Email from ZH friend

As requested, here is the email from ZH's friend.
Its quite long, so take your time.

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I highly do not recommend the Melbourne Goal as all you'd be doing would be to visit a old jail and undergo shouting like during CST.
Would on the other hand recommend going to the Eureka skydeck (bring your student passes as it would allow you student prices, yes be unscrupulus asians...). Its just a sight see of the entire city, or simply go shopping or lunch at Victoria Market.
Electronic goods are surprisingly cheaper than in Singapore, just purchase over 300 bucks and you'd be eligible for a 11% tax back rebate at the airport (as long as you remember to hand carry it).
You can technically sneak lots of wine back into Sg and wine/liqurer is cheapest at Dan Murphy's which is situated in QV basement.
On the free day, I'd recommend you go skiing if the weather permits. It would set you back about 300 bucks per pax.

Do get lots of nice music when you are driving as it can get very monotonous. Speed at your own risk as they are urber strict on that though the speed limit can go up to 110km/h at some places (just look out for Holden Commodores parked by the side of the road or camera boxes). You get charged a age tax if you're not over 25.
Great ocean road drive is about 285km via the scenic route via the Princess Freeway (M1) to Geelong followed by the Great ocean road drive (B100). Roads are rather long and winding at times especially at the coast. When going back, take the Princess Freeway back all the way to Melbourne (A1-M1).
Not very sure bout the toll points though.

Drive to Philip Island is just as bad (144km on rather straight and bare roads) and when driving at night especially, remember to make sure the driver and the co-pilot is awake. Petrol at this point of time is no more than $1.20 per liter for unleaded 91 and you can get up to 6c off per litre price with fuel dockets from the supermarkets (spend 30 bucks or more).
Drop by http://www.caldermeadecafe.com.au/ for a meal or something on the way to Philip Island.

Places to eat (the most important thing for Singaporeans) wise, I'll not recommend any chinese cuisine since it would be idiotic to come all the way here to eat chinese food.
Melbourne city has a very wide selection of fine cuisine available at reasonable prices and a decent meal (portions here are larger than in Sg so be warned) would cost about 15 per pax, excluding drinks (tap water is free).
You can find lots of food at places like Degraves St, Hardware Lane & Lygon Street (just to name a few). There is a hell load of stuff to choose from and you'd be simply spoiled for choice. Coffee is also an essential part of Melbourneian's lives and you would be gurrenteed to find good coffee here (latte, flat whites, espresso, etc etc).
Please don't be decieved by the looks of some of the places I'm recommending you, the outside may look extremely dodgy but the quality of the stuff being served is just the opposite.

www.trotters.com.au
www.cafeno5.com.au
www.brotherbababudan.com.au
The Quarter: 27-31 Degraves St Melbourne 3000 (No link)
www.movida.com.au
www.innocentbystander.com.au

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Please read through! You will be tested!

Itinerary 2

Recently, Amelia has been wanting to fill in the last 2 days of our itinerary.

I don't have any idea on what to fill those in, so I'm open to any suggestions.
One day in Brisbane and another day in Melbourne.

My friend recommended this place, call Point Nepean.
He mentioned that as Philip Island's Penguin Parade is in the evening, we can go to this place in the day.

I highly recommend we go to Mount Buller for some skiing for our last day in Melbourne. Not sure how much or whether we can do it in a day though.
As for Brisbane, I have checked the tourbook and the only things interesting are the national wildlife parks. So, I can't contribute on this.

For our GOR trip, the sights I am hoping to see are the 12 Apostles and the Grampians National Park.

So feel free to let me know any suggestions you want to go. :)

Single In Australia

Was watching videos in YouTube when I came across this.



We might get to see some of this!

Accommodation

Accommodation booked so far
- Brisbane (Gold Coast)
- Sydney

Brisbane
We have booked Surfers Beach Holiday Apartments for AUD$245 per night.
Each person will thus pay AUD$35 per person per night. So 4 nights would be AUD$140.
Amelia paid for the deposit *claps*
Click Me!

Sydney
We have booked Altamont Hotel for AUD$166 per night.
Each person will thus pay $AUD23.50 per person per night. So 4 nights would be AUD$94
Josh paid for the deposit *claps*
Click Me!

Melbourne
We are still in midst of selecting.
Please be patient for the time being. I believe it can be concluded in the next few days.
As for accommodation in the GOR, i don't think it will be a problem as there are numerous hotels there and the worst case scenario is we might have to pay abit more, something like AUD$50 per person per night.

Good job everybody, we have saved quite a sum on accommodation. Allows me to go there and eat 100 oysters :)