Day 6 The Grampians, Australia 2023

 It’s day 6 and we have the second half of The Great Ocean Road to drive, followed by up the mountains to The Grampians National Park.

We start off heading further south to Cape Otway Lighthouse. We’d come here before so we knew our way around, but it was still fun to climb to the top of the lighthouse and marvel at the open sea with the cold winds howling in our faces.

Thereafter we had a major fuel incident.

We didn’t pump petrol the day before even though we wanted to and on our way to the Twelve Apostles, the low fuel gauge light turned on! My heart stopped for awhile as I fear we couldn’t get to a petrol station in time. In fact our first stop to a supposed petrol station didn’t have diesel which we needed! It was only after we drove in anxious silence for a while further at Port Campbell that we found a petrol station with diesel available. What a relief!

Then we headed back to the Twelve Apostles, which by then wasn’t so exciting anymore after what we went through. We also visited the Loch and Gorge and the Razorback. All very beautiful rock formations.

Then we stopped for a late lunch at a very quaint and small Australian town called Terang. It was so cute and cool and the little shop we had lunch in had such nice folk!

Finally we arrive at Halls Gap, at Grampians National Park and check into the A Frame chalets.

Now this A Frame chalet was awesome. There was a very nice backyard which is linked to an open kangaroo reserve. So kangaroos will come to our backyard to graze. And being so cold, we had a campfire area in the backyard which we could use.

So we went to the supermarket at Halls Gap to stock up, then had dinner at Halls Gap Hotel (we ate here twice in 2019), then bought some firewood and fire starters and marshmallows!

We then went back to start our own campfire and had beers! And we had a pair of kangaroos hang out behind us too!

Day 5 Apollo Bay, Australia 2023

 Time is passing so fast!

It is already day 5!

So today we have to do a lot of driving, because we start on The Great Ocean Road.

This means we have to go back up to Melbourne City, then Geelong, and then start The Great Ocean Road highway.

We still found time to do the whole farm feeding morning routine once more before we bid Phillip Island goodbye.

We had a nice seafood lunch on the way.

Stopped at a lighthouse which I cannot
remember its name. Oh it was the Split Point Lighthouse! This one was funny because the boy had to pee urgently and we couldn’t find any toilets! In the end luckily we found one at the foot of the hill leading up to the lighthouse.

Then we had a brief stop at The Great Ocean Road memorial entrance. Did you know that The Great Ocean Road was built as a memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of three thousand Australian soldiers who perished during the First World War?

Finally we arrive at Apollo Bay, the one night check point towards The Grampians National Park. 

We took awhile to find our AirBnB lodge but it turned out to be very nice!

Then we wanted to have dinner at this famous fish and chips restaurant that we tried back in 2019 but the in-laws weren’t really up for fried food again! Plus it was cold and drizzling. So instead we went for Asian food at a restaurant called the Asian Tuck Shop!

By night time, we decided to walk to the beach after dinner as the weather was beautiful, to gaze at the stars in the night sky. It was so lovely as the stars were shining so bright.

Day 4 Phillip Island, Australia 2023

 Now it’s day 4 liao.

We start the morning with the morning farm animals feeding session. It was so fun feeding all the livestock like sheep, horses, ponies, pigs and cows.

Then it was off to Churchill Island and their memorable conservation farm. We’ve been here before and there are some very picturesque views to be soaked in.

This was followed by the Koala Sanctuary. Again we’ve been here before but it’s still nice always trying to spot koala bears on the eucalyptus trees.

Finally we went to the Nobbies Centre Antarctic Journey. This one we’ve also been before and we got to explore the famous boardwalk where you could see the Seal Island, and Island full of seals. The views from the boardwalk were so beautiful that we took so many photos and spent so much time there that it was getting dark.

By evening we decided we’d eat the same instant noodles and chicken dinner again! Shiok!

Day 3, Phillip Island, Australia 2023

 It’s day 3 now and the big plan is to see penguins.

So it is off to Phillip Island we go!

But first we had to pick up our seven-seater car! It’s a Mitsubishi Pajero. Quite a hulk of a car and it fit us all really nicely!

We picked up our ride early in the morning and began our drive to Phillip Island which is only about two hours plus away.

Then we had lunch at the pelican place where we were the last time, but we missed the feeding session by only half hour! Sad :( again had fish and chips for lunch haha.

Then we checked into our farmstay! It is called Ripples and Tonic Farmstay. It was like a very quaint chalet styled lodge that accommodated all six of us very nicely.

We got to know our resident ponies, Phoebe and Tony!

After that was a supermarket dash! And it was all so familiar since we’ve been here before. 

Finally it was time for the Penguin Parade!

We had to get there before dark so we could get seated. We had the VIP seats but that didn’t stop us from getting wet and colder from the incessant drizzle.

In the end we watched the penguins come ashore and waddle inland. I hope it was fun for the in-laws, because the last time we were here we saw way, way more penguins. This time around was a little bit disappointing tbh. Still it was a good experience no less.

By dinner time we were so sick of fried western food we decided to cook instant noodles and had chicken bought from Woolworths! Shiok!

Day 2 Melbourne, Australia 2023

 It’s Day 2 and we start our touring proper.

So today we started off visiting the Queen Victoria Market.

Was so happy to see many of the stores were still there, especially the mussels stand which we loved during our last visit in 2019! Also recreated the photo of my daughter biting the curly potato stick which my son was holding.

Thereafter we took a cab to the Brighton Bathing Boxes. Unfortunately we were there only for a while and then it began to rain. Still managed some really nice pictures.

Then we went back to the city to explore the Yarra River area and has another friend food dinner in a sport bar near the iconic central train station.

Day 1 Melbourne, Australia 2023

And we were off to Melbourne!

This was our first big trip for the year, the other one being the biggest, Japan at the end of the year.

This was also one where I travel with the in-laws to a faraway destination for the first time ever.

The itinerary was to be Melbourne city, Phillip Island, Apollo Bay, The Grampians, Melbourne city. Nice days of beautiful Great Ocean Road travel.

So the first day began with an early flight, arriving into Melbourne in the evening.

Melbourne was seeing the sun set around 4.30pm. So by the time we arrive fit was already dark. 

We split into two cabs, me with the kids, and the wife with her parents. Turns out we had a smooth ride while they got embroiled in some street protests, which resulted in them having to walk some 20mins to our hotel at the Le Meridien Melbourne.

We then went for a nice dinner near our hotel. It was the start of many meals with lots of fries and potatoes. Weather was damn shiok at 10°C thereabouts.

Travelling Is Back With A Vengence

 Travelling is definitely back with a vengence for me.

Both for work and leisure.

Already went to Malacca, then Hong Kong, then Melbourne for first half of the year.

Second half we’re looking at Shanghai, KL, Hong Kong (again!), Bali, then Tokyo and Hokkaido!

Let’s goooooooo!