Ok, so of course the biggest perk of being a travel agent is the opportunity to experience places and provide first-hand feedback to clients and colleagues.
I appreciate that I am not going to receive a huge amount of sympathy for needing to cram lots into a short window of time or because an educational trip is very different from a holiday.
This one however was something special, and I remain very proud of my successful six-day mission to journey around the south-eastern corner of the world’s largest island.
Let me explain:
Having never visited Australia, when tour operator Gold Medal kindly offered the opportunity to join nine other UK agents, their business development manager, Louisa, and hosts from the Sydney-Melbourne Touring company on an action-packed coastal adventure, tiredness was not even a consideration – I was in!
We flew on Etihad’s A380 to Melbourne via Doha, leaving behind the UK’s snow, ice and storms which only added to the excitement.
The journey was great with pleasant staff, delicious food and plenty of seat room.
Our hosts from Sydney-Melbourne Touring and Bunyip Tours met us with a transfer to the Lancemore Crossley St., our hotel for the night in the heart of the city.
An impressive breakfast set us up nicely for the day and after a site inspection of this art-filled, boutique hotel, we began a full day of Melbourne highlights...
The Trams
Distinctive and colorful, the trams run frequently and refreshingly, and are free within the Central Business District (CBD).
Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
Like the London Eye, a 30-minute ride to experience the city from a great height. Our host Nora kindly provided canapés, along with a fine glass of Australian wine.
Eureka Skydeck
This is the city’s highest observation deck, offering 360-degree views of Melbourne Park and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Port Phillip Bay, Federation Square, the CBD, West Gate Bridge and Southbank. It also houses The Edge, a glass cube extending from Eureka Tower’s 88th floor to suspend you 300 metres over the city!
A walking tour
This tour included Federation Square, Melbourne’s famous café culture and the laneways, a reinvention of some of the city’s grittiest parts, now home to vibrant bars, cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, and wonderful street art and graffiti.
The Deck Southbank
This is a beautiful, buzzy restaurant overlooking the Yarra River with stunning skyline views. We were hosted for dinner by Visit Victoria, before a nightcap at one of Melbourne’s many rooftop bars.
After the sights and sounds of the city, the following morning we set off for the coast and first up, a fantastic scenic tour with Phillip Island Helicopters.
My group experienced the flight incorporating Kilcunda, Cape Woolamai and the Wind Turbines and was blessed with a beautiful day for flying - the scenery was stunning.
I hope that my limited filming skills managed to do it justice …
Continuing our coastal journey across Victoria into New South Wales, the following days included several more memorable places and encounters...
The Nobbies Centre
This is an ecotourism destination located at Point Grant, on the western tip of Phillip Island. A network of boardwalks overlooks Seal Rocks, The Nobbies and The Blowhole, and provides great views out to Bass Strait.
Antarctic Journeys
This is an exhilarating, interactive exhibition and virtual journey into the Ocean and Antarctica. Its state-of-the-art technology facilitates standing on an ice floe, patting penguins, stroking seals and marvelling at whales.
Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks is home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals, with an estimated 16,000 inhabiting the area. It was fantastic to see them showing off their ducking and diving skills when we cruised out to see them in their natural environment.
Rusty Water Brewery Restaurant & Bar
This great place serves fabulous food accompanied by a tasting paddle of beer. We were hosted for a splendid dinner by Destination Phillip Island.
Penguin Parade
What an incredible experience to take a waddle on the wild side with these guys. They arrive at sunset every night of the year and there are various packages available to view them.
We were privileged to be taken on a guided tour of the whole area, including the underground viewing level and Penguin Plus, on tiered seating, next to Penguin Highway, one of the best viewing spots for their parade.
Cameras and phones are prohibited but we were given special dispensation to capture a piece of the action. My video is dark but hopefully gives an idea of how exciting this was...
Stargazing
The stars in the night sky took my breath away. Staying at the stunning Oak Tree Lodge and gazing in awe up at the night sky will stay with me forever. Truly amazing.
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Lots of wildlife roams here but by the time we had to leave there had been no sign of a kangaroo. Just as we were about to give up hope, I spotted one on open land who stayed very still as we approached. It turned out to be a mum feeding her joey - a magical sight!
The Riversleigh Bairnsdale Hotel
This hotel retains a modern Victorian-era feel with amazing balcony fretwork. Their afternoon tea, including incredible scones, was to die for.
Raymond Island
This island is reached by a short ferry from the mainland and is home to koalas, living in the wild. Here are a few fascinating koala facts:
They sleep for 22 out of 24 hours!
The females can suspend their pregnancy for up to two years.
Males have a forked penis, which looks like something out of an alien movie!
Jetty Road Retreat and Waverley House Cottages
These stunning cottage properties are close to Lakes Entrance township in the Gippsland region of the Victoria coast. Spectacularly coloured birds frequent the beautiful surrounding woodlands and we enjoyed a wonderfully relaxed evening with dinner and local wines courtesy of the Gippsland tourism operators.
90 Mile Beach, Lakes Entrance
Virtually deserted as far as the eye could see, with the softest sand, a beautiful spot.
Gipsy Point Lakeside
This is a dream luxury destination and a perfect place to stop over on the Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Drive.
Pambula
Pambula was our first stop in New South Wales and is home to Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tour, which included a boat ride through the oyster farms themselves. I wasn’t a fan myself but I did try them!
Merimbula
Merimbula is a great setting overlooking the South Pacific Ocean with magnificent sunsets. A splendid dinner hosted by Sapphire Coast Tourism enabled us to meet with local tourism suppliers.
Woodbine Park Eco Cabins
The resident kangaroos were waiting to be fed on our arrival at Woodbine Park Eco Cabins. It was an amazing experience to be so close as they fed from our hands.
Tanja Lagoon Camp
This camp is located on the edge of a wild coastal lagoon, surrounded by the gum forests of Mimosa Rocks National Park.
We were greeted for a site inspection by the owner carrying a couple of hessian shopping bags on her shoulders that contained a joey (baby kangaroo). They were six-month-old orphans, being hand-reared and were gorgeous. I even got to hold one and take it for a ride on the bus!
Tilba
The historic village of Tilba has intriguing boutiques, art and craft shops and the Real Dairy making a variety of cheeses on site.
Batemans Bay
At Narooma waterfront, we departed for Batemans Bay by South Coast Seaplane touring Montague Island before arriving for a presentation at the Oyster Shed on Wray followed by an afternoon’s kayaking.
Lincoln Downs Resort
This is a lovely boutique country retreat overlooking a picturesque lake and gardens, close to the town. Sam’s on the Waterfront was a great location to enjoy a glass of local wine at sunset.
Huskisson
This was a fantastic stop as we headed for Sydney. I love dolphins and on the cruise with Jervis Bay Wild, we spent some time with the residents, one of whom caught a ride on the boat’s bow as we headed back in, thoroughly enjoying his time in the limelight.
The trip’s longest drive brought us into Sydney and it was an indescribable feeling to catch a first glimpse of the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the flesh.
Hyatt Regency Sydney
Our final accommodation was the Hyatt Regency Sydney, at Darling Harbour, with the incredible rooftop Zephyr Bar providing amazing views of the city skyline at sunset and over farewell non-alcoholic cocktails later that night (We had the Bridge Climb the following morning!).
Bridge Climb Sydney
After arriving at Bridge Climb Sydney, we were suited, breathalysed and tested on a climbing frame set up, before being belted up with various attachments, including a hanky for the inevitable emotional moments ahead.
The unforgettable experience takes around three and a half hours, with several stops to take in the sights, informative narration from the guide and plenty of official photo shoots.
The Shangri-La Hotel
The Shangri-La Hotel was our final inspection, showcasing the most sumptuous rooms with incredible views, followed by a farewell lunch.
Pylon Lookout
With some free time before departing for home, a group of us headed back to take advantage of the complimentary pass included with the Bridge climb to ascend the 200 stairs at the Pylon Lookout to take our own iconic pictures.
At Sydney Airport, it was time to say our goodbyes to the boys flying back to Melbourne and to say our huge thanks for a trip filled with many laughs and lifetime memories.
Unsurprisingly, I slept nearly the entire way home.
It had been an incredible adventure, and I would do it all again. I can’t wait to return and experience more of this special country.
In the meantime, I have completed several training courses and am delighted to now officially be an Aussie Specialist!
