Choose your path: Sydney and New South Wales

CHLOE Chen and Yvonne Lee are best friends and seasoned travellers. The two, who are both models and holders of the Miss World Malaysia title (Chen in 2011 and Lee in 2012), were also the runners-up in season five of The Amazing Race Asia in 2016.
Chen and Lee’s last adventure, however, was one that proved less hectic yet very much as amazing.
The pair recently got to experience a slice of Sydneysider life when AirAsia invited them on the ultimate getaway to Sydney and New South Wales.
The trip was even more thrilling, since it was also the first time in Sydney for them.
The ladies certainly know that any trip starts before you reach your destination, that is why they always opt for the flatbeds, which are available on almost all AirAsia X flights.
Lee shared: “I bring my set of clothes to change into, and my neck pillow because I’m a light sleeper. I’m quite sensitive to light, so I bring my own eye mask and home sandals as well.
“I just make myself comfortable and then I can have a good night’s sleep.”
According to Chen, normally when Lee and her are on flights they talk and talk, “like, four [to] five hours non-stop, just: talk, talk, talk ... but on this flight we didn’t talk. We just slept”.
Her 175cm height also means that seats can get a bit uncomfortable, especially when it comes to eight-hour flights like the one to Sydney.
Chen said: “I can’t sleep if I don’t feel comfortable but we were really lucky because we had AirAsia flatbeds, so we got a really, really good night’s sleep on the flight.”
Landing bright-eyed and fresh as a daisy, the two were all ready to savour what Sydney and New South Wales had to offer.
From zooming through the lush Australian bush, to scouting for vintage accessories at Paddington Markets, and even camel-riding by the beach, there are a multitude of possibilities capable of satisfying every traveller type.
ADVENTURE
TREETOP ZIPLINING
Starting off with a bang, Chen and Lee welcomed the cool, dry air in the land down under with a roller-coaster ride of sorts – ziplining the TreeTop Crazy Rider at Treetops on the Central Coast.
“I was kind of scared actually,” Chen related. “I’m not afraid of heights but it’s more the fact that it’s not the regular sort of zipline, [where it goes] straight.”
Instead, what greets your senses is thriving greenery while you swirl, dip, and turn from the suspended wire, practically flying in unexpected directions.
Like a theme park, albeit set amidst Mother Nature’s bounty, similar adrenaline-pumped shrieks can be heard echoing through the trees.
QUAD BIKING ON SAND DUNES
Trading lush trees for luscious sand, Chen and Lee headed to Port Stephens for a ride with a difference – quad biking with Sand Dune Adventures.
Located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, the girls got to ride across Stockton Sand Dunes, the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
The soft sand serves as a challenging but fun road to navigate, on top of the steep sand hills.
“It was really amazing!” gushed Lee. “It’s beautiful. It’s not every day that I get to go to the sand dunes, and I like speed.”
She added: “It reminds me of some scenes from action movies. All you see is just sand.”
Chloe chimed in: “You really feel like you’re going down at a 90-degree angle, so it was very, very, very exhilarating. That was quite memorable.”
For something less heart-stopping, give sand boarding a go. It’s pure and simple fun, and the pair recommend trying both if you’re already there.
SHARK AND RAY FEEDING
After shaking off the silky sand the girls headed to Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, also in Port Stephens, to learn more about these sea creatures that often get a bad rep.
Lee, a diver, is used to getting up close and personal with marine wildlife but she admitted it was the first time she got to really touch and feel the animals’ texture and feed them.
“It was really memorable and eye-opening for me,” she added.
“I think we had the best experience there.”
Chen said: “I didn’t know that stingrays were actually so intelligent. You realise that they’re smart like a dog or cat. They come close to you and they like to be touched.
“I didn’t expect to have that much fun. I thought it would just be like an aquarium or something ... but when I went, I was really pleasantly surprised.
“You really see people appreciating what they have around them, and also, the people there, they’re just really passionate about what they do.”
NATURE
HIKE AT TOMAREE NATIONAL PARK
The natural splendour of New South Wales is vast. Its relatively cool climate in comparison to Malaysia simply begs you to put on your hiking shoes.
Chen and Lee did exactly that when they paid Tomaree National Park a visit. A leisurely half hour to an hour’s trek is all you need to reach the top of Tomaree Head. “You see older people, you see kids as well, so it’s very manageable,” said Chen.
The reward that comes when you reach the top is, of course, a panoramic view of protected nature reserves off the coast of New South Wales, including the Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah Islands.
It’s probably why the girls recommend the summit of Tomaree Head as the spot to be in Port Stephens, for the ultimate glowing sunset. “It’s really amazing!” said Chen.
CAMEL RIDING AT BIRUBI BEACH
If aquatic life piqued your interest, you’d be happy to know that Birubi Beach offers peaceful 20-minute rides on cute camels. (You can even opt for an hour-long sunset ride!)
The travel buddies likened the scene to an Arabian Nights tale, where each camel is secured to the next as they ride across sand dunes and the beach.
Chen said: “I was behind Yvonne – there were people behind us as well – and we just rode around the whole beach. It’s very slow and chill.”
Birubi Beach is also the ideal place to have a picnic by the ocean, according to Chen. “That beach was really nice and we had camels, so I would set my picnic there so I can go camel riding, and then enjoy my food.”
NUDE KAYAKING AT BAGNALL BEACH
A beautiful day out beckoned the girls to try kayaking in Nude Kayaks’ see-through water-crafts.

The one-of-a-kind water activity offers clear a view of aquatic life in the sea beneath, as you glide across the relaxing waters, and feel the wind in your hair while taking in the picturesque seaside sights.
With no experience required— and suitable for all ages—Nude Kayaking promises to deliver a fabulous fun time you don’t want to miss.
LIFESTYLE
SEAFOOD TASTING AT SYDNEY FISH MARKET
The Aussie passion for seafood is on full display at the famed Sydney Fish Market, known to have excellent quality catch.
The girls not only received plenty of help from the fishermen and traders there, but also from their brilliant guide who steered them through the big, busy market, picking the freshest seafood.
Lee said: “It’s by their colour, how they look, and I was like oh, okay, that’s very interesting.”
With the guide’s keen eye for the best and the freshest, the girls managed to savour Sydney Rock Oysters and squid cooked fresh.
“Oh, that was so good. Calamari with pepper and salt,” said Lee.
“Good and fresh. The oysters were so good too!”
While her best friend slurped up the oysters, Chen admitted she is not an oyster fan.
“It was my second oyster in my life,” she laughed. “But I could tell the difference between the Sydney Rock Oysters and the regular ones. I prefer the Sydney ones.”
A JOG AT BONDI BEACH
Naturally, a visit to Sydney without hitting one of its plentiful beaches is like missing the main course of a dinner. It is, after all, one of the main drawcards for many travellers.
One of the most iconic is Bondi Beach. It is not only a magnet for surfers and tourists, but is also simply a part of the locals’ everyday life where they can be seen jogging, walking the dog, and taking a dip in the water – even when it’s chilly outside.
Lee said: “People actually swim in the cooler weather. They did. I don’t know how they do that!”
SHOP AT PADDINGTON MARKETS
Winding down from the flurry of activities, the open-spaced Paddington Markets held on a Saturday is perfect to spend some time searching for artistic local gems.
The market features local traders from diverse backgrounds, each selling a unique craft ranging from local skincare and soaps, to aboriginal jewellery, all with their own story.
Chen advised against getting the usual travel trinkets like fridge magnets. Instead, she said the market offers a treasure trove of authentic and vintage goods that would make far more memorable gifts.
One that stood out to them were hand-made jewellery crafted by a miner’s daughter, who transitioned her family business into her own home industry.
“There’s a lot of vintage things as well, like vintage sunglasses that are really nice and you can’t find anywhere else,” Chen added.
“There’s [also] this lady who made leather jackets out of recycled pieces of leather.”
Lee said: “Necklaces, accessories, rings ... We really love the accessories there.”
ART
STREET ART IN CHIPPENDALE
Chen reminisced: “I guess what struck me the most about Sydney city was how much of a melting pot of culture it was.
“We went to Chippendale – that’s part of the city – [and] there was a lot of [different] art there.”
Known lately as a creative inner-city hub in Sydney, Chippendale is a must-visit for creatives looking for a fresh source of inspiration. Take in the original artwork of graffiti done by local artists adorning the walls as you stroll through the laneways.
Or drop by the White Rabbit Gallery, which houses a brilliant collection of contemporary Chinese art.
MEMORIES
Since ending their delightful Sydney and New South Wales excursion, it looks like the Sydneysider way of life might have rubbed off on the girls.
Chen said: “When [I found out we were travelling] to Sydney [and New South Wales], I really had no idea what it would be, [but] Port Stephens [especially] was a very nice surprise.
Lee was particularly impressed by how Australians prefer to incorporate elements of daily life in the great outdoors like yoga, and truly enjoyed the wholesome good food.
She said: “It inspires you to be healthier like your choice of food—because everything is really healthy [but] nice healthy—[and to] get even more active outdoors.
“Sydney is definitely a place that you should see … because there’s something for everyone, no matter what you like to do.”
With a multitude of experiences for the ultimate excursion down under, Sydney and New South Wales is just waiting for you to explore.


Want to discover the Sydneysider way of life? Book AirAsia X flights starting from RM469—from now until October 28—and travel from April 1 to November 26, 2019.
AirAsia X flies 11 times weekly from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney. For more information, visit www.airasia.com/sydney.

This article is brought to you by AirAsia and Destination NSW.