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| Victoria's iconic Twelve Apostles; captured by my iPhone 5S. |
"Wanderlust: (n.) A strong desire or urge to wander or travel and explore the world."
It's a new year according to the islamic hijri calendar & hence, salam maal hijrah to my brothers & sisters worldwide ! I've been itching to write a new blog post but couldn't find a time to- I was either busy with dental school , work or just too tired from the combination of the two. Yes, busy busy me. Fret not, because today is a public holiday and it's my off-day from work and therefore, this blog post!
So a week ago I went to Melbourne, Australia with a very good friend of mine, Amie. We planned this trip a year ago and were so happy when our holiday finally arrived! Since someone asked on Instagram about my budget for the whole week trip there, I've decided to share it here- in hope to help you wanderlusters out there to manage your finances & plan your awesome Melbourne holiday!
Truth be told, since I was a young girl, I've this pull to Australia and up until before the trip, I never knew why exactly. Turns out that so far, it's the best city I've been to. You'll know why shortly.
Preparation
1. Travel Visa=rm42
3. Packing: Know the season
rule of thumb: Layers, layers, layers!
-Melbourne is known for having 4 seasons in one day!
-bring sunblock; it can be really sunny even during cold seasons
-waterproof, comfy shoes. (I wore leather boots)
will do a separate post about packing for spring in Melbourne soon.
4. Passport
-ensure your passport in still valid during your travel dates.
-Malaysian gov requires you to have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.
5. Change currency
-find the cheapest money changer, so you need to start scouting in advance.
-I changed my ringgit to aussie dollar at the rate of $1=rm3.03 at Giant, Kelana Jaya
6. Activate ur credit/debit card for international use
-for emergencies
Transport
1. Flight tickets = rm1100
-Airasia
-20kg baggage
-return tickets
-tune insurance
-bought a year in advance
2. Flexicar rental =$50=rm150
-1 hr rental: $25
-to reach accomodation
-from accomodation to airport
3. myki card = $6+$10 topup= rm48
-to use trams that are out of the free tram zone
Communication ($17=rm51)
Optus $2 simcard plan
with 500mb data daily
bought with $15 topup
at melbourne central
Accomodation
We're lucky enough to not have to fork out money on this part because I have a relative studying there and he introduced us to his girlfriends, whom were very kind to let us crash their queen bed in their living room. We clicked instantly! Girls, if you're reading this, we miss you! <3
If you're doing this as well, don't forget to pack some Malaysian goods to give them as a token of appreciation :)
Itinerary
Day 1:
-lunch at a briyani shop near Flagstaff Gardens $10= RM30
-state library
-melbourne central
-federation square
-st. paul's cathedral
-DFO South Warf (shopping)
-Melb Convention Centre (solat)
- Yarra river sunset at the Esplanade
-dinner at home (we brought instant food from Malaysia)
**Shopping at DFO; total $77= rm231
-sunnies $15
-sunnies casiing $5
-$15 David Beckham perfume
-$8 manicure cream set
-$12 diffuser set
-$10 3 typo notebooks
-$5 typo journal
-$7 straw glasses
Day 2:
-Queen Victoria Market
-Brunch: Fish & chips $10=rm30
-Melbourne Uni
-Teatime: Pancake Parlour at Bourke Street $8= rm24 (show ur student card)
-St. Kilda beach (super cold when we got there at sunset)
-dinner: nasi lemak at home
**Shopping
- 1 loaf sourdough bread at QVM = $4.40= rm13.20
-h&m jacket on sale $10=rm30
-makeup & toiletries at priceline $22=rm66
Day 3:
-southern cross station (sent a friend back to catch a bus to Adelaide)
-chai latte for breakfast $3.60= rm10.80
-melbourne central
-flinders street station
-Hozier lane (graffiti art)
-shrine of remembrance
-royal arcade
-pepper lunch $10 = rm30
**Shopping
-faceshop aloe vera gel $9=rm27
-lush products $25= rm75
-stickers $3 =rm9
-benefit products $19 =rm57
-iphone case $5 =rm15
Day 4: Tour day
1. 1 day Great Ocean Road Tour= $96= rm288
-free hotel pickup & drop off
-includes morning tea & lunch
-very nice & informative tour guide
-includes 11 stops
-8am-8pm
extra food we bought during the tour;
gelato ice cream at Apollo Bay= $4.60= rm13.80
filet o fish from mcdonalds at the last stop = $5= rm15
Day 5:
-breakfast at Bruneti, Lygon Street $13= rm39
-toiletries at pharmacy=$17=rm51
-DFO south warf
-Harbour Town, Docklands
**Shopping at DFO;
-one direction that moment 50ml perfume = $15= rm45
-2 esprit tops= $32 = rm96
-original football jersey= $70 =rm210
**Shopping at Docklands;
-nike rosche shoes= $70= rm210
-black strappy shoes = $40= rm120
Day 6:
-Queen Victoria Market (to buy souvenirs)
-Breakfast at Market lane coffee, victoria cafe =$11.50= rm34.50 for salmon croissant & latte
-city circle free tram (route 35)
-Carlton Gardens
-Royal Exhibition Hall
-Melbourne museum
-St.Patrick's Cathedral
-San Churro, QV mall = $7= rm21
-Brighton beach
-dinner cooked by our friends at the guys house ! hehe
**Shopping for souvenirs at QVM;
-tshirts $5each (x4)= $20= rm60
-collared shirt $10 each= rm30
-keychains $1 each = $7= rm21
Day 7: Goodbye Melbourne
$10=rm30 food & drinks at airport
TOTAL EXPENSES : RM 3281.30
Other tips;
1. bring an empty water bottle
-the toilets in Melbourne do not have water hoses
2. bring water!
-most tap water are safe to drink there
-you're gonna be walking a lot so it's important to stay hydrated!
3. go to the visitor's centre in federation sq on your first day there!
-get maps
-public transport routes and info
-basically everything to help you plan during your stay there.
-they sell souvenirs too, but slightly expensive than those in queen victoria market.
4. Never hesitate to ask for directions
Melburnians are very friendly people! I've encountered with many helpful, warm people throughout my stay there. Hope you will too! One of them even escorted us on a 15 min walk from where we were lost to where we were heading to! Def one of the biggest reasons why I love this city so much! Help is always around.
5. Make sure you still have some cash to last for food at the airport!
6. The shillings that you end up with; donate them to the homeless in Melbs or give them to your friends/fam living there. There's no point in bringing them back with you; money changers won't accept coins.
7. Bring a power bank with you
-you'll need it to charge your phone if you love taking pictures & videos like me :)
HERE'S THE VIDEO OF OUR WHOLE TRIP;
HERE'S THE VIDEO OF OUR WHOLE TRIP;
So there you go ! Hope you'll find Melbourne as magical as I did <3
xx
