BBM September 2016

AUSTRALIA

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Inside

JOB LISTINGS. EXPAT NEWS. VISA INFO. STUDY IN OZ.

SPONSORSHIPS

Pick of the fest Club Guide Our fav bars in Oz Sports News

Australian employers are seeking skilled professionals from overseas for a variety of professions in industries across the board. Through the Sponsorship program you could find yourself living and working in Australia on a more permanent basis. This issue, we find out top sponsorship tips from leading recruiter, people2people as well as taking a look at other migration paths to help migrants to Australia through the Skills Migration Program and the Employer Nominated Scheme.

Visas

Migration Agents Expat News Expat Services

Sydney & NSW Travel Special

people2people provide tips and advice for working holiday maker jobs in Australia

TRAVEL DEALS

INTERVIEWS

KUNGS BLOCKHEAD BELL X1

Aussie Studies reveal your options for staying in Australia p21

Freedom Migration discuss partner visas and pathways to Australian Pemenant Residency

Save 5% on domestic & international shipping p19 BBM Reader Offers 20% Off Sydney Outback Tours

p7

10% Off Western Australia Travel

p26

10% Off European Festival Tours

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PROPER BOOZERS Melbourne

Perth

Brisbane

EUROPEAN BIER CAFE

ROSIE O’GRADY’S

GILHOOLEY’S

TURF BAR

Sydney CHURCHILLS SPORTS BAR

Chruchill’s have an exceptional menu where you can enjoy a schnitzel and beer for just $15.

532 Anzac Parade, Kingsford, Sydney churchillsbar.com.au

PYRMONT BRIDGE HOTEL

Want a bit of a snack while you’re watching your favourite team? At Pyrmont you can get 2 pints of ‘Hotchkiss Six’ and you will get a free packet of crisps. A true banquet for any football fan.

96 Union Street, Pyrmont, Sydney www.pyrmontbridgehotel.com

The Turf Bar is a frequent favourite of BBM Live’s, it is one of the most well equipped sports bars in Victoria and will be a popular watering hole for the Euro 2016 cup watchers.

131 Queen Street, Melbourne Turfbar.com.au

THE LORD DUDLEY

The Lord Dudley in Paddington boasts a fantastic beer selection as well as cider such as Bulmers! You can’t go wrong with their Monday night pie and a pint for just $20 to take the edge off the start to the week.

236 Jersey Road, Woollahra lorddudley.com.au

THE BAT & BALL HOTEL

From 10kg buckets of chicken wings to one of the best roast dinners in town, the Bat & Ball will keep you fed and watered all week with nightly meal deals at great prices.

Corner of Cleveland & South Dowling Streets, Sydney www.parksidebar.com.au

P.J. O’BRIENS

This Irish themed chain of pubs will certainly give you the feel of a traditional Irish pub. With live trad music, Guinness, Sunday roasts, pies and more, it’s the perfect place to cosey up on a Sunday for some TLC in the form of great ales and comfort food!

Southgate Restaurant & Shopping Precinct, Southbank www.pjobriens.com.au

THE CRAFTY SQUIRE

The Crafty Squire is a premium craft beer venue with a wide (and delicious) selection of brews on tap. www.thecraftysquire.com.au 127 Russell Street, Melbourne

ODIN TAVERN

Odin Tavern boasts an impressive layout of facilities with an outdoor beer garden, full TAB set-up and pool tables available near the sports bar.

51 Erindale Road, Balcatta, Perth www.odintavern.com.au

CROWN PERTH

Claiming to have ‘Australia’s biggest sports bar screens’ the Crown Perth is where you go if you are a real hardcore fan and don’t want to miss a pixel of action.

Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, Perth www.crownperth.com.au

ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW

You can expect live music throughout the week as well as a damn decent Sunday Roast for just $15 and meal deals for just $14.90 throughout the week!

53-55 Lake Street, Northbridge northbridge. elephantandwheelbarrow.com.au

One of Brisbane’s most popular Irish Taverns, Gilhooleys is where you’ll find a proper meal straight from the grill, including their Friday steak deal and ribs for just $18.95 each. Fridays are also topped off with live music from 4.30pm.

Corner of Albert & Charlotte Street, Brisbane www.gilhooleys.com

PIG AND WHISTLE

The Pig and Whistle has a style and ambience all of its own and claiming a reputation as a ‘classic British pub’ get ready to fight for the best seats with some hardcore fans.

Riverside Centre123 Eagle Street, Brisbane www.pignwhistle.com.au

MICK O’MALLEYS

Another great Irish pub in Brisbane, you can enjoy their Thursday special from 5-9pm every week, including BBQ Pork Ribs, slow cooked and smoked with fries, coleslaw and an ice cold stubbie of Coors beer. You can also keep up with all the latest live sport including NRL, AFL, NFL, NBA and EPL throughout the week. And what’s more is their bottle shop is open til 9pm most nights and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays!

171 - 209 Queen Street, Brisbane www.mickomalleys.com.au

Image courtesy of the Elephant & Wheelbarrow

The European Bier Cafe is a welcome relief from the ‘true blue’ character of Australian pubs, the bier cafe has a modern interior, a rooftop bar and plenty of Bier!

120 Exhibition Street Melbourne www.europeanbiercafe.com.au

Full of Irish charm, this Irish pub in Northbridge is where you can enjoy happy hour from Monday to Friday as well as live traditional Irish music and live sports! You’ll also find great food deals every day of the week between $10-$15.

205 James Street, Northbridge www.rosieogradys.com.au

www.bbmlive.com

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SPORTS

Shiver me timbers, splice the main brace, and Roger the cabin boy, the Warrington Wolves could have cracked the lucrative, booty-laden pirate market thanks to their latest fan - a rugby league-loving parrot.

John Haslam’s pet bird Wolfie is mad about the game and has learnt Warrington’s chant.

“My nephew had him at first and he taught him to sing the chant,” he said. “The family used to live next door so I would look after him but they had a baby and moved house last year.” John added: “He says quite a few other things as well – he says his name, hello gorgeous, bye bye and give us a kiss – and he wolf whistles as well.”

So it’s cute when a parrot does it, but when BBM says it while hiding in our exgirlfriend’s wardrobe as she falls asleep it’s considered aggravated stalking? Where’s the justice in that.

Give Heroic Hurler A Break When it comes to sheer guts and bravery, BBM would love to shake the hand of Irishman Simon Norton, although he

Fans Engage in Head Games When football fans in England agree to meet at the Bulls Head, they’re usually talking about a few beers before the match.

For Dynamo Dresden fans, however, it’s during the match - and it’s not a pub they’re talking about either. The German nutjobs threw an actual bovine’s bonce at rival fans in a clash with RB Leipzig.

Why a bull’s head? Well the clue’s in the name, as RB stands for Red Bull, who set up the club seven years ago and have bought their way into the Bundesliga on the back of four successive promotions - much to the chagrin of more traditional teams.

RB Leipzig chairman Oliver Mintzlaff branded the head-hurling incident “simply tasteless” and insisted it was part of the “cliché-ridden” debate about the club. Talk about raising the steaks <insert groan here>.

probably wouldn’t thank us as he broke it while hurling for Clonad - and still managed to score for his team.

Norton broke his hand in his team’s Junior ‘C’ semi-final against Camross in Laois but he didn’t signal to be substituted.

Instead, nutjob Norton strapped his hurl to his hand and played on - like some demented Edward Hurlinghands. And the pain-baiting hardman did more even than that.

He hit 2-3 of Clonad’s 3-5, including 1-2 after he had sustained his injury. Cristiano Ronaldo, take note.

Wild Punt Nobbles Noggin American footballers might wear more protection than Tony Stark when they get ready for battle, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to getting injured in stupid ways.

Punters Take The Piss Every man who’s been on the receiving end of a few too many alcoholic beverages has felt the need to have a cheeky piss outside at some stage.

For most blokes, the pop-up toilet of choice is the back of a skip down a dark alley, where a stream of urine can wend its weary way to the nearest drain without the pissee being molested by a police officer.

Discretion, after all, is the key.

Sadly for footballers Samir Carruthers (of MK Dons) and James Collins (Crawley), they forgot this crucial part of the “cheeky piss” plan after deciding to urinate in a pint glass in the middle of the day on a balcony at Cheltenham Racecourse in full view of the general public.

The pair of urinary ne’er do wells have now been banned from every racecourse in Britain - which is a bit harsh seeing as every footballer counts betting on horses and spitroasting model wannabes as their only two interests outside sport.

Just ask Caleb Sturgis, the kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles, who had removed his helmet for a pregame warm-up - only to be clocked on the back of his bonce by a wayward punt.

Sturgis, who was locked in a battle with Cody Parkey for Philly’s top kicking job, was given a concussion and forced to miss a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers – handing Parkey his shot at glory.

Still, it’s not at amusing as the time former England international Darius Vassell tried to remove a blood blister on his toe with a power drill. No really.

Cheltenham image via Carine06. Words by Richard Gadsby

The Parrot Who Cried Wolves

At the drop of a hat, Wolfie breaks into “Warry, Warry, Warry, Warrington” after hearing it on the telly.

John, who lives in the Cheshire town, says even the eight-year-old bird’s blue and yellow plume is in the team colours.

www.bbmlive.com

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Easy Rider Lands Long Shot After weeks of being sealed away from the Olympics in Zika-proof bunkers, the world’s top golfers from the USA and Europe emerge once again to do battle in the Ryder Cup at the end of the month.

BBM won’t pretend we’re huge golf fans, but even the worst kind of Farage-loving, racist Brexiteer gets behind Team Europe for the biannual, biennial, bisexual Yankbashing spectacle.

Combining live sport action with a fantastic menu, the Pig & Whistle presents the perfect place to catch up with friends after work or on the weekends!

With a string of venues across Brisbane, the Pig & Whistle can be found at Indooroopilly, Riverside, King George Square, Queen Street Mall, Brunswick Street and the West End. Serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, you can enjoy delicious British and Irish classics such as pork pies, steak and Guinness pie, Lincolnshire sausages and shepherd’s pie. If there are a few of you and you’re looking to have a few bits to pick at then take advantage of the fantastic starters and sharer plates including potato wedges, pork spring rolls and wontons, mushroom arancini balls, blue swimmer crab cakes and freshly shucked oysters!

And as if being selected for your first Ryder Cup wasn’t special enough, the 21-year-old has also just won a year’s supply of beer.

Fitzpatrick hit a 330-yard drive on the ninth hole at the Czech Masters, the longest of the tournament and enough to earn him his stash of booze. That could make him a very popular man at the after-party if Europe win in Minnesota.

WEIRD As many of you know, breakfast is of course the most important meal of the day, so take advantage of the Bubble & Squeak and pork chipolatas with your Full English, and classic Bacon and Eggs if you’re heading out early!

This month you can take advantage of their LCD screens as they beam the very latest from the English Premier League to you, meaning you won’t have to miss a second of it whilst you cheer on your team of choice.

It doesn’t just stop there though, you can also keep up with Cricket and Rugby Union as the season gets kicked off!

For more information and to find a Pig & Whistle venue near you visit: www.pignwhistle.com.au

Bulging Talent Hits New Heights

pole in pole vault by knocking over the bar with the tip of his cock. If he’d been circumcised, would he have been hailed as a hero in Tokyo? At the very least it’ll teach him for watching the beach volleyball before a big jump.

Whenever BBM watches the Olympics, we always wonder what goes through the athletes’ minds when they narrowly miss out on glory. Apart from the word “f**k”, of course.

Yet despite it clearly being his junk that made the decisive nudge, Ogita was adamant we shouldn’t be laughing at his penis problems.

Take British 200m runner Adam Gemili for example. He missed out on a bronze medal after being pipped on the line by 3/1000ths of a second. What if he’d had an extra piss or shaved his hair off, would that have given him just that fraction of extra speed he needed to make the podium? And the same theory applies to Japanese athlete Hiroki Ogita who made headlines in Rio after putting the

“To be honest, it’s pretty rough, but I guess I’m in the spotlight so this might be some kind of opportunity,” he said. “I’ll do my best and get the results so that I get the last laugh. It doesn’t matter if you do it for a joke or whatever, I ask you to go and watch an actual game at a stadium for once. I hope you appreciate, even a bit, what a great sport pole vaulting is.”

But there is one silver lining to Ogita’s embarrassment – everyone now thinks he has a big cock. Surely that’s better than a gold medal?

By Richard Gadsby

PUB OF THE MONTH

The two teams were still being finalised at the time of going to press, but one man who will definitely be there is rising star Matt Fitzpatrick.

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Top 10 highlights of the official Home And Away Tour of Summer Bay Take a closer look at what you can expect on the Official Home and Away Tour to Summer Bay with our top 10 highlights.

1.

Escape the city and head for the iconic Aussie beach - Summer Bay!

2.

Get the lowdown from your expert Home and Away tour guide on the filming, the actors, the gossip, the dramatic storylines and much, much more!

3.

Meet other Home and Away fans from around the world!

4.

Learn about Home and Away, but also learn lots about Sydney and the beautiful natural surrounding areas, take in views of national parks, coastal inlets and multi-million dollar real estate.

5.

See the famous outdoor filming locations including the Summer Bay Surf Club, Alf’s Bait Shop, the Pier/Diner and the iconic Summer Bay Lighthouse on the headland.

6.

Soak up the Summer Bay lifestyle and relive your favourite scenes while you explore, photograph and discover the “home” of Home and Away - one of Australia’s finest beaches.

7.

Write your name in the golden sand of ‘Summer Bay’.

8.

You may even be lucky to see filming. Diehard fans will never forget the thrill of watching Home and Away being filmed and the possibility of being up close to their favourite actors.

9.

Enjoy a bonus tour of Sydney’s magnificent coastline as you travel between Palm Beach and the world-famous Manly Beach.

10.

At the end of the tour, check out Manly Beach and enjoy one of Sydney’s finest tourist destinations. Soak up the bars, the restaurants, the shopping, the beaches, the lifestyle, and to top it all off, you can take the ferry back to Sydney across the spectacular Sydney Harbour.

The Official Home and Away Tour to Summer Bay is your golden ticket to get closer to the drama of Home and Away. At $99pp, the tour departs from Sydney on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and lasts just under four hours.

Book your tour to Summer Bay today at officialhomeandawaytour.com.au

www.bbmlive.com

From The Bottom To The Top Get to know Sydney from the bottom to the top with Sydney BridgeClimb.

Whether you’ve just arrived in Sydney or have been there for a while, there’s one thing you have to do before you leave and that is climb Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The enormous structure that dominates the Sydney landscape as well as the iconic imagery of Australia is just waiting for you to scale its heights.

The largest steel bridge in the world, the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been in use since 1932, and still stands strong today and if there’s one instagram photo that’s going to get you the most amount of LPP’s it’s getting to the top of the bridge with Sydney BridgeClimb.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge however isn’t just for mere folk like you and I, it’s also for Hollywood celebrities including Ben Stiller, Gigi Hadid, Vince Vaughn, Demi Lovato, Eva Longoria and even more who have all made the brave journey up the bridge’s imposing frame.

Preparing For Your Climb Your climb will take around three hours from start to finish. The adventure starts as soon as you get to the Climb Base.

Here you can find out more about the history and preservation of the Bridge at the Visitor Centre and Cinema.

Before you embark on the climb you’ll be met by your Climb Leader as well as your group of no more than 14 people.

It’s here that you’ll be kitted out with your safety gear ready for your climb.

You won’t be able to take your camera with you on the climb, but rest assured they’ll be someone to capture the moment and you’ll be able to purchase the photos after the climb, so all you’ll need are sensible climbing shoes as well as a pair of sunnies!

To find out more and book your climb visit

www.bridgeclimb.com

Explore The Sydney Outback

BBM Readers get 20% off. Book online with promo code BBMLIVE If you’re visiting Sydney or even living there then you’ll be pleased to know that you could be immersed in the NSW outback within an hour of Sydney’s CBD. The outskirts of Sydney are flanked with unspoiled bushland just a few kilometres from the hustle and bustle of the city, so why not take a daytrip out to the Blue Mountains lesser known rival - Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park for an unforgettable day out. So here’s 5 Reasons To Visit Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park this spring.

1. ANCIENT ABORIGINAL ROCK ART

Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park is home to one of the biggest concentration of Aboriginal heritage sites in the world and also plays host to some impressive ancient rock art.

2. NATURE FLOURISHES

This National Park is packed to the brim with gorgeous flora and fauna, including the likes of the Grey-headed Flying Fox, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Platypus, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Sugar Glider, Short-beaked

Echidna, Little Forest Bat, Eastern Water Dragon, Eastern Long-necked Tortoise, Diamond Python, Stone Gecko, Lace Monitor to name a few.

3. WATERWAYS

If you’re a fan of taking to the water, then you can explore the National Park via the waterways, seeing it all from a totally unique perspective and also getting to some locations that are inaccessible by any other means.

4. IT’S NOT FAR!

You can be surrounded by Ku Ring Gai Chase’s natural beauty within just 45 minutes of Sydney, meaning it’s an excellent day trip if you want to get away from it all for an afternoon.

5. CULTURE

Aboriginal culture is still very much a part of this special National Park, and that also means you can sample some authentic bush tucker whilst visiting the area - a must for a true Aussie experience!

You can experience all of this and more with Sydney Outback, visit www.sydneyoutback.com. au to view tours and book.

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EXPAT INTERVIEW the great outdoors. The outback and the endless beaches to name a few. Coober Pedy is a stand out place!

Was owning your own tour business something you always wanted to do?

No, this was a light bulb moment whilst enjoying a glass of wine on our balcony in 2010.

This month we catch up with tour operator, Al Wilson. Al has been living in Australia for 10 years and owns a successful tour company, Flaming Galah, operating around NSW. Having made the move a decade ago, we find out how he secured his lifestyle Down Under as well as some of his favourite secret hang outs off the beaten track.

When did you first decide you wanted to live in Australia?

2003 when I was on a gap year travelling around with my wife to

be.

How long have you lived in Australia?

10 years, since august 2006.

How did you make the decision on where to live in Australia?

People ask why did you move to Australia, I reply, I didn’t move to Australia, I moved to manly. That was always the dream, as that was the place I fell in love with when I was travelling in 2003.

Have you travelled around Australia? Where’s your favourite place you’ve visited?

Yes, I have travelled to most parts of Australia. My favourite places are the places that best represent

How have you shaped your tours to suit Brits coming to visit Australia?

The tours are designed to suit any demographic - the tours are designed to appeal to everyone.

It just so happens that our number one tour, which is our Official Home and Away tour is very well suited to Brits visiting Australia.

How was it making new friends in Australia?

It took a while, as it does anywhere, but the friends that my wife and I made 10 years ago are still are best friends, who we see regularly.

Do you have mostly Aussie or Expat friends?

It’s a mixture. No conscious effort is made to make friends with one

or the other. It just happens.

What do you most dislike about the Aussie lifestyle?

There is nothing I dislike. If you don’t like something then change it. Your lifestyle is based upon the decisions you make. I have a great lifestyle. Your lifestyle is what you make of it.

What do you most miss from the UK? Only family. Oh, I also miss not being able to get on a flight and quickly access another country.

What’s the best thing Australia has that the UK doesn’t?

It is such a cliché but it has to be weather. There are many other things, but that has to be the number one thing.

What avenue did you take when securing your visa for Australia?

Skilled Occupation Visa.

What’s your favourite thing about living in Sydney?

My wife and I lived the Manly/ Sydney dream for nearly 9 years.

The city congestion and traffic lights were just too much to bear, so in the end we moved out and now live in the country, just south

of Sydney. When we were living in Manly/Sydney, my favourite thing was the excitement of living in such a vibrant, beautiful and stimulating place. When you move out from the UK to a place like Sydney, it makes you feel so alive!

Where’s the best place to have a meal out?

I hate eating out. Give me a meal around a campfire under the stars any night of the week!

The best beach to relax on?

Take your pick, there are more beaches in Australia than there are stars in the sky!! Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay is pretty much as good as it gets though.

The best place to escape to outside of the city?

One of the closest city escapes from Sydney city centre is KuRing-Gai Chase National Park. As always, you have to venture off the beaten track. Try Mackerel Beach or Resolute Beach.

Find out more about Flaming Galah Tours at www.flamingalahtours.com.au

A TASTE OF HOME

The Irish Butcher

Having been in Sydney for over 15 years, The Irish Butcher specialises in Irish meats such as Pork Sausages, Black Pudding, White Pudding, Irish Ham, Irish Bacon and Gammon Steaks.

4-5 Plasser Crescent, Sydney www.theirishbutcher.com.au

British Corner Shop

Missing your Digestives, Marmite and PG Tips? Well the British Corner Shop online shop will deliver them to your door almost anywhere in the world. It has a huge variety of Britain’s best known brands from Cadbury to Weetabix. www.britishcornershop.co.uk

Paddy The Baker

Paddy has been providing both the Irish with a taste of home for generations. It has famous soda and potato bread and an excellent gluten free range.

Throughout Sydney www.paddythebaker.com

Treats From Home

Treats From Home is a slice of Britain in Australian shores. Selling the best of British goods and known brands, Treats From Home provides Brits abroad with a recognisable comfort.

Level 1, 234 Collins Street, Melbourne www.treatsfromhome.com.au

Cousin Jacks Pasty Co.

Run by an ex-pat, Cousin Jacks has been cooking up authentic British pasties since 2010.

The authentic Cornish Pasty has been a staple of the British diet since time began, it feels, so being able to pick one up the other side of the world is amazing.

175-181 Oxford Street, Sydney cousinjackspastyco.com

Tell us about your favourite British, Irish, Italian, German, French or other expat run business in Australia! Or does your company have a service for expats and like minded Aussies, get your company listed in next months issue. Contact info@bbmlive.com

www.bbmlive.com

photo courtesy of cousinjackspastyco.com

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SYDNEY FRINGE 2016

SANTE

LISTEN OUT 2016

House & Techno delights from Berlin’s SANTE Saturday 10th September www.eventbrite.com.au

24th September - Catani Gardens, St Kilda, Melbourne 25th September - Western Parklands - HBF Arena, Joondalup, Perth 1st October - Centennial Park, Sydney 2nd October - The Sporting Fields, Victoria Park, Brisbane www.listenout.com.au

SODA SATURDAYS

Soda Saturdays featuring 80s & 90s jams on the decks Saturday 10th September www.sodafactory.com.au

MANIFEST

2016 - 23rd - 25th September 2016 South Queensland www.manifestqld.com

GIORGIO GIGLI

Join Giorgio Gigli from Italy for a night of hypnotic techno at a secret location - Saturday 10th September www.residentadvisor.net

EARTHCORE

2016 - 24th - 28th November 2016 Victoria www.earthcore.com.au

SUBSONIC

2016 - 2nd - 4th December 2016 NSW www.subsonicmusic.com.au

LET THEM EAT CAKE 2017 1st January 2017 Melbourne letthemeatcakenyd.com.au

RAINBOW SERPENT 2017 27th - 30th January 2017 Victoria www.rainbowserpent.net

PARTY IN THE PADDOCK 2017

19th - 20th February 2017 Tasmania www.partyinthepaddockfestival.com.au

WOMADELAIDE 2017 10th - 13th March 2017 Adelaide www.womadelaide.com.au

LATE NIGHT SYDNEY

BILL KENNY It’s that time of year again when Sydney comes alive for the Sydney Fringe Festival.

To get everyone in the mood for spring, Sydney Fringe welcomes a celebration of the arts across the disciplines of Art, Drama, Comedy, Music and Film. From 1st-30th September you can expect something to keep you entertained every night of the week.

Bill Kenny (UK), LO’99 in the Refuge Host Cave Saturday 17th September Laundryclub.com

CARLO LIO

Join the Toronto born house & tech royalty at The Chippendale Hotel - Saturday 17th September www.residentadvisor.net

This year’s highlights include everything from Drag Discos to Silent Discos, as well as the all-encompassing King Street Crawl. After the success of last year, The Music and Booze Company will be bringing back the King Street Crawl to fill your path with pubs, bars, restaurants, music and arts along King Street, Enmore Road and Erskineville Road.

Another highlight of the Sydney Fringe will be the Global Rhythms 2016 Music Festival taking place on 25th September.

Global Rhythms will take place at Bicentennial Park in Glebe with tickets costing just $40 from midday til 8pm. Global Rhythms welcomes talent from all over Australia and this year’s line-up includes the Joseph Tawadros Quartet, The Strides, Grace Barbé Afro-Kreol, Afrobrasiliana Soundsystem and more!

View the full Sydney Fringe 2016 programme of events at sydneyfringe.com

Images courtesy of venues. Email marketing@bbmlive.com to appear on this page.

PICK OF THE FEST

www.bbmlive.com 11

DISCOVERY RECOMMENDS: BEACH BURRITO This month our favourite hostel in Melbourne, Discovery, recommends Beach Burrito in Fitzroy!

Although there is absolutely nothing ‘beachy’ about Fitzroy, this restaurant does have a skate bowl…which is pretty cool.

Beach Burrito is a company that pride themselves on individuality, they do not stick with a ‘cut-out’ style venue like some of their franchised competitors. Having successfully opened 14 venues across the nation since they first opened in Bondi in 2006, each of the Beach Burrito destinations takes inspiration from something in the local community and culture.

Having opened in Fitzroy right next to rival fast food Mexican entrepreneurs; ‘Trippy Tacos’ Beach Burrito have definitely brought something new to the vibrant salsa-stained table with their very own skate bowl inside the actual restaurant.

BB Fitzroy flaunts a unique 80’s neon rock punk aesthetic with an in house playlist to match. It all runs on the very agreeable vibe of the golden days of surf and skate where a good feed was cheap and easy to get, the beers were cold and abandoned swimming pools were golden opportunities to ‘shred’.

Unfortunately the skate bowl is only available to use if you have been invited by the Beach Burrito crew. However it is probably for the best; as you could imagine after a few Pistonhead beers and a belly full of chimichangas a gnarly 6ft drop in is probably not what you need.

But sitting back with a belly full of hearty Mexican cuisine whilst watching the professionals tear up the pool is definitely something you could get use to.

For those of you whose bank accounts usually only allow a diet of 2 minute noodles and rice, BB have you sorted with a pretty tasty

range of $5 tacos. If you like to live large you can select from the ‘Grande’ taco menu or lash out and get their ‘Nachos Especial’ which is a glorious mountain of everything good and holy that has come out of Mexico.

their ability to mix up a delicious frozen margarita, a tasty Pina Colada and soothing Mojito.

If you are looking for a good feed, some cold drinks, and a killer unique vibe head down to Beach Burrito in Fitzroy.

The Beach Burrito Company in Fitzroy also pride themselves on

230-232 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy www.beachburritocompany.com

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CLUB PICKS

NEW TO MELBOURNE

JOHN 00 FLEMING

THE NORTH MELBOURNE HOTEL

The Trance legend will be taking on an epic 9 hour set at the RMH this September. With a career spanning over 20 years equating to 10 million album sales, you’ll sure be in for a treat as the legend spins the decks all night long.

Friday 9th September www.outix.net

Combine some opulent decor with some pretty descent meal deals and happy hour and you’ve got yourself a great local! We recommend the $4 ‘Rib Tickle’ lamb rips!

480 Victoria Street, North Melbourne www.thenorthmelbournehotel.com.au

REVOLVER FRIDAYS & MI CASA 6 YEARS

BELLE’S HOT CHICKEN

Get your house and techno rave on for a massive 12 hours from 7pm - 7am at The Revolver. DJs on the night include Mike Callander, Sundelin, Many & Varied, Matthew Coventry, DJ Who and more, plus free entry until 11pm.

Friday 16th September Revolverupstairs.com.au

Open daily from noon til late, you can enjoy some of the best chicken in the city including tenders, drumsticks and wings in an ever so trendy Melbourne setting.

You can even put your tolerance to the test with their different levels of hot sauce including ‘Really F**kin Hot’.

147 Chapel Street, Windsor Belleshotchicken.com

TIARYN CEMENT LOVE VIDEO & SINGLE LAUNCH

TOASTA & CO

Catch Tiaryn alongside Huntly and Dear Plastic this September at The Toff In Town.

Saturday 17th September - 7.30pm Thetoffintown.com

UNCOMFORTABLE SCIENCE

Don’t miss the Wondercore Island team as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival from 10pm at the Melbourne Fringe Festival Club including multiple acts.

Thursday 22nd September www.facebook.com/WondercoreIsland

NASTY MARS AND THE MARTIANS

Head to The Toff In Town for Nasty Mars and The Martians alongside special guests Good Morning and Milton Brows.

Thursday 29th September thetoffintown.com

MK & STEPHAN BODZIN IN MELBOURNE Smalltown have got a very special line-up popping up this November at Melbourne’s Brown Alley.

US House legend MK will be touching down to play a variety of the scene’s biggest pop and house acts, including 90’s darlings such as Nightcrawlers and Bizarre Inc. Having been making a name for himself since the late 80s his selection of tunes combines both past and present as he remixes current chart toppers such as Katy B and Ellie Goulding.

Alongside MK will be Stephan Bodzin who has had a great surge in popularity in recent times. Hailing from Bremen, Germany, the producer’s incredible live

performances have launched him to a whole new generation.

Bodzin is the owner of record label, Hertzblut Recordings and is the man behind the release of tracks that regularly dent the dance charts globally. To add to his bow, Bodzin has been approached to remix the likes of Depeche Mode, Booka Shade and The Knife.

Don’t miss what is set to be an incredible night of dance this November.

Thursday 17th November Brown Alley www.wearenovel.com.au

Taking her terribly popular food trucks to the next level, Toasta & Co is the first bricks and mortar place by Rebecca Feingold. It’s here that you can expect both classic and new twists on the classic and comforting cheese toasty as well as a great selection of ciders and beers.

181 Adderley Street, West Melbourne www.toastaandco.com.au

MONTEREYS

For those days when you fancy more refined flavours, you’ll be at home at Monterey’s seafood and wine bar. With a nautical decor theme, you’ll feel as if you’re at the beach, but if you’re not so much a lover of seafood you can also take advantage of their succulent smokey short beef ribs!

218 Chapel Street, Melbourne www.facebook.com/Montereys

www.bbmlive.com 13

HOPTOBERFEST 2016 Time to don your dirndl and lederhosen, as Hoptoberfest returns to Melbourne.

If Munich is that little bit too far, don’t fret too much about getting your Oktoberfest fill as Hoptoberfest will be on hand in Melbourne to make sure you have all the beer and bratwurst you could want.

Hophaus’ annual Oktoberfest celebrations return this year from 16th September ‘til 23rd October with an extended program of events from a German degustation dinner with Weihenstephaner’s Head Brewer to a dedicated Games Day, beer trivia and of course the hugely popular Teckelrennen Annual Daschund Race, expanded and improved after a triumphant inaugural event last year.

During the five-week program, Hoptoberfest expects to attract over 20,000 merrymakers young and old, coming together to experience the magic of the world’s largest bier festival in the heart of Melbourne.

“We’ve worked hard to offer an extensive program of events for this year’s Hoptoberfest – with something for everyone from the Ladies Love Bier luncheon, beer trivia nights, Family Days, Games Day, a special fest menu and more,” says Hophaus Manager Scott Highfield.

“Our bier selection will be even bigger with no less than four speciality fest biers flying in from Munich for our celebrations.”

While steins clash in Munich, Hoptoberfest’s official Opening Day on Saturday 17th September will flow forth from midday with the traditional Tapping of the Keg - and free bier until the keg runs dry! Try special dishes like Kartoffelpuffer, a German potato pancake with smoked pulled pork and apple and fennel salad, all part of new Head Chef Damian Love’s special Hoptoberfest menu.

Wits will be required at Hoptoberfest’s Beer Trivia Nights, on selected Wednesday evenings. For something more indulgent, the German Degustation Dinner on Monday 4 October hosted by Head Brewer Weihenstephaner Tobias Zollo, will offer seven courses with matching biers. An experience fit for a king with a decadent menu, matched perfectly with the best German biers.

Hophaus is known for their expertly curated German bier selection, and Hoptoberfest sees the biertenders take it up a notch. Steins will be filled with brews such as the pale but complex lager Wiehenstephaner Fest Bier, caramel malt flavoured amber lager Paulaner Fest Lager, full-bodied wheat bier Erdinger Fest Weisse and the classic dark Marzen style Spaten Fest Bier.

For more information and to view the full Hoptoberfest 2016 program of events visit hophaus.com.au

HOPHAUS ANNUAL DACHSHUND RACE – TECKELRENNEN 2016

With Oktoberfest fever sweeping Melbourne, Hophaus prove that the fun isn’t just for humans with the Hophaus Annual Dachshund Race. On Saturday 24th September you’ll have the chance to see Sausage Dogs compete from 11am in several heats with the final taking place at around 2-2.30pm. Due to the short legged nature of the breed the race is only 15 metres long, but you should see these little blighters go!

Sponsored by Hophaus Bavarian Bier Bar Grill and My Dachshund Online proceeds from the race will go to Dachshund Rescue Australia.

For more information on the race visit hophaus.com.au

14

BLOCKHEAD Q & A Ahead of playing at Manifest 2016, we speak to Tony Simon, A.K.A Blockhead about the best things to do in NYC and making his new album.

How are you? What have we torn you away from to do this interview?

I’m good! As for what you’re tearing me away from…nothing much. I’m working on a new solo album but that still allows plenty of downtime…and I’m a man of leisure.

How’s your summer been so far?

It’s been fairly lazy. Like I said, I’ve been plugging away at a new album but my summers are generally slow. No touring. No traveling. Just hanging in NYC living my life, pretty much.

Being from New York, what are the top three things visitors to your city should do when they come to NYC? 1)Eat lots of food. The food here is insane and it never ends. I’ve lived here my whole life and still find new great places on a regular basis.

2)Enjoy the nightlife. Lots of bars.

Lots of fun places to go. I’ve never been the type of tourist who goes to famous sights or museums.

3)Walk everywhere. NYC is the greatest walking city on earth. You can hit 5 different neighbourhoods in 30 minutes

and , because there are so few strictly residential areas, there’s always something to see.

Have you been in NYC for the summer or travelling around?

I have been here all summer. This fall is gonna be all travel so I’ve been soaking up my time here whilst I have it.

Is this your first time playing at Manifest? What do you think of the line-up?

This is indeed my first time playing Manifest. I haven’t been to Australia for a show in over 10 years. I honestly have no idea what to expect. The line up looks very good though.

How do you find the Aussie crowds compared with US ones?

I can’t say I remember, to be honest. I do recall loving Australia though. The people, the vibe. It was a really good time the last time I was there.

Your tracks use a medley of instruments and sound, but what are three of your favourite sounds?

I mean, depends on how you use them really. I love a good vocal sample. Particularly one with no words being said. Pianos and horns too.

What’s currently inspiring you?

I mostly listen to hip hop so I guess I’m inspired by that… though I don’t really tend to be influenced by what music I enjoy during my free time. I kinda just make music in a bubble. All my

inspirations are from a young time in my life. The stuff I grew up on. late 80s/early 90s hip hop.

Underground rap of the late 90s/ early 2000s.

Your sound has developed from previously more turn table “DJ” music to more of a beat making sound nowadays. Why do you think this is?

I actually was never a DJ. I don’t even know how to scratch. I’ve always been a beat maker from the jump. Only thing that’s changed is how I make songs.

They’re much more intricate now than they were when I started.

How big is your record collection? it’s actually way smaller than you might think. I got rid of hundreds of records recently cause they weren’t good albums and they were taking up space.

NYC apartments are small…not conducive to having thousands of records. Nowadays, I pretty much kept only the albums I might one day listen to. The ones I used to sample, I got rid of.

What are three of your favourite albums of all time?

Oh man…that’s a hard question.

It changes all the time. So, I’ll just list three that I love. This is very much subject to change at any moment…

Black Sheep - A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing Willie D - I’m Going Out Like A Soldier Jungle Brothers- Done By The Forces Of Nature

MANIFEST 2016 Situated in the picturesque Cherrabah Resort in South East Queensland, this year’s Manifest is all set to bring you the ultimate festival experience.

This year’s line up is epic to say the least so to make sure you don’t miss out on all the action. Here’s our list of one’s to watch at this year’s Manifest!

BLOCKHEAD Born and raised in Downtown Manhattan, Blockhead’s blend of hip hop and instrumental will have you getting on down to breaks and beats.

ED SOLO Despite his name, Ed Solo is best known for

his collaborations with Deekline and Krafty Kuts. For the ultimate festival rave sound, Ed Solo will have you stepping to fast paced beats with wobbling bassy bits to keep you hyped.

DJ TOTAL ECLIPSE Another New Yorker, DJ Total Eclipse blends the perfect mix of hip hop beats with festival sounds and occaisonally something that will straight up surprise you.

TRIBONE For when you want to lose yourself, Tribone’s darker blend of beats will urge your basest of instincts to be unleashed.

GRIFF Mixing home made

DAY PARTIES

drum beats with liquid bass, and shimmering instrumentals, Griff will transport you to the more chilled side of festival life as you get your hippie on!

WHAT TO PACK - Sunglasses for posing - Bags of energy - Standard headgear/ hats/headdresses/ flower garlands, etc.

- Crazy festival pants - Facepaint - Suncream - Sturdy footwear for dancing and exploring - Your best dance moves - A smile

For line-up, tickets and further information visit www.manifestqld.com

BBMLIVE.COM/MUSIC

Victoria’s earthcore festival is shaping up to be the promoter’s largest production to date, and when you consider over 20 years worth of history and events, that is saying something. With early bird and first round tickets all snapped up, the festival is well on track to follow in the footsteps of its 2015 predecessor by selling out.

It’s with this in mind that earthcore have decided to spread it’s gospel outside of Victorian borders by taking a selection of this year’s artists to Perth and Sydney for a special one-off day event in each of those states: earthcore in the park! (Click here for Sydney’s large second round announcement)

Lineup Aaron Sim / Bliss/ Boombox Cartel/ Bryan Kearney/ Chris Liberator/ Coming Soon/ Fred V & Grafix/ John 00 Fleming/ Julian Jeweil/ LTJ Bukem/ MC Tali/ Morten Granau/ Reorder/ Sean Tyas/ Slam/ Standerwick/ Truth/ Vini Vici/ Vitalic + many more to be announced/

earthcore: in the park (Perth) Sunday 27th November, Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth, 12PM ‘til 11PM Get your tickets at www.outix.net/tickets/event/ecintheparkperth Super Early Bird: SOLD OUT Early Bird: $105 + bf First Release: $115 + bf General Release: $125+bf

e a r t h c o re c irc oloc o It’s with great pleasure that we announce Circoloco’s triumphant return to Sydney this December 2016. The event will be hosted

by DIVISION Agency and Paul Strange Events.

Circoloco is renowned as one of the best events for discerning music lovers with the best selectors as resident DJs. Circoloco attracts music lovers who leave their inhibitions at the door and a solely focused on losing themselves to the beats.

Circoloco presents a carnival vibe that will rock the city during the Aussie summer.

This year will be headed up by none other than Seth Troxler and Ben UFO bringing you the finest beats after another massive summer in Ibiza.

2pm - 11pm, Saturday 10th December, Greenwood Hotel 36 Blue Street, North Sydney www.eventbrite.com.au

Images courtesy of Manifest, Earthchore & Circoloco Australia/ Finely Tuned.

On Sunday the 27th of November earthcore will travel to Perth for a friendly day doof at the Belvoir Amphitheatre, and will feature some of the biggest players to feature at the mother event in Victoria.

Earthcore is proud to announce the second round of artists to be added to this event.Check below for the full lineup!

www.bbmlive.com 15

AudioRehab

Hi Mark, Where are you now and what have we torn you away from?

It’s a Monday so I am at home doing admin and pr for myself and the labels… very exciting stuff!!

You run one of the best known label’s in London, what’s a typical day for you?

A typical day for me is getting woken up by my dog either wanting feeding or taking for a walk! Then its always straight into my hectic inboxes checking for music that I have had sent over, this alone is a full time job to keep on top of. I am in an amazing position where I am having music sent in from all over the world and it’s very important I keep up with it all. As well as running the label I am working hard in the studio myself so I try to get at least a few hours studio time in every day.

What part of your job as a label head do you enjoy the most? And what bit do you least like doing?

Running a label is a dream come true for me, it’s what I have always wanted since I was a kid. I love every aspect of it, from listening to all of the demos that get sent over, working on

projects with artists and watching them grow, to the final result of seeing the tracks out there on the download sites. It’s a very special feeling seeing music that I have believed in from the first listen being appreciated by everyone else. In one word the only part of it that I dread is… ADMIN!!!

You’ve Dj’d the scene for years now, how have your music tastes adapted to the change in trends?

I don’t think my musical ‘tastes’ have ever changed, no matter what genre of music, I always look for the same key ingredients: big rhythmical basslines, tight fat drums, and a hook of some kind, either a killer vocal or a distinctive synth section, a track has to have something memorable within it. As styles and sounds evolve and change, I think it’s very important to keep a signature sound or vibe that people will instantly recognise you for… originality is the key!

Have the people who come to your parties changed as they’re more educated about the music?

When we started the parties it was a crowd that came for the love of the sound that we had created, and I like to think that this has stayed the same. We get a very mixed bag at our parties, from old-skool heads that have been on a similar musical journey to myself, to

younger ravers that we are capturing on their first musical escapades. It’s great to see that our sound is reaching a very diverse crowd.

Who are some of your favourite artists you’ve collaborated with?

I am lucky to have met and worked with some amazing artists, guys like Carnao Beats, Marcellus Wallace, Jakkin Rabbit, Nathan Dalton, Lifford David & Thomas Jules are all artists that I have always rated very highly and I have had the pleasure of working with. I love working with different people that have their own sound and seeing how they go about building tracks, I find it very inspiring.

You obviously get to play in many different venues, but what are some of your favourite places to play?

Growing up as a Dj in and around London this place is always gong to be very special to me, I love playing in our capital city, the vibe is still as amazing as it always has been, and playing in the Ministry of Sound was always a dream of mine so this has to be one of my favourite places to play at. Manchester & Birmingham are also up there as amazing places to play. I love seeing how the sound I push works in different cities and the ravers up there always show me love. I have been lucky enough to play in some amazing places all the world and ones that stick in my mind are Kiev in the Ukraine, Tokyo in Japan & of course one

of my favourite places in the world, Amsterdam.

What’s your proudest moment with Audio Rehab?

Without a doubt my proudest moment with Audio Rehab was stepping up to play at our first event at the Ministry Of Sound. To see the club that I had always wanted to play in absolutely rammed full of people that where there for us is a feeling that I will never forget, I got quite emotional!!

How would you describe the ethos of Audio Rehab? What makes it special?

It’s all about great music, I have always strived to find and push new talent, I think this is what makes us different and keeps the vibe so special, there’s no better feeling that playing brand new music from a new artists and seeing the reaction its gets, this feeling is infectious and I love seeing that in the ravers.

How do you relax when you’re away from everything?

Chilling out on my sofa watching a great movie.

Our audience love to travel for music. Where’s the best country you’ve recently visited and where would you recommend culture hungry music lovers visit for 2016/17 holidays?

is good friends with Geeneus and this is how the initial link with Rinse came about. Since I joined them in 2011 it has helped me get exposure on a much wider scale and opened a lot of peoples ears to me that might not have ever found me otherwise.

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to hold a label showcase over in Japan, Tokyo is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. It’s one the only places I have been to where you feel like you are in another world. The people are so friendly and welcoming, its one place I would highly recommend to visit in your lifetime.

What does the future look like for Audio Rehab and you personally?

Where’s the best post party or hangover food you’ve had anywhere in the world?

When we had label showcase in Kiev earlier in the year, the guys over there took us to a national park in the middle of the city and the food was amazing! It was traditional Ukrainian food severed to us in the middle of the park which was so cool. It definitely helped with our hangovers!!!

Back to the music. You’re heavily involved with RinseFM, tell us how that came about and how the collaboration has been beneficial?

Back in 2011 I was being booked by a lot of parties in London, and my good friend Tippa was one of the promoters that where booking me. I was playing a different sound to most of the DJs in London at that time and I guess this is what brought me to his attention. Tippa

I hope to keep things growing for myself and the label, I want to take the brand all over the world, and with the amount of artists from different countries wanting to get involved with the label this is only a matter of time.

Cheers Mark, we’ll look forward to catching you at a party soon Respect guys x

Mark Radford at Ministry Of Sound 10th September 2016 Ministry of Sound Group 103 Gaunt Street London SE1 6DP Get tickets at ministryofsound.com

16

KUNGS

Having owned the European summer with his smash hit track ‘This Girl’ and remixes of Bob Marley and Lost Frequencies, we catch up with French producer KUNGS, also known as Valentin Brunel whilst he suns himself in the South of France. Having supported David Guetta this summer on tour, we see big things in the pipeline for this young producer.

Hello Valentin, how are you?

I’m fine thank you!

Good, so where are you right now?

I’m in the South of France at home in Provence.

Ah nice! How is the weather there today?

Amazing, sunny and hot, like every day in the South of France.

So being from the South of France, do you feel the sunny weather inspires your music?

Yeah, I think that I started to make ‘This Girl’ one year ago, and I made it in Provence, so I think the sunnier weather helps you to make a track like this.

I’ve noticed your love of big instrumental sounds. Tell me more about that.

I loved to put some real instrument sounds in my tracks, some trumpets, or some guitars, because it’s a bit of a twist between old school sounds like in ‘This Girl’ and new sounds like with the trumpets and the bass. So I like to incorporate some old stuff and some new stuff in my tracks.

Your remixes of Bob Marley’s ‘Jammin’ and Lost Frequencies, they’ve done really, really well.

How do you decide which track you want to remix?

For the Bob Marley remix I just found some guitars on YouTube and was like wow this guitar sounds amazing, maybe I should try to find an acapella of the track. So I just found it and it was amazing to do it, and it was so simple - I don’t know why - I made the track in two hours. Then with Lost Frequencies, they came to me as we are friends and said they had a big track, do you want to remix it? So I said OK, no problem!

What have you got in the pipeline coming up?

I’ve got an album coming out at the end of September/ beginning of October. So I’m preparing a lot of stuff at the moment. I’ve been in the studio in London and Paris, and I’ve worked with really good artists, including singers and guitarists, so I’m doing a lot of different styles. So some meloding stuff some club stuff, like heavy tracks, so yeah there will be a lot of things in my album!

Cool! How do you go about finding the artists you’re working with?

I work with Universal and so they just telling me ‘We have these artists, which ones do you prefer’, so I just pick up my favourite artist, and we go into the studio together and we share a few good moments for one day!

Which platforms do you tend to use to find new music?

I used to use Soundcloud like one year ago, but it seems that it has changed a lot. So now i prefer to use Spotify or YouTube, where you can find more music and discover new talents in an easier way.

How did the collaboration come about with David Guetta?

I just began making his warm ups in December and because we have the same booking agency,

so they just told me one day that David Guetta was doing a big show in France in the biggest venue in France, so he said he wants you to make his warm ups so I said ‘OK! No problem’.

So I just made it two times in December and 5 times in January and all over Europe. And we made some really cool gigs together and now I am touring a lot with him in Europe. It’s amazing to have such a support as he is a legend for me.

my career, for the moment!

Do you feel that’s a career highlight for you so far?

My career highlight is playing Macedonia with David Guetta as I just played in front of 20,000 people. And people were so hooked and they were amazing, and I’d never seen a crowd like this. It was in a big stadium so it was an amazing feeling to play here. So I think it the highlight of

How does it feel to have a track that’s blown up so big?

I can’t describe the feeling as I think it’s a dream that every artist or DJ has, so when it happens to you, you just don’t realise ‘cause it’s just amazing. And yes it’s such a good feeling when you arrive in a country you’ve never been to in your life and people know you for your music. It’s just amazing!

TREND

Will you be touring outside of Europe?

Yes I’m off on a US tour this September, as ‘This Girl’ is doing pretty well in the US so I think we’re preparing a big US tour for September and then Mexico or Australia. As the track is doing well in the world, we have to go everywhere in the world to show that I’m here!

BBMLIVE.COM/NEW-TRENDS

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www.bbmlive.com 17

BELL X1TOUR

GAVIN JAMES OZ TOUR Gavin James is one of Ireland’s fastest rising stars, soaring to the top end of the Irish charts for his debut album, Bitter Pill, and the having the likes of Ed Sheeran and James Corden singing his praises. Now after stirring up quite the fuss in the Northern Hemisphere James has announced he will tour Australia for the very first time this September.

Last year was a blast for Gavin James, but it was only the beginning for the downto-earth Dubliner. Named as a ‘Spotify Spotlight Artist of 2016’, his heavenly voice and habit of jumping in to audiences to start sing-alongs has won an army of adoring admirers from across the globe.

His world tour follows an enormous year of highlights for the Choice Music ‘Irish Song of the Year Award’ winner. Touring with the likes of Sam Smith, opening for friend and fan Ed Sheeran in Dublin in front of 164,000 people, and opening for Taylor Swift in Hyde Park, his star continues to rise internationally.

The 24 year old honed his craft playing raucous Dublin pubs, and in 2013, aged 21, independently released single ‘Say Hello’ winning the Meteor Choice Award for Song of The Year. An EP led to several of his songs become radio hits, but his success in Ireland didn’t immediately translate abroad.

In the summer 2014, a chance meeting with Ed Sheeran in a pub in Dublin saw the pair sit up jamming and drinking whisky all night and Sheeran tweeting that record labels were missing out if they didn’t sign his new mate. A publishing deal soon followed, before Gavin recorded Live At Whelan’s. By

the time of its release in January last year, deals with Sony in Europe and Capitol in the States were in place.

What no one expected for the live album to take off in America, where its only cover, a haunting version of Magnetic Fields’ ‘The Book Of Love’, became a radio staple.

Gavin found himself on the US TV chat show circuit – Dancing With The Stars, Jimmy Kimmel, twice on super-fan James Cordon’s show. Then Sam Smith heard his music and took him on tour. “The crazy bit is that ‘Book Of Love’ wasn’t supposed to be on the album,” says Gavin. “It was just my warm-up song. But when I’d finished the encore and the crowd was leaving, for some reason, I ran back on stage, called people back in and added it to my set. “It was a real ‘fate’ moment. And funny – because I said I’d quit doing covers then my only cover takes off.”

But you won’t hear Gavin complaining.“Never,” he says. “I’m loving every minute of this. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and I can’t wait to know what comes next.”

James will showcase Bitter Pill when heads south to play four intimate shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth this September.

22nd September - Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane 23rd September - Plan B, Sydney 24th September - Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne 25th September - The Boston, Perth Tickets available at www.troubadour-music.com

Bell X1 are heading back to Australia this December once more, but this time bringing with them their latest album ‘Arms’.

Hi Paul, Hey Hannah, how are you?

I’m good thanks, how are you?

Good!

Where are you right now?

I’m in Dublin, sunny Dublin.

Is it nice weather there today?

It is, shockingly. The sun shines in August!

What is the typical summertime like in Dublin?

It’s pretty poxy. I’ve just got back from Croatia on holiday, so we came back to full on rain and misfortune. But you know we sort of thrive on that whole bed down, mist and misery here. If it was like California we wouldn’t have the cultural caché that we seem to have.

And where did you go in Croatia?

To an island called Brac, which is just off Split. Very nice. Very beautiful, clear blue waters, and seafood and wines. So it ticked all the boxes.

What have you been up to this summer and what’s been a highlight?

Yeah, well we have our record that’s been done for a while now, that eventually came together after a long, painful gestation. So that’s been done since the early part of the year and we’ve been doing some shows at home, here in Ireland mainly, through the summer, and we’ve got a big festival show next week at Electric Picnic. And we’ve been playing a lot of the new songs, even though they’re not out. There’s always a danger in that. Often when you hear a band say “Here’s a new one” there’s usually a scramble for the bar. There’s a danger of losing people no matter how good the stuff is, so familiarity is king. It depends on the gig, we’ve been doing a lot of big outdoor shows here, so we have been playing the hits and trying a lot of the old songs too.

It’s a very different animal to doing songs live, having pawed over them in minute detail. In the studio you have to do it in one take with humans all playing at the same time, so it’s a very different animal. We have a new band member and it feels like we’ve grown an extra limb, so it’s like “Oh so that’s what that does.” So it’s been a real pleasure to make that work.

So, how’s the reception been to Arms?

What was the main feel you wanted to put out there with this album - I love the Upswing, it’s really chilled?

It’s been good, it feels like the songs are quite immediate in the big dusty fields that we’ve been playing in. We’ve been choosing the songs to suit that environment. I find with new stuff it helps to talk about them a little bit before doing them, so easing them in, in that way and giving people some context for the song.

as we see it through the prism of whatever musical stylings are doing for us as the time.

I think stylistically we’ve always jumped from one thing to the next, depending on what instruments we’re enjoying using, or what sonic palette we’re enjoying. With records the songs are more coagulated around feel and groove as opposed to anything cerebral.

The feel of the music came first instead of a coherent message. That’s been good to have that for playing the stuff live. The feel of them seems to communicate pretty instantly.

It wasn’t about chin-strokey “what is the message of this song” vibe.

So we’ll be seeing you in Australia this December, where’s your favourite place to get some downtime when you’re in Oz? Melbourne, I would say. We had the luxury of having a couple of days off before we started the tour there. The last time we were there was the first time we played in Australia. We were shown a good time by the promoter there. It just feels like a great place to live. What struck me about Australia generally, is there seems to be much more of a sense of civic pride in their cities than we have here in Ireland. You see these communal BBQ facilities by the beach in .

Sydney that are immaculate and well kept, and aren’t trashed like they would be if they were here. It feels like there’s an investment on the part of the people who live there on making pleasant places to live.

It wasn’t about chinstrokey “what is the message of this song” vibe

What was the general feel you wanted to put out with the album?

This record was the most difficult for us to make. It’s the seventh record we’ve done and it took a while for the heart of it to reveal itself - if that doesn’t sound too pretentious a thing to say! After the last record, we underwent a sort of “What are we, why are we, what is our value or purpose in the world.” When you’re making records you try and work in this positive atmosphere and be constantly encouraging, so trying to keep things buoyant, but you have to be honest about what’s working and what’s good and what’s not. There were a lot of times we had to just take stock and say it just doesn’t feel right, it’s not good enough, or it’s a bit all over the shop and doesn’t have a coherent feel to it. We came to the realisation like we’ve done with all of our records that they’re photographs of elements of our life, or the world at large

How do you find the crowds?

Not knowing what to expect never having been there before it was a real surprise that people showed up. We didn’t know what to expect and yes there was a lot of Irish and English folk that showed up but a lot of people that wouldn’t have known us from this part of the world who were thrilled that we were showing up. There was a mix of

people for whom we’ve been a big band for back home, who were thrilled to make that connection with home and gather with people who have that shared experience of being an expat I suppose.

You tour a lot, but where’s the strangest place you’ve ever played?

Oh wow! Earplugs if you’re sharing with a snorer is one as there’s a few of those! It is a cliche but there are so many dressing rooms and tour buses where you’ll see everyone with their head buried in a device of some kind. But what I love about touring is getting out in the morning and finding some good breakfast. Especially in the States. But I remember there were a couple of places in Melbourne that were just amazing for breakfast with kind of weird egg combinations that you just wouldn’t get at home. So I’m a sucker for the local breakfast fare.

Where does the best breakfast in Dublin?

Oh wow, that’s a good questions. A place called The Fumbally. It’s only been open a while, but they’re not shy about it they do a thing called ‘Amazing Eggs’ and it’s just a scrambled egg with garlic, tomato and avocado on nice sourdough.

Doesn’t sound that Irish?

[Laughs] - No. This whole sort of full Irish thing, I still do it occasionally, but it’s pretty nasty.

BELL X1 TOUR DATES Friday 2nd December - Prince Bandroom, Melbourne Saturday 3rd December - Factory Theatre, Sydney Sunday 4th December - Amplifier, Perth

Get tickets at www.troubadour-music.com

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EXPAT SERVICES

AUSTRALIAN TAX EXPLAINED If you’ve paid tax at any time while in Australia, you will be required to submit a tax return. You could also be entitled to a tax refund.

To help you with the ins and outs of it all, here are our top tips on Australian tax.

Know Your Tax Residency How much your tax refund will amount to determines on whether you’re a resident or non-resident.

If you’ve been in Australia for less than six months on a temporary visa, you will pay the non-resident tax rate. If you’ve worked six months or more, you’ll pay the resident tax rate. The tax rate for non-residents is higher, but this is why claiming it back is so important!

Getting Star ted in Australia

Australia offers everything you could want from great work opportunities to sunny weather, beachside living, amazing mini break opportunities and an overall great quality of life. So if you’ve decided to make Australia your new home then that will mean setting up home!

Bagging a flat in some Australian cities such as Sydney is like gold dust, and often once you’ve found your place you’ll find it may be totally unfurnished. So if you’re leaving your old life behind you may want to consider not leaving all your earthly goods behind.

After all you’ll still need something to sit and sleep on. With Seven Seas Worldwide you can ship all your household goods - and clothes and even your TV in one fell swoop with the MoveCube®.

The handy MoveCube® allows you to pack everything up in one go so you can travel light with just your daily essentials and once your cube arrives in Australia, it’s simply a case of unpacking and getting on with your new life Down Under.

Sound too good to be true? It gets even better. By using a shipping company such as Seven Seas Worldwide you can rest assured that their service is reliable and safe and they even ship globally.

Seven Seas Worldwide recognise that international freight shipping is a complex business, so they have tried their best to ensure that the process of moving your things from A to B is as simple

Claiming Your Superannuation In Australia, superannuation is a retirement fund, like a state pension. A percentage of your salary is put aside as superannuation and can’t be touched until you retire – or, until you leave Australia. If you’re not staying in Australia, you can apply to release your superannuation as soon as you leave Australia and your visa has expired.

Claiming The Medicare Levy Some foreign citizens are exempt from paying the Medicare levy, the taxpayer-funded health scheme for Australians, for which 2% is paid from taxable income. If you’re exempt from paying the levy, you need an exemption letter, which will increase your tax refund. Not sure if you’re exempt? Ask a tax agent about the Medicare levy exemption.

Include Your Bank Interest Make sure you include your bank

account interest in your annual tax return to ensure your refund is not delayed.

Claiming Work Expenses Minimise your tax or increase your tax refund by claiming work expenses. These should be directly related to your job while in Australia, so what you can claim back on depends on what job you are doing. Expenses include any tools, equipment, work uniform or courses fully paid for by you, not your employer. You should remember to keep your receipts for any expenses you want to claim.

Submitting Your Tax Return You need to submit a tax return if you’ve paid tax while you’ve been in Australia. The Australian financial year runs from 1st July – 30th June and you must submit your tax return by 31st October.

For more information on Australian tax visit www.bbmlive.com/tax-advice

as possible. Their MoveCube® service is your best option when it comes to moving your belongings to Oz. It is a mini-freight container that is designed to be carried on a trailer and parked outside of your house or apartment.

All you need to do is load your carefully packed items in strong, well-labelled boxes and wait for Seven Seas Worldwide to take it to your new address! It really is that simple.

The MoveCube® comes in three different sizes, for the minimalist, take a look at the small MoveCube® or If your belongings are for an apartment, perhaps check out the medium MoveCube®, but if you are a large family with heavy belongings, then the large MoveCube® will be more your style.

The mini-freight containers offered

by Seven Seas Worldwide are great because they’re extremely strong, safe and sturdy. Seven Seas Worldwide ensure you have a more friendly approach with the MoveCube®, so contact a member of the team today to find out more.

Alternatively, visit the MoveCube® section on the Seven Seas Worldwide website.

If you’re moving within Australia, then call 1300 216 698 FREE and quote our BBM promotional code BBMAUS15W06 for a 5% discount.

Find out more about moving your belongings from A - B with minimum stress www.sevenseasworldwide.com.au

TAX WISE Tel : 08 9248 8124 Fax : 08 9463 6208 mairead@taxwiseaustralia.com.au PO Box 1874, Malaga 6944 www.taxwiseaustralia.com.au www.taxwise-australia.com

EXPRESS TAX Level 6, 155 Castlereagh St Sydney, NSW, 2000 1800 739 739 +61 (0) 2 9267 3200 www.expresstaxback.com.au

GREEN MIGRATION

Registered Migration Agent – 1464351 Little City Studio 118 Prospect Road, PROSPECT SA 5082 +61 8 417 837 973 zoe@greenmigration.com.au www.greenmigration.com.au

OPTIMA MIGRATION

Registered Migration Agent - 0532045 Subiaco Business Centre/ Suite 5, 531 Hay St Subiaco WA 6008 + 61 8 93808397 |M: 0409130865 lidia@optimamigration.com.au www.optimamigration.com.au

IMMIGRATION HELP CORPORATE OFFICE (AUSTRALIA)

181 Marion Road Richmond, Adelaide, SA 5033, Australia Phone: +61 8 8123 6039 | Fax: +61 8 7200 7536 Mobile No: + 61 0433303774 Email:contact@myimmigrationhelp.com www.myimmigrationhelp.com

TAXBACK.CO.UK Claim back your uk tax refund info@taxback.co.uk www.taxback.co.uk BACKPACKER TAX REFUNDS First Floor, 1A Morts Road Mortdale NSW 2223 +61 (0) 2 8065 5668 info@backpackertaxrefunds.com.au www.backpackertaxrefunds.com.au

MOVE MIGRATION PTY LTD

Registered Migration Agent MARN: 1382250 104/3 Eden Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Email: Eugene.Liu@movemigration.com.au Web: movemigration.com.au

CONTACT marketing@ what-media.com to advertise your services.

Sydney image courtesy of Tourism NSW

It’s not uncommon after a working holiday in Australia to end up wanting to live there permanently, so if this sounds a bit like you then read on…

Claiming Income Tax When you start paying tax at the resident rate after six months, you may be able to claim a refund on the tax you paid as a non-resident.

This is money that you’re owed and entitled to, so it’s important not to leave it. To find out if your circumstances entitle you to a tax

refund, you can speak to a tax agent.

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RECRUITMENT. EMPLOYMENT. STUDY. MIGRATION.

HOW TO GET SPONSORED TO WORK IN AUSTRALIA

Fabio Caragliano talks us through how he came to live and work in Australia from Italy and provides a few tips on how to gain Sponsorship to work in Australia.

5th March 2014 – Time to leave Italy and start a new chapter in my life. Destination Australia!

Strong emotions and a bit of melancholy, it was hard to leave my old job, my music band, my family, my car and the same old people I used to hang out with.

All I remember was “Be careful, watch out for the spiders and snakes!”

My huge and heavy luggage was standing at the entrance of my house. Enough clothes, maybe, to last one year far from home. That’s how long I was supposed to stay in Australia, according to my Working Holiday visa.

Flight scheduled for lunchtime, I clearly remember a group of Singapore Airline’s flight attendants walking through the departure lounge at the airport. I smile!

I got on the airplane, fell asleep straight away, as I found myself 30,000 feet up!

A 24 hour flight… best find something to do, what about movies and wine to relax? Then I finally arrived in Sydney… such a great relief after all the stress I felt from watching ‘Border Protection’ on Italian television.

A few days of relaxation, then I was ready to rock ‘n’ roll looking for a job. My intention had always been to find a job in what I was good at: digital marketing.

I really didn’t want to be distracted from my career goal… even if I was tempted to go to the beach every day!

Here are 10 tips I would recommend, if you want to start your career in Australia and in order for you to have a chance of obtaining your business sponsorship visa (457): 1. Have few years of experience. It will give you a huge competitive advantage in your job search 2. Have your IELTS English exam completed (if English is not your first language) before coming to Australia, I recommend 6 points at least 3. Prepare a complete resume in English 4. Have a personalised cover letter ready for any kind of task you are able to accomplish, according to what the job expectations and duties are.

5. Include the most impressive results you achieved at work and 3 references (or the names of three referees) 6. Read English manuals about your specialisation and keep yourself updated 7. Subscribe to job board websites, contact recruitment agencies and schedule face to face meetings 8. Show your passion and interest for what you do 9. Once you find a job, show how much you like it and show some of your innovation and personality 10. After 3 or 4 months, it could be time to explore the possibility of a sponsorship visa? Show your employer your enthusiasm to work for them and to settle in Australia.

This is what I’ve done… and it worked!

Good luck with everything!

Find jobs in Australia now at www.people2people.com.au

CARPENTERS. ELECTRICIANS. CHEFS RECRUITERS. NURSES. SPONSORED JOBS Our clients are seeking professionals from overseas to fill a range of jobs across Australia. If you’re serious about staying in Australia and are seeking permenant employment or looking at skilled visas options, we want to hear from you.

If you’re coming to the end of your first or second year working holiday visa, or if you’re already in employment and are looking for a new sponsor please get in touch with our team asap. Our clients are looking for top talent and willing to sponsor for the right candidates.

Call 02 8005 8162 or email your CV to jobs@bbmlive.com

If you’ve made the decision to move to Australia, or are currently there and want to extend your visa then Freedom Migration can help you.

The Partner Visa process can be extremely expensive with the government charging $6,850 to lodge your visa application! And they’re deadly serious about that as you can’t even lodge the visa application until you make full payment in one go as they don’t take installments! Scary we know!

If you’ve made the decision to move to Australia, or are currently there and want to extend your visa then Freedom Migration can help you.

If you are already on an Australian visa that allows you to apply for another visa whilst on Australian soil then you may be able to lodge a Partner Visa application which will hopefully mean you are awarded a bridging visa that will keep you and your partner together for longer whilst you await a Partner Visa.

Whether you’re a skilled worker, foreign student, or want to join a partner or family members in Australia, their Australian migration agents can assist with acquiring you a visa to live in Australia.

There are many factors to consider when applying for your visa for Australia, and with a lot of hefty paperwork to contend with and costly applications using a migration agent can ensure the process of applying for your visa for Australia goes as smoothly as possible.

With no one circumstance being the same as another, a migration agent can help take into account your skills, family circumstances, relationship, job opportunities and education when it comes to filling out a visa application with the Australian Board of Immigration.

There are a number of visas that could suit you whilst applying to live and work in Australia, but here we discuss the Partner Visa.

It’s advisable to check whether this is an option for you before you lodge your application as you could make a wrong move and either wind up handing over all that money for nothing or find yourself without a visa at all!

The best way to avoid all the drama when applying for a Partner Visa for Australia is by using the help of a migration agent. At Freedom Migration they aim to: provide all of our customers professional and affordable service deliver honest and comprehensive advice maintain consistent and punctual communications attain the best possible outcome for each of our clients

Applying for a Partner Visa If you’ve fallen in love with an Australian citizen or permanent resident whilst in Australia and wish to remain together then you’ll need to apply for a Partner Visa. First of all you will need to decide which of the partner visa options is the right one for you and you’ll need to make sure that you meet the visa criteria.

Working with an Australian migration agent such as Freedom Migration can ensure you visa application is as laid back as the Aussie lifestyle.

For more information visit www.freedommigration.com

Sydney Opera House image courtesy of Tourism NSW.

Make your way to Australia with Freedom Migration

www.bbmlive.com 21

WWW.BBMLIVE.COM/JOBS

Tips For Getting Chef Jobs In Oz Looking for a hospitality job? Then you’ll be pleased to know that this is one of the best industries to work in in Australia.

From corporate hospitality to casual roles and chef positions, it’s highly likely there will be positions just waiting to be filled in this fast paced industry.

Using A Recruitment Agent When looking for a job it’s always good to team up with the services of a recruitment agent. This will help you save time and secure solid employment. Recruitment agents are able to speak to their clients about upcoming roles, and can help you tailor your CV to help land you the perfect job.

Increase Your Chances When choosing a recruitment agency to work with, a recruiter who specialises in your field will maximise the chances of you landing the job you ideally want.

For example those looking for hospitality and chef work in Australia should use the services of a recruitment agency that specialise in this field. Doing this will help connect you to a wide network of hospitality employers and get your CV and skills in front of the right people.

MARN 0960361

Skilled Migration Program And, it’s good news for Chefs as this occupation is in fact currently listed on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) meaning it is an available role to seek out migration to Australia via the Skilled Migration Program.

Other hospitality roles for trained kitchen staff on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List include Baker, Pastry Cook and Cook, meaning there may well be job opportunities just waiting for you around Australia in your field.

To find out more about applying for hospitality jobs in Australia speak to a TSS Recruiter at recruitment@tssgroup.com. au or visit www.tssrecruitment.com.au to find out more.

TSS RECRUITMENT

LEVEL 3, 7 HOWARD ST. RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 +61 03 9421 1020 WWW.TSSRECRUITMENT.COM.AU

TSS MIGRATION

LEVEL 3, 7 HOWARD ST. RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 +61 03 9421 1020

WWW.TSSIMMIGRATION.COM.AU

STUDENT VISA CHANGES Starting 1 July 2016, dramatic changes were introduced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to the Student Visa. From the current 8 subclasses, the number of student visas has been cut down to just 2. Now that’s really worth the drama.

Students who wish to study in Australia may only need to apply either the Subclass 500 (Student) or the Subclass 590 (Student Guardian). The former lets you study a full-time course in a registered school, and stay until you finish it. The latter, on the other hand, is applicable to guardians of an international student younger than 18 years old.

The changes of the Visa are believed to help streamline the application and processing requirement, simplify onshore applications, strengthen the integrity of the student visa program by replacing the current assessment level framework, and clearly outline visa conditions to eliminate confusions.

Speaking of the Assessment Levels, an applicant’s country of origin will no longer matter in the new system. The new focus will be on the risk rating of the education provider.

Academic institutions will be ranked by the Department of Immigration with a Risk Rating of 1 to 3. The lower the rating the easier the student visa application will be. Requirement of the English language will also be lenient at this rating.

Most visa conditions will be the same, including the application fees, arrangement for private health covers, and the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE). Students interested to study in Australia can visit Border.Gov.Au for more information.

The Benefits of Studying in Australia There are many benefits when it comes to studying abroad, as not only will you have the chance to absorb another culture and no doubt make some interesting friends along the way, but by choosing a country such as Australia you can also ensure a sound and respected qualification at the end of it. Australian higher education offers globally recognised qualifications meaning you can have all the benefits of living in Australia’s fantastic climate and enjoying the beach life alongside getting a degree!

Courses You Can Study

Aussie Studies have a variety of courses you can study ranging from 10-76 weeks. The fields you can study in include hospitality, accounting, leadership and management, business, English, HR management, mechanical and electrical technology, which means you can come out with some fantastic skills ready to apply for a job. The course on offer include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas depending on what you choose to study and the qualifications required.

Visa Requirements To Study In Australia Depending on your individual circumstances, generally to be eligible to study in Australia you will be required to apply for a visa that allows you to stay and study in the country.

Depending on the length of your course this may be a Student Visa (subclass 500) or if it is a short course a Visitor’s Visa may suffice. You can find further information about this on the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website at www.border.gov.au.

How can Aussie Studies help you If you’re an overseas student, then you’ll be pleased to know that Aussie Studies have a number of staff conversant in many languages meaning they can help get you on to a course to further your skills.

To start your journey into studying in Australia contact Aussie Studies today or visit their website to send an enquiry on the list of courses on offer.

Visit www.aussiestudies.com.au Or make an enquiry via email admissions@aussiestudies.com

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How To Get A Nursing Job In Australia

Nursing In Melbourne Voted the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne offers many perks when it comes to living and working in Australia. Aside from the fantastic abundance of cafés, art scene and food and drink culture, there are also an abundance of job opportunities for nurses.

If you’re looking for nursing job opportunities in Melbourne then a great place to start is the Australian Nursing Agency. Here we find out from Eric Smith, Director of Australian Nursing Agency, just what you need to know about nursing in Melbourne.

With the shortage of nurses in Australia, getting a job may seem like a piece of cake. They need your skills and knowledge, after all. But before you apply, you must meet several criteria to qualify.

These include your age, level of English proficiency, and your nursing qualifications and where you obtained them. Your qualifications will be assessed by the relevant Australian authority. It is only after successful assessment that you can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. You must meet with the Board Registration standards to be accepted.

You can get a nursing job by applying for a visa even for a short period of time such as a working holidaymaker, or on a longer basis such as for Permanent Residency or Employer Sponsored Workers Visa. There also instances when the Australian Government will invite you to apply for a visa, depending on your skills or qualifications.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has downloadable guides that you can use throughout the visa application process. Visit the site and check out the Registration and Endorsement page at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.

Job sponsorships, on the other hand, are where your future as a nurse in Australia lies in the hands of your future employer. If you meet the skills and qualifications which an employer is looking for, they can offer a job sponsorship for you.

However first, you must present yourself as a qualified candidate. Make sure to prepare for a professional Australian resume, and then send it to the company you want to work for. In some cases, you may need to do some research, because not all vacancies will be publicly advertised.

So what are you waiting for?!

Apply for your big move now at

www.bowerhealthcare.com.au

For nurses looking to work in Australia, what would you say are the main perks of the job?

It’s difficult to pick out what the best thing is about nursing in Australia, but I would mainly say that the facilities and standards of health services are amongst the best in the world, the wages are great, you have manageable and flexible work hours and great opportunities for ongoing professional development. Also, Australia is one of the most popular destinations in the world for people to migrate and travel too due to the weather, lifestyle, the economy and the adventures you experience when travelling around the country.

Australian Nursing Agency operates from Melbourne, Victoria; how does Melbourne compare to other cities such as Sydney or Brisbane for nursing?

Well, of course Melbourne has been voted the most liveable city in the world many times over.

From an agency perspective, Melbourne offers the most flexible and varied work opportunities for agency nurses due to the way public and private sectors work with agencies. They value agency nurses and work closely with us to ensure we always provide the right nurse for the job.

There are a large number of health services so there exists a wide range of choice for nursing professionals.

For nurses on a Working Holiday Visa, what’s the most essential thing they should do when applying to work in Australia?

Obtain their national nurse registration through

AHPRA. Now this process can take some time to organise so I advise that you start early! The second most important thing to do is pack your sunscreen!

How flexible are the shifts you can get? Do nurses have to work weekends/nights or can you pick and choose?

Agency nurses can choose where they work, when they work and how often. Our nurses have total flexibility with their working hours and we have work available every shift for every day of the year.

What kind of hours could nurses expect to work to earn enough to pay for rent, food, entertainment and travel?

Agency nurses are paid at a casual rate and we also pay higher than award rates. Agency nurses can expect 20-30 hours per week and this should provide plenty of income to do whatever travellers wish to. A lot of our travelling nurses work full time for a few months and save enough money so that they don’t have to work as they travel. We also pay for parking and provide a very attractive rewards program.

Are there any nurses who you can’t get jobs?

Is there any particular qualification required to work in Australia?

Any nurse or midwife wishing to work in Australia as a nurse must first have national registration with AHPRA. Only midwives and nurses with a nursing degree are eligible for registration. We now offer AHPRA assistance to help nurses turn around their AHPRA application in as short a time as possible.

What’s the first step to signing up to ANA? And how quickly can someone start nursing in Australia?

Register with us online at www.australiannursingagency.com.

Once you have your AHPRA registration and have signed on with Australian Nursing Agency you can commence work immediately!

Find out more and sign up at

www.australiannursingagency.com

www.bowerhealthcare.com.au info@bowerhealthcare.com.au Registered Nurses for Northern Sydney Hospitals Client hospitals in the Northern Suburbs are crying out for experienced nurses to work in general wards and specialty units, so we are particularly keen to hear from any Registered Nurses interested in immediate casual agency work.

We are currently seeking RGN’s (a minimum of 12 months post-grad experience essential) for shifts at popular public hospitals in Sydney’s north, as well as around Sydney and regional/rural NSW. Essential requirements: Work rights in Australia, a minimum of 12 months postgrad clinical experience, compliance with NSW Health’s vaccination policy, Current AHPRA registration, Eligibility for National Criminal History Record Check and NSW Working with Children Check clearance

Got a question?

ICU / Acute Care - Sydney We are particularly keen to hear from any acute care Registered Nurses who are interested in casual agency work in ICU/ CCU/ED & HDU. We are currently seeking experienced RN’s (a minimum of 12 months post-grad experience essential) for shifts within acute care units at popular and conveniently located public and private hospitals in Sydney’s east.

We offer: Guidance with achieving compliancy for work in Australia, preregistration before arrival (if travelling from outside NSW), day to day and advanced rosters, block bookings, access to our on-line rostering/availability system, professional Indemnity Insurance cover, CPE online training options, professional, friendly service - no call centres, guaranteed! Choose your work pattern, from one shift to full-time equivalent hours.

Essential requirements: Work rights in Australia, a minimum of 12 months postgrad clinical experience, Compliance with NSW Health’s vaccination policy, current AHPRA registration, eligibility for National Criminal History Record Check and NSW Working with Children Check clearance.

Rural Contract (Registered Nurse) From beautiful coastal areas to the stunning Snowy Mountain ranges, with scenic agriculture and regional towns between, our client hospitals are always pleased to accommodate travelling Registered and Enrolled nurses willing to help out on a short-term, casual contract basis.

We are currently recruiting for many Registered (and Enrolled) Nursing positions, with immediate start dates and others with a lead time into the next month or so. Contract duration varies from a few weeks to 3 months and the terms for many are negotiable with 35 to 100 hourly rate.

Although most roles require extensive specialty skills such as ED, ICU and mental health, we do also have general positions at larger, regional hospital facilities.

Aside from the opportunity to assist an area in need of your services, we offer: •Single room accommodation in nurses’ quarters or hospital rentals •Return travel (from Sydney or Melbourne) or Travel expense reimbursement • Speedy and efficient turn-around from application to placement

RN’s - All Regional - NSW Our client hospitals are always pleased to accommodate travelling nurses willing to help out on a short-term, contract basis.

Although most roles require extensive specialty skills such as ED, ICU and mental health, we do have general positions at larger facilities at times. Although these roles do not suit nurses arriving in the country wishing to start immediately (as there are a lot of compliance requirements to achieve, some of which need you to be on shore to fulfill) we can help keep you busy locally in Sydney while you wait for a suitable opening.

Essential requirements: Work rights in Australia, a minimum of 24 months post-grad clinical experience in the area required, compliance with NSW Health’s vaccination policy, current AHPRA registration, National Criminal History Record Check and NSW Working with Children Check.

Contracts come with single room accommodation in nurses’ quarters or hospital rentals, travel expense reimbursement can be negotiated and a lump-sum bonus applies at the successful completion of the agreed terms.

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EXPLORE THE TOP END Should you find yourself in Australia’s Northern Territory in the coming months then you will want to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this wild and untamed region.

Australia’s Top End is brimming with natural attractions such as the intrepid terrain of Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and within these, stunning waterfalls and wildlife that will make you feel like you’re a million miles away.

One of the best ways to explore the Top End is by embarking on a group tour that will take you to all the major attractions ensuring you don’t miss a thing!

Kakadu Wild Expeditions offer a fantastic 5 day tour that sets off from Darwin making its first stop at the Mary River Wetlands. It’s here that you will have the chance

to spot a few ferocious saltwater crocodiles - especially as this is where you’ll find the highest concentration of “salties” in the Southern Hemisphere. Eek! Next up on the tour you’ll also have the chance get some 4WD action as you explore Kakadu National Park, stopping off at the stunning Jim Jim Falls which cascade from a whopping height of 200 metres. You’ll also have the chance to relax and swim on the idyllic sandy beach.

It’s then on to the Nitmuluk National Park where you’ll visit yet another stunning waterfall in the form of the Gunlom Falls.

Here you can take a swim in the waterhole and take in the incredible views of the escarpment country. You’ll also visit the historic gold-mining centre of Pine Creek before heading further south and

settling in for the night at the Kakadu Wild private campsite on the doorstep of Nitmuluk National Park.

Whilst visiting Nitmuluk you will also reach the epic Katherine Gorge - where you can take a cruise along the gorge or hire a canoe and paddle yourself downstream taking in the views from the water itself.

Heading back to Darwin on the last day you’ll stop by Litchfield National Park, where you’ll visit Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and the Buley Rockholes all whilst looking out for the native wildlife such as Frilled Neck Lizards, Water Monitor Lizards and more! So keep your eyes peeled.

Find out more and book at www.kakaduwild.com.au

Melaleuca on Mitchell Recommend: Crocosaurus Cove For those of you who are feeling brave, then Crocosaurus Cove is a must whilst visiting Darwin. Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of Darwin city offers experiences unlike any other aquatic theme park in the world.

Crocosaurus Cove plays host to over 200 saltwater crocs, which you can view from the safety of a walk-around platform, hold in your own hands (we are only talking about the babies here obviously) and even swim with.

The Cage Of Death presents a transparent cylinder that separates you from the giant saltwater crocs as you are lowered into their tank for an up close and personal encounter with the ancient beast during feeding time. But that is not all Crocosaurus Cove has to offer, it also boasts the world’s largest collection of Australian Reptiles some of which you can meet and hold in the ‘Meet The Reptiles’ attraction. From Geckos to Turtles there is a lot to learn about these scaly critters.

If you’re not quite up to being only centimetres away from these prehistoric beasts or trapped in a perspex box, then have a dip in the ‘Swim with Crocs’ enclosure which borders onto the juvenile croc enclosure and lets you swim around freely (and safely of course). Just make sure you bring your swimmers!

Or you could do a spot of fishing in the juvenile enclosure with young crocs between the ages 2-3 years-old and are ecstatic about catching the meaty treats that you will be able to hang from the end of your line.

Afterwards you can even get your photo taken with one of the babies or spend some time in the turtle sanctuary where you can meet some of the most unique reptiles in the north end.

Whatever you decide to do make sure you visit whilst you’re in Darwin as a visit to Crocosaurus Cove is sure to get you a lot of likes on instagram!

Most activities are included in the admission fee which is just $35 for adults, but if you want to get the full experience and hop in the ‘Cage of Death’ prices start at just $125pp including entry fee.

You’ll find Crocosaurus Cover at 58 Mitchell Street, Darwin City (Corner of Mitchell & Peel Street) or visit www.crocosauruscove.com

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EXPLORE THE KIMBERLEY WILDERNESS Kimberley Wild Expeditions will show you everything from dramatic gorges to tumbling waterfalls, epic rock formations and more on their 10 day tour of the region.

As you meet your fellow comrades setting off from Broome you’ll head to the banks of the Fitzroy River to enjoy morning tea before hitting the Gibb River Road. On the way you’ll visit the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre which will set you up with some knowledge about the Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbal tribes ahead of your trip. From here it’s on to Tunnel Creek to explore the 750 metre cave system that weaves through the Napier Range. And then a night camping under the starry Kimberley night sky.

Over the next few days you will explore the ancient 350 million year old Napier Range as well as the imposing Windjana Gorge. It’s here that you’ll be able to spot from freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and indulge in some real bush tucker. From here you’ll visit Bell Gorge. An idyllic retreat tucked away in the West Kimberleys, this area boasts cascading waterfalls and crystal clear billabongs just perfect for cooling off in.

But the stunning natural landscape doesn’t stop in Bell Gorge, back on to the Gibb River Road you’ll reach the water lily-laden Galvans Gorge and Adcock Gorge. It’s here you’ll also find the stunning Manning Falls where you’ll be able to swim in the deep, clear pools and take in the Aussie wildlife before spending a night camping by a billabong on Mt Barnett Cattle Station.

The tour continues taking you to Kununurra and Lake Argyle before reaching Purnululu National Park where the Bungle Bungle ranges await.

Only the locals knew about the huge beehive shaped mountains until the 80s when a film crew “discovered” them. Nearby to the Bungle Bungles you’ll also find the Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge and plenty of wildlife.

Your tour of the Kimberley Region will also take you to the impressive China Wall, the adventurous Fitzroy Crossing and to Geikie Gorge before concluding back in Broome.

Find out more and book at www.kimberleywild.com.au

Visit The Rock The most famous rock in the world beckons you.

When you think of Australia your mind will most likely jump to the image of Uluru - the most famous monolith on the planet.

Whilst visiting Australia a trip to the Rock is a must and with Mulgas Adventures you can do just that for as little as $390!

Setting off from Alice Springs you will be taken to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the amazing Kings Canyon over a 3 day camping adventure.

Uluru is famous for reflecting the light of the sun and appearing to be illuminated, so you’ll be pleased to know that on the first day of your tour you’ll have the chance to see the rock in all its glory as the sun sets whilst sipping on a glass of bubbly. After a night of camping under the starry night sky, you’ll awake at sunrise to see just how stunning the rock is as the day breaks.

After an early breakfast it’s off to Kata Tjuta to walk through the Valley Of The Winds before heading to Kings Creek Station after lunch. Along the way you can enjoy a scenic drive passed the George Gill Range and enjoy a proper outback Aussie BBQ dinner with your fellow passengers before bedding down for the night again in your swag.

The last day of the tour takes you to Kings Canyon to walk around the rim whilst taking in the views of the stunning landscape below before stopping for a camel ride on the way back to Alice Springs where the tour concludes.

To find out more about this great value for money tour and to book visit

www.mulgasadventures.com.au

Images courtesy of Tourism Western Australia & Tourism NT

Touched down in Western Australia or planning a tour of the West Coast?

You can see the very best of what the stunning Kimberley Region has to offer on the Kimberley Loop tour.

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GERALDTON A SURFERS PARADISE

If you’ve landed in Western Australia then you’re probably aware of the seemingly endless coastline that flanks Australia’s largest state.

From top to toe Western Australia is world renowned for its stunning coastline and fantastic surf.

Whether you’re there already or

planning a trip to the stunning state there’s so much to see and do that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

For those of you who want to indulge in possibly the most Aussie pastime of surfing whilst visiting Western Australia boasts some of the best surf in the world as the Indian Ocean crashes on its shores. If you’re setting off from Perth up north then we highly recommend Geraldton as a must visit for your itinerary.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to travel up and down WA’s coastline then we suggest taking advantage of a company such as Integrity Coachlines which offer a hop-on-hop-off pass so you can travel at your own pace and spend as much time as you like in each destination.

surfing and seeing the sites of this coastal town. Whilst visiting ‘Gero’ as it’s known to the locals as you can also windsurf or snorkel and dive. In fact for those of you who do like to plunge below the water’s surface you can see bream, mulloway, flathead, tailor and herring.

Geraldton is just one of the many towns that Integrity Coachlines stops at, so why not head north from Perth and spend a few days

From Geraldton you are also able to visit the stunning Albrohos Islands where you can see the local wildlife including Tamar wallabies

and a variety of seabirds and reptiles. If you’re looking for cheap accommodation in Geraldton then Integrity Coachlines suggest the Foreshore Backpackers as a great place to stop at for a few nights in between exploring!

Get 10% off hop-on-hop-off coach passes with promo code BBM5 when booking at www.integritycoachlines.com

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WA - WHERE ADVENTURES LIVES Setting off from Perth, Aussie Wanderer’s 9 day Perth to Broome tour will see you encounter big adventures every single day.

From experiencing the rugged and rocky Kalbarri National Park, the Z Bend, and deep gorges to going face to face with the Monkey Mia dolphins, as well as snorkelling the Ningaloo Reef and swimming in the billabongs of Karijini National Park, there is so much to do on this tour that it will leave you with the memories of a lifetime as well as putting a dent in your storage

space from all the pics you’ll take!

Departing every Saturday from March to December, this tour is a great way to see the diversity of Western Australia and will take you from the city, to the north western town of Broome. It’s here that you’ll be able to take a camel ride on the famous Cable Beach - world renowned for its stunning sunsets, it’s here that you’ll also see the Staircase To The Moon phenomenon.

If you’re a water baby, then you may want to consider timing this

tour to coincide with the annual visit from the Whale Sharks who flock to Western Australia’s shores between April and July every year to feed at the Ningaloo Reef.

It’s also worth mentioning that every day you will hike for up to 4km on uneven terrain, so make sure you’re of a good fitness level, and of course have some proper hiking boots! This incredible tour includes five nights dorm accommodation, two nights safari tent camping, one night camping.

For more information visit www.aussiewanderer.com.au

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA’S WEST COAST Setting off from Perth there’s so much to see when you travel to WA’s North West town of Broome.

Western Australia boasts some of the world’s best beaches and national parks and on this tour you’ll get to see a handful of them as you make your journey north.

Explore The Aussie Bush From Perth you’ll first stop off at the stunning Kalbarri National Park. It’s here that you’ll get to see the stunning ‘Nature’s Window’ a picturesque rock formation that perfectly frames the landscape in the distance in a natural picture frame created from erosion to the rocks. At Kalbarri you can take in the deep ravines and gorges as well as the snaking waterways that make for an extremely dramatic landscape.

Coastal Adventures in WA Kalbarri is your launch pad to the beginning of your stunning coastal adventure with your first stop being at Shark Bay. A stunning beachside destination where you’ll be able

to take to the water and snorkel with some of the stunning marine life native to Western Australia and even see the famous Monkey Mia dolphins. Monkey Mia is famous for the dolphins that come into the shallows every day to be hand fed by visitors. In fact the Monkey Mia dolphins are so famous they’ve been incredibly important to dolphin research studies over the last few years, and if you’re a fan of these majestic aquatic mammals then this is your chance to see them up close!

Snorkelling The Ningaloo Reef Next up is Coral Bay - the gateway to the Ningaloo Reef - also known as WA’s answer to the Great Barrier Reef. At the Ningaloo Reef you can get up close and personal with a kaleidoscope of tropical fish as well as an abundance of coral - and if you visit at the right time of year, you may even be lucky enough to encounter the enormous Whale Sharks as they migrate through these shores from April to July every year.

Entering Bliss At Karijini From Exmouth you’ll head inland to the stunning Karijini National Park. Your time in Karijini is the real highlight of the tour. You’ll get to spend a few days here hiking and exploring the National Park. An exquisite wonderland of marbled rock, narrow tunnels, caves, waterfalls and billabongs, you can swim under waterfalls and take in some real Aussie bushland in a tranquil setting before setting off for your final destination of Broome.

The Endless Skies Of Broome Broome is famous for the seemingly endless Cable Beach where you can see epic sunsets that streak the expansive skies as well as the natural phenomenon of the ‘Stairway to the Moon’ that creates an optical illusion of stairs leading up to the moon come nightfall.

All this and more is available with Adventure Tours Australia’s Perth to Broome Overland trip that runs over 10 days.

Find more tours at www.adventuretours.com.au

Images courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Embark on the ultimate West Coast adventure this spring.

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KANGAROO ISLAND

The jewel of South Australia

WIN land oo Is

ngar our for 2 a K A T ture 890 n e v Ad h$ wort ter om n e o il t ive.c Emaions@bbml etit comp

t&c’s

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* See www.bbmlive.com/competitions for full terms & conditions or front cover advert If you’re planning your travels around Australia then you won’t want to miss South Australia.

As swarms of working holiday makers head up Australia’s east coast, you may want to consider going in another direction. Easily accessible from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island presents the perfect opportunity to see the native Australian wildlife against the backdrop of some of the most dramatic landscapes Australia has to offer.

A trip to Kangaroo Island will encompass the very essence of Australia, from tasting local produce, to sweeping bays, and stunning rock formations, there’s something to appease every traveller when they visit this off shoot of South Australia.

You may have heard about the smaller Australian islands such as the Whitsundays, but Kangaroo Island is anything but small as it spans a whopping 4,405 km2.

Wildlife on Kangaroo Island One of the main pulls for visitors to Australia is to see its unique wildlife. On Kangaroo Island you’ll have the chance to spot a variety of birds, mammals and marsupials including; Eagles, Black Cockatoos, Echidnas, Kangaroos, Tammar

Wallabies, Australian Sea lions, Long Nosed Fur Seals, and even Southern Right Whales and Dolphins frolicking in the waters off the coast line.

Local Produce on Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island has a number of local products to offer any visitor to the island. For those of you wanting to sample the local cuisine be sure to try the fresh seafood as well as the locally produced honey. Top tip - don’t miss out on Clifford’s Honey Farm’s very own honey ice cream for a totally melt in your mouth experience and while you are there, pick up a few bottles of their new Drunken Drone Honey Wheat Ale When it comes to drinks, your taste buds will also be thanking you as Kangaroo Island produces some of the most delectable red wine Australia has to offer. But it doesn’t just stop there - Kangaroo Island is also home to Old Tom Gin, which scooped the Champion Gin Trophy at the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards. You’ll find this fabulous gin at Kangaroo Island Spirits.

Points of Interest on Kangaroo Island As we previously mentioned, Kangaroo Island has one heck of a dramatic landscape. Whilst visiting Kangaroo Island

you can sandboard down the dunes at Little Sahara, visit the craggy and otherworldly Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park as well as the imposing Admirals Arch. If you want to see one of the most stunning beaches in South Australia, then Vivonne Bay is where you’ll find sweeping sandy beaches and stunning blue waters. For those who enjoy surfing, then Hanson Bay and Pennington Bay take the crown as fantastic surfing locations on Kangaroo Island.

WIN 2 DAYS ON KANGAROO ISLAND With all these activities and things to do on Kangaroo Island being the mere tip of the iceberg, make sure you enter our competition to win 2 days for 2 people before 30th September to see Kangaroo Island for yourself and experience all this and more!

Terms and Conditions apply, visit www.bbmlive.com/win-a-kangaroo-islandadventure-tour-for-2/ to enter For tours and information on visiting Kangaroo Island visit www.kiadventuretours.com.au

SEE AUSTRALIA’S RAINFOREST ON HORSEBACK Imagine clip clopping along the winding trails through the cool green rainforest. There’s nothing to disturb the peace except the gentle sound of hooves and the birds.

Trace the banks along the tumbling creek and climb upwards through majestic ancient gum trees. Reach the top and be captivated by breathtaking views of the valley below.

Thunderbird Park Trail Rides offers a range of options for adults and children. Everyone can enjoy this simple pleasure.

It doesn’t matter if you have never been on a horse before or if you are an experienced rider, this will be a new, safe and thrilling experience.

Individual trail rides and longer rides can be arranged in advance. Take the Trail Ride priced at $50 for half an hour and amble alongside picturesque Cedar Creek. This ride is suitable for anyone aged more than seven years.

The Bush Ride at $75 for about an hour takes riders on a scenic trek to Thunderbird Park’s woodland mountain ridge.

Be prepared to meet the natives; wallabies, kangaroos, koalas and goannas come out of hiding to see the horses pass by.

The Hill Top Ride ($95 for around an hour and a half) follows the forest tracks to the highlands. A breathtaking view to the Great Dividing Range is the halfway reward and a moment to remember as you ride down through sun-dappled rainforest.

The youngest members of the family won’t miss out as there are $10 pony rides for the little ones. Meet gentle ponies, capture the moment on your camera and enjoy a lead ride around the lawn.

Thunderbird Park Horse Trails welcome riders everyday but bookings are essential.

Visit www.thunderbridpark.com.au for details.

Get back to nature at Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This 112-hectare rainforest property has a lot to offer when it comes to outdoor adventures but there are few activities more enjoyable than riding a horse through stunning scenery.

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Make the most of your time on the world’s largest sand island by volunteering.

Volunteer On Fraser Island

A trip to Fraser Island will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

From driving down 75 Mile Beach which is in fact 75 miles long - to taking a dip in the crystal clear waters of Lake Mackenzie and whale watching off the coast of Queensland, Fraser Island encompasses the ultimate Aussie adventure to add to your Australian bucket list.

With Dropbear Adventures not only can you tour Fraser Island and get to see some of the most stunning scenery on Earth, but you can also extend your visit to Fraser by volunteering.

Volunteering with Dropbear Adventures allows you to gain a real insight into what it’s like to run tours on this paradise island. From setting up camp for the passengers to washing the land cruisers, and checking the camping equipment, volunteering will not only give you

valuable work experience, but will also give you the chance to get to know Fraser Island that little bit better. A worthwhile experience for any traveller to Australia, Fraser Island is definitely somewhere you’ll never want to leave, and by extending your visit you can get to enjoy the pleasures of spotting wild dingoes and their puppies as well as exploring Lake Wabby, Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Champagne Pools and Indian Head.

With no two days being the same on Fraser, you can expect something different and exciting with each day that comes. Helping out with the tours will also give you the chance to meet other like minded travellers and make sure their time on the Island is just as special as yours.

Dropbear Adventures run both 2 and 3 day tours of Fraser Island all year round departing weekly four to five times a week.

To find out more about Fraser Island tours and volunteering on Fraser visit www.dropbearadventures.com.au

SAIL THE WHITSUNDAYS IN STYLE

There’s one destination that should be firmly at the top of any traveller’s bucket list when it comes to Australia and that’s The Whitsunday Islands.

A group of 74 stunning tropical islands, The Whitsundays make for the ultimate holiday destination. With many of the islands being uninhabited you will really feel like a castaway as you explore this slice of paradise off the East Coast of Australia.

Tropical islands aside a trip to The Whitsundays is also complemented by a visit to the Great Barrier Reef.

The largest coral reef on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is easily accessible from The Whitsundays and Airlie Beach on the mainland. A massive 10% of the world’s entire fish population can be found at the Great Barrier Reef alongside marine reptiles such as Green, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles and even sea snakes!

Awesome Whitsundays offer a number of ways for you to enjoy the pleasures of both The Whitsunday Islands as well as the Great Barrier Reef with their variety of tours.

So however long you want to spend soaking up life in this tropical paradise is up to you.

Awesome Whitsundays Tour Packages

Sailing There’s no doubt about it, the Whitsunday Islands are a sailor’s paradise, so why not take advantage of Awesome Whitsundays Reef & Whitehaven Adventure which includes climbing on board the stunning ‘Camira’ - a high speed catamaran that has been built for speed and comfort.

Whilst using this vessel as a base for your trip you can swim and snorkel on your way to Whitehaven Beach.

Island Hopping With their great value for money Island Hopper Pass, you’re able to explore the islands at your own pace. Awesome Whitsundays have high speed cruise vessels that transfer guests and day trippers alike from the mainland to both Hamilton Island and Daydream Island. Both islands have a great array of activities for you to experience, and Daydream Island is home to one of the world’s largest outdoor aquariums - so don’t forget your swimsuit and goggles!

Reefsleep One of the most tranquil places on earth, take advantage of Awesome Whitsundays Reefsleep package which enables you to actually bed down for the night on their pontoon out on the Great Barrier Reef. With their Reefsleep package you can spend the day diving or snorkelling and spend the night seeing which creatures of the deep float to the surface.

Castaway Combining all the above Awesome Whitsundays also offer 5 days and 5 nights on their Castaway tour where you can combine sailing around the islands on ‘Camira’ as well as snorkelling and an unforgettable experience – spending a night under the stars on our pontoon in the Great Barrier Reef.

To find out more and book visit

www.awesomewhitsundays.com

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Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Discover ancient tropical rainforest and journey into one of the world’s oldest continually surviving rainforests with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

At Red Peak Station, Skyrail’s Rangers provide guided boardwalk tours, sharing their knowledge of these ancient tropical forests amongst giant buttress roots, towering Kauri Pines and climbing wait-a-while palms.

Barron Falls Station has easy access walkways to three separate lookouts providing breathtaking views of the Barron Gorge and Falls. Here you can also visit the Rainforest Interpretation Centre which Skyrail developed in conjunction with CSIRO to provide an informative and fun learning experience.

Skyrail takes you on an unforgettable journey over and through Australia’s World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforests, in the Barron Gorge National Park.

Spanning 7.5kms, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway has comfortable six person gondolas which glide just metres above the canopy providing spectacular views of the rainforest, tropical Cairns, the Coral Sea and the Cairns Highlands. Your Skyrail experience also includes time at two stations.

Multiple winner of the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Skyrail is a premier tourist experience which is accessible to people of all ages and abilities, providing its guests with a truly unique rainforest experience, available nowhere else in the world.

Situated just 15 minutes from Cairns city centre and 50 minutes from Port Douglas, Skyrail is open every day from 9am, except Christmas Day and during programmed, preventative maintenance. Skyrail is The World’s Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience.

Find out more and book at skyrail.com.au Sustainable Tourism, Skyrail is the world’s most beautiful rainforest experience.

THE WILD WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS The waters of QLD may look tranquil and idyllic, but there’s no reason you can’t spice things up with an Ocean Rafting adventure.

The Ocean Raft’s a built for speed as they transport you from mainland out to the tropics of the Great Barrier Reef.

Away from the shore you’ll have a chance to discover the “Wild Side” of the Whitsundays as you visit the uninhabited islands teeming with wildlife.

With Ocean Rafting being one of the only tour companies allowed into certain protected areas you’ll certainly get a great insight into these stunning desert islands.

During your tour you’ll have the chance to snorkel, discovering the kaleidoscopic world that bustles below the surface of the water.

Depending on whether you want more beach time or more snorkelling time, Ocean Rafting offer two different Whitehaven Beach tours. The Northern Exposure Tour offers more snorkelling time and the Southern Lights tour

offers more time on the beach. With tours departing daily from Abell Point Marina North in Airlie Beach you can easily get to see the most stunning corners of the Whitsundays.

Find out more and book at www.oceanrafting.com.au

SNORKEL THE REEF Heading up to Tropical North Queensland to see the Great Barrier Reef is a must whilst visiting Australia.

With the Reef being the largest coral reef on the planet (you can see if from outer space!) it will come as no surprise that close to 10% of the world’s entire fish population call the Great Barrier Reef home. But it’s not just fish you can hope to see whilst visiting. The Reef is also home to 6 of the world’s 7 marine turtle species including Green Turtles, Leatherbacks and Loggerheads! Getting to see one of these guys is a real treat, and you’re also likely to spot Giant Clams, Starfish, Eagle Rays and an abundance of colourful corals. If you’re staying in Cape Tribulation for a few days it’s well worth venturing out to the ocean on a day trip to snorkel at the Reef. With Ocean Safari you can jump on

board one of their fantastic half day tours off the Daintree Coast that will take you on a 25 minute ride out to the Reef where you’ll discover all the rare and wonderful wildlife.

Morning tours depart at 8 am and afternoon tours at 12 midday. Tours start from $139 per person.

The Ocean Safari check in office is where you’ll also find the Turtle Rock Café where you can fill up on some wholesome meals after all that snorkelling. You’ll also find Jungle Lodge just 400 metres from the beach. Jungle Lodge offers camping in the stunning Cape Tribulation rainforest making it the perfect base if you want to stay in the area over a few days!

Find out more at www.oceansafari.com.au

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10 Fascinating Truths About Marrakech

Wrapped up in history, mystery, and charm, Morocco’s city of Marrakech is a major economic centre and is home to mosques, palaces and gardens.

The medina is a solidly crammed, enclosed medieval metropolitan dating back to the Berber Empire with puzzling backstreets where flourishing souks sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery.

It’s not Morocco’s capital city, that’s Rabat.

It’s not the country’s largest city, that’s Casablanca. It’s not even the African nation’s oldest city, that’s Fes. But Marrakech takes victory over other Moroccan metropolises as the informal cultural hub.

So, you want to go to this fantastic city?

Here are 10 fascinating truths to help get you underway on your visit to Marrakech.

1. Marrakech is regularly stated to as the Red City, due to the fact of the shade of the walls encompassing its old town area.

2. Marrakech was one of Morocco’s Imperial Cities, during the Berber Empire. The other historic capitals were Fes, Meknes, and the present capital, Rabat.

3. The 7 square kilometres of Marrakech’s 11th century Medina was elected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

4. Marrakech, as all other cities in Morocco, remains an Islamic and mainly maledominated civilisation however, it is also one of the furthermost open-minded and

diverse metropolises in the Middle East.

5. Marrakech has the biggest souk in the whole of Morocco.

6. Modern and stylish clubs and golf resorts may be well known in Marrakech, but in 2010, it was stated that around 20,000 homes in Marrakech still had no access to electricity or water.

7. While the official language in Marrakech is Arabic, countless residents also use the Berber language Amazigh as well as French.

8. The average temperature high in the month of July is a shockingly scorching 38°C. 9. Marrakech was formally made a sister city of Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2012.

This was due to their likenesses of together

being desert cities and sharing interests in climate, tourism, cultural heritage, and golf management.

10. Spiritual wanderers called the Almoravids strolled to the Tensift River, where they constructed their hub, founding Marrakech in 1062.

Fancy a trip to Morocco?

Travel Talk Tours offer 8 and 10 day tours with most of them starting and finishing in Marrakech so you have sufficient time to discover this superb city!

Find out more at www.traveltalktours.com

AFRICA UNCOVERED

The holy grail of adventure awaits your arrival.

An overland safari in Africa is the pinnacle of all travel experiences and is a once in a lifetime experience to see some of the world’s rarest animals in their natural habitats.

Taking an overland safari allows you to cross borders, see multiple countries, meet traditional, indigenous tribes and really get back to nature.

Africa has vast swathes of amazing scenery and experiences when it comes to taking an overground safari and depending on where you decide to set off from, you can be sure you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Some may choose to explore the more southern African countries of Namibia and Botswana, and it’s here that you’ll be able to witness the epic sand dunes of Namibia.

A visit to Namibia will also give you the chance to sandboard down these enormous desert dunes, as well as visit the Etosha National Park. It’s here that you’ll meet the local tribes, and see wild elephants, herds of zebras and even hippos wallowing in the swampy shallows. From the Etosha National Park you can cross the border to Botswana where even more natural wonders await.

Botswana is home to the stunning Okavango Delta. Although the delta has dried up in previous years, it currently plays hosts to an incredible amount of birdlife, crocodiles and hippos - and in fact is the largest inland delta on Earth!

The delta makes Botswana a fantastically fertile place for other animals due to its many waterways, and it’s here you’ll also be able to spot lions, cheetah, giraffes and more.

Botswana presents the gateway to Zimbabwe, otherwise known as the home of the world famous Victoria Falls. This absolutely mammothly spectacular waterfall is the largest in the world measuring a whopping 5,600 ft across and the force of the falls are so powerful that you can even feel the spray from a mile away.

Find out more about African adventures at www.encounterstravel.com

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LAST MINUTE OKTOBERFEST DEALS It’s time to start priming that liver of yours for the world’s biggest beer bonanza!

Oktoberfest is on the horizon, so if you haven’t booked your ticket yet, you better get clicking!

The world’s biggest annual beer festival takes place in Munich, Germany every September and proceedings kick off on 17th September and will rage for a full 16 days.

Known to the locals as Weisn, the festival say 5.9 million visitors last year, who consumed a mammoth 7.7 million litres of beer over the course of the festival.

Each year, it is tradition for the Mayor of Munich to tap the first beer, (essentially opening a barrel) and take a good swig of the beer from it to mark the start of the year’s occasion.

To get in the spirit of Oktoberfest you’ll also want to don some authentic German costume such as the all-traditional lederhosen and join in with the festivities.

Never experienced Oktoberfest before and want to save money for your maiden voyage on the beer swilling streets? Book on an Oktoberfest tour with The Fanatics and they’ll ensure you’ll have a merry old time, as well as ensuring you have food, water and a roof over your head!

The Fanatics Oktoberfest tours run from 15th - 20th September and include coach transfers between London and Munich, three days at three different beer halls, transfers from your campsite or hostel accommodation to the Oktoberfest site, and you can even attend the opening ceremony.

Prices start from just £189.

Can’t make it this year? Book for 2017 now!

www.thefanatics.com/oktoberfest

STA TRAVEL BEATS LAUNCHES WITH GOLDEN BEATS Spend 11 days partying and exploring the best of India on the Golden Beats tour…

Imagine losing yourself to some of the best music whilst partying in a 17th Century Indian Fort in the heart of Rajasthan… well you can make it a reality this December at Magnetic Fields Festival.

Magnetic Fields Festival is the perfect opportunity to not only have this mystic one in a million festival experience, but to also see the sites of India… after all it’s a long way to go just for a few days festivaling - albeit epic!

Over 11 days with STA travel you can also experience the delights of many other locations in India. From the bustling bazaars of Delhi, to the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra, and even Jaipur and Pushkar there is so much to see and do in India you won’t want to leave.

This unique experience to combine going to a festival in such an epic location as well as see the ancient and wonderous cities is one not to be missed. Add to add to all that Eastern Mysticism you’ll even get to stay in luxury Bedouin tents whilst vibing out at the Magnetic Fields Festival.

With STA’s Travel Beats tours you can combine all the culture and adventure of a tour with experiencing some of the best festivals in the most random corners on earth, meaning if you love music and travel, then you’ll be well versed on their tours.

Find out more and book at www.statravel.co.uk/beats

CROTIA

SET SAIL ON THE DALMATION COAST Spend the week sailing Croatia and exploring the crystal blue Adriatic along the amazing Dalmatian coastline for summer 2017.

Starting in Split, set sail to discover hidden bays and magical swimming spots with visits to Hvar, Dubrovnik and Makarska - to name a few.

Enjoy a relaxed sun soaked day on the boat before getting those feet on to dry land to take in a touch of culture, adventure and nightlife. Docking in a different destination each evening over the course of the tour, you’ll get to experience the individual personalities of the Croatian islands.

During the day you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe and take a dip into the sea and by night you can explore and discover everything these amazing destinations have to offer.

Sailing around Croatia offers great diversity as you visit different ports during your sailing adventure, and combining this with life on the high seas offers the ultimate summer holiday.

After all those heavy nights on the town, you’ll be fully refreshed the next day as you splash around in the sea and have the cooling sea breeze whilst sailing from port to port.

Sailing Croatia with Koda Sail also gives you the opportunity to travel in a group and make friends for life as you take it all in together.

Koda Sail’s Dalmatian Voyager tour gives you 8 days of sailing and 7 nights on board. During the tour you will get to see the Biokovo mountain range, Mljet National Park, Dubrovnik Old Town, Korcula, Hvar and Omis where you can indulge in exciting activities such as zip-lining and white water rafting on the Cetina River.

For more info visit www.kodasail.com

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THE PASSPORT FOR ALL TRAVEL-LOVING FESTIVAL FIENDS

Want to travel but don’t want to be tied down to set dates? The Stoke Travel Passport is your ticket to success. It offers you 19 different destinations full of festivities to choose from and gives you the flexibility of booking trips as last minute as one week before. Perfect for those of us with commitment issues.

There’s four different types of

passports, depending on how much you wanna spend or how many places you wanna see. You can choose from a two festival, three festival, five festival or if you’re feeling crazy, an eight festival package.Each festival/ destination you includes three nights accommodation plus unlimited booze and other freebies. Here’s a glimpse at some of the goodies available…

- Head to BBK Live and have your ticket, accommo, alcohol + good times sorted for you - Join the craziest of humans in ticking the Pamplona Bull Run off your bucket list - Get sticky with wine at the San Vino Wine Fight Festival in Haro

- Learn to ride waves like a boss in Spain & France on the Van Surfari - Unleash your psychedelic inner self at Sziget Festival in Budapest - Douse your friends in saucy tomato juice at La Tomatina - Show your friends how many beer steins you can down at the mighty Bavarian Oktoberfest - Visit the tiny tax-free country of Andorra in the Winter for a weekend of snowy bliss - Bust out your sequins, feathers and frivolity at the Sitges Festival in Feb - Jump on the Rolling Circus and travel Europe between La

Tomatina and Oktoberfest (with both festivals included as well) See website for a full list of options… that’s right, there’s more.

So yeah good-luck choosing just eight (or less) from that list of whopper deals. Remember, your passport is valid for two years after the first festival you use it on. Happy fiesta-ing, friends!

Find out more and book at www.stoketravel.com

WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE SAILING IN GREECE

SPEND NEW YEAR’S IN EDINBURGH It may be a difficult thought that Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, but fear not as First Festival Travel have got the ultimate New Year’s Eve lined up for you in Edinburgh, Scotland.

If you want to do New Year how it should be done then don’t miss out on this year’s Hogmanay. To make the most of your trip to Scotland you can embark on a Hogmanay tour that will give you all the perks of a city break with a little exploration.

After arriving at your hostel in Edinburgh you will meet your tour leader in the evening who will talk you through your itinerary for the next few days. Come nightfall you will kick off the Hogmanay festivities with a torchlight procession. A spectacle to behold this is one tradition you won’t want to miss out on, and you can even purchase your own flaming torch to join in with the Scottish tradition. You’ll then have the chance to party the night away

and enjoy the Edinburgh nightlife.

On New Year’s Eve you’ll be issued with your official Street Party Pass meaning you can take advantage of all the Hogmanay festivities on offer.

The day will kick off with a huge group party at The Three Sisters Pub to ring in the New Year for New Zealand at 11am and for Australia at 1pm. The party will then rage on until night falls and it’s time to go to Princes Street for the world famous street party to welcome in 2017!

Upon waking up in the brand new year you’ll be free to explore Edinburgh or simply sleep off the NYE revelry. There will be plenty going on around town to keep you entertained either way so make the most of exploring this beautiful city.

To find out more about attending Hogmanay for New Year’s Eve visit www. firstfestivaltravel.com

Imagine the sun soaked deck of a boat surrounded by azure waters as you gently bob up and down to the rhythm of the sea, cocktail in hand as you tan.

Sound idyllic? Well we can tell you just how you can make that image a reality with Sail In Greece.

Offering sailing holidays around the Greek Islands, we find out from tour passenger, Valentine Akem, 25, just a few of the highlights you can experience on a sailing holiday with Sail In Greece.

What made you want to go on a sailing holiday in Greece?

I wanted to combine sunshine, good food, fun and to meet new people.

What time of year did you go on the tour?

Early July - in the summer.

What was your favourite island that you visited and why?

Ios. The bars and clubs were great. Easy to walk everywhere.

What was a highlight in terms of entertainment on board the Sail In Greece boat?

The people on the boat were fun and we played drinking games and music.

Where was the best bar you visited on land during the tour?

Paradise Beach - Guapaloca.

What’s a good way to spend the day whilst on a Sail In Greece cruise?

Swimming and relaxing.

Did you get up to any further activities whilst on the tour, if so what would you recommend?

Renting the quad bikes in Paros.

What were your top 3 fun moments from the tour?

1) Fun Pub in Ios: Had 2 grenade bombs.

2) Far Out Beach Club in Ios: Will Sparks played.

3) Jarred doing a striptease on the boat for the lucky ladies.

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the cruise and would you recommend it to a friend?

8/10. I would definitely recommend it!

Find out more and book at www.sail-ingreece.com

By Sophie Winter

- Take a trip to the beautiful Barcelona and be treated to a three night stay in a castle with unlimited booze and delicious food (popular booking time is June for San Juan or Sonar Festival) - Jump on a plane to the world’s number one party destination, Ibiza, to see some of the world’s best DJs

36

If you’re planning a gap year abroad, or even a sabbatical from work, travelling solo can feel a little daunting. Of course you want to make the most of your time away, but may be feeling that some regions are a little too far or remote to go it alone, but that’s where Intro Travel comes into play.

Intro travel offer a range of group tours perfectly designed for people setting off on their travels for the first time on their own.

Specialising in tours popular with solo travellers in Thailand, Bali and Australia, with Intro Travel you can not only reach all the popular and more coveted destinations in these exotic locations, but you’ll also have the safety of a tour guide and a group of people who may be in the same boat as you!

A look at Intro Travel’s Asia tour packages...

Thaintro

If you’re thinking about starting your journey in

Thailand, then Thaintro offer tour packages ranging from 9-12 days as well as add ons.

With Thaintro you’ll have the chance to explore some of Thailand’s best spots including; Bangkok, Phi Phi Island, Khao Sok National Park, and Koh Phangan. As well as visiting these regions you’ll also be able to take a Thai cooking class, visit an elephant sanctuary, explore the temples and stay in a stunning floating bungalow.

AN INTRO TO SOLO TRAVEL

www.thaintro.com

Balintro

Bali is a travellers dream.

Filled with mysticism, stunning beaches, volcanic landscapes and exquisite cuisine, there is so much to do in Bali that your best chance of getting a true taste of this paradise is by embarking on a group tour. With Balintro you can visit the towns of Kuta, Uluwatu, surf off the volcanic beaches of Canguu, visit the enchanting rice paddies of Lovina and more.

You’ll also have the chance to do a bit of island hopping to the Gili Islands and snorkel the crystal blue waters.

Balintro tours last from 9-12 days, so if you’re planning on doing the whole 12 days you’ll also visit the famous Monkey Forest as well as climb volcano, Mount Rinjani.

www.balintro.com

Next Stop...

CAMBODIA Explore this ancient land of temples, traditions and natural beauty.

Steeped in a rich tapestry of Buddhist culture, Cambodia is a must see whilst travelling around South East Asia. Full of natural wonderment, humid weather and exotic wildlife cross paths with some of the friendliest people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.

There are many things to see whilst visiting Cambodia, but in a stretch of forest the size of Paris lies the ancient city of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is one of the most breathtaking ruins on the planet as it is strangled by great vines that twine up its ancient frame.

Away from the depths of the forests however you’ll find stunning beaches that will make you feel as if you’ve arrived in paradise. With Cambodia not being an obvious location for beach visits, the white sands that stretch along the coastline and tropical islands are some of the least-visited areas of South-East Asia, offering peace and tranquility to all visitors away from the tourists.

of the very tapestry that shadows this now, tranquil country.

Sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, these beaches are just as incredible as the ones found in their sibling countries.

Surrounded by a handful of beach huts, limestone cliffs and crystal clear waters, this is unlike any other beach experience.

Feeling inspired to tick Cambodia off your South East Asia bucket list? With Free and Easy Traveler you can also experience the neighbouring countries of Thailand and Laos on many of their packages – including a shopping day in Bangkok, Thai food cooking lessons and even experiencing a couple of nights sleeping in hill top huts (just like the locals!)

During your time in Cambodia you will also meet the local people known as Khmers.

Having suffered a dark history of brutality, horror and war, the Khmers are inspiringly humble and will always have a heartwarming smile across their face to welcome you. It’s worth taking the time to learn more about the devastating war history of Cambodia through museums and a visit to The Killing Fields in Phnom Penh for a taste

Lengths of trips around Cambodia (combined with Thailand and Laos) with Free and Easy travel start from 25 days all the way up to a whopping four months!

Prices start from $2,490 USD for shorter trips, all the way up $10,620 USD for the more full experience. With some trips not departing until 2017, book now and give yourself plenty of time to save those pennies!

Free and Easy offer a 25 or 40-day experience when it comes to their Laos, Thailand and Cambodia tours. The 25-day experience starts at $1990 USD. With some trips not departing until 2017, book now

and give yourself plenty of time to save those pennies!

Find out more and book at

www.freeandeasytraveller.com

www.bbmlive.com 37

ACCOMMODATION New South Wales Sydney The Globe Backpackers 40 Darlingurst Road Kings Cross, Sydney NSW 2011 Free: 1800 806 384 Ph: (02) 9326 9675 info@globebackpackers.com www.globebackpackers.com West End Backpackers 12 Pitt St Sydney NSW, 2000 Ph: 02 9211 4588 Free Phone: 1800 013 186 bookings@westendbackpackers.com www.nomadsworld.com/westend Bounce Sydney 28 Chalmers Street, Sydney 2010 Free call 1800890897 Ph (02) 9281 2222 book@bouncehotel.com.au www.bouncehotel.com.au Porterhouse Hotel 233 Riley St Surry Hills NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 9211 4454 info@porterhouse.com.au www.Porterhouse.com.au Big Hostel Single and double & Dorm rooms available Max 4 bed dorms.

212 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills Sydney NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 92816030 Free: 1800 212 244 reception@bighostel.com www.bighostel.com O’Malley’s Hotel 228 William Street, Kings Cross Sydney, NSW 2011 Ph: 02 9357 2211 admin@omalleyshotel.com.au www.omalleyshotel.com.au Sydney Central Hostel 428 Pitt Street Sydney 2000 Ph: (02) 9211 7323 stay@sydneycentralhostel.com.au www.sydneycentralhostel.com.au Kanga House backpackers 141 Victoria Street, Kings Cross, Sydney Ph: (02) 9357 7897 www.KangaHouse.com.au Sydney Northern Beaches Sydney Beachouse - YHA 4 Collaroy St, Collaroy, 2097 Ph: +61 2 9981 1177 mail@sydneybeachouse.com.au www.sydneybeachouse.com.au Guaranteed jobs/work all year.

Cheap weekly rates by the beach with free Surfboard, Bodyboard & Bike hire

Port Stephens

Melaleuca Surfside Backpackers 2 Koala Place, One Mile Beach, NSW 2316 Ph: (02) 4981 9422 Mobile: 0427 200 950 melaleucabackpacker@bigpond.com www.melaleucabackpackers.com.au

Katoomba

Katoomba Mountain Backpackers Lodge 31 Lurline st Katoomba, NSW Ph: 04782 3933 stay@katoombabackpackers.com.au www.katoombabackpackers.com.au Blue Mountains Backpackers Hostel 144 Bathhurst Road, Katoomba, NSW 2780 Ph: 02 4782 9630 bluemountainsbackpackerhostel. com.au

Byron Bay Byron Bay Accom Ph: 02 66 808 666 Email: bookings@byronbayaccom. net www.byronbayaccom.net Aquarius Backpackers 16 Lawson Street Byron Bay NSW 2481 Ph: (02) 6685-7663 Free: 1800 028 909 info@aquarius-backpackers.com.au www.aquarius-backpackers.com.au Nomads Byron Bay 1 Lawson Lane, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 Ph: 02 6680 7966 Free: 1800 766 673 bookings@nomadsbyronbay.com nomadshostels.com Arts Factory Lodge 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay, NSW Ph: 02 6685 7709 info@artsfactory.com.au www.artsfactory.com.au An essential part of your journey LAKE TABOURIE TOURIST PARK Princes Hwy, Lake Tabourie, NSW 2539 Ph: (02) 4406-3101 www.laketabourietouristpark.com.au

Maca’s Camping Ground Ph: 02 6684 5211 1156 Main Arm Rd, Upper Main Arm NSW 2482, Australia www.macascampingground.com/ macascampingground@gmail.com

Queensland

CEDAR CREEK LODGES THUNDERBIRD PARK Cnr of Cedar Creek Falls Rd & Tamborine Mountain Rd, Tamborine, QLD 4272 info@cedarcreeklodges.com.au www.cedarcreeklodges.com.au Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsular Drive Central Surfers Paradise Queensland, 4217 Ph: (07) 5538 4344 Free: 1800 268 621 info@backpackersinparadise.com www.backpackersinparadise.com Surfers Paradise Backpackers rsrt Backpackers Resort,2837 Gold Coast Highway, Queensland 4217 Ph: 07 5592 4677 Free: 1800 282 800 spbr@bigpond.net.au www.surfersparadisebackpackers. com.au

Port Douglas United Port Douglas

37 Warner Street, Port Douglas, QLD

Ph: 07 4099 5011 unitedportdouglas.com.au Airlie Beach Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Road Airlie Beach QLD Phone: (07) 4946 6312 Free:1800 247 251 airliebeach@yha.com.au www.yha.com.au

Cairns

Cairns Share House 17 Scott Street, Cairns, QLD 4870 Ph: (+617) 4041 1875 info@cairns-sharehouse.com www.cairns-sharehouse.com Nomads Esplanade 93 The Esplanade, Cairns, QLD 4870 Ph: 07 4031 7477 Free: 1800 175 716 bookings@nomadsesplanade.com www.nomadshostels.com Dreamtime Travellers Rest 4 Terminus Street (corner of Bunda st.& Terminus st.)

Cairns 4870 Queensland Ph: (07) 4031 6753 info@dreamtimehostel.com www.dreamtimehostel.com

Cape Tribulation PK’s Jungle Village Cape Tribulation Road (PMB 7) Cape Tribulation QLD 4873 Tel: 07 4098 0040 info@pksjunglevillage.com www.pksjunglevillage.com Rainbow Beach Pippies Beach House Cnr of Spectrum Street & Cypress Avenue, Rainbow Beach FREEPHONE: 1800425356 info@pippiesbeachhouse.com.au www.pippiesbeachhouse.com.au 30mins FREE Internet on presentation of this ad PLUS FREE Breakfast & Eco Whale-Watching for all!

Western Australia Perth

western beach lodge 6 Westborough Street Scarborough, Western Australia, 6019 Ph. (08) 9245 1624 westernbeach@iprimus.com.au www.westernbeach.com BILLABONG RESORT 381 Beaufort Street, Perth WA Ph: 08 9328 7720 bookings@billabongresort.com.au www.billabongresort.com.au Britannia On William 253 William Street, Northbridge, WA Ph: 08 9227 6000 www.perthbritannia.com EXCLUSIVE BACKPACKERS 158 Adelaide Tce, Perth 6000 Ph: (08) 9221 9991 exclusivebackpackers@hotmail.com www.exclusivebackpackers.com Beatty Lodge 235 Vincent Street West Perth WA 6005 Ph: (08) 9227 1521 www.beattylodge.com.au info@beattylodge.com.au

Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort Monkey Mia Road, Shark Bay 3537 Ph: +61 8 9948 1320 monkeymia@aspenresorts.com.au www.monkeymia.com.au

Kununurra Kununurra Backpackers Adventure Centre 24 Nutwood Crescent, Kununurra WA 6743 Ph: (08) 9169 1998 or 1800 641 998 kununurrabackpackers.com.au info@kununurrabackpackers.com.au broome Beaches of Broome 4 Sanctuary Road, Cable Beach, Broome, WA, 6725 Ph : 1300 881 031 bookings@beachesofbroome.com. au www.beachesofbroome.com.au

Victoria redcliffs hotel 25 Jacaranda St, Red Cliffs VIC 3496 (03) 5024 1704 Johanna Beach Cottages 225 Blue Johanna Road Johanna Heights Victoria 3238 (03) 5237 4224 cottages@johannabeach.com www.johannabeach.com Brambuk Backpackers Hostel 330 Grampians Road, Halls Gap, VictoriaPh: 03 5356 4250 bramback@netconnect.com.au www.brambuk.com.au/ backpackers.htm Brambuk Backpackers offers travellers an affordable and comfortable range of accommodation, ideally situated within the stunning Grampians National Park.

Habitat HQ Freephone 1800 202 500 info@habitathq.com.au www.habitathq.com.au Award winning 4.5 star hostel with a homely & relaxed atmosphere Northern Territory Darwin Youth Shack 69 Mitchell Street, Darwin Ph: 1300 793 302 youthshack.com.au Melaleuca on Mitchell 52 Mitchell Street, Darwin Ph: 09 8941 7800 momdarwin.com Chillis Backpackers 69 Mitchell Street, Darwin Ph: 1800 351 313 chillis.com.au

Alice Springs Annie’s Place 4 Traeger Avenue, Alice Springs , NT, 0871 Ph: 1800 359 089 www.anniesplace.com.au Haven Backpacker Resort 3 Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs Ph: 1800 79 4663 / 08 8952 4663 www.alicehaven.com.au

South Australia Adelaide Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers 220 Hutt St Adelaide 5000 Free call 1800633747 Ph: +61 08 82240753 bookings@adelaidebackpackers. com.au adelaidebackpackers.om.au

Melbourne

The Deck 117 Harcourt St, New Farm Brisbane QLD 4005 Ph: 0433 777 061 the_deck@live.com.au Designed with the working Traveler in Mind. Minimum 2 week stay Brisbane City YHA 392 Upper Roma St, Brisbane QLD 4000 Ph: (07) 3236 1004 brisbanecity@yha.com.au www.yha.com.au

JJ’s Backpackers 11-13 Charles Street Cairns QLD 4870 Ph - (07) 4051 7642 Free- 1800 666 336 jjsbackpackers@ledanet.com.au www.jjsbackpackers.com Heron Island Ph: 02 9538 0751 www.heronisland.com

Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen Street Gold Coast, Queensland Ph: 07 5527 1300 Free:1800 229 955 info@aquariusbackpackers.com.au www.aquariusbackpackers.com.au

Rambutan 113 – 119 Flinders Street, Townsville 4810 enquiries@rambutantownsville.com Ph: 07 4771 6915 www.rambutantownsville.com

Boranup Forest Retreat 422 Sebbes Road, Forest Grove Ph: +61 404 895 901 www.boranupforestretreat.com.au monkey mia

21 Queen Street, Busselton, WA Ph: 08 9754 1615 www.diveshed.com.au

Wild Expeditions

Territory Expeditions

Shop 20, Johnny Chi Lane, Broome Ph: 1300 73 88 70 www.wildexpeditions.com.au

Ph: 1300 115 922 www.territoryexpeditions.com.au

Townsville

COOLIBAH LODGE 194 Brisbane Street Northbridge Perth WA Ph: (08) 9328 9958 www.coolibahlodge.com.au

OCEAN BEACH BACKPACKERS

1 Eric St Cottesloe Beach Ph: 08 9384 5111 backpackers@obh.com.au www.obh.com.au

Boranup

Melbourne Discovery 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne VIC 300 Ph: 03 9329 7525. Freecall 1800 645 200 reservations@hoteldiscovery.com.au www.hoteldiscovery.com.au United Backpackers 250 Flinders Street, Melbourne Ph: 03 9654 2616 unitedbackpackers.com.au Independent & Budget Traveler Accommodation Provider Victoria Hall Accommodation 380 Russell Street, Melbourne 3000 Ph: 03 9662 3888 www.victoriahall.com.au

THINGS TO DO Skydiving iFly Downunder 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith, Sydney Ph: 1300 366 364 www.iflydownunder.com.au

Adventure Tours

Sydney Skydivers

Ph: 1800 293 7663 www.awesomewhitsundays.com

745 Picton Road, Wilton, New South Wales, Australia 2571 Ph: 1800 805 997 admin@sydneyskydivers.com.au www.sydneyskydivers.com.au

Southern Skydivers 2 hours South from Perth Busselton Ph: 1300 449 669 info@southernskydivers.com.au www.southernskydivers.com.au

Scuba Diving NINGLAOO WHALE SHARK & DIVE CENTRE Located inside reception at the Exmouth Cape Holiday Park: 3 Truscott Street, Exmouth, WA Ph: 1800 224 060 www.ningaloowhalesharkndive. com.au

The Dive Shed Busselton

Awesome Whitsundays Australian Kayaking Adventures

PO Box 1055, Ashmore City, QLD Ph: 04 1294 0135 www.australiankayakingadventures. com.au

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Cnr Captain Cook Highway and Cairns Western Arterial Road Smithfield, QLD Ph: 07 4038 5555 www.skyrail.com.au Contiki Ph: 1300 188 635 www.contiki.com

aussie wanderer

Ph: 0894382070 info@aussiewanderer.com.au www.aussiewanderer.com.au

Crocosaurus Cove 58 Mitchell Street, Darwin Ph: 08 8981 7522 www.crocosauruscove.com

Margaret River Vintage Wine Tours Ph: 0417 948 933 www.winetoursmargaretriver.com.au

The Peel Region Tourism

Mulgas Adventures

Ph: 08 8952 1545 www.mulgasadventures.com.au

Kakadu Wild Expeditions

Ph: 1300 73 88 70 darwinsales@kimberleywild.com.au www.kakaduwild.com.au

Kakadu 4WD Safaris

75 Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah Ph: 08 9550 3999 www.visitpeel.com.au

Ph: 1300 525 238 info@kadu4wdsafaris.com www.kakadu4wdsafaris.com

Kangaroo Island Adventure Tours Vivonne Bay, Kingscote, SA

Ph: 1300 654 604 adventuretours.com.au

Ph: 08 8202 8678 www.kiadventuretours.com.au

GOIN SOUTH

Four days, two famous Aussie icons, one awesome tour Ph: 1800 009 858

PENRITH WHITE WATER RAFTING

Ph: 02 4730 4333 booking@penrithwhitewater.com.au www.penrithwhitewater.com.au

Drop Bear Adventures Ph: 1800 061 156 www.dropbearadventures.com.au

Adventure Tours australia Sydney Outback Tours Ph: 1300 307 634 www.sydneyoutback.com.au

Real Sydney Tours

Ph: 0402 049426 www.realsydneytours.com.au

The Travel Yoga Company Ph: 0411301820 www.theyogatravelcompany.com

Kimberley Wild Expeditions Ph: 1300 73 88 70 www.kimberleywild.com.au

The Official Home And Away Tour To Summer Bay

ADVENTURE KAYAKING

Ph: 02 9977 7890 www.yahoo7.com.au/homeandaway

Kite Surfing

7 Hastings Street, Glenelg South, SA Ph: 08 8295 8812 bookings@adventurekayak.com.au www.adventurekayak.com.au

KITE REPUBLIC

PARADISE JET BOATING

10-18 Jacka Blvd. St.Kilda Sea Baths Complex, St.Kilda, 3182, Melbourne, VIC Ph: 03 95370644 www.kiterepublic.com.au

Jetty ‘C’ Mariners Cove Marina, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach Qld 4217 Ph: 1300 JET BOAT (1300 538 262) thrills@paradisejetboating.com.au www.paradisejetboating.com.au

Water Activities

TRANSPORT MIGHTY CAMPERS

GREAT OCEAN ROAD SURF TOURS

Nationwide Ph: 1800 670 232 www.mightycampers.com.au

55B Surf Coast Highway, Torquay, Victoria, 3228 Ph: 03 5261 3730 info@gorsurftours.com.au www.gorsurftours.com.au

KANGAROO MARINE CHARTERS 9 Chapman Terrace, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA Ph: 0427 315 286 www.kimarineadventures.com

GREAT SOUTHERN RAIL Nationwide Ph: 1800 703 357 www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

Integrity Coach Lines PO BOX 1131, Midland, 6936 WA Ph: 08 927 47464 www.integritycoachlines.com.au

Go Camper 90 Parkin Street, Rockingham, WA Ph: 1300 667 363 www.gocamper.com.au

38

CRYSTAL BALLS Taurus

Your long-held dream of becoming the first person to walk on the moon comes to an end this month, when someone informs you that Neil Armstrong achieved the feat in July, 1969. Undaunted, you instead turn your attention to your other major ambition - becoming the first black President of America.

Scorpio

Ahh, Scorpio. You’re a strange man in many ways - especially if it’s a Scorpio woman reading this.

Libra

Aquarius

You are thrilled to be named as the nation’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Rio. It’s only when you realise the closing ceremony finished ages ago that it becomes clear you’re the flagbearer for the Paralympic team. Apparently a mate of yours sent in an application for you and, after taking one look at your face, the selection committee immediately assumed you were disabled in some way.

Virgo

It’s been 16 years but you’re still no closer to answering the big question - just who exactly DID let the dogs out?

Keen to cast an unknown as the lead in their next superhero movie, Marvel make the surprise call to name you as the star of their new blockbuster franchise “Camel-Man”. Tag line: “When you’ve got the hump with crime, call Camel-Man”. The movie stinks out the box office, is hailed as a the death of the superhero genre and ranks No.1 in several polls for the cheesiest dialogue in cinema history, particularly for the line “Baby, I can last a month in the desert without water, but I can’t last a day without you”, which is what you say to Bryce Dallas Howard as she’s captured by your nemesis Captain Llama, a bank robber who can open locks by spitting on them, played by Daniel Day-Lewis.

Despite the film being listed as one of the worst of all time, Day-Lewis still earns an Oscar nomination.

ASK CRYSTAL

Dear Crystal, Our records indicate that not only have you not paid any taxes since the late 1980s but you have been claiming the war widow’s pension since the age of 21, despite having never been married.

We also believe you may be living in Australia illegally, as there are no birth records linked to your citizenship forms and all the signatories have mysteriously vanished. It is also interesting to note the date of your first claim for the war widow’s pension matches almost exactly the date of the disappearance of infamous Russian socialite Crystaliana Ballsinski, who fled Moscow after a scandalous affair involving a young Vladimir Putin and the Moscow Dynamo back four, taking with her several priceless Faberge eggs stolen from a vault in Leningrad.

By our estimates, you owe the Commonwealth a grand total of $570,000 and face a litany of charges including fraud, visa and – possibly – treason. We strongly advise you to turn yourself into the nearest police station at the first opportunity and cooperate with authorities or you may face a lengthy jail sentence and deportation.

Regards, , Australian Taxation Office Dear ATO, Change the record comrades. You’ve been sending these letters to my old address since my fatal sex-game-gone-wrong with Michael Hutchence put me back in the spotlight a few years ago. Well you don’t spend six years shagging a former KGB operative turned Russian dictator without picking up a few tips on how to evade the authorities. Good luck finding me you idiots. Long live mother Russia!

Dear Crystal, I’m a backpacker from Lithuania on a working holiday visa in Sydney, but I don’t wish to return home, especially after my scandalous affair with President Tyvinchenko and the Slovenian rugby team. Please help, I’ve no idea what to do, who to turn to or how to offload these priceless Faberge eggs I stole from the President’s office. Please help!

Yours, Svetnina Dear Svetnina, You’ve come to the right place my dear. First we need to set you up with a war widow’s pension. After that we just need to find a gullible visa officer with a penchant for young eastern European women. You just stay where you are and I’ll track you down using some old KGB methods. Until then, you might want to make a few extra bucks writing bullsh horoscopes for idiots who believe in all that gubbins.

Aries

Sagittarius

Hitler was an Aries. You disgust me.

You put the “git” in Sagittarius. Piss off porky.

Gemini

Leo

After a slightly tipsy trip to the hairdressers, you discover you have a natural talent for making wigs. Who knew! You spend the next few years becoming a global wigmaking icon until you are hired by the recently self-crowned Supreme Overlord of America, Donald Trump, to design a wig befitting a man of his status. After all the wars he’s started since becoming president, you politely decline on moral grounds - but are then forced at gunpoint to accept the deal by some of Trump’s goons. You spend the next month toiling over the wig until, satisfied, you hand it over to the power-mad Mexican hater. As soon as he places it on his head, its hairy tendrils work its way down to his throat and the wig begins to throttle him - just as you’d designed it to. As you are hauled off to Guantanamo Bay, the last thing you see is Trump’s bloated, purple-faced corpse slumped on the 40ft golden throne he built for himself.

Capricorn

Controversy reigns at the Zodiac Olympics when Capricorn is banned for failing a drugs test. You are escorted from the Olympic arena by Leo and Taurus, who duly give you a kicking for being a smelly drugs cheat.

Do you remember when you were young and your heart was an open book? You used to say live and let live (you know you did, you know you did, you know you did!) But if this ever changing world in which we live in makes you give in and cry. Say live and let die (Nyoww, nyowww.... nyowww, nyowwww!) Say live and let die!

Cancer

You undergo a religious conversion and become a Huguenot, the 17th century French protestant movement based on the works of theologian John Calvin. You promptly move to medieval France where you are persecuted by Catholic zealots.

Pisces

While shopping at Coles one day, you achieve a zen-like state of spiritual and physical enlightenment, transgressing from one metaphysical plane to another and able to comprehend the meaning of life and the beauty of the universe with a mere thought.

Minutes later, this transcendent sense of calm and bliss is shattered as you spend four minutes trying to open one of those see-through plastic bags you get in the fruit-and-veg section and end up unleashing a four-letter tirade at a small child and her mother.

JOKES

A guy called into work and says, “Hey, boss! What’s the difference between work and your daughter?” … “I’m not coming into work this morning!”

John, Fremantle I lost my virginity to a retarded girl last night… I wanted my first time to be special.

Gary, Paddington Why did the semen cross the road? I wore the wrong socks today.

Sarah, Darlinghurst Little Johnny is staying at his grandmother’s house for the weekend with his parents. He walks into their room in the middle of the night and wakes his mother. His mother says “What is it Johnny?”. Little Johnny says “Grandma has a shrimpy”! His mother looks at him puzzled. “She has a WHAT?” Johnny says “A Shrimpy!” His mother has no idea what little Johnny is talking about. His mother says “Come show me what you’re talking about”. Little Johnny leads his mother downstairs where his 85 year old grandmother is lying sprawled out on the sofa in her night-gown. Her gown is wide open and so are her legs. She is sound asleep.

Johnny says to his mother “Look mommy, Grandma has a shrimpy”. He points to her vagina. His mother laughs. “No, no, Johnny, that’s not a shrimpy. That’s her vagina”. Little Johnny looks up at his mother and says “Wow! Sure does taste like shrimpy”.

Jim, Newcastle Why do the Scottish wear kilts? Because a sheep can hear a zipper from like a mile away.

Tim, Kings Cross How do you really piss off your girlfriend while having sex?

Call her on the phone.

Gareth, Surry Hills What’s the worst thing about eating vegetables? Putting them back in the wheelchair when you’re done.

Henry, St Kilda How many Irish does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two! One to hold it in place and the other to drink until the room spins.

Pat, Windsor Why did Barbie get kicked out of the toy box? She sat on Pinocchio’ s face and said “lie to me!”

Helen, Richmond

How do you get a nun pregnant? Dress her up like an altar boy.

Barry, Manly Did you hear about the guy who was into sadism, necrophilia, and bestiality? He gave it up because he was flogging a dead horse.

Pippa, Glebe What do you call a redneck with two sheep? A pimp.

Sean, Cottesloe How do you get a racist to laugh on a Sunday? Tell them a joke on Friday.

Gina, Prahan Why is a racist like a drunk? Because whatever they say ends in a slur.

Geoff, Bondi

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