Must go places & to-do in Melbourne | Chanwon's Itinerary

Hey Sweeties!! Is me again and I guess it's time to throwback on my previous trip to Melbourne and I'm so happy finally I complete this full #FollowChanwonTo Melbourne Itinerary!! It's now up on my blog and hope it's helpful for those who planned to visit to Melbourne this year or in the future. If you  noticed from my Must go places & To-do in Perth post you might know that I love Australia a lot. I visited twice to Perth and now I finally did a complete to-do list for you guys in Melbourne. 

I have my friends in Melbourne who guide me during my trip and of course Smelly who lived there for few months and that's why I can just have to sit down and relax with this unplanned trip. Melbourne is one of my favourite place to go (other than just Japan) because there are lots of tasty breaky, places and things to-do. I visited Melbourne few years ago and thing I pretty much felt in love with was the BIG PORTION of their food, communication, scenery and people. HAHAHAHA

Although most of the time I just look at my phone and google map lol. If you love city view and nature scenery at the same time then this should be one of the must-visit place in your life. I love all the historical building around Melbourne City, the art wall , the wonderful breakfast to kickstart my day and of course I get to meet my friends and one of my reader Fion in this beautiful place. I miss everything there except the fact that our RM depreciate and everything become so expensive when travel to Australia. lol 

Apart from that, let me introduce this huge fluffy furkid to all of you! He is Pudding, a pure white & huge samoyed dog. Look like husky but it's not. Remember the first day when I arrived in Melbourne, he welcome me with a huge hug and kiss on my cheeks! Omg so cute and I miss him sooooooo much. 

So are you ready for #FollowChanwonTo Melbourne? Let's explore this beautiful place with me!! 

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| Ticket Price |

I bought the ticket one month before my Melbourne trip. It's quite last mins because I'm not sure when I'm free since I travel alone from Malaysia just to find Smelly in Melbourne. It's around RM1600 if not mistake with luggage weight added to my ticket. It's quite pricy for this price but if you book earlier you can get it around RM1200 and the lowest I saw was RM1000 per person. Sometime I saw Malaysia Airline was around RM1580 per ticket. So guess my flight ticket by AirAsia was quite pricy during my trip. But I don't care because I want go there meet my friends and of course, BRING SMELLY BACK lol!!

So in my opinion, Melbourne flight ticket between RM890-1200 is consider quite reasonable. So just check on that and BUY it if you notice it's around this range ya. If not you will regret because last mins booking is always...so....pricy! It's 8 hours from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne! Quite scary because it's 8 hours and the seat wasn't that comfortable if I'm travelling to there alone since I can't sleep on someone's shoulder lol.

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| Accommodation & Transportation 

As usual I always recommended to stay in the right place and personally I prefer staying airbnb rather than hotel because you have more choice to choose from and more affordable. If you planning to go with a group of people (3-4 person) each night stay should be around RM80-150 per person only. It's very cheap and you can find the room that suit you the most on the app itself. I staying in the heart of Melbourne with Smelly's family. It was super duper convenient and just remember to take note on the location and keep the app on your phone so you can communicate with the owner of the place easier.

One thing I love about Australia was it's so convenient like when I'm in Japan and there are free tram in Melbourne. It means you can free travelling around the heart of Melbourne just make sure you check correctly the zone and time as well. If you going there for a week I guess the amount you should prepare for the transportation should be around RM300. 

If you lazy to plan or finding the way to go to any place, you can actually go to the chinatown area and book for a day trip. It's around AUD80-90 per day trip. I booked the great ocean road day trip @  长青 Evergreen tour located at the chinatown. It's call 长青 but I guess the English name should be evergreen lol. If I'm not mistaken lol The tour was quite professional and nice. No harm but I think day tour is AWESOME. Just gather at the location in early morning and you can just sit back, relax in the bus until you reach the place!! If you going with your parents and they prefer tour but you don't like those old kind of tour then you can think of booking those day trip tour. It's less time consuming and can go few spot at the same time :D

Day trip with tour makes my life easier because I didn't rent a private car with Smelly since we just 2 persons. If you going with a group of friends 4-5 person then you can just rent a private car and drive it yourself. It's more fun and cheaper if divided / share it with your friends. 

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| Weather

The time when I visited to Melbourne was in Summer time but it doesn't seems to be in Summer at all because the weather is really unexpected. It can be really cold at the morning and suddenly the weather can be really hot in the afternoon. It's why I always need to carry a jacket or outer when I'm out of the house. It's either super hot or super cold on the next day even it's in summer season. lol The funny thing was I brought all summer outfit & a little boho style outfit but end up.... I have to cover all my summer outfit with a thick jacket. I brought 1 jacket at first and decided to go and get more on the next day wtf!!

Within my half month staying in Melbourne during Summer season, I can experience both summer and autumn in once. lol At the same day! Morning can be really cold like 11 degree and suddenly it turned into 29-30 degree in the afternoon wtf!!

So beware of the weather. No matter what please bring along a jacket with you. Also, remember to apply sunblock as much as you can because Australia has some of the highest UV levels in the world. It's why two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer. Just put one bottle of sunblock on your backpack! 

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| Food 

As I mentioned earlier, the food in Melbourne is way TOOOOO GOOD for me to gain weight. The portion was super big and I can even share with Smelly and my friends hahahaha! The price of the food there is still acceptable because it's almost same price with the food I ordered in our city, KL. Average price should be around RM55-80 per person in normal restaurant. The cheapest I found was a thai food restaurant in Melbourne which cost around RM80 for two person only. CHEAP AND NICE!!

I visited some of the famous cafe in Melbourne. I love their dessert and cafe but some of the drink wasn't my cup of tea. They told me it's really nice but for me it's just too sweet. HAHAHA But no harm I still love the food there since there are tons of choices for you to choose from. If you want to eat Chinese food just go ahead to Chinatown , there are more food like thai food, Malaysia's food and Korean food too! So, just beware of your wallet! HAHAHAAH 

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| Total Expenses 

Excluded the flight ticket, with RM2500 pocket money you can survive in Melbourne for a one week (7 days) trip. For me since I stay there for half month (2 weeks time) I bring more around RM4500-4800. So what you need to do is just plan how much money you can use in a daily basis , then you won't easily over your budget.

In my opinion most of the time I will save RM5000 for a whole one week (7 days-8 days) trip included the flight ticket and accommodation. The rest I will just plan accordingly see whether I should top up a little budget for me to enjoy shopping or eat more nice foods! So as long as you have around RM5000 you can visit to Australia, Japan , Korea. If you have lower budget you can go for Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam. If you have more budget you can plan for Italy & so on. So this is some of my personal advice since I went most of the place and now even I close my eyes I also can count the budget base on the country itself HAHAHAHA lol.

So after looking and planning the expenses, it's time to explore Melbourne with me!! Let's follow me to Melbourne! 

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| #1 Flinders Street Station |

The next day was super excited. I woke up super early in the morning and here's the first stop! Right in the heart of Melbourne!! It's the Flinders Street Station, a railway station located at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne. Here's another photo worthy spot for you to take a lovely photo with your friends or your partner. Smelly told me that it is one of the famous meeting spot in Melbourne. 

Of course, what I love the most was its distinctive yellow facade and green copper dome! 

 If you pass by here, remember to walk slowly and take a photo before you leave.

Just continue walk around this area you can see lots of historical and old-vintage building. I can't believe I can see all it in the city. Also you can easily spot the St Paul's Cathedral located nearby the station. Just a few mins waking distance from the station.

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| #2 St Paul's Cathedral |

Next it's the St Paul's Cathedral. Just a few mins waking distance from the Flinders Street Station. It's stunning inside and this Cathedral is quite big + impressive. It is one of the City of Melbourne's major architectural landmarks & also a must-visit place in Melbourne. Now just let's the photo do the talking!

All photo taken in Melbourne using Olympus OMD EM10 + F1.8 lens / Fisheye lens 

(Edited by VSCO filter)

Love the floor!!

 Impressive older architecture 

It's really stunning inside and the interior itself is so photogenic. It's my first time there but definitely not the last time. Will be back to Melbourne again at the end of this year and hopefully I have my partner in crime with me on my next coming trip. It's not fun to be on the long flight for such a long hours. lol So here's a photo of Smelly & I after 3 months of long-distance relationship lol. Yeap, just 3 months! HAAHAHHA

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| #3 Hosier Lane (Street Wall Art) |

Nothing beat the amazing street wall art at Hosier Lane. It's truly a fabulous artwork!! Of course, the main thing was it's free for photography and you can shoot as much photo as you like. I'm admiring all the art and the detail in it and certainly worth a visit! Those wall art changed every few weeks / months and also remember to look up because the wall art are covered from top to bottom.

A little adventure at this creative lane!!

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| #4 Block Arcade |

Next, one of my favourite spot! I went there more than twice. This beautiful Block Arcade is a heritage shopping arcade in the central business district of Melbourne. It's famous with the vintage-looking shops & one of the tea rooms. A super long queue always :'( Never have enough time to queue up and wait for  my turn so if you plan to enjoy some high-tea session with your friends, remember to come earlier and queue for this. If not you can be like me, give up after waited for 30 mins lol

 This is the famous tea rooms 

 Just look at this..OMG!!! 口水直流

Miss Melbourne so much when reading this post T.T

It's one of our best trip ever. This is quite memorable because you know I hardly can travel with Smelly and this is our second trip together after our first busan &jeju trip few years ago.

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| #5 Brighton Beach |

Also one of the super famous spot for couple shoot or wedding shoot. AHHAAHAH Last time I always saw my friend check-in here on their facebook and instagram & NOW I'M HERE!! My camera battery left on the table so the whole day I just shoot the photo with my iPhone :'( It's sad but even it's just with my iPhone all the photo turned out quite nice also!!

But honestly, nothing much can do at here other than just taking photo around and pose like a crazy girl like me lol. So it's best if you can drop by here earlier then you can save your time no need photoshop your photo because this place is quite tourist >.< So crowded if you come really late!!

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| #6 Night Noodle Market |

Never thought to visit this market until we actually walk by here and decided to just GO & EAT ALL THE FOOD!! It's quite a memorable one for me because I get to try the famous watermelon cake , the crazy amount of food I eat at here , the food, the famous Gelati ice cream & of course, in such a hot weather I'm still able to enjoy it with all of my friends! So if you are here in Melbourne, make sure to check this out online or just simply google it!!

It's so hot!!

 Miss you Fion <3

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| #7  State Library of Victoria |

The most beautiful library!!! My whole Melbourne trip won't be complete without visit to this stunning and most beautiful library in Australia. I thought photography wasn't allow inside the library so I quite regret that I didn't take some shot at this beautiful place. But here's the exactly photo that I found in Google Image. It looks exactly like this. OMG I TELL YOU, YOU MUST GO IN and witness this yourself ok!!?

It's really so beautiful (sibeh chioooo) and please come here because I ask you to do so :p It's really beautiful. OMG OMG

This is me with the State Library of Victoria Building 

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| #8  Queen Victoria Market |

Come here by the tram. Remember to take note of the opening hour! This local Queen Victoria Market totally changed my mind. It's clean and quite huge for me. I just went there to experience and bought some fruits for Smelly! AHAHHAAH I didn't cook at Melbourne because i don't even know how to cook lol But if you come with your friends, you guys can plan one day to visit here in the morning and prepare some yummy and tasty breakfast for yourself / your friends. I guess this is quite a good idea AHHAAHAH Just remember don't accidentally burn the kitchen :p 

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| #9  Puffing Billy Railway |*highly recommended by Chanwon

This is our day trip tour where we booked on the first few days after I landed in Melbourne. Another must- visit place for you and super recommended by me because this is a completely new experience for me...why??

Because it's great to see, experience and getting to hang legs over the side is amazing.  HAHAHAAH Yeap!! It's not a joke because it's fine for everyone to hand your legs over the side and it's really exciting for me! 

Remember to take off your shoe if you want xD

Puffing Billy is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. This century old steam train is still running on its original 25 kilometre mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook, through the beautiful forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges. The open sided carriages are the best way to see the stunning views and you can even dangle your legs over the side of the carriages! 

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| #10 Shopping @Direct Factory Outlet | 

Here's a little shopping break for you guys! I bought all my clothes from this direct factory outlet. It's really huge and lots of affordable items!!! Super duper cheap and affordable. Seriously I bought few jackets from DFO and it cost only AUD5 for each jacket only. You can go by free tram and you can find lots of branded brands in this factory outlet. 

HAHAAHAH I spent a lot!!

Most of the item was $5-$10 + 50% discount! So it's super duper cheap!! AUD 5 is just RM15 only for a jacket!!! Seriously just come here to spend rather than other shopping complex. This is the best place to search and get some really cheap and affordable items.

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| #11 Twelve Apostles & Great Ocean Road | *highly recommended by Chanwon

My next highly recommended place was plan for a day trip to Great Ocean Road. If can, stay a night at Great Ocean Road with the infinity sea sky view. It's super beautiful and really felt in love with this place. Beautiful sunset and you can spot wild kangaroo everywhere too. Then, the super famous Twelve Apostles is for those who love both nature and wildlife. You can also enjoy the beautiful bird's eye view from here by booking a helicopter flight. 

 Twelve Apostles

 Great Ocean Road

 There are only four apostles here and the rest you can see it from the bird's eye view

 No joke, so windy and cold here!!

 Gibson Steps - Just walk down to the beach here and it's dwarfed by the 70metre high vertical cliff line.

 <3

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| #12 Philip Island (Penguin) & Koala & Animal Park | 

The next day was one of our favourite place too. For those who come here for the first time, it's a must for you to pay a visit to Philip Island & observe the little cute penguin around this beautiful island + the famous Koala Bear in Australia. 

First stop of the day: Maru Koala & Animal Park

 Hello Kangarooooo!!

 OMG SO CUTE!!!

 Second Stop: Koala Bear Museum

 Third stop: FOOD time before going to see the cute little penguin~

This is one of the best moment during the trip where you can see lots of penguin walking from the beach and back to their little home. It's so lovely and  no camera & flash allow because it will cause harm to the penguin's eyes. So I didn't take photo during the time but here's some of the photo taken from google image. It's so fun but seriously damn cold during the late afternoon in penguin island.

 Last but not least, you can buy some souvenir back to Malaysia too :p

 Some of the photo taken by Smelly <3

Please don't wear like this...really so freaking cold T.T

 Us, the duo!

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| #13 St. Kilda & Luna Park | 

Melbourne's Luna Park is a historic amusement park located on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda, Melbourne. There are lots of fun rides, kids attractions & amusements. There are a real Luna Park in Sydney and this is the one located in Melbourne ya so don't confuse both of this! HAHAHAAH There are some afternoon market around St.Kilda too. You can easily reach here by using google map. 

 Bought this dream catcher from the market!

 The Luna Park in Melbourne

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| #14 Melbourne Art Gallery (National Gallery of Victoria) + The Shrine of Remembrance | 

Something unusual but the art gallery was super duper nice. I spent few hours at this art gallery and the rest of the day just walk around the city for food and shopping. I also went to the The Shrine of Remembrance. Thanks Fion for the guide and I love everything here T.T Someone please bring me back!!

Let's the photo do the talking :D 

 Melbourne Art Gallery (National Gallery of Victoria)

Moschino Vintage Bag

The Shrine of Remembrance

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| #15 Melbourne Victoria Uni | 

When I'm in Hokkaido, I visited the famous and huge Hokkaido University. Now I'm in Melbourne, it's still a must for me to visit their Uni. Fion brought me to the place she love the most. Everyone who graduated from here always feel proud of their uni and honestly, this uni was super pretty. The vintage looking building and interior melted my heart!

miss you Fion!!

Look at this T.T 

I guess it must be really pretty in Autumn season <3

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| #16 Must-Eat Food: Schnitz & Labelle Macaron |  

One of top-rating food!! Schnitz :D The best chips in town! Super yummy and I hope someone can bring it back to Malaysia. It's the best chips I tried so far. Please try this when you come to Melbourne. It's so famous here!!

 La belle macaron! My favorite macaron in Melbourne. Taste heavenly and omg!! The box was super pretty too! 

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| #17 The Lui Bar |  

Nothing to do at night?? Visit to Lui Bar and it's one of the hiding bar in the town. Smelly's brother brought us here. It's quite chioooo and love the top view from the window!!

Sorry for my naked bare face lol

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| #18 Pick Your Own Cherries & Strawberries |  

 If you come with your friends and you guys plan to rent a car here then you can plan for a day out to @Bacchus Marsh, Victoria & pick as many cherries / strawberries as you can! It's fun and I get really excited because of the fresh cherry & strawberry. 

 Look at the size of the strawberry OMG

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| #19 Shopping: Costco Wholesale |  

I love snacks and I can't live without it. So here's the reason why am I here. Wholesale price with lots of snacks and products at BIG C!! JUST BUY~~ Love all the biscuit and snacks in Australia. CHEAP AND BIG PORTION TOO. Especially the chips T.T sooooo good omg!

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| #20 Royal Exhibition Building (REB) & Melbourne Museum |  

We stay somewhere nearby this Royal Exhibition Building so we are almost here everyday! We brought pudding here and play around with him. The Melbourne Museum is located behind this exhibition building. If you have some extra time here, remember to visit the museum. If not then just come here to take a insta worthy photo :p The building was super nice and many wedding photo taken at here too. 

With naughty pudding <3

 When you say "Let's go"

 Then you realize you can't even hold him wtf! 

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| #21 Must-try: Chocolait |  

If you are a chocolate lover! Remember this place ok?!!!  It's located @ Emporium Melbourne. Worth for the price! Address: 342 - Level 3, Emporium287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

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| #22 Famous Cafe: Hash Specialty coffee & roasters |  

Went here twice and the first time was in a long queue so I gave up on it and successfully get in the Cafe on my second visit. You have no idea how crazy the queue was (even it's weekday). Love the pumpkin & mushroom <3 But the super heavy chocolate drink isn't my cup of tea. It's famous and one of the top recommended item in the menu but it's too sweet for me. Like drinking a whole pack of chocolate into my mouth lol.

But the rest of the food was really good. 

Toooooo sweet for me :x 

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| #23 Must-Try: Naughty Boy Cafe |  

Cafe hopping time with my girls again. This is recommended by my friend, Ying. She's one of my bestie sister and now she's living in Melbourne. So happy to meet her in Melbourne <3 

 Top-rating dessert drink! VERY VERY NICE!

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| Will be back to Melbourne again <3 |  

That's all about my Melbourne trip. It's fun to meet my friends and get my Smelly back :p If you love to experience both nature and city view, then make sure you visit to Melbourne because there are more place to explore other than the one I mentioned in this post. Melbourne is my second favourite place. I love about the food and of course, this is a place that full of love and adventure. Will be back again and I miss the Schnitz chips & Labelle Macaron too.

Hope this itinerary plan is useful for you! Enjoy the food and help me to say hello to the penguin and koala bear too. Have a nice trip to Melbourne Sweeties <3 That's all for today. Love, xoxo.

Map provided by Wanderlog, a travel planner