Solo Female Adventure: 11 Days in Australia – Full Itinerary
✈️ Day 0: Departure Shanghai → Qingdao (long layover, free stay at Huazhu Hotel). Night flight to Sydney at 9 PM. 🏙️ Day 1: Sydney Highlights 10 AM arrival: Checked into hostel, then explored: "Most Beautiful Train Station in the Southern Hemisphere" 🚉 Harbour Bridge + Opera House (inside tour!). Sunset cruise with Opera House views 🌅. Dinner in Chinatown + Darling Harbour night stroll. 🚶♀️ Day 2: Sydney’s Secrets Free city walking tour (local guide + international squad!). Coastal hike: Ferry to Watson’s Bay → Bondi Beach sunset. Saturday fireworks at Darling Harbour 🎆. 🦞 Day 3: Lazy Sydney Sleep-in → Sydney Fish Market feast 🦀. Met a travel buddy → chilled in Botanic Gardens (shoutout to the helpful cop! 👮♂️). Red-eye flight to Cairns ✈️. 🌴 Day 4: Cairns Arrival Shared taxi to city → explored the marina area. Hostel nap → 4 PM KOALA CUDDLES 🐨💕. 🐠 Day 5: Great Barrier Reef! Reef Magic cruise: Snorkeled in rainbow coral worlds 🤿 + helicopter ride (endless blues!). Verdict: "Heaven on Earth." 🛒 Day 6: Cairns Chill "Aussie pantry" shopping + Coles supermarket. Botanic Gardens → sunset beach meditation 🌊. 🐨 Day 7: Melbourne Bound Early flight → checked into female dorm (solo room luck!). Humble Rays brunch (thanks, friend!). Wild kangaroos at park at dusk 🦘. 🌈 Day 8: Epic Day Trip Brighton Bathing Boxes → Moonlit Sanctuary (paid $30 to cuddle a koala!). Puffing Billy Steam Train (legs dangling through rainforest!). Penguin Parade at night 🐧. 🛍️ Day 9: Melbourne City Walk Shopping + laneway art → met a Japanese WHV roommate. 🌊 Day 10: Great Ocean Road (Reverse!) 12 Apostles → Gibson Steps → Loch Ard Gorge → Split Point Lighthouse. Farewell sunset gift from Australia 🌇. ✈️ Day 11: Homeward Bound Beach drive with a kind local → Melbourne Museum (rainforest exhibit blew my mind!). SkyBus to airport → smooth flight home. 🌺 Final Thoughts: Australia = PERFECT for solo travel! Safe, English-friendly, and full of华人 vibes. Only regret? No NZ visa for a detour! Next stop? 🌎 Wherever the wind takes me... #SoloTravel #AustraliaDiaries #Wanderlust #GreatBarrierReef #KoalaCuddles