Australia Itinerary
Bondi to Coogee walk in Sydney, Australia
Australia was bucket list item #1 for me
After I made a bucket list, this beautiful continent quickly moved to the top for many reasons. First and foremost, the Great Barrier Reef. I knew if I didn’t get to it as soon as possible that it could die before I ever got the chance. This alone is what lead me to get my passport and my scuba diving certification. I also couldn’t wait to see the beaches, experience the culture and just immerse myself in all that Australia has to offer.
Below you’ll find an itinerary of what we did while we were there, I’ve since forgotten a lot of the names of places we stumbled upon since it was a full year ago but I’ll do my best.
Thursday-Friday
Flight to Australia - approximately 24 hours of travel
Saturday - Surry Hills
Arrived in Sydney
Airbnb - Surry Hills (young, hip area)
Single O Roasters - lamington (Australian cake) and coffee
Note: Australian coffee is amazing
Mohr fish - $20AUD lunch special fish and chips from 1130-1500
Glebe Market at Glebe Public School, Glebe Point Road, Glebe 10-4pm (popular)
Top's Kitchen - Australian eats, all-day breakfast + dinner options (cheaper side)
Happy Hour:
Keg and Brew - happy hour Saturday $5 drinks/beers
Dove & Olive - happy hour 5-7, even saturdays $4 drinks
Bars:
Goro's - open till 3 am Saturday, japanese bar
Tios Bar - "Mexican party shack", free spiced popcorn
Sunday - we hung out on the water/downtown
Opera House - didn’t tour, that costs $40AUD/person and didn’t interest us
The outside was still beautiful and of course a must see
Opera Bar - serves breakfast on weekends, small menu - not terribly priced ($9-19), also has australian cheese plates & bar snacks ($18) and a fun atmosphere
Sydney Harbor Bridge
Sydney Fish Market - weekend food specials until 4 pm - lunch
O Bar and Dining (rooftop bar) - for drinks 5pm-late
We tried to go here but Paul was wearing shorts because it was 90 degrees so they didn’t let us in
Monday - Bondi Beach
Airbnb: Bondi Beach
Tamarama Beach - 20 min walk from bondi
Iceberg Bar - drinks, gorgeous view. A must do
Bondie to Coogee coastal walk - breathtaking
Bondie Baths
Doyle’s on the Warf - 15 min ride from Bondi
Surfing Bondi Beach!
We went through Lets Go Surfing and had a wonderful experience
I did get hit in the head with a surfboard but thats beside the point
Bars on the water
The Bucket List bar and eatery
Neighbourhood bar
Tuesday-Thursday - Melbourne
Flight to Melbourne
Airbnb: Prahran (close to the bars/happy hour places)
Prahran Market
Happy Hour
Madame Brussels rooftop bar 1pm-1am
Father's Office Speakeasy - happy hour 5-7pm
Coffee/brunch
Industry Beans in Fitzroy - brunch and award winning coffee*
Kettle Black in South Melbourne - brunch/coffee
The Stables of Como - brunch
Tall Timber - they had a breakfast board that was so good it changed my life
Food
Hunky Dory Fish n Chips - South Melbourne
Asian Beer Cafe - 3 for $12 tapas*
Hosier Lane - amazing street art alley
Thursday - Cairns
Flight to Cairns
Airbnb: Downtown Cairns
Food:
Pier Bar for happy hour and food specials 5-7pm
Sushi Train - dinner
Drinks:
The Courtyard
The Conservatory, a wine bar
The Whoolshed, a night club
Gilligan’s (the place everyone seems to end up)
Cairns Night Markets are located at 71-75 The Esplanade and are open daily from 5.00-11.00pm
Friday-Saturday
Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef! See my other blog entry for more details on our experience
We went through Adventure Free and did the 2 day, 1 night option
Saturday Night
Airbnb: Cairns
Sunday
Flight back to Sydney
Airbnb: Central Sydney
Explore Central Sydney
One Central Park
Broadway Sydney
Food - I truly cannot remember what we ate but I know everything we had in Australia was SO good!
Monday
Flight home
If you love good food, espresso martinis, culture and history, wildlife, beautiful views and everyday people who look like models - you will love Australia. This vacation will be hard to beat and I cannot wait to go back!