Melbourne - Final Destination of My Work & Holiday Journey

Melbourne was my first destination upon arrival in Australia and it’s also the last point before my leaving. In fact, my first arrival in Melbourne was only 2 days and of course it’s not sufficient for me to sightsee and explore.

This time, I spent more time exploring things and places in Melbourne as much as possible, before I end my work and holiday journey in Australia.

Royal Arcade at Bourke Street Mall

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

Melbourne Chinatown

Sunday Market at The Art Centre



Crown Casino

Colourful bathing boxes at the Brighton Beach

One of the suburbs of Melbourne - Fitzroy

The Explanade Market on Sunday at St. Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne

A1 tasty Middle East food at Sydney Road, Brunswick, also a suburb of Melbourne

Words could hardly express my opinion and feeling towards this lovely city at this moment. Perhaps photos could do the talking.

At night, Melbourne CBD is embellished with the lightings almost everywhere…

Fascinating Architecture in Melbourne

As a former student of Housing, Building & Planning, I’m fond of architecture and design. One of the reasons I loved being in Melbourne is because I easily surrounded by those heritage as well as contemporary buildings with sense of arts and design. Some of them were captured into my camera while I had casual walks on the streets. Therefore, please don’t mind me putting all these photos of building :P

 

 

 

Well, this last photo is none too much about architecture; it’s just the accommodation I used to stay – Hotel Discovery at 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne.

Learn to Surf Experience in Gold Coast

Surfing was always what I dreamed about and wanted to do while in Australia. I chose to learn in Gold Coast as the weather is warmer and it’s a popular surfing destination.

 

 

 

One of my days in Gold Coast, I called up the Get Wet Surf School and decided to join for the first surfing lesson for beginners. In the afternoon, a crew came and picked me up and three others to The Spit, north of Surfers Paradise. At the beach, we were taught the basic steps on how to stand on the surf board and some restrictions before we headed to the water.    

Four of us took turn to perform and I was occasionally able to stand on the surf board when the waves came.  Still, I once forgot what the crew warned and I faced the huge waves with the surf board when I was not ready to jump on it yet. Oh my god! I was badly hit by the surf board caused by the waves and injured. What a shame! In truth, I initially intended to take consecutive 3 surfing lessons. However, I eventually gave up the other 2 lessons after my first surfing experience.

Visiting Warner Bros. Movie World in Gold Coast

Warner Bros. Movie World

The only theme parks that I have visited with my friends in Gold Coast were the Warner Bros. Movie World.

 

Superman Escape Roller Coaster

Those rides that we experienced and thrilled about included Superman Escape (We rode the roller coaster at extremely high speed, just like superman! Too excited for me!!), Batwing Spaceshot (This is another adrenaline rides which is being pulled to 60 metres high) and the Arkham Asylum (The most crazy, dangerous and challenging rides I have ever experienced!).

Entrance of Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster

 

At the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, we rode the coaster cars in the dark full with mystery but also excited with its sound effects and laser lighting. Among all the games in the movie world, this was my favourites and we played it twice!

 

A thrilling and hilarious show that we have watched was the Hollywood Stunt Driver and we felt the exciting real experience show featured by the professional stunt drivers.  

 

 

 

There are other attractions such as Justice League 3D - The Ride, Green Lantern Coaster, Wild West Falls Adventure Ride….

We also grabbed a chance to take pictures with Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Batman and many more whenever we saw them :D

 

We watched a circuit of all of them at the Star Parade to end… 

 

 

Warner Bros. Movie World

Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford

                Gold Coast,

                 Queensland 4210.
 
Phone: (07) 5573 3999, 133 386(booking & info)

Website: http://movieworld.com.au/

Opening hours: 9.30am – 5pm every day
(Closed on Anzac Day & Christmas Day)

Exciting Gold Coast

I boarded a city train by Queensland Rail traveled from Brisbane Transit Centre to Nerang station on the Gold Coast line (BDVL: Airport via Brisbane to Varsity Lakes – Gold Coast) and it’s about an hour plus journey. I bought a go card to pay for the fare owing to the cheaper price it offered compared to regular paper ticket, particularly during off peak period. Moreover, it’s widely used for most of the public transports in Gold Coast. From Nerang station, I boarded a bus No. 745 to arrive in Surfers Paradise.  The bus driver dropped me just opposite the Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort that I have booked.

Gold Coast, which is located in the South East Queensland, is a popular coastal city that attracts millions of tourists yearly. It consists of areas include Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, The Spit, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh Heads and many others but I was in Surfers Paradise most of the time.

Gold Coast is well developed with many skyscrapers specifically in Surfers Paradise. The Q1 building is renowned as the tallest building in Gold Coast and one of the tallest residential towers in the world.

 

Hilton Boulevard Towers

Twin Towers

Surfers Paradise Boulevard - the main street

Retail shops and the skyscrapers

A bridge connect Surfers Paradise to Chevron Island

View of Surfers Paradise from the Chevron Island Bridge

Shops & residential apartment buildings in Broadbeach 

Beautiful beaches, theme parks, nightlife and other amusement activities are some of the core temptations of Gold Coast.

Mini Golf & Bungy Trampolines in Surfers Paradise 

Haunted House in Surfers Paradise

Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Surfers Paradise

Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach 

Copenhagen Ice Cream in Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Casino in Surfers Paradise

Beachfront night markets each Wednesday & Friday in Surfers Paradise

The tallest building in this picture - Q1

Skysrapers can be seen along the beach. Sunny weather great for beach activities.

The subtropical climate throughout the year is also another great persuasion to tourists for holidaying in Gold Coast, especially for beach lovers and surfers. I was there during winter and I loved being there as it’s sunny and warmer than in other cities like Sydney. My friend, Christiana in Sydney actually told me that the heater in her room is necessary turned on to keep herself warm while I replied her that I could walk on the streets in Gold Coast with my short pants and flip-flops. It’s indeed made Christiana envy, lol!  

In short, Gold Coast is one of my favourite cities in Australia!