2013 - Australia Family Holidays...

“Man only likes to count his troubles; he doesn't calculate his happiness...” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(Visiting the famous Hosier Lane)

We are packing our travelling bags, again!

We had just completed washing our dirty laundry from our China Silk Road trip. And I still can’t believe that we are travelling again so soon. This time we have to pack our winter clothing as we‘ll be travelling to the land down under. It’s June and it’s winter there.

(All in the family in Melbourne)

For hubby and I, this trip will be our fourth trip to Australia. And this coming Saturday we are going for a family trip to Australia, staying 2 nights in Adina Central Apartment in Sydney and will be driving to the Blue Mountains. From Sydney, we’ll travel towards Melbourne in a 6-berth campervan, stopping for the night at Katoomba Park, Bateman’s Bay and Bairnsdale. In Melbourne, we’ll be staying for 3 nights in Stanton Apartment and will be spending a day in Mt. Buller Snow Resort and a full day travelling the winding coastal Great Ocean Road and visit some National Forest Parks and rocky beaches. If we have free time in Sydney and Melbourne, we’ll take the hop-on hop-off bus for a city tour and souvenir shopping.

(A family photo in Sydney)

I know it is quite a hectic and compact holiday itinerary but I am sure to enjoy this holiday with the company of our children and grandchildren…

Insya-Allah...

Next Trip: Thailand 2013 - Krabi Ride

         2013 Aussie Holiday: 01 Sydney👉👉

2013 Aussie Holiday: 01 Sydney

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money..." - Susan Heller

Day 01: 22 June 2013

(KL – Sydney)



(All geared up for a family winter holiday)

We are going for a family holiday!

We booked 3 taxis for the 8 of us at 05:00 from Putramas Apartment to KLIA. When we arrived at KLIA, we performed the Subuh prayers and had breakfast at Old Town Kopitiam before we checked in at the Special Check-in Counter as we have two toddlers (Hana and Alia) and two 'warga emas' (hubby and I) in our family.

(Sara, Fitri, Iwan and Ella having breakfast at KLIA Kopitiam)

(The grandchildren, Alia and Hana still deep in slumber)

The 09:00 Mas flight MH141 from KLIA reached Sydney Airport at 19:05. The journey of more than 8 hours was spent watching most of the latest in-flight movies and napping in between meals.

At Sydney Airport, passport and immigration checks were swift and we were lucky to be allowed to bring in baby foods and chocolates. I remember on our last 3 trips to Australia we had to dispose all food stuff in the big dump bins placed all over the arrival hall. Even our few packets of Brahim’s and 3-in-1 Nescafe were not spared.

(Welcome to a cold chilly Sydney)

We bought 3 prepaid sim cards of A$20 each, to ease communications between us during our trip. This was necessary if we need to call local numbers for enquiries or to do bookings for accommodations at the camper park later in our trip. We even brought a few sets of walkie talkies for us to communicate when we are on the road.

(Buying pre-paid sim cards from Optus)

At the Hertz counter we collected our pre-arranged rented car, the Kia Grand Carnival with passenger capacity of 6 adults and 2 children. The MPV is equipped with 2 child-seats, a GPS and wifi on-the-go. I would not recommend purchasing the wifi package as it has a daily usage limit and quite expensive compared to buying prepaid cards. The rental rate came to A$185 per day and a deposit of A$100 refundable when we return the MPV in good condition. We would be using this MPV throughout our 10-day trip and would be returning it at Melbourne Airport before our departure to KL.

(Collecting our vehicle from Hertz Car Rental)

After completing the paperwork we had fillet-o-fish dinner at the Airport McDonalds then later picked-up our MPV from the parking lot and headed towards Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney in Haymarket. The 2-room apartment is situated adjacent to the Central Station and near the many landmarks of Sydney.

(A spacious Kia Grand Carnival)

The rental rate for the 5-star apartment per night was A$396 and we would be staying here for 2 nights. The apartment was cozy and clean and the kitchen was well equipped. There are also a washer and tumble dryer to wash our dirty laundry.

After checking-in, we went out to buy some provisions at a nearby convenience store before we retired for the night.

👈👈2013 - Australia Family Holidays...

         2013: Sydney, Australia👉👉

2013 Aussie Holiday: 02 Sydney City Tour

"Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken..." - Frank Herbert

Day 02: 23 June 2013

(Sydney City Tour)



(A very wet Sunday morning...)

We had breakfast of toasts and scrambled eggs in Adina Apartment.


(Taking the underpass of the Central Station)

(Interesting murals on the wall)

Today we planned to explore Sydney's major attractions. By 09:30 everyone was ready to go out even though it was raining outside. We walked a short distance to the other side of the Central Station to catch the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for a city tour of Sydney and Bondi beach. The bus tour cost A$270 for the 6 adults and 2 children.

(This mural celebrates 150 years of railways in NSW)

The weather was chilly with the temperature of around 15C. As it was raining intermittently, we stayed on the bus and listen to the commentary and only got down at Circular Quay when it was a little sunny to have a view of Darling Harbour, the Coat Hanger, The Rocks and the Opera House and had the option of going for Sydney harbour cruise.

(A walk under sunny clear sky at Circular Quay)

(One of the many famous names of Writers Walk)

Circular Quay is the hub of Sydney Harbour ferry network where ferry, bus and train services intersect. It is situated at a small inlet called Sydney Cove, the founding site for Sydney and Australia. It is a stepping-off point for most attractions based around the harbour and an exciting place to be on a warm day. The quay is a vibrant, bustling place with ferries leaving every few minutes to different parts of the harbour, including Manly, Watsons Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo. There are great views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, a short distance away.

(Beautiful by day, but simply sensational by night)

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is known locally as the "Coat Hanger", took eight years to build, including the railway line. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks. Completed in 1932, the construction of the bridge was an economic feat as well as an engineering triumph. Prior to the bridge being built, the only links between the city centre in the south and the residential north were by ferry or by a 20 km road that involved five bridge crossings. An exciting experience while in Sydney is to take on a Bridge Climb, an experience you won't forget in a long time and it gives a rare glimpse of the Sydney cityscape.

(The Sydney Harbour Bridge or the 'Coat Hanger'

(The Bridge climb high over the water)

The Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and one of Sydney's most popular icons. The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in New South Wales was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Inaugurated in 1973 after a long gestation, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation.

(The iconic Sydney Opera House)

The Rocks is one of the most-visited parts of Sydney. The Rocks is the oldest area of Sydney and has recently undergone an amazing metamorphosis, the old district being transformed into a vibrant pocket of cafes and restaurants and interesting tourist shops and stalls. This has been achieved without destroying the area's Old World charm and historic buildings, the oldest preserved colonial district.

(Alia taking a stroll in the drizzle)

(Hana is comfortable in her stroller)

We had McDonalds lunch before we boarded the bus to continue our tour of Sydney. It was raining heavily when we changed bus to visit Bondi Beach. We passed Paddington Market and stopped for an hour in Bondi Beach to watch people surfing in the cold water and walked along the beach in chilly weather. Bondi Beach is one of Australia's most famous beaches and among the world's most well-known for its great sandy beach, as well as its surf.

(Iwan and Ella with a bronze statue) 

(An almost empty Bondi Beach)

It was already dark when we took the 17:00 bus back to town. When we reached the Central Station we bought some souvenirs before we walked back to Adina Central Apartment.

Tonight dinner was packed food of Pizza and Kebab from a nearby Muslim restaurant.

👈👈2013: KL/Sydney 

        2013: Sydney/Blue Mt, Australia👉👉

2013 Aussie Holiday: 03 Blue Mountains

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." - Fitzhugh Mullan

Day 03: 24 June 2013

(Katoomba Blue Mountains)

(A variety of campervans to chose from)

This morning breakfast was toasts and scrambled eggs. By 10:00 we packed our bags and ready to check out of Adina Apartment. Today we planned to go to the Blue Mountains to explore the many attractions there and stay a night in one of Katoomba Caravan Parks.

(Spacious area for 8 of us in the campervan)

We had earlier pre-arranged the rental of a campervan so we drove to Apollo Motorhome in Gardners Road to collect our campervan. We had rented a 6-Berth Caravan and will drop off the campervan in Melbourne. The campervan could accommodate 6 adults and 2 children and has spacious 2 dining areas that could be converted to 2 double beds at night. Another double bed is accessible by a ladder on the overhead compartment and could be used as storage space for bags during the day. The campervan is complete with a shower/toilet, a stove and sink, a fridge, microwave, a TV and GPS. There is a central heater to warm the campervan at night when outside temperature could drop as low as 5 C.

(Alia and Hana sleeping, all strapped up)

The rental was for 7-day minimum but we would only be using the campervan for only 4 days. The average rental for the 4 days was A$400/day and we need to pay for a one-way fee of A$260, which I thought was already included when we arranged the rental from back home. If this is a double charge, we’ll request for a refund later. And in addition, we paid a refundable deposit of A$250. We would be returning the campervan before we enter Melbourne as maneuvering the large vehicle in the city would be quite a hassle. We still maintained the Kia Carnival and Iwan and Fitri would takes turn to drive the MPV.

(Taking a short break for lunch)

(Hana at the Outback Jacks)

After signing the paperwork for the campervan we headed towards the Blue Mountains and stopped on the way to buy provisions at an Asian shopping mall and had lunch at McDonalds. After a 2-hour drive we reached Blue Mountains and searched for Katoomba Falls Caravan Park.

(Traffic along the highway to the Blue Mountains)

Katoomba Falls Caravan Park is strategically located and within easy walking distance to Scenic World and the Blue Mountains Three Sisters which we will explore tomorrow. We made a call to book a powered site at a rental of A$92 for one night and asked permission to park our MPV next to the campervan site. It was already dark and raining when we finally parked our vehicle for the night. The park has a no-party policy and was overly quiet and peaceful at night. And as safety precaution to guests the speed limit for vehicles passing through is 10km/hr which is a walking pace.

(Katoomba town at dusk)

(Parking the Campervan and Carnival, side by side)

In the park, one had to enter a code to open the door to enter the amenities. The weather was chilly outside but some of us used the communal washroom to bathe and wash. The rest made do with having our hot showers in the campervan. 

Dinner menu for tonight was fried chicken, Sardine and omelette with Basmathi rice.

👈👈2013: Sydney, Australia 

        2013: Blue Mt/Batemans Bay, Australia👉👉

2013 Aussie Holiday: 04 Blue Mt/Batemans Bay

"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." - Izaak Walton

Day 04: 25 June 2013

(Batemans Bay)

After a hearty breakfast we checked out of Katoomba Falls Tourist Park around 10:00, parked our campervan at a parking space nearby and drove the MPV to the Blue Mountains' attractions.

(Ready to explore the Blue Mountains scenic sites)

(Discounted unlimited pass)

The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains region lies about 120km to the west of Sydney. It is a bushwalker’s paradise with its striking scenery, rainforest and spectacular wildlife. The region offers a myriad of activities for the visitors and we paid for the unlimited pass at a discounted price of A$29 for adults and free for children below four.

(Riding the Scenic Skyway)

First we boarded the Scenic Skyway over the Katoomba waterfalls and experienced the thrill of walking on the Electro-Scenic glass floor revealing the valley floor about 270m below and on clear day one could view the beautiful Katoomba waterfalls. The Scenic Skyway is the highest cable car in Australia.

(Waiting to ride the steepest train)

(Hana holding on strong on Scenic Train)

Later, we rode the Katoomba Scenic Train, at 52 degree it is the steepest inclined passenger railway in the world and visit the historic mining attractions at the cliff base. From there we could walk to the valley floor and enjoyed breathtaking views of the surroundings. When we were there we could barely see the Orphan Rock, Mt Solitary, the Jamison Valley and managed to view the Three Sisters through thick fog and heavy rain.

(A glimpse of the Three Sisters)

(The statues of the Three Sisters)

The Three Sisters are a famous rock formation towering high above the Jamison Valley. Legend has it that three sisters fell in love with three men from neighboring tribes. As marriage between tribes was forbidden the men decided to capture the sisters, creating massive tribal wars. To protect the sisters an elder witch doctor turned them into stone. The elder was killed during the war and the sisters were left to erode as stone for eternity. This legend is falsely claimed to be an Aboriginal Dreamtime legend.

(Scenic Cableway under repair)

We missed riding the Scenic Cableway as it was under repair. The cableway could carry 84 people and is Australia’s biggest cable car. It descends the 545 meters into the Jamison Valley and returns back up to the top of the escarpment. We skipped the Scenic Walkway as it was raining quite heavily and the 2.4km boardwalk could be slippery for baby strollers.

(Scenic Walkway in the valley)

From the Blue Mountain we drove to Batemans Bay through the tourist scenic route avoiding highways and motorways. The more than 4-hour drive passed through Kangaroo Valley and big farms and small townships. Kangaroo Valley is a gently sloping wide valley surrounded on its sides by high mountains of the NSW Southern Highlands, approximately two hours' drive south-west of Sydney and about two hours south of Canberra. The township is accessed by the Moss Vale Road, which links Moss Vale to the Princes Highway at Bomaderry a little north of Nowra. It was raining heavily all the way and some roads were flooded.

(Flooded road along the country route)

(Driving carefully on slippery road)

As we will be arriving late at BIG4 Batemans Bay Beach Resort we gave them a call first to book a powered caravan site at a rental cost of A$63. The park is large and complete with amenities and swimming pool and surrounded by water on three sides. It is a perfect beachside destination away from the hustle bustle of urban life. We had a choice of camping, powered or ensuite sites. Or we could rent a luxury waterfront villa with fantastic views which could cost us a little more.

Dinner was fried rice, omelette and fried anchovies.

👈👈2013: Sydney/Blue Mt, Australia 

          2013: Batemans Bay/Lake Entrance, Australia👉👉

2013 Aussie Holiday: 05 Batemans Bay/Lake Entrance

"He who would travel happily must travel light..." - Antoine de St. Exupery

Day 05: 26 June 2013

(Lake Entrance)

(One of the many Big4 Campervan Parks)

This morning we had chili tuna, scrambled eggs and toasts for breakfast. We checked-out of the park around 09:30 and prepared ourselves for a long-haul journey and planned to arrive in Bairnsdale before nightfall. The journey from Batemans Bay to Bairnsdale would take us more than 7 hours drive.

(Chalets and playground)

(A unique shaped campervan)

(The grandkids having early morning exercises)

(Playing together in the campervan)

We had been driving for almost 5 days now and could not spot any Kangaroo or Wombat, to the disappointment of our children and granddaughters, especially. The only Kangaroo that we saw was the one on the side of the road with all four legs pointing to the sky.

(Potoroo Palace for native animals)

(Signage at the entrance)

So on the way we decided to stop at Potoroo Palace, a Native Animal Education Sanctuary. It is a non-profit animal sanctuary located in a beautiful bushland setting. The sanctuary houses koalas, wombats, dingoes, emus, echidnas, birds and ducks. The favorite among all are the kangaroos and wallabies.
.

(The resident emu inspecting visitors)

(A shy, sleepy Koala Bear)

(A Dingo grooming himself)

(Hana feeding a kangaroo)

(Kangaroos resting, waiting to be fed)

(Hana's family shot with a baby kangaroo)

(Alia first encounter with a Kangaroo)

After visiting the native animals, we continued our journey. On the way we had lunch of fish and Chips at Eden. The journey from Eden to Bairnsdale was another 5-hour drive. As it was already dark, we decided to look for a caravan park in Lake Entrance another 50km from Bairnsdale and phoned the park to book for a powered site at a rental cost of A$80.

(Boating and fishing activities all year round)

(Some part of the Princes Highway are small and narrow)

(Scenic routes along the way)

Lake Entrance Water Edge Holiday Park is situated just meters from the lake and beachside township with many seafood restaurants and gourmet cafes. Lake Entrance is famous for boating and fishing. The area also boasts some of the best golf courses in Victoria.

(A  Holiday Park)

👈👈2013: Blue Mt/Batemans Bay, Australia

                   2013: Lake Entrance/Melbourne, Australia 👉👉