgrave train line which took us 70 minutes. You just need to follow the blue line on the path (on your left hand side) to Puffing Billy. 

Souvenir tickets for three of us :D

                                                     

                                                                      

We stopped at the Lakeside Station for around one hour.

With the friendly and amiable captain :D     

                                           

FYI, I was wearing three layers of clothes again. Seriously don't know why it kept raining for a few days during our trip. It was spring in Melbourne back then but I still had to wear layers of clothes.(**speechless...) 

22. DFO South Wharf

If you would like do some shopping in Melbourne, DFO South Wharf is the place to go. You can find relatively cheaper branded items here. Make sure you allocate enough time for this destination especially during weekend or sales. You might need to wait in a long queue, just to enter certain shops. 

As the promotion for Black Friday was still ongoing the day we visited DFO, it was super duper crowded. 

Won't you feel as if you are staring at the ruins of a war zone? Chaotic hahaha!

23. Chemist Warehouse

It was kind of late for us to discover GEMS in Chemist Wardrobe only during the last day of the trip. Not to mention the supplements there are lower in price than those in Malaysia, you can find things like perfumes and skincare products relatively cheaper as well.

If we were given more time to shop there, our wallets would be in big trouble hahaha!

[ WHAT TO EAT ]

1. Luncheonette

This was where we took our very first breakfast in Melbourne. We stopped by the restaurant as we were heading to the train station near our rental house. It made our day because the food was very delicious and the staffs were very friendly.

Don't forget to give it a try if you ever come to Kensington!

2. Hardware Societe

Hardware Societe is one of the highly-raved restaurants in Melbourne CBD. It is normal to see a long queue outside the restaurant especially during weekends. We were very lucky that there was no queue outside the restaurant by the time we reached. 

I ordered the "Lobster Benedict" and it tasted good. They did put in few big bites of lobster flesh in the burger. 

3. Higher Ground

Higher Ground is just as popular as Hardware Societe. Do expect to queue because of the crowd. You can't really expect its interior by looking from the outside. It looks modern and chic inside with high ceiling and open kitchen. The ambiance is on point!

In terms of food, we picked their famous instagrammable "Ricotta Hotcake". The hotcake was beautifully presented and served hot with maple syrup, flowers, seeds, grains and cream. Luckily, we only ordered the hotcake as the portion was quite big for one person. However, the taste was not to our liking. 

4. Hash Specialty Coffee

Located at the same street as Hardware Societe, Hash Specialty Coffee serves equally good food and drinks. The staffs were very attentive, polite and friendly. The service was 10/10. We were there for breakfast and didn't have to wait or line up to be seated. 

We ordered "Smashed Avocado" and "Pork Brik". Both of them were delicious with decent portion sizes.

Not to forget the signature "Hash Hot Chocolate" that was served with fluffy candy floss. You might think that the hot chocolate would have tasted very sweet with the candy floss but it didn't. It was just nice and rich.

5. San Churros

San Churros is a desert cafe recommended by my cousin, Peter. It is located near Melbourne Central Station. If you have a sweet tooth, this is definitely the right place for afternoon tea. We ordered the "San Churro Choc" and it could be shared among two persons. The chocolate was given in a generous amount such that it was overflowing from the spiral churros.

6. Laksa King

To my surprise, we found many restaurants that offer Malaysian cuisine back in Melbourne. Laksa King is one of them. It was highly recommended by our host. Since we dropped by Flemington for Woolworths, we decided to have lunch here.

It didn't disappoint us. Totally worth a try! We tried their signature dish-"Combination Curry Laksa". Can you see how big the portion for one person is? Bigger than my palm! 

7. La Belle Miette 

In Melbourne, it is a must-try if you love macaroons! The macaroons looked dainty and well-presented. There is a variety of flavours to choose from. The texture and taste of the macaroons was just nice. I bought this from their stall in Royal Arcade. Do pay its shop at Hardware Lane a visit to enjoy the ambiance while indulging yourself in their desserts.

[ THAI FOOD FANS COME COME!!]

I just don't know why I love TOMYAM so much, even back in Melbourne. I craved for it, literally! Throughout the trip, we had tried four different Thai restaurants. I sorted them according to my preference. You can give them a try if you are into Thai food like me:D

1. Thai on the Island

Thai on the Island is the best among those we had tried in Melbourne. Anyways, it is not located at Melbourne CBD. We came across this restaurant in Philip Island during the day tour. (**This was not part of the package.) You can tell the food is authentic as the restaurant is owned by Thai people. 

The portion of the fried rice was so big that it could be shared by two persons. Not only that, it tasted very flavourful. The Tom Yum was simply mouth-watering. The spicy and sour flavour were so well-balanced. They were very generous with the ingredients as well. A simply satisfying meal!

2. Ying Thai 2

If you are looking for an affordable and legit Thai food in Melbourne city, you should not miss Ying Thai 2 out. We were quite early for the dinner to avoid the crowd. The crowd started to grow outside the restaurant when we left the restaurant.

The best thing about it is you can actually keep refilling the steamed jasmine rice as much as you want. Both the steamed fish and tomyam were very tasty. I can't help drooling by just looking at the photos! 

Don't forget to snap a photo of the food you order in Ying Thai 2 and post it on Instagram. Show it to the staffs and you will be given a glass of iced Thai milk tea for FREE!

3. Doodee Paidang Thai Street Food

Doodee Paidang Thai Street Food is one of the few restaurants that are still opened after 9pm as most of the shops and restaurants in Melbourne close relatively earlier. We came across this restaurant one day when we were looking for a good dinner spot at around 8.45pm. Surprisingly, the restaurant was still almost fully occupied even after 9pm.

It is definitely a great place to chill out with your friends while enjoying your meal. They even had singer and guitarist performing at night. 

Back to the food, it is quite interesting that they sort their Tom Yum Spicy Noodles into different levels of spiciness. I was quite happy as I'm always up for a challenge in terms of spiciness. (**I am a crazy fan of spicy food.) In the end, as I didn't want the risk of having a stomach upset, I picked only level 3. I thought it would be a piece of cake but IT WASN'T. The spiciness was constantly lingering in my mouth and I had to take rests in between every mouthful. The price of the food was reasonable as well.

No joke. Think twice before you want to challenge the highest level!

4. Bangkok Jam

We walked into Bangkok Jam randomly when we planned to have our last Thai meal in Melbourne CBD. It is located along the busy Little Bourke Street within Chinatown. I like its modern decor and pleasant atmosphere. The staffs were very welcoming and helpful.

The food wasn't the best but palatable with decent portion sizes. In terms of price, it was relatively more expensive as compared to Ying Thai 2. Anyhow, we enjoyed our meal here.

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I am, still, very in love with Melbourne. Recapping every details in the trip makes me miss this wonderful place so much more. Hope you enjoy this blog! Till next time!