Places you cannot miss if you do a road trip in Victoria - for all types of travellers

In December I spent 3 weeks on road trips with 15 others travelling round Victoria (with a few stops in NSW and ACT) which was an amazing experience. Instead of doing a day by day itinerary I thought I would list some places to visit for all types of travelling needs. If you want a more detailed itinerary or any road trip tips let me know as we saw a LOT in our 3 week trip and covered a lot of Kilometres of land.

If you want to hike:

Grampians:

We incorporated this Into our great ocean road trip and it is perfect if you enjoy hiking. There are plenty of hikes to choose from so if you enjoy hiking I would recommend staying here for a few days. Shops are few and far between making food prices quite high so I would recommend stocking up on food before you arrive!

In terms of hikes we did the Halls Gap walk (with it being 33 degrees making it quite difficult) which presented some amazing views and photo opportunities.

We also went to McKenzie falls which has around 200 steps up and down but is an amazing spot and worth the strain it places on your legs!

I would also recommend visiting the Balconies which is where we watched sunset and did some stargazing.

Mackenzie falls

Wilson’s prometory:

This was a spot we visited on our second road trip East of Melbourne however only did one hike here due to time constraints. There are plenty of hikes to choose from and if the views are as good as the one we did it is definitely worth staying longer.

There is also squeaky beach which we spent an hour at relaxing after our long hike. It certainly lives up to its name as the sand does ‘squeak’ when you walk on it.

If you want to see iconic spots with less walking:

Twelve apostles:

An iconic part of the Great Ocean road and what you think of when it is mentioned. There are also a few other stops in close proximity such as ‘the Grotto’ and ‘London bridge’ but this was my favourite.

It doesn’t require much walking which is always a plus.

Also make sure you stop by Loch Ard George which has a beautiful beach (it is known as a ‘secret beach’ but is certainly not a secret anymore).

Philip island:

A must visit if you’re in Victoria. We went twice and I would go back. I would recommend staying at their YHA there which has a lovely kitchen and living space plus is really quiet.

We visited the beach but the main attraction is the penguin spotting.

Every night hundreds of tiny (and I mean like teddy bear size) come from the water onto land to find a place to sleep and at sunset you can go and watch this take place.

It was the most wholesome thing I have ever watched and was super cute, unfortunately you cannot take any photos of them but it makes it even better as you’re more in the moment.

Erskine falls:

I absolutely love waterfalls and was happy that so many were included in our trip.

This one has way less stairs and an easier route to reach yet is just as pretty.

For some camping and quiet time:

Ninety mile beach

This is where we camped for Christmas Day which was an amazing experience. The camp site was very basic but super quiet and for a while we had the beach to ourselves (nicer than Bondi which leaves you with barely any space to move at Christmas time). It was also free so it meant we didn’t mind spending money on showers.

There were no cooking facilities and did mean we relied on sandwiches for lunch and had a McDonald’s for Christmas dinner.

The beach isn’t the most stunning but if you want a quiet beach spot to camp with a group of friends it is perfect.

I hope that this was of some use!

- Jess xx

Guide to Coron

The last stop of my trip in the Philippines was Coron, an island a few hours away from El Nido (also considered part of Palawan). Unfortunately we were there during the middle of a typhoon which reduced the activities that I could do however I still enjoyed my trip here.

Things to do:

Island hopping trip:

There are a multitude of island trips to choose from in Coron however I picked the ultimate adventure trip which I booked from a travel agent on the main Street. I really enjoyed the islands and they were absolutely incredible (including the famous lagoons that were breathtaking) however each spot was super crowded and meant that my experience was not as enjoyable.

It was 1300 pesos including food and snorkel hire, I will include some pictures of the places we visited below.

Hot springs:

This is my first time ever going to a hot springs but it was honestly too hot. We went at 9am and even then it was unbearable as you the refreshing feeling when you leave the water wasn’t present as it was still super hot outside. It is fun for a short while but I think leave hot springs to Iceland and cold-weather countries.

Hire a motorbike:

Me and my friend hired a motorbike for 500 pesos for the day and drove around the island. We visited a few beaches and a waterfall (which was quite disappointing and not worth the trip). I did however thoroughly enjoy it as it gave us the freedom to go where we want and for how long. The feeling of riding on a motorbike in the heat is liberating and the countryside is beautiful in a Coron.

The petrol was about £3 for an entire day so is a cheap and fun activity.

Diving is also very popular in Coron and it is known as one of the best diving spots in the world. It is cheap to get qualified and one of the only places that you can do a shipwreck dive.

Where to stay:

We stayed in hop hostel which is still my favourite hostel I have ever stayed at. The beds had thick mattresses and duvets plus curtains for privacy and USB chargers. It was much needed after our boat trip and weeks of more basic accommodation. They also offer a free light dinner every night (which is small but a good offering) and has an amazing view for sunset on the roof terrace.

They run social events every night and I feel that soon it will be a very very popular hostel in the Philippines as they have the right ideas!

It is however very expensive and the same price as some of my Australian hostels.

It was amazing to watch the sunset from the roof
terrace every night

The view from the hostel reception

How to get there:

You can fly to and from Manila which takes an hour but was one of my more expensive flights.

Alternatively you can get the ferry but it is weather dependent and they are cancelled very easily which could leave you stranded on the island.

I hope you enjoyed my Philippines posts and this is the last one. I won’t do one on Manila as I was only there for 2 nights but didn’t really enjoy it so would recommend only staying there for layovers.

I will be posting some Australia posts as soon as possible!

- Jess xx

3 day & 2 night Buhay Isla island hopping trip. My experiences and review

One thing that I really wanted to do during my time in the Philippines was an overnight island hopping tour. After a lot of research I came across Buhay Isla which had the best reviews and let’s just say they didn’t lie.

I did the 3 day 2 night trip from El Nido to Coron however as every trip differs because weather can affect the islands that they visit I cannot guarantee that your route will be the same as mine. Therefore I will do an overview of my trip so you can get a taste of what they offer.

Across the 3 days we visited about 10 islands, all of which we had time to snorkel and swim in the water. However some had attractions to see such as an abondons shipwreck or a volleyball court which were amazing.

They also provided 3 exquisite meals a day which included a range of meats, rice, noodles plus vegetables. There were also mid afternoon snacks every day. I did not have one bad meal; the chefs were incredible and put so much attention into every dish they created.

So well presented

The range of islands they picked were incredible with crystal clear water and white sand beaches, I felt like I was looking at an island from a postcard.

The sleeping/showering situation was what I was most worried about. We stayed on isolated islands at nighttime in huts with mattresses. It was so peaceful and you could fall asleep to the waves every night. The showering situation was interesting and required showering with a bucket and some soap. It didn’t leave me feeling the cleanest which is why I don’t think I could do more than 2 nights.

Every night we slept right on the beach so
we could watch sunsets like this.

My bed one of the nights

They also do trips from Coron to El Nido plus ones that last up to 5 nights. I liked the fact that it ended in Coron as it saved a plane or ferry ticket for me and means I could see a new place.

Unfortunately I got very sea sick and I usually don’t do make sure to take sea sickness tablets with you! 

If you have any questions please message me on Instagram as I’m sure everyone has different queries so not sure if this post could cover everything.

The prices were around £260 per person for 2 nights which isn’t too pricey as it did include activities, food and accommodation which were expenses that I would have to cover myself if I was staying at another island in the Philippines.

- Jess xx

5 days in Boracay

One of the main reasons why I wanted to come to the Philippines was for Borocay as it was somewhere I wanted to go for a family holiday a few years ago. 

When speaking to people in other locations they were shocked I was going to Borocay as they said it was too ‘touristy’ and ‘westernised’ (albeit it was I mean there was a Starbucks on the beach and a lot of Western luxuries) but I am so glad I went. There is a lot to do and I met the most amazing people (which certainly helped increase how much I loved this place) so I would certainly recommend.

Where to stay:

Frendz hostel

This is honestly one of the best hostels I stayed at, it was the perfect mix of social and chill. The rooms were really nice and had a/c (which for me was a luxury). What I loved was that they had a restaurant there so everyone ate breakfast and dinner together there every morning which was more social. Also every night there is a theme for dinner which is subsidised (e.g 60 pesos/£1 for a taco) and twice a week there’s free pasta night. These nights meant most people ate together in the hostel making it more social.

They also had happy hour every night from 6-8pm where beers were 60 pesos (£1) and cocktails were 100 pesos (£1.70) and there were activities such as beer pong and drink jenga.

I absolutely loved this hostel and the staff were super friendly (remembering me and my order every day) and would recommend it in a heartbeat.

It was literally a 2 minute walk to White beach which is beautiful. It gets very busy (especially during sunsets however the sunsets I saw in Borocay are some of the best I have ever seen) and is quite touristy (there is a McDonalds and Starbucks on the beach) however it is a lovely beach.

Mad monkey:

This is a well known chain in Southeast Asia so most people go there because they know it. I visited here one night and it was very social and loud (this one is more party than its El Nido counterpart where I stayed for 2 nights) so definitely go there if you want a party vibe (a lot of people stayed there a few nights then came to frendz as it was more chill). They also have a boat tour which is very alcohol based and ‘party’ style (I heard a lot of stories which ranged from fun to outright dangerous) but if you want that vibe then definitely stay there and try the boat trip (however frendz also offer one which has alcohol and is fun but less extreme).

Things to do:

Island hopping tours

I did one that the Frendz hostel were linked with and it was so much fun. It was the perfect itinerary which included cliff jumping, playing volleyball and lazing in a river in rubber rings. There was alcohol but there was no pressure to get really drunk plus the food was amazing.

It also had many people from the hostel on it so was a good way to meet people and I ended up spending a few days with 2 people I met on the trip who were staying at frendz.

Iligan beach

This was probably my favourite day in Borocay. Me and 3 people got a tricycle (for around 250 pesos) to the beach and rented snorkels after hearing how amazing the beach was and I was honestly blown away. I had never snorkelled before (this was the start of many hours spent snorkelling in the Philippines) and it was breathtaking. The beach is also beautiful and we spent about 2 hours just swimming, exploring and chilling in a cave we found.

Puka shell beach

We went here the next day and it was a disappointment in comparison. A lot of people recommend this beach but it wasn’t amazing. We rented snorkels and I would not recommend doing so. Maybe we were in the wrong bit of the beach but there was honestly nothing to see. However if you are in Borocay for a while and want to try a new beach it is pretty (but the sand is quite rough).

Get a massage and pedicure:

Like most of Southeast Asia these treatments are cheap and definitely worth making the most of. One day I got a massage for 250 pesos (£4ish) and a pedicure for 100 pesos (£1.70). Prices do vary and these are probably the cheapest prices (they were close to my hostel which is why I went there) so be prepared to pay more (especially if you’re going to a spa on the beach as their prices were much much higher).

How to get there:

We got a flight to Caticlan airport but you can get a boat from Manila which takes longer.

When you land in Caticlan in order to get to Borocay island you have to get a tricycle, ferry and van plus pay an environmental fee when getting the ferry. 

I would recommend walking a few metres outside the airport as there are some people who organise all of these for you for a set fee and it worked out cheaper to do it in a ‘bundle deal’ (400 pesos per person to get to Frendz).

If you get a taxi and the ferry fee organised at Borocay airport it works out to be more expensive (as it doesn’t include the environmental fee or the taxi to your accommodation in Borocay).

If you have any questions about Borocay don’t hesitate to ask. If you go I am so jealous and hope you have the best time!!

- Jess xx

A non-diver’s guide to Malapascua

After seeing the amazing islands around Malapascua I decided that it would be my second destination in the Philippines. Unfortunately it is known for diving and thus most activities cater towards divers. However I had a great time on the island so thought this article would be helpful if you want to visit but do not dive, or want to have non-diving days.

I would also add that it is a very authentically Filipino island so therefore if you want to visit somewhere that isn’t plagued by tourism then this is a great place to visit. There aren’t many roads, no street lamps and you feel very far from the fancy resorts of Borocay and Palawan. It was definitely an interesting experience.

Things to do:

Kalanggaman island

This was the main reason why I chose to go to Malapascua and it did not disappoint. It is a sandbar island and is absolutely stunning. The water was so blue and calm and the island itself was beautiful. It did not disappoint and the pictures speak for themselves.

For 900 pesos we got a boat to and from the island plus a great meal. There is also an island entrance fee of 500 pesos so it made the trip 1400 but it was worth it!

It takes 1 and a half hours to two hours depending on the sea.

After an hour boat ride we arrived at the island at 10 and left at 2:30 so had plenty of time to enjoy the island.

An island hopping trip of Carnaza island and Lamanok island

I was sat on Langob beach and a man approached me about an island hopping trip running the following day to two islands. After a quick google of the islands I decided to join and I am glad I did.

It was 1500 pesos for transport, lunch and unlimited rum and coke (it was 50:50 rum and coke and every time your cup was nearing empty they happily refilled it) plus a massive speaker which was used throughout the day and lovely guides which made for an incredible atmosphere. It was a fun day out and both islands were beautiful, the weather wasn’t amazing but I would still recommend.

The guy who I spoke to owns Neverland hostel but if you message me on Instagram here I can give you his number if you are interested in doing the trip!

Snorkelling trip of Malapascua island

My hostel owner ran a trip of the island which included snorkelling in some incredible coral reefs, cliff diving and much more. Unfortunately I didn’t participate as the weather wasn’t good but it sounded a lot of fun. If you go to Be one and ask for Rebecca I am sure she would be happy to assist you and take you around every Saturday. 

It was priced at 500 pesos without food or 800 with a bbq lunch. 

Where to stay: 

Be one Guest House

We stayed at Be one which was very affordable at around 300 pesos a night and Rebecca, the owner, made my stay so special. She was so kind, hospitable and helpful and cares deeply about all her guests. It was basic but has air conditioning, breakfast for 100 pesos and the rooms are good sizes. I would definitely recommend.

Neverland

A new hostel to the island which consists of a dorm room plus some lovely ‘glamping’ style tents with beds (which start at 1000 pesos a night). It is close to North beach which is really nice and offers a large array of Vegetarian and Vegan food. I ate there one night and has a lovely pasta which was only 240 pesos. The owner is lovely and the place has an amazing atmosphere.

There are also many dive resorts on the beach which are handy if you are diving or if you want a bit more luxury than a hostel.

Where to eat:

Craic house

I ate here twice, for breakfast and pasta (when I wanted a change from noodles and rice) and was amazing both times. It overlooks the water which is lovely and is handy if you are staying in the dive resorts as there are many close by.

Neverland

As mentioned I had an amazing meal there plus also tried the spring rolls and peanut curry (which were both delicious and good value)

I would also add that there is a market in the centre of the island but I have heard mixed reviews of their food as they have poor food hygiene and a guy from my hostel did get food poisoning from there. Therefore be careful if you want to eat there.

Other things to know:

• Navigating the island is hard are there are no roads/street lamps/ signs so asking the locals was usually how I got around and a vague look at google maps
• There is one ATM which was newly installed (as many articles do say there is none) and many dive centres do take card
• It is not as cheap as some areas of the Philippines as the food has to be imported from Maya
• There are no cars and the main way of transport is motorbikes, be careful when walking around as they appear everywhere
• There are a lot of cockerels/roosters so be prepared to be woken up a lot by them

The streets of Malapascua

How to get there:

We got a bus from Cebu North bus terminal to Maya which costs 230 pesos and takes 5 hours. We then got a boat which costs 100 pesos (it can cost 200 if there are not a minimum of 15 people) plus 20 pesos for the smaller boat and this takes 45 minutes. Do make sure to wear suitable footwear as you will be stepping in the water a lot to get in and off the boat.

The last boat is 5/5:30 so make sure you leave Cebu with plenty of time. We left at 10:30 and our bus broke down which delayed us for an hour and when we arrived at Maya we got the last boat so make sure to start your journey early.

If you have any more questions just let me know!

- Jess xx