Ozzie trip - 29 Aug to 8 Sept 08

We are finally back from our ozzie trip!

This was my first oversea trip. Mummy and daddy was quite worried for my first experience taking aeroplane, so they prepared lots of fruits and biscuits for me to munch on the plane. They did not need to worry much, as I was not bothered by the uncomfortable feeling on ears when the plane took off and touched down, and I was pretty well behaved throughout the plane trip.

It was end winter/beginning of spring in australia. It was not very cold, around 15 degrees, but the wind was fierce and harsh, my cheeks started feeling dry and peeling, and i refused to sit on the stroller but wanted mummy to carry me. Poor mummy, got to carry me walking along the Southbank and around the city.

We spent our first three days in Melbourne City, where we met up with Su Ann yiyi and Uncle Benny and tour around the city. We have also visited Aunty Marie and her family (her husband Uncle Evan, and her two sons, Jordan and Daniel). It was a happy reunion with them for mummy, since she has not seen Aunty Marie for more than 10 years since she graduated from Monash Uni in 1998.

Happily jumping up and down on the bed at Toorak Manor Inn, where we stayed in Melbourne:


In Melbourne City:



Having lunch at Pancake Parlour:


With Aunty Marie family:


Daddy rented a car from Budget on Sunday. On Monday, we left Melbourne city and set off our trip to Great Ocean Road. We stopped by along the way at many coastal scenery such as 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge. We spent the night at a cabin in Port Campbell.







After Port Campbell, we continued our journey to Grampians. We visited the magnificent McKenzie Falls - the largest waterfall in the Grampians, went to Bunjil's Shelter - one of the most important Aboriginal Rock Art sites in the region and spent some time in beautiful Halls Gap - the heart of the Grampians. We spent the night in a beautiful house near Halls Gap, called Wildflower Lodge and the host Pauline was making us as comfortable as can be. The house has a big big garden and surrounded by wild birds and flowers and kangaroos!







We went back to Melbourne after Grampians, and next morning, we took a flight to Hobart, Tasmania via Tigerairways. The space inside the aircraft is more cramp, luckily the journey is short, less than 1.5 hours.



We picked up our rented car from Hobart airport, and straighaway, we drove to Port Arthur historic site and Eaglehawk Neck where we visited the fantastic natural attractions of Devils Kitchen and Tasman Arch. We also visited the famous Richmond Colonial Village, strolled around Australia's most historic town and its beautiful Georgian buildings including the oldest bridge in Australia. We settled our night at another cosy bed & breakfast inn, Gattonside Heritage at Hobart:








Next day, we left for Craddle Mountain. According to Google Map, the journey from Hobart is less than 300km and will take less than 3 hours. But to our horror, it took more than 5 hours and the road throughout the journey was winding and narrow. But we got to enjoy the superb scenery along the winding road, such as the Russell Falls and the 'Tall Trees' Walk at Mt Field National Park, where we saw the world's tallest flowering plant, the Swamp Gum and Lake St. Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. We also passed by the historic mining town of Tullah via Queensland. By the time we reached the cabin at Craddle Mountain, it was 7.30pm and was very dark already. The cabin we stayed is called Bushman's Hut, and true to its name, it was located among the bush. Mummy and I were very scared as we needed to cross the small lane among the bush with a torchlight to the wooden house. I cried out of scare inside the house and refused to drink milk that night. Despite its appearance, the wooden cabin is a cosy hut though, and we all had a good sleep till next morning when we were awaken by the birds.











We continued our journey to Launceston the next Morning. The journey to Launceston was a much more leisure one compared to journey to Craddle Mountain. We stopped by a few small towns and lookout spots along the journey, including a tour in the Marakoopa Cave. We stayed at a very nice house at the west of the city of Launceston. Launceston is smaller compared to Hobart, but it has very nice scenery and we visited the Cataract Cliff Ground, which is a unique feature whereby the mountain is located in the town, and walk ways (the normal and zig zag routes) were constructed so that we can "stroll pass" the mountain.

Enjoying our meal at a Dutch restaurant at New Longfork:


Inside the Marakoopa Cave:





Launceston, view from the house we stayed:


The Cataract Cliff Ground:


Our trip came to an end after Tasmania. It was a tiring trip for all of us, but it was rewarding as we have 10 full days of family life together. Mummy noted my vocab has improved after the journey. We are glad to be back home. Mummy is relief when she saw me go back to my routine comfortably. Now she is working hard to nurse back my peeling cheeks. :)