Day 7 and 8 – My 1 week trip to Australia

If you just landed up here somehow, checkout my older posts here:

1. My 7 day Solo Trip to Sydney from Bengaluru! – Part 1
2. My 7 day Solo Trip to Sydney from Bengaluru! – Part 2
   –  Day 0 and 1 – My 1 week trip to Australia
   –  Day 2 – My 1 week trip to Australia
   – Day 3 – My 1 week trip to Australia
   – Day 4 – My 1 week Trip to Australia
   – Day 5 – My 1 week trip to Australia
   – Day 6 – My 1 week trip to Australia

DAY 7:  17th November 2019, Sunday

This was my last (well, technically 2^nd last) day in Australia. By this time, I visited all the places that I wanted to visit in Sydney. I kept it as a reserve day as per initial planning. The initial plan for 17^th November was:

1. Do Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk
2. Find a vegetarian option at Coogee beach for lunch.
3. Go to Darling Harbour.
4. Eat at Lentil As Anything.

I did not know that I was about to be surprised.
I left the hostel at 11 AM but I had already visited Bondi Beach. So I thought, let’s do the reverse walk, that is, Coogee beach to Bondi Beach 5 km walk.

But why do people do this walk? Answer is that during this walking you are going to pass through 3-4 beaches and with some awesome views.

Recommended only if you fit!

From Sydney Central, I caught a direct bus for Coogee beach. I reached there at 11:50 AM.
I received a call from home asking about my status and other stuff. The weather was also looking cloudier that day.

Next I went to Wylie’s Bath. It’s a paid swimming pool attached near beach (50 AUD if you want to swim in this pool). Since it’s a paid area, you will not be allowed to go further but it gives great views overall.

If you walk back from Wylie’s bath towards Coogee beach, you will see this path:

Go further and take the stairs down to Coogee beach:

This would look really nice if the clouds were not a deterrent:

I kept going…..

Coogee beach has several locations for nice snaps:

Can you spot the walking area at the background? We will be there soon. Time was now 12:45 PM.

After talking some snaps, I was trying to take a picture of birds who were trying to fly against the winds. When I looked at the same photo myself, I saw some flags, which caught my attention:

I decided to see what those flags were for and after I reached there, I thought that it was some kind of local market on the Coogee beach on Sunday:

These little tents had shop where people sold stuff like scented candles, small plants, herbal soaps, cosmetic items, food etc. It was a mini-market al-together. Let me try to give you a glimpse of tented-flag-shops in that area:

Time was now 1:25 PM. I was exploring this mini-market. I even got a picture with Santa!

There were folks who were performing at that area as well:

There were local food shops as well. I decided:
“This is my last day, I am going to have a blast.”

Itne paise bacha k karunga kya ?

First, I got myself a glass of ‘Paradise’ juice from one shop for 6 AUD:

After slurping my juice completely, I went to another shop, to get Portuguese Custard Tart – ‘Pastel De Nata’ for 4 AUD [must try this]:

Now, at 1:30 PM, it was time to get main course, I joined a queue which had most number of people (logic?):

When my turn came, I saw something very familiar going on:

Turkish Gozleme had both vegetarian and non-vegetarian option. Mine was a flour based paratha with spinach and cheese filled inside and you rub lemons over it and have it together for 14 AUD:

When I was having my lunch, I was also talking to a family sitting next to me and the conversation was like this:

Me: “Does this thing(pointing to mini-market with flags) happen every Sunday?”
Family: “No.”
Me: “Then?”
Family: “It’s a Christmas Shopping Market, held once in a year. This is the time where locals come and sell their stuff.”
Me: “Wow, I did not know about this. Does this happens on Coogee beach every year?”
Family: “No, Last time it was held in Randwick.”
Me ( Surprised ): “So, this thing will go on till the evening?”
Family: “No, it’s from 9 AM to 3 PM.”

Odds? Luck?

What are the odds that you land up at a place where such thing is going on and you did not know about it at all? I was suddenly considering myself to be a very lucky person.

By 2 PM, I was done exploring this little-Christmas market and then started walking towards Bondi Beach. The sun was also up now.

As per original plan, I should have been at Bondi beach by now. But I had no regrets after exploring this area.

Left to the above view is a cafe/restaurant, which people suggested me to go have a nice view of the beach:

I kept walking and stopping at places, at my will:

You also must not follow the tracks, please wander around as well.

Time was now 2:51 PM and I was still around Coogee beach itself. The reason is I used to sit down and enjoy the view wherever I felt like sitting and stopping:

If you are following the railings, you will reach here as well:

I now went back to track. The first location you will reach is called as “Gordon’s Bay”:

There are several paths along the walk which are completely made of wood:

Go further, and you can look back at Coogee beach + Gordon’s Bay at the same time:

Time was now 3:35 PM.

You will also encounter some steep steps:

I kept walking. After this I reached, Clovelly beach.

This beach has toilet facilities for free. It’s a narrow beach. People park cars at Clovelly beach and enjoy the sea view.

Clovelly beach even had a bowling club:

Cogee to Bondi coastal 5 km walk is filled with scenic beauty:

I then kept walking and reached Bronte Beach at 5:11 PM.

Bronte beach has good seating arrangements for family picnics:

I sat here for a while and then started walking again. Time was now 5:16 PM.

Bronte beach view from a height:

The last beach before we reach Bondi beach was Tamarama Beach:

I could see the kids using their ‘bikes’:

Started walking again:

Just before Bondi beach, you will encounter a path at the top: [no one was there]

There are again some good places for snaps:

Finally at 6 PM, I reached Bondi beach:

Since I had already explored Bondi beach earlier, I decided to head out to a recommended restaurant just in front of the beach “Bondi Trattoria” for a cup of coffee, which cost me 4 AUD and it was Okayish in taste.

Time was now 6:18 PM. Next planned destination was “Darling Harbour”. I took the bus back to Bondi Junction and from there I caught a train till Town Hall station. From here Darling Harbour was 1.2 km walk. When you see this bridge, it means you have arrived:

I reached there are 7:12 PM. This is where I realized my mistake (a big one):

There are several attractions in Darling Harbour like Madam Tussad, American Maritime Museum, Sydney Wildlife, Sealife etc. which I did not explore and the time was over 5 PM.

In short, they were closed!

The time was now 7:38 PM.

I remembered a suggestion from a (super)woman I met while coming to Sydney to see “The Star” (Casino) once. I went there first (since all other attractions were closed). No cameras were allowed inside. It was interesting to see how people were engrossed in gambling.

By the time I exited “The Star”, time was 8:10 PM. Now, I had to re-plan since I wanted to spend some more time at Darling Harbour. I decided, okay, I will be here till 9 PM and then I will head back to have the last feast of the day.

Darling Harbour is a must visit place at night and day as well.

Time was now 9:10 PM and I sat on the bridge (kind of saying goodbye to Sydney):

Since I missed out eating at “Lentil as Anything” as I planned earlier and I wanted to end this journey on a sweet note, I once again went to Newtown. Even when I was going back, I was taking snaps, just to remember a good time when I look back at these snaps in future:

The famous Town Hall station at 9:22 PM:

I reached Newtown and went straight to Cow & Moon. I reached there at 9:49 PM.
I got myself a large cup 4 flavoured Gelato with a cookie for 16 AUD (cookie was okay!):

This time I ate it very slow; since I knew they were open till 10:30 PM. Even at 10:30 PM, I was not able to finish my portion, so I sat at the bus stop finishing up my portion.

At 10:37 PM, I took a bus back to my hostel and reached their by 10:50 PM.

Since my flight was at 11 AM next morning, that means I had to leave the hostel at 8 AM next day. I packed my stuff on the same night itself and went to sleep after asking the night manager of my hostel about the checkout process.

Expense Sheet for the day: (1 AUD = 50 INR)

1. Bus + Train to Coogee – approx 5-6 AUD – deducted from OPAL card.
2. Juice, Tart, Gozleme at Christmas Shopping Market = (6+4+14 = 24 AUD) = 1200 INR.
3. Coffee at Bondi beach – 4 AUD – 200 INR.
4. Bus + Train to Darling Harbour – 2.52 AUD – deducted from OPAL card.
5. Gelato + Cookie at Cow & Moon – 16 AUD – 800 INR.

Total cost for the day: Rs 2200.

DAY 8:  18th November 2019, Monday [Returning back to Bangalore]

I got my stuff packed already. I had a heavy breakfast again and I left hostel at 8:31 AM by handing over the keys. Earlier plan was to save 14 AUD access fee at Sydney Airport by walking to Martin’s Place and retracing the steps when I came first to Sydney. Since I did not know how much time it’s going to take at Sydney Airport immigration/security, so I went to Sydney Central and caught Airport train at 9 AM. While inside train, I recharged by OPAL card by 20 AUD. I reached Sydney airport at 9:20 AM.

My OPAL card after swiping is still having 13 AUD left.

Once I entered Sydney airport, I had to ask around for Air Asia counter since the boards were a bit confusing.

Since I was not carrying any check-in luggage, the lady who saw my printed ticket and took me directly to counter skipping the queue entirely. Check-in process took only 2 minutes.

Wow!

Again, security and immigration also took a total of 5 minutes. This was very surprising to me.

I bought 3 packets of Toblerone chocolates for 30.32 AUD. Macadamia nuts for 33.30 AUD for flight. If chocolates are offered for 50 % off, check expiry date.

My flight took off at 11:11 AM from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur Airport. This time I got to explore Kuala Lumpur Airport as well. I ate 1 durian ice cream for 5 MYR (not recommended) and purchased 4 packets of chocolates (Choc O time) (recommended) for 73.9 MYR.

You can ask them for sample chocolates to taste. I did get to taste 4 different types of chocolates.

Be polite.

At 9 PM Malaysian time, my flight for Bangalore took off and I reached Bangalore at 11 PM IST. You will have to go through immigration security again. Immigration officer will ask where are you returning from, purpose of the trip etc. and will stamp your passport again.

Expense sheet for the final day: (1 AUD = 50 INR, 1 MYR = 17 INR)

1. Bus to Sydney Central + Airport train – 17.52 AUD – 876 INR [Can be very low if you leave a bit more early]
2. Toblerone 3 packet chocolates (check for vegetarian) – 30.32 AUD – 1516 INR
3. Macadamia nuts for 33.30 AUD  – 1665 INR
4. Durian Ice cream at Kuala Lumpur Airport – 5 MYR – 85 INR
5. ‘Choc o time’- 4 packs at Kuala Lumpur Airport – 73.9 MYR – 1257 INR.
6. Return to home by bus from Bangalore airport- 236 INR

Total cost for the final day: 5636 INR approx.

Final part of this series is out. It has the most important stuff, my mistakes, total cost for the trip for me, how can you plan with your family/solo etc. Go ahead and explore it.