Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi - Travel With A Butterfly

I went to an Australian trip with a couple of my friends (or mates, as the Australians call it, at least some) back in 2012 (specifically from Nov. 24 to Dec. 2). In the span of 9 days, we covered three different places – first it was Cairns, then Gold Coast, then Melbourne (although for me, I only spent a full day in Melbourne for Stereosonic and at a nightclub called Love Machine and had to take the flight the next morning). My memory’s a bit rusty from the trip, so I’ll share with you as much as I remember along with some pics. But definitely one of the best trips of my life, great weather, great food, super fun, GREAT COMPANY, everything was awesome. Thanks for my friends for organizing and being at the trip.

Flight Information

Flights were booked with Orbitz at www.orbitz.com.

International flights: Qantas on the way from Hong Kong to Cairns (a brief stop at Brisbane). Virgin Australia from Melbourne to Singapore (very nice bar on the plane). Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Hong Kong (great service, comfy seats).

Domestic flights: Jetstar for Cairns to Gold Coast, and Gold Coast to Melbourne. Cheap and great.

Accommodations

Friend helped us book our accommodations through Wotif at www.wotif.com.

Cairns: stayed at Jack and Newell (Luxury Apartments). 27 Wharf Street, Cairns 4870 QLD. +61 7 40314990.

Image Credits to Jack and Newell

Gold Coast: stayed at Mantra Circle on Cavill. 9 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217. Highly convenient, walkable to Surfers Paradise (beach) in 10 mins. We were super lucky too; got upgraded to a sweet ass penthouse (read below to find out why). +61 7 55822000.

The view at night.

The view in the morning.

The view during sunset.

Look at this pinkish orangey blue sky.

Melbourne: stayed at a friend’s place first night. Second night at Ovolo Laneways. 19 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. +61 3 86920777.

Image Credits to Ovolo Laneways

Itineraries

CAIRNS (Nov. 24 – Nov. 28)

Awesome place. Everyone here is fit and tanned. Lots of water activities to do. This place and the people here are beautiful.

Some western outback restaurant we ate at nearby Jack and Newell.

There were a couple of bars around the area and we ended up going to a restaurant/bar place where they had a Hawaiian theme going on for the party.

Our first morning at Cairns we took a ship cruise to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel and look around. Amazing. The second day we went white water rafting, also freaking amazing. There are two tours that you can choose from (although I think we picked neither and was offered a third option by the people at Jack & Newell, although I don’t have info about them. Sorry! The activities of the three options are the same; itineraries are slightly different).

I choose you… Starfish!

2 Day Silverswift Reef & Rafting: http://cairnstourpackages.com.au/tours/2dayswr.html

2 Day Silverswift Outer Barrier Reef & Rafting: http://cairnstourpackages.com.au/tours/2daysonraf.html

Other snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reefs links:

Passions Of Paradise: www.passions.com.au

Seastar Cruises: http://www.seastarcruises.com.au/

Reef Sailing Tours Cairns: http://www.reefdaytripper.com.au/ReefTrips.htm

Other rafting links:

Raging Thunder Adventures: http://www.cairnsrafting.com.au/

Oh, we also chilled at the Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon.

GOLD COAST (Nov. 28 – Nov. 30)

As you can see from the pics from Mantra Circle, this coastal city is absolutely stunning. Surfers Paradise lives up to its reputation. Also, the first time I had Nando’s was here (and I’m a big spicy food eater so it was sensational. Actually I tried Nando’s in London later on and it wasn’t as good there).

Remember I said we got lucky and got upgraded to a penthouse? Well, apparently the week we arrived at Gold Coast was also the same week as Schoolies week. Schoolies week is the tradition for Australian high school seniors having week-long holidays after their final school exams. Most of them come to Gold Coast because, well IMO, it’s the high school version of Las Vegas… as in there’s a lot of entertainment and fun stuff going on (not because of the gambling…). Anyway, so because Mantra Circle had all their other rooms booked by these schoolies, we were fortunate to be bumped up to the sweet ass penthouse.

If there’s one ride you have to go for Warner Bros. Movie World, it has to be Superman Escape. I’ll leave the excitement for when you come here.

Sea World.

Polar bear doing laps.

Looks like someone pissed him off that day.

Some food we ate at Rock Salt Modern Dining

One of my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite things to do during this whole trip was the Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World, right next to Movie World. Didn’t take any pics, but it’s a MUST go if you come to Gold Coast during the summer months.

Of course, we tried to surf at Surfers Paradise too.

MELBOURNE (Nov. 30 – Dec. 2)

OK so like I said earlier, I only had one full day at Melbourne where I didn’t even had a chance to visit the city because we were busy partying from Stereosonic to Love Machine, so it would be unfair for me to describe what Melbourne is like when I haven’t really experienced the city itself. (Couldn’t stay longer cause of work).

Nonetheless, I did experience the “4 seasons in a day” phenomenon in Melbourne. Super hot during the day, rainy and cool during the afternoon, and freezing during the night. Seems pretty easy to get around though; the subway is convenient enough.

Stereosonic is an annual music festival held in various locations in Australia, one of which is, of course, Melbourne, during late November / early December (depending on which city you go to). It’s an electronic and dance music festival, and all the big name DJs come here too.

Later at night, our friend took us to the nightclub Love Machine. You know how some clubs attract a certain crowd? Like it has a reputation? For example in Hong Kong, some clubs just attract expats more while others attract locals more? Well, on Saturday nights my friend told me that Love Machine generally attracts an Asian crowd.

For Zedd videos, you can go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmHhl2x2WaA or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfTnPX4APQ. Apologies in advance for the poor quality.

Yes during that time when I listened to Zedd.