TODAY'S ITINERARY
DAY 1: PLACES VISITED
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1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Sydney International Airport
3. East Coast Car Rentals
4. South Gate Shopping Centre, Sylvania
5. Grand Pacific Drive
6. T
7. Coal cliff Beach
8. Sea Cliff Bridge
9. City of Wollongong
10. Quality Suites Pioneer Sands
11. Flagstaff Hill Park
12. Top Choice Chinese & Cambodian Restaurant
13. Woolworths
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The trip started with a little sour experience at the airport where the staff was not very helpful (not surprising).
We tried using the self-service function at the customs area but somehow, it does not work. So after the first time, we approach a staff standing beside the area and asked for advice on where to proceed. She replied rudely to go try again. It was only after the second rejection, she then asked us to go queue at the side area where those who were rejected at the self-service kiosk go through the manual customs. Just plain weird since she can actually just direct us to the manual counter after the first rejection.
Secondly, our luggages came out at the wrong belt, but lucky us spotted our luggages while heading to the wash room and collected some of them. Soon, we noticed that the luggages are not coming out anymore as the belt is full, hence we approach a staff standing beside the belt to inform them of their error in regards to the belt. He actually replied us saying "It's none of my business.". I guess maybe it's really not in his JD.
Anyway, after that two incidents, luckily everything went smoothly. And first thing we need to do will be to purchase the data plan!
Purchase data plan at the Airport
Optus, one of the largest mobile service providers in Sydney, has a $2/day plan with unlimited calls and text messages, and 500MB of data daily. With the SIM card, we will just have to top up the card with either A$10 or A$20, giving a 5 or 10-day access respectively. One shop located at the exit of the arrival hall and one more located along the walk towards Airport Link Train Station, near McDonald.
You will find that most people will head to the nearest shop which is the one located just next (on the right) to the exit of the arrival hall, hence, if you are heading to the Train Station, you can skip the long queue and heads to the one nearer to McDonald.
After buying the data plan, we heads off to our pick-up point as stated by the rental car company. Yup, that's us at our pick-up point. Don't be fooled by the sun, it is quite breezy and cooling!
We reached the rental car company which is East Coast Car Rentals. Not sure if it's the cheapest or the best, but the staff there were quite detailed and helpful!
Yes, you will need to create an account with Roam Express to ensure that you won't miss paying the tolls, which might incur huge fines, as the fines not only comes from the tolls but also the rental car company for the administrative fees. So, if you are planning to drive around in Australia, apply the account (a start-up cost of AUD 1.50) which is tagged to your credit card and update the car plate details. It will be terminated once you return the car to the rental car company.
Southgate is located at the gateway to the Sutherland Shire, just 20km south of Sydney CBD and less than 20 minutes drive from Sydney airport, on the corner of Princes Highway and Port Hacking Road, Sylvania. A shopping centre with 3 shopping giants, Coles, Woolworths and K-Mart, and individual shops here and there. It does have a Food Court where we settled our lunch.
After lunch, we heads out to our Grand Pacific Drive and the first stop of the Grand Pacific Drive is the Royal National Park.
Royal National Park
The Royal National Park, on the southern outskirts of Sydney, became Australia's first National Park when proclaimed on 26 April 1879. Originally named The National Park until 1955, this park was the second National Park to be established in the world after Yellowstone National Park in the U.S.
Coalcliff Beach fronts the valley, and is a 500 m long east-southeast facing coarse sand beach, with a mix of sand and rock seafloor off the beach, and the small Stony Creek draining across the southern end. Waves average 1–1.5 m maintaining three dominant rips, a strong rip against the southern rocks, a shifting central rip and one flowing north past the northern rocks. When the bars are separated from the beach the waves reform and surge heavily up the steep beach face.
Above you can see the Coalcliff's rockpool which is situated south of the beach and offers a safe swimming area, including a children's pool. There is a fresh water shower on a platform west of the pool, and an additional shower and toilet facilities located nearby in Leeder Park.
As you drive along the Grand Pacific Drive, to ensure that you are on the right track, do look out for the sign on the top left hand symbol. The symbol represented the Grand Pacific Drive.
Traverse along the magnificent sea cliff bridge and enjoy a leisurely walk along the pedestrian walkway which offers spectacular views. Parking is available at the northern and southern end of the bridge, which allows one to park at the start of the bridge or end of the bridge to take photo
Award-winning, off-shore and parallel-to-coast Sea Cliff Bridge forms part of the Grand Pacific Drive and is located on scenic Lawrence Hargrave Drive, 60 kms south from central Sydney (or 23 kms north of Wollongong). It was opened on December 11, 2005, at a total cost of A$52 million, after a large embankment slip indefinitely closed Lawrence Hargrave Drive between Coalcliff and Clifton, a stretch of road area notorious for rock falls and closures in August 2003.
City of Wollongong
Check in at Quality Suites Pioneer Sands. Our first accommodation is an apartment that is equipped with its own kitchen, a balcony, en-suite toilet, a living room/dinner area and two bedrooms.
Check in at Quality Suites Pioneer Sands. Our first accommodation is an apartment that is equipped with its own kitchen, a balcony, en-suite toilet, a living room/dinner area and two bedrooms.
Flagstaff Hill Park
Wollongong Harbour is situated 80km south of Sydney on the Australian east coast. It is the only point on the east coast to have 2 lighthouses, the other being Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse. Wollongong Harbour's Breakwater lighthouse has been inactive since 1974 (a decorative light is displayed on special occasions). It stands 12 metres (40 feet) high and has a tapered round wrought iron tower with lantern, painted white. The lighthouse was seriously deteriorated before a restoration in 1978 and 1979 stabilised its condition.
In 2000 to 2002, a complete restoration returned the lighthouse and its lighting equipment to its original configuration, and the light was relit in connection with an international lighthouse conference in Sydney. The Flagstaff Hill lighthouse is active with the white light spending 4.5 seconds on and 1.5 seconds off. The red lights are displayed over shallow water to the north and south. The entire structure is painted white. It is located at Flagstaff Hill on Wollongong Harbour.
After the lighthouse, we heads off to fill our tummy at Top Choice Chinese & Cambodian Restaurant. It is located at 3/17 Market Street, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia. Even though it has the word Cambodian in the name, I personally find the menu to be more towards Chinese.
It's a good location with yummy food and reasonable pricing, similar to the prices in SG. I love the calamaris which does not have that thick batter around it. The rest of the food we ordered are equally yummy. Do give it a try if you are around the area and craving for Chinese food.
After shopping at Woolworths, we head back to Quality Suites Pioneer Sands to rest for the day.
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