Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

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.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, is the second most populous city in Australia. It was officially declared as a city by Queen Victoria in 1847. However, long before the grand buildings and trams came to define the city, the area had already been home to the aboriginal tribes for more than 40,000 years. 

Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Daily: 7.30am - 5.30pm Transitioning from the grey stone and solemn silence of the Shrine of Remembrance , I crossed Birdwood Avenue and found myself stepping into the lush, calming embrace of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Spanning over 38 hectares, it's more than just a park. It's a living museum that offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm Rising above the greenery of Kings Domain, Shrine of Remembrance stands as one of the most significant landmarks of Melbourne. Having its foundation stone laid on 11 November 1927, the memorial was originally built to honour those who served in World War I, but has since come to commemorate all Australians who've served in any conflict.