Back from Australia, after a 6-day stay, my spending habits were shattered
Just got back from Australia. A 6-day stay completely broke my spending mindset—a regular coffee costs 15 AUD, taxi starting fare is 20 AUD, and even a bottle of water is 3 AUD! But when I saw the gradient blues of the Great Barrier Reef and the shell-like glow of the Sydney Opera House, I felt like “this money was well spent”!
Sydney (2 days) 🌉
1. Sydney Opera House: Buy tickets in advance on the official website (about 35 AUD). The inside tour lets you see the stage structure. Visit the Royal Botanic Garden at 4 PM to capture photos of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge in one frame, with soft lighting that looks like a filter!
2. Bondi Beach: Fewer people at 9 AM. Don’t miss the Bondi Icebergs Pool—clear seawater against the cliffs. At sunset, sit on the beach watching surfers; the wind carries the scent of sea salt.
3. Harbor Bridge: If you’re afraid of heights, don’t climb it (bridge climb costs about 300 AUD). Walking under the bridge still offers stunning night views. The evening light show is very romantic.
Cairns (3 days) 🐠
1. Great Barrier Reef: Choose a tour to the Outer Moore Reef. Snorkeling is free, scuba diving costs an extra 100 AUD, and helicopter sightseeing (about 200 AUD) lets you see the heart-shaped reef. The water is as blue as a spilled sapphire palette!
2. Kuranda Tropical Rainforest: Take the Skyrail cable car for a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest. The indigenous cultural performance is very interesting, and you can even touch a koala (about 20 AUD). Walking the skywalk is thrilling.
Melbourne (1 day) 🚗
1. Great Ocean Road: Join a day tour (about 150 AUD) to see the Twelve Apostles’ columnar rocks and the waves crashing at Loch Ard Gorge. The coastline looks like a curve painted by God. Remember to bring a jacket—the wind is strong.
Essentials 🔍
Power adapter (Type I, Australia-specific, don’t buy the wrong one)
Sunscreen (SPF 50+, reapply every 2 hours, UV rays can cause peeling)
Sunglasses + wide-brim hat (physical sun protection is the best)
Swimsuit (must-have for snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef)
Insect repellent (Cairns rainforest mosquitoes are highly toxic)
Google Translate (many locals don’t speak Chinese, rely on it for communication)
Tips to avoid pitfalls ⚠️
Visa is hard to get! Prepare bank statements for the past 6 months (balance over 50,000), employment proof. Approval takes 1–2 weeks, don’t apply last minute
Prices are really high! Buy snacks and water in advance at Coles supermarket. Restaurant meals cost at least 100 AUD per person. Don’t buy things casually at tourist spots
Be cautious with cheap Great Barrier Reef tours! Some shorten sea time or don’t go to the outer reef. Always check reviews
Melbourne driving is right-hand drive. Don’t rent if inexperienced; tours are safer
Don’t wear shorts in Cairns rainforest; mosquitoes can bite your legs all over
Budget breakdown 💰
Visa: 1,400 CNY (Australia tourist visa)
Round-trip airfare: 6,000 CNY (Shanghai to Sydney, off-season price)
Accommodation: 4,200 CNY (6 nights, Sydney 800/night, Cairns 700/night, Melbourne 700/night, mid-range hotels)
Food: 3,000 CNY (500 per day, eating in Australia is really expensive)
Attractions + activities: 5,000 CNY (Great Barrier Reef tour + helicopter 2,000, Sydney Opera House ticket 200, Kuranda cable car 300, Great Ocean Road tour 1,000)
Transportation: 1,500 CNY (Sydney Opal card, Cairns taxis, Melbourne public transit)
Total: about 21,100 CNY (painful but worth it!)
Best travel time 🌸
September–November (spring): flowers bloom brightly, temperature around 20℃, great for outdoor activities
March–May (autumn): leaves turn yellow, Sydney’s autumn scenery is beautiful, fewer tourists
Food recommendations 🍴
Sydney fish and chips: small shop near Bondi Beach, crispy outside and tender inside fried fish, with fries and a squeeze of lemon—amazing
Cairns mango sticky rice: local mangoes are super sweet, sticky rice rich with coconut flavor, you’ll want to buy more after eating
Melbourne flat white: Australian specialty coffee, rich and smooth, any shop you pick will be good
Although my wallet shrank by half after 6 days, the blue of the Great Barrier Reef healed all my unhappiness, the wind in Sydney Harbor carried the taste of freedom, and Melbourne’s coastline made my heart race. If your budget allows, you must visit Australia once. Those beautiful sights will stay in your mind for years!