Having spent the night in Port Campbell, we were right on the doorstep of Port Campbell National Park and the world renowned 12 Apostles. I was excited to see the towering limestones stacks once again, even though there are only about seven or eight of them remaining due to erosion, but they are still a magnificent sight to behold.

It is also worth getting to the 12 Apostles early to avoid large crowds and find the best photo spots and whilst you're in the national park, you're also just a short drive from other natural attractions such as, Loch Ard Gorge, Tom and Eva Lookout, Bay of Islands and more, so allow at least half a day to enjoy them at leisure.

Limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles

12 Apostles

Gibson Steps is also well worth a visit, just a 2min drive from the 12 Apostles, the vast stretch of beach is open to the full brunt of the Southern Ocean with stunning views towards the limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles. The steps were carved into the cliff face by early settler Hugh Gibson, whose homestead, coincidently offered refuge to Loch Ard George shipwreck survivors Tom and Eva. Speaking of Loch Ard Gorge, it is 3 minutes drive west of the 12 Apostles and the site of the above-mentioned shipwreck. The small bay is especially tranquil, a direct contrast against the windswept shore of Gibson Steps Beach, the water is exceptionally blue here and the surrounding sandstone cliff faces are a warm, golden sand, like a scene out of a movie.

Gibson Steps Beach

Loch Ard Gorge

Tom and Eva Lookout is a lookout named after the two shipwreck survivors mentioned above, and the Razorback, another limestone formation in the vicinity has been withered to form a sharp, jagged ridgeline. In fact,  signs of erosion are commonplace, sights like London Bridge once had a central arch but today the midsection has collapsed.

Tom and Eva Lookout

London Bridge

I'm sure there are places that I've missed, hidden gems as there is just so much worth seeing in Port Campbell National Park, but I definitely saw a lot more than my first trip more than a decade ago and crossed off many things on my to-do list.  We left in the afternoon filled with wonderful memories and mesmerised by the beauty of the natural landscape. What are some of your favourite lookouts in Port Campbell?

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Victoria Harbour

The Big Buddha/Tian Tan

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The walk is broken into several sections, each with its own unique landforms and vistas. Most Aussies would be familiar with the iconic movie Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and first up on the walk is what is known as Priscilla's Crack, a V-shaped formation made famous by scenes from the movie. The sandstone domes here tower above you shaped almost like giant hives, they are both eerie and magnificent in the cool morning light. Throughout the walk, our guide pointed out particular bush plants that were once used by the Aborigines for food and hunting purposes, and many take on rather sculptural forms.

Once you reach the rim, you're offered magnificent, panoramic views of the canyon and the grandeur of its sheer sandstone walls and the chasm beneath becomes apparent. I think this is the moment I've been waiting for, nothing can quite describe the feeling of seeing the canyon in its entirety as you walk from the north wall to the southern side. For some rest and snacks, we headed down to the waterhole, also known as the Garden of Eden, where a shady pool surrounded by sandstone walls and cycads offered us some well-needed rest before making our way back up and out.

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The day ended with sunset viewing of Uluru while sipping on some chilled sparkling wine and munching on crackers and dips. It was an awe-inspiring sight; watching Uluru change with the fading light and surrounded in silence.

Uluru sunset viewing

But we were in for a treat the next morning as we got up well before dawn and headed out of camp at 6:30am to make it to the base of Uluru right before first light. The Kuniya Walk is around 1hr at a leisurely pace, starting at Kuniya Piti and ending at the Mala carpark. To witness sunrise over Uluru at such closeness, see it change from a deep reddish purple to a vibrant ochre as the sun slowly rises was truly a magical and rather spiritual experience. No wonder this place is famous for its spectacular sunrise and sunsets! This is a must!

Sunrise

Uluru at dawn

Uluru at sunrise

If you have time, I would also suggest taking the shorter Mala Walk, where you will see some of the sacred sites used by the Aboriginal people for ceremonies, teachings and food preparation. It is best to opt for a guide, this way you will not only learn about the land and its stories but also of the various bush plants and their uses. 

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The Summer Palace, also known as Yiheyuan was originally built by Emperor Qianlong in the mid 18th century to celebrate his mother's birthday and mainly served as a place of leisure. Befittingly, the entire palace houses many grand temples, halls, pavilions, towers and bridges, all overlooking Kunming Lake. It is so large that it almost feels like it is never ending, and there is some serious leg work involved as one has to climb over Longevity Hill to make their way to the lake.

The fate of The Summer Palace is similar to that of Yuanmingyuan Park, it was burned down by Anglo-French Forces in 1860, then damaged by the Allied Forces in 1900 and was only rebuilt in 1902. There are many styles of architecture within the Summer Palace, such as Along the way, you will pass the Four Great Regions, which is a group of Buddhist structures built in the Tibetan style architecture. These were rebuilt in 1980 based on the original design.  

The Four Great Regions, The Summer Palace.

Marble Boat, The Summer Palace.

Perhaps the most iconic sight has to be the marble boat, also known as the clear and peaceful boat. It is situated on Kunming Lake and was originally built in 1755. It has a hull made out of stone slabs, which supported a traditional Chinese-style pavilion. Unforuntaltey the original timber pavilion burnt down in 1860 and the Empress Dowager Cixi had the pavilion rebuilt in a distinctly Western-style, with its stained glass windows and coloured bricks. Today, it remains the only Western-style structure in the Summer Palace. 

The Forbidden City

My most anticipated visit was to the one and only – The Forbidden City; once the residence of the Imperial family. I've watched countless documentaries about its colourful history and its priceless treasures, and now I can finally walk the same path as the Emperors once did...along with thousands of other keen tourists. 

In order to get to The Forbidden City, also known as The Palace Museum, you have to pass through Tiananmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace, which has been the main entry into the Forbidden City since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These days, the square outside is full of tourists from all over the country and overseas and security is tight, so make sure you allow ample time. If you like, you can go up Tiananmen to take in panoramic views of the square before heading to the palace.

Three great halls form the outer court:

- Hall of Supreme Harmony

- Hall of Central Harmony

- Hall of Preserved Harmony

all of which lie on the central axis of the entire palace complex. From their names, it isn't hard to tell that harmony was central to the Imperial rule and paired with the many gates that surround the Forbidden Palace which contains the word peace (Tiananmen being one of them), the balance of Peace and Harmony is therefore achieved.

Everything from the architecture to ornate decorative details were designed with a single intent of conveying Imperial power and the rule of the Emperor ordained by heaven. The three main halls all sit on multi-tier terraces lined with dragon heads, not only are dragons considered auspicious but they act as a drainage system. 

Dragon heads line the multi-tier terraces.

Dragon carvings adorned door and window frames.

The Gate of Heavenly Purity divides the outer and the inner court and is the entry to the Emperor's private residences. A pair of bronze lions stands guard at the gate, with their ears down-turned and long eyelashes covering their eyes signifying that once you enter the inner court, do not listen to what you're not supposed to hear, nor see what you're not meant to see. 

The inner court consists of two main palaces:

- Palace of Heavenly Purity

- Palace of Earthly Tranquillity

It takes about two hours to visit the main halls and palaces of both the outer and inner courts, most of which are on the main axis of the Forbidden City. You exit the Forbidden City via the Gate of Divine Prowess, and from here it is only a short walk to Jingshan Park, where you can look back and take in panoramic views of the entire Forbidden City. It is only then you realise its sheer size and that what you've only seen is only but a tiny piece of the puzzle.