Unlike tiny and crowded Singapore, the beauty of Australia is in her vast open spaces and ample natural assets. As the world’s largest island, Australia can truly fill a person’s entire lifetime with countless scenic holidays. In fact, the travel industry ranks Australia as the world’s best country to visit for her natural beauty.
From September to December 2009, Averal and I have taken 5 road trips out of Melbourne to the countryside in Victoria (VIC) state, and also into New South Wales (NSW) state reaching as far as Sydney.
Our first road trip was on 20 September. We went to the annual tulip festival in Silvan. We stopped along the way at Sassafras for lunch before reaching the tulip farm. After the tulip farm, we had a late afternoon tea picnic at Olinda. The distance traveled was 178km.
Averal and I at the annual tulip festival at Silvan.
Averal enjoying the afternoon tea picnic at Olinda.
Averal and I having an afternoon tea picnic at Olinda.
Our second road trip was on 27 September while hosting a holidaying Singaporean friend named Kenneth. Together with Kenneth, we had an English country-style tea at Sassafras.
Averal and I having an English country-style afternoon tea at Sassafras.
Our third road trip was a 2-day 1-night road trip from 31 October to 1 November. I drove us southeast of Melbourne to Phillip Island, and after a night’s stay at the seaside country town of San Remo, we drove off to Wilsons Promontory the next morning. The distance traveled was 615km.
Averal and I at Bass River winery on the way to Phillip Island.
Averal and I at Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
Averal and I at Wilsons Promontory Tidal River.
Averal and I having a picnic at Wilsons Promontory.
Our fourth road trip was on 5 December. I drove us to the west of Melbourne to Werribee Park Mansion and Point Lonsdale beach. The distance traveled was 292km.
Averal and I at Werribee Park Mansion.
During Averal’s mother’s visit to Melbourne in December 2009, we did our fifth road trip from 9 to 13 December. Together with her mother, we departed Melbourne to Warragul, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, and across the Victoria state border into New South Wales state where we spent 2 nights at Eden (NSW). After Eden, we drove on to Bega (NSW), Tilba Tilba (NSW), Kiama (NSW), Wollongong (NSW), and finally to Sydney (NSW). This 5-day 4-night road trip traveled 1325km.
Averal and I at Lakes Entrance.
Averal and I at Ben Boyd National Park (NSW).
Averal and I having fresh oysters at an oyster farm at Pambula River (NSW).
Averal and I outside the toilets of Bega cheese factory in Bega (NSW).
Averal and I at the Kiama blow hole in Kiama (NSW).
Averal and I outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney (NSW).
More images of our road trip are in our Facebook profiles.