After a somewhat long absence on this blog, I return with my recap of Australia and New Zealand! I was there for 21 days on vacation. In short, I had a phenomenal time and I would recommend both countries to anyone even remotely interested in visiting. Check out my itinerary below for ideas and recommendations. If you have other suggestions in the two countries, please comment below.

I’m also compiling a series of videos I took on our trip into a travel diary of the places I visited in Australia and New Zealand. You can see them all on my YouTube channel.

AUSTRALIA

Day 1 – Travel day!

Day 2 – Sydney

After a grueling 16-hour flight, I got a SIM card at the airport and then hopped on the T8 rail to head over to the hotel, the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Stopped by Will & Co and Skittle Lane for some much-needed coffee
Headed over to Cockle Bay Wharf and Darling Harbour
Lunch of lamb biang biang noodles at Biang Biang in Chinatown
Passed by St. Andrew’s Cathedral and Queen Victoria Building
Back to the hotel for rest and unpacking
Walked over to the Royal Botanic Gardens
From the Royal Botanic Gardens, walked along Farm Cove to the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay

Day 3 – Sydney

Sunrise at Bondi Beach
Walked the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
A little brekkie at Preach Cafe and a pop-up, Shuk, down the street
Checked out the Strand Arcade
Walked to the Rocks Market and then to Campbells Cove Lookout, the Hickson Road Reserve, around Dawes Point to Barangaroo Reserve
Late lunch/early dinner at Din Tai Fung Dumpling Bar
Bubble tea at Chatime in the Sydney Westfield Mall

Day 4 – Cairns

Morning flight from Sydney to Cairns!
After checking into the hotel, took a car to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Paid for a roundtrip Skyrail tour
- Red Peak
- Barron Falls
- Kuranda Village
Took a car to the marina and central shopping area to walk around and explore
Had a drink and bite to eat at Hemingway’s Brewery
Walked through the Night Market and over to the Esplanade to sit and relax

Day 5 – Cairns and Sydney

Morning walk along the Esplanade to Muddy’s Cafe for brekkie
Off to the Reef Fleet Terminal to board a boat to Green Island
Snorkeling at Green Island
Afternoon flight from Cairns to Sydney
Checked into the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Dinner at 678 Korean BBQ

Day 6 – Sydney

Morning coffee and brekkie (the udon with bacon dashi, onsen egg, and pork crackling and the Japanese souffle pancake with pistachio cream and elderflower poached rhubarb and raspberry crumb!) at Edition Coffee Roasters
Hopped on the B rail to walk around the University of Sydney
Over to the Anzac Memorial for some history lessons
Walked through Hyde Park
Late lunch at Mr. Wong
The not-so-guilty pleasure of matcha ice cream at Matcha-Ya