Solo trip to Australia for 11 days, every day brings a different surprise
Who understands, my dears? Carrying a camera alone and venturing through Australia, every second feels like opening a gentle mystery box — starting from the clouds drifting over the wing in Shanghai, this compact yet full-of-surprises journey even carries romantic elements in the wind~
🌿DAY 2-3 【Melbourne: Kneading Time into Vintage】
Under the Gothic window frames of the Parliament House, I picked up a leaf edged with gold. On the lawn of the University of Melbourne, I lay down until the sunset stretched my shadow into a thin line. The graffiti walls of Hosier Lane are perfect for shooting artsy films; when the sunlight slants across the colorful walls, it feels like stepping into a dream inside a palette~ The most unforgettable moment was riding the Puffing Billy steam train through the forest, the wooden carriage shaking with the sounds of old times, shadows of trees rushing past the window; in the evening, squatting on the beach waiting for the Little Penguins to return home, watching the round, fluffy bundles line up and emerge from the waves, their fur dripping with water droplets, like a group of walking stars, I dared not breathe too heavily for fear of disturbing them~
🌊DAY 4 【Great Ocean Road: A Romantic Date with the Sea】
Taking the bus along the coastline, the sea breeze messes up my hair but I’m reluctant to tie it up — The Twelve Apostles stand in the deep blue sea, the sunset gilding the rocks with warm gold, waves crashing against the reefs breaking into white foam. At that moment, all adjectives felt pale; I could only stand there letting the sea breeze wrap me in tenderness and hit my heart~
🐨DAY 5-6 【Brisbane + Gold Coast: Surrounded by Soft Cuteness and Starlight】
The greenery in South Bank Parklands is wrapped in sunlight. When hugging a koala, its soft paws hooked onto my clothes, its breath so gentle that even my heartbeat slowed down; then heading to the Glow Worm Caves in the Gold Coast, the pitch-black cave suddenly lit up with countless tiny stars on the walls, unreachable by hand but you could feel the warmth of romance~ I was speechless when taking a helicopter to overlook the coastline! From high above, the blue sea looked like it was paved with shattered gems, white waves chasing the beach, the sound in my headphones became background noise, just me quietly conversing with the sea; the farm BBQ at night was lively, the aroma of grilled steak mixed with the evening breeze, even the shadows were tinged with the scent of fireworks~
🌴DAY 7-9 【Rainforest + Great Barrier Reef: Entering Nature’s Fairy Tale】
The amphibious vehicle in Kuranda Rainforest was so much fun! The moment it splashed into the water, droplets flew everywhere, leaves brushed against the windows, the air was filled with the fresh scent of plants, and occasionally a bird flew by as if playing hide and seek with me; on the Cairns Double Reef cruise, I put on a wetsuit and dived into the sea — oh my! Red corals, yellow fish, and blue starfish swayed right before my eyes, I could touch the soft seaweed, feeling like a little transparent creature under the sea~ The dolphin watching cruise in Jervis Bay made me scream with joy! A pod of dolphins jumped alongside the boat, their silvery-gray bodies shining in the sunlight. I shouted “Hello” to the sea, and they jumped even higher as if responding to me~ Finally, walking into the Sydney Opera House, looking up at the curve of the dome, imagining the operas performed here, suddenly art felt so close to me~
🍟DAY 10-11 【Sydney: Eating All the Goodness】
I basked in the sun on a bench in the Royal Botanic Garden, watching the distant Harbour Bridge reflected in the water; the fish and chips at Sydney Fish Market were freshly fried, crispy outside and tender inside, dipped in ketchup, so fresh it made me squint; the red wine paired with steak at the winery was amazing, the tipsy feeling just right, quiet and peaceful, only feeling that time was gentle and good~
Boarding the flight back to Shanghai, Sydney slowly shrank beneath my eyes, and I suddenly understood the meaning of solo travel — these sea breezes, starlight, soft koalas, and dancing dolphins are my little secrets with myself. Given time, I will definitely continue traveling alone, storing more beautiful memories in my mind~ Of course, I’ll share them with you all~
Other visitors' reviews of Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Show More ReviewsThe Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is really the most worthwhile green lung in Sydney! 🌿Just a 5-minute walk from the Sydney Museum, you can dive into this urban oasis, which is completely free and breathtakingly beautiful! The first recommendation is Mrs. Macaulay's chair. Sitting on the sandstone-carved chair, the picture of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in the same frame is directly enshrined! 📸Whether it is the morning mist or the golden afterglow in the evening, every shot is a postcard-level blockbuster. I'll tell you secretly, walking south along the coastline, there is a reef beach under the shade of trees. Sitting there and taking a back photo is super atmospheric~ There are so many surprises hidden in the garden! The giant coconut trees in the palm garden seem to be in a tropical rainforest, and more than 1,800 species of roses in the rose garden bloom freely in the sun, and even the air is sweet. In the tropical rainforest greenhouse, you can see Titan arum flowers and Wollemi pines from the dinosaur era. It is a paradise for plant lovers! 🦖 In the afternoon, lie on the big lawn and watch the locals walking their dogs, picnicking, and playing Frisbee. The lazy atmosphere makes you relax instantly. When you are tired, go to Café Gusto next to the greenhouse to order a cup of coffee and sit on the terrace to watch the parrots jumping on the treetops. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and walk slowly. There are different beauties from sunrise to sunset. If you are in a hurry, you can rent a bicycle to travel around the whole park in 30 minutes. Remember to bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen, after all, the density of green plants here is really too high!