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By Mario Ng  When I first started planning a trip to Brisbane, my good friend suggested I should head down to Byron Bay. She mentioned that it is such a nice and peaceful place, and is really beautiful too. While everyone knows Gold Coast and its pretty beaches, Byron Bay is essentially the low-profile sister who is in reality the more beautiful of the two. Add all these to the fact that Chris Hemsworth stays there too! Having heard such great things about Byron Bay, I had to head down to discover for myself.
I started the day with brunch at The Croft House, where the bacon and eggs were fantastic. It was a proper breakfast that gave me the energy I required to make the 2-hour drive down to Byron Bay. By Mario Ng When heading over to Yarra Valley, one must simply do something different and exciting. What better way to do it than through a hot air balloon flight! We did some research and decided upon Picture This Ballooning after reading many good reviews about them online. It was fuss-free and efficient, with everything from payment to important information done online and through email. A few days before the flight, an email was sent to us, giving us all the important information to prepare, including the dress code and the equipment (selfie sticks, tripods, etc) that should not be brought to the flight. We were also informed that we needed to check their website the evening before the flight to see if it will go ahead. Because of the nature of this activity, where the weather determines if the flight will go ahead, everyone has to check, as unfavourable weather will force the pilot to cancel the flight. It is not uncommon for flights to be cancelled, such is the power of the weather. Having checked the previous evening, we saw that the day before our flight’s flight was cancelled due to bad weather. And so, we began to feel a little worried. Alas, there was nothing Picture This Ballooning could do anyway, since safety is the top priority.  By Mario Ng If you are a fan of seals, marine animals, or nature, this tour in Phillip Island is definitely a must-go! Starting from Cowes jetty in Phillip Island itself, the Phillip Island Seal Watching Ecoboat Tour is approximately 1.5hrs long, where the seal watching itself lasts approximately 30 minutes (Click here to find out more about this tour!). For sure, this is not to say that the boat ride is just some boring ride that takes you from point A to point B. The captain of the boat is extremely experienced, and the boat itself is a high-powered one, which can make turns quickly in a safe manner. This means that the boat ride itself is adventurous and full of fun. :) 
By Mario Ng
Foodies will love Melbourne, as the city serves some of the best food in the country! Coffee lovers already know about the numerous independent coffee houses the city has, where there is little need to rely on huge coffee chains for a shot of caffeine. Simply walk down any street in the Central Business District and chances are you will be able to find a shop that serves good coffee.
Whether you crave Chinese, Vietnamese, or Japanese, you will take comfort in the fact that you can take your pick as you walk along the streets. Shops set up by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese means you get the most authentic food without even needing to step into those countries. Want some pasta and gelato? Head to Lygon Street and choose one of the many Italian eateries available there. Want good ol’ Australian? Take your pick as you walk down the streets in Melbourne. Simply put, there is just room for everyone in Melbourne, no matter where you come from. Check out our reviews below on all the restaurants we tried in Melbourne! We love them all! 
By Mario Ng
Melbourne is a wonderful city to visit all year around. Visitors from all over the world head to Melbourne year after year, and many are in fact repeat visitors, who simply cannot resist this beautiful city.
The cool thing about this city is how it offers a little bit of something for everyone. Sports fans will surely love Melbourne, as it hosts the first Grand Slam of each year with the Australian Open, in January. A couple of months later see the city host the first Formula 1™ race of the year, with the Australian Grand Prix. All year round, there are also cricket and football matches in the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground and Etihad Stadium respectively. Quite obviously, sports fans will simply love Melbourne! Attractions-wise, there are plenty in and out of the city area. The world-famous Flinders Street is right in the middle of the city, while Chinatown is a short walk or tram ride away. The best thing about Melbourne CBD is how the tram rides are free! Get on, get off, and you do not even need to pay a single cent. This is how amazing Melbourne is. Culture lovers should check out the museums in Melbourne, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Immigration Museum, and Melbourne Museum, just to name a few. Queen Victoria Market is the market in Melbourne, and you see throngs of visitors each time it is open. Locals and tourists alike simply adore this market. In fact, it is so good you might find yourself needing to make a second trip down, just to cover the entire market. It is that big! Head down south and you will find beautiful stretches of beaches along the west coast, and that is also where you get to see the best sunsets in the city. St. Kilda comes highly recommended, and just a little further down South is where the famous Brighton Bathing Boxes are located. Check out our reviews below on the places you should head to when in Melbourne! 
By Mario Ng When it comes to hotel room service, we generally have a couple of things to look out for in determining if that particular hotel’s room service is worth it. First, we do expect the prices to be quite high, as with most five-star (or otherwise similarly-ranked) hotels. Correspondingly, in terms of taste, the food should be similar to what one can find in good restaurants in the country. Based on the above, we rate The Fantauzzo Brisbane - Art Series Hotels’ room service!  By Mario Ng  While doing some research on Brisbane hotels, I saw the usual premium brands like Westin and Sofitel. However, I know the art scene is quite strong in Australia, and chanced upon the The Fantauzzo, which is part of the Art Series sub-brand. I did a check and found out it is located at Howard Smith Wharves, which is the trendy place to have dinner and drinks in Brisbane. The highlight, however, is how the hotel lies directly beneath the historic Story Bridge. For guests who book the Deluxe Riverview Balcony room, you are promised a fantastic view of the bridge, and might even be tempted to spend all your time in the room. With these in mind, I decided to book a night at The Fantauzzo. Check out my review of the stay below!
By Mario Ng
Brisbane, like most Australian cities, have great brunch places. Whichever restaurant or eatery you head to, you are likely to have a more than decent brunch.
Besides that, however, Brisbane also serves many other types of food. With a relatively large Asian population in the city, there are quite a few Vietnamese and Japanese eateries around the city. Coffee houses are an obvious hit with locals and tourists alike as well. All these mean that food-wise, you are unlikely to go wrong in Brisbane. Check out our list of food places that you should head to while in Brisbane below! 
By Mario Ng
Brisbane is often associated with Gold Coast, as it used to be the gateway for travellers to head there. As a result, tourists often spend only a day or two at Brisbane, or sometimes simply bypass the city altogether, in order to travel to Gold Coast. This is quite unfortunate, as Brisbane has much to offer. While it may not have the famous beaches of Gold Coast, much less being a surfer's paradise, Brisbane has many cultural attractions and museums, along with Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It is also the place to be if you want to roam amongst kangaroos. If you wish to have a more 'holistic' destination where singles, couples, and families can enjoy, Brisbane is the place to be at. I really enjoyed my time in Brisbane, and want to be back again one day. Check out our list of attractions below that Brisbane has to offer!
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