Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

[Mount Eden Summit] 250 Mount Eden Road, Auckland, New Zealand Daily: 7.00am - 7.00pm (winter) or 8.30pm (summer) Besides One Tree Hill, Auckland has several other volcanic cones worth exploring. Between Mount Eden and Mount Saint John, the former with a peak elevation of 196 m and an impressive crater is the more famous of the two. Mount Saint John, by comparison, stands at 126 m and offers a quieter experience.

Auckland, New Zealand Hobson Bay is a broad tidal inlet on Waitemata Harbour, while Judges Bay is a smaller and more sheltered bay located further northwest along the same stretch of Auckland's waterfront. Not every walk has to be a perfectly paved stroll, and the route my travel buddy and I took from Shore Road Reserve certainly proved that.

Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand Daily: 7.00am - 7.00pm Located side by side, Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill are under different management, but Auckland Council explicitly describes them as "next to each other, and often seen as one". From exploring the expansive park to hiking up to the summit, that offers sweeping views of the city, it was a pleasant way to spend one of our afternoons in Auckland.

Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand Right in the heart of Auckland lies the city's oldest park, which is one of its largest green spaces. Spanning around 75 hectares, the park was developed around the crater of an extinct volcano. Beyond its expansive lawns and walking paths, it's also home to several notable attractions, such as Auckland War Memorial Museum and Wintergardens.

27-35 Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand In Auckland, New Zealand, my travel buddy and I stayed at President Hotel Auckland (3*). Located right in the heart of the Central Business District, the hotel is only 200 m away from soaring Sky Tower. Previously operated by the Best Western group, the property has since been rebranded to Edit Auckland Central.

MEL-AKL (3h 40m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD: 12.10pm (GMT + 10) ETA: 5.40pm (GMT + 12) I'd heard plenty about Air New Zealand's legacy herringbone seats in the Business Class cabin, mostly not for the right reasons. Lo and behold, I finally had the opportunity to experience them for myself on what was also my first flight ever with the flag carrier of the country. Let's find out whether the criticisms are justified.

Melbourne Airport Terminal 2, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Daily: 4.20am - 12.30am Prior to my departure day, my travel buddy and I were delighted to receive an inexpensive upgrade offer for our Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. It was simply too good an opportunity to pass up as the upgrade also allowed us to check out Air New Zealand Lounge at Melbourne Airport. We had a late breakfast there before setting off on our journey across the Tasman Sea.

Departure Drive, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Located about 23 km northwest of Melbourne's city centre in the suburb of Tullamarine, Melbourne Airport is Australia's second busiest airport after Sydney. Although Melbourne had kept us thoroughly entertained over the past few days, there was still another country waiting to be explored for the first time.

Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia If there's one day trip that simply can't be missed when visiting Melbourne, it has to be the Great Ocean Road, a spectacular coastal drive stretching over 240 km along the southern coastline of the state of Victoria. Rather than renting a car, my travel buddy and I opted to join the Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour organised by Hit the Road Tours .

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia After exploring the vibrant precincts around Yarra River and spending time at State Library Victoria in Part 1 , let's continue to discover more sights in Australia's cultural capital. From historic landmarks to colourful laneways and lively public spaces, Melbourne offers an endless variety of attractions that cater to every type of traveller.