When we arrived at the airport for our flight to Hong Kong (after a bus diversion as the train was cancelled for essential track repair works - getting us in the mood for Glasgow already!) we went straight to check in with our luggage. As we had also upgraded on the way back (and had no problems on the way out) we handed over all 66kg of luggage (the extra tinnies to take home seemed to weigh more than we thought) assuming we would have to pay for 4kg (we thought our allowance was 30kg each for the Virgin flight). The [View Full Entry]

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We went for the bus to the airport at 8.20am for our 10am flight on the advice of the bus staff - we were a little concerned as we are usually at the airport and all checked in by an hour and a half prior to departure but we thought they must know their stuff (I was also not too bothered if we missed our flight as the forecast for Hobart was sun and Sydney was rain!). We arrived just after 9 and were checked in within 10 minutes. I chatted to the check in girl all the time she was [View Full Entry]

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After breakfast we headed back to the car hire place to give back the car and phoned a taxi for 9am to pick us up and take us to the Cascade Brewery for our tour (this is the oldest brewery in Australia). After driving around for about 20 minutes looking for a petrol station to fill the car back up we admitted defeat and handed it back half empty (but G managed to sweet talk them into charging us normal and not inflated rates for the petrol so was pretty pleased with himself!). The brewery is situated in 3 acres of [View Full Entry]

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This morning we got up and went downstairs for breakfast with our complimentary vouchers. We are not quite sure how we managed to get these - when G phoned up to book on Friday, the reservation team were busy so he left our number for them to phone us back. After about 10 minutes we were ready to leave to go to Apollo Bay so he decided to phone back to see if they were available and managed to get through and made the booking (and booked a room only rate). Half way to Apollo Bay, reservations called our phone, obviously [View Full Entry]

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We caught the sky bus back to the airport at about 9am - the cool thing here is that you phone the sky bus the night before, tell them your hotel and they organise a free transfer to the sky bus station for you - and arrived at the airport in plenty of time (about 2 hours) for our flight. We were amazed at how busy the airport was for domestic departures - 2 huge queues were snaking almost out of the door. We however went to the online check in facilities so managed to skip the queue and went straight [View Full Entry]

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We headed into the city centre before the tennis so I could get another top up for my phone (this had gone down significantly through phoning hotels and airlines to cancel Byron Bay and not through phoning mum as G joked) and I grabbed one of my favourite smoothies. We then headed along to the arena along the marked pedestrian walkway and were amazed to see the number of people in front of us at 9.45 (the doors only opened at 9.30). When we got to the gates I managed to get myself a freebie ball that they were throwing into [View Full Entry]

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On Sunday morning, we got up and thought we would chance our luck to see if breakfast was included in our room rate - again so we could make homer jealous (it quite clearly said on the internet it didn’t) and were told that it did!! So we trotted down and had the Hilton breakfast works. We then headed into Melbourne city centre and onto the Hilton on the Park. Our room was not quite ready so we left the bags and headed down to the Rod Laver arena to pick up our tickets for the tennis. This proved to be [View Full Entry]

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An early start today - on the road at 8am to head back towards Melbourne. Overnight, we decided that we would do so by going via Ballarat - a medium sized town about 110km north west of Melbourne, and a bit out of our way - hence the early start! But first I enjoyed the journey back along the Great Ocean Road. C enjoyed the drive a lot more than the first time - as she had a little nap on the way! My driving must have been good and steady! About 90 minutes later, we stopped for breakfast in Torquay, [View Full Entry]

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Friday morning - and an early start. Not because we were leaving early - but because I was on clothes washing chores (hope you are impressed, Sally the Snake / Monster in Law!). Although C was happy to re-wear clothes, me being me, I wasn’t - so had to get up at 7.30am to put on the washing machine. Serves me right, eh! Washing done, we headed in to Apollo Bay for breakfast at the Great Ocean Road Deli - homemade museli and toast all round! Then back to the Sandpiper Motel to jump in the car and head towards the [View Full Entry]

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G’s turn to write today - I think this was a ‘guy’ day rather than one for the girls, so have been given the writing duties! We spent a couple of hours this morning before we left Philip Island finalising our new revised itinerary after our lovely breakfast again. C went again for the poached eggs - whilst I went for the poached eggs with bacon and mushrooms (how was the toast, Homer?) After finalising our travel schedule for next week, we eventually left Phillip Island just on 12 noon and headed towards Apollo Bay and the Great Ocean Road - [View Full Entry]

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