[Approaching my 30s] Study Abroad Diary #22 Solo Trip to Melbourne

Well, this time I'm going to write in detail about Melbourne, the second city I visited during my 2-week trip around almost all of Australia.
I stayed there from May 22nd to 26th, 2025. The season was autumn turning into winter.

Route and Flights

Reference article below

Melbourne has quite a lot of airports.
So, I'll refrain from explaining the features of each airport like I did for Uluru.
The airport I used was Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine).
Although Melbourne has several airports, this is the only one that handles international flights.

The reason I chose this airport was that there was a direct flight from Uluru and there are many ways to get to the city.
Actually... let me be honest, I didn't know Essendon Airport existed. I don't know if there are direct flights from Uluru there.

How to get to the city

There are several ways to get to the city.
You can take a combination of public transport like trains and buses, use Uber, or there are regular taxis too.
Among those, I used a double-decker bus called SkyBus.
This bus connects the city and the airport. If you get on this, you will definitely arrive in the city. It also has shelves for large luggage, so it won't get in the way.

You can purchase SkyBus tickets through various ticket agencies.
I used Agoda because it was the cheapest at the time. However, since Agoda has had many issues lately, I'll provide the official SkyBus website.
Even just searching now, Veltra, H.I.S., Klook... many came up, so depending on the situation, it's best to use a site that is as cheap and reliable as possible.

<Failure Story>
If you ever buy a SkyBus ticket between Melbourne Airport and the city on Agoda, you need to select a date.
For this date,select the return date!
I accidentally entered the start date, and even though I bought a round trip, I had to buy another ticket on the way back.
If you are worried, there are ticket machines at the bus stop, so it would be safer to buy them one-way or round-trip on the spot.

As soon as you go outside from the airport, you can see the SkyBus departure and arrival area.
After all, it has a roof and about four red ticket machines lined up, so it stands out.
If you have purchased in advance, a QR code will be sent to you, so you just need to show it to the guide.
Agoda sends a PDF document, and the QR code is on the last page, so don't overlook it.

The driver was kind and put my heavy luggage in the luggage area.
Surprisingly, everyone went to the second floor after putting their luggage away, so I also headed to the second floor without worrying about security.
The area where the airport is located wasn't exactly rural, but the scenery was like factories and highways.
There were many wild kangaroos in the vacant lots. I was surprised by the number I had never seen before.

After being on the bus for about 20 minutes, I arrived at Southern Cross Station. It's right in the middle of Melbourne city.
It was already past 16:00, so I headed to check in for the time being.

Melbourne's city center...
"It's a big version of Brisbane." That was my impression.

About the accommodation

I really wanted to spend money on tours, so I chose a hostel this time too.
"Flinders Backpackers (4-person female room)" I booked it on Booking.com.
The reception is on the 3rd floor, and you can't enter the floors above that without a room key.

When I went to the room, all the beds were full. Two were foreigners, but the other one was a Japanese woman, so I felt relieved.
She seemed to have come from the Gold Coast, and I felt a bit of a connection since I lived in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. (Same state)
Maybe the hostel staff was considerate and put Japanese people together.

Merits of this hostel

・It was in the middle of the city, so restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and train/tram stations were right in front, which was convenient
・Can stay cheaply
・There are plenty of events such as free meals on certain days, movie screenings, and city guided tours
・The showers and toilets were relatively clean
・Security was solid
・Reception is 24 hours

Demerits

・The shower and toilet were in front of the room and accessible at any time. However, since it was a unit bath style, sometimes when I went to the toilet, it was very humid or the floor was wet.
・There were men on the same floor, which made me a little uneasy.
・The dining area was a place for meeting people, so I couldn't relax alone.
・Since it was right in the middle of the city, I couldn't sleep because of the noise outside in the middle of the night, and the hallway was also noisy with people returning from clubs.

Tour Plan

Initially, the plan was:
Day 1: City stroll
Day 2: 12 Apostles wildlife tour
Day 3: Phillip Island tour
Day 4: Drive & relax
Day 5: Head to Perth ✈️
However, since the tour on the second day was canceled due to rain, I added city sightseeing. I decided to give up on the tour because every company had canceled their tours that day.

After the changes, it became:
Day 1: Night city stroll
Day 2: City, drama pilgrimage
Day 3: 12 Apostles tour
Day 4: Phillip Island tour
Day 5: Head to Perth ✈️

Day 1: Night city stroll

After arriving at the hostel, I unpacked my bags and strolled around the city a little while looking for a place to eat.

I was a bit tired from coming from Uluru, so I decided to buy some retort-pouch food at the supermarket and cook a light meal at the hostel. I finished my preparations early that day and listed the places in the city I would visit tomorrow. That said, I intended to visit the places that appeared in the drama 'Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume 5'. This is because I had absolutely no interest in the city and hadn't researched any famous cafes or restaurants at all.

Almost everything was concentrated in the city center, so it didn't seem like it would be difficult to get around.

Day 2: City stroll (Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume pilgrimage)

Below, the places marked in red are where I visited on the second day.

<Degraves Espresso Melbourne>
The first place I headed to was a cafe. When coming to Melbourne, I definitely want to eat coffee and a croissant. I ordered a Magic (faithful to the drama) and a plain croissant. The room was retro and stylish. Melbourne is also called the city of art, and I thought it was impressive that there were paintings inside as well.

The coffee is bitter and delicious. Actually, I took a barista course while studying abroad, so I understand the differences in coffee menus, but honestly, even if I drink them, I can't clearly tell the difference in taste (°▽°)

There are many types of coffee.
In Australia, they are very particular about coffee, and people order things not on the menu, so the baristas who handle each one are truly amazing.
Also, there were some menu names in Japan that had the wrong original meanings.
If you order a caramel macchiato in Australia, Japanese people will definitely have a bitter experience in two ways.

By the way, I have two favorites.
・Flat White with oat milk
(Using oat milk for a Flat White)
・Dirty Chai
(Mixing espresso into a Chai Latte)

My stomach was full and my eyes were sharp from the coffee, so I decided to head to my next destination. Among the destinations, I decided to head to Carlton Gardens, which was a bit far from the hostel. It was a good distance to walk, but I wanted to try riding the tram, so I moved by tram. You can ride for free if you are within the city.

<Carlton Gardens>
Carlton Gardens was located just a short distance from the tram station.

There were bodies of water like fountains here, and surprisingly, there were many birds.
These ducks were cute. I wonder what they are eating...?

I'll just post some of the birds that were around here.

There were at least three types of ducks alone🦆

Snapped a photo in front of the Royal Exhibition Building. I tried to take it in the style of 'Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume' (Recommendations for Solo Activities).

When I looked it up on Google, it seemed like it costs money to enter the Royal Exhibition Building.
When I spoke to someone who looked like a gatekeeper, they told me there was a market that day and I couldn't enter until after 11:00 AM.
So, since it was around 9:00 AM at the time, I decided to check off other items on my to-do list.

The closest place on the map was the State Library of Victoria.
However, it wasn't open yet, so I headed to 'Small Batch Roasting Co.' behind it.

<Small Batch Roasting Co.>
This place was also featured in 'Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume'. They say you can drink some very elaborate coffee here.
I went with the shallow knowledge that they were mainly famous for their roasting and cakes.
A few days later, a coffee-geek friend commented, 'Wait, is that Batch Coffee?!!'
When I asked about it, I learned it was a very famous coffee shop in Melbourne, known to those in the know.

I'm not very good with Australian coffee (the caffeine is stronger than American coffee), so I didn't feel like drinking two cups a day, and decided to buy coffee beans instead.

The people at this shop were dedicated to coffee and kind to people.
Because they are so particular, they suggested a few coffees that would suit me and even let me taste them. I think I consulted with them for about 30 minutes lol
They were very kind.

As an aside, Japanese coffee is said to be closer to American-style coffee and is considered to have a low level of quality globally.
For example, when Starbucks expanded into Australia with 85 stores, 61 of them effectively withdrew due to financial difficulties.
It is said that the rest were sold to 7-Eleven. As a result, the number has grown to 69 stores across Australia now, but only 69 stores in a country that size...
(As of 2024, there are 1,986 stores nationwide in Japan)

If you search for "Starb*cks Australia," a ton of articles pop up with titles like "It won't catch on in a coffee-advanced country."
I can only say this in a whisper, but many Aussies make a sour face when you bring up the word "Starb*cks" ('▽')
Having heard that, that culture became ingrained in me, and now when I hear the word "Starb*cks" in Japan, I've started looking at it with a cynical eye, thinking, "Ah... (that's a place real coffee lovers don't go)."

However. When I drank American-style coffee at a cafe in Japan for the first time in a while, I was moved by how delicious it was.
In the end, I love American coffee too.

If you ask me if I can tell it's American-style just by drinking it, the answer is yes.
The so-called black coffee (Long Black) in Australia is probably so strong in caffeine and flavor that Japanese people might find it hard to drink.

I liked black coffee in Japan, so when I ordered a Long Black in Australia, I immediately developed caffeine poisoning.
There are cafes in Japan that serve Australian coffee, so I think you should give it a try.

<Queen Victoria Market>
This is a so-called market.
They sell everything from fresh foods like meat, fish, and cheese to spices and Australian food like meat pies.
Just when I thought it was only food, there was an even bigger market building in the back...
Here, they sell not only food but also clothes, bags, and accessories.
It's definitely cheaper than buying souvenirs elsewhere, so I recommend buying them here.
I wanted to see all the shops, so I walked around from one end to the other, but it was so big that I gradually got tired.
Since I was interested in accessories and souvenirs, I decided to pick and choose from halfway through.
(In the end, I didn't buy anything here.)

<State Library of Victoria>
Next, I took a tram to the State Library of Victoria.
When it comes to tourist spots in Melbourne, this is the first place that comes to my mind.
When you go inside, the first floor is a new, clean library with plain white walls.
A diverse group of people were gathered there, including people working, university students, and Japanese people who looked like they were on working holidays (who had come to study).

When I went up the stairs, I arrived at the radial seating area I was aiming for.

It has a retro atmosphere and is made entirely of wood. The age remains in a good way, and I realized that many people have studied here.

Here is the problem. I thought I could see this view from above, but... it was closed on this day. It was completely closed.
Given the tour schedule, I wasn't planning on going anywhere other than today, so it's a shame. (Foreshadowing)

There were also cafes and gift shops here, which I enjoyed.

<Royal Exhibition Building (Carlton Gardens)>
As I approached the entrance, many people were going in and out. This time, since I was participating in a market, there was an entrance fee of 600 yen.
The inside had an old, church-like structure, and the ceiling design was beautiful.
Inside, they were selling food, clothes, bags, and more. Unlike Queen Victoria Market, there were many artistic items.
If you want something with a unique design or want to eat something famous, I recommend it.
However, the products are a bit more expensive, and the interior is quite crowded.

I walked around once, but... I was quite tired.

<Royal Arcade, The Block Arcade>
These are also historic arcades with a retro atmosphere.

There were jewelry shops and brand shops here. There were also some small general stores, and you can buy unique souvenirs and stationery like pens here too.

<Other>
・National Gallery of Victoria
I didn't go inside, just looked at it from the outside. (I was too tired that day)

・Various buildings

・I just wanted to ride the train
I was tired, but I really wanted to ride the train, so I took a train from Flinders Street Station for about 20 minutes and just came back. (A very unnecessary aside)

<Dinner>
I chose Thai food for dinner. Asian food is relatively cheap to eat.
I was told that Melbourne has many cheap and delicious restaurants, but it was still expensive for me.

Day 3: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, and Wildlife Tour

On this day, a bus came to pick me up near the hotel early in the morning.
The first place we visited was the seaside. For a break, we were given a large Anzac biscuit and juice as a snack.
I'm not sure if it's Melbourne or Victoria, but a characteristic of the coast around here might be that it's made of light brown cliffs.

<Great Ocean Road>
This is a beautiful road where you can overlook the southern sea of Victoria. The scenery has a mountain style similar to Tasmania, and I was able to spot kangaroos from time to time.

(However, I've seen seas that are bluer and more beautiful than this, so I wasn't very moved)

<Wildlife>
On the way along the Great Ocean Road, I saw many kangaroos and koalas.
When I was in Brisbane, I saw a wild koala once, but I couldn't see one after that.
It seems that seeing a koala in Queensland is quite lucky.
(I saw wild kangaroos every day, so not particularly...)

Even so, on the way, it was rare to see a koala walking on the road. It's a situation that could lead to roadkill, but it's also a very rare sight.

After that, I drove along a forest road where koalas are often seen, and I was able to spot about three of them.

Koalas look different in Queensland and Victoria. I don't have photos to compare them, but their sizes are different.
Queensland koalas are small and have sharp eyes if you look closely.
Victorian koalas are large and have fluffy ears. Their eyes are gentler.

Even when seeing them in the wild, it is obvious.

After this, I also walked through a rainforest and gazed at some world-class giant trees.

The path is quite well-maintained, so, hmm...
It was fun looking at the large trees and woods, but it wasn't exactly teeming with wild animals.

<The Twelve Apostles>
The Twelve Apostles are a collection of limestone stacks and are known as one of Victoria's premier scenic spots. They were formed by erosion from wind and waves, and you can see a fantastic sight, especially at sunset against the backdrop of a beautiful evening sky.

There is also a place said to be the model for the secret base of Porco Rosso, the protagonist of Studio Ghibli's 'Porco Rosso'...?
(There are about three such places around the world, so the truth is unknown.)

Day 4: Penguin Parade, Koala, and Kangaroo Tour

On this day, the tour bus was coming to pick me up at 11:00 AM. I couldn't give up, so I headed to the State Library of Victoria again.
It's about a 20-minute walk, so if I could get in right when it opened at 10:00 AM, I would make it in time for the tour bus!

There was only one entrance, but I was able to get in properly this day!!!!
This is it, the view I wanted to see!!!!
(Actually, I couldn't get in before because they were doing a large-scale reorganization of the books in this viewing area.)

I ran to the meeting point for the tour bus.

<Brighton Beach>
Brighton Beach is, yes, a famous beach in Melbourne that also appeared in 'Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume' (Recommendation for Solo Activities for Women), and it has what are called beach boxes.
Colorful little houses are lined up on the beach.
Each house has a unique design.
Over 100 years ago, they were used as changing rooms for women, but now they are privately owned and used to store fishing gear, chairs, parasols, and the like.
When I went, there was someone relaxing on a chair inside one of the boxes.
I was a little envious.

<Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park>
I had high expectations because it was called a wildlife conservation park, but it was more like a typical zoo.
I took a look around the whole place, at least.
There were a few interactive activities, but I didn't participate in any because it was late and some were already closed.

In the end, after watching the wild-looking birds, I participated in a small show featuring the animals.

<Phillip Island Penguin Parade>
On the way to Phillip Island, we stopped at the Nobbies Boardwalk. We didn't have time to walk the whole thing. The wind was very strong and it was cold.

Photography is prohibited at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, so I can't post details.
There was a penguin museum beforehand. The penguins that live on Phillip Island are called Fairy Penguins, and they are quite small.

The penguin parade happens at night when the wild penguins return. The season is autumn, or rather, it's as cold as winter.
We waited restlessly.

As it started to get dark and the cold began to set in.
Just as one wave had passed, there was a group moving on the shore.
It's penguins!!!!
The distance from the shore to the penguins' homes is about 30 seconds to 5 minutes for a human to walk, but it must be quite a long way for their tiny penguin feet.
What impressed me was that even though it was getting dark, they mostly managed to reach the shore near their own homes and walk to them.
I felt their wild instincts and the way they live their lives so hard with their small bodies were truly resilient.

While gazing at the starry sky, I left the shore and went to see the penguins' homes. They range from homes close to the sea to those near the visitor center (about a 5-minute walk for a human from the shore).

The walkways are lit up, but the homes where the penguins live are under plants, making them dark and hard to see.
When I strained my ears, I could frequently hear the penguins calling from those spots.

On the way to the parking lot, there was also a wild possum.

This time, I didn't see many wild animals other than the penguins.

On the way back, I tried to go to the chicken parma restaurant that appeared in 'Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume'...
I arrived around 8:00 PM, but because of the day of the week, they were already finished serving parma.
I just took a photo and ended my last supper in Melbourne with food from a supermarket.

Day 5...?

On this day, I woke up at 3:00 AM, took the SkyBus, and headed to the airport again.
The reason was that my flight was at 6:00 AM.
From here, I'm heading to Perth. And today, I'll be joining a tour in Perth as is.
That concludes my Melbourne trip.

Summary

As expected, when it comes to city trips, there were many things I wasn't very interested in... just 'Oh, I see' moments.
However, some friends said they enjoyed the cafes, restaurants, and wine, and liked that there were many old buildings.
I am still interested in nature and wild animals, and since I like walking in mountains and forests, I felt that tours where you spend most of the time on a bus and only enjoy the destination aren't for me.
The advantage is being able to go to various places evenly.
I guess that's just how tours are...