Aussie Adventure: My 11D/10N DIY Trip to Australia!
Just got back from an AMAZING 10-day family trip to Australia! 🇦🇺🥰 We flew from Hanoi -> Melbourne -> Cairns -> Sydney -> Hanoi, with a layover in Singapore. We spent 4 days exploring Melbourne, 3 days in Cairns, and 3 days soaking up Sydney. We planned and executed the entire trip ourselves, from visa applications to itinerary planning. For anyone else planning a DIY trip, here are my top tips!
1. Visa Application - Piece of Cake!
We applied for the Visa 600 entirely online and got the results in about 2 weeks! I found the process surprisingly straightforward, with clear instructions on the website. I even created a detailed English itinerary to include in our application. If anyone needs a copy, just let me know!
2. Getting Around Down Under
- Intercity Flights: We flew with Virgin Australia between cities. The flights were generally good, except for one slight hiccup. Our flight from Cairns to Sydney ended up landing in Canberra due to weather! 😅 We had to grab a taxi from Canberra to Sydney, which cost us $850 AUD. Luckily, we shared the ride with another family of four, so it eased the financial pain a bit!
- Melbourne: Staying in the CBD made getting around super easy. We mainly used the train system, which kept our transport costs down.
- Cairns: Our accommodation was conveniently located near the city center, so we walked most places. When we were too tired, we used Uber. We saw Didi was cheaper, but harder to book.
- Sydney: This is where we spent the most on transport! 🥲 We used a mix of walking, trains, and Uber. For trains and buses, you need an Opal card. The minimum top-up is $20 AUD. We bought two cards and spent $60 AUD in total. By the way, I have two Opal cards left, one with over $12 AUD remaining. If you're heading to Sydney from Hanoi, let me know! Happy to pass it on.
3. Must-See Destinations
- Melbourne: Melbourne was probably my favorite city! We explored the Yarra Valley wine region, saw the adorable penguins at Phillip Island, and spent time discovering the city's hidden gems. The weather was lovely, with cool evenings. Phillip Island was freezing, but the penguins were too cute to care! 😋 Don't forget your jacket!
- Cairns: Our main reason for visiting Cairns was to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef! We arrived, spent a night relaxing, and then hopped on a boat to the reef. We booked our Phillip Island and Great Barrier Reef tours in Melbourne, near Finder Station. They were significantly cheaper than Klook and GetYourGuide! Beware if you get sea sick! I was seasick on the boat to Great Barrier Reef after 5 minutes! I didn't get to snorkel, but my partner did and said it was amazing! Take anti-seasickness meds before you go! 🥹
- Sydney: Our flight change meant we lost a day in Sydney, unfortunately. However, we managed to see all the famous sights, tried kangaroo meat, and got splashed at Bondi Icebergs! =)))
4. Nightlife Adventures
For the party animals out there (like us! 😋), we checked out the nightlife in each city:
- Melbourne: Ms Collins on Collins Street. We queued for over an hour but didn't get in because my partner was wearing shorts! =)))
- Cairns: Gilligans - a hotel, restaurant, and bar complex. We booked tickets online for a specific event. This was my favorite nightlife spot of the trip, but it only runs from 7pm to 11pm.
- Sydney: WAO Superclub or Ivy, near Angel Place. Entry was $35 AUD per person. It's a big bar with good music, lots of Asian people, and even some Asian DJs playing Vina House! =)))
5. Shop 'Til You Drop!
We dedicated the end of our trip to shopping at Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre in Sydney. There are loads of famous brands with amazing deals! We spent over $4,000 AUD on clothes, bags, shoes, cosmetics, medicine, and perfumes! We still regret not buying more! =)))
6. Foodie Finds
Personally, I found the food in Australia to be nothing special. After a few days, I was craving pho from Hanoi! =))) The most memorable dish was the kangaroo meat at Meat District Co. near Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Overall, this was an unforgettable trip! While the cost of travel and accommodation was quite high, it was worth it for the incredible time we had! 🥰
That's all from me! Feel free to message me if you need any further advice. I also have some AUD, Opal cards and an Optus SIM card available. If you're in Hanoi and planning a trip to Australia, get in touch!
```