Tag: "Travel"

Life By The Lake In Myanmar

kelvinlls | November 30, 2010 | Comments (0)

Originally uploaded by kelvinlls

Travel Photo of the week – Life By the Lake In Myanmar.

I have been fortunate enough to have travelled to the country of Myanmar (Burma) in September, 2 months before the country held its first elections in 20 years. Myanmar has been under a military junta which had a tight grip of the country and has been notorious for oppressing its people. Just a few weeks ago, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and a strong advocate of democracy for her country, was finally released from her 15-year home detention. The world is still being cautious on what happens next to this beautiful country in Asia.

Because of the military junta, the country has spiralled into poverty over the last 20 years. Many western nations have imposed trade embargos, which have badly hurt the local economy. Tourism has become one of their main sources of income, but even then, not a great deal of people have discovered this country as a tourist attraction.

This photo to me depicts a day in the life of a Myanmar citizen. This mother and child live by Inle Lake, one of the most beautiful places in Myanmar to visit. People use the lake for nearly all aspects of their daily life, including bathing. The mother in this photo is washing her daughter with the lake’s waters on a makeshift jetty near their loosely-built shack. I accidentally caught this photo while cruising down the lake on a motorised boat.

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Travel Photo of the Week – Ave. 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires

kelvinlls | November 17, 2010 | Comments (0)

The Best Night Shot of Ave. 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires

Originally uploaded by kelvinlls

Apart from sunsets, one of the scenes I like to capture are night scenes of a busy, buzzing city. I went to Buenos Aires 2 years ago and fell in love with the city! They have the widest avenue in the world, with 8 lanes going on each direction. I managed to find an island in the middle of the road and setup my tripod to take this stream of cars flowing through this wide avenue. At one end of the avenue is the perennial symbol of Buenos Aires, the Obelisk (El Obelisco).

Travel Photo of the Week – Sunset at Sunset Strip, Fiji

kelvinlls | November 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Sunset at Sunset Strip, Fiji

Originally uploaded by kelvinlls

Sunsets – one of nature’s best display of lights! It’s my favourite time of the day to take photos, and everywhere I go, I always try and find a great spot to take a sunset photo.

I took this photo on April 2009 on my last trip to Fiji. This is from the Coral Coast, by the Sunset Strip, as the locals called it. This place was the best spot on the main island of Viti Levu to view a sunset. Though the sun hid behind the clouds, I still love this photo. I love the hues of the sky and the water.

Insider’s Guide To Auckland

kelvinlls | July 21, 2010 | Comments (0)

Auckland – City Of Sails

Auckland

It’s the largest Polynesian city in the world, and it’s often called “City Of Sails”. Auckland is the biggest city of New Zealand, and holds one-third of this nation’s population. It has a very proud maritime history, having hosted 2 America’s Cup events and being the home base of the first America’s Cup team outside the US to win the championship and defend it. Most people who arrive into New Zealand would land in Auckland and explore a little bit of this harbour city before moving on to lush New Zealand countryside and the spectacular views that this great country has to offer.

Many people don’t spend enough time to explore this city to know it well enough. I haven’t lived in Auckland, but I had the good fortune of having visited this city a few times and seeing different parts of it. There’s definitely more to it than the Skytower and the harbour. Here’s my list of places to explore outside the CBD of Auckland:

1.) Devonport

IMG 6862 300x200 Insiders Guide To Auckland

Devonport

This seaside suburb is on the North Shore area, across the harbour from the Auckland CBD. It offers great views of the city over the harbour, and a nice seaside promenade to stroll on. There are also a few unique and quirky shops and cafes around its centre. You can have good coffee or high noon tea at one of its cafes, or just have a relaxing stroll through its main centre. There’s a great view of the harbour if you go up to the top of Victoria Road. The best way to get to Devonport is via ferry from Auckland CBD, near the Viaduct Basin on Quay St.

2.) Parnell

New Zealand’s oldest suburb, Parnell is just a stone’s throw away from Auckland CBD. The quaint Victorian-style houses along Parnell Road have been converted into boutique shops and cafes, and have become the creative quarters of Auckland. One place that I love visiting is The Chocolate Boutique. Being a choco-holic, I can’t resist stopping by this delectible shop. A number of boutique and upmarket shops offer great shopping to those who love to shop. Some of New Zealand’s top designers have a shop in Parnell. You can take a bus from Auckland CBD and in 10 minutes, you will reach this interesting suburb.

3.) Mission Bay

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Mission Bay, Auckland

This seaside suburb of Mission Bay is only a 10-minute drive from Auckland CBD. It has great beaches that is close to the city centre and has lots of cafes and restaurants. Across the water, you have a view of Rangitoto Island. I always love coming to this suburb, especially on a nice sunny day. It’s possibly Auckland’s answer to Bondi Beach in Sydney in terms of proximity to the city and the lifestyle (though admittedly, it is not quite as good as Bondi). Regardless, it is one of the best places to explore while in Auckland.

4.) Ponsonby

Another one of the suburbs near Auckland CBD that has great options for restaurants and cafes. Ponsonby is one of the trendy suburbs in Auckland, and the young and hip love to be in Ponsonby. Nightclubs also abound, and the party continues here at night.. The arts scene is alive, and many upper-middle class people reside in this suburb. Ponsonby Road is the heart of all the activity in the suburb. Apart from the trendy and upmarket shops, Ponsonby has some historical heritage, as this has been one of the first areas to be settled in Auckland.

5.) Remuera and Mt. Hobson

Mt Hobson, Auckland

Remuera is another suburb that is close to the city, and can be accessed by bus or train. Over the years, many affluent Aucklanders have resided in this suburb and has become synonymous around the country for its wealthy population. A few well-known New Zealanders like Sir Edmund Hillary live in this area, and you can get the sense of the affluence from the big houses and manicured lawns around. On Remuera Road, you will find an entrance to Mt. Hobson, a park that offers great views of the city and out to the harbour and Rangitoto Island. On the other side of the hill, you will see the view towards One Tree Hill.

6.) One Tree Hill

IMG 9130 200x300 Insiders Guide To Auckland

One Tree Hill

Views from One Tree Hill are like no other in Auckland. It offer great views of Rangitoto Island, Auckland CBD, and all the way to the southern part of the city. This volcanic peak is an important place for Maori, as it used to hold a Maori pa (fort) when the European settlers arrived. There was a tree planted on this site, hence the name One Tree Hill. However, that tree became the subject of attack by Maori activists who protested on the injustices done to the Maori people, and the tree was eventually chainsawed by the activists. Today, an obelisk with a bronze statue of a Maori warrior stands on this site, and offering magnificent views of Auckland city.

Auckland has been named one of the top 10 most liveable places in the world by a survey conducted by Mercer in 2010. It’s definitely a charming harbour city that has a vibrant multicultural yet easygoing feel. If you’ve been to Auckland and moving to Auckland is something on your cards, you can check out this website for more info on migrating to New Zealand.

Visiting Auckland? Download Lonely Planet’s New Zealand – Auckland Region (Chapter)

Staycation – A Great Way To See Your Backyard

kelvinlls | May 21, 2010 | Comments (1)

Check Out Your Own Backyard

For most people, when thinking of a great holiday, they would almost always think of a place somewhere far, somewhere exotic, and somewhere that requires flying or taking a boat. Many people dream of that nice exotic island, or those vibrant cities far afield that they forget about what’s around them. If you’re one of those people, then you need to think again about your holiday plans.

I have been guilty of this myself. I’ve always looked for somewhere distant, somewhere different from what my usual is. The funny thing is that the places I have lived in are all dream destinations of other people from other parts of the world, and yet, I took it for granted. Now, here’s one term I have learned pretty much in the recent times. It’s called Staycation.

What Is Staycation

Staycation is a term that became popular in the last 2 years since the global financial crisis have made people become more conscious of their spending. It’s made of the combination of the words “stay” and “vacation”, and it effectively means taking a break just within your home town or a short drive from where you live. When I heard of this term, I thought, this is very appropriate for many people who take their own city/town/country for granted as I have. It’s only been in the recent years that I have come to realise what I’ve missed out!

My Staycation

When my friends ask me about the Philippines, the country I grew up in, I can tell them a few things about it. I’ve been to a few places around my home country, but still not enough for me to say I’ve travelled all over the Philippines. Especially not when I get to meet some adventurous young foreigner who would tell me they have been to Batanes (a remote island in the very northern part of the Philippines that is only accessible for 2-3 months in a year due to severe typhoons hitting the island), or dived in the Tubbataha Reef (one of the best diving spots in the world – according to many divers), or holidayed in Palawan and I have not been to any of those.. And this is considering I grew up in the Philippines and spent 22 years of my life there! I started to get embarrassed when I get asked about certain places in my home country.

I realised then on that I need to check out my own backyard. I started doing this when I was living in New Zealand. People have been telling me that I grew up in practically a tropical paradise, but I never appreciated it so much. Maybe partly because growing up, my parents never let me go to obscure but wonderful places in the Philippines, but that is another story.. So, when I was living in New Zealand, going anywhere outside of the country can be quite expensive due to the distance of New Zealand from anywhere else in the world. It was a perfect time for a Staycation.

I’ve since moved to Sydney, Australia, and I have taken any chance I get to explore the area and the country. Since then, I have been to Port Stephens, did the Grand Pacific Drive, and enjoyed what has been claimed to be the World’s whitest beach in Jervis Bay. Further afield, I’ve visited Melbourne a few times, and had a chance to visit Darwin, on the Top End of Australia. I’ve also been to the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Adelaide, but I have yet to write about them. With all these trips around Australia, it made me truly appreciate what a wonderful country I live in, and how fortunate I am to be living in this place.

So, if you think travelling is too expensive for you, think again! When was the last time you explored a town or a National Park 2 hours drive from your place? Or even somewhere 30 minutes away? Travelling doesn’t always mean you have to go very far to see the world. Start from your own backyard and do a Staycation. You will be glad to have stayed and vacationed in your nick of the woods..

Happy Staycations ahead!

World’s Whitest Beach

kelvinlls | April 15, 2010 | Comments (6)

World’s Whitest Beach?

World's Whitest Beach

If you thought you saw the whitest sand in the world somewhere in the Caribbean, Asia or the Pacific, perhaps you ought to read this. It’s not quite in any of the tropical paradise that most people would associate a nice white sand beach to. I never thought that a world record existed for the World’s Whitest Beach or World’s Whitest Sand, but it apparently is in the Guinness Book of World Records. I really wonder I recently came back from a short trip over Easter, and this is how I found out about the record. As you can tell, I love spending time on the beach. My dream is to own a house by the beach, where I can just walk out of my backyard and step into some fine white sand beach. Thus, I was extremely curious when someone told me about the world’s whitest beach!

The Road To Whitest Beach In The World

View from Stanwell Tops, Grand Pacific Drive

I visited the Jervis Bay area to check out what most people who visited the area have been raving about. Jervis Bay is in the South Coast of New South Wales, roughly a 3-hour drive from Sydney. The drive from Sydney to Jervis Bay along the Grand Pacific Drive is very scenic and definitely worth doing. This stretch of coastal road starts from Stanwell Tops in the Royal National Park and goes through the city of Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven. The views from Stanwell Tops are magnificent, and you can see the Seacliff Bridge clinging on to the craggy coast from a distance. A stop at Wollongong is also worth taking, with its nice beach, old lighthouse and a very relaxed town.

Driving further south from the Grand Pacific Drive is still quite scenic. A hour away from Wollongong is a nice quaint town called Berry. The town has a very colonial feel to it, with old buildings converted into shops, boutiques and cafes. It’s worth stopping for a coffee and just walk around the small town.

Where In The World Is The World’s Whitest Beach?

Now, back to the topic (well, I was leading up to it anyway). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s whitest beach (or the world’s whitest sand) can be found on Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Hyams Beach is one of the many beautiful white sand beaches in Jervis Bay. My friends and I didn’t get to stay at Hyams Beach, but we managed to get a place at Callala Beach. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Hyams Beach, and has white sand that is similar enough to Hyams Beach. The only problem with Callala Beach is that from time to time, they get a lot of seaweed that gets washed up on its shores, and the seaweed then starts to rot and turn the beach into black! My friends and I were unfortunate enough to have witnessed this, and thus made us feel disappointed with this beach. However, by the looks of the postcard photos and online photos of Callala Beach, it does look like a nice white sand beach. It’s just a shame that our timing was bad and we didn’t see it on its best day.

World's Whitest Beach - Hyams Beach

Because of our disappointment on Callala Beach, my friends and I decided to check out Hyams Beach, as one of our other friends have told us that it is an awesome beach. We arrived there on a gloomy day. The sky was overcast, but it wasn’t raining. Despite the dark clouds that covered the sky, the beach was so white that it was kind of glowing with its whiteness! The sand was very compact, and has this cornstarch or cornflour texture to it. It’s not the finest sand that I’ve felt, but it definitely looks like it is the whitest I’ve seen so far.

How they have measured the “whiteness” of the beach is something that still baffles me. There is no degree of measure for the whiteness of a beach, but having the title “World’s Whitest Beach” gives Hyams Beach its claim to fame. It’s not a widely known beach around the world, and being inside two National Parks, the Jervis Bay National Park and Booderee National Park, the beach has been spared from commercialisation. Hyams Beach is a long stretch of beach, and a small portion of it has some residential units and holiday homes. This is the great appeal of the beach, as there are not that many people around every time (unless if it is school holidays or during the summer). It’s very clean, and the waters are just crystal clear.

So if you are in search for the whitest beach in the world, perhaps check out Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, just 3 hours south of Sydney. With great travel deals around, you should book your next holiday to Jervis Bay NOW!

To more Fabulous Journeys!

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Paradise on Earth – The Island of Camiguin

kelvinlls | March 24, 2010 | Comments (1)

All In A Small Island

There are only very few places in the world where you get nice beaches, lush rainforests, exquisite waterfalls and a variety of hot and cold springs all in one island. Camiguin is one of them. Many people from outside the Philippines may not know where this island is, especially since this is not one of those at the top of the list for tourist brochures. Some who have been to the Philippines would have heard of this island, and to those who managed to visit, many have said it’s paradise rediscovered.

The first time I went to this island in 1996, the island was just starting to become recognised in the Philippines as the next tourist destination. The roads were still not very developed, and hardly any decent infrastructure were in place. I recently went back after nearly 15 years, and the island has now been improved to make it more tourist-friendly. The sealed road network now covers the entire island, and there are even smaller roads inland that can cut through to some of the villages in the interior. They now have more accommdations available, coverage for mobile phones, internet, and a more organised public transport.

Camiguin – Location And Getting There

Camiguin is situated in the southern part of the Philippines, between the main island of Mindanao and the island of Bohol in the Visayas. The island sits northeast of Cagayan de Oro City, the city where I grew up in the Philippines. It’s an easy 2-hour ferry ride from Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin. In my recent trip there, I found that they have reinstated the once-defunct service between Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin, and now travels at least once a day in each direction. It makes travelling to the island much easier, as Cagayan de Oro is a major hub and centre in the northern part of Mindanao, and it is where you can get flights to from Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

The Best Bits Of Camiguin

Camiguin is more than just your tropical island with a white sand beach. With so much to offer, here’s a list of the best places to see on the island:

White Island

Perhaps the most popular attraction of Camiguin, White Island is not actually an island. It’s a sandbar that lies just off the coast of Camiguin island. What makes it fascinating is its nice powder white sand that changes shape every single day depending on the tides. There are days that the sandbar is so tiny that you only have enough space to fit literally 10 people on it, and days that it looks reasonably sized that you can walk on it from end to end in 15 minutes. The waters are also crystal clear, making it very enticing to go for a dip.

Katibawasan Falls

This falls is one of the few around the island, but it is perhaps the grandest looking and most accessible of the waterfalls in Camiguin. It’s 76 meters high, and has a nice pool at the bottom of the falls where people can take a dip. The water can be a bit cool but it’s such a refreshing treat to the tropical heat of the island.

Guiob Church Ruins & Sunken Cemetery

Camiguin SunkenCemetery 300x203 Paradise on Earth The Island of Camiguin

Concrete cross - Sunken Cemetery

There are a few volcanos on Camiguin island, some being dormant and one other still considered an active volcano. Though there hasn’t been any eruptions for a while, Camiguin had suffered a devastating eruption from one of the now-dormant volcanos in 1871. This eruption had quite a huge impact that it destroyed much of the island and buried and sank some of its towns. One specific area that sank is the Sunken Cemetery. A huge cross has been erected as a reminder of the eruption that nearly wiped out the island. Nearby is the Guiob Church Ruins, another reminder of the devastation that occurred in 1871.

Ardent Hot Springs

This may not be a natural wonder, but it comes from a natural source. Having many volcanoes, Camiguin naturally has a lot of geothermal activity and resources. As a result, the Ardent hot springs came about to utilise the water from a natural hot spring in the area. Ardent is now a developed resort, and though it has somewhat become commercialised, it still offers a great place to soak up and enjoy the soothing hot spring waters.

Mantigue Island

This is another island just off Camiguin island and a proper island. It is a 20-minute boat ride from Camiguin on a motorised bangka (a local outrigger). It offers a nice white sand beach and has a marine sanctuary. The island is considered a nature park, and is home to some native birds and bats. It’s a great place to check out. Snorkelling on the marine sanctuary is very rewarding, with colourful fish of all shapes and sizes swimming around.

These are what I thought would be the best places to see in Camiguin. Of course there are more spots, but some of them are not as good as these ones. I hope you have enjoyed this post. Please spread this to your friends.

Sydney New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2009

kelvinlls | January 6, 2010 | Comments (7)

2010 Is Here!

Happy New Year to all readers of my blog! A new decade begins in the 21st Century! 2010 will be an exciting year for me. I have more travels planned, and I get really excited thinking about where I will be going this year! But before I get carried away with talking about my travel plans for 2010, I’d like to share with you some of the photos I took of the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks.

This is my third consecutive year of watching the fireworks by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and it never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the fireworks display here is during New Year’s Eve! Each year is a different theme. Last year, it was more aboriginal themed, and this year, it is more of “awakening the spirit”. I suppose this has a lot to do with the recent financial crisis which has affected the overall mood of people, especially those who have invested in the markets.

The photos I focused on was mainly the 9PM fireworks, as I had a great view of the harbour from a friend’s balcony in Milsons Point. Check out some of the images of the Sydney NYE fireworks for 2009 below:

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks11 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - First shots

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks2 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - more 9PM fireworks at the harbour

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks3 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - Up close

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks4 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - sparkles

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Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - more 9PM fireworks

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks6 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - about to finish

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks8 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - to the finale of the 9PM fireworks

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks7 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney NYE 2009 Fireworks - the smoke after the 9PM fireworks

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks9 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Happy New Year! - the Harbour Bridge comes alive

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks10 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

More midnight fireworks from the Sydney Harbour Bridge

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks111 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit up!

SydneyNYE2009Fireworks12 Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

More snippets of the Sydney NYE firework 2009

Sydney is definitely in one of the top 10 locations in the world for New Year’s Eve. The amazing fireworks by the beautiful and picturesque harbour and the numerous parties happening all over the city makes it just a cut above the rest. Even if I have spent my third year watching the fireworks in Sydney, I never grew tired of it, as it is just simply superb.

Come and see the fireworks spectacle here in the New Year in Sydney!

What Does Travel Mean To You

kelvinlls | October 25, 2009 | Comments (0)

Travel Is Not About Bragging Rights

I recently read an article from the Sydney Morning Herald about “Where to get your travel credibility” and this really sparked me to write about my views on travel. The article describes how certain travel destinations have become more accessible to tourists, and you can’t say you’re a great traveller just by mentioning these places. Apparently, your travel credibility is measured by the toughness and remoteness of the places that you go to. Being an avid traveller, I totally despise people who talk about their travels for the sake of bragging where they have been and what they have done.

Travel is not about having bragging rights of where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Travel to me is an experience, a personal journey that people embark for themselves to experience different things in different places. It may not necessarily be a very spiritual experience, but the mere fact of seeing something different and being in a different environment offers the mind and soul a whole new perspective. Travel, whether it be for leisure, adventure, luxury, or business, is not an area where you need to build credibility on.

Each person has a different take and reasons for travelling. Some people may want to travel to relax themselves from the usual stresses and pressures of everyday life. Some people may love to travel to seek out new adventures and to experience new cultures. And there will be some people who want to travel for the sake of being said that they have been to certain places. Whatever your purpose or reasons for travel, the whole idea is not to have a scale of how good or “seasoned” a traveller you are. It is all about what you want out of travel.

Travel As Food For The Soul

Travel enriches someone’s knowledge of the world, of perspective, of humanity, and of life. Oftentimes, people tend to live in their own silos and enclosed world that they forget that there is a bigger world out there. When you think you have had the worst job and the worst day of your life, you forget that there are other people in this planet that have it a million times worse than you, and yet, they don’t moan as much. Travel can offer you that experience and realization that it is a matter of perspective. Travel can open people’s eyes, no matter where you go. It may be through a package tour to Africa or some real intrepid adventure through the Amazon rainforest, but the truth is, people who travel can see different things in a different light.

What Travel Means To Me

I may have already said this through the previous paragraphs, but I truly believe that travel is a personal journey in many ways. It’s a journey of discovery of new things, new perspective, new realizations and learnings. I believe people have different ways of discovering and embracing new things, and hence, travel is done in many different ways to suit a person. I believe that every person on this planet has the right to travel, and the right to say that they are a traveller regardless of how they travel. We all travel, one way or another, and there is no scoring system.

So, to those who think certain people have less credibility as a traveller than others, think again. Different people have different agenda for travel, and there is no set standard on what constitutes a fabulous traveller or a great traveller. For all intents and purposes, it all boils down to personal experience.

Have A Fabulous Journey Ahead, whatever it may be!

893 9382 300x225 What Does Travel Mean To You

My kind of travel

Kelvin Lim

Five Great Reasons To Do The Grand Pacific Drive

kelvinlls | October 16, 2009 | Comments (3)

The Grand Pacific Drive

GrandPacificDriveScene3 Five Great Reasons To Do The Grand Pacific Drive Many people are familiar with the Great Ocean Road along Victoria’s southern coast. It’s a fantastic stretch of road that offers dramatic scenery and has a great history around the construction of the road. One thing not many people or tourists are familiar about is the Grand Pacific Drive along the eastern shores of New South Wales. This stretch of road starts from the Royal National Park just south of Sydney and goes through small villages and towns including Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and finishes in the inland town of Nowra. The Grand Pacific Drive doesn’t have the rock formations like the Twelve Apostles of the Great Ocean Road, but having a bridge built on the side of a cliff face and passing through some gorgeous beaches is a great sight to behold.

Reason # 1: Catch The Sunrise

GrandPacificDriveScene2 Five Great Reasons To Do The Grand Pacific Drive Watching the sunrise is one of nature’s best light displays, along with a sunset. However, I’m not an early riser, and I always find it difficult to catch the sunrise, and only do I occasionally wake up to see it. Since moving to Australia 2 years ago, I’ve never seen the sunrise, and I thought it would be awesome to coincide it with a road trip to the southern parts of New South Wales. I managed to convince 2 of my friends to come with me and drive down from Sydney to Wollongong for the day along the Grand Pacific Drive and check out the sights along the way. Catching the sunrise at Stanwell Park and Coalcliff was one of the highlights of the trip, and seriously, one of the most underrated (or unmentioned) activities along this coastline. Catching the sunrise is not a tourist activity along this coastline, and only locals know of this. Before any tour groups start descending along this stretch of magnificent road, go and witness it yourself really soon!

Reason #2: No Tour Groups Around

There are so many organised tours to the Great Ocean Road, and while this is great for those who don’t have cars or only have a short time to get around, having busloads of people fighting for the view can be annoying. The great thing with the Grand Pacific Drive is that it is not as far from Sydney as the Great Ocean Road is from Melbourne, and the drive is not that long. It generally only takes over 2 hours and you will be able to cover the entire distance. If you take some time to enjoy each spot, it might take a little bit longer. However, it is definitely more manageable on a day trip than the Great Ocean Road.

Reason #3: Great Beaches and Views

The view along the Grand Pacific Drive is awesome! It’s either totally underrated, or underpromoted by the general public. It may not offer such dramatic scenery, but the numerous beaches and the sea views from Stanwell Tops are great! The city of Wollongong and the township of Kiama are also great attractions on this stretch of road. Wollongong has a nice beach and harbour, and an old lighthouse that adds to the character of the harbour. In the city itself is the largest buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, the Nan Tien temple. It’s architecture is distinctly Chinese, and it was built by the members of the Chinese Fo Guang Shan community who have migrated to Australia. Which leads me to the next reason..

Reason #4: Interesting attractions in the area

GrandPacificDriveScene4 Five Great Reasons To Do The Grand Pacific Drive

Sunset at Kiama Lighthouse - Grand Pacific Drive

Before reaching Wollongong, I had the impression that there is totally nothing interesting to see in the town itself apart from the usual shops on the main town centre. I thought it was just another industrial town, with totally nothing to offer. Was I completely wrong! The harbour and beach is an attraction on its own, and the lighthouse adds character to the place as well. If you drive all the way down to the town of Kiama, you can find some blowholes along its coast. It’s a natural phenomenon wherein holes are formed from the erosion of rocks on the coastline. If you do a slight detour from the Grand Pacific Drive, you can check out the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk, which is about a 30-minute drive from Kiama. It offers a spectacular view of the Illawarra coastline, and the structure itself is quite a unique in its design. Its edges are suspended from the cantilever, making it bouncy and quite challenging to those afraid of heights.

Reason #5 : Relaxing, Laid Back Atmosphere

The Grand Pacific Drive is only 45 minutes away from the CBD, and yet, the pace of life is totally different from the buzz of the big city. If you are ever tired of being always on the go, squeezing in with other people and the long queues, this place can soothe those angst and worry aside. The towns along the Grand Pacific Drive are quite small, and people are just totally laid-back. The beautiful beaches along the way would have been a highlight of the trip, and something that you can look forward to, if you’re never been down the Grand Pacific Drive.

Enjoy a drive down the Grand Pacific Drive, from sunrise til sunset on a nice clear sunny day, and you won’t regret it!

Have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

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Five Great Reasons To Do The Grand Pacific Drive