Not all croissants are created equally! We have the definitive list of the best croissants in Melbourne. Dutifully tried and tasted over a few months. We will tell you which shops will have you saying oh la la and which places to avoid. We try classic croissants, pain au chocolats and almond croissants. Think you know a good French pastry when you see one? Think you know what to look for? Read on and see if you agree with our assessment.
First of all, we want you to know that the croissant tasting was carried out in Melbourne. Sorry residents of other Australian cities. We started taste testing a year ago, got busy but have been back to most of the places that are still trading. Unfortunately 2 of the good places which made our best croissants in Melbourne list have closed! The prices have been updated for 2024!
So many types of pastries to choose from! Prices have gone up since the picture was taken. We have updated the prices in the table.
Secondly, the croissants underwent rigorous taste testing and photographic sessions. We have to say the croissants were very good models – no temper tantrums and no diva like behaviour. They were usually served with a fresh Italian coffee, how very French.
Thirdly we put our waistlines on the line in the name of research! Croissants have a whopping 400 to 500 calories depending on which one you choose. But as they say, croissant in, croissant out! Well actually, we just made that saying up, but we did walk to every location to try and equalise the energy intake!
The trouble with croissant shops in Melbourne is… there is so much variety AND they also sell cakes next to them. Not fair! Oh look there is a salad in this picture!
What make us a good judge of croissants? Well, for one thing we have been to France over 10 times.
We’re expert croissant tasters.
C was born in England and France is just across the English Channel or Le Manche, as the French like to call it. C has been eating croissants since childhood. We have sampled croissants in over 50 French cities and towns on our travels, so we know what we’re talking about.
This is what you’re looking for in the best croissants. It comes down to three very simple factors:
When you bite into your croissant you should see layers upon layers of flakiness. This is called lamination. There should also be lots of holes.
Lamination – this is the numbers of layers you see when you cut, bite or rip into your croissant. If it’s all stuck together in one blob it’s a flop! The croissant should be full of air and “puffy”. It it is flat, it is crap. The French call this feuilleté – which means lots of layers. The word “feuille” means leaf and is also used to mean leaf of paper. The classic “mille -feuille” a custard or vanilla slice, literally means a thousand layers. Try counting the layers next time you eat one!
We know these are not croissants or pain au chocolat or croissant aux amandes! We’re just checking you’re still paying attention!!!
Buttery taste and greasy fingers – croissants are not a diet food and they’re called a treat for a reason. High in saturated fat and white flour, they’re the enemy of your healthy eating lifestyle. We put our waistlines on the line for you! If you’re not licking your fingers and feeling guilty after a croissant, then it wasn’t a good one, we say!
Look at the sign on the wall. Yup- butter, butter, butter. If it’s not real butter it’s not a real croissant!
Flaky but chewy at the same time – this may seem oxymoronic, but it is very important. When you bite into a croissant, it should make crumbs, but, you should also be able to pull a section off!
When ranking our croissants, we also factored in the price. Is more expensive always better? Read on to find out!
You can hand over those freshly baked croissants for tasting now!
Jump here to the Price comparison table
plain croissant
pain au chocolat
almond croissant
Agathé Patisserie
$6
$7
$9
The Crux and Co
$no longer trading
$no longer trading
$no longer trading
Woodfrog
$5
$6
$6
Lune
$7.10
$7.90
$11.7
Noisette
$5
$5
$6
Bibelot
$7
$8 with brownies on top!
$8
Austro Bakery
no longer trading
The Bread Club
$5
$5.5
$7
Brûlée
$6.5
$7.80
$8.50
Ned’s Bake
$6
$7
escargot $7 no almond on day
Tivoli Rd Bakery
$6
$6.50
$7.50
South Melbourne Bakery
$7
$8
$8.50
Lux Bite
$5
$5.50
$6.50
Monobake
$5.50
$6.30
$8.70 almond and yuzu
Winners of best Croissants in Melbourne
The almond croissant from Agathe is a real treat. Densely packed with almonds inside, it is to be enjoyed with coffee!
Winners of the best croissants in Melbourne for taste are a joint first place – Agathé Patisserie (pronounced a-gah-tay) and The Crux and Co. If we’re factoring in price too, then The Crux and Co wins for taste and price. Sadly the Crux and Co is no longer trading at the time of writing, but, who knows, it may be back! Both places used to sell out by midday for the pain au chocolats and almond croissants. The plain croissants are the ones that are left at 3pm.
The matcha croissant – a divine fusion of East meets west. Green tea flavoured croissant by The Crux and co. Sadly no longer trading, but we had them and occasionally other Melbourne bakeries have them too.
What we like about these two places is they also sell a variation of croissant that has to be tried – matcha – green tea. They’re in high demand and we had to ring ahead and reserve one because we’re not morning people! The other croissant to try is the chocolate almond croissant. Who can resist a pain au chocolat crossed with an almond croissant? Not us!!!
The French take out the number one spot in Melbourne! Agathe is in our opinion the best #1 place to get your croissant or pain au chocolat.
Agathé Patisserie has two locations – one in the South Melbourne Market and a tiny stall in the CBD in the Royal Arcade, aptly named Agathé Petite. Delivery is available sometimes, check the website.
plain croissant
pain au chocolat
almond croissant
Lux Bite
$5
$5.50
$6
Agathé Patisserie
$5.50
$6.50
$8
Coming in at second place
Luxebite in South Yarra, gets the silver medal or medaille d’argent in the Only1invillage definitive Best Croissants in Melbourne list.
This was such a difficult choice to make and like all good judges say, you all deserve to be winners! Well what a load of bleep, bleep, bleep. You get second place because your croissants taste good, they have great lamination, they’re buttery and they’re flaky! But now Crux and Co has gone, second place has to go Lux Bite in South Yarra.
Second place winner is Luxe Bite in South Yarra. Lamination, flakiness and chewiness with a huge variety of flavours. Prices have changed, see table above.
They also make amazingly cutesy wutesy cakes in one person and 8 people sizes. Damn, now that’s a shop you need to enter with caution. You go in looking for the best croissant and come out with a heart shaped cake, filled with vanilla mousse, elderflower jelly, strawberry compote and vanilla sponge! Going out for one croissant in Melbourne is dangerous stuff, not only for the wallet but also for the waist line!
OMG Luxe bite has matcha croissants! You don’t have to go to France to get croissants Melbourne!
You can order online from Lux bite too! How good is that. To see their up to date prices for croissants and cakes, click here.
The médaille de bronze (third place)
In third place for taste and price Only1invillage declares The Bread Club in Albert Park. Well done and a big “félicitations” to the French owners Tim Beylie and Brice Antier. Don’t worry if you don’t live near Albert Park, they have another shop in North Melbourne. The croissants were délicieux and won’t dent your wallet.
The Bread Club also sell sandwiches, cinammon scrolls, pain au raisin and of course bread, as the name suggests. $5.50 for a pain au chocolat, $7 for an almond croissant which is huge and very densely filled with the frangipane and $5 for a classic croissant.
Running through the lavender fields of Provence with our croissant from Bread Club, Albert Park. The plain croissant was a worthy contender for third place.
Oh did we mention they also bake cookies? Do not enter if you’re trying to avoid fat, sugar and refined white flour!
Not just a croissant place! Uh oh! Bread Club also sells sweet treats and gourmet sandwiches.
Heralded by the New York Times as the best croissants in Melbourne was Lune Patisserie. When we read about all the hype and from word of mouth we were excited to try this legendary place. Dressed in full combat gear for the battle of the croissants, we headed into the city. Just short of 5kms from our place, we joined the queue which was about 12 deep. Boy this had better be worth the wait!
It was battle of the croissants! Lune was over rated and over priced. Pictured are the expensive pain au chocolat and the almond croissant.
Not only are Lune’s croissants the most expensive they are also over rated. The pain au chocolat is no better than Lux Bite or Bibelot’s. The almond croissant is as good as The Bread Club’s and Agathé so the price (see the table above), cannot be justified in our opinion. It’s all hot air in our opinion. Breaking news – Lune is now open in Sydney, Australia.
Did not take us to the Lune (moon in French) and back! Over priced and over rated. Although good the price tag doesn’t win us over when we can get the same quality elsewhere.
Inside the store, the prices were clearly marked next to each pastry. The huge shock of the almond croissant asking price of $11.70 was the first thing our eyes were drawn to. Are you insane Lune? This almond croissant had better take us to the moon (lune is French for moon) and back! It did not, by the way.
bibelot, which means small decoration in French, definitely delivers on the croissant front. Find their viennoiserie, gelato and excellent coffee in South Melbourne.
Bibelot in South Melbourne is also a place to buy ice cream and exquisite mini cakes. The plain croissant was buttery, flaky and puffy. Three ticks! The almond croissant had a healthy dose of crushed almond inside and a generous sprinkling of flaked almonds on the outside. Well done Bibelot. Naturally you can also get coffee with your croissant at Bibelot.
What’s inside the bibelot box? Another croissant maybe?
Bibelot’s pain au chocolat has a mini chocolate brownie on top – talk about death by chocolate. The lamination was good and there was a decent strip of chocolate inside.
Bibelot’s pain au chocolat not only has a great strip of chocolate inside, it also has chocolate brownies stuck on the outside! Talk about death by chocolate.
Around the corner, on the next road is Austro Bakery in South Melbourne. The huge whisk and spoon in the window tells you that it’s a bakery and patisserie in one. Sadly in 2024, it is no longer trading. A new cafe is taking its place.
Austro Bakery sells out of the basic three croissants (plain, almond and pain au chocolat) pretty quickly. We had to go twice as the first time 10.30am was too late! We still included a photo because the croissants looked and tasted good!
Austro Bakery served up a deliciously flaky plain croissant. For something different we tried the pear and chocolate Danish. Oh my goodness…..yum!
Bakemono in the city is a Japanese inspired bakery which makes very good croissants with a unique Japanese twist. Of course you know what a yuzu is right? Ok, it’s a Japanese citrus fruit which tastes a bit like a lemon, a grapefruit and an orange. From the outside it looks more like a yellow orange. Google it!
Bakemono has unique Japanese flavours in its viennoiserie selection. The yuzu and almond croissant is a prime example of East meets West.
Naturally we had to try the yuzu and almond croissant, a strawberry custard and a pain au chocolat. Add a dollar to the prices above.
Pictured are the strawberry custard, yuzu and almond croissant and a pain au chocolat from Bakemono in the city of Melbourne.
Lamination was great, flakiness was great. Chewiness was spot on! The only down side was the price and it was difficult to find!
Bakemono’s pastries are winners. Lamination, flakiness and chewiness, not to mention great flavours! One downside – the price.
Hidden away amongst the busy Clarendon Street strip in South Melbourne is the aptly named South Melbourne Bakery.
Hidden amongst the plethora of eateries and main strip of Clarendon Street in South Melbourne, is the South Melbourne Bakery.
Not immediately obvious that you can buy croissants here, the South Melbourne Bakery was a great surprise. Sitting next to the sourdough, cakes and sausage rolls were the buttery delicacies we were after. The almond croissant has a creamy inside and the pain au chocolat had two strips of solid chocolate. Yummy!
Can you guess which two croissants these are from South Melbourne Bakery? (There is a clue on the plate!!!)
Coming in next is a relative new comer to the scene. Fully opened in January 2022 complete with a beautiful interior and exterior is Brûlée in Port Melbourne. When first tested, the croissants were too doughy, but now they are great. They are flaky, light and airy but chewy at the same time. They are also a third bigger than your average croissant. This is reflected in the price.
From the outside Brûlée which means “burnt” in French, doesn’t look out of place on a Parisian street.
Looking good. Pain au chocolat from Brûlée in Port Melbourne.
The pistachio croissant had a rosewater flavour which they say is actually orange blossom water.
Pictured are 3 different croissants. Pistachio in the hand, halloumi savoury croissant resting on the pain au chocolat. Look at the lamination on these. Très bon we say!
The pain au chocolat was very buttery with a good amount of chocolate. The lamination looked good from the centre when we cut it open. A thumbs up we’re pleased to say. Expensive prices and a beautiful interior. They also serve breakfast and coffee.
A selection of sweet and savoury croissants are on offer at Brulee in Port Melbourne. Prices are a bit expensive, but they’re not crazy expensive like Lune. The croissants are bigger than average.
Ned’s Bake sometimes called Neds Local European in Prahran is on other blog lists.
Ned’s Local European has been touted as great on other Best Croissants in Melbourne lists. We do not agree.
We were very disappointed. Again a great interior to eat the pastries but the taste – meh. The snail scroll (escargot) we tried was heavy and thick. The plain croissant was just well, too plain. No finesse in it.
We tried our best to dress them up. The texture was too doughy and not enough lamination. Sorry Ned, it’s a thumbs down from Only1invillage!
Another disappointment right on our doorstep was Noisette. Boasting a new renovation for the Port Melbourne store we were eager to try it after over a year’s closure.
At Noisette the pricing is good but their croissants were a bit flat. Not enough air bubbles inside and too doughy a texture. Probably a good thing really as it is a 2 minute walk away!
The cakes and eclairs are very good however, but we won’t be going there for the croissants. Not sure if the Noisette in Bentleigh is any better as we were put off by our local one. However, good news is that the éclair and pistachio delice are excellent! So it isn’t a complete write off!
Woodfrog is a chain with branches in South Melbourne, St Kilda, the city, Camberwell, Brighton,Kew, Armadale, Toorak, Doncaster and Elsternwick. We tried the South Melbourne branch and our hopes were dashed.
Woodfrog’s prices haven’t gone up! Although they’re the cheapest around, they haven’t changed their recipe on a recent visit.
The pain au chocolat didn’t even look very puffy but we had to try it just to prove ourselves right. However the sourdough bread was very good.
Gluttons for punishment we are! The almond croissant and pain au chocolat didn’t look great in the Woodfrog display, but, we had to prove ourselves correct! You can see from the outside that there are not that many layers in the pain au chocolat and it is a bit flat.
Tivoli Road Bakery in South Yarra, lauded by some was not great. So not great, that we didn’t even take a photo of the products! Sorry Tivoli Road Bakery ONly1invillage does not rate your viennoiserie.
Tivoli Road Bakery. Bread looked good. But their croissants were not.
In summary the best croissants in Melbourne
Most authentic and well priced croissant – Agathé pâtisserie
Deserved second and third place – Luxe Bite and The Bread Club
Unique flavours and authentic – Bakemono
Fell well below expectations, too expensive and over hyped – Lune
Left us deflated – Ned’s Bake and Noisette
Lacking lamination – Woodfrog
Didn’t rise to the occasion no pun intended – Lune
It’s all overbaked – Tivoli Road
Please open again somewhere in Melbourne – Crux and Co and Austro Bakery
It’s au revoir from Only1invillage and our Best Croissants in Melbourne list. We hope you enjoyed the pictures and bon journée.
We hope you have enjoyed our Best Croissants in Melbourne guide. Bookmark this page if you’re visiting Melbourne and if you’re a Melbournite (a person whom resides in Melbourne) see if you can check these places out and add more! I’m sure there are some more undiscovered gems in Melbourne, but seriously, we have a couple of kilos to lose first!
Often mistaken for the Qantas Club Lounge in Sydney, the domestic business class lounge is a completely different space altogether.
The space itself is smaller than the Qantas Club lounge, the furnishings and food and beverages are also slightly different. We visited at breakfast time.
The Qantas Sydney Domestic Business Class Lounge is separate to the Qantas Club Lounge in Sydney.
We visited at breakfast time, so there were lots of eggs! Eggs seem to be a predominant feature of breakfasts around the world, which is good because we love eggs!
Quick Index Qantas Sydney Domestic Business Lounge
The lounge is located in the domestic terminal in Sydney. For Australians it is quite annoying that if you don’t live in Sydney, you sometimes have to collect your own bags and re-check them in! First world problems, we know! If you’re lucky, sometimes your airline will do it for you. After immigration, turn left, go up the escalators and look for the lounge signs for all airlines. Qantas and Qantas Club arrows will point you in different directions.
Qantas business class dress code
Quite a lot of people can use this lounge. Before you get dressed though, please read our guide of what to wear and what not to wear! How embarrassing if you get refused entry because you’re not properly dressed! Just because You have been warned. No one wears a suit anymore.
Who can Get In
Passengers of Oneworld alliance airlines such as Emirates and China Eastern can access the Qantas Sydney business class lounge. Anyone with a Qantas or Jet star business class ticket has access too. However, if you’re flying Emirates, we prefer Emirates’ lounges. They’re a cut above. Sorry Qantas, but it’s true!
Check the table below, to see if you’re getting in or getting booted out!
Upon Entering
As you walk in, the overwhelming colour palette is muted soft grey, white and cream. You will have the familiar wooden magazine wall displaying reading material you are welcome to take on board your flight. The hanging ceiling to table globes will also be reminiscent of Qantas lounge decor. Long stone tables covered in
Are you getting in to the Qantas Sydney Domestic Business Class Lounge?
Does it look like an industrial space? Some people dislike the hard flooring areas in the domestic lounge in Sydney. What do you think?
Muted neutral grey, white and cream colours dominate in the Sydney lounge.
Seating
The lounge is roughly split into a quiet and a not so quiet area. Breakfast is quite a busy time for most lounges. Sydney is the lounge that most people will use if their final destination is Melbourne, like us.
Tiling and carpet in the Qantas Sydney business class lounge is mostly a mix of light grey and white.
Similar to other Qantas lounges, there are different types of seating available. Bar stools for those propping up the bar and comfortable, padded armchairs for relaxing in. Swivel office type chairs and padded dining room chairs. The soft furnishings are fabric blue, brown leather (could be faux leather) and black leather (again probably faux leather). There are also some abstract designed padded armchairs in black and white.
Good views of the planes from the Qantas domestic business class lounge in Sydney.
Look around your seats and you will find power outlets. They are in the tables, near the armchairs and near the long tables.
Bathrooms and Showers
There are shower rooms, so if it isn’t busy, just walk straight in. There’s no need to book, just look at the doors for the familiar green vacant symbol.
The grey and white theme continue into the bathrooms. Qantas are clearly going for the marble effect.Rain shower and the usual toiletries that Qantas use throughout their lounges in their signature black plastic pump bottles.
The shower gel, conditioner and shampoo are from the Li’tya Australian organics range. Li’tya means “of the Earth”. They are a small company based in the state of Victoria and use native Australian botanical ingredients in their products.
Li’tya products use native Australian botanicals in their shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
Food and Beverages
The Breakfast
As our visit to the lounge coincides with breakfast. Unfortunately no lunch or dinner offerings for Only1invillage!
It’s buffet dining for breakfast at the Sydney qantas domestic lounge. Being in Australia, we expect the full greasy English breakfast and the healthy options which include chia seeds and make your own juices. You can have classic cereals such as Weetbix and corn flakes too. The carbs, where pre sliced bread is available, and cereal sections are separated from the other breakfast items.
Toast, butter, jam, cereal and muesli area.
Fresh fruit and ready made mini muesli cups are on a separate island, away from the full English breakfast.
Eggs, you always see eggs in business class lounges. However, we have yet to come across an egg station where the chef will poach an egg for you, while you wait!
Don’t fancy scrambled eggs for breakfast? Have a hard boiled egg instead.
The full English breakfast is baked beans, bacon, hash browns, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, sausages and (traditionally) fried eggs.
Whilst not up to the taste and presentation of an Emirates business class lounge, the food is still good quality. Nothing is inedible. We tried a lot of the food. All in the interests of fair reporting you understand!
If you don’t fancy the cooked breakfast at the Sydney domestic business lounge, there is a separate island of fruit, mini muesli cups, ham and cheese for a cold continental style breakfast.
beverages
It’s time for J to prop up the bar and C to get her latte from the barista bar. Since it’s breakfast though, the only cocktail you’ll be ordering is a cocktail of caffeine. Alcohol is only served after midday. As Qantas is an Australian lounge, and you can hold out until 12.01 pm, you can order a pale ale by Little Creatures, a Perth based company. The wines are good quality and the spirits are the well known international brands.
Zoned areas are a feature of most lounges around the world.
Always have to quench the thirst. Hot and cold beverages are standard at all business class lounges. However, note that alcohol is not served until after midday at any Qantas lounges.
Final Thoughts
The staff were great. The food options could do with some made to order options like in the international lounge. It’s definitely more cosy than the Qantas Club Sydney Lounge which is very large and can get very noisy when busy. Definitely visit if you have the time. If you’re flying on an Emirates ticket though on business class, we would go to the Emirates Lounge.
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The Qantas Club Sydney business class lounge gets its first review post Covid. This lounge is for passengers flying domestically or connecting from an international flight outside of Australia. Providing a little exclusivity before your Qantas or Jetstar flight, the Qantas Club Sydney lounge is a welcoming space to get that pre flight luxury experience before boarding in Australia. If you have been to any Qantas International lounges within Australia, you will notice a few differences, mainly the food and beverages on offer and the bathrooms.
Both domestic and international passengers with One World Emerald or Sapphire status can use the lounge. Anyone holding a business class ticket and Qantas Club members are eligible too.
Who can use the Qantas Club Sydney?
Anyone holding a business class ticket flying with Qantas domestically. International connections with Emirates ticket holders also gain access. If you have Qantas Club membership or have received a Qantas lounge pass you can also come in! Any OneWorld member who holds Emerald or Sapphire status regardless of which cabin class you’re flying can access the Sydney lounge too. One World airlines include Emirates, Japan Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finn Air, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Alaska and Iberia. The Qantas Club lounge is the most accessible lounge sitting below the Qantas Domestic Business Class Lounge.
Ask at the desk if you can come in to the Qantas Club lounge in Sydney!
How big is the Qantas Club Sydney Lounge?
It is big, really big almost as big as the Qantas International lounge in Sydney. If you want to compare images read our review here.
The Qantas Club lounge in Sydney is big!
Food and beverages in the qantas club sydney lounge
It’s breakfast time when we visit the Qantas Club in Sydney. Food is self service style. There are no “cooked to order” options.
Probably the biggest difference you will notice is the food quality and the presentation. Like its other siblings in Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns the Qantas Club lounge in Sydney is not the Michelin star experience you would get at a restaurant.
If you don’t want the full English option you can go for something lighter.
The food and beverage selection is extensive with a range of hot and cold dishes, snacks, and drinks including alcoholic beverages.
The food is not that attractively presented for some hot options. These big metal tray containers do not look very appealing.Cold cereal options, with or without milk. On the far left, is the famous Weetbix cereal.
Food comes in industrial style metal containers and there are help yourself, make yourself style sandwiches! If you need a break from work or studying, there’s a well-stocked snack bar where you can grab a coffee, tea or a tasty pastry.
Make sure you get your coffee made by the barista and not the automated machines.The soft and fizzy drinks are on free flow!It’s not the cafe at IKEA we promise you! It probably gets really busy and this is one way to keep everyone from going thirsty!
There are no a la carte made to order dishes available unlike in international business class lounges and the Qantas Sydney International Lounge itself which is totally separate.
Seating options
In the Qantas Club Sydney lounge there are plenty of seats to park yourself for an hour or two.
The seating areas allows for both privacy and social interaction. The lounge offers a variety of comfortable seating options including armchairs, sofas, and dining tables. The seating options are coloured in red, beige, light and dark grey.
What is going on here? People were actually working and doing business in a business class lounge?!!
The work station computer chairs are wooden and hard on metallic legs with wheels. Padded bar stools are also an option along the communal bench/ bar style seating areas. Overall, the lounge provides a relaxing and comfortable space for passengers to wait for their flights.
Bar stools (padded) and breakfast bar style chairs, provide a modern, relaxed feel to the Qantas Club lounge in Sydney.
The ambiance is modern, comfortable and trendy, with a few real plants breaking up the spaces, bright white walls and plenty of natural light streaming in from large windows. The signature white and grey marble adorns the eating areas. The flooring is a mixture of striped carpet, industrial grey tiles and laminate wood flooring.
Freshen up in the Sydney Qantas club lounge
You can recharge your brain cells and relax in the lounge area where you can watch TV, read a book or play some games.
The co-working space has a friendly and welcoming vibe for an airport lounge. You could actually hold an informal meeting here. But who does that nowadays, use a business class lounge for business?! There are also workstations with charging points and high-speed Wi-Fi for those who need to catch up on work or emails.
The Pros and cons of the Qantas Club Sydney lounge
The lounge is always bustling with people, which can make it difficult to find a place to sit or to have a conversation without being interrupted by the noise. Additionally, the overall atmosphere of the lounge lacks a sense of luxury or exclusivity, making it feel more like a generic waiting area than a premium lounge experience. While the Qantas lounge may offer some basic amenities and services, it falls short in providing a truly exceptional experience for its premium passengers.
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet or delicious food, the Qantas Club lounge may not be the best choice. However, if you simply want a bright and comfortable space to wait for your flight, it’s worth considering.
We were pretty happy spending an hour in the Qantas Club Sydney lounge. The coffee alone and the padded chairs are way more comfortable than slumming it with the crowds outside! Yes, you can buy better food from the terminal restaurants, but the beverages are not complimentary! Think of it as a cafe break with a great bathroom and you will not be disappointed. Do not go inside with pre conceptions of being spoilt with gourmet food and an eclectic and diverse wine list. Enjoy the views of the planes and the great coffee.
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Manila to Sydney Qantas business class Flight review
As one of the most well-known airlines in the world, Qantas offers several classes of service to its passengers. One of its most popular and well-regarded classes is its business class. In this review, we will take a closer look at Qantas’ business class flight from Sydney to Manila and vice versa including its amenities, service, and overall experience. Gazing out at the flying kangaroo logo whilst waiting to land 35000 feet in the air, in business class, could be worse! There was one major let down however on the Manila to Sydney leg of the flight. Read on to discover what it was!
When the window seat is the one you want in business class!
Check-In and Boarding Experience:
Qantas offers dedicated check-in counters for business class passengers, which can help to speed up the process and make it more comfortable. There are also dedicated security lines that can help to speed up the entire process, allowing passengers to move through the airport quickly and efficiently.
Checking in was slightly painful but once on board things were better!
The check in at Sydney was painful however. Even though the queue was short 4 passengers ahead of us took a long time. You know the scenario! When it’s your turn a few clicks on a mouse and you’re off. One of the unexplained phenomenon of travelling.
At Manila airport, the check in process was swift and efficient with smiles from everyone. The flight back to Sydney is an evening flight, just shy of 8 hours.
Quick Index Manila to Sydney Qantas Business Class Flight
The business class cabin has been refurbished since the global pandemic on most Qantas aircraft.
Once onboard the aircraft, business class passengers are greeted with a warm welcome, by name and guided to their seats. The cabin crew is friendly, professional, and attentive, creating a welcoming atmosphere that sets the tone for the rest of the flight. The pre take off drinks are swift to arrive.
The Cabin
The 1 – 2- 1 cabin configuration on board the Sydney to Manila business class flight and vice versa. The plane is an A330 300 for plane geeks who like to know such details.
The Manila to Sydney Qantas business class cabin is a 1-2-1 configuration, with all seats facing forwards. We say this because on some Qatar business class flights we have been on, some seats face the rear of the plane. There are 28 business class seats and 269 economy seats. On both flights of the Sydney to Manila return flight there were no empty seats. You’ll be travelling on an A330 -300 which has business suites. Not quite as private as the Qatar business suites with a sliding door, but better than previous business Qantas business seats. The window seats provide the best privacy when travelling alone, but the divider in the middle seats provides decent coverage between yourself and a stranger in most seating positions.
The privacy screen is quite decent when you’re sitting down if you are next to a stranger in business class in the middle seats.
The cabin design is modern, elegant, and stylish, with clean lines and muted tones that create a calming atmosphere. The cabin is well-lit, with large windows that provide stunning views of the sky and the world below. This is the one time when you do want the window seat! Depending on your route the flight can be a bit warm. We usually find the cabin too warm coming from Australia to the rest of the world!
A modern and elegant design onboard the Qantas A330-300 Manila to Sydney business class flight.
The seats on board the Manila to Sydney Qantas business class flight
Qantas’ business class seats are some of the most comfortable in the sky. The seats are spacious, with a generous amount of legroom and plenty of room to stretch out.
Legroom is pretty good. C is 165 centimetres tall.
The seats are also fully adjustable, so passengers can find the perfect position for sleeping, working, or relaxing. All seats have a massage function which works at all angles, even in the lie flat bed mode. You are provided with a mattress to soften the lines between the back and the bottom.
The window seat is great in business class. Cannot say the same for economy class!A personal mirror in your seat surrounds.Extra room for the in flight magazine. Does anyone really read that anymore?
The electronics
A bird’s eye view of the electronics around your seat on board the newly refurbished Thomson Aero seats. You will find USB, international adapter power access and seat controls at your finger tips.
The bathroom
The bathroom or toilets or washroom, whatever you want to call them are the same as economy class. The only difference is there are less people queuing for them. Surely we don’t need to show you a photo?!
Amenity kit
Qantas’ business class amenities are good. Passengers are provided with an amenity kit that includes skincare products, toothpaste, earplugs, and more. Each seat also comes with a cozy blanket and fluffy pillow, ensuring that passengers are comfortable throughout the flight. The toiletries bag has recently had an upgrade and is one you would want to keep. The range of skincare is the same as in the lounges (Li’tya). There are apparently six amenity kit bags to collect.
There are 6 business class amenity kits to collect from Qantas. We received the 1980s design bag on both journeys from Sydney to Manila and vice versa. That’s 4 more bags for the collection!
Inside the plastic toothbrush has been replaced with a bamboo toothbrush. The paper used is all forestry commission certified and fully compostable. The plastic packaging contains 40% recycled plastic. Even the inner carton is made up of a plastic which has enhanced biodegradable properties. Clearly, Qantas is trying to present a more sustainable and environmentally friendly take away kit for its business class passengers.
On overnight flights passengers are offered Qantas pyjamas which are a cotton polyester blend. The smallest size available is medium. All pyjamas are grey coloured with a white kangaroo on the chest.
Qantas pyjamas are offered on overnight flights in business class. Sadly they are not 100 per cent cotton. The smallest size they have is medium.
Entertainment System
One of the standout features of Qantas’ business class is its impressive entertainment system. Passengers have access to an extensive library of movies, TV shows, music, and games, all of which are displayed on a large touchscreen display. The selection is vast and varied, with something for everyone. The new release films are standard offerings which most airlines will have and they are also divided into different categories for your viewing pleasure. The noise cancelling headphones provided make the sound experience whilst watching films or listening to music so much clearer.
The Qantas screen in business class is clear and large. There is so much to choose from on the entertainment system for the 8 hour flights.
Food and drinks Dining Experience
The lunch appetizer from Sydney was a delicious prawn dish which did not seem to match the description on the menu card! Nonetheless it was very succulent and refreshing.
Qantas’ business class dining experience is varied. We found a huge difference in the quality and taste during both flights. From the Australian side into Manila the food was very good.
The sandwich of slow cooked chipotle lamb from Sydney was tasty, but the presentation could have been improved.Vanilla creme caramel for dessert was a little gluggy and a touch too sweet.Why not have a fruit plate too while you’re at it?!
On the way back, the food was oily, lacked taste and was presented badly. Maybe the origin country of the flight really has an effect on the quality of the dining experience, since the cabin and seats are obviously the same.
The Manila to Sydney Qantas business class dining experience was probably the worst tasting we have experienced from Qantas. In the picture below the bread roll was definitely not sourdough!
The beef and snapper dishes we chose, sounded really exciting but when delivered lacked any finesse and were presented poorly.
Asado braised beef with star anise, soy and tomato. Served with steamed rice and gai lan. Sounded really tasty but in reality, was bland.Seared snapper with spiced cauliflower, roast sweet potato with snow peas and coriander yoghurt sounded very gourmet. Unfortunately, the flavours were just missing and the presentation was clumsily put together and glistening with oil.
Passengers are served a gourmet meal that is expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and exquisitely delicious (usually). The menu is designed by renowned chef Neil Perry and features a range of options that cater to different tastes and dietary requirements. There are always vegetarian and gluten free options.
The wine list is also impressive, with a carefully curated selection of wines from around the world. However, like we always say, the food and wine is not as good as Emirates or Qatar business class, who have higher quality wines and better presented tableware.
The best part of the breakfast as we were flying into Sydney from Manila was the smoothie. The coffee was bitter and not even hot, the muffin re heated to within an inch of acceptability and the yoghurt too sweet. All in all the most disappointing meal service we have received on board a Qantas flight departing from an Asian city.
The bar
There is no bar available on the Manila to Sydney Qantas business class route as the plane is not an A380.
Service
You are always swiftly offered a pre take off aperitivo or glass of champagne or both on board a Qantas business class flight.
The cabin crew are friendly, professional, and attentive, always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that passengers have a comfortable and enjoyable flight. You are addressed by name as you board and are asked to fill in the breakfast menu card so you won’t be disturbed during the night on the way back from Manila and the dinner card on your way to Manila.
The crew are knowledgeable about the menu, the wine list, and the entertainment system, and they are always available to answer questions or provide assistance. If you have connecting flights the crew will reassure you that you won’t miss your next flight, as they contact with the crew on the ground at the landing destination.
Sometimes, the crew can seem a little flustered especially around meal times. This is more evident when the crew is young and inexperienced. On the other hand, when the crew are experienced, thy can sometimes appear a little aloof and just going through the motions. What is guaranteed is smiling whether it be fake or not, you definitely don’t see miserable Qantas crew in business class.
Final thoughts
Qantas’ business class is good value offering a premium experience that is both luxurious and practical. From its comfortable seating and stylish cabin design to its impressive entertainment system and gourmet dining, Qantas business class ticks all the boxes for a very comfortable flight experience. The service is what one expects, and the attention to detail is somewhat hit and miss in every aspect of the experience. For those looking for a premium travel experience, Qantas’ business class is definitely worth considering.
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12 fun things to do in Gili Trawangan and 1 don’t.
Warm clear waters teeming with turtles. Gili T is the laid back backpacking island next to Lombok, Indonesia.
First of all, where is Gili Trawangan?
Well, it’s a small island in SE Asia. More specifically, it is located nest to the island of Lombok in Indonesia. Time to get the map out. Sorry, we mean time to put Gili Trawangan into your favourite search engine and click maps!
Gili Trawangan has warm, clear waters and narrow sandy beaches. The sand is coarse, not fine and powdery. Most spots have lots of washed up coral. It’s a good idea to bring reef shoes/socks for hassle free entry and exit of the blue water. Umbrellas and loungers are free at your own resort. You can use other resorts’ facilities for the price of a drink or some food. Prices for food and drinks are 50 per cent cheaper than Australia or Europe.
How will I get to Gili Trawangan?
This is the local boat from Gili Trawangan to Lombok. We do not recommend it for any longer than 30 minutes! You cannot get a boat like this to Bali because a fast boat with four engines takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. Can you imagine how long this type of boat would take???!!
The only way is by boat! You will probably have landed at Denpasar International on the island of Bali. From there you can get various fast boats from two ports – Serangan (about 30 minutes from the airport) and Padang Bai (about 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on the traffic).
We travelled with giligetaway.com 1.5 million IDR return Serangan Bali to Gili T. The boat leaves 9 am every day and arrives 2 hours and 20 minutes later. The inside is hot and stuffy but the seats are padded and comfortable. No air conditioning. There is one toilet on board.
We tried Giligetaway.com for a fast boat transfer in 2023 and were impressed with the service. They will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel on the return journey, even if it’s a different hotel in Bali. The boat leaves at 9am and takes about 2.5 hours. The check in is swift, you are offered sickness tablets and your bags are taken on board, no need to carry them yourselves. You are given two boarding lanyards and your luggage receipts and tickets. Your feet don’t get wet as you board! If you take a smaller boat you may have to wade in barefoot.
You can access the Giligatawy fast boat directly from the pier without getting your feet wet. If you want to sit inside be quick because seats are linited.
You can sit inside under cover from the harsh sun or if you want to get your sun damage in early, there are seats on the roof! A film plays for the crossing but you cannot hear it. No drinks are offered, but the staff are friendly and there are life jackets for everyone! It’s a bit hot on board even with the windows open.
Start the sun bathing early if you don’t get a seat inside on board the Giligataway fast boat! Hold onto your hat!
You could also fly to Lombok and then get a car and boat to Gili Trawangan which takes about 30 minutes in the car and 30 minutes by boat. The larger and more comfortable boats depart from Bali, not Lombok.
A private boat for just the two of you starts at 1 million IDR from Lombok to Gili Trawangan. Transfer time is 15 minutes.
Gili Trawangan and Lombok suffered a devastating earthquake in 2018. We have not been back since. Five years later and we are keen to see how things have changed post earthquake and post global pandemic, remember a little thing called Covid-19 which disrupted travel for 2 years?
Most of the beach front resorts have been re-built and there are only a few spots which have rubble to be cleared or are in a half built state. When you walk back a few streets the damage is more severe and people have been slower to rebuild.
Wi fi is not that reliable on the island of Gili T, especially when lots of people are trying to connect or during inclement weather. We always buy a local SIM card when we land. Telkomsel offer the best coverage. If you don’t get your SIM at the airport or in Bali, don’t worry they sell them on Gili T!
Important to note – Indonesia now requires most visitors to buy a Visa on Arrival. Not a requirement before. Visas cost half a million IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) and are valid for 60 days. Our airline did not tell us this in advance otherwise we would have bought it online to avoid the queues immediately after landing. The next important thing to note is you need to fill in an online customs declaration which will get scanned after your passport has been stamped. This means it is essential you have a smart phone and internet. In case you can’t connect to the airport free wi-fi, buy a local SIM on landing. There are people selling them before the Visa on Arrival point. They’re good value and last for 30 days. We buy with Telkomsel the fastest and most reliable. We paid 40000 IDR for 25GB.
Most resorts on the harbour side of Gili Trawangan have not suffered too much earthquake damage and seem to be operating as normal. When you walk in land however it is a very different story. There are many abandoned buildings and unfinished building work going on.
On first appearances as we land at the tiny port of Gili Trawangan, things don’t look too bad. Most of the harbour side resorts, cafes and shops are still standing. There seems to be a new pavement which runs for about 1.5kms so you don’t get run over by the horse and carts and cyclists. There are now e bikes to rent which can sit 2 adults for about 2500000 (25 AUD) a day. There are no cars on Gili Trawangan, the only fumes you inhale are from boat engines, barbecues and shisha pipes!
warning – The first 3 fun things to do in Gili Trawangan will get you wet!
SO many turtle to see on Gili T. These magnificent reptiles eat the nasty jelly fish, so give them some love!
Go turtle spotting
Our favourite activity and particularly rewarding here in Gili T. Head north from the port about 600 metres so you are in the north east part of the island.
Turtle Power! The green sea turtles are at least 1 metre long at turtle point. You will see at least 1 every single time you venture into the clear, warm water.
From here take a dip into the clear waters. You will almost certainly see turtles every time you go out! Our record so far is 8 in one hour. We’re pretty sure it wasn’t the same turtle playing tricks on us and we even saw 3 together at one spot. One or two turtles make it to the knee deep water, but, if you swim to the ledge (where the boats are anchored) you will be rewarded with bigger turtles at least 1 metre long!
The green turtle is easy to spot at Turtle Point. Even in shallow water you will see these cute creatures. Remember not to touch!
If you can’t make it into the sea, Gili T has its own little hatchery (free of charge) to look at these cutest of reptiles. In 2023, this hatchery no longer exists. Beware of the coral getting in to the water. Fortunately the water is very clear, so you can see where you’re going.
The water is crystal clear with good fish life. It’s warm too.
Swim and snorkel
in the incredible warm and clear waters – Swimming is good at high tide, otherwise you’ll be wading out over lots of coral to cool down. Watch the salt dry on your skin and give incredible volume to your hair when dry! Hiring snorkeling equipment is easy, but if you’re a bit squeamish about germs and where the mouthpiece has been, bring your own! Snorkeling is a must for both experienced and first timers. It’s rewarding and high on our list of fun things to do in Gili Trawangan. The reef has improved greatly since our last visit and in some spots is quite colourful. Whilst not on par with our favourite Malaysian island destination for snorkelling, the amount of colourful fish is worth taking the GoPro out for.
Who put these there? Underwater statues are part of a day trip from Gili T.
Day trips
to amazing underwater features and the other Gili islands – Day trips from Gili T take you to unique underwater statue sites and giant slides. You also get a pretty good view of the amazing waves, crashing against the rocks as you speed past. Practise your free diving and get your GoPro charged because you don’t want to miss these unique sculptures. This definitely rates highly as one of the fun things to do in Gili Trawangan.
Is it still a holiday if you don’t lounge around?
Sunbathe
on comfortable foam loungers and over sized bean bags – all you have to do is buy a drink at the many establishments on the beach and you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Relax, after all it’s a holiday isn’t it and if you don’t deserve it then who does?
The best sunsets on Gili T can be seen on the ‘sunset’ side of the island. Head on over at around 5pm. You won’t be disappointed! The swing is no longer there, but you can still see a horse with their human.
Catch breathtaking sunsets
The island is split into two sides – sunrise and sun set. No prizes for which side has the best views for the more lazy of us, who can’t wake up for Mother Nature’s daily 5.00 a.m show! The most popular spot for sunset is actually the south of the island near Pink Coco about 1.25 kms from the port (most people ride a bike there). A couple of places serve drinks and food, plus offer chairs and cushions to watch the sunset.
Ok a bit of promotion for Pink Coco. Head down at 5 to 5.30pm for the best seats to watch the sunset. Front seats are reserved for in house guests. Buy a drink and prepare for the spectacular sunset show. The staff are friendly and the drinks well priced. The food is tasty, well presented and like everywhere on Gili T half the price you would pay in your home country.
You’re half way through our list of 12 fun things to do in gili trawangan and 1 don’t ………….keeep going!
Do cycle around the island. It’s fun and only takes a couple hours.
Get on your bike
With daily rental starting from 100000 IDR it’s a much easier way to see the whole island than by foot. NO cars are allowed on Gili T. Sound like bliss? There are a few parts where you will have to wheel your bike across narrow paths and sand. Most of the island has decent enough path. Beware there are hardly any street lights at night. Bring your phone and think of ingenious ways to attach it for lighting your way after 7pm. Riding on two wheels is always a fun thing to do on holiday in our opinion!
E bikes have arrived on Gili Trawangan. Various prices for a day’s rental, depending on who you go to. Offers in the region of 250k to 350k IDR for an electric bike per 24 hours. Your good old fashioned push bike with cardio vascular benefits (for free!) start from 100k IDR for 24 hours.
For the super lazy there are now e bikes to hire. There are also horse and cart contraptions which we don’t like as a means of getting around. We had to use it once when we first visited Gili Trawangan as our room was over a kilometre away.
The GIli T horse and cart is arguably environmentally friendly. The first time we came we had to use one because our resort was over a kilometre away from the harbour. Try to avoid them if you can because the horses do not look happy and well fed.
On our second visit we chose a resort a 5 minute walk away from the port, so we wouldn’t have to use the horse and cart again. The animals look very stressed and a bit thin in our humble opinions. Try to avoid using this type of transport if you can.
You can negotiate fares on this type of transport. If you don’t want to wheel your luggage, this is probably the only alternative to walking.
Free movies if you buy a drink or some food.
Laze at the outdoor cinemas
Nightly screenings of classic films at various locations. For food and a film try Pink Coco on the sunset side of the island. Get there before sunset and settle in on one of the comfy lounges. Films usually begin at 8pm and are free. You can also see movies closer to the port at a different venue although these are paid about 100000 IDR. The paid cinema is no longer available in 2023.
At Pink Coco there is fire dancing instead. Also a DJ has replaced the free cinema at Pink Coco. Such a shame because watching a film outside sipping on your drinks after a hard day’s beaching is / was so relaxing. BUT WAIT…………
The Royal Regantris is a brand new hotel on the sunset side of the island. Get a free drink too, but read our warning about the cocktails before you indulge in the Happy Hour!
However, two new hotels are now offering movie night. Hotel Lumi and Royal Regantris are now taking over from Pink Coco.
You can now catch a film outside at the Skinny Dip Beach Club attached to the Lumi hotel. CHeck the black chalk board for the daily film offering!
Both hotels are located on the sunset side of the island and offer accommodation too!
Oh dear C, you’re a bit early for the movie. It needs to be dark! Come back later!
Gili T is the party island. There are plenty of options for sleep deprivation!
Channel your inner Bob Marley
The Reggae Bar is the place to hang if you’re serious about reggae. Even if you’re not, you’ll hear it! Great bass and powerful speakers ensure the rasta in you will be mellow amongst your fellow holidaymakers. Or, if relaxing is more your style, try a turkish shisha by the ocean.
Romantic dinners on the beach
Why you shouldn’t have set up the love heart and beach dining just for me! Beach dining on Gili T is a must.
Most restaurants and even cafes on Gili T have an outside section. Dine nightly on freshly caught seafood with the sound of the waves lapping gently on the shore. Be prepared to hiss at the many cats which try to get in on the fish action. Most venues also have live music, which can be an added bonus, depending on your mood!
The food is an eclectic mix of Western and Eastern. There is Thai, Italian, kebabs, Indonesian, Japanese and nightly sea food barbecues to name a few. You’ll be spoilt for choice on Gili T for dining options.
The food in general in Gili Trawangan is pretty tasty. Western food is good value and we have to say the pizzas and pasta are good with a few of the Italian restaurants running on wood fired ovens. Reginas, Pasta Pojok and Francesco’s make their own fresh pasta too!
Yes that’s burrata cheese on a small island in Indonesia! The pizza at Francesco’s pizza is very good. The tiramisu is spot on too. Mwuh!
The nightly barbecues offering seafood are good value. Most of the fish is frozen and defrosted – you can tell by the eyes. It’s a little bit more difficult to tell if lobsters and giant prawns are frozen until you eat them. The more powdery the texture, the more likely it is to have been frozen. The coffee is good on Gili Trawangan because fresh milk is available. Most coffee places have professional barista machines.
What a view while you enjoy breakfast. Gili T has some amazing smoothie bowls and a lot of places have fresh milk! That’s quite rare in Asian countries. Greenfields milk is imported from Java.
Energise over long healthy breakfasts with a beach view of course
Smoothie bowls and great lattes are de rigeur on Gili T. Yes, even quinoa and chia seeds have shown their faces. Most cafes also offer delicious salads and vegetarian options. If you still crave more health kicks there are yoga classes operating in the northern end of the island from a raised studio with ocean views.
Go on treat yourself to a fry up. The full English breakfast with a fresh fruit platter to be healthy!!!
The Gili T Pub Crawl
The GIli T Pub Crawl is legendary! Start at the Irish Pub… hey that’s a bit stereotypical isn’t it?!
Oh dear or oh yes?! The Gili T pub crawl happens every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. It starts at the Irish Pub. What a stereotype!!!! For 250k IDR you get a free T shirt and shots at various bars. The action kicks off at 9pm, but you can register between 7-9pm.
The GIli T Pub Crawl visits several bars on the island as part of the 250k package.
Learn how to cook your favourite dishes
If you’re no good in the kitchen and have come to love nasi goreng, why not learn how to make it? Gili T now has a cooking school!
Want to learn how to cook nasi goreng or beef rendang? Why not try a cooking class on Gili T?
Onto our last thing that is not fun to do. Downright dangerous even.
Don’t ever drink cocktails
The cocktails on Gili T may contain a local brew which is not what you think. Stick to fresh coconut juice and beer.
on GIli T and in Indonesia in general. Stick to beer or wine as there is very little chance these have been tampered with. Better still, use this holiday to go tee total and de -tox! Even though Indonesia is a cheap country for tourists, the price of a cocktail is so cheap, it is too good to be true.
Stick to colourful mocktails on Gili T. The spirits in your cocktails could make you go blind! Beer is safe though. Get your Bintang on!
The reason is simple. The alcohol in your cocktail isn’t a blend of the famous brand bottles you see on display. The alcohol in your cocktail is a lethal local brew containing a toxic chemical called methanol. Disguised with syrups and juices, you won’t be able to tell your cocktail is potentially poisonous. You could go blind, or worst case scenario, you could die. (check for yourself, google methanol and Gili T)
That wraps up our list of 10 fun things to do in Gili Trawangan and 1 don’t. We would love to hear your views too. Do you agree or disagree? Leave a comment below!
London Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports. In Europe, it certainly is the place to connect to destinations across the globe. When you’re flying long haul from either East or West to Europe, chances are you’ll be connecting in London Heathrow. The Qantas lounge London Heathrow (terminals 1, 2 and 3) is just one of a selection, jostling for your attention. Other top airlines will be Emirates, Singapore Airlines and of course British Airways.
Welcome to the Qantas lounge at London Heathrow terminal 3.
Welcome to the kangaroo lounge in London! A sign of the times – no magazines anymore it’s gone all digital!
There is no separate lounge for first class customers at the Qantas lounge London Heathrow. Sorry, you have to slum it with the business class passengers. Life can be hard sometimes!
The Qantas lounge at London Heathrow is shared between business and first class customers.
Qantas Lounge London Heathrow overview
The Qantas lounge can get very busy! On two separate visits there was hardly any sitting room on the upper level and the Australian rugby team were taking up space on another! It was very difficult to relax and the level of noise was quite high, with families with young children adding to the din.
The lounge seemed to be serving all the passengers on the A380 London to Singapore flight, because the lounge emptied out pretty swiftly half an hour before take off for the evening 20:40 scheduled 13 hour flight.
Despite what the sign says about the upper floor, it can be very difficult to stretch out and relax when it is busy!
Meant to reflect a private members club, the Qantas London lounge Heathrow has a mix of Australian and British accents on the furniture, fixtures and fittings. Yes, there is carpet, a very English floor covering. It’s meant to add a cosy touch, but, personally we prefer the hard stuff, like wood and stone. Thankfully there is parquet and other smooth surfaces to walk across!
The central bar on the upper floor. Qantas like to use a lot of marble in their lounges.
You might notice some similarities between the Singapore, Hong Kong and Brisbane business class lounges. The large amount of marble used for the bar areas seems to be a Qantas accent. The seating is a mix of stylish padded chairs that almost look like armchairs, dining chairs, bar stools and sofas. There are some real armchairs too.
Where will the stairs take you? Oh the places you’ll go……well only to the other floor of the Qantas London Heathrow lounge!
If you have an earlier flight there is some natural light, coming through the windows. The plane spotting is very good from the red leather seats.
It’s hard to see out of the windows at night, but at least there is natural light in the London lounge. There are tarmac views from both levels of the lounge.
It’s hard to see out of the windows at night, but at least there is natural light in the London lounge.
There is a separate restaurant dining area with booth like seating and waiter service. Quieter areas for lone travellers face the tarmac on the lower floor. However, as it was dark there was no plane spotting to be had.
Eligibility Qantas London Lounge Heathrow
Qantas is part of the One World Alliance which means you will get access to this lounge if you’re a top tier frequent flyer with airlines such as American Airlines, Emirates, Qatar, Japan Airlines, Malaysian and Cathay Pacific.
If you hold a QF ticket you cannot use the Emirates Lounge which would be our preference, even though Emirates are part of the One World Alliance. Sorry Qantas, although we love you, Emirates is just a step above in the food and beverage quality in our experiences in Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Dubai.
Would you let her in a business class lounge? Well………..
So how will the Qantas business lounge Heathrow stack up against its rivals? Read on to find out! There is no time limit in the lounge, but the annoying thing about any lounge is that you’re not allowed to check in for your flight until 3 hours before the flight leaves. Luckily, the check in queue for non economy is always shorter!
Lower floor Qantas London lounge Heathrow
The Qantas business lounge Heathrow has two floors. A dedicated gin bar on the lower floor and a general dining and relaxing area that comes with another bar on the upper floor. On the lower floor, you can also eat your a la carte food options at the bar itself on stools.
When you enter the lower floor is the gin bar and restaurant style eating area.Different types of seating encircle the gin bar on the lower level. You can opt for the padded bench type seats which face the bar.
Seating
On the lower floor of the Qantas Lounge London Heathrow you can sit around the bar and eat the a la carte food or you can sit at tables which encircle (well rectangle, but that’s not a word to en-rectangle!) the bar. There are also padded long bench seats which face the bar where you eat your ordered food in comfort at the right table height level.
On the lower floor you can dine at a restaurant like table. The chairs are wooden and hard, but the table is the correct height for good posture!
If you’re lucky, you can opt to sit on a padded restaurant chair on the lower floor.
There are some padded restaurant style chairs on the lower level off to the side of the gin bar at the Qantas lounge London Heathrow terminal 3.A padded chair, not quite an armchair, but more comfortable than a chair.
Upper floor Qantas lounge London Heathrow
At busy times the upper floor of the Qanats lounge at London Heathrow can get crowded.
The upper floor is where it can get really crowded. After eating your a la carte meal you may want to try and stretch out upstairs. There is another bar here too so you don’t have to go back downstairs!
This photo was taken as people were boarding the A380 to Singapore. Before this, these seats were not empty. The lounge was very business from 5pm onwards.The padded seats by the stairs are thickly padded and very comfortable, if you can get one!
The help yourself drinks bar has the wine and soft drinks on the upper level. For cocktails and mocktails, you have to order at the bar.
Wine and soft drinks are adjacent to the buffet food on the upper level of the Qantas London lounge.
There is also flavoured water and Dilmah teas. Or, your own tisane in a cute tea pot!
Neil Perry’s signature flavoured water! Did you know you can claim water as your signature??!!The hot tea selection on the upper floor is next to the buffet food. The little tea pots are very cute!Yummy it’s Indian food for dinner, you know it’s not authentic but you cannot resist a bit of butter chicken! Help yourself to the buffet on the upper floor at the Qantas London lounge Heathrow.
The upper floor has the help yourself selection of food. Reasonably well presented for the side options. It’s always very hard to make the hot dishes look great in those silver keep warm vessels that all lounges and 5 star hotels use. You know the ones where you lift up the glass lid to take a better look at the food, even though you can see it through the transparent lid!
It was South Asian themed food for dinner on the upper level at the Qantas lounge London Heathrow one time we visited.
After getting your buffet food you can sit on the padded booth style seats on the upper floor of the Qantas London lounge Heathrow.
There is a small strip of an area on the upper floor where you can conduct business. We spotted a printer and socket points with chairs. Unfortunately, the lounge was so busy some people had to use this area to put their food and drinks!
The business space on the upper level got so busy that customers had to use it to place their food and drinks.
Qantas Lounge London Heathrow Drinks Menu
The food and beverages have sometimes been disappointing in Qantas lounges, but only because we are comparing it to their rivals. The wines were about nine pounds in quality per bottle, whereas the wine in an Emirates lounge will start at fifteen pounds per bottle.
The alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks menu at the Qantas Lounge London Heathrow
The drinks menus outside of wine was good with a nice selection of cocktails and gins. However the non alcoholic cocktails are plain and boring. The bar tender pictured put his finger in the glass to stop the foam forming on the top! Had he not heard of basic hygiene? He also seemed a little irritated as the demand for service was high and he was on his own.
There were a couple of private rooms which had a door you could close off. These rooms were mainly being used by families.
Private room on the upper floor. Good for families or big groups?
The dinner menu
We are happy to report that the western food is much better than we have previously experienced in Melbourne and Sydney international business class lounges. It was good to experience the dinner food, since we usually have early flights and only get the breakfast menu. The service was swift to get the food but to get the staff’s attention involved a lot of smiling and trying to get eye contact due to the number of people using the lounge in the evening.
The chicken pie had an excellent puffed up top. The pie itself was not that tasty but it had plenty of chicken chunks inside!
Roast chicken, Lancashire hot pot and salt and pepper squid were on the dinner menu. As is the current trend, something from the land and something from the sea. The vegetable dishes sounded equally enticing with roasted cauliflower or a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad on offer.
The evening food menu promises tasty vegetable, fish and meat options.
The squid whilst good could have been crispier. The presentation was good.
The crispy squid appetiser was well presented. Neil Perry inspired menu is available at the Qantas London London Heathrow.The crudites, fruit and other finger food is set out buffet style, so go on and help your self.
To do justice to the review it is only fair that we eat different meals and sample as many dishes as we can. Here is the Lancashire hot pot lamb which is basically a meat stew. Served with mint sauce and a rocket and pear salad which was very refreshing!
One of the meat options on offer was the Lancashire hot pot (gluten free).The buffet food presentation at the Qantas London Heathrow lounge. Whilst good, it does not quite compare to the presentation of some of its rival lounges.
The washroom and shower facilities
It’s time for the anticipated bathroom pictures. Named the Refresh space it contains products from the Liptiya range which are in the business class amenity kits.
The shower area at the Qantas London lounge Heathrow was too small. There were only 10 showers. We got in early and did not have to queue. By 7pm queues were forming outside the showers. Not exactly a relaxing experience, knowing people are waiting for you to finish your ablutions. In Europe, everything is smaller and more condensed into a smaller space – the same must be true of Qantas lounges.
This way for the showers. There are only 8 shower rooms so you might have to queue during busy periods.If the towels are not already in the shower room, help yourself. They are thick and fluffy we are happy to report.The shower rooms have a rain shower and a glass screen. A modern retro look with the green accent tiles breaking up the otherwise all white decor.The shower room at the Qantas lounge London Heathrow.
The space is mostly white. The mirror is quite funky and unique. Pictured below is the common bathroom, not the individual shower room.
We like the marble which breaks up the white theme in the bathroom.The hairdryer is one of those hose hairdryers that do not come off the wall. Is it retro or just inconvenient?
Final Thoughts
Our thoughts on this London lounge are generally positive. We like the extensive menu options. The layout of the London Heathrow lounge is quite unique being on 2 floors. The cleanliness and funky design of the bathrooms impressed. Even though there wasn’t much natural light and the run way views were limited, at least there were some. The gin bar and the inventive cocktails are amazing. We wish the wine selection were just a notch higher. Overall though of course it’s way better to spend three hours in the Qantas London lounge at Heathrow than outside with the masses.
Have you been to the Qantas lounge at London Heathrow? Do you agree with our assessment? Let us know!
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British Airways flies directly to many European destinations from London. Many popular destinations for Brits require a change in Germany, Italy or Spain, particularly flights heading for the Greek Islands and Malta. From London Heathrow Terminal 5, Gatwick and London City airports, British Airways flies to key European business hubs direct. We recently took three British Airways short haul flights, one to Malta, one to Skiathos and one to Paris. Below is what you can expect from the UK’s flagship airline.
If Club Europe is on your ticket, you’re flying business class!
Flights of 3 hours and under on British airways planes whether new or old have the same seats as economy. The only difference is you get a gap in the middle if it is a 3-3 configuration. Sometimes the plane will be a 2 – 2 seat configuration. Some of the seats are faux leather and we found quite slippery. The recline is not great and you certainly will not be getting a flat bed! But who needs one for a short haul flight anyway?
Dedicated business class cabin staff on shortts are haul flights, even though the seats are the same as economy class.
Typically, the first 3 to 7 rows will be business class, but the seats are essentially small economy seats. The curtain is what separates you from the peasants. Sometimes it is only the first 3 rows for “business class”.
A curtain separates you in business class from the economy cabin.
The food is the biggest differentiation point on board when flying business class on British Airways for a short haul flight. What you get is your meal on porcelain plates and your wine in a glass. Economy passengers get a sandwich and 250ml of water at best and at worst 10 pretzels, or a small 50g packet of crisps (at least it is a British brand called Tyrell’s).
Lunch on porcelain. Ooops that was a beef in red wine sauce for the main. The smoked salmon was very good and the white French wine hit the spot.
Depending on what time you fly you can choose the full English Breakfast or a main meal. If you have never experienced the institution that is the Full English Breakfast, then you must choose this option.
This was an unexpected surprise for the tea! Not that there was liquid milk, but, it came in a disposable cup! Typically on board tea and coffee is never as good as you would get on the ground, business class or not. What can you do about mediocre hot drinks but keep calm and carry on drinking?!
Wait what? Tea in a paper cup in business class! We did keep calm and carry on though!
You also get your own dedicated economy class toilet, but on some flights, the crew will let the rear enders use the front end loo too! Well I never! Yup the toilet is the same as the other passengers get.
You didn’t really want to see the toilet?! Here is the sink instead.
In summary, you get prioritised boarding, use of the lounge (if they have one), dedicated staff, extra baggage allowance, good quality meals and drinks before everyone else gets their scraps! British Airways business class for short haul flights is worth it if you value the differentiated food, more weight allowance and getting on and off the plane before everyone else. In the air, the seat itself won’t give you that exclusive luxurious feeling, but the extra smiles and unlimited drinks just might!
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Your essential 2 week Japan Itinerary starts here!
How to spend an awesome 2 weeks in Japan. Our two week Japan itinerary suggestions. The Japan Rail Pass is a must for your 14 days. See the incredible sights, sounds and smells of this amazing country. Below is our itinerary put together from two separate 2 week trips to Japan. You don’t have to do it all. Pick and choose from what sounds most exciting. You might want to slow the pace down a bit too as our itinerary is pretty jam packed!
The land of the rising sun. Ahh, the Karate Kid, raw fish and big drums. Sushi, sake and noodles. High tech gadgets and robots instead of humans in hotels. Toilets that talk to you, wash and dry you. Plus public toilets are spotless, plentiful and free! Public transport that runs on time and never ending politeness. Bowing, bowing, more bowing, bow some more. Girly giggling and wild make up. Boy bands, anime, manga, Pokemon and big name fashion brands.
Start practising your bowing technique. Even the mannequins bow in Japan! Japan is an ultra polite society and on your two week trip to Japan, you’re going to do a lot of bowing!
Temples, castles and fast cars. Japan is a country full of stereotypes and contrasts. Ancient traditions and cultural practices are jostling with the modern Japan.
Japan is a country where tradition and modern influences exist side by side.
Mountains, forests, busy coastal mega cities, hot springs galore and fascinating gardens to explore. Japan provides everything for tourists and at a surprisingly reasonably cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Japan?
Don’t laugh! Some people don’t know where Japan is. Japan is an archipelago in East Asia. The biggest islands of Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu get all the attention. Japan stretches almost to Taiwan, with the islands of Okinawa, Miyakojima and Ishigaki in the south of the East China Sea. Neighbouring countries are: South Korea, China,Russia in the extreme North and Taiwan in the extreme South.
Japan is a collection of many islands in East Asia.
When is the best time to go to Japan?
In our opinion the best time to visit Japan is Spring or Autumn. April, May and June have plenty of daylight and it’s not too hot. It’s mild, some showers, but most days will be bright and sunny. The famous sakura (cherry blossom) season is also in Spring in the major cities of Tokyo and Osaka. For exact weeks you have to check each year, because of the effects of climate change.
The cherry blossom (sakura) is best captured in April. The Japanese go nuts for taking photos of these pink flowers. Hinami (cherry blossom viewing) in most Japanese cities is in Spring, but check to make sure, due to climate change effects.
Avoid Summer as it is roasting in Japan! However, if you love the high temperatures and humidity, you’ll love Japan in July and August! September and October are good months to travel on your two week trip to Japan. The days are still warm and the nights cool, not cold. There is still plenty of sunshine and the Autumn colours are just spectacular.
September is Autumn in Japan. It’s a great time of year to plan your two week trip to Japan. The formal gardens are simply breathtaking.
How Big and expensive Are Hotel Rooms in Japan?
Japan isn’t as expensive as people think. On your unforgettable two week Japan itinerary, you will spend less than you think. There is a vast range of accommodation available. The hotel rooms are not all like capsules! We like the Tokyu Rei chain of hotels for the price and size of the rooms. Some rooms are over 20 square metres. Our top tip is to always book twin rooms, rather than double, as you can be guaranteed a larger room with two beds. You can always push them together if you like.
Our messy room in the Tokyu Rei Hotel, Hiroshima. This room is 25 square metres. Not all hotel rooms are tiny in Japan.Some Japanese hotel rooms are notoriously small and compact. Here we are standing against the door! The traditional tatami mat and futon design is surprisingly very comfortable. The closer you are to a JR station the smaller the room, unless, you’re in a 5 star hotel. Spotlessly clean though. You can just see the shower on the left.
Youth hostels are becoming more popular in Japan. Good value three star hotels are very clean and can be as cheap as USD60, AUD90 or GBP50 in the right season and if you’re prepared to be a little further away from the railway station.
How expensive is Food in Japan?
This is an expensive fruit box for special occasions. Don’t worry, fruit isn’t really this expensive in Japan. (Price of those 8 pieces of fruit is $120 USD, $170AUD and GBP95!) Not for everyday consumption. It’s apparently the best of the best!
Food is also very reasonable. Filling and tasty noodle dishes can be found in McDonalds like ‘restaurants’ for USD6, AUD10 or GBP6.
Eating out in Japan isn’t as expensive as people think. We get these types of meals at ‘fast food’ restaurants. Cheap, healthy and tasty.
Western food, especially Italian dishes are copied very well and are also not expensive. They are available ready made on a microwaveable plate at convenience stores. In Italian restaurants pasta dishes start at $US7 for a basic spaghetti dish with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano reggiano.
Western food in Japan is very high quality. This duck salad and roast beef with good quality wine is only $US15, $AUD21 or $12 for lunch. Japan isn’t as expensive as people think.
Sushi and sashimi as you would expect is everywhere! NIgiri (the rice on the bottom and a slice of raw fish on top) is about an Australian dollar, 70 pence or 70 US cents per piece. Every corner shop, mini supermarket and major supermarket has top quality raw fish. You will see sashimi (raw fish with no rice) types you have never seen before. The variety of raw fish is amazing in Japan. Our top tip is to go at about 6.30p.m. to supermarkets in department store basements. The day’s fresh catch is discounted by 30 to 50 per cent.
Keep costs down when eating sashimi and sushi on your incredible two week Japan itinerary by buying from supermarkets.
Is Japan safe to visit?
In terms of crime for tourists, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. If you drop a tissue, people will come running after you, to give your tissue back to you!
The organised crime of the Yakuza gangs will not be visible to the tourist.
The biggest danger is a major natural disaster. Japan is of course earthquake and tsunami prone.
What’s Japanese food like? Where to eat? What to eat?
Traditional Japanese food is always beautifully presented. Every dish is a little work of art.
Japanese food is always beautifully presented. A typical lunch is a mixture of hot and cold dishes. There is always miso soup, a noodle dish and pickled vegetables. Vegetarians are well catered for in Japan. Tofu and soya bean products are widely available.
Like all countries different regions have different specialities. Noodle of various types (there are 8 types: ramen, uson, soba, yakisoba, somen, hiyamugi, shiritaki and harusame) rice and dumplings (goyoza) predominate of course. Fish is highly prized and the famous marbled beef from Kobe.
If you’re not vegetarian you have to try the wagyu beef. WIdely available in supermarkets for much less than a restaurant in Kobe. The high fat content or marbling is what makes this beef so special.
Fresh vegetables are really expensive in restaurants. You’re better off buying fruit and vegetables from a supermarket. Pickled vegetables are served with everything and at every meal.
Japan has the most Michelin starred restaurants, (after France) in the world. So you can drop a whole day’s budget on one meal if you choose!
Is it true ATMs are hard to find and Credit Cards aren’t widely accepted?
Yes and no. There are plenty of ATMs in the big cities. Top tip – many ATMs are hiding inside 7-Eleven convenience stores.
Credit cards are widely accepted in the big cities. Mastercard and Visa are more popular than American Express.
Credit cards are widely accepted in the big cities. Visa and Mastercard are preferred over Amex.Smaller establishments won’t accept credit cards in Japan. You need to carry some cash in Japan, even in the big cities. Yen in Japan, do as the Japanese do!
What unique souvenirs can I buy from Japan?
Rice paddles and every sort of Hello Kitty merchandise you can think of!
Hello Kitty! She is the cat that everyone loves ! You can find all the Hello Kitty merchandise you will ever need!
Green tea Kit Kats are definitely on the top of our list. In fact, green tea everything, green tea Pocky, ice cream, biscuits, waffles, cakes, chocolate, macarons, green tea latte powder and green tea leaves. We eat so many green tea products when we go to Japan, our poo turns green!
C is so happy when she gets her hands on green tea products! If you love green tea, you’re going to find it in Japan. Take green tea products home as unique souvenirs.
No trip to Japan is complete without the toilet experience. You might want to take one home. Well the seat that is! Once you go, you’ll know what we mean! It will definitely be a memory of your 2 week trip to Japan!
Bet you thought Panasonic only made TVs! If you’re in love with the unique Japanese toilet experience, you might want to take one home. It’s definitely a unique souvenir and one you’ll remember every day!
Getting around on your two week Trip to Japan
The best way to get around Japan on your two week itinerary is by Bullet train.
Buy the two week Japan Rail Pass
This is the best way to keep travel costs down. The Japanese fast trains (shinkansen) or bullet trains are well known throughout the world and rightly so. Shinkansen actually means ‘trunk line’ but that doesn’t sound as sexy as bullet train does it? Their ability to run on time and the safety record of these high speed trains is amazing. You will be left in wonder how precisely these bullet trains leave and arrive to the second.
The Japanese bullet trains are fast, on time and mega comfortable. You too will fall in love with the shinkansen on your two week trip to Japan.
Also your shinkansen tickets will tell you exactly where to stand on the platform and the bullet train pulls up at exactly that spot. You will be a bullet train geek by the end of your two week trip to Japan! Even if you can’t tell your Hikari from your your Aomori, you’ll still love the Japanese bullet trains for their speed, comfort, cleanliness and efficiency.
Two week Japan rail pass cost
The National JR pass is available to buy in 7 days, 14 days or 21 days only. Green class is first class and ordinary class is, not, as the name suggests, that ordinary! In our opinion, splashing out the extra is worth it for first class travel.
Treat yourself to Green Class (first class) seats on your 2 week trip to Japan. The seats are always in a 2 -2 configuration. In ordinary class there’s a row of 2 and a row of 3. In Green Class on the bullet rains, the seats are wider, there’s more legroom and on some routes you get a free blanket.
The National JR Pass is such a bargain that the bullet train trip from Tokyo airport to a downtown destination, is a quarter of the 7 day pass alone. You do the maths! You will make half your money back on the two week Japan rail pass cost just by doing a return journey on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto. But, of course, you’re in Japan for a 2 week trip, you’re not just going to Kyoto!
The seats in ordinary class on the Japanese bullet trains are very comfortable. They also turn around, so if you’re travelling in a big group, you can face each other.
Just in case you’re not going to Japan for a 2 week trip, you can buy the Japan Rail Pass for 7 days or 21 days, too. Below is a link with the cost of Japan Rail Passes, for 7, 14 and 21 days, in 3 major currencies.
buy-the-japan-rail-pass-online
Japan rail pass which one should I buy?
First up don’t get confused with the number of Japan Rail Passes on offer. For your two week Japan itinerary you will need the National JR Pass. This will give you access to all the bullet trains except the Nozomi. The Nozomi is the fastest bullet train, but, that doesn’t mean the other bullet trains are slow.
Japan rail pass where to buy
You can’t buy the Japan Rail Pass in Japan! You must buy it in your country of residence. As a tourist you are very privileged to be able to buy a two week Japan rail pass. Japanese citizens are not allowed to buy one! These bullet trains are something else!
Japan rail pass how to buy
Make sure you are a non resident of Japan. Type in the words ‘Japan Rail Pass’ into your browser’s search engine. Lots of travel agencies and online vendors will compete for your business.
Japan Rail Pass rules of use
The Japan Rail Pass can only be used for the person whose name appears on the pass. You must carry it at all times with the tickets of the various destinations you are travelling to.
Japan rail pass map Where can I Travel?
Don’t get confused by the names of the trains. The Japanese give names to their trains and service lines. Come on, admit, it’s sort of cute! The name of the train also tells you if it’s fast or mega fast. Yes, all the shinkansen (bullet trains) are fast, but in Japan, there’s quick and super quick!
Each shinkansen (bullet train) line has a name. Here are the major cities the national Japan Rail Pass will cover.
The Nozomi and Mizuho trains are not covered by the National Japan Rail Pass. If you want to take these ‘super fast’ services you have to pay an additional fee.
The Japan Rail Pass also entitles you to free JR buses and the JR Miyajima Ferry when travelling to the beautiful must see island of Miyajima, near Hiroshima. Click here for the JR train map.
Unforgettable Two Week Japan Itinerary
Warning: This is an action packed, not for the faint hearted 2 week Japan itinerary. It involves a lot of walking and a lot of train rides. You’ll be travelling at speeds of 320km/h (200mph) on the bullet trains, so actually, you won’t be spending that much time on trains. It means changing hotels every 2 to 3 days. Of course you can always skip a few of the places we suggest in our incredible 2 week Japan itinerary.
On a two week trip to Japan we suggest this itinerary. Tokyo – Kyoto – Nara – Arashiyama – Osaka – Kobe – Himeji – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Beppu – Takayama – Matsumoto – Tokyo.
This route means you don’t back track on yourself. Well, you do in the sense that you have to get back to Tokyo but you don’t stop at the same places!
As soon as you land at Narita International, Haneda, Osaka Kansai Airport, head straight for the Japan Rail Pass office to exchange your ‘exchange order voucher’ you received in your home country. The actual Japan Rail Pass will look like this.
This is one side of the actual Japan Rail Pass. On the other side there is a handy map and the travel terms and conditions. Hello bullet trains!
A piece of card, which can be folded into three, to make the same size as your passport. While you’re at the office, you might as well get your tickets to Kyoto. You can reserve your seats at the same time.
Tokyo on your Two Week Japan Itnerary (3 nights)
The mega busy, modern capital of Japan is everything you have heard about. Tokyo is crowded, fast paced and full of energy. Shopping and entertainment is everywhere. It looks like any other major world city, full of skyscrapers and busy roads. Commuters and tourists from all over the world descend on Tokyo.
Deciding which district to stay in is very difficult. All we can say is, make sure it is near a train station. Shibuya, Roppongi, Shinjuku and Ueno are popular choices. Look at the map below. For a PDF version of Tokyo train lines and districts,click here.
Stay near a train station when choosing a base in Tokyo. It will be easy to get around with a combination of JR lines and the excellent Tokyo subway system.The famous Shibuya crossing in Tokyo. A popular district to base yourself for first time visitors to Tokyo.
In Tokyo, you’ll want to visit Harajuku street, the Royal Palace and the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Tokyo is also the place to do a day trip to Hakone and view Mount Fuji from a distance. You have to visit the famous Tokyo fish markets if you’re a sashimi (raw fish) lover.
If you like it fresh and raw, the Tokyo fish markets (Tsukiji Outer Market area) are a must visit place. A whole area of tantalising ocean delights await.No 2 week trip to Japan is complete without visiting Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market. If you crave raw fish, raw crustaceans and anything uncooked, head on down.Say or rather write a little prayer or peace offering on these wooden boards at the huge Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo’s Shibuya district.
To see Mount Fuji, you will need to do a day trip to Hakone and Lake Ashi. This is a one hour train journey from Tokyo. Your Japan Rail Pass is valid to Odawara. From there you have to pay a separate fee to get onto a ‘romance car’ to Hakone.
The iconic Mount Fuji, Japan. Best to see the mountain from a distance. Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Hakone offer good viewing spots. Pray for a clear day.
Kyoto (3 nights as part of your two week Japan Itinerary)
Inari
Kyoto is the place to see the iconic, much Instagrammed 1000s of tori or gates of the Fushimi Inari shrine.
Iconic bright red tori gates of the Fushimi inari shrine near Kyoto. Get there early and you might get a shot with no one else in your way!
There is also a hill walk/ hike at this shrine. The shrines are actually in the little town of Inari, which is on the JR Nara line. This means with your two week Japan Rail Pass, it’s totally free! Kyoto to Inari is only 5 minutes away! See the green and white dashed lines below.
From Kyoto you need to get on the JR Nara line for the Fushimi Inari shrines. It’s only two stops away from Kyoto.
It’s impossible to miss the entrance to the Fushimi Inari shrines.
You can’t miss the entrance to the famous Fushimi Inari shrine. You just follow every one else from the train station until you see this.
Just follow the crowds who will be on your train. The walk to the top will take around 2-3 hours depending on your fitness level. You can turn around at any point, it’s not a one way circuit. As you climb between the thousands of bright red ‘tori’ you might even get sections to yourself for that precious photo!
If you’re very lucky, you might get sections of the Fushimi Inari shrine walk to yourself.
There are a few restaurants and shops to buy refreshments along the way to the top of Fushimi Inari. Make sure you deviate a bit from the main paths and find these gorgeous areas with mini gates and animal statues.
Find the little shrines when you get off the main two tori tunnels. Fushimi Inari is unmissable on your 2 week trip to Japan.
Gion District of Kyoto
This is one area you don’t want to miss out on seeing. Amazing shrines and temples at the top of streets lined with magnificent food shops and restaurants. Wandering up and down the narrow and traditional streets of the Gion district is unmissable.
Kyoto’s Gion district is lined with narrow and more traditional looking houses and shops. Wander up and down the ancient capital streets of Japan. There’s plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops to keep you going as you ascend towards the pagoda and temples on the top of the hill.
This is the traditional district of the geisha. Always ask permission before you take a photograph of geisha.
Geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto. These are not tourists dressing up as geisha. Yes you can pay to have the white make up, hairstyle and kimono of geisha for a few hours. Never insult geisha by taking their photos without permission.
Kiyomizu -dera Temple Kyoto
This amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site is set on the hills above Kyoto. A vast complex with lots of steps and opportunities for stunning photography.
You won’t be able to resist the bright red pagoda of the Kiyomizudera Temple complex in the Higashiyama sightseeing district of Kyoto. It’s a bit commercialised, but still, very worthwhile in our opinion.
The main hall ‘stage’ built out of wood fascinates all who visit. The view of Kyoto down below is truly unique. The overhanging ‘stage’ of the main hall of the Kiyomizu Temple is built onto the steep cliff of Mount Otowa. It is built in a Japanese style of grids, without any nails being used! The wood is almost 400 years old and still supports the hundreds of visitors each day.
The amazing Kiyomizu dera temple complex is built on the cliffs of Mount Otowa, Kyoto. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers stunning views of the city from its main hall ‘stage’.
You might need a little map to orientate yourself at Kiyomizu dera Temple. It’s like a little village. Kiyomizudera means ‘pure water temple’. There are lots of places to see this pure water running out from the Otowa waterfall. There are said to be benefits from drinking this pure water. Visitors can drink from special long handled ladle like cups to bring longevity, luck in love and success at school! Every little bit helps!
Kiyomizudera Temple, Kyoto. Drinking from the ‘pure water’ of the Otowa waterfall has three separate benefits. Get lucky in love, live longer and do well at school. You’re only supposed to drink from two, so choose carefully! There are special long handled ‘cups’ which don’t touch your lips for this purpose at designated spots.
You will also want to make a day trip while in Kyoto to the nearby town of Nara. You can feed tame deer with special deer biscuits.
Nara
It’s temple time again! You have to visit Todai-ji temple when you’re in Kyoto. Well, actually, temples will be like churches in Europe, on your 2 week trip to Japan! Todai-ji temple is one of the world’s biggest wooden structures. It’s ancient too. Todai-ji temple is over a thousand years old.
Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park. One of the biggest wooden structures in the world. Try and go in sakura (cherry blossom) season for those unforgettable memories on your Japanese vacation.
The main attraction is the huge, and we mean huge, bronze budhha statue. 400 tonnes of huge.
Feel small in front of the giant 400 tonne bronze buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara Park. A must see attraction on your unforgettable 2 week Japan itinerary.
Todai-ji Temple is inside the Nara Park, where you can see deer roaming around. They’re quite friendly and very cute. See below!
Come and feed me in Nara Koen Park. Oh and see the amazing Todai-ji temple too.
Arashiyama
From Kyoto this is another easy day trip, you don’t want to miss out on! 6 stops from Kyoto on the Sagano line. Yes, it’s free if you have the Japan Rail pass! It’s not a bullet train, but a local train. The top three attractions in the Arashiyama area are the bamboo grove, the Kinaku-ji golden temple, Tenryuji temple and Sogenchi gardens. There are of course other delights which will be on your Kyoto tourist map, that your hotel will give you.
The golden temple (Kinaki-ju) is literally covered in gold leaf. It’s a glittering marvel. One of the highlights on a day trip from Kyoto on your 2 week Japan trip. Located 20 minutes from Kyoto. Best to go by the 205 bus from Kyoto bus station.
The bamboo grove has gone insta crazy and now it’s really hard to get a shot of this place without anyone else in it! Ok, maybe if you go at the crack of dawn, we’re just not early morning people! It’s not really a forest. It’s a pathway with lots of tall bamboo on either side. It can look very green or quite grey.
The bamboo grove in Arashiyama. These amazing tall plants are a top attraction on a day trip from Kyoto.
Another must see site is the Tenryuji temple. You can enter it via the bamboo grove. This amazing temple has one of the best gardens in Japan. The famous pond is also full of colourful carp fish and on a sunny Spring day, the reflection of the hills in the pond is just amazing. You will see devout Japanese meticulously picking up leaves and pulling out grass in these immaculate gardens. This is one of the finest examples of shakkei which means borrowed scenery. The hills in the background blend in seamlessly with the Sogenchi gardens.
Capture the stunning reflections in the garden pond in the grounds of the Sogenchi Gardens, Arashiyama. The Tenryuji Temple is in the background. There are some of the biggest carp fish you will ever see in this perfectly landscaped temple complex. A must see attraction on your 2 week trip to Japan.
Osaka (1 night or a day trip from Kyoto)
Castles and beautiful gardens go hand in hand in Japan. Osaka castle is no exception. Just a 15 minute bullet train ride from Kyoto.
Next stop on your unforgettable 2 week Japan itinerary is the city of Osaka. Population 2.6 million. It’s just a 15 minute bullet train ride away! We only stop for a night and a day. Our main highlight is the castle and the entertainment district of Dontonburi. You can even stay an extra night in Kyoto, if you don’t want to pack your bags and change hotels. Osaka castle and the Dontonburi district can be a day trip from Kyoto.
The fabulous green and gold castle in Osaka, Japan. Make a day trip from Kyoto (only 15 mins away) or stay over night. Note J has a very apt T shirt!
Your 2 week trip to Japan continues on the awesome bullet trains. BY now you are loving your Japan Rail Pass. It is so convenient. Practically every major tourist site is reachable for free on the 2 week Japan Rail Pass in your hand. We bet even you have started bowing at the trains like the conductors do on the platforms! Come on, admit it, you’re a big fan of travelling by train, bullet train style.
Kobe (1 night)
It’s just 13 minutes from Osaka on the amazing bullet trains. The famous city named after an American basket ball player? No, we’re just joking. Apparently Kobe Bryant’s parents named him this after seeing the famous beef on a restaurant menu. What can we say? We came all the way to Kobe just to eat the beef too!
Kobe beef is a type of Wagyu beef. Wagyu beef is so expensive because you can trace the cow back to its parents and grandparents. Kobe beef has to come from the Hyogo prefecture. It also has to be from a type of cattle calle Tajima. The wagyu, which means ‘Japanese beef’ you’re eating in your home country probably isn’t genuine. However, if you come to Kobe, you can bet your bottom dollar, the beef is local. Kobe beef is exactly that, beef from the Kobe region.
Kobe beef dinner. When in Japan, you have to try it. Genuine Kobe beef is extremely rare outside of Japan. This meal cost us a day’s budget. Back to noodles for a few days!
Apart from some of the best beef in the world, Kobe has some other attractions worth coming for. If you’re a nature lover, you will be amazed by the Kobe Herb Gardens. Perched high up on the hills of Kobe and reachable by cable car, the Kobe gardens are quite unique.
Take the rope way (cable car) high into the hills to escape the grey city colours of Kobe. You can even walk up the rope way route if you want some exercise.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, (which you can get up there), as you gaze down on the sprawling city. It’s built to mimic a European, German to be precise, castle and its grounds.
At the top ropeway station is the German style landscape. You can grab a bite to eat, with all food using the herbs on the slopes.
There’s a fabulous restaurant too.
A main and an appetiser at the restaurant is only 2380 yen, about 20 US, 17GBP and 30 AUD.
It’s a place to go just to breathe some fresh air and relax in nature. In Spring, the slopes are bursting with colour from the thousands of varieties of flowers and herbs. There’s also a water fall on the way up. This is definitely worth seeing, on your 2 week trip to Japan. For a map of the rope way and gardens, click here.
The Kobe Herb Gardens are set on an easily walkable slope on the foothills of Mount Rokko. Colourful and peaceful, a place to surround yourself with beautiful flowers and aromatic herbs.
Another reason people come to Kobe is to experience the hot baths at Arima. The Japanese onsen experience is quite a ritual and Japan is famous for its onsens. Good for the skin and a great cultural experience. Remember in Japan, no tattoos and no mixed bathing. Plus, you have to get naked. Sorry, no naked pictures of us!
The ‘gold’ and ‘silver’ soothing mineral water is a unique factor for onsens in Arima, just north of Kobe. This outdoor terrace is part of the Arima Grand Hotel (photo courtesy of www.tsungagujapan.com)
Search for Arima onsen and you will see that there are plenty of hotels with private onsen too. If you want more privacy, you will have to go in your hotel’s onsen. In any case, walking around a traditional town is quite nice after so many big cities on your 2 week trip to Japan. Even if you don’t like bathing in thermal mineral waters, Arima is worth the day trip from Kobe.
The thermal waters of Arima are said to be gold and silver in colour. Here, they run through the river in the centre of Arima. Many hotels and 4 public baths use these waters to fill their own onsen at Arima.
Himeji (1 night or day trip from Kobe)
Next stop on your whistle stop tour of Japan is Himeji. Himeji is home to the White Heron castle and has been restored to its former glory. From Kobe, it’s just 30 minutes on the bullet train! The main reason for stopping here is the stunning castle. It is a national treasure.
Now where is the darn castle? Himeji Castle towers at one end of the main street in Himeji.Who’s taking the photo? Looking energetic before the climb to the top of the castle!Nice gardens and views surround the castle. There’s also a moat around the castle.Himeji castle is lit up at night and the gardens are full of locals and visitors sitting, picnicking and chatting.
Hiroshima and Miyajima Island (2 nights)
Hiroshima is infamous for a very sad reason. Two atomic bombs were dropped on two Japanese cities in 1945. Without going into the politics of the Second World War of who was wrong or right, Hiroshima deserves a visit. Hiroshima is also the jump off point for the beautiful Miyajima Island, with its massive red gates built into the sea (our feature picture). Also if you have missed out on seeing the deer at Nara Park, there’s hundreds of deer roaming around Miyajima Island.
From Kobe, this is another short trip on the bullet trains. Just over 90 minutes away.
Jump on the shinkansen bullet trains for 90 minutes from Kobe. Hiroshima is your next stop on your incredible 2 week trip to Japan.
The most photographed image in Hiroshima is the Industrial Promotional Hall.
This is the original building that now stands as the only surviving structure in Hiroshima. The Industrial Promotional Hall is commonly referred to as Genbaku Dome.
Now called the Genbaku Dome, it is the only surviving structure that withstood the atomic blast in 1945. It stands now as a permanent Peace Memorial. It is both a reminder and warning to us all of the destructive power of atomic weapons.
The Genbaku Dome stands as both a memorial and future reminder to the horrors of atomic weapons. Hiroshima is all about embracing peace.
It’s not all doom and gloom in Hiroshima. Even though the Peace Museum is a must see attraction with confronting images. You have to go.
Confronting images at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It’s a sobering way to spend some time on your 2 week trip to Japan.
There is great food, an electrical bike system and if you’re a baseball fan, the Mazda stadium. Oh and of course there’s a castle and pretty Japanese gardens to stroll around!
Hiroshima Castle. Photo courtesy of Pen Ash from Pixabay.E bikes, electronically assisted bikes are the way to get around Hiroshima. Weather permitting of course!The Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima. This place is insane on match days. If you’re a baseball fan, the Japanese baseball fans are crazier than you! Go just for the atmosphere, even if you don’t like or understand baseball!Make time to stroll the relaxing gardens of Hiroshima. Shukkeien Gardens is a beautiful landscaped garden.
Getting to Miyajima Island is also easy from Hiroshima. With that handy Japan Rail Pass in your hands, even the ferry over is completely free! Miyajima warrants a whole day, especially as you’ll want to stay for the amazing sun set shots. It’s also a chance to see Japanese island life, away from the big cities. You can even find spots where you’ll be completely alone!
Hop on the Miyajima Ferry to the beautiful and calm island of Miyajima. Of course it’s free with your Japan Rail Pass! It’s not just bullet trains that are covered with your pass. You can even use JR buses.
Miyajima Island
After breakfast in Hiroshima, make your way to the JR ferry. Get on a JR Sanyo mainline train (it’s not a bullet train, but still free with the JR Pass). 30 minutes later you’ll be at the Miyajimaguchi JR station. From there it is a 6 minute walk to the ferry terminal. Don’t worry it’s well signed. You can’t get lost. As usual follow all the other tourists! The ferry ride only takes 10 minutes.
Getting to Miyajima Island from Hiroshima is easy.
As you sail on the waters, you approach the famous Otorri Gate. It’s unmissable. It comes in as the number three most scenic spot in Japan.
The gigantic gate of Miyajima Island. Comes in at number three of Japan’s most scenic spots. What do you think?
Don’t panic if you don’t get good shots from the ferry. There are plenty of opportunities to get those breathtaking shots when you get on dry land. When the tide is out, you’ll even be able to go underneath the huge gate.
The impressive Otorri is built on the seabed off Miyajima Island. At low tide you can walk directly under it.
From the ferry terminal on Miyajima, don’t forget to make a note of the last departing ferry back to the ‘mainland’. Head right towards the huge red gate and the old town walk just like everyone else. Sorry you won’t be the only 1 in the village just yet!
The main attractions are all centred together in two main areas. The Itsukushima Shrine, the 5 storied pagoda, the Senjokaku Hall and the main shopping street are in one area. The aquarium, history museum, treasure hall and Tahoto Pagoda to the right of the shrine.
Hmm …wonder why they call it the 5 storied pagoda? Up close and personal at the 5 tiered pagoda on Miyajima Island.The elevated Itsukushima Shrine and 5 storied Pagoda are within the same area on Miyajima Island. A day trip from Hiroshima, Miyajima is one of Japan’s top scenic destinations.
You can do some hiking on Miyajima. There is a trail that winds itself up from the Momijidani Ropeway station, which is just a 10 minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine. In fact there are three trails that will get you to the top of Mount Misen for some spectacular views. (see the map below)
To do some hiking on Mount Misen on MIyajima Island you can either walk or get the ropeway. If you walk, there are three routes, the Momijidani Course, the Daisho-in Course and the Omoto Course.
We cheat and go to the summit with the assisted option. But we do come down on foot.
Take the Miyajima ropeway to the top of Mount Misen on Miyajima Island. You can always walk one of the hiking trails on the way down.
At the top of Mount Misen, on a clear day, you get fabulous views. Even if it’s not a clear day there are huge granite boulders and possibly, if you’re lucky you will see some hawks or falcons circling high above you.
At the top of Mount Misen, MIyajima Island. On a clear day you can see all the way onto the ‘mainland’. The weather wasn’t being kind to us!
On the way down, we choose to take the Momijidani hiking trail. This is particularly rewarding if you want to be the only1in the village. Hiking down is a lot less crowded than getting the ropeway up. As you descend along this path there are hundreds of maple trees. There’s even a small river and of course a beautiful shrine to keep the spirits up. No pun intended!
As you trek down the Momijidani Trail from the summit of Mount Misen, you pass the small but pretty Momijidani River. Mount Misen is Miyajima’s tallest peak.
As you walk along the Momijidani hiking trail, you will see the lovely Shinomiya Shrine.
Shinoyima Shrine is in the background. Hiking down from Mount Misen, on MIyajima Island following the Momijidani Trail. Hooray, we are the only ones in the village!
Miyajima is also home to lots of deer. So don’t worry if you missed out on seeing them in Nara, near Kyoto. The deer are very used to humans and often try to walk with you!
Don’t worry if you miss out on seeing deer at Nara, near Kyoto. Deer on Miyajima Island are very relaxed and used to humans! This male deer is ignoring J. Seen it all before, another human who wants a photo with a deer.Plenty of friendly cute deer to see on Miyajima. They’re part of the landscape.
Beppu
Beppu is on the island of Kyushu. Looking at a map it is left of Tokyo. To get here you get your shinkansen to Fukuoka (have fun pronouncing this one!) and change onto a local train. Of course it’s all included with your 2 week national Japan Rail Pass. Beppu is known for its many onsen, over 2000 in fact. The coloured water of various ‘hells’ are a main attraction of the area. Think New Zealand on a smaller scale. But we mean a really smaller scale.
Hells therme in Beppu has a range of different coloured waters some you can bathe in.
In order to get a European spa experience, meaning you can bathe together you have to go to Suginoi Palace Baths. This is a hotel with a huge set of pools with local thermal waters attached to it. Non guests can use the pools. To bathe naked though is single sex. That’s very Japanese. No naked bathing together like in Germany and Austria.
Suginoi palace baths in Beppu have both separate and mixed baths. It is rare in Japan for couples to bathe together.Suginoi palace baths in Beppu has a fantastic light show every night.
Takayama Japanese Alps
Now you have visited quite a few big cities on your 2 week trip to Japan. You are a bit tired of the neon, bright city lights. It’s time to head for the countryside for some fresh air and a change of scenery. You’ll still be eating awesome food and experiencing polite Japanese culture, just at a more relaxed pace.
Connect with the countryside. A traditional thatched roof in the village of Hida in the Japanese Alps. Hire a bike and ride around at a slower pace on the last leg of your amazing Japanese holiday.
Now getting here is a bit of a conundrum when it comes to using the bullet trains and the local JR trains. It depends where you’re coming from. If you decide to come from Tokyo you will come via Nagano and Matsumoto. There’s not much to see in Nagano, or rather, we don’t have time to stop off and see Nagano on our jam packed 2 week Japan itinerary. The trains will take 4.5 hours and a bus 2.5 hours. Getting the Nohi bus is definitely quicker from Matsumoto.
The limited express train from Beppu to Fukuoka. It’s going to be a long day of train rides, but look at the comfortable seats. Beppu to Takayama is over 7.5 hours. You’ll be ok!
If you decide to follow our itinerary and come from Beppu, you’ll be coming via Nagoya on a mixture of limited express trains and the shinkansen. Change at Nagoya for a limited express train and the journey is 2.5 hours. Get the local JR train and the journey time increases to 4 hours. Please note that the total train journey time from Beppu to Takayama, with changes is just over 7.5 hours.
The Beppu to Takayama train route. 2.5 hours Beppu to Fukuoka, Fukuoka to Osaka on the Sanyo shinkansen is 2 hours and 40 minutes. Then change Osaka to Nagoya which takes an hour because you can’t use the Nozomi train with your Japan Rail Pass. Finally Nagoya to Takayama is 2.5 hours on the JR limited express trains.
It’s a long day of travelling. The total train time without waiting for connections is 7 hours and 40 minutes. But hey, it’s all covered on the Japan Rail Pass you have in your hands.
Takayama itself is very compact and has an old district and a new district. The old district is similar to the Gion district in Kyoto. There are lots of wooden houses and restaurants with narrow streets. This is the place, apart from Kobe, to eat Hida beef, a special type of beef, reared only in Japan.
The narrow streets of the old district in Takayama, Gifu prefecture. Life in the Japanese Alps is at a much slower pace than the big cities.
Traditional village – (Hida No Sato) Takayama
The open air museum of Hida no Sato is a village of traditional wooden houses of the Edo period (1603-1867). Plenty of things to see including everyday utensils and you can dress up too if you want.
Hida No Sato is an open air museum. This might sound a little naff, but, actually it is a really good experience. The area is built to recreate life in a traditional Japanese village. You can go inside houses, dress up and try traditional games. It is a lot of fun and you learn something about traditional Japanese village life. It will be really quiet here too as not many tourists make it out here!
Matsumoto
If you’re not sick of castles and you want to break up your bullet train journey before heading back to Tokyo, you must stop off at Matsumoto. 50 minutes on the limited express train from Nagano will get you to one of Japan’s most complete castles.
Matsumoto castle stands on a plain, rather than a hill. One of the most original castles in Japan. On your 2 week trip to Japan you’re going to become a castle expert. Matsumoto castle is unique because it has a heavily fortified second donjon! It also has a turret adjoined to its main keep. But you know that, now you’re a Japanese castle expert.
Matsumoto is a compact little city with all the main attractions walkable from the train station. It has a cute walking street, lined with of course cherry tees. Matsumoto is the place to eat horse meat – raw and cooked. Neigh, we are not joking. Being global travellers, horse is not new to us. We eat as the locals do, when in France, we mean Japan!
Horse meat is on the menu in Matsumoto. It’s available raw, lightly seared or cooked in many restaurants in Matsumoto.
Matsumoto castle is best photographed in cherry blossom season, as its outer moat has hundreds of cherry trees. Walking under them or on top of freshly fallen petals is like a carpet of pink pastel. Girls, get your inner pink on! It really is quite magical. It’s not too crowded either which is another reason for stopping off at Matsumoto.
The view from inside Matsumoto Castle. The outer moat is lined with hundreds of cherry trees which look spectacular in sakura (cherry blossom) season. It’s pastel pink all the way around the outer moat, baby!
If you have made it all the way through our 2 week Japan guide, well done! Obviously this doesn’t cover the whole of Japan. You need at least a month for that to happen. Next time we go to Japan, we’re going to turn right from Tokyo and go towards Sapporo.
Japan is a country you will want to visit more than once. You will leave with memories of bullet trains that run on time to the second. Your bowing technique will leave you more flexible than your yoga teacher. Going to the toilet will never quite be the same again. You will tell your friends about how in a country that has robots running a hotel, there are still places you can’t use a credit card. All of the above will be done at your local izakaya over some sushi and sake!
You’ll be telling all your friends about Japan over sake. Hopefully your sake barrel will be smaller than these!
If you have any comments or suggestions about our incredible 2 week Japan itinerary, please write a comment below.
Arigato gozamaishita! (We’re bowing as we say this by the way!)
Mount Rosea is 4.6 kms one way. It is medium to hard grade with a lot of rock scrambling and hard to see markers in places. The cardio workout of our dreams and totally worth it! In our opinion, this is the hardest walk of all in the Grampians area. You could do this walk first so every other walk in the Grampians seems easy! The official time is 2 hours each way. We did it in 5 hours and we consider ourselves fit.
Mount Rosea Peak viewing platform. Take in the 360 degree views of the Mount William and Serra ranges. This hike is hard!
Where are the Grampians?
The Grampians area is a national park area under 3 hours west from Melbourne. It is situated between Stawell and Horsham on the Western Highway and Dunkeld on the Glenelg Highway.
How to get to The Grampians and the Mount Rosea Walk
The best way to travel to The Grampians and the Mount Rosea Walk is by car. A mere 3 hour drive from Melbourne. We don’t recommend this walk for a day trip though! Maybe a long weekend, but definitely not doable in a day! Ok, if you’re really hard core, you can leave Melbourne at 6am, arrive at Mount Rosea by 9am. The walk will take about 4 to 6 hours return, depending on your fitness level. Back to Melbourne for evening dinner after the 3 hour drive!
Mount Rosea Walk the Grampians What to wear and take
Good walking shoes are recommended as there are a lot of tree roots to trip over and plenty of rocks to scramble over. Definitely not a place for sandals or thongs/ flip flops in the warmer months. Water is essential, even in Winter as dehydration can quickly creep up on you. Layering up is your best option as the weather can quickly change even on a warm day. The base might be warm and still, but, by the time you get to the top you can be sure it’s going to be windy and a few degrees cooler.
This walk is challengingly beautiful. Make sure you tell your accommodation or someone you’re doing this. People have had to be rescued on this walk.
The Mount Rosea walk starts at the Mount Rosea car park. This is the most challenging walk you’ll do in the northern Grampians region. Are you ready for it?
Don’t be fooled by the gently sloping first 1.6kms through lush forest and ferns.
The Mount Rosea walks starts through lush fern and forest on flat ground. Don’t be fooled. It’s going to get a hell of a lot harder!Needle grass is a pain in the arse! The greenery at the start of the Mount Rosea walk in the beautiful forest.
This took us 5 hours return and there is plenty of rock scrambling. It was by far the most challenging walk. We wish we had done this walk first, so all the other walks, would have seemed much easier.
After the beautiful messmate forest, you’re on a gradual ascent. 40 minutes later the terrain changes to sand! By now you have covered 1.3kms.
40 minutes after leaving the car park you will be here. Look down at your feet!At the 1.3kms section the terrain changes to sand for a bit! We’re heading to a beach?!!
Well that doesn’t seem so bad. A good start. and the sun is shining. We still haven’t seen anyone else. There’s about 20 minutes of this type of terrain (see below) and then things start to change. Even though it’s fairly flat you still have to look out for these yellow markers. They will be invaluable as all rocks start to look the same!
The terrain now has lots of big flat rocks and tree roots to trip you up. Keep an eye out for the yellow triangles, because pretty soon, things are going to get tough!
20 minutes later the going gets tough, but still smiling.
You’re starting to get a sense of how high you’re going when you get to this point. Mount Rosea walk. The familiar Serra and Mount William ranges are in the background.The stunning natural beauty of walking in the clouds. Mount Rosea walk about an hour in.
Now the real rock scrambling begins and some of the rocks are like climbing apparatus in the gym! If ever you think hiking isn’t a good workout, come and do this walk. Our hearts are racing, our legs are aching and now we have to use our hands too!
Now the fun begins! Rock scrambling at its best! This is a serious cardio workout the Mount Rosea walk.Time for some horse riding! You know when you start to feel giddy and things look strange. C thinks she has found a horse to get to the peak! Yee hah! Mount Rosea walk, the Grampians.
At the 1 hour and 40 minutes minute mark we decide to stop for lunch. The lunch stop is a great time to marvel at the absolutely jaw dropping scenery enveloping us.
Time to sit and stop the trembling legs! The majestic mountain scenery 1 hour and 50 minutes into the Mount Rosea walk.Lunch view on the way to Mount Rosea peak. Could the view get any better?
As you rest, it’s good to look out for natural markers. As you’re ascending it’s easy to think you’ll remember your route on the way down, but, those rocks, will all start blending in to each other! Take the time to photograph some natural markers and look at the time stamp.
It’s a good idea to look for natural markers on the way up and down from Mount Rosea. It easily all starts looking the same, so, a burst of colour is a welcome sight. Take a photo and make a note of the time.It’s not all granite in the Grampians. You’ll be clambering over amazing sandstone boulders (not rocks) on the Mount Rosea walk.
Rested and rejuvenated, we hear some people coming up behind us! Hurrah, we are not alone! We like to look at their faces and see if they are panting and sweating too. Come on, you know you do that too, when you pass fellow hikers!
You’re kidding! You have to squeeze through that small hole? Yep! Mind your head.
At the 2 hour point we almost give up. It’s been really hard and the rock scrambling is some of the toughest for a continuous 45 minute period.
The size of the boulders you have to get over on the Mount Rosea walk. It’s going to be worth the sweeping views at the top.This looks like a peak! Mount Rosea walk a lakeview (Bellfield) from high up. You’re not there yet, still another half hour to go!
We feel the oxygen deprivation and not seeing many people come down is not very uplifting. Finally we see 2 other hikers who tell us we’re nearly there about half an hour and the view is worth it. It had better be!
J surveys the landscape after being told we’re half an hour away. By this point we have been walking 2 hours and the weather is getting colder and windier. That’s Mount Rosea in the distance to the right. Ok, so down we go!We see two other hikers returning from the peak. They tell us it is only another half hour from here. The path isn’t obvious. Keep looking out for the yellow triangular markers.This part looks like a dead end. You go through the “chimney” rocks as we name them.There’s a handy rock shelter with a beautiful window view, if it starts to rain!
We remember our accommodation manager telling us to look out for the bridge and don’t look down, if you’re scared of heights. Well it’s a bit late now! We are glad to see the bridge because it means we’re on the right path.
The valley bridge means you’re 20 minutes away from the Mount Rosea peak. If you don’t like heights, don’t look down, just run across. At least it isn’t a suspension bridge!
J is brave and stops to take some scenery shots on the bridge.
The view form the bridge, which plunges over 900 metres below you. Around 20 minutes to destination Mount Rosea peak!Seriously we have to squeeze through here? This is a good physical marker to remember.Well if the trees can survive up here, so can we!
Apparently we’re so close……
This is the 2 hour 20 minutes point. The rocks look like an elephant’s skin. We saw 2 more people coming down! We’re close to the Mount Rosea peak!
Apparently we’re really close!
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Is there a sign? Please tell us we’re close to the Mount Rosea peak!
It’s been an epic 2 and a half hours but we make it! We’re 1009 metres up and above the cloud line!
Like we said earlier, we wish we had done this walk first because it’s hard and it is the 6th day of non- stop hiking for us. It’s really windy at the top. For video footage of the views at the summit, go to our Instagram page.
On the Mount Rosea viewing platform. This is the amazing view 1009 metres high from the bottom.
Is it worth it? Hell yeah! Are we tired? Hell yeah! Doing another hike tomorrow? Hell yeah! All we have to do now is find our way back down before it gets dark! See you at the bottom. Stay safe and remember to tell someone when you will be back Safety Tips | Visit Grampians
Finnair? Who? Is that connected to Finland? Where is Finland? Yes, Finland has its own fleet of planes including a business class product which we share with you now! Finnair business class review here we come!
Finnair business class from Helsinki to Singapore.
Read our Finnair business class review from Helsinki, the capital of Finland to Singapore. From freezing temperatures to the humid and hot touchdown in Singapore, we reveal what you’ll get on your 11 and a half hour flight. The modern fleet is made up of A350 900 narrow body jets. It’s a late flight almost midnight so you will be ready to sleep when you get on board!
Quick Index of Finnair Business Class Helsinki to Singapore
After a traditional meal of meatballs and salad in the Helsinki lounge, which closed at 6pm (yes we had to slum it with the common people for 6 hours!) we were desperate to join the priority queue to get the pre flight champagne and kick our shoes off!. Due to this little thing called a global pandemic, the Finnair Lounge in Helsinki has drastically reduced its opening times. Also the main reason for choosing Finnair was to use the sauna area, which of course was closed. Wah, wah, wah, had we known, we would have flown via Dubai and with Emirates business class who have fully opened their lounges.
The A350 Finnair business class cabin is very bright and white. The configuration of the seats offer a good amount of privacy, even if you’re in the middle seats.
The configuration of the seats is a glorious 1-2-1. Off to a good start. This is one time where a window seat is great, when travelling alone.
The window seat offers good privacy on one side only and of course the view for take off and landing. It’s always the best seat if travelling alone.
The seats
Fresh bright colours on the A350 Finnair business class section.
Most seats are less than 2 years old. Finnair is in the process or refurbishing its entire fleet of A350 and A330 planes. According to their statement their seats will, “elevate your travel experience to new heights”.
When sitting up before take off, the seat doesn’t feel that padded and comfortable which is a bit surprising. The seat belt is also huge and quite heavy.
Look at the size of that seat belt! You definitely feel it when it is fastened.
There is no mattress for you to even out the gaps in the seat on the Finnair business class flight from Helsinki to Singapore.
The seat in the bed position has large gaps which are not covered with a mattress.
There’s not a huge amount of leg room in the up right position and you can see that lying down if you’re tall you’re going to have to keep those legs quite close together!
The footwell becomes quite narrow. It’s ok for people under 185cms though! Start practising sleeping with your legs together.
There is ample storage in the overhead lockers/bins and each one is labelled with your closest seat number. Additional storage can be found in the padded ‘armrest’ which contains the noise cancelling headphones and a bottle of water.
The noise cancelling headphones are always hiding in the armrest storage compartment!
In flight entertainment
Every passenger in business class gets 60 minutes free wi fi. However it was quite difficult to get a signal and it only worked half of the time.
The noise cancelling headphones are a snug fit and provide good acoustics for whatever you’re watching on the entertainment channels.
When you have settled in and checked out your fellow passengers there’s plenty to watch and listen to. The screen is huge and has very good resolution. The latest world cinema films are available as well as some classic Golden Oldies. In addition, you have TV series, documentaries and more music than you can ever get through on a 12 hour flight.
The Finnair business class screen is crystal clear. Enjoy films, Tv shows, games and music.
The electronics around the seat
You can charge your laptop, connect to HDMI and USB ports from your seat. Everything is within easy reach and nothing is hidden or in a hard to reach corner.
The electrics around your seat allow you to charge a variety of devices.
To control the seat itself there are a variety of self explanatory buttons.
It’s almost bed time! Underneath the universal adaptor are the buttons which transform your seat to a flat bed. Of course there are varying degrees before you get to 180 degrees.
The amenity kits on the Finnair A350 business class
One word – disappointing.
What’s inside the bag? The outside of the amenity kit isn’t filling us with confidence.The amenities include a pair of grey slippers which are one size fits all. The blanket is a calming blue.
The amenity kit is quite mean and sparse. It is certainly not up to the standard of the Qatar business class amenity kit.
Ta dah! The contents of the amenity kit are disappointing. No socks and no ear plugs.
The bags are definitely NOT classy and ones for keeping for future travels. Unlike the bags we received on Qatar Airways (see below)
For gentlemen, on Qatar Airways this is what you get for the amenity kit. This is a bag you will want to re use. Compare this to the Finnair business class amenity kit bag above.
The food and beverages
The glassware is very unique on board the Finnair planes. The take off nuts were delicious.
It’s dinner time on the Helsinki to Singapore flight. The mains to choose from were fish or chicken. In no way does the presentation match up to the middle eastern airlines such as Qatar or Emirates. (See the photo below). However in taste, the food goes down a treat and is of fine dining quality.
What we really like about the Qatar food service is the cute little touches like the mini salt and pepper grinders and the table light.
The prawn congee with shitake mushrooms, spring onion, ginger and soya sauce. Tasty and authentic.
The dinner menu was very interesting. A western and an Eastern option. We opted for the seafood and it was a delicious prawn appetizer and a baked salmon with vegetables.
Will it be chicken or fish for your Finnish dinner?Before you can select your dinner you need to check out the drinks menu!
The trout with roasted potatoes, shitake mushrooms and nori oil was very tasty. It had been glow fried, don’t know what that means though!The Normandy apple pie was moist and the apple pieces crunchy.Just when you thought you couldn’t eat any more, the cheese selection comes out. Oh well, it’s all for the blog!
After a few good hours of sleep the clinking of plates and the smell of coffee is the signal for more food! Breakfast is served.
Scrambled eggs with chorizo for breakfast. There is no second choice for breakfast.
Throughout the flight Finnair offer a selection of sweet and savoury snacks. We were so full and bloated that we did not try any. If you have tried them, drop us a line and let us know what is on offer!
The service of the Finnair staff
From the moment you board the staff address you as Miss or Mr. They have done their homework and you can see your name on the passenger list has been hand written. Frequent fliers of Finnair business class got an extra special welcome and were copiously plied with alcohol offerings throughout the flight. As newbies to Finnair, we thought the service was efficient, friendly and not too intrusive. A few small details, such as noticing empty water bottles and replacing them, would have been good. Apart from that, there wasn’t much to improve on.
The Finnair A350 business class toilets
Well they were a bit disappointing. They were exactly the same as economy class. The only difference was the number of people using them and the number of times the toilet paper roll was folded into a triangle!
An economy style bathroom in the business class Finnair hard product.
However, you do get a better handwash in business class and the moisturizer too is of better quality.
The body lotion is the same brand you get in the amenity kit in the business class bathroom. Sadly, the size of the bathroom/ toilet is the same as economy class.
The Bar
There isn’t one!
Final Thoughts
All in all a very solid soft product, with good food and wine albeit with small touches like a table coth for dinner. The the seat and amenities are not as luxurious as Emirates or Qatar and you don’t get as much space overall. The flight time is also a big consideration with a 6 hour gap between closure of the Finnair lounge in Helsinki and the boarding time. Would we fly Finnair again? Probably not if given the choice.
While you’re in Helsinki airport don’t forget to pop into the Moomin Cafe. The Moomins are Finland’s answer to the Simpson’s and were a hit cartoon show. It also has comfortable seats to wait on during that long six hour gap. Go on, indulge your inner child!
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The Qantas First Class Lounge Melbourne gets a long awaited review
Come on in to the Qantas First Class Lounge in Melbourne, Australia!
The mere sound of the Qantas First Class Lounge in Melbourne had us in great anticipation. We are expecting first class food above business class and first class amenities. Read on to see if Qantas delivered the goods or it was all a bit of a flop.
Lots of natural light and a great view of the tarmac. You can almost walk onto the planes!
First Impressions of the Qantas First Class Lounge in Melbourne
It was really difficult to find the First Class lounge in Melbourne. It is in a separate location to the business class lounge and Amex Lounge. It is also no where near the Emirates Lounge in Melbourne. You need to use a separate lift/ elevator too! Despite following the signs, we still had to ask an airport worker (and there were not many around) for the location of the lounge.
Finding the Qantas First Class Lounge was a bit of a challenge! We managed… eventually!
Don’t forget flying during Covid is going to have a bit of an effect. The first major disappointment was the closure of the spa. What do you mean no massage treatment?? Even British Airways offered a free 15 minute treatment but that was in the good old days, before the C word!
What do you mean, “temporarily out of order”? A huge disappointment that the spa was closed the day we visit the Qantas First Class lounge in Melbourne.
Now let’s have a closer look at the Qantas First Lounge
The lounge Overview and seating
The main corridor of the Qantas First Lounge. To the left are the seats and behind is the business area.
The second thing we are struck by is the size of the Qantas First lounge. The size of the lounge isn’t great, but is probably tailored correctly to the number of first class passengers on an international flight. It will never get crowded since access is quite difficult. It is not worth upgrading to a first class ticket just to use this Qantas First Class Lounge in Melbourne. Let’s be clear about that!
Contrasting carpet and stone flooring make for cosy areas. This is a s busy as it gets in the Qantas First Class Lounge, Melbourne.
The lay out is spacious and it feels a lot more exclusive than the business class lounge. We like the fact that there are more walled off areas, adding a sense of privacy.
Qantas has its signature red in the walls to create a feeling of privacy for passengers.
The seats are more stylish and show no signs of wear and tear. The chairs and sofa could actually be leather. We had a sniff, but the jury is still out, there are some very good faux leather materials out there you know! We’ll wait for Qantas to read our review and respond!
Could the seats be genuine leather?
You also get a better view, as in a tarmac view. The Melbourne International Business Class Lounge is artificially lit to the max due to its location. The Qantas First Lounge, on the other hand has a huge expanse of glass on two sides, allowing plenty of natural light to flood in.
You can’t beat the floor to ceiling huge windows allowing plenty of natural daylight to flood in to the Qantas First lounge, Melbourne.
The business facilities
The last thing you want to do is work in a lounge right? Qantas will provide you a separate work area, should the need arise. You even get your own conference and meeting room. We wonder how many people have actually used this space since the furniture looks extra new! In case you’re wondering, the Wi-Fi signal is strong.
If you must work there is a separate meeting and conference room within the business section of the First Class lounge. Bring the family, they can watch you work from the sofas!Hmm who shall I call while I’m in the Qantas First lounge in Melbourne?
Food and Drink
The Qantas First Lounge’s restaurant takes up one end of the lounge. A very pleasant outlook through the huge glass windows.
What you get in food and beverages is not that different to the Melbourne International Business Class lounge that we have also reviewed. What you do get is a sense of exclusivity, as the Qantas First Lounge has a separate restaurant like dining area. The staff are better dressed and more attentive to your needs. The seating area looks like a modern restaurant with very comfortable dining chairs. As you can see from the pictures, it was not a busy time.
The staff are better dressed at The Qantas First Lounge Melbourne.A partitioned restaurant section with table service. Who is in a rush to get on the plane?
The alcoholic beverages are all top shelf quality. The food is made to order. As it was breakfast there was no salt and pepper calamari to order. This is apparently the dish you must try!
The cooked to order breakfast menu wasn’t overly exciting.
The breakfast menu was ok. It wasn’t that different to the business class lounge. In fact the most interesting made to order dish was very similar to one we have tried before. On offer were, pancakes with fresh fruit, a cooked breakfast, a toasted ham and cheese brioche, a quinoa salad with poached egg and avocado or Bircher muesli.
Watercress and poached egg salad with avocado. Coffee is barista style and very good quality.
Nothing is buffet style due to Covid 19. Gone are the days of the heated lamps and tongs to help yourself. The only signs are social distancing and hand hygiene reminders. It goes without saying a mask is obligatory.
Bathroom and shower facilities
The shower suites have more character in the Qantas First Lounge in Melbourne than the business class one. The tiles are less sterile, being a warm stone colour and more like a bathroom.
Marble like tiles in the spacious shower rooms in the Qantas First Lounge, Melbourne.
But, that was of course pre-covid! Pump size organic shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and hand wash are standard. The brand is L.U.E. a cosmetics company called LaGaia which makes Organic babycare products. A 500ml of body cream is $52 AUD. If the spa were open, these are the products that you would be slathered all over you.
LUE products are exclusive to the Qantas First Class lounge.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Qantas First Lounge was a pleasant experience. It was good because there was not a children’s play area, complete with noisy little people. It has the same facilities as the business class lounge and so an upgrade is definitely not worth it. The lounge is smaller but also quieter. If you value peace and quiet the most, it’s a great pre-flight experience. Had we visited at lunch time, perhaps the menu would be more exciting. Time to book the next flight!
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Welcome to the Cairns Business Class Lounge in tropical North Queensland Australia. The Qantas Cairns business class lounge has one of the best tarmac views in Australia. This lounge is located in the domestic terminal and has been recently refurbished.
Quick Index Qantas International Business Lounge Cairns
What is the Cairns Qantas Club business class lounge like?
Cairns is an international destination with connecting flights from Singapore, Tokyo, Port Moresby, Shenzen and Auckland to name a few. This review is for the domestic lounge. Qantas Club members can access this lounge. If you have a complimentary pass issued by a credit card company, this will be your lounge at Cairns domestic terminal. The Cairns domestic lounge is reasonably spacious and has the usual neutral colour palette of other Qantas lounges both in Australia and around the world. Snacks and light options are available throughout the day. There are both hot and cold options. Full bar service (after 12pm) and barista made coffee for beverage options.
Entrance to the Qantas Club Cairns domestic terminal. A sign of the pandemic times, pre warns you to get your Covid 19 etiquette on!
Seating and Wi-fi
All Qantas business class lounges offer comfortable seating and a place to charge your devices. It also has a dedicated office area complete with printer and photocopier.
The Qantas Club lounge in Cairns is very similar to other domestic lounges in Australia.
There are lounge style type chairs, chairs and tables, bench seating, armchairs and stools.
Armchair style seating in neutral beige.
Like the Qantas Club in Melbourne you can choose to be more familiar with people or distance yourself!
Like in Melbourne there are various styles of suiting to suit your mood.
The best seats have to be the ones by the window, where you can watch the planes ascend against a green mountain background.
Comfortable seats and a great view, but, no charging points.
The worst seats are the hard wooden seats, but they are the best height for eating at, think more dining chairs than armchairs.
The hard wooden chairs are best for doing business, but not for comfort!
Conducting Business
Believe it or not, some people actually use a business class lounge to conduct business! There is a printer available, but, we have never seen anyone use a printer in a business class lounge.
Believe it or not, some people actually conduct business ina business class lounge! We have never seen anyone use the printer though.
Plenty of people have their laptops out, checking e mails and browsing the Internet. Whether they are actually working is anyone’s guess. There are charging points at a ratio of about 1:4 seats. Wi-Fi is automatic, there is no need to ask for a code. As soon as you enter the Qantas Club lounge in Cairns your device will pick up the Wi-Fi.
Children’s Play Area
If the little ones are tagging along, there is a good space for them to play and run around.
A dedicated play area for small and big children alike!
Food options
Look down, look down your Covid safe floor markings are everywhere. Qantas’ signature red extends to the floor stickers.
Similarly to other domestic lounges in Australia for the Qantas Club, the food is not as good as the non Qantas Club lounge. On the plus side, there is a range of hot and cold options. If you’re inventive, you can put together a complete meal with hot soup for a starter!
Buffet style cold options are available at the Qantas Club Cairns domestic terminal.Hot soup as an starter dish? You can put together a complete meal if you have time.The menu board offers a selection of hot and cold food options.
If you arrive at the Qantas Club Cairns at breakfast time, there will not be any hot options, according to the picture above. We would assume that if this option is on offer in the future, it would be a selection of Full English breakfast items. These would be hash browns, sausages, mushrooms, bacon, fried eggs and maybe some grilled tomatoes. If you want to see what the Full English looks like, click here, for a review of the Qantas International lounge Melbourne.
The salad bar plated up looks better. The barista made coffee did not come in a ceramic mug.
We found some penne pasta on offer. It was quite reasonable.Grill up your own panini. Sometimes you cannot beat a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich!
If you’re trying to go for the mini restaurant experience and like to finish your meal off with something sweet, there are a few little bites.
Need something sweet to nibble on? There are a few sweet treats such as muffins and biscuits.
Beverages
Soft drinks are on tap. Alcohol is offered both self service and bar service.
The alcohol cabinet in the Qantas Club Cairns. Thinking about installing one in your kitchen??Wine is on a self service basis. Average wines in the region of $15 to $25. Beer you get from the fridge.
Coffee is a national interest in Australia, so naturally it is on offer in every Qantas Club lounge in the country. You can get the DIY one from an automatic machine, or get the barista to do it.
Queue up for your barista made coffee. Unfortunately it doesn’t come in a mug, only a paper cup with plastic lid.If you can’t hang around for a coffee, get a machine dispensed one. Not as flavourful as a ‘real’ barista coffee in our humble opinion.
Shower facilities
If you’re feeling grubby and need to freshen up the good news is, showers are available at the Qantas Club Cairns. If you have paid for a membership to use the lounge don’t waste it.
Private shower cubicles at the Qantas Club Cairns. They may not be as flashy as the ones offered by middle eastern airlines like Emirates or Qatar, but, they get the job done!
The showers aren’t flash like in an Emirates or Qatar lounge, where the showers resemble mini bathrooms, but hey, you’ll smell better and water is water right?
The white shower tiles and taps are nothing fancy, but, you’ll feel more refreshed.The communal toilets are probably the same as in the airport. We don’t know as we never used the non lounge area.
Final Thoughts
The Qantas Club Cairns domestic terminal is a pleasant lounge to while away a few hours. You probably don’t want to spend more than 2 hours here. If you have the option of using a lounge or not using a lounge, always use one! Don’t expect gourmet food and fine wine. Think of it more as a pleasant cafe experience with the option for a shower.
A lounge is always a better option than slumming it with the masses in the main airport terminal!
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Unmissable South Island New Zealand 14 day itinerary
Join us on our South Island New Zealand road trip! We tell you where to go and what to see on our unmissable 14 day itinerary to South Island, New Zealand. The land of the long white cloud, Aotearoa, in the Maori language will leave you speechless.
South Island New Zealand is the the land of superlatives. Oh look, another achingly beautiful view to photograph! South Island New Zealand will blow you away.
Where to start? South Island New Zealand is simply amazing. Everything about the place is jaw dropping and fantastic. Startling, staggering, stupefying, breathtaking, stunning and astounding. Mind blowing, thrilling and exciting our 14 day South Island itinerary will leave you with memories that last a lifetime and a huge hole in your pocket!
Well you can’t walk or drive up to the Franz Josef Glacier! A seriously expensive destination.
How much will a 2 week trip around South Island New Zealand cost?
Yep, South Island is expensive! It’s not a cheap destination, even for Australians. For our two week trip we spent just shy of 7000 Australian dollars. The main reason is the car hire, fuel and the astronomic amount of doing adrenaline and non adrenaline activities. OK, we took a helicopter ride which was 400 NZ dollars a person to trek on the Franz Josef Glacier. Plus, we didn’t realise a kayak trip can set you back 200 NZ dollars each! Well, you can’t walk up the Franz Josef Glacier and the water is too cold to swim in, so our hands were tied!
It’s seriously expensive in South Island New Zealand. This shark ride will shoot you into the air. Then plunge you down into the water. As well as that, you speed along the surface. This will set you back a cool NZD 140 for 15 minutes of fun!
If you do one bungee jump, float on water jet skis, go kayaking and whale watching, go in a speeding submarine, get spun around a lake and wear some flyboard boots, expect that cost to go up another 1000 NZ dollars per person!!
Well South Island New Zealand can’t help it if it has so many attractions. The things to do list just goes on and on. It’s a paradise for nature lovers and a haven for adrenaline junkies. South Island New Zealand has everything you can ever want in a holiday, apart from a cheap getaway!
Getting to and around South Island New Zealand
The main reason why a two week trip is so expensive, is the airfare and the car hire. You simply cannot bring your car across on a ferry! The roads however, are some of the most beautiful in the world and very relaxing to drive on.
Getting around New Zealand isn’t cheap! Car, camper van or mobile home hire is a big part of the cost on your amazing 14 day South Island itinerary.
New Zealand is literally on the other side of the Earth for most visitors. It’s even further than Australia, which for many is far enough! Even from Asia, you have to add on an extra 3 hours from Melbourne or Sydney in Australia. If you’re coming from Europe or the Americas, you’ll already be feeling the pain of multiple stopovers, once in Asia and then one in Australia.
You’ll be doing a lot of driving in South Island. But, with views like this almost everywhere, you can’t complain!
Hiring a camper van or a car is not cheap. Even back packing hostels are not at the rates you would expect. OK, dorm beds can start from as little as 20 USD, but then you still have to hire some form of transport. AN alternative is to book yourself on the many day tours that will pick you up and drop you off from your accommodation. This method, however, does not allow for much flexibility in your itinerary around South Island.
South Island New Zealand Map
Only1invillage’s 14 day itinerary. We flew into Christchurch and out of Queenstown. The blue road route is major destinations and does not include stop offs and diversions.
Here is our itinerary
Day 1 – Fly in to Christchurch
Day 2 – Kaikoura
Day 3 – Nelson area including the winery region of Blenheim
Day 4 – Motueka and the Abel Tasman National Park
Day 6 – Franz Josef Glacier
Day 7 – Te Anau and Milford Sound
Day 9 to 14 – Wanaka and Queenstown
Best time to go to South Island New Zealand
The best time to go to South Island, if you’re not a skier, is November to March. It’s the hottest time of the year, but also the peak season. October and April are great months to go if you’re a keen hiker, as it’s cooler and less crowded. But be prepared at any time of the year for a sudden dramatic change in the weather, especially on hill tops and glaciers.
You’re not going to see many people if you go in shoulder season to New Zealand. April and September are good shoulder season months to go to South Island New Zealand.
South Island New Zealand weather
South Island New Zealand has a similar climate to North Island New Zealand. Being a southern hemisphere country and sort of Down Under, it is the opposite to Europe and North America. So when it’s Summer in South Island New Zealand, it’s Winter in Europe. It is more similar to Tasmania in Australia. It rains a lot in New Zealand and the ‘land of the long white cloud’ is very lush and green, most of the time. Of course, in recent years, climate change has meant drier Summers than usual.
Spring and Autumn colours are resplendent on South Island New Zealand. Less tourists and better prices in the shoulder season. Avoid Summer which is December to February in the Southern hemisphere.
Christchurch
Christchurch is not the capital of South Island, New Zealand. Wellington is the capital of both islands, the whole of New Zealand. Christchurch has been a very unlucky city. Due to its location on the Ring of Fire, earthquakes have been a constant threat. Since 1888 Christchurch has suffered terribly from its geographical positioning along tectonic plates.
In more recent times, 2010 and 2011, two earthquakes have struck the region. The 2010 earthquake’s epicentre was 37kms west of Christchurch. A bone chilling 7.1 was recorded on the Richter scale. The effects were felt in Christchurch, but it is more accurately called the Canterbury earthquake.
In 2011 the most devastating earthquake to life and buildings happened. Even though it was smaller than the 2010 earthquake, the 6.3 magnitude reading killed 185 people and injured several thousands. Today, Christchurch still has not fully recovered. There’s still lots of construction going on, but, the shipping containers have gone.
Kaikoura Whale Watching
What could be more exhilarating than getting up close and personal to theses majestic beasts of the ocean? If you have never seen a whale up close then this could be the place! Unfortunately when we were there, whales had not been seen for 3 days. Always check with the company you book with and ask locals. It is not a guaranteed sighting, just because they offer a whale watching tour from Kaikoura. Sometimes you can also kayak and swim with dolphin pods.
Kaikoura is a lovely sea side town with great walks and cycling tracks if you want to stay dry. We loved the Fyffe-Palmer Track that had some forest and farmland views. You can also visit a lavendar farm or go quad biking on a working farm.
Abel Tasman National Park Kayaking
Escape to the Abel Tasman National Park where the air is clean and the water pure.
The Abel Tasman national park is huge and beautiful.
Explore the golden sandy beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park.
You can walk the beautiful beaches, kayak with the seals and go hiking.
Explore the pristine bays of Abel Tasman National Park. This is Kaiterteri Bay.
Whatever you choose to do here, it’s just going to take your breath away. Abel Tasman Park is rugged, untouched, pristine and the epitome of what a national park should be.
Hiking is just one of the options in the Abel Tasman National Park.
You cannot bring your dog. Sorry, canine lovers. You also cannot light fires of any kind – beach fires or barbecues.
There’s plenty of active things to do in the Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand. Hire a kayak for some seal spotting in the pristine turquoise waters.
As we were staying in nearby Motueka, we decided to do the half day Kayak tour. You get picked up from your hotel, a guided water taxi and kayak tour with the ever friendly Kiwi guides.
J modelling a very fetching Kayak ‘skirt’ which keeps your legs dry. We have to say it is the most comfortable kayak with padded back rest too!Get ready to see some seals. See the island over there? Yup, that’s where we’re kayaking to!Paddle harder J, I see some seals! The Abel Tasman National Park is the perfect place to get up close and personal with seals.The seals off Kaiteriteri Beach in the Abel Tasman National Park are a mere paddle away.Hmmm we wonder why this formation is called Split Apple Rock? We’ve got it, it loos like an apple, that has been split! Geniuses!
It’s a bit like in Australia where you have Beach Street and guess what? It’s a street running along the beach! How about 7 mile creek? How long do you think the creek is??!! What about the famous 3 Sisters rocks in Blue Mountains, near Sydney? What do you reckon about how many rocks you will see? Hmm, that’s a toughie!
Punakaiki and Pancake Rocks and Blowhole
This is a stop that you must not miss along the road from Motueka to Franz Josef along the No.6 State Highway.
Punakaiki rocks on the edge of Paparoa National Park. Shaped by millions of years of wave erosion pounding against the land.
Franz Josef Glacier
What is a glacier?
A glacier is a dynamic environment of frozen snow characterised by freezing temperatures. When snow has fallen and compacted into ice sheets over time, it is called a glacier. Glaciers, like rivers can ‘move’ or flow. They can retreat and they can grow. Sadly, due to global warming, they are retreating more than they are growing.
The best time to visit the Franz Josef glacier is on a clear, sunny day. The weather can change in a matter of minutes. You can book the night before and suddenly you’ll get a call that the helicopter cannot go because of rain or high winds.
In the township of Franz Josef itself there is this stunning view of the glacier. Peters Pool is easily accessed by car and is an easy 1.1km track suitable for all ages.
Best time to go to Franz Josef Glacier
In terms of the season to go to the glacier, it’s open all year round! If you want fewer people you go in the southern hemisphere Winter (June to August inclusive). The best time to go depends on what you want to get out of the experience and how much you’ll be paying for accommodation. Peak season is the southern hemisphere Summer (December to March inclusive). There’ll be more people to jostle with and you’ll have to wake up earlier for those selfies!
There’s no walking onto the Franz Josef Glacier. The only way to go is by helicopter. Your experienced guides will meet you on the ice.
The Franz Josef Glacier is a world heritage area.You cannot walk there to the glacier. It is helicopter only. You cannot go on a self guided tour either, you must join a tour group. Experienced guides will meet you on the glacier and explain the formation and ever changing environment of this glacial wonderland.
Get back to the Ice Age! Franz Josef Glacier, South Island New Zealand.
There is a challenging walk you can do along a riverbed to see the foothills of the glacier. This is called the Franz Josef walk. Like Split Apple Rock, which is a rock, which looks like an apple that has been split, the Kiwis love simplicity. The walk is in Franz Josef and that’s what you do, so they call it the Franz Josef walk! Love it!
On the glacier you will be met with blue tinged ice caves, bright blue ice rivers and of course mountains covered in pure white snow. Watch out for the huge crevasses!
Magnificent blue ice holes you don’t want to fall down! Stay with your experienced glacier guide at all times on the Franz Josef Glacier.
As you ascend to the glacier you will see the stunning sub tropical ferns and gradually the landscape changes to grey mountains and then suddenly glaringly bright white mountain slopes.
Looking out of the helicopter window as you ascend onto the glacier. Look at the magnificent contrast of tropical fern forests, changing to glacial sheets as you near the Franz Josef Glacier. Simply jaw dropping.
It really is a once in a lifetime experience. The Franz Josef Glacier is also retreating, so get there while you can!
When you’re on the glacier it’s time to contemplate just how small you are compared to Mother Nature. Franz Josef Glacier, South Island New Zealand.
After a day on the glacier, there’s nothing better than soaking in the glacier hot pools. Whilst not as spacious or gorgeous as the Peninsula Hot Springs Melbourne, they’re good for a spot of people watching.
Ohau Seal Colony and waterfall
If you didn’t get a chance to catch the seals in Kaikoura, you’ll definitely see them at Ohau Point. There’s also a bonus mini waterfall here along an easy stream walk. Currently closed, so always check ahead.
Seal Point Ohau South Island New Zealand, not Hawaaii! You can’t miss this place because suddenly there’s lots of parked cars.
On your way to Blenheim and the wine country, you’ll definitely want to make a quick pit stop. You can’t miss the seal colony at Ohau, because you’ll see lots of parked cars suddenly on the side of the road. The seals are not shy and they just love being photographed!
The seals aren’t shy at Seal Point, Oahu, South Island New Zealand.
After some seal watching, head over the road and see more seals playing in and near the waterfall. Sometimes, they’re a bit more shy and can be hiding around the rocks.
Marlborough, Nelson and Blenheim Wine Region
Posing in the Cloudy Bay winery, a very popular choice in Australia. With its mild climate and pure mountain base air, the Marlborough wine region is a must visit area of South Island, New Zealand.
Picturesque wineries and gourmet food go hand in hand in the northern wine region. You can spend days here wandering from one vineyard to the next.
Have a lovely lunch in the beautiful Cloudy Bay winery indoors or outdoors.Make an afternoon out of the Cloudy Bay winery. Extensive inside and outside areas to relax and enjoy their fine wines.
Taste a charcuterie platter sitting or swinging (we mean literally on a swing, not the other type!) in the scenic gardens of the famous Cloudy Bay winery in Marlborough.
Time to get silly and start swinging! Relax and play in the massive gardens of the Cloudy Bay winery, South Island, New Zealand.
Who can say no to a sauvignon blanc with notes of bright, ripe citrus, kaffir lime, passionfruit and white peach? The palate is vibrant and mouthwatering, with concentrated, juicy tropical notes melding with zesty citrus, stone fruits and subtle notes of orchard blossom. Now repeat that description after a glass or two!
Star jumping for joy in the Cloudy Bay winery gardens.
The cellar door experience at Rimu Grove is a typical New Zealand affair. It’s a small, intimate and friendly place.
Rimu Grove winery in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand. A small family run property that offers pizza too.
You can take a seat and enjoy the view overlooking the vineyard. You’re left in peace to sip your pinot gris, pinot noir, chardonnay or riesling. J can attest that the riesling is top notch.
An intimate affair at Rimu Grove winery. The knowledgeable staff will make you feel at home. Looks like a back garden made in heaven for J!
Te Anau
Te Anau offers green forest walks with Hobbitt like scenery. No wonder South Island New Zealand was chosen for much of the Lord of The Rings scenery.
The township of Te Anau has a lot to offer. A lake, of course full of picture perfect viewpoints. Hiking trails, glow worm caves and the home to Middle Earth Fangorn Forest.
Te Anau suspension bridge.
Closer to Milford Sound than Queenstown, it also makes a great base for the 4 day Kepler Track. If you plan on doing the Kepler Track you have to plan and book in advance. You cannot just turn up and start walking! Download this excellent PDF guide here.
Milford Sound
The name Milford Sound is very confusing. It’s not a musical instrument. It is not really connected to sound. It is most accurately compared to a fjord like landscape. So, if you haven’t made it to the Nordic majestic fjord landscapes, this is very similar.
Milford Sound Cruise
Entering the iconic Milford Sound.
The only way to see the Milford Sound is to join a boat cruise. If you’ve been to Niagara Falls, it’s a bit like that but on a smaller scale. The boat will go right up to the waterfall and you will get very wet as you pass underneath. Pray for a clear day as the experience is much better than on a grey, dull day. Also the rainbow effect will be fabulous. You might also want to make sure it has rained. Believe it or not, waterfalls can get dry!
Milford Sound cruising is a must do experience. The thunderous waterfalls are jaw dropping as you get closer and closer on the comfort of your boat.
Some tour operators will include a pick up from Te Anau, others you can just buy the boat cruise. We went with Eco Tours and a three level catamaran provided by Jucy. The boat cruise itself starts from $99AUD for adults. Note this departs from the pier in Milford Sound, not Te Anau. It was a good boat experience, but the ride down in the mini bus was slow and uncomfortable. Next time we would drive from Te Anau.
The roads to Milford Sound are curved and narrow.
On the way to Milford Sound there is of course more National Geographic photo opportunities. You will stop off at Mirror Lake.
Hmm wonder why they call this Mirror Lake? On the way to Milford Sound this is included in your itinerary , if you book a one day cruise with transport.
On the way back from Milford Sound is another scenic spot called the Chasm. It’s on the Cleddau River and it’s an easy 400m return trip from the car park.
If you missed out on seals so far, you will definitely see them here at Milford Sound. The boat goes right up to a seal colony who love to pose for the cameras.
Healthy seal colony playing in Milford Sound.
Lake Wanaka and The Wanaka Tree!
The Wanaka tree
The famous Wanaka tree. Breathtakingly beautiful. Captured by our friend @jayeoz on Instagram. Thanks for letting us use your amazing picture!
Who would have thought that a single tree, yes just one tree, would draw visitors from around the world? The small town of Wanaka can come to a standstill at sunset and sun rise as photographers jostle for a picture of “the Wanaka tree”. We shit you not. It’s pretty special. How it survives, we have no idea.
Lake Wanaka is a top tourist hot spot in South Island New Zealand. Well, any lake in New Zealand is a top tourist hot spot! However, this tree is so famous it has its own hashtag #thatwanakatree. Careful how you say it, especially after a few drinks!
We dare you to find a lake in New Zealand that isn’t stunning. On the shore of Lake Wanaka. Photo courtesy of @jayeoz on Instagram.
Fun Things to do in Queenstown
There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Queenstown. The adrenaline capital of South Island. You can easily spend your entire 14 day itinarary based in Queenstown and splash some serious cash. You can get to Milford Sound from Queenstown. Many people come to Queenstown just to ski in The Remarkables area during Winter. It’s also in a strategic position too for Te Anau and Wanaka. On the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, naturally Queenstown has that Instagram worthy appeal too.
Queenstown Luge
There’s so much to do in South Island New Zealand. Unfortunately, a lot of the activities aren’t free! The Queenstown luge is a must do activity.
The luge in Queenstown is an absolute must. Not only do you get to go down hill at break neck speed on a non- motorised go kart equivalent vehicle, you also get a cable car and a ski lift ride. 6 luge rides and the cable car cost $69 NZ dollars. As their strap line says, “once is never enough”. Don’t miss out on the Queenstown luge. You know you want to beat your nearest and dearest on the track! You can also buy photos of your driving prowess afterwards.
Now that looks like fun! The curving luge track view from the cable car in Queenstown.
When you get out of the cable car there are magnificent views over Queenstown and on a clear day, the peaks of The Remarkables.
After a fun cable car and ski lift ride, you’re ready to take in the magnificent view of Queenstown. You can see the Remarkables ski area on a clear day.Just when you think there’s no more fun to be had! You can get a ski lift to the top of the luge track after the cable car ride. Or, you can walk.
Millionaire Boat Cruise
Contrary to the name, this is the cheapest attraction in Queenstown. It doesn’t cost a million dollars! This 1 hour 30 minute boat cruise was by far the best bargain of this 14 day trip. So you’ve already dropped $400 for a helicopter ride up to a glacier, what’s another $49? What you see is million dollar houses along the lake shore on a comfortable boat. The captain of the boat is hilarious and provides a very witty commentary on everything about Queenstown.
The million dollar cruise lasts 90 minutes and costs just $NZ49. It’s the cheapest, most entertaining thing you’ll do in expensive Queenstown.
Queenstown Botanic Gardens
Beautiful and serene, the Queenstown Botanic Gardens.
At last something free to do in Queenstown. You could argue that the whole of Queenstown is like a huge garden, it’s so pretty. However, the dedicated Queenstown Botanic Gardens is a beauty not to be missed. The best time to go and see the colour is of course in Spring. Spring time in Queenstown is September to November. Sit on the soft lawn and walk around the lovely landscaped gardens. Take a picnic and breathe in the aroma of the rose gardens or be soothed by the water feature. Spend at least an hour here, thinking about all the money you have spent so far!
Ahhh breathe in the sweet smell of FREE . The Queenstown Botanic gardens won’t cost you a thing.
Hiking around Queenstown
The Moonlight track walk is 14kms long. It starts from the top of the gondola where you can do the Queenstown luge.
Good news for hikers, there’s plenty to see in the hills of Queenstown. Most of the walks require you to drive out from Queenstown. There is a walk called the Moonlight Walk which starts from the top of the gondola (luge cable car) and goes for 14kms! It’s not a loop walk so make sure you’re not stuck in the dark.
The Moonlight track walk starts on a very narrow path. Start the 14kms walk at the top of the gondola ride in central Queenstown.
We hope you have enjoyed our South Island 14 day trip itinerary. It’s not a cheap one but it’s worth it! For many, South Island, New Zealand will be a once in a lifetime destination. Make the most of it. If you’re lucky enough to live close by, like us, you’ll be a repeat visitor.
Please leave a comment below if you have been to South Island New Zealand. If you need more information or want to ask us anything, we would love to hear from you.
Bar Hopping Queenstown
There is a very happening nightlife in Queenstown from classic pubs to Irish Bars, upmarket wine bars, and ice bar, several clubs and rooftop bars. Settle in at the end of the day for a drink somewhere and you are sure to have a night to remember.
A beautiful sunset from a rooftop bar in Queenstown.
You will never escape the humidity of Singapore due to its position on the Equator. However, you can time your trip to avoid heavy soakings coupled with thunder storms and lightning. The “dry” season is between February and April. This doesn’t mean that it won’t rain. If you look at yearly rain charts, even in dry season you can expect 10 days with rain.
February to June are the hottest months. You’re looking at an average of 31 degrees Celcius during the day and 24 degrees Celcius at night! That air conditioning machine isn’t being switched off overnight!
The tiny island in South East Asia is the economic power house of the region. Famous for chilli crab and a chewing gum. We expose the truth behind the myths. For your Singapore Sling, read on!
Is Singapore a rich country?
When Singapore became a nation it wanted to become a first world oasis in a third world region. Singapore has certainly achieved its goal. A modern country with amazingly efficient infrastructure, world class health care and leading global services industry sector. Singapore is a city state.
Is Singapore expensive?
Like any tourist destination nowadays if you choose to splash the cash and live like a king/queen your precious Singaporean dollars won’t go far. Hostels do exist in Singapore. Cheaper hotels do exist in Singapore. Getting out and about is not expensive. The Uber rival of Asia, Grab is an inexpensive taxi ride option. Public transport is also uber efficient and naturally air conditioned! Food options are not outrageous either. Sure if you’re the foie gras and champagne breakfast type you can eat through your budget pretty quickly. But if you can do a supermarket lunch and eat from a set menu before 7pm, eating out isn’t expensive in Singapore. Buying clothes is similar to any other destination for the international brands. Visiting tourist sites are on a par with other developed nations in the region.
Is Singapore clean?
Singapore is so clean there’s no rubbish anywhere – This is very true. If you have been to Japan, you’ll find it very similar. People are cleaning everywhere all the time. At the world’s best airport, Changi International, everything is sparkling. The toilets are some of the cleanest in the world. The travelators are constantly wiped, mirrors polished and carpets vacuumed. No one drops rubbish because heavy fines discourage this. Public transport is spotless.
Is Singapore a green place to visit?
Singapore is a green urban island nation. Singapore is aiming to be a green city. The super trees in the Marina Bay Sands area is a major nightly light attraction. Urban greening is a term used to try and cool down the city. Designing buildings with green roofs and vertical gardens are helping cool down the oppressively hot island nation. Around the massive super trees are pockets of gardens, containing thousands of plants and flowers.
Is Singapore just concrete and glass?
There are many modern structures made of concrete and glass. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is world famous and is truly an architectural wonder. However, there are pockets of greenery, like the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Every new building constructed in Singapore must adhere to strict anti warming measures, such as use of materials and allowing space for roof top gardens and vertical vegetation.
Singapore orchids – there are many places to see the famous flowers. Singapore has orchid gardens and the famous Gardens By the Bay.
Was The Singapore Sling Invented here?
Well if it’s called the Singapore Sling it must have been invented in Singapore. So what is it exactly? It’s based on gin. It’s like a Long Island Ice Tea, but with different ingredients. It’s got a lot of alcohol in it! Invented in the Raffles Hotel by a Chinese bar tender. There’s cherry brandy in it too. Now for the Benedictine and Cointreau. Ohh la la, feeling light headed already! Now for the soft stuff – some pineapple, lime juice and a splash of grenadine. Voila! Sling that down!
chewing gum
Here is the sticky truth – It is not illegal to chew gum. You can bring in small amounts for personal use. It is illegal to spit it out on the street. It is treated as litter. You can chew it, but not many people do.
connectivity
Singapore has free wifi everywhere – This is partly true. Public buildings such as malls, museums, MRT stations and libraries all offer free connectivity. Download the app Wireless@SGx and look for these hotspots. You’ll be automatically connected after the download whenever you’re in a hot spot area.
WEATHER
Singapore is always hot and sticky – Singapore is pretty much sitting on the Equator. This means that the word “tropical” is the weather word of importance. The two “h” words, hot and humid, will hit you as soon as you step outside the air conditioned halls of Changi International. Singapore does have a dry season, between February and April. It will feel less sticky, but not much.
Updated Qantas Club Melbourne Domestic Business Class Lounge Review
Recently refurbished, one of the business class lounges at Melbourne Airport for domestic passengers gets a review from Only1invillage. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, travel has been a bit limited! We revisited the domestic lounge in July 2021 and are happy to report the food has improved.
The Qantas Club Melbourne for domestic business class passengers is in the Qantas Lounge precinct.
There are 2 lounges at the domestic terminal in Melbourne for business class passengers. Here we review the Qantas Club lounge. Don’t confuse it with the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. Definitely not same same!
Before you are allowed in remember Qantas has a strict dress code. To ‘ensure an enjoyable experience’ make sure you read this first. No beachwear! (Erm who wears that to fly anyway?) and no singlet tops for men. No UGG boots and no thongs! By thongs we mean flip flops. They’re not going to check your underwear! (See our Ultimate Aussie Slang Guide to help you understand more of the native lingo!) No sleepwear. Don’t show too much flesh or look like you’re heading off to the gym. Make sure your tops don’t have offensive slogans or images on them. (But an ‘I love Qantas’ T shirt is probably fine!)
Don’t get caught out or refused entry to the Qantas Club in Melbourne. Check this guide to make sure you’re suitably dressed.
Qantas call this particular domestic business lounge the Qantas Club. The domestic lounge got a much needed makeover. According to previous reviewers, the space for business travellers was like a dark, scary corridor! It was also cramped.
The Qantas Club lounge has had a makeover in Melbourne. Brighter and more spacious than the previous model.
We visit on a busy Friday evening. It is definitely being tested to the maximum. Seating is sparse, conversation is loud and most of the shower rooms are busy! It is very unlike the pictures Qantas show you on their website.
On our next visit, compare the difference!
Travel during pandemic times means a less busy Qantas Club Melbourne lounge.During a pandemic there is much more space everywhere on all types of seats!Friday evening in the Qantas Club lounge in Melbourne is busy.
Here are the positives and negatives of the Qantas Club Domestic Business Class Lounge at Melbourne Airport. No wonder Qantas shorten it to The Qantas Club, it’s quite a mouthful to say, otherwise!
In July 2021, borders into and out of Australia are still closed. Therefore the only flights operating are domestic flights. It is understandably way less busy. There is much more space due to physical distancing requirements and the lack of travel in general.
During the Covid 19 pandemic the Qantas Club Lounge was eerily empty.
POSITIVES Qantas Club Lounge Melbourne Airport
The lounge location is just after security. Turn right and go up the escalator. The other business class lounge is for when you turn left at the top of the escalators.
Turn right at the top of the escalators after security. The newly refurbished Qantas Club domestic business class lounge awaits.
The lounge is spacious and has a light airy feel. It is very long. The placement of the bar and barista coffee machine is nice and central. The luxury touches of marble and shiny stainless steel are new and inviting. The new wooden floors give the lounge a modern touch. It looks so much better than carpet. Carpet is so last century!
Sleek and shiny central food and beverage aisles in the spacious Qantas Club domestic business class lounge.
The wi-fi is fast and there’s no need to ask for a password. There are plenty of charging points. Look under or near your seat.
There are various types of seating. You can grab a bar stool while you chat to colleagues or sit on the more padded chairs and armchairs. If you need to work there is desk seating too.
Various seating options range from hard stools to comfortable, padded chairs and ‘lounge’ style ‘sofas’.
Shower and toilet facilities
Showers are available in the toilet areas. There’s no reservation system, you just go and try your luck.
Showers come with a toilet so a mini bathroom in essence.
Towels are a bit on the thin side. The glass is frosted so you can see if someone is using it (apart from the engaged red sign in the lock).
Can’t wait until you land to freshen up? Take a quick shower. Make sure you lock the door!Don’t forget to return your towel after your shower!
Communal toilets are clean.
The central bar looks and feels like any classy Melbourne City watering hole. It’s clean and the service is friendly and efficient. You can order beer on tap or get bottled beer. There’s no help yourself beer at the Qantas Club. You can help yourself to wine and sparkling wine. Spirits have to be requested too. Qantas clearly want to keep you in a decent upright state before your flight.
The sleek modern bar is in a central location in the Qantas Club Melbourne.
Covid 19 safety signs are everywhere during pandemic times. The bar is still shiny and sleek.
The barista made coffee comes with latte art and tastes great. Melbourne lattes are good in the Qantas Club business lounge!
The coffee at the Qantas Club Melbourne domestic business lounge gets the thumbs up from coffee connoisseurs.Get a fresh barista made coffee to have in the lounge. Take away a Vittoria coffee if you’re in a rush. Soy skinny available too. This is Melbourne after all. The great coffee capital.
NEGATIVES Qantas Club Lounge Melbourne Airport
Catering
The biggest disappointment is the food. Avoid it, if at all possible. You probably don’t want to eat there unless you’re really hungry or like food you used to cook when you were a student living away from home! Take a look at the uninspiring food menu.
The evening menu isn’t exactly gourmet dining at the Qantas Club Melbourne lounge for domestic departures.
You can make your own toasted sandwich. There are various fillings on offer. In our opinion it wasn’t very different to the AMEX lounge at Melbourne International Airport. The taste of the one hot dish was very bland. A microwave meal for one is tastier than the pasta dish on offer.
The hot food selection is nothing to write home about. Sorry Qantas, we are not impressed.
Sorry Qantas catering, you need to lift your game. The food definitely doesn’t match the pictures on their website.
Poor taste and presentation of one of the hot meals. The pasta is soft and the sauce tastes like the chef just added ready made sauce over it.
The good news is that by July 2021, the food had improved!
Good news the food has improved!July 2021 you can eat the food now it has improved!
There was no more self service, as the Covid 19 pandemic meant social distancing, improved hygiene measures and maybe the chefs had more time to prepare better tasting food.
No more self service at the Qantas Club Melbourne!
The wine selection is also mediocre. Qantas has not pulled out the stops when it comes to the grog! Maybe they’re thinking, no one will notice.
The wine selection is mid range. The bottles here range from $15 to $20 AUD.
Busy busy busy.
The lounge is heaving at the end of a working week. Friday evening at the Qantas Club domestic lounge is like Friday evening in the city. There’s people everywhere, drinking and socialising. It’s noisy and you can hear everyone’s conversations.
Feels like Friday drinks in the city! Hustle and bustle your way through the Qantas Club Domestic Lounge before your flight.
Who can get into the Qantas Club?
A lot of people!
Business class ticket holders flying on a Qantas or Jetstar flight. But you wouldn’t come here, you would go next door.
Qantas Gold or Emirates Platinum Gold.
China Eastern Miles Gold.
Sapphire and Emerald business or first class travellers travelling on a Qantas flight. Again though, you won’t be happy here.
Buy Qantas Club Membership ($399 once off joining fee and $540 per annum). Not worth it in our
opinion.
Buy a day pass for $49 if you’re a Qantas Silver member. Must buy in advance. No at the door purchases.
Final Thoughts
The Qantas Club lounge is the poor cousin of the Qantas domestic business class lounge. There’s no Asian Spice Bar, it’s not peaceful and the food is a taste disaster! On the positive side it is much lighter and has a brighter feel than its predecessor. If you have the choice, head next door!
The above comments were made pre Covid 19 pandemic times! The food has now improved. With less travellers it felt more luxurious and less rushed.
When you leave this will be your seat on the plane if you’re flying business class domestically in Australia.
Leather seats await if you’re flying domestic business class on Qantas flights.
Need inspiration for a weekend getaway from Melbourne? The Victoria Silo Art Trail is packed with fantastic art work and history. Get up close and personal to these monumental silo paintings which are truly fascinating and also give an insight into rural life in Australia.
Think you can tell apart a Monet from a Manet, a Van Gogh from a Gaugain? Well, you won’t have to on the Victoria Silo Art Trail because the massive grain silos have been painted by local Australian artists! Go and visit the countryside towns and inject some cash into the rural communities this weekend.
Where are the Victoria Art silos located?
Situated about 2.5 hours drive from the city of Melbourne in the state of Victoria. The first town is called Goorambat. Even though it is called officially the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail, the first town with a silo is Goorambat.
How to get to the Victoria Art silos
You really need a car to get around the small rural towns to see all the artworks. They’re not as close together as they look on a map. They’re definitely not within walking distance of each other either.
Download this handy map of the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail to your phone.
Incidentally, before you embark on the Victoria Silo Art Trail, you should stop off in the town of Benalla. At the local Art Gallery, which is free, there is also an excellent coffee shop. An attached gift shop, is also a chance to buy a unique Australian souvenir.
Stop off at Benalla Art Gallery if you have time. It’s free and there’s a great coffee shop inside.
Outside the art gallery, along the river, there are also some interesting Gaudi-esque type installations which are worth a look. Plus, the town itself has lots of wall murals to discover.
Pick up your Silo Art Trail map in the town of Benalla, which has its own murals. The famous bandit Ned Kelly is depicted by artist Dvate. There is a Ned Kelly museum in Benalla where you can learn about Australia’s most notorious bandit.
What you’ll see on the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail
You’ve guessed it, tall silos with paintings on them!
Goorambat Silos
As the map suggests you start in Goorambat. This is where you’ll see the horses silo, the owl and the Church painting, (“the Sophia”) if it is open.
The Clydesdale horses, Clem, Sam and Banjo are now famous in Goorambat.The three horses were painted from an original photo. The Clydesdale breed of working horses were removed from the endangered list in 2017.You can get a sense of the immense work that went into the painting of the silos. These silos are in full working order.
When you turn to your left, you’ll see the endangered animal bird of prey silo.
The owl is called Millibar and is a Barking owl. An endangered resident of Healesville Sanctuary. The artist is Jimmy Dvate. Painted in 2018. On the left is the Barking Owl’s habitat.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish or thirsty, head over the road to the Railway hotel pub!
The Railway Hotel was established in 1884. It serves the usual pub fare and makes a great spot to admire the surrounding landscape.
Time to jump back in the car and find the next painting. Dubbed “Sophia”, she is the female representation of God. The artist is Matt Adnate. Originally the painting completed in 2017, was only meant to be open for the Easter weekend. It proved so popular that it is now open every day for visiting tourists.
Sophia can be found in the Uniting Church in Goorambat. It’s a tiny building you can easily miss. Look out for it on your left hand side as you leave for the next town. Unfortunately on the day of our visit, the church was closed. This photo is from neartrail.org.au.
Devenish Silos
After seeing the lady herself, it’s time to go to Devenish, which is 13kms away. It isn’t signed very well and Google maps isn’t great. Check your odometer and if you haven’t arrived in 10 minutes, you’re lost. Alternatively, you can follow other cars because there’s only one place they’re going, to the next silos on the trail, like you!
The Devenish silos pay homage to the military and in particular to ANZAC day. ANZAC day is an Australian holiday that commemorates soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Women played an important role in the 1st World War and still do in the military. The two medical staff also represent the way women’s role in general have changed. Artist Cam Scale.
The local town of Devenish saw fifty young men and women enlist for WWI. Seven never made it home and the artist, Cam Scale wanted to honour the memory of these fallen with the third silo painting of a young man and his horse. There are detailed information boards to read at every silo site, where you can get the full history of the paintings.
The third silo painting depicts the Australian Light Horse and was added in 2019 by Melbourne Street Artist, Cam Scale. Local ANZAC Day marches pass by this monument to the fallen.
If you’re feeling hungry again, or, you didn’t stop at the pub in Goorambat, you can have some scones at the Devenish pub, directly opposite the silos! Word has it that they’re very tasty!
The tiny town of Devenish. Don’t worry you can stand in the road and take pictures.
In Devenish in front of the silos are information boards which give you a deeper insight into the history of the silos. Right, onto the next town called St James.
St James Silos
The St James Silos tell a story about rural farming life and how one of Australia’s largest supermarkets started. You’ll see some familiar horses pulling bushels of wheat on a wagon, a truck, a portrait of George Coles and two men sewing up a wheat sack.
The horses might look familiar from the Goorambat silos, but they are not same same. They are different! St James silos are a rural community’s history in huge, glorious colour.
Tim Bowtell is the artist. You might recognise his work from other pieces in the town of Benalla, including work in the Makoan Rest Area.
The St James silos tell the story of a rural community and a famous resident.
Tungamah Silos
Stop 5 is the small town of Tungamah. There are two colourful silos to see here.
Just checking you’re still reading! These are the unpainted silos at Tungamah!
The Tungamah silos celebrate Australian birds. You will see dancing brolgas, a kookaburra, a pink and a grey galah, a Humming bird, an owl, a Sulphur-crested cockatoo, two small wrens and white Ibis. The tree is a native Australian gum tree. The silos still work and are privately owned. They have been fenced off.
How many types of birds can you name? The Tungamah silos were painted by a female artist called Sobrane Simcock.
The artist is Sibrane Simcock. She is the first female silo artist.
According to the map, you can now drive on to the Winton wetlands area. You may just spot some of the birds you’ve seen at the Tungamah silos! We didn’t get there, but if you do, we’d love to hear all about it. Please share your comments and thoughts below.
The Drawing Room Rocks walk just outside of Berry, offers some of the best views across the Shoalhaven area. Along the way on this moderately challenging 4.5 km walk, you will see some pretty rainforest areas and some stunning, you guessed it, rock formations.
Amazing views over Kangaroo Valley and beyond to the Ocean at the top of the Drawing Room Rocks.
A fun and rewarding walk which ends with magnificent views across verdant green hills and a golden beach crescent. The Drawing Room Rocks walk has the wow factor you’ve been looking for on the NSW coast.
What an epic view – Drawing Room Rocks NSW.
Located in the Broughton Vale, the Drawing Room Rocks is a must do hike when in the Kangaroo Valley region of New South Wales. Located near the town of Berry, the walk ends with unfenced cliff edges, which is becoming rare in national parks around Australia.
There is no fence to interrupt your view at the Drawing Room Rocks.
Pack your sandwiches and flask because the Drawing Room Rocks is a great place for a picnic with an awesome view. Bring a tablecloth too! Actually, we’re only joking about that part.
Why is it called the Drawing Room Rocks?
Can you see the tables and chairs in the Drawing Room?
For a while when you get to the top, it’s not obvious why they’re called the Drawing Room Rocks. Thousands of years of weathering and erosion have caused the rocks to have distinctive flat tops. Apparently they resemble tables and chairs of a drawing room. So there you go.
Take in the gorgeous vista at the top of the Drawing Room Rocks Walk. Take a seat on a “chair” and admire the view.
There are spectacular views of the surrounding valley and you’ll be able to see a beach when you get to the top.
Where is the Drawing Room Rocks walk?
The Drawing Room Rocks Walk is located 10 minutes from the town of Berry.
The Drawing Room Rocks is a 10 minute drive from the town of Berry, New South Wales in Australia. It’s about 2 hours from Sydney.
How long will the Drawing Room Rocks walk take?
This depends on your fitness levels and how much you like taking photographs. The sign at the beginning of the walk however, is totally inaccurate. So much so that someone has scribbled above it.
The official sign is not completely accurate for the Drawing Room Rocks Walk.
The Drawing Room Rocks walk will take you about 45 minutes on the way up and 30 minutes on the way down. It is a far cry from the 3 hours on the sign. It is quite steep at the beginning but you won’t need walking poles or hiking boots. Children can do the walk and we saw many (over the age of 5) happily scrambling up and down.
Top Tips for the Drawing Room Rocks walk
When to go: As long as it’s dry, any season is good to go. A rainy day will not only dampen your spirits but you’ll see nothing much at the top. The view across the valley is best enjoyed on a sunny day, when the colours of the landscape will be sharper.
Go on a bright day and your pictures will thank you!
Difficulty of hiking trail: Mostly moderate on the way up and easy on the way down. There are formed rock steps, a well trodden path and a bit of sand from the weathered sand stone.
Weathering in action! There’s sand from the sandstone rocks. You’re on ancient ground!The start of the Drawing Room Rocks Walks has steep but formed steps. Despite what the sign says, children can do it as you can see in the picture!
Despite what the sign says, children can do the Drawing Room Rocks Walk.
Car Parks: There isn’t a car park as such.
Can you see the letterbox? You go up this road to start the Drawing Room Rocks Walk. Don’t go down the road on the left.
When you get to the crossroads on the map you can choose to go up this very narrow road. You don’t want to see another car coming down as it is very narrow for the first 300 metres.
The very narrow road that really only fits one car. This leads to a very small area where you can park about 10 cars maximum.
We didn’t take the chance and left the car further down by the letterbox. All the better for a bit more exercise.
There isn’t a car park as such for the Drawing Room Rocks Walk. Don’t trust Google Maps, there’s about space for 10 cars when you go up the very narrow road.
Dog friendly: No dogs.
Provisions: We recommend that you take some food and water to enjoy at the top.
Tea on the table in your very own “Drawing Room”.
Sun protection: There’s shade on this walk. If you’re coming in Summer, you’ll probably be wearing sunscreen anyway.
Shoes: Hiking shoes are not necessary. You can get by with running shoes like we did. We don’t recommend flip flops or thongs.
Mobile phone reception is excellent all the way up and at the top of the Drawing Room Rocks walk.
Flooding: After heavy rain there might be muddy patches and slippery rocks, but nothing to write home about.
Blue Mountains a perfect weekend escape or day trip from Sydney!
A weekend in the Blue Mountains will leave you relaxed, refreshed and re-energised for the week ahead. It’s the perfect romantic weekend getaway. The Blue Mountains lookout points, stunning scenery, waterfalls and walks are not to be missed. You’ll want to return every weekend to the Blue Mountains to discover more. The Sydneysiders’ secret nature playground is out!
The Blue Mountains are so called because there is a blue haze over the mountains when seen from a distance. The blue haze is caused by evaporating eucalyptus oil droplets mixing with other particles and being refracted in the atmosphere. Now try re-explaining that!
The Blue Mountains is a national park with outstanding natural beauty and World Heritage status. For geology geeks, it’s good to know that the Blue Mountains is a mixture of all 3 rock types. Yes back to your school days to recall them. There are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and landforms to gaze upon. The forces or uplift, erosion, weathering and even fire have all contributed to the stunning landscape that is the Blue Mountains.
Step into nature in the Blue Mountains National Park. Wander the ancient fern forests for a weekend getaway.
Where are the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are an hour away from Sydney, along the M4, heading West. The Blue Mountains are located in New South Wales, Australia. It’s a vast area over 1000kms squared. You will pass Parramatta, the area where Sydney had the 2000 Olympic Games. The Blue Mountains is a national park and area of designated beauty. It is famous for The Three Sisters rock formation around the world. International and domestic tourists alike are drawn to the Blue Mountains for the stunning waterfalls, jaw dropping lookout points and hiking opportunities.
The Blue Mountains are nearest to the city of Sydney in New South Wales.
How to get to the Blue Mountains
The best way to explore independently is by car. Hire a car for the weekend directly from the airport. If you’re a Sydneysider, you’ll obviously be driving. The two main towns which everyone visits are Katoomba and Leura. If you have time, or on a return visit, you can’t miss out the walks from Springwood, Blackheath, Glenbrook and Lawson. These towns all have walks of their own.
You can join day, or 2 day tours too which will take you to the “Big Three” sights – The Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls and Leura Falls. You can also ride the scenic railway, valley cableway and the skyway (suspended cable car). Some tours stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park, where you can get your picture taken with a cute koala. Meet kangaroos, wombats and dingoes too! Tours are best if you can’t be bothered with the hassle of driving in a foreign country.
Best time to go to the Blue Mountains
If you’re a keen hiker, the best time to go to the Blue Mountains are Spring and Autumn. Winter and Summer are still good. However, optimum conditions to avoid sunstroke and hyperthermia (if you get lost, which has not been unheard of) are Spring and Summer, as a rough guide. Also, rain is a big dampener on mountain scenery, so sunny days are best for those blue sky shots!
Take plenty of water on your Blue Mountains walks. The national park is enormous. Any sunny day with blue skies is a good day to go to the Blue Mountains.
The seasons in this part of Australia are:
Spring – September, October, November
Summer – December, January, February
Autumn/ Fall – March, April, May
Winter – June July, August
Your Saturday Blue Mountains Walk Wentworth Falls
Where to start: At the Wentworth Falls Picninc area car park. Here is the Jamison Lookout platform where you can get a rough idea of the walk ahead. Wentworth Falls is after the town of Bullaburra.
Jamison Point Lookout is accessible form the car park. If this is all you can do, well it’s still a great shot!
The Wentworth Falls walk was named after a famous explorer who basically wanted to discover if you could get through the mountains. William Charles Wentworth with two others, did it in 1813. Wentworth Falls are 867 metres above sea level.
The spectacular Wentworth Falls view in the Blue Mountains, is just over 1 hour from Sydney, New South Wales.
The full circuit of going up and down the valley, in a loop, will take around 5 hours. This includes the Charles Darwin Walk, the Rocket Point lookout and Princes Point Lookout. This is quite hard work with lots of steep steps between lookout points. The rewards though are worth the sweat. The thing to note here is that there are loop walks within this walk. If, at anytime, you need to turn around you can.
You can get much closer to different parts of the falls on the loop trail.
Don’t go too close to the edge! This is the top of Wentworth Falls. Don’t fall!
So this walk can be as short as 1.5 hours if you wish. If you want more of a challenge or a workout in nature, we suggest the entire loop. This will take around 5 hours, depending on your fitness levels.
This spectacular cascade is near the bottom of Wentworth Falls, about 2 hours from the top.
Bring plenty of water as you cannot drink the crystal clear water. On our walk we saw lots of people without water or sun protection. There are no water fountains installed on the Wentworth Falls Walk.
Play spot the water dragon in the Blue Mountains. A water dragon is in fact a type of lizard. Intellagama lesueurii in Latin, because we know you want to know that!
The Gundungurra people occupied this area for over 40,000 years before European ‘discovery’. The Blue Mountains is home to indigenous species such as kangaroos and koalas. These iconic creatures are hard to spot however. You’re better off going to the Grampiansmountain range in Victoria, to see kangaroos and even emus. You will see the Australian water dragon, pictured above catching the sun’s rays on warmer days.
There are mini falls within falls at Wentworth Falls!
Your Sunday Blue Mountains Walk Leura Falls
The full circuit will take around 3 hours , if you don’t start at Leura Falls Picninc Area. We started at the Bridal Veil Lookout point, which incorporates the Fern Bower Track. If you search for “best hikes Blue Mountains”, this one will surely come up! It can be difficult or moderate. You can even incorporate it into another walk, like the Gordon Falls walk.
Where to start the Easy Leura Cascades walk:
Go through the stone arch at the Leura Cascades picnic area. There is plenty of car parking. You start a set of stairs descending towards Leura Falls. This is really short and will take you about 5 minutes.
The lookout point on the Fern Bower Track which will lead you to the Bridal Veil Falls and the Leura Cascades. Gaze across to the impressive views of Mount Solitary and Kings Tableland.
Gordon Falls lookout area is a popular spot with families. With its magnificent panoramic views, excellent birdwatching, space for the kids to play and bushwalks, who wouldn’t come here? This will explain why you might see more people when you get to this part of the walk.
Looking down over Gordon Falls. We think you’ll agree that this plunging waterfall is truly spectacular.
From Gordon Falls, it will take you about 75 minutes, depending on your fitness level, to reach Leura Cascades. But from the picnic area it’s only 3 minutes!
The beautiful Leura Cascades can be found in the town of Leura! The blue Mountains is waterfall chasing heaven!
Now if you’re super enthusiastic, on the drive back to Sydney, we really recommend the Clarinda Falls walk near Springwood. It will be absolutely deserted as most people do the Wentworth and Leura walks when they go to the Blue Mountains. Here you will definitely feel like you have stepped into the film set of Jurrassic Park. Massive ferns and boulders and dense foliage envelope you until you get to lovely clearings of refreshing mini falls. Don’t miss out!
Clarinda Falls near Springwood. A blissfully peaceful stroll.
The Clarinda Falls walk starts at Faulconbridge train station. It’s a bit confusing as you have to walk down a residential road called Sir Henrys Parade. Look for signs for Victory Track which will lead you down into bush land.
On the descent down to Clarinda Falls, Blue Mountains.
Once you have found the track, you can smell the earthy forest floor and ferns. Look down at your feet for the lovely green moss.
If you have time on the way back to Sydney, stop off at Springwood and do this amazing walk! This is Clarinda Falls.
The Clarinda Falls Loop Walk will leave you feeling energised or exhausted! Have you been to the Blue Mountains near Sydney? Share your comments below.
Recently we returned to the Grampians National Park for a week of hiking, fresh air and nature sight seeing. It’s always a beautiful experience with a mix of dry eucalyptus forests, scrubby bushes, waterfalls, lakes and rainforests set amongst sandstone and granite rocks. There is an abundance of native wildlife. You will see many kangaroos and may see koalas, emus and vast range of marsupial and native animals. Below we share some of our favourite walks and photos as well as essential tips and advice, enjoy!
The majestic Grampians area is a National Park just 3 hours drive from Melbourne. Smell the fresh air!
The Grampians national Park is a mountainous region in the state of Victoria. Fresh air, rivers, waterfalls, grey kangaroos at your door and stunning rock formations await.
The rock shapes and structures are what you make of them. J is talking to the man on the other side!
Not only for outdoor adventures, such as rock climbing, the Grampians offers gourmet food and wine with a genuine friendly welcome. Gariwerd is the traditional name used by the indigenous peoples of the area. Gariwerd can be divided into North, South, East and West for hiking and tourist purposes.
Mount Sturgeon in the South of the Grampians National Park.
Where are the Grampians?
The Grampians area is a national park area under 3 hours west from Melbourne. It is situated between Stawell and Horsham on the Western Highway and Dunkeld on the Glenelg Highway.
What’s there to see and do in the Grampians?
Hmmm…. What’s there to see in this national Park called Gariwerd by the original inhabitants of the area?
There are numerous peaks, hikes and waterfalls to conquer! It is the place to see kangaroos and wallabies and emus. We even saw some deer, which was a bit of a surprise. It has its own Grand Canyon! A growing foodie destination for wine. The Grampians region has the best indigenous rock art in Victoria.
Best Time to go to the Grampians
Winter is a great time to go to the Grampians. It may be cold, yes, it gets cold in Australia, but it’s way less crowded and accommodation much cheaper.
We went in Winter and we have to say, it was really good! Apart from the chilly starts, when the sun is shining and it’s not raining, Winter is a good time to go. Less tourists, often there were only about 5 other people on some of the more challenging hikes, such as Mount Rosea. Even the most popular Pinnacle walk wasn’t too bad in terms of foot traffic. You could even get a photo with no one else in the background along Silent Street. That won’t be happening in peak season! We don’t recommend going hiking in Summer, as there is no shelter as you clamber over ancient rocks. Plus you will have to carry a lot of water!
The popular Grand Canyon can be yours alone when you go out of season.
Here are the seasons in the Grampians area:
Spring – September, October, November
Summer – December, January, February
Autumn – March, April, May
Winter – June, July, August
Day 1 wonderful walks of the Grampians
We arrive on a Saturday afternoon at Halls Gap, after a fabulous lunch at a tiny town called Great Western, just 40 minutes from Halls Gap. The food was sensational and very much unexpected. Never judge a town by its cover!
Moroccan pulled lamb shoulder on a beetroot hummus with local goat’s cheese. Crispy fried chicken on soft shell tacos with crunchy slaw and sriracha mayo. Not what we were expecting from a small town called Great Western. Available at the Great Western General Store cafe.
We learn that the indigenous peoples of the area call it Budja Budja. There’s only time to do a quick walk after checking in at the Gariwerd Motel. This will be our base for the 7 days of great Grampians walks.
Venus Baths via Stony Creek Loop Walk
We choose the Halls Gap Botanical Gardens, the Venus Baths and the Clematis Falls Walk. It is Winter so we have to get back to paved road by 5.30pm.
At the entrance of the Botanic Gardens car park. There is parking for about 20 cars in unmarked spaces.
Every walk is very well marked. The first port of call is Venus Baths. An easy walk for all ages. This is a loop walk.
The easy walk to the Venus Baths is via Stony Creek. A flat, easy walk for all ages.
You can get the 2.3kms done easily in half an hour each way, at the most leisurely of paces.
The amazing Venus Baths. In Spring and Summer it’s a great place to break for a rock picnic, while dipping those tired feet in the clear water pools.
You can also come back via a different track on the opposite side of Stony Creek.
The loop track towards Venus Baths takes you along Stony Creek. You’ve guessed it, it is a creek full of stones!
On the way back from Venus Baths, we stop to wander around the Botanic Gardens.
Explore the Botanic Gardens in Halls Gap. It will give you great information on the plants you will see on your hikes.
Day 2 of our Grampians walks adventures
Our first full day of walks of the day of walks for those National Geographic moments, starts with the Bullaces Glen and Chatauqua Peak walk. Don’t forget to cross the road carefully to get to Bullaces Glen. A medium grade walk with some rock scrambling. Hiking shoes recommended for grip. You can do it in running shoes/sneakers, but we find the ankle support of hiking boots much more comfortable.
After a lunch break we take on Splitters Falls. This walk involves a bit of rock scrambling. You can do it the easy way or the hard way.
Bullaces Glen – official time and distance depends on where you start – medium grade 1 hourish return
How to get there – Start at Halls Gap Road and follow the now familiar green signs. This is a pretty circular walk through a green fern covered glade that also has a small waterfall.
Bullaces Glen, probably named because it is reminiscent of Scotland? If you have watched Highlander, what do you think?Reminiscent of Scottish countryside? Bullaces Glen.
Clematis Falls – Official distance and time – 2.4 kms- 40 minutes to1 Hour easy grade walk
An easy walk from Halls Gap, that you can access from the recreation reserve. You may see emus or kangaroos along the way. The waterfall is best after a rainfall and a good place for a refreshing shower in the hotter months.
Clematis Falls is the easiest walk to see a waterfall you’re going to get!
Various ways to get to Clematis Falls. This sign was taken at the bottom of the Oval car park.
Chatauqua Peak – 5.6kms circuit medium grade Official time 2.5 hours.
This is one of the lesser known and less popular walks in the Grampians. Make the effort to go though as you get sweeping valley views near the peak. Don’t be fooled by Google Maps. If you put in Halls Gap to Chatauqua Peak, it says 29 minutes on foot! If it was flat, that is achievable but it is a steep climb up.
Sweeping valley views on the way up to Chatauqua Peak. One of the less popular walks, don’t know why, it’s beautiful!
Where to start: This peak walk can be accessed after the Venus Baths or the Oval Car Park in Halls Gap. You can also take in Clematis Falls on the way up or on the way down.
There are some very difficult parts right near the peak, but, we agree with the official listing as medium.
It’s get very difficult near the top of Chatauqua Peak. Look out for these yellow markers to guide you. Almost there…We make it, well J does anyway! Chatauqua Peak conquered! What are you looking at? Let us see the view too!Chatauqua Peak views are not the best from the actual peak, in our humble opinion.
Splitters Falls medium grade 2.7kms one way 1.5 hours each way
You guessed it named because the falls split! Getting there is quite the adventure, scrambling over rocks and walking through damp forest. At some points it looks as if you’re going to drop off the mountain, but don’t worry, you won’t.
Official grading – easy if you start from the Wonderland Car Park. It’s only 700 metres.
2.7kms one way – moderate grade which means medium.
Splitters Falls so called because they er….. split! That’s just a guess mind you. These dividing falls can be reached in two ways. The easy way, via the car park; or the hard way via Venus Baths.
Where to start: At the bottom of the Venus Baths there are some steps. Take these. If you want to cheat you can drive to the Wonderland car park, where it is then only a 700 metre stroll. Nah, we don’t do that, we have legs, they’re not painted on. Besides we have calories to burn.
Start the walk at the bottom of Venus Baths. Take these steps. Venus Baths is reached from the centre of Halls Gap.
It’s not as easy as the official website makes out. It isn’t difficult, but it isn’t a flat stroll through a, park! So take the steps up and you will arrive here (picture of J below).
After the sign at Venus Baths you will be here. On the way to Splitters Falls. It looks like a dead end but it isn’t.You see it’s not that flat when you take the rocks to Splitters Falls.
At times you can’t really see if the rocks will take you to Splitters Falls. There wasn’t anyone else coming back either to ask. We just keep going!
This trickle of water is a sign, you’re on the right path to Splitters Falls.
Surely this trickle of water means we are not lost? Splitters Falls here we come!
In wetter times there will be water here! The river bed before Splitters Falls. This is a good sign, we’re almost there!
It takes us about an hour and a half one way. We’re finally here, yay! Time for some photographs.
Our triumphant arrival at Splitters Falls from Halls Gap. 1.5 hours one way.
Day 3 exploring the Grampians on foot
Boronia Peak – officially graded medium – 2.5hrs return
A fabulous walk with magnificent views at the very top. A bit of vertigo for us! Very windy and suddenly cold at the top. Requires rock scrambling to the last part of the jagged peak. Breathtaking! (2.5 hours 6.6kms return official time) This was a medium grade track with some very steep parts. It took us about 3 hours, including time for photographs.
Where to start: You start the Boronia Peak Walk at Tandara Road. Just park on the street.
The start of the Boronia Peak Walk is off the street. The road is called Tandara Road. It’s a suburban road.
All the signs are one way. Make sure you factor this into your day. When going up to a peak, also remember that the change of terrain and altitude will increase your average walking speed, that you can do on a pavement/ sidewalk. We average 4-5 kms an hour in cities but on this walk there were parts where we averaged only 1km per hour, due to rock scrambling.
The path starts out as an easy pleasant stroll…. Don’t let that fool you for the hard work ahead!
Start the trek to Boronia Peak on a leisurely flat stroll. If you’re lucky you might spot some interested deer, sharing the path with you.After the flat footpath, the topography starts to change. (Path up to Boronia Peak ).
The path gets increasingly more difficult as you ascend.
Yep, you’re going higher and higher to get to that Boronia Peak! Time to take a rest!
It’s onwards and upwards from this point. By now, you should be a bit sweaty!
Right it’s getting tough and tight! Scrambling time! This is where the fun starts! The only way is up!
We have walked about an hour and a half, scrambled over rocks and squeezed ourselves through ‘rock stairs’ walls. At times it might not look obvious where to go, but, as long as you’re still heading up hill, you know you’re on the right path!
When you see this view you’ve almost reached the peak! Boronia Peak, that is!Victory is ours on top of Boronia Peak after 1hr 45 mins. It gets suddenly cold at the top and the wind picks up. Well you are over 1800 feet up (about 570 metres).
Time for the panoramic view that everyone says is well worth the trek up.
Boronia Peak panoramic view. Now that is worth the climb! That’s what 570 metres above sea level looks like in the Grampains ranges.
Needless to say the way down, was much easier, with gravity helping us out. We complete the walk in about 3 hours. The official time is 2 hours 30 mins.
So much beauty at the top of Boronia Peak.
After a break for lunch, it was time for an easier afternoon drive and stroll to Mackenzie Falls.
Mackenzie Falls Walk 2kms return medium grade due to steep steps – 1.5 hours return
The must visit waterfall in the Grampians is Mackenzie Falls. It never dries up and cascades over cliffs into a deep pool.
One of the most popular and accessible walks in the Grampians. Well developed with wheelchair access to 2 viewing points.
If taking steep steps is a problem, don’t worry you can still see the stunning Mackenzie Falls. Go along the wheelchair accessible path from the car park and look down from the viewing platform.
How to get there – By car from Halls Gap Road you drive up the winding roads to the Mackenzie Falls Car park. From there it’s an easy stroll to the viewing point which is wheelchair accessible. To get to the actual waterfall, you descend steep steps. This will take you about half an hour.
Day 4 of hiking the Grampians
The Pinnacle Lookout Walk – From the Wonderland Car Park – 2.1 kms official time 1.5 hrs one way
This walk is a steep medium to hard grade walk but with so much varied terrain. Possibly the most famous walk of all. Taking in 4 other Google maps sights, this has to be the walk to do, if you can only do one. On our walk we saw plenty of children, so it’s a good family hike. There are plenty of opportunities to take rests and the most popular parts have had stairs built into the rocks. This walk takes in 4 popular sites and if you can only do one walk, we recommend you do this one.
Australia’s answer to the north American Grand Canyon….yee hah!
Grand Canyon
When you start this walk from the Wonderland Car Park, you immediately get the impressive Grand Canyon. This is Australia’s answer to the famous North American Grand Canyon. Since we haven’t been to the American Grand Canyon, this will do for now. It’s pretty cool, we think you’ll agree, for a smaller scale offering. Obviously, if you’ve been to the American Grand Canyon, you’re going to be a bit underwhelmed. But, for us, we think it’s fantastic.
You’re going to love the Grand Canyon, Australian style of course!
Cool Chamber
This is a rock overhang that is easy to miss. About 30 minutes into the walk. It makes really good echoes. Watch your head if you’re tall. That ancient rock is hard!
The Cool Chamber is on the way to the Pinnacles lookout point. A good place to take shelter if it starts to rain. In Summer, a great place to cool down from the relentless sun.
Bridal Veil Falls
Best viewed after rain, to get the best effect. Just after the Cool Chamber, Bridal Veil Falls is refreshing on a hot day! You can stand under it to wash off the sweat in Summer. If you go in Summer to the Grampians, you can stand at the back, to get some much needed shade from the relentless Australian sun.
Bridal Veils Falls was running a bit dry, so J is trying to summon some rain!
Silent Street
Heading down into Silent Street. Let’s see how quiet it is!Silent Street is pretty silent! There’s only us in the street probably because it’s early and off peak season. Yes!As you go through Silent Street, look through the rock gaps and see this awesome scenery.Silent Street is also steep with some stairs. We still have it all to ourselves!
After Silent Street you’re almost at the peak. This is where you start to hear voices of other hikers coming down. It is still up hill, but the promise of a great view keeps you going.
Time for a quick pose after Silent Street. The Pinnacles is almost within reach. You can see it’s at sky level.
Then you see it and hear it, the Pinnacles!!!
The Pinnacles view at the top. It is magnificent. Well worth the 1 hours 45 minutes each from the Wonderland Car Park.
Before you leave there is a huge area to explore at the top of the Pinnacles Lookout. Grab a flat rock and have some lunch or do a balance walk that has now been discouraged for safety reasons.
The thin ledge you see is called The Needle. You won’t see any signs for it though. Long ago there was a green sign. But, after a few accidents, the area was closed off. Now it is open again but it is not encouraged to walk along it.
Here is a closer look at The Needle nerves test. You don’t want to do this if it’s wet!
Do The Needle test of nerves at your own peril. It’s a balancing act and a test of nerves. For safety reasons it is not recommended and not promoted, but, you can make up your own mind!
Before you leave for the trek back down, grab a bite to eat or get eaten by a rock!
Grab a bite to eat or get eaten by a rock at the top of The Pinnacles. Explore the relatively flat top, before you head back down to the Wonderland car park.
Boroka Lookout 6kms one way on foot hard grade about 2 hours each way or 90metres from the car park
This picture of what you should see is from Quincy Lee (Qlee679) we contacted him for his permission from Flickr. It has been taken from the viewing platform. We think you’ll agree it is awesome!
Boroka Lookout. Photo courtesy of Quincy Lee via Flickr.The Boroka Lookout is a difficult 6kms one way if you do it on foot. This will lead you down to the botanical gardens in Halls Gap.
You will definitely need your goat trekking legs for this walk. From the Venus Baths area it’s 6kms of tough going. The first 3kms seem “easy” but, don’t be fooled. As you climb, the terrain gets more and more difficult. On our walk it was misty and foggy the whole way, hence the lack of pictures. We could barely see our own hands at some points of the scramble.
Luckily this walk can be approached the easy way too. Drive to a car park and walk 90 metres.
The Boroka Lookout can be accessed from the Venus Baths. It’s an arduous uphill trek- be warned!
The lookout area is fenced off, but it hasn’t deterred those Instagram people from taking selfies and getting others to take pictures of them on the dangerous ledge. The day we went was misty and foggy and we couldn’t see a thing!
Boroka Lookout in the fog. Not what you see on Instagram!
If you look carefully at our Chataqua Peak walk pictures, you will see a very similar view. Bellfield Lake and the valley below.
The Balconies 2kms one way from A car park easy walk
Easy half hour walk (2kms one way) through flat forest and gigantic rocks from the Reed Lookout car park.
The Balconies also known as the Jaws of Death. Now closed off due to several fatal falls. Those Instagram shots you see are either very old or illegal.
The Balconies used to be called the Jaws of Death. Either because they look like the jaws of a giant dinosaur, or, because people have actually died here. Whichever story you want to believe, it is a dramatic rock formation, which can be viewed safely from a viewing platform.
The spectacular rock formation of the Jaws of Death. Also known as the Balconies. Catch this breathtaking view safely from the viewing platform. You can also see down into the valley of lush forest, from this bird’s eye viewpoint.
You can drive up Mount WIlliam Road and see the Jaws of Death from a viewing platform. You used to be able to go on there and take pictures, but, not anymore. If you see shots of this on Instagram, it’s because of illegal activity, old pictures or clever photography.
Looking down onto the lush green valley of forest from Reeds Lookout.
Before you get to the Balconies, there is a lovely flat walk across some very interesting terrain and really good views towards Lake Wartook. Park your car at the Reed Lookout car park and look for the signs. to The Balconies.
Magnificent vistas towards Lake Wartook in the distance. As you head towards The Balconies, these round, flat rocks are unmissable.
Silverband Falls 0.8km one way flat gravel path
This is an easy walk from the car park. In fact, this is the easiest walk we did. It was completely flat! Sing hallelujah!
A quick walk will lead you to Silverband Falls.The Silverband Falls. This is the easiest walk we ever did! A flat gravel path from the car park. A quickie, but, a goodie!
Day 5 of our wonderful walks of the Grampians
Lake Bellfield Tunnel Walk – medium grade
A surprisingly beautiful walk with water views. From the name we thought you could go through some tunnels for the walk, but, no. You can see and hear a tunnel for water, but, you won’t be walking through it.
The walk starts near Pomonal, from the imaginatively named Tunnel Walk car park.
The beauty of Bellfield Lake awaits. Seen from the ridge above on the Tunnel Walk.
This is where you can start the walk. There are other alternatives if you want to go on further.
Bellfield Lake can be reached in a mere 1.5 hours one way, from the car park at Pomonal.Yup, that’s where you’re leaving your car to start the Bellfield Lake walk.
OK, head on up the steps and it is a gentle uphill walk for about 20 minutes.
From the car park it is a gentle upward slope to start the Bellfield Lake walk.
As this walk is not very popular and we are out of season, we only see 5 other people. For most of the walk, we are on our own and free to imitate the bird noises and make silly echo sounds. We don’t expect this walk to be as beautiful as it is. The lake itself is on par with some of the best New Zealand lakes in terms of beauty. At this point the scenery looks very much like Magnetic Island, in the far north of Queensland. This is an island where we have also covered every major walk.
This is pretty much your view for 45 minutes of the Bellfield Lake walk. Don’t turn around, the view will be amazing very soon!45 minutes later you’ll get your first glimpse of beautiful Bellfield Lake.By the time you see this 4 x 4 track you’re about to see the beautiful Lake Bellfield up close and personal.Hello Bellfield Lake, Only1invillage has arrived……Praise be!Beautiful Bellfield Lake. It’s got a beach!The beautiful reflection of Bellfield Lake captured by us the only ones here!Looks like a good log to sit on for lunch, at Bellfield Lake.We are fascinated by the scenery at Bellfield Lake, particularly these trees.
Heatherlie Quarry
Heatherlie Quarry is a nice easy flat short walk into history.
A fascinating glimpse into quarry life with rusting machinery and some original sandstone houses for the workers. We learn a lot about stone splitting and marvel how anyone could have lived out here in the wilderness. Ah, the good old days.
This is where your granite comes from! A quarry landscape in the Grampians.
As you walk around the area you start to appreciate the hard work that goes into making your kitchen bench top!
Rusting machinery of an bygone era. Heatherlie Quarry is an informative trip down memory lane.
There is even a little village, where the workers used to stay in “the bush”.
The workers’ cottages at Heatherlie Quarry. Located right next to the granite boulders that have been used in some of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings, such as Parliament House, The State Library and Melbourne Town Hall. We are proud to say that in this village we are the only ones in the village!
The walls are very thick sandstone. Wonder why they weren’t made of granite? Many of Melbourne City’s greatest buildings we discover have been made from granite from this quarry. Well fancy that, you live and learn!
J is forever trying to tell me it’s prime real estate. You can have granite floors AND granite walls when we renovate, he says!Well the interior needs a bit of a refurbishment! Heatherlie Quarry offers a fascinating glimpse into history.
There are information boards everywhere, painting a detailed picture of the working quarry.
Well now we know how to cut a stone properly! The information boards are dotted around Heatherlie Quarry and provide fascinating facts and information about the past. We learned a lot here!
Day 6 sore but soldiering on for our Grampians guide
Mount Rosea Official time 2 hours each way
Mount Rosea is 4.6 kms one way. It is medium to hard grade with a lot of rock scrambling and hard to see markers in places. The cardio workout of our dreams and totally worth it!
Mount Rosea Peak viewing platform. Take in the 360 degree views of the Mount William and Serra ranges. This hike is hard!
This walk is challengingly beautiful. Make sure you tell your accommodation or someone you’re doing this. People have had to be rescued on this walk.
The Mount Rosea walk starts at the Mount Rosea car park. This is the most challenging walk you’ll do in the northern Grampians region. Are you ready for it?
Don’t be fooled by the gently sloping first 1.6kms through lush forest and ferns.
The Mount Rosea walks starts through lush fern and forest on flat ground. Don’t be fooled. It’s going to get a hell of a lot harder!Needle grass is a pain in the arse! The greenery at the start of the Mount Rosea walk in the beautiful forest.
This took us 5 hours return and there is plenty of rock scrambling. It was by far the most challenging walk. We wish we had done this walk first, so all the other walks, would have seemed much easier.
After the beautiful messmate forest, you’re on a gradual ascent. 40 minutes later the terrain changes to sand! By now you have covered 1.3kms.
40 minutes after leaving the car park you will be here. Look down at your feet!At the 1.3kms section the terrain changes to sand for a bit! We’re heading to a beach?!!
Well that doesn’t seem so bad. A good start. and the sun is shining. We still haven’t seen anyone else. There’s about 20 minutes of this type of terrain (see below) and then things start to change. Even though it’s fairly flat you still have to look out for these yellow markers. They will be invaluable as all rocks start to look the same!
The terrain now has lots of big flat rocks and tree roots to trip you up. Keep an eye out for the yellow triangles, because pretty soon, things are going to get tough!
20 minutes later the going gets tough, but still smiling.
You’re starting to get a sense of how high you’re going when you get to this point. Mount Rosea walk. The familiar Serra and Mount William ranges are in the background.The stunning natural beauty of walking in the clouds. Mount Rosea walk about an hour in.
Now the real rock scrambling begins and some of the rocks are like climbing apparatus in the gym! If ever you think hiking isn’t a good workout, come and do this walk. Our hearts are racing, our legs are aching and now we have to use our hands too!
Now the fun begins! Rock scrambling at its best! This is a serious cardio workout the Mount Rosea walk.Time for some horse riding! You know when you start to feel giddy and things look strange. C thinks she has found a horse to get to the peak! Yee hah! Mount Rosea walk, the Grampians.
At the 1 hour and 40 minutes minute mark we decide to stop for lunch. The lunch stop is a great time to marvel at the absolutely jaw dropping scenery enveloping us.
Time to sit and stop the trembling legs! The majestic mountain scenery 1 hour and 50 minutes into the Mount Rosea walk.Lunch view on the way to Mount Rosea peak. Could the view get any better?
As you rest, it’s good to look out for natural markers. As you’re ascending it’s easy to think you’ll remember your route on the way down, but, those rocks, will all start blending in to each other! Take the time to photograph some natural markers and look at the time stamp.
It’s a good idea to look for natural markers on the way up and down from Mount Rosea. It easily all starts looking the same, so, a burst of colour is a welcome sight. Take a photo and make a note of the time.It’s not all granite in the Grampians. You’ll be clambering over amazing sandstone boulders (not rocks) on the Mount Rosea walk.
Rested and rejuvenated, we hear some people coming up behind us! Hurrah, we are not alone! We like to look at their faces and see if they are panting and sweating too. Come on, you know you do that too, when you pass fellow hikers!
You’re kidding! You have to squeeze through that small hole? Yep! Mind your head.
At the 2 hour point we almost give up. It’s been really hard and the rock scrambling is some of the toughest for a continuous 45 minute period.
The size of the boulders you have to get over on the Mount Rosea walk. It’s going to be worth the sweeping views at the top.This looks like a peak! Mount Rosea walk a lakeview (Bellfield) from high up. You’re not there yet, still another half hour to go!
We feel the oxygen deprivation and not seeing many people come down is not very uplifting. Finally we see 2 other hikers who tell us we’re nearly there about half an hour and the view is worth it. It had better be!
J surveys the landscape after being told we’re half an hour away. By this point we have been walking 2 hours and the weather is getting colder and windier. That’s Mount Rosea in the distance to the right. Ok, so down we go!We see two other hikers returning from the peak. They tell us it is only another half hour from here. The path isn’t obvious. Keep looking out for the yellow triangular markers.This part looks like a dead end. You go through the “chimney” rocks as we name them.There’s a handy rock shelter with a beautiful window view, if it starts to rain!
We remember our accommodation manager telling us to look out for the bridge and don’t look down, if you’re scared of heights. Well it’s a bit late now! We are glad to see the bridge because it means we’re on the right path.
The valley bridge means you’re 20 minutes away from the Mount Rosea peak. If you don’t like heights, don’t look down, just run across. At least it isn’t a suspension bridge!
J is brave and stops to take some scenery shots on the bridge.
The view form the bridge, which plunges over 900 metres below you. Around 20 minutes to destination Mount Rosea peak!Seriously we have to squeeze through here? This is a good physical marker to remember.Well if the trees can survive up here, so can we!
Apparently we’re so close……
This is the 2 hour 20 minutes point. The rocks look like an elephant’s skin. We saw 2 more people coming down! We’re close to the Mount Rosea peak!
Apparently we’re really close!
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Is there a sign? Please tell us we’re close to the Mount Rosea peak!
It’s been an epic 2 and a half hours but we make it! We’re 1009 metres up and above the cloud line!
Like we said earlier, we wish we had done this walk first because it’s hard and it is the 6th day of non- stop hiking for us. It’s really windy at the top. For video footage of the views at the summit, go to our Instagram page.
On the Mount Rosea viewing platform. This is the amazing view 1009 metres high from the bottom.
Is it worth it? Hell yeah! Are we tired? Hell yeah! Doing another hike tomorrow? Hell yeah! All we have to do now is find our way back down before it gets dark! See you at the bottom.
Day 7 We are victorious in Gariwerd- Grampians National Park
Mount William
1.8kms one way uphill, quite steep. It should take 45 minutes to one hour each way.
Catch a breathtaking sun rise at Mount William in the Grampians national Park. 1167 metres above sea level. The highest point in the Grampians. The best place to get 360 degree panoramas of the entire Grampians peaks, lowlands and highlands.
To get to Mount William you need to drive to a car park called…..OK you got it, Mount WIlliam Car Park.
Park in the Mount William car park for the walk to er… Mount William.What there’s strenuous walking involved! Thanks for the warning. At least there’s no rock scrambling, we’re a little sick of that after yesterday’s Mount Rosea trek.
From here the road is fully paved but you cannot drive to the summit. It is quite a steep ascent and you should be at the top in 45 minutes. This walk offers splendid views of the mountain ranges from various angles.
The Mount William walk is a chance to see the other ranges you have conquered in the distance.J counts off the peaks we have climbed over the last 7 days on the way up to Mount William, where you will see them all!As you walk up towards Mount William you can tick off the other peaks you have climbed! Yep, did that one, been there, saw that one……..Now you know why it’s called Mount William!
Right where to next? We decide to drive one hour south and head to a famous bakery that apparently has the best sourdough bread. Well let’s see shall we?
After a very pleasant lunch with very good sourdough, a pie, some salad and some good coffee it’s time for another walk! We decide on a short one called un-politically correctly, The Picaninny. We’re not here to judge the names of the walks, we’re just there to walk them.
The Picaninny 2.4kms return 1 to 1.5 hours easy to medium grade
When you see the brown sign for the picaninny walk do a sudden turn!
There’s no car park for this walk, you have to look out for the sign. Actually, later we discover there is a car park, but it is up a very steep hill and we don’t have an all terrain vehicle. We park at the bottom.
The green sign for the easy to medium shortish walk to the Picaninny. This is a 45 minutes drive from Halls Gap. It is classed as the southern Grampians.The start of the Picaninny walk is nice and flat. You go through some nice bushland. Watch out for the wallabies. We got our best joey shot from this walk.
As you walk in the southern Grampians, you will see Mount Sturgeon towering above you, to your right. We’ll have to save that walk for a return visit. It looks pretty high up!
Walking up to the Picninny you see Mount Sturgeon towering over the southern Grampians. That mountain is for a return visit!Wallaby spotting on the way to the picaninny.Another peak conquered! Well actually, Mount Sturgeon is the one in the distance. This is it the top of the Picaninny.Lord J surveys his kingdom high up on the Picaninny. Looking down onto the farmland below. Southern Grampians near Dunkeld.
Fyans Creek Loop Walk 2.5kms easy grade
This walk starts where the Boronia Peak Walk starts as is effortlessly flat! This is the best place to see emu, wallabies and kangaroos. Not same same. Wallabies are like smaller kangaroos, so, OK, kind of similar!
Emus hanging around on the Fyans Creek Loop Walk northern Grampians near Halls Gap. They’re quite timid birds. They keep running away as we approach.The Fyans Creek Loop Walk is easy and flat. A perfect end to a week of strenuous hiking in the Grampians.The familiar ranges seen in the distance on the Fyans Creek Loop walk. We look up and say to ourselves, “we climbed that!”
That’s the end of our guide to some of the fantastic walks the northern Grampians has to offer. Time to go back to the big smog, but first, food!
Pomonal Estate Winery (see further below for pictures)- Well after a fabulous week of walking the Grampians, we need a good winery estate lunch, before heading back to the big smog. This place did not disappoint. Cosy, cute, good food and beer paddle tasting, what else can J want?
Grampians Estate winery – The Grampians area is fast becoming a destination for great wine. So when we see the sign for the not so imaginatively named Grampians Estate Winery, we have to stop for a sample or two. A lovely modern tasting room where you can also get lunch or light snacks.
Back to Melbourne we go!
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Our Top Tips for walking in the Grampians
Do the hardest hike first, then everything else will seem easier. Looking back we wish we had done Mount Rosea first, because compared to that, Boronia Peak was easy! However having said that, you might get muscle soreness if you do the most difficult walk first.
If you do the hardest walk first, the others might seem easier. This is 2 hours into the Mount Rosea walk, another half hour to go. This is a difficult hike in terms of terrain and not getting lost.
Wear good shoes or boots if you’re serious about conquering peaks. The terrain is rough with small and large stones, sticking out everywhere to stub those toes and trip you up. Oh and don’t forget about those tree roots, that like to make their presence known too!
It’s four seasons in one day when you go hiking. Layer up, there’s nothing worse than being too cold or too hot.
Layer up for the walks. On the same walk you can wear one layer at the start and pretend you’re sunbathing on a beach, 15 minutes later you need a hat, gloves and that insulated jacket (Winter hiking like we did).
Layer up and wear sunglasses for the Grampians. One minute it’s like beach weather and the next…….
Take snacks and lots of water. Take your rubbish with you. Wear a back pack/ rucksack for the rock scrambling, you’ll want to keep your hands free.
For Mount Rosea, tell someone. We met a couple who got lost and they told us it took them 7 hours to get back down instead of the 4 to 5 hours, it should take.
Get really good at spotting yellow triangles. You know that saying that “all rocks look the same”? Ok, there isn’t one, but, on some of the less travelled walks it is really confusing and there is no clearly marked trail of footprints to guide you. Keep your eyes peeled for the yellow triangles to guide you. Sometimes it is better to go higher and look back to see where they are.
Get good at spotting the yellow markers in the Grampians. Sometimes you have to step back a bit to see them.
Indigenous rock art in the Grampians
Indigenous rock art in the Gariwerd (the indigineous people’s name for the Grampians is plentiful and well preserved. The Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people have looked after their land for over 20,000 years.
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. There are over 200 sites but only 5 are “open” to the public. Each site has been fenced off to protect them from vandalism, so, you can’t get too close and touch them, which is a good thing.
We followed this guide to see all the amazing ancient indigenous rock art.
The Billimina and Majna rock art sites
Billimina Shelter is quite difficult to get to. Located in the heart of the Grampians national park.
Inside the Wartook valley the Billimina Shelter can be found along The Goat walk. It’s quite difficult to get to due to the narrow and twisting roads. From the Buandik picnic and camping area, it should take about 15 minutes. It is a steady uphill walk. Drive on 10 mins from the Buandik picninc site and you can see the famous “hands” (manja – pronunced man-yar) rock art.
Bunjil Shelter – Stawell
Bunjil’s Shelter is closest to the large town of Stawell. Inside the Black Range Scenic Reserve.
Located in the Black Range scenic reserve the Bunjil Shelter is amazingly well preserved. This site is an easy walk from the car park.
The amazing Bunjil shelter near Stawell in the Grampians. Bunjil is the creator of the world, people, plants and animals.
Grampians wildlife
The Eastern Grey kangaroos are very docile. They are used to having their photograph taken. Humans, hey, have they never seen a group of kangaroos relaxing before?
The eastern grey kangaroos are everywhere. They come up to you in car parks, they wait patiently on the lawn and they hop around the grass lands, sometimes waiting to cross the road. These iconic Australian animals will be the most common sighting along with wallabies, their marsupial cousins.
Wallabies, the kangaroos’ smaller cousins are a common sighting. Not so common is to see a joey peeking out of a pouch! Awwww!
Possums will make their presence known in the trees above you. A rarer sighting will be squirrel and feather tailed gliders. But, good news sugar gliders often jump between trees when dark.
Beware of the snakes!!!! Eeek – poisonous types are known to be in the Grampians – the red bellied black, brown, tiger and copperheads. These short fanged reptiles are not ones you want to boast on your Instagram profile! Luckily we didn’t see any.
A wild mountain goat seen trekking near the Elephant’s Hide, Venus Baths, Halls Gap.
We were surprised to see some deer in the forest foothills.
Wild deer seen near Fyans Creek, Grampians.
Unfortunately Australia’s most unique monotreme, the duck billed platypus will be a rare sighting near the rivers in the Grampians. You’re more likely to hear Pobblebonk frogs, especially after fresh rainfall.
Food and produce
The food and produce of the Grampians is always locally sourced and produced.
There are plenty of wineries and some fantastic produce that only the clean air of the Grampians can produce. Before lunch we had to do a quick stop at the famous Seppelt winery. There’s no lunch here but a small cafe and a cheese platter option. They also do guided tours of their underground cellars. Book in advance.
Wine tasting at Seppelt winery is complimentary. Usually wineries charge $5 for tastings redeemable if you buy a bottle.
The Toscana (not in Italy as the name may suggest!) olive plantation produces fantastic olives and award winning olive oils including extra virgin.
Red Rock Olives A family owned estate specialising in , yep, you got it, olives!
Red Rock Olives, Pomonal. A gorgeous platter made from local produce. Of course you can also buy olives, olive oil and olive flavoured salt.
The Pomonal Estate is worth a visit. Offering beer and cider tastings in addition to home made cakes and cheese platters. How can you say no? Only open until 5pm, except on Fridays, the only dinner day. so make sure you book in for a lunch time slot.
The cosy interior of the Pomonal Wine Estate. Bookings essential. Ring in advance to double check your booking.Pomonal Estate winery serves great food in a cosy atmosphere. They also have beer paddle tasting.Beer tasting. Why have one when you can have 10? Pomonal Wine Estate Grampians.Desserts use local produce at the Pomonal Wine Estate, Grampians, Victoria.
Grampians Estate Winery – offers big and little snacks. Wine has been produced in the Grampians for over 150 years. Sweets and coffee in a very modern setting. Wine tastings are self guided. This winery is known for its Shiraz and sparkling wines.
The Grampians Estate Winery is just off the main road back to Melbourne. One for the road?Award winning Grampians Estate winery. The cellar door offers self guided wine tastings. Also local produce and cheese platters for a bite to eat.
Places to Eat in the Grampians
We tried a lot of eating places!
The Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld. A 2 hat restaurant with 3 digit figure prices. A kitchen garden and farm produce with an award winning chef. Degustation menu 190 with matching wines an additional 130. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 they were closed when we visited. There’s a cheaper version to the fine dining option. The Parker Street Project offers 3 course meals for a more reasonable price. It is now open though!
The Spirit of Punjab Indian restaurant – good Indian food, comfortable chairs. No pictures sorry. Very good value and nice and spicy!
The Views restaurant – rubbish – don’t bother- overly confident reviews on Google. NO atmosphere. Despite the food looking good here, the taste – meh! Overpriced too.
The Views restaurant Halls Gap. While it looked good, it was yuk. It also cost over $100. Avoid in our opinion. As it was dinner time, there was no view.
Rock, Paper Scissors brewery – Good cafe bistro meals.
Paper Rock Scissors Brewery in Halls Gap. Serves up tasty bistro style dishes like lamb backstrap for a good price.
Sen Vietnamese restaurant connected to Darcy’s restaurant and accommodation. Nothing to write home about. Not great, not awful. Good service and generous portions. Well priced food and alcohol. Not photo worthy we’re afraid.
Halls Gap Hotel Bistro – Good pub grub and good prices to match. Lovely roaring real log fires.
Good old fashioned pub grub at the Halls Gap Hotel Bistro. Great friendly service and open log fires. Just what you need after a Winter’s day hiking.
The old bakery Dunkeld – supposedly the best sourdough in the country!
Is it the best sourdough in Australia? That’s what the Dunkeld Bakery says. Come and judge for yourself!
Well, that’s it for our blog on some of the amazing walks you can do in the are near Halls Gap. Known as the northern Grampians, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. There’s something for everyone here. Drawing visitors from around the world, we do hope we have inspired you to come down, lace up those boots and see some countryside just 3 hours drive from Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne.
We sincerely hope you have enjoyed our blog and find it informative. We are happy to report that due to going out of season, for the most part, we were the Only1invillage! Bye for now!
Next time we’ll take on the South, East and West Grampians! It’s bye for now from The Grampians. Christina and Jason.
