TNT Downunder 696

Aug 27- Sept 2 2012 Issue 696 tntdownunder.com

IHNAPPY W AP

A SN NORTHERN TERRITORY ADVENTURE

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

JUMPING JACK Cruising for crocs on the Adelaide river

Magic and madness in the Amazon rainforest

N I E V I R D E H AT T

lliant blend ri b a is y ll a alia re , South Austr y e ll a V a s s ro e Ba box Rally to th it h S e th m Fro + NEWS & SPORT WHAT’S ON FILM REVIEWS TRAVELLERS’ TIPS

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ALEX HARMON EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com

EDITOR’S LETTER Here at TNT we like to challenge the big myths in life. Girls can’t DJ? Yeah right, turn to pg16 to read about 10 of the country’s best. You can’t swim with sharks? You can in South Australia. Read all about the wonderful state on pg6.

Crocodiles can’t jump? Hell yeah they can in Darwin – pg28.

And you don’t wear native headdresses in the Amazon rainforest? Er, actually, we do. Read about Peru on pg34.

THIS WEEK OZ DIARY

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CHATROOM

12

FILM

16

TRAVEL

20

COMPETITION

24

NEWS

38

OPINION

40

SPORT

42

LISTINGS NSW

44

LISTINGS QUEENSLAND

50

LISTINGS VICTORIA

55

LISTINGS NT

57

LISTINGS TASMANIA

58

LISTINGS WA

59

LISTINGS SA

60

LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND

61

WORK

64

TRIVIAL PURSUITS

66

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FEATURES SOUTH SIDE

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Everything you’ll ever need to know about the festival state, South Australia

CHICKS WITH DECKS

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We chat with two of the finalists in the She Can DJ competition

WHAT THE CROC?

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The amazing jumping crocodiles on the Adelaide River, by the banks of Darwin

JUNGLE FEVER We bravely ditch civilization and head into the very heart of the Amazon

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OZDIARY EDITORIAL Editor Alex Harmon Contributors Jennifer Carr, Xav Judd, Leigh Livingstone, Aicha Marhfour Interns James Besanvalle, Priyal Dadhania, Caitlin Stanway

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DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Design and production manager Lisa Ferron SALES Account manager Justin Steinlauf Sales Executive Mike Ramsted MARKETING & EVENTS Business development manager Tom Wheeler DISTRIBUTION Lee Sutherland ACCOUNTS Financial controller Trish Bailey Accountant Hannah Waters

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WHERE TO GET TNT

MAIN EVENT BIRDSVILLE RACES QUEENSLAND

Dust off the frock, shake out the tux and don your betting hat for this weekend of drinking, punting and bootscooting. The iconic two-day race meet in the remote Queensland desert reaches climax with the XXXX Gold Cup. Rest assured the fun doesn’t settle with the dust as RAAF Roulettes, a boxing troupe and live country tunes will have this outback town buzzing long after the ponies are put away!

31 August – 1 September Regional Queensland birdsvilleraces.com

OUTBACK GAMES: DARWIN

GANGSTERS’ BALL: SYDNEY

JURASSIC LOUNGE: SYDNEY

Sandbar soccer, thong marathons, outback swimming and camel equestrian give those unconventional athletes a chance to shine. A dose of competition and humour make these the ultimate Aussie games. Go along to watch, or go for gold!

Embrace your inner slapper with this interactive recreation of a 1930’s speakeasy club. Dress to impress and get involved with swing dancing, black jack, burlesque and pin-up models. Now in its fifth year, the ball promises fun and glamour from yesteryear.

A night at the museum comes to life when the Australian Museum opens its doors after hours to a world of bars, arts, music, and science experiments. Held every Tuesday until 30 Oct, Jurassic lounge is sure to bring out the wide-eyed child inside!

Sept 1 Darwin, NT ntoutbackgames.com.au

Sept 1 Metro Theatre, Theatre gangstersball.com.au

Aug 28 – Oct 30 Australian Museum, College St jurassiclounge.com

SEE tntdownunder.com/magazine-location.html for pick-up points

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There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group. Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers. Registered by Australia Post.

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Going underground With deserted beaches, sprawling vineyards, and an arts scene to scare the hippest of hipsters, South Australia’s come out to play WORDS CAITLIN STANWAY

Often left off the ‘must visit’ list by adrenalin fueled, culture-seeking backpackers, South Australia is a somewhat forgotten land. But look a little closer at Australia’s middle child and you’ll discover the quiet kid has some tricks up his sleeve.

SA’s long, hot summers give you plenty of time to explore the states 3,800km of coastline. For surf rats reluctant to leave their east coast breaks, Innes National Park, nestled on the cliffs of the Yorke Peninsula is home to the internationally coveted Chinaman’s break and Pondalowie Bay. Still up for a thrill or two after your wave? Head on over to Port Lincoln.

One of the most diverse fishing settlements in Australia, Port Lincoln’s shark dives put you face to face with the ultimate Aussie predators.

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If the surf and near death experiences aren’t your thing, never fear, inland South Australia has a little bit of everything. Start a couple hours north of Adelaide in the internationally acclaimed wine region of the Barossa Valley. Boasting hundreds of boutique wineries, the valley is a perfect place to stock up on some vino before heading north to the Flinders Rangers.

Full of isolated rocky creeks and sprawling gum forests, the Flinders Rangers National Park is perfect for unrolling a swag under the stars.

Make sure you don’t leave the northern end until you’ve checked out Coober Pedy. An opal mining site sitting in the far north of the state, the town of Coober Pedy is built underground. Yes, as in under the ground. Need we say more?

Don’t stress if you only have a day or two to spend in the festival state, Adelaide has built a name for itself as an untapped culture hub. In February the Adelaide Fringe rivals its big brother in Edinburgh, pulling in the crème de la crème of international acts.

Not around in the summer months?

Don’t fret, live music venues the Governor Hindmarsh and Jive have become local institutions, with music lovers flocking every weekend to soak up new music.

We like to think of South Australia as a traveller’s secret, simply because it is so under-rated. But you can turn the page to unlock the code. Because, if the sun, sand, wine and music aren’t enough to have you packing your bags, we have 35 more reasons why you need to take a trip south side…

KANGAROO ISLAND Like a zoo with no fences.

It’s unlikely you’ll see as much wildlife in one place anywhere else in Oz. Plus some gorgeous beaches and the Remarkables (rocks).

SPIT OR SWALLOW This place has got winegrowing regions around every corner; the Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley and McLaren Vale are only three of the most famous. Plus wine in the Adelaide pubs is as cheap as chips. Gerrin.

FROLIC WITH DOLPHINS

SUNBATHE ON DESERTED BEACHES Head south from Adelaide towards the Fleurieu Peninsula. Interspaced between the popular holiday beaches are glorious stretches of golden sand all for you.

CRUISE ALONG THE MURRAY RIVER Take a leisurely cruise on a Mississippi-style paddle steamer and soak up the laidback atmosphere.

GO ON THE OPAL

It must be tough to be a dolphin – everyone wants a piece of you. In Adelaide you can get your Flipper action on a cruise from Port Adelaide or Glenelg. On the latter you can also don a wetsuit and join them for a swim.

The majority of the world’s opals are mined around Coober Pedy and Andamooka, so they’re the best places to find bargain gems. If you’re feeling lucky you could have a quick noodle yourself – just make sure it’s in one of the designated areas.

SHARK!

THE GLENELG TRAM

If you’re brave enough (or foolish enough) to want to jump into a cage and pull faces at great whites, Port Lincoln is the place to visit. It’s where they filmed the real sharks in the original Jaws film. It’s just about one of the coolest things you could do Down Under but keep reading as there may be other things that will grab you...

The only tram left in the state, this piece of history has the added bonus of terminating right by Glenelg Beach.

BE DAZZLED BY SALT LAKES These massive expanses of blinding white salt are a real outback icon. Lake Eyre is the biggest and most impressive, but its little brother Lake Hart is conveniently situated next to the Stuart Highway. .

THE NUDE OLYMPICS Held every summer on Maslins Beach, 40km south of Adelaide. Watch wobblyfleshed folk partake in events such as the threelegged race (no, that’s not what you think...) and frisbee throwing.

WOMADELAIDE This world music extravaganza is held in Adelaide every March. Enjoy alternative music, food, and people from all over the world.

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THE BIRDSVILLE TRACK

SHITBOX RALLY

GOING UNDERGROUND

A fair dinkum outback roadtrip experience. The 520km track takes you through some of the harshest, driest land in the country, so be a good boy scout and be prepared.

Next May, Shitbox Rally will drive from Adelaide to Fremantle via Uluru in cars worth $1000 or less to raise funds for the Cancer Council. Since its inaugural year in 2010, Shitbox Rally has raised over $1.7 million.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what life would be like as a Womble, stay overnight in Coober Pedy, where around half the population live underground to avoid the extreme summer heat. The other 50 per cent obviously have very big fans.

WILPENA POUND You can’t come to South Australia and not visit the spectacular Flinders Ranges, and you certainly can’t come to the ranges without stopping off at majestic Wilpena Pound for a spot of bushwalking and wildlife spotting.

MOON UNDER THE STARS Get out of town and the sky takes on a whole new perspective. Grab a swag and spend an outback night studying the Milky Way.

ABORIGINAL CULTURE There are plenty of places around the state to absorb the culture of Australia’s native people, especially in the Flinders Ranges and the outback. But for easy accessibility, try the South Australia Museum or the cultural institute, Tandanya, which has galleries and arts and crafts workshops.

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KEEP IT RAIL ON THE GHAN Sit back and enjoy the outback scenery between Alice Springs and Adelaide on this iconic train journey. Alternatively, head to Perth or Sydney on the Indian Pacific

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The TNT Golden Backpack Awards recognise those companies who make backpacking around Australia and New Zealand that extra bit special.

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SAMPLE A PIE FLOATER

BE STUNNED BY A BLUE LAKE

An official icon of the state, a floater is a meat pie covered in ketchup and left to fend for itself in a sea of thick pea soup. No comment. While you’re at it though, make sure you wash it down with top Aussie tipple, and local brew, Coopers Ale.

A volcanic crater in Mt Gambier filled with the bluest water you could possible imagine (in summer anyway, it gets a bit grey in winter).

Possibly one of the biggest cultural events in the country, the fringe celebrates innovation in the arts, and if that’s your bag, this is an event not to be missed.

One of the more bizarre creatures you’ll meet under the sea, and definitely one of the most elusive, this seadragon disguises itself from its predators by looking like a piece of seaweed.

VISIT IRON KNOB

CHEER ON THE TUNA TOSSING WATCH THE WHALES Southern rights plough the waters of the Great Australian Bight every winter, and are a truly majestic sight.

Want to get really high? Stretching several thousand kilometres from WA to Queensland, the most accessible place to get a snap of this great north/south divide is by Coober Pedy.

LAST YEAR’S SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WINNERS...

Bes hostel: Best Bes Shakespeare Backpackers, Sha Sh a Adelaide Ade Ad e Best Be es backpacker night: Backpack Bac Ba c Oz TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

There’s nothing particularly special about this little town – the name just makes us giggle like schoolgirls.

SLEEP IN A LIGHTHOUSE Some of the old lighthouse keepers’ cottages on Kangaroo Island are now rented out as holiday accommodation. Really gives a new meaning to “getting away from it all”.

FOLLOW THE DOGFENCE

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The Nullarbor Plain conceals some spectacular underground action, but unless you’re a cave diver they’re pretty much offlimits. More accessible are the World Heritagelisted Narcoorte Caves.

GET ALL ARTY AT ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL

MEET LEAFY SEADRAGONS

The world championships of this noble, yet misunderstood, sport are held every January in Port Lincoln as part of the Tunarama festival. One that has to be seen to be believed.

EXPLORE A CAVE OR TWO

Best tour/activity: Groovy Grape, Barossa Valley

SNAP AWAY AT THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT The stretch of coastline running adjacent to the Nullarbor. Sixty foot limestone cliffs, whales and magnificent views.

CHATROOM

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The Brand New Heavies The legendary British soul funk pioneers are returning to Oz with a bunch of shows which will mark the band’s 21st birthday. We find out the secrets to their success...

INTERVIEW AICHA MARHFOUR

“If you want to be seen, you have to be on that screen”

Congrats on the band’s 21st birthday.

What is the secret of your longevity?

Friendship and a love of music, I think. I went to school with the other two guys in the band and we’ve known each other for a very long time. It’s more about brotherhood than business really. I can’t imagine doing music with anyone else. We have so much to tell the world of what we can do musically.

Keen to be back here in Oz? Yeah, we are. I don’t know if you know but we don’t do every show with N’Dea Davenport, because of logistics and expenses. But she’s back with us for a new album and she will be doing all of the dates in Australia and that makes a little bit more, well... not exciting, for me, personally, but that’s what people want to see deep down. She’s singing all of the hits plus two or three new songs from the album.

Would you rather swim with a shark or try out Vegemite?

Shark, I think. The shark definitely, yeah. Life’s too short isn’t it?

What are the downsides to touring?

That I’m away from my family. I’ve got a nine

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week old baby who I’m holding right this second.

But that’s the only downside. I can’t complain, I’ve been doing this for 20 years and it’s one of the best jobs I can think of ever.

Tell us about the new album...

We’ve been writing off and on for a year now, and we’ve just started physically recording now, this week. Actually N’Dea’s just flying in today.

She’s doing more vocals and writing some lyrics and stuff for some of the songs we haven’t finished yet. It’s a pretty upbeat album. We’re keeping it very up-tempo and dance based.

How has the music scene changed over the year for new artists?

Well, luckily, everything is about being in a live band these days. We’re in a perfect world because that’s something we’ve always done.

Back in the late Eighties, all bands did gigs.

You didn’t instantly start doing TV and stuff like that. You had to play, and that was the fun of it.

It hasn’t really changed that much. Obviously, musical styles have changed and morphed and there’s a lot more dance music out there, which is another good thing! We love hip-hop, we love dance, we love funky house. So, all of the changes that have taken place we’ve taken

advantage of and tried to exploit!

What was it like having Hugh Hefner in the video for Sometime?

That was surreal, actually. We were supposed to have filmed it at his house, at the Playboy Mansion, but logistically, it wouldn’t work. So he did a cameo – although that’s not the right word because he’s pretty much in it. It was really good fun. Playboy After Dark is the show that we mimicked, and we saw on the treatment that Hugh Hefner was going to be in it, and we thought: ‘Next! What do we do now?’ But looking back, I’m so glad we did and it was super cool that we did.

What do you think of talent shows?

I like them. I just saw an ad actually, I’ve got the TV on in the background, for the X Factor. I didn’t know Mel B was on X Factor, that should be interesting. We’re torn in the band about these shows. But I actually quite like them. I guess it easy to live in the past and think that everything’s about all the hard work. But it’s an entertaining show, so you shouldn’t take them too seriously.

Do you think there’ll be a 30th anniversary?

Definitely, although I think flying is going to take its toll. We might slow down by then. We’re doing another Heavy Rhyme Experience. It’s going to be constant for the next two or three years, constant stuff. So yeah, we’ll be around as long as people are willing to shell out for tickets!

How involved are you with social media?

Oh, you have to do it. Some of our fans are a little older, so they’re not as connected into cyberspace, but they are getting so, and it’s the most important aspect. Everyone’s looking at screens these days. So if you want to be seen, you’ve got to be on that screen. That rhymes, and I never realised – that’s quite cool. If you want to be seen, you have to be on that screen!

Catch the Brand New Heavies in Brisbane (Sept 6), Melbourne (Sept 7) and Sydney (Sept 8). brandnewheavies.net

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Grass Taylor The singer-songwriter is on the road right with his Broken Vaults tour. He took time out to talk to us about the new single, travel and getting inked with the Madden twins INTERVIEW ALEX HARMON

You toured with Good Charlotte, what are the Madden twins like?

Absolute legends. I’ve toured with loads of international artists and the Good Charlotte boys were the most down to earth of everyone I’ve encountered. I remember seeing Benji eating lunch by himself in the dining hall on the tour and our band and the other support band were all hanging out having lunch so I invited him over to hang out. Both Benji and Joel were really welcoming – even willing to share the band rider when we ran out of beers.

Did you compare tattoos with them?

I didn’t have as many tattoos back then as I do now, but I did see Benji in LA when I was getting tattooed over there at High Voltage Tattoo.

There’s no competing with the Madden twins ink though, they are covered in it.

“I used to get told Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers”

How’s the tour being going so far?

Really great actually. I’ve played a couple of ‘art bars’ in regional Victoria to kick off things before heading to NSW and SA, and the reception from the audience has been really welcoming. I even received my first encore as a solo artist for this project, which was really nice.

Tell me about the change in direction, from punk rock to acoustic music?

When we decided to end the Hot Lies, I took a break from music and started travelling. I spent time in Peru and spent two weeks with Shipibo Shamans taking Ayuhuasca as part of their healing ceremonies. Something kept coming to me about me having to continue this music path, so when I got back I made the decision to record another record. I’d spent the majority of my career in bands, so this time around I wanted to do something a little different and try my hand at being a solo artist.

Tell me about the track Broken Vaults?

It’s a song about the struggle of relationships, the lack of forgiveness in them, and the effect this can have on others around the relationship. We’ve all had our ups and downs in relationships, whether they be friends, family or

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lovers. In Broken Vaults the characters are played by an old married couple who resent each other, it’s kind of narrated by the child of this couple who wishes they could just get along and his promise not to turn out like them.

Ultimate gig would be?

Playing a little dive bar, looking out and seeing all your music idols (dead or alive) in the crowd actually digging your tunes and all wanting to co-write with you after the show.

What do you think you’d be doing if it didn’t work out?

I’m studying Natural Medicine part-time, I love learning about all the healing modalities out there. I’m not one for mainstream medicine for various reasons, so energy healing and natural plant healing is what I’m interested in. I guess I’d go down that path, become a healer or a natural doctor or something.

Who is your doppelganger?

I used to get told Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers when I was younger, but not so much nowadays.

Who were your musical heroes growing up?

Kiss, Motley Crüe, Guns’N’Roses actually. I have and older brother and sister so I was dragged through the Eighties listening to all their records.

Coolest place you’ve played?

Hands down, Rod Laver Arena. It was always a big ambition to play there and I got the chance a few years back supporting a bigger touring artist to open the show. Also a bar called B’Artiste on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s kind of my local so it’s fun to play and try out new songs there.

Favourite holiday spot in Oz? Gotta be the Top End. Kakadu, Litchfield National Park, The Kimberley. I’ve traveled to every continent in the world bar one, and Kakadu is like a dream set in pristine natural settings.

What’s next for you?

Travel/Music reporter for TNT? But seriously, I have a DVD/EP release coming out in November and will be touring nationally as part of the Scorcherfest tour. After that I’m looking at Japan for a little international tour and then my partner and I are heading on a world trip mid next year!

Can’t wait.

Catch Grass Taylor in Adelaide (August 30 & grasstaylor.com for 31) or visit him online at a free single download.

FILMREVIEW

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TOTAL RECALL FILM review by Leigh Livingstone STARRING: Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale /M/ 118mins

BULLY FILM review DIRECTOR: Lee Hirsch WRITERS: Lee Hirsch, Cythia Lowen | M | 98mins

A hard-hitting doco about schoolyard bullying in America sure has a massive pool of stories to dip into.

Unfortunately the focus is on young Alex Libby, a gangly, goofy boy with no friends. While there are accounts of bullied kids taking their own lives, the focus returns to hapless Alex. You can’t help but feel that he is, ironically, being victimised by the filmmakers. AH

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You would be forgiven for thinking Total Recall has done a number on you while watching Director Len Wiseman’s remake of the 1990 Schwarzenegger classic.

The characters are the same, as is the basic concept, but there are some differences that make it entertaining for old fans, as well as a new generation.

In the future when the world has become a wasteland due to war, earth is divided into two territories, The Colony and The United Federation of Britain.

Colony worker Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) is questioning his life and visits virtual vacation provider Rekall for some excitement. He gets more than he bargained for when memories of another life as a spy start to surface, is it recall or just Rekall?

The 2012 remake has wiped the outer-space world of Mars from the original; instead, The Colony is a tongue-in-cheek reference to former Australia. Wiseman has also given Quaid’s wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale) the modern girl-power role of hunting him down. Unfortunately Beckinsale doesn’t do bad-guy well; instead she flounces around like a stroppy Brit, flicking her long hair while yelling cheesy lines at Farrell and at the mostly useless Jessica Biel.

Total Recall has in-jokes that pay homage to the original film (the girl with three boobs makes an appearance) and the action is enough to make it entertaining. Just don’t expect it to blow Arnie’s classic out of the stratosphere.

GOOD FOR: Turning off your memory and watching things explode

She can DJ The search is on to find the country's best female DJ WORDS ALEX HARMON

She Can DJ is back for another year, after its massive debut in 2011. The hunt was on in Australia and New Zealand, and ten girls were picked to battle it out in a grand final next week. We had a chat with two of this year's hopefuls...

Do you have a genre of music?

I play electoro-house and little bit of complextro as well. So, you can imagine my mum doesn’t really get that. She’ll stand there and say, "I can’t hear anything, I can just hear drums."

Girl Audio, Melbourne

Do you think your gender helps you get jobs?

I think being a girl sometimes helps you get your foot in the door because people see you as a dollar sign, but then if you want to grow, you have to prove yourself a little bit harder.

I think boys especially get jealous of girls because they get their foot in the door for, basically, having tits. That kind of pisses them off, so if you want to earn their respect you have to prove yourself as a DJ – and as a person.

Hey Girl, how long have you been DJing?

I started learning in 2010 and started playing gigs in about 2011. But I’ve been playing piano since I was four, so I’ve always been interested in music. One of my friends had decks so I got into it that way. Because of my musical background I started to learn how to produce as well and began coming up with my own things.

What's the scene like in Melbourne? e?

It's great, I have residency’s at La Di Da, Sorry Grandma, and Majic, and do few random gigs gs here and there.

Do you have a day job?

Yeah DJing doesn’t pay all the bills, s, as much as I’d like it to! I’m a waitress, so if anyone ne wants to come and get a coffee off Girl Audio, they ey can come to The Botanical in Melbourne.

What did your folks say when you told them you wanted to be a DJ? They took a gulp of air and said, "Okay". My mum is a writer so she just smiled and nodded but she doesn’t really know how it works, and what we have to go through as DJs. But she’s there to support me 100%. It’s just a completely other world to them.

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What would playing in Ibiza mean to you? w It would wou be absolutely amazing. It’s funny because just before the competition I was bec actually in Europe. I went to Ibiza and I ac was w in heaven. I just wanted to play there so badly. So, seeing as though that is one of o the prizes, it’s just made me more and more excited about it. Ibiza is a mecca. m Do you use records, CDs or a laptop?

I use us CDs. I noticed that in Europe a lot of DJs just use their laptops. I think in Australia there is a stigma that if you’re a real DJ t you need to use vinyl or at least CDs but in Europe I don’t think it matters. For me I'm happy to stick to CDs and USBs,.

Dream collaboration?

D I'm really loving Porter Robinson's stuff at the moment, he’s doing a similar thing to what wha I love doing and crosses with it with Skrillex Skrille dub-step sounds.

Right: The top 10 hanging out Left: Last year's winner, Minx

Lolo Jones

Hannah Parker, Brisbane

industry for as long as I can.

How long have you been DJing?

I stated working in nightclubs about five years ago and just fell in love with music from there. All my friends DJ’d at this club I worked at and I just thought: I want to do that. I told a friend who lives in Sydney that I wanted to start DJins and I was going down there for a holiday so he secretly booked me a gig – even though I’d never DJ’d before. So I went down there and he showed me a few things and then I had to play a gig two days later. Which was terrifying, but I sort of enjoy being thrown into the deep end. You learn more.

What do you think of the others in the competition?

It’s just really good to meet other girls that are into the same thing that you are, and actually be able to talk to them about DJing. I think I talk my friends ears off a little bit about music and they get a bit sick of it sometimes. Now I have good connections around Australia and can go and hang out with them when they play gigs.

What's your genre of music?

I have quite a few but it’s mostly house, techno, then more the electro side of things, it just depends on what venue I am playing and what people want to hear. It’s better to be adaptable.

Photos: EMI Music

What is the scene like in Brisbane?

The scene up there is good. I’ve got two residency’s at the moment, one at Sky Room and one at Family, but I play heaps of other gigs. The scene up there is picking up and I think it used to be viewed as a small town but these days we’re getting more international acts up there and there’s more of an interest in the electronic scene.

Is the goal to do it full time?

Definitely. I am starting to produce now as well, so I should have some tracks coming out soon and I want to get into production so I can take it further. I definitely want to stay in this

Do you think you should you be competing against guys?

No, I think the competition is a really good way for female DJs to step it up and get viewed for our talent, instead of just being girls. People are wising up to the fact that girls actually are, and can be, really good DJs and producers.

What do you think of last years winner, Minx?

Yeah she’s a really lovely person, we spent some time with her in Sydney. I'm looking forward to picking her brains about everything in the future.

Your three desert island albums?

I reckon probably Ghettos and Gardens by Justin Martin. Iggy Azalea's mixtape Ignorant Art. And Dr Dre 2001. Just to mix it up a bit.

The top 10 will play the sets of their lives at the final event held at Sydney’s ivy on Wednesday September 5. (For tix see: dashtickets.com.au) To win a double pass to the event, email alex@ tntdownunder.com and tell us who you think should win. shecandj.com

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WIN

ARE YOU SPOTTED IN THE CIRCLE?

Email us at tom@ tntdownunder.com with ‘Spotted’ in the subject line, email must include a photo of yourself! Boom - You’ve won yourself a $100 bar tab at Scubar.

Like us on facebook/ tntdownunder for more party pics from the night!

SCUBAR Mad Mondays Monday 20 August

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HUGE SCREENS FOR ALL THE BEST LIVE SPORT!!!

Traditional British Pub Live music in the outdoor beer gardens and DJ till late Brisbanes best craft beer venue (SFBU TUFBLT BOE QVC OPTI t &YUFOTJWF XJOF MJTU &BHMF 4USFFU #SJTCBOF 2-% P XXX QJHOXIJTUMF DPN BV

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HOTSHOTS

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WINNER

WEEKLY WINNER ONLY THE LONELY: Gabriel Privitera, 30, Italy GABRIEL SAYS: “This is South Beach, Fremantle at sunset, one of the best beaches. Sunsets, in my opinion, are for couples – or lonely photographers.”

WE SAY: “We love that you’ve captured everything you set out to Gabriel.

The couple, the sunset and the lonely photographer on the side. The colours are amazing too, very warming. We want to give this photo a hug.”

THE MONTHLY WINNER GETS THREE DAYS CAR HIRE FROM TRAVELLERS AUTOBARN Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to: alex@tntdownunder.com. Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.

Weekly winner Gabriel wins a free night’s stay at the award-winning Sydney Central YHA (yha.com.au). The monthly winner gets three days’ car hire from Travellers Auto Barn. The runner-up wins a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling adventure and cruise with Awesome Adventures Oz (awesomeoz.com).

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WIN

HOT TIPS: Nice curves USING A FISH EYE LENS If you are looking to shoot a panorama, then an ultra-wide or fish lens could be the answer. They are great for landscapes, extreme sports and architecture photography.

They can also be used to shoot abstract images where an unnatural distortion can add interest.

There are two types of fish-eye lenses; the circular and the full frame.

An excellent characteristic both these lenses have is a large depth of field, leaving much of the frame in sharp focus.

One ‘problem’ with the fish-eye is that the centre of the frame appears to bulge outwards and lines at the edge have impossible curves.

For many, this is the exact reason why they are so fun.

BNH - 195mm x 270mm + 5mm bleed to all sides TNT MAG indd 1

16/08/2012 3:18:44 PM

TRAVELTIPS

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Unlike England’s nudist beaches, Australia is kind to bare bums

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ON THE ROAD WITH TRAVEL

TALK JASON HOGBERG 23, CANADA WHERE HAVE YOU TRAVELLED SO FAR?

I’ve been in Australia since September and I’ve been all up the east coast from Melbourne to Cairns. Now I’m back in Sydney.

YOU ASKED FOR IT...

WE ANSWER YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS

MOST MEMORABLE DAY IN OZ?

I would have to say skydiving in Cairns. That was pretty fun.

FAVOURITE SPOT IN OZ?

can I find the best nudist Q Where beaches in Australia? Yasmin Petershapen, Canada it’s just to get the most optimal A Whether “all over” tan, or whether it’s to save space in your backpack, nudist beaches are a thrilling and liberating experience for those who wish to partake. A quick Google search will bring up a number of organisations promoting clothes optional beaches around Australia. The most official of which is The Australian Naturist Federation. All but two of the states have had legal nudist beaches for many years. Lagging behind, Queensland and Tasmania are both moving towards allowing clothing free beaches and have a number of unofficial ones now.

Here’s a few of the most popular ones, state by state. In Perth, head to Swanborne Beach, it’s easy to reach and it’s just down from the main beach. There’s no shade, however, so bring plenty of suncream and water. In Melbourne, you have Sunnyside North in Mt Eliza. It’s about 30km south of Melbourne, making this beach a little less accessible, but it’s a great spot for safe swimming. In Noosa Heads, Queensland, shed your clothes at Alexandria Beach. This is one of the unofficial ones and probably the most popular in Queensland. In Sydney, Lady’s Bay and Cobblers Beach have easy access and are the most popular. If you want to get up close and personal with Sydney’s gay nudist scene, then head to Obelisk in Mosmon, for views of 24

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the harbour (amongst other things). In the liberal town of Byron Bay you’ll have the freedom of birthday suits on Belongil Beach. It’s a really nice beach just north of the main stretch of sand. In Port Stephens you have Samurai Beach in Anna Bay for a spot of playful sword fighting. And Adelaide isn’t shy either. Head over to Maslin Beach which is actually Australia’s first legal naturist beach. Just walk south from the main beach for the clothing optional part of the sand.

So go wild you naturalists, but, if nothing else, make sure you remember to ‘slip slop slap’! you suggest a day spot outside Q Can of Adelaide that isn’t too expensive?

Alison Jones, UK with sweet surf spots and chilled A Rammed out beaches, the Fleurieu Peninsula (which was named by a French explorer, in case you were wondering), is one of the easiest places to escape to from Adelaide. It’s also the area you’ll have to pass if you’re heading to Kangaroo Island (but we suggest you spend more than a day on the island). Start your day by getting rather dizzy on the local McLaren Vale wines – it’s the only place we know where you can do a wine tour while riding a camel. After that, get sweaty climbing up Mt Magnifi cent and don’t forget to strain your eyes for whales passing on the horizon. You can even see a little penguin parade on Granite Island, just off Victor Harbor.

Enjoy your day!

I really liked Whitehaven Beach because it’s so beautiful. Nice sand, nice weather, a really nice spot.

WEIRDEST EXPERIENCE ON THE ROAD?

When we were on Fraser Island a dingo stole my friend’s flip-flop.

That was pretty strange.

WHERE ARE YOU STAYING?

At the moment I’m staying at the Wake Up! hostel in Sydney.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING NEXT?

I’m going to New Zealand.

I’m starting in Auckland and then doing a bus tour on both the north and the south islands.

ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS?

Just have a nice time and do whatever you want to do.

CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS AUSTRALIA EXPERIENCE

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TRAVELLERSTALE

MINDIL BEACH MADNESS

N

The Mindil Beach markets in Darwin are renowned for their world-class food and peaceful ambiance. However English traveller Sally Worbey had quite a different experience...

I have convinced my very worried parents to let me go off backpacking and arrive in Darwin but stick around for longer than I originally planned to, because I don’t want to miss the legendary Mindil beach markets. I hear they’re famous for their Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese food.

I also hear how relaxing they are to watch the sun go down over the beach while listening to live music.

Because the locals tell me how good the food is, I skip lunch and save my stomach for the evening. I stroll down to the beach, absolutely starving.

After perusing the markets I settle on a nice looking Thai food stall and load up on a large box and a load of the appetizers. I find a nice spot on the beach to enjoy the food and the slow sunset over the beach.

After a little while I start feeling these odd stomach pains. But, I just put this down to eating too fast or being

so hungry. However, these continue to carry on so I go and grab myself a bottle of water, have a few sips and then have to make a run for the toilet, trying to avoid throwing up over everyone.

As I have my head over the toilet bowl I feel a massive heat wave hit my face. I look into the mirror and my face has started to swell. It then dawns on me: as a child I had a severe nut allergy, but for years I’ve had absolutely no issues with it. I’ve left my damn Epi-Pen back in the hostel. Bad times, indeed.

I decide to jump on some poor security guy and end up getting carted off in the ambulance with an oxygen mask on, looking like a right plonker!

At the hospital I start to feel a bit better and all of the nurses keep coming in and having a chat to me.

Apparently in Australia it’s a well known fact that all Thai and Chinese food contains nuts. Shame none of the locals chose to tell me about that!

When I finally get let out at midnight, I have no one to come pick me up because I am travelling alone.

The kind lady at reception tells me that

if you pick up the payphone it will go straight through to the taxi office.

After a while of unsuccessfully trying this, I hear the door go behind me and turn around to see a man who has blood all over his face. I soon discover he has had his front teeth knocked out. In other words: he the last person a vulnerable single woman traveller should be asking for help from in the middle of the night! He then asks if I’m alright so I ask him if he knows the taxi number and he gives it to me.

“Oh well I need one too so we’ll just share it,” he says. Great.

While we’re outside waiting for the cab he decides to invite a crazy old woman who is swearing at the hospital into our taxi too. Brilliant. During the drive, the man asks me for my phone number so we can go out on a date.

I tell him that I can’t remember my number because it’s a new phone.

(Problem solved I thought but oh no!)

“Okay,” he says, “I’ll just book into your hostel.”

Thinking to myself, what the hell do I do now? I root around in my bag and miraculously find my phone and give him a fake number.

When I finally get back safe and sound to my hostel, I rest my head down on my pillow in my locked room and think about my productive day.

Miss entire beach markets. Fight death. Almost get mugged/raped.

Hmm, shall I tell my parents this story? No – I think not!

I’ll just tell TNT Magazine instead.

TRAVEL VOUCHERS

WIN

Send us your scary, funny or embarrassing travel tale (preferably about Australia or New Zealand) and if published you’ll win a $250 travel voucher redeemable on Oz Experience passes (ozexperience.com), ATA NT camping trips (adventuretours.com.au) and with Wayward Bus (waywardbus.com. au). Email your stories (700 words max), to alex@tntdownunder.com

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25

WIN

HOW TO ENTER

Go to tntdowunder.com and click on the WIN page. See webpage for terms and conditions. Winners will be selected at random.

UNLEASH THE ADVENTURE! WIN A KAKADU OR ULURU TRIP FOR TWO To celebrate our special Northern Territory month in which we will be exploring the various attractions of this stunning section of Australia, we’re giving our readers the chance to win a couple of epic tours.

TNT has teamed up with Adventure Tours Australia and Mulgas Adventures to offer you a Northern Territory prize of a lifetime. Kakadu and Uluru are both boxes you need to tick off on your NT wish list. And with these tours you’ll be able to get snap happy while experienced guides make sure the NT’s (rather snap-happy residents themselves) are kept at bay.

So if you’ve burnt a hole in your wallet (and your liver) in Darwin’s pubs and you’re looking for some adventure

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that isn’t on Mitchell Street, we’re here to rescue you.

We’re offering two lucky readers and a friend the following prize: GRAND PRIZE WIN a 3 day 4wd Kakadu and Litchfield trip for 2 from Adventure Tours. This prize includes: Three day touring with an experienced guide. Two nights bush camping. Cruise the Mary River, r discover ancient rock art at Ubirr, take a relaxing swim at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge), see the famous Twin and Jim Jim falls, and visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.Accommodation transfers. Quality meals.Crocodile wrestling is optional!. Total value $1,175.

RUNNER UP PRIZE WIN a 3 day Mulgas adventure Uluru Tour for 2, plus 2 nights dorm accommodation at Annie’s place.

This prize includes: Visit to Kings Canyon for one of the most stunning walks along the North & South walls. Swim in the majestic Garden of Eden. Overnight bush camp cook up feast Curtain Springs. Hiking through the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta. Uluru base walk and a visit to the cultural centre. Total value $780.

Terms & conditions apply. Visit tntdownunder.com for all entry details.

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worth

$2,000

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27

Jumping crocs NORTHERN TERRITORY

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OZTRIP

White crocs can jump On the outskirts of Darwin witness the amazing jumping crocs. It may not be an Olympic sport (yet) but it did inspire a horror film WORDS XAV JUDD

Photos: Tourism NT, Great Southern Rail

To tell the truth, I’m still recovering from mangrove trees with sepia coloured roots that WHAT TO DO: Adelaide the last time I had an encounter with are more of a tangle than the hair of Medusa River Queen Cruises run one creatures in the wild. At dusk, on a stiflingly and delicate china-pretty water lilies, make this hour jumping croc tours four hot evening, I was strolling along at the place decidedly enchanting. But suddenly, a times a day, seven days a week juncture of park and woodland, when I sixth sense I never even knew I had kicks in, and during the dry season. $40pp. heard some rustling in the undergrowth. peering out of our vessel I notice a triangularSee: jumpingcrocodilecruises.

Before I even got a chance to peek in that shaped, olive-mud shaded head, which has com.au. Darwin Day Tours direction, a screaming, stark bollock naked got small coin-thick ridges at the back of it run transport to and from teenage couple raced past me, with all the (osteoderms, kind of pieces of bony armour the Adelaide River. See: bits you don’t want to see bobbing about, that sit in the skin). And then, there’s the darwindaytours.com.au bobbing about. Now, rather than getting an WHERE TO STAY: scariest thing of all, the myriad of sandy, dark unwanted eyeful, I’m on the lookout for the A bed in a dorm room at green and ebony coloured spots surrounding glance of a surreptitious eyeball. a diamond aperture, that amount to this apex Melaluca on Mitchell in Darwin Yes, here I am on a jumping crocodile predator’s lifeless eye. Nicknamed salties, the costs from $30/night. See cruise, on Northern Territory’s Adelaide saltwater crocodile in front of us is just as likely momdarwin.com.au River. A scenic 60 kilometres drive from MORE: tourismtopend.com.au to be found in freshwater, and that eponymous the principle city in this state, Darwin, this species of croc is also found in this milieu. murky blue-brown stretch of waterway curls The crocodile hunter northwards from Litchfield National Park to Clarence Strait, as if it were a lazing sidewinder. Earlier, we had had a safety It’s not long before another one of these gangly-toothed, briefing about stuff not to do once we got into our boat opportunistic carnivores (globally, their diet includes bats, – a barge-type thing with an air conditioned wooden deck birds, dingoes, goannas, kangaroos, wild boar, and even surrounded by a few protective bars that reach up to just sharks) sticks its muzzle above the interminable darkness. And above waist level, which did not impede our view. then, there’s another. One would figure, at this moment, the Of course, the monsters of the deep we had come to see late ‘Crocodile Hunter’, Steve Irwin, would get a seismic hardcan’t read, but we were told not to stick any parts of our on. However, our captain begins to droop, as in making our bodies over the side otherwise we would be spelling out ship speed flag until we come to a complete halt. dinner! And going for a little skinny dip was even more out of the question. Well, not unless that hari kari ninja inside of Faking it is advised you wants to get-up-close and personal with the 80,000 or so saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) that are said to inhabit this region of the country.

Dawn of the dead We chug up stream, waiting in anticipation of spotting an animal whose various species kill hundreds of people globally, each year. Yet, the mass of aqua in front of us is dead quiet and I think to myself, I’ve seen more life and vitality in an old people’s home. Even so, tracts of deciduous forest,

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Next minute, the crew hang chunks of pork via a long pole over the river. Quicker than it would take a Catholic priest who’s been rumbled to bolt from a gay sauna, the glare of a crocodile’s white scaly belly announce it’s propelling

“

Things go disturbingly wrong when the passengers are besieged by a colossal crocodile

”

itself out of the water. Momentarily, it’s as if he’s on stilts, his teeth envelop flesh, and down it goes.

Yet, don’t be fooled by a staged kind-of scene that in some ways might make the crocodile appear like it could be in a Disney animation reel; the same chops we witness give this ogre the most powerful jaws of any living entity. So, whereas a great white sharks’ bite pressure is 800 pounds per square inch and a hyenas measures up at 2,000, this efficient killer’s is over 5,000. Nonetheless, ironically, crocs have a weak set of muscles that open their mouths, so even a couple of elastic bands around the snout can keep them closed.

It’s no surprise the animals that first appeared 55 million

years ago – ten million years after the dinosaur extinction – are part of Australian mythology. There are Aboriginal paintings of crocodiles done millennia ago, because these cold blooded reptiles were significant in their Dreamtime, a period which we might better understand as the time of Creation. Much more recently, too, these fiends have made a cultural impact. Who can forget the eponymous Dundee films, where a bushwhacker (Paul Hogan) takes the survival skills he learnt capturing these brutes to New York and Los Angeles, often with hilarious results. And, in a sense, even more directly, these rapacious gluttons inspired Greg McLean’s Rogue (2007). Yes, this horror flick is not about the dwarfsized peeping Tom who jumped up and tried to snatch the Queen’s long johns off her washing line; rather, it entails the same sort of cruise I am on up the Adelaide River but things go disturbingly wrong when the passengers are besieged by a colossal crocodile.

Meeting Mr Rogue I caught up with McLean and he told me what had triggered his initial interest to make this picture: “When I was young I saw a film called Northern Safari about a guy who took 16mm home movies of his family’s adventures in the Northern Territory of Australia. It featured amazing footage of huge crocodiles and other creatures from this incredible locale, which I, at the time, didn’t know was real. It seemed too extreme, too exciting a place to be real. I found out later, it is real and it’s one of the most rugged, beautiful and dangerous environments on the planet.”

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“Another thing that inspired the movie was seeing a news report about a huge saltwater crocodile that was attacking fishing boats in Northern Territory. Blew me away – and I can still remember the feeling of seeing the hunters out there, at night, in tiny tin vessels, chasing this monster they could not see. I held that image and fear inside [me] for many years, and then when I started screen-writing I managed to turn that inspiration into a story which allowed me to take an audience to that terrifying place. And to experience what it would be like to be stalked by a seven meter saltwater crocodile.”

In fact, the actual croc that instilled such dread in Mclean was called Sweetheart. I guess, because as with my former partner, one open-mouthed kiss would really more than suck the life out of you. Now stuffed and in the fascinating Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the reptile not my ex, its bulk of a frame indicates that these brutes readily grow to over five metres with the largest one ever recorded, being over seven. On this trip, we did not see any over 3.5 metres according to our skipper, yet, each individual was still big and frightening enough to make one believe that it was responsible for the lyrics in Elvis’s (You’re the) Devil in Disguise.

Incidentally, I don’t think that crocs are the only spectacular wildlife in and around the Adelaide River: white bellied sea eagles swoop down and skim the water to pluck fish out with their talons; wild boar have the ultimate slumber in piles of mud, and one-tonne buffalo roam about with their black, moist nostrils stuck in the air, with the haughtiness of royalty. ❚

Simply gorge-ous

Alright sweetheart!

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BEACH SIDE BLISS THE MINDIL BEACH MARKETS ARE ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST...

Once you’ve done enough croc-spotting, one of Darwin’s most popular attractions is the Mindil Beach Markets, which are a regular highlight on the dry season calender.

If you’re hungry for everything and nothing at the same time, the place for dinner and a blazing Darwin sunset on Thursdays and Sundays is definitely Mindil Beach Sunset Market, about 2km from the city centre.

Warning: half the city seems to flock here with screaming kids and picnic blankets so nab your spot under a palm tree early and take it in turns to wander round. The food stalls will blow your mind. Cuisines span the globe from Malaysian to Brazilian to Thai, to Greek and Portuguese. Bobby’s brazier makes a killing with his flamin’ satay sticks and they’re well worthy of the hype. Save some room and some cents for the crêpes, sit back and enjoy the musicians show you just how much more you can do with a didgeridoo. Buses 4 and 6 go past the market and the shuttle is just $2.

See more at mindil.com.au

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Amazon rainforest IQUITOS, PERU

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BIGTRIP

Welcome to the jungle One of the world’s most mysterious natural wonders, the Amazon is nature’s territory, untamed by man. We head deep into its heart WORDS JENNIFER CARR

I’m being ushered down a gangplank on WHEN TO GO: July to the river meets Rio Yanayacu, a tributary on the darkest of nights, one devoid of stars December tends to guarantee the which our base camp sits. The ride is peaceful and surely impossible for even the most least precipitation and consistent and pacifying after the urban swirl, and my sunshine, which means better tiredness dissipates at the thought of the avid carrot-eater to adjust their eyes to. wilderness that awaits.

My apprehension is captured in the gaze of opportunities to spot wildlife.

Hopping out on to an elevated gangway CURRENCY: $1 = PEN2.7 a torch-bearing boatman, who steadies my with stilts, I learn our rustic lodgings are stare as I clamber on to his 25-seater craft (Peruvian Nuevo Sol). perched immediately over a piranha-infested in Leticia, Colombia’s most southerly city.

ACCOMMODATION: In the A frontier settlement of sorts, Leticia sits jungle, Albergue Tacana Comunidad swamp. Sleep walking or taking a nighttime dip, therefore, is not advisable. Neither is on the border of Peru and Brazil to create Multietnica de Tacana is a tranquil a preoccupation with technology; there’s South America’s Amazonian triangle. The guesthouse with rooms from not a wifi connection or phone signal to be area is known as ‘the lungs of the earth’, $10pn, including breakfast. found, just hammocks, books, games and the thanks to its being responsible for 20 per alberguetacana.com ever-present rustlings of life in the jungle. cent of the world’s total oxygen supply.

In Leticia, No-frills hostel Casa Del The Amazon does trickle into Colombia, Kurupira offers free wifi and decent- It’s strangely comforting, as confirmed by Jorge, who declares: “If the jungle is silent, be but I want to explore its upper tributaries so sized dorm rooms. From $7.50 a cautious. It means an anaconda is nearby.”

I can delve deeper into the world’s most night. maplandia.com After we’re greeted by local Peruvian species-rich tropical rainforest. Hence the SEE: visitperu.com/loreto.htm tour company Maniti Expeditions’ beaming, boat trip – a necessary evil that’s taking me personable hosts, we head off to a small 10 hours southwards, towards the murky estuary in a rowing boat in search of caimans (a sort of waters of Iquitos in Peru, the largest jungle-locked city in South American alligator) and one of the world’s largest the world. I try and focus my excitement on Iquitos – the freshwater fish, the paiche. At more than five feet long and destination, not the journey – as our snug, petroleum-scented vessel speeds down river. As the first streaks of a russet dawn stain the sky, I spot small communities congregating on the roofs of their rain-soaked abodes. It’s the worst Peruvian Cruise down the river with the caimans flooding in 22 years and I am in deep.

Into the wild Some cities I instantly fall in love with for their high-octane, 24-hour madness. New York, Bangkok, Cartagena and Buenos Aires are up there with the best of them. Iquitos, sadly, is not.

It’s got all the mayhem – thick blankets of smog roll into every corner of town, while spluttering Latino-style tuk-tuks thunder past at frightening speeds all night long – but no soul. Like an overdose of Marmite, I just can’t stomach it. Fortunately, I’m not here to loiter.

I gratefully disembark and meet my guide, Jorge, a native of the Yanamono region of Peru. We slip out of the smogfest without looking back, and head 70km south to where

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Beware of the piranhas

sporting devil-red scales, these bad boys look as if they would gobble you up the second you slip overboard. But they’re actually timid creatures that simply have a good appetite.

“It’s the piranhas you need to look out for,” grins Jorge. At first glance, these small black fish, the Amazon’s best-known scavenger, don’t look like they’d put up much of a fight. On cue, Jorge wiggles his bamboo fishing rod and a piece of bait in the dark waters around us. A frenzy of scales and flashes of razor-sharp teeth erupt in the shallows. “If you’ve bloody cuts or it’s your ‘lady time’,” says Jorge a little awkwardly, “don’t fall in or put any body parts

“

Don’t fall in or put any body parts in the water

”

in the water”. Got it.

Despite the warnings, we linger in this section of black water, primarily because piranhas have a reputation for tasting damn delicious. We sling old-school wooden rods over the boat side, using raw chicken as bait; the dark waters explode once more. Lightning-fast scales divebomb the hooks and I lift the rod from the water, unfortunately sans lunch.

These buggers are smart. I repeat the process, hooking more raw flesh on to my rod and plunging it deeper. I’m about to give up when a sharp pull on the rod hints of success. I yank 36

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hard and a six-inch whiskered catfish comes flying out of the water, almost slapping Jorge clean in the face. It’s not razortoothed or particularly terrifying, but it’s an edible start to my fishing career.

A tribal exchange After devouring our freshly barbecued catch back at base camp, we depart to visit a local indigenous tribe. The boat weaves silently between six-foot reeds and tall spiraling trees dangling vines – which I’m tempted to swing on – while others drip with bulbous red fruits pock-marked by peckish scarlet macaws. Everything is comically surreal in its hypercolour, as though I’ve stepped into a Disney movie.

Thirty minutes and not a single tourist later, we’re hiking through undergrowth and sliding along muddy paths laced with intricate spider webs. I’m not in any rush to see anything eight-legged. As if reading my mind, Jorge is quick to point out that “when you’re this deep into the jungle, there’s always an element of surprise”. Comforting words. I’m just happy I can still hear frogs belching in the undergrowth; the noise a reassurance that an anaconda isn’t close by.

Five minutes and one near quick-mud fatality later, we spy a sleepy arachnoid shuffling up a tree trunk. Anyone who says furry animals are cute clearly hasn’t done a stint in the Amazon.

Continuing up a trail that’s now a virtual mud flow from recent precipitation, we’re led into a clearing where 18 indigenous locals and a tribal elder are gathered. Makeshift wooden shelters built into a concentric circle frame the space. The elder says nothing, but nods simply at us before smudging red splodges of pigment – squeezed from the local sumac berry – on to cheeks, foreheads and chins. “This means

you’re welcome, and signals to other tribes you’re friends of the Yaguas,” Jorge informs us.

We proceed into the clearing and watch as the tribe initiates a fertility dance, which we’re soon dragged into, boy-girl-boy-girl, conga-style. Chanting ensues. The elder then lets out what can best be described as a war cry. He makes a beeline for me, points to my retro Casio watch and smiles suggestively.

“Do you want to make an exchange?” Jorge interprets.

The elder has already begun gesturing between his magnificent corona (crown) of red and blue macaw feathers and my well-worn eBay bargain. I have no clue what the time is anymore.

Meeting the locals

Animal encounters I sleep deep, waking once to check for tarantulas under my bed, then again to a sinister splash in the water beneath my cabin. Sometimes, in the Amazon, it’s best not to probe too far. We breakfast early on eggs and coffee, and enjoy the tranquil, ethereal light afforded by a morning storm, before leaving for a waterlogged Monkey Island. Home to 15 species of indigenous monkey, the island is a mustvisit in this region.

Fifty minutes later and we’re re-enacting Noah and the Ark; large Amazonian howler monkeys, spider monkeys and a particularly pretty squirrel monkey fly into our boat from the branches above. They land without apology on our heads and shoulders and attack the bags of bananas we’ve brought.

With 12 monkeys in the boat, plus a giant green, orangewinged Amazon parrot and three scarlet macaws, we feel like we’ve reached capacity. Then a longboat appears through the reeds beside us – it’s a local, his son and their catch of the day: a two-metre anaconda with a body wider than a rugby player’s thighs. The native offers it up to hold and I succumb, my eyes agog. The snake coils itself around my neck; I’m both terrified and awed. The beast is removed and a prehistoric mata mata turtle with Batman-esque armour popped in my lap. Its dart-shaped head disappears into its shell and I can’t blame it – what with squawking parrots, gargantuan snakes and an army of monkeys, the scene is a bit much for me too.

Buzzing from our run-in with some of Amazonia’s finest specimens, we take a different route back through the river’s shimmering waterways. A pink freshwater dolphin appears beside the boat, extending its nose amicably like a human tipping their hat to say hello. We’d been warned that spotting pink dolphins when the water’s this high can be tricky, but it seems luck is on our side.

The rare pink dolphin

A giant anteater

A final toast Jorge suggests we celebrate with a trip to the local ‘off licence’, a hut 30 minutes north that’s home to a local distiller of potent Amazonian sugar rum. Despite the fact it’s barely 11am, there’s a collective nodding of heads. We trek over muddy hills until we reach the hut and procure three bottles of 45 per cent proof liquor that’s less than a week old. It costs around $1.50.

Our toast happens later that afternoon, all glasses facing towards the river. To the Amazon – a place of magic and madness. It’s the lungs of the earth, and I feel lucky to have seen it breathe. ❚

Finding skunk fish

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DA DA

TRAVELWEEKENDER

Steel my sunshine This is Newcastle in 48 hours WORDS JAMES BESANVALLE

DAY 1: Renowned for amazing beaches and breathtaking waterfront views, Newcastle combines an eclectic mix of 200year-old heritage buildings and contemporary quirky culture.

Widely known as 'steel city' for its industrial roots, Newcastle is a must-stop destination on your way up the east coast or a great weekend getaway from Sydney. Newcastle combines scenic views and a thriving Australian atmosphere into one great city.

7:00: You’re going to need a big breakfast for a busy day ahead – the locals swear by Estabar for great coffee and an amazing breakfast menu. Overlooking the spectacular beach, the restaurant serves affordable modern Australian cuisine.

You may also want to buy a sandwich to eat for lunch while you’re here – it’s going to be a long day.

8:00: Get your walking shoes on and your camera ready for the great coastal Bathers Way walk. Take your time as you meander across sandy slopes from Nobbys Beach in the north to Merewether in the south. Bathers Way features rugged cliffs and reefs, rock pools, huge saltwater ocean baths, heritage sites and parklands, not to mention amazing surfing opportunities along the way.

11:00: Once you’ve completed the three hour Bathers Way walk, lay down a towel and set up a beach umbrella at Newcastle Beach because you’re not going anywhere for a while. Go for a dip or attempt to catch the waves. This beach is home to the international ‘Surfest’ surfing competition."

17:00: You’ve probably already devoured that sandwich you

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bought this morning so it’s time to work up your appetite for Merewether’s Beach Hotel (thebeachhotel.com.au).

Serving up typical Australian grub, the Beach Hotel offers great seaside views with freshly caught fish and even a sneaky drink from the Beach Bar. 19:00: Catch a bus back to the main city area of Newcastle and go on a self-guided tour on the East Heritage Walk.

Highlights include The Lock Up, Customs House, the Convict Lumber Yard, Fort Scratchley Historic Site, Newcastle Ocean Baths and Beach, Christ Church Cathedral, and several historic convict-era buildings. You’ll be exploring this area of Newcastle for hours so give yourself plenty of time to see the historic landmarks that make Newcastle famous.

22:00: Get an early night at the Newcastle Beach Hostel (yha.com.au) with rooms as cheap as $30 a night. The hostel is only a stone's throw from the beach.

DAY 2: 9:00: Darby Street (darbystreet.com) has all your food and retail therapy needs for the day. With over 20 cafes and seemingly limitless boutique shopping, you could probably spend all day here discovering hidden gems and treasure troves of trinkets. As the main cultural hub of Newcastle, the street also offers festivals, theatre, a thriving urban culture and even its own Twitter account (twitter. com/darbystreetcom).

13:00: To add a touch of class to your trip, visit the Newcastle Art Gallery (newcastle.nsw.gov.au/nag) which boasts the second largest collection of art in New

In the beans business

South Wales. From traditional indigenous bark artworks to contemporary Australian art, the NAG and a host of private galleries in the area will be happy to show you around. Also, between 27 - 30 September, Newcastle plays host to the This is Not Art (TiNA) Festival (thisisnotart.org) showcasing experimental and emerging Australian art.

14:30: A quick drive up north to the Hunter Wetlands Centre (wetlands.org.au) will offer you to an interesting way to see the local natural environment. If you’re up for the ride, you could be zooming around the wetlands track on your very own segway. You’ll see local flora and fauna as well as have the opportunity for self-guided walks and guided eco-tours, canoeing, picnics and barbecues.

19:00: For a huge selection of cuisine, head to the Honeysuckle area and prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavour. Boasting Italian, Thai, sushi and more, you’ll be spoiled for choice in this mecca of harbourside culture. We love Isobar (isobar.net.au) which has a huge range of food, from pizza and pasta to Spanish tapas.

21:00: Move the party over to Fannys (fannys.com.au) a contemporary nightclub on Wharf Street. Despite the unsavory name, make sure you dress smart. Drinks are cheap and attract a young crowd, so dive headfirst into the action and dance the night away at this venue by the harbour.

00:00: Finish the night in a traditional manner, with a hotdog or a pie with peas at the famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels (harryscafedewheels.com.au.

Late night dip?

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39

NEWSWEIRD

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Outstanding!

SEARCH IS ON FOR THE BEST MULLET UNITED STATES

Are you proud of your scraggly locks?

Then Billy Ray Cyrus wants to hear from you. The country singer has launched a bizarre competition to find the world’s worst mullet haircut.

Cyrus, father of Miley Cyrus – who is now engaged to Aussie Liam Hemsworth – shot to fame in 1992 with his hit single Achy Breaky Heart, but has become more known for his hairstyle.

He’s told his Twitter fans that in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his career, he their pics of mullets for a chance to win flights to Chicago.

ORAL SEX MAKES WOMEN HAPPIER UNITED STATES

Women who swallow during oral sex with men are happier and more intelligent, according to a US study.

Scientists at the State University of New York have proved that semen contains a wide range of sleep-improving, moodrising and affection-increasing chemicals.

The study, quizzing 293 females about their sex lives, also claimed regular unprotected sex helped women getting higher scores on cognitive tests. How happy women are catching STDs or getting involuntarily pregnant from non-protected sex wasn’t shown in this study.

American sex columnist Michael Castleman commented the result on Psychology Today: “I’m not advocating that reproductive-age people shun condoms to

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The great weigh in: every species at London Zoo was measured and weighed in an attempt to monitor the breeds. Meerkats, penguins, giraffes and this giant tortoise were among the animals taking to the scales to make sure they were all healthy. Awww

elevate women’s mood at the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

But this effect might come in handy for women over age 50, who are experiencing menopausal blues.”

UGLIES NEED NOT APPLY AUSTRALIA

Aussie clothing company General Pants has been accused of ‘lookism’ – hiring only beautiful sales staff.

Much like US firm Abercrombie & Fitch, it seems General Pants has a ‘no uglies’ policy. The company was not available to

comment, but could be sued for discrimination if it was established it did hold that policy.

Victoria is the only jurisdiction outside of the US where employees can sue their bosses for discrimination based on appearance. Since the law was introduced in 1995, there have been 1800 lookism inquiries ... by ugly people like him on the left, maybe?

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 1,000

Amount, in pounds, visitors to Edinburgh Zoo are charged to meet and feed pandas.

Well, they are adorable

Miles a man drove in a minivan around Southern California before finding a terrified kitten hiding in the engine

Melbourne: a star is born

AUSSIES DISCOVER MEANING OF LIFE

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AUSTRALIA

Scientists from the University of Melbourne have found an alternative theory to the Big Bang – the theory of how the universe star formed.

The physicists suggest instead of thinking about a singularity of matter exploding, we should visualise the start of the universe as water freezing into ice.

“Think of the early universe as being like a liquid,” lead researcher James Quach said. “Then as the universe cools, it crystallises into the three-spatial and one-time dimension we see today.

“Theorised this way, as the universe cools, we would expect that cracks should form, similar to the way cracks are formed when water freezes into ice.”

Well, that’s crystal clear then. A crystal buried under 10 feet of mud.

FRANCE TOPS RUDE AIRPORT LIST

Photos: Getty Images

FRANCE

It comes as no surprise, but Paris’s Charles De Daulle has topped the list of the rudest airports in Europe.

It seems France is missing the friendly gene, with its transport board launching a campaign to end the rudeness.

The survey by travel booking website Skyscanner placed Heathrow airport second, blaming rudeness partly on the recent Olympic rush.

“Customers travelling in and out of

Nobody wants the travel bug

Heathrow faced quite a few problems during the Olympics with ex-employees being drafted in, many of whom had only completed basic training,” a Skyscanner spokesman said.

Meanwhile the friendliest airport in Europe was Copenhagen, followed by Amsterdam and Stockholm.

Across all airports, check-in staff were rated at the bottom of the list.

DON’T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE...

UNITED STATES

Two women have filed a lawsuit against Marriott Hotels for $243k, claiming to have been bitten by bed bugs.

Arizona Pamela April and Char’o Safford said a “significant” bed bug infestation attacked them and their children in a Hickory Ridge Marriott hotel room in August 2011.

April says she woke to find dried blood on her pillowcase, as well as bumps and bites all over her son’s body.

The hotel has now closed.

25

Per cent increase in enquiries into travelling to Vegas after Prince Harry’s naked antics.

Maybe he’s getting a cut

Cost, in pounds, a mum of two was forced to pay by Ryanair after forgetting to print boarding passes before checking in. Ouch

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK Money y Actor Larry Hagman, who plays JR Ewing in Dallas, when asked what motivated the return of the former TV hit sereis. At least he’s honest

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OUR VIEW COMMENT: PRIYAL DADHANIA Email: travel@tntdownunder.com

Julian hanging out at his new Ecuadorian-themed apartment

Politicians and Assange fans need to know: rape is rape Assange has unlocked many things but ‘legitimate rape’ is the worst

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The Australian X Factor are recruiting boy band One Direction to help find an Aussie version of the band faster than anyone can say “cashing in”?

“This year’s X Factor is certainly different,” host Luke Jacobz said, but is different always better?

Simon Cowell thinks the world needs another floppy haired, smooth baby faced bunch of singers (with Aussie accents).

I don’t think there’s enough space for another boy band in the music charts, and luckily, many others took to Twitter to

By different you “mean carbon copy ” express similar opinions: “I am getting so sick of the X Factor saying that they need to find an Australia one direction... no one cares!!!” And by different, what you really mean is you’re doing a carbon copy of the UK version, Australia?

Good luck Simon, let’s see if he still has the X Factor and is able to continue to top the ratings!

Photos: Getty Images

We know Julian Assange as the man who revealed the biggest secrets of the US Government, but now it’s all about him avoiding extradition to Sweden on account of the multiple rape charges he faces – a topic which has divided opinion.

Assange’s supporters believe his persecution by Interpol has nothing to do with rape charges, but are in fact politically motivated. In effect he argues that Sweden would extradite him to the US. While it cannot be denied that any other man in this situation probably wouldn’t have prompted international headlines it’s safe to say that Assange’s status can expect no less. After all, he’s the man who released America’s diplomatic cables.

I am aware that the British government used excessive means to get Assange: threatening to suspend the Ecuadorian embassy’s diplomatic status, entering it by force, having swarms of police surround the building.

Where is the evidence which shows that this was the UK’s way of extraditing him so he can face trial in the US? There is none.

However, the accusations regarding political motivation have effectively overcast the seriousness of the sexual harassment allegations Assange should be made to face. Think about it, does it not seem a bit ridiculous to propose some kind of global conspiracy?

Assange accuses the US of a “witch hunt” but fails to mention the allegations he faces.

Public figures are becoming obsessed with conspiracy theories instead of sending the message which says non-consensual sex is wrong. Take Respect MP, George Galloway, who claimed that Assange was only guilty of “really bad manners”, demeaning the allegations to nothing more than “bad sexual etiquette”. And he’s not the first politician accused of undermining sexual harassment allegations.

US Republican Todd Akin claimed that in cases of “legitimate rape” females can prevent pregnancy by having their body shut down. I don’t think I’ve heard something so ridiculous, especially from someone running for such a high profile position.

AUSSIES FOLLOW ONE DIMENSION

www.kiwiexperience.com

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SPORTNEWS

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BIG DEAL, PLAYERS WANT THEIR CUT RUGBY LEAGUE

A new five-year broadcast deal, worth more than $1.025bn, is being hailed as the greatest ever done by NRL. Nine Network and Fox Sports have retained the TV rights to NRL games, with Nine keeping all representative games and three free-to-air NRL matches each weekend. Fox Sports will continue with five games, including Monday night football.

The AU$1.025bn deal is worth $925m in cash, with the balance to be made up in advertising. Under the deal superstars such as Greg Inglis (above) could earn more than $988k a season.

Now though, NRL bosses face another tortuous round of talks with players and clubs over how the spoils should be shared.

“I don’t know too much about figures and how that’s going to get divided up, but as players, we just want to get a fair share,” Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah said.

HENRY BACK AT THE BLUES RUGBY UNION

World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry just can’t stay away from the game. After a short stint as technical director for Argentina, he’s back as an adviser for the Blues.

Henry forms a powerful team with head coach John Kirwan and All Blacks skills coach Mike Byrne. Their task will be to revitalise the franchise after it suffered a season to forget in this year’s Super 15, finishing in 12th place.

“This does several things,” Henry said. ”It brings me home; it cuts down the travel; and it fulfils the disease I’ve got to still be involved in coaching. This is where I grew up. The Blues are my franchise.”

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It’s a long way down: Japan’s Manami Mitsuboshi goes big in the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at Cardrona, New Zealand. Athletes from 24 nations competed, with the US’s Torin Yater-Wallace and Devin Logan taking the big prizes in perfect conditions

MCGUIRE DEFENDS BOLT’S AMBITIONS CRICKET

Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire has hit back at naysayers who criticise Usain Bolt’s cricket dream.

McGuire said the Stars were having ongoing talks with the sprinter about his potential involvement in this summer’s Big Bash League. Meanwhile, some cricket followers have questioned Bolt’s ability.

“If he comes out to Melbourne, has a bit of fun and is involved in our team, that’s great,” McGuire said. “Usain Bolt has provided as much marketing impetus to the Big Bash League probably only behind Shane Warne.

“It won’t be the worst thing that will ever happen to Australian cricket.”

BIG WEEK FOR ...

After competing at the Olympics, Oscar Pistorius is the highest-profile of the Paralympians and, as such, big things are expected of him. He’ll carry South Africa’s flag at the opening ceremony, before preparing for the first of his qualifying races in the T44 100m, his showpiece event. This will be the largest Paralympics ever and Pistorius is the star of the show. Will the all pressure be too much? Unlikely, as the 25-yearold is an extremely determined individual with something to prove.

As he said recently: “I’ve got two disabilities and hundreds of abilities.”

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK Gav G av has had three or fo ffou four years of fannying around and not being by serious about his rugby London Welsh coach Lyn Jones pulls no punches when describing Gavin Henson’s recent playing history. Probably spot on

Cowdrey: focused

PREVIEW Cowdrey swims for greatness PARALYMPICS Swimmer Matthew Cowdrey is on mission to become Australia’s most decorated Paralympian in London. The eight-time champion is set to contest up to eight events in his quest to leapfrog compatriot Tim Sullivan, who won 10 gold medals in athletics.

Cowdrey will also attempt to achieve the rare feat of winning the same event at a third straight Games. He won both the 100m freestyle and 200m medley titles in Athens and Beijing. Watching superstar Michael Phelps defend two of his four

individual Olympic titles in London only reinforced to Cowdrey the difficulty of staying on top in the pool.

“You have to be lucky to hit your peak on the first one and then still be on top of your game for your second one and then hold on for your third one,” he said.

Cowdrey is part of a 161-strong Aussie team, which will have plenty of support.

A record 2.2 million tickets for the Games have been snapped up, with organisers expecting that to rise to 2.5 million.

ABC, THIS THURSDAY

THE CHAT | Who will coach the Warriors?

Photos: Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors look to be in all Q sorts of trouble. What the hell has happened?

Warriors, who finished second in the NRL in 2011, A The have been woeful in 2012. They’ve blown 18-0 leads more than once and lack structure and vision at crucial junctures.

Coach Brian McClennan has been fired and the hunt for a new leader begins. Perhaps Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy (right) will be approached as the club’s owners vow to do ‘whatever it takes’ to create the best sporting franchise in Australasia. Bellamy knows how to get journeymen motivated, how to harness the natural talent that the champion Warriors juniors have in spades and, crucially, how to win titles. He’d be expensive, but create the culture of excellence the Warriors so sorely lack.

The sight of an ageing The lady chewing gum with bright red lippy on is not acceptable We can always rely on Joey Barton to tackle the big issues via Twitter.

An e A executive made a com o comment like: ‘It’s all getting messy’ ... this somehow translated into: ‘Get Messi’. An offer was made for £30m. It was rejected Former Man City CEO Gary Cook reveals how the club accidentally bid for Lionel Messi in 2008. True story, apparently

TV HIGHLIGHTS CRICKET England v South Africa England will be out for revenge Tues, 9.30pm. Fox Sports

FORMULA ONE Belgian Grand Prix C’mon Aussie Mark Webber Sat, 9.10pm. Fox Sports

FOOTBALL Liverpool v Arsenal Can the Gooners challenge without RVP? Sun, 10.30pm. Fox Footy

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TOUR FIRMS

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Bottom Bits Bus Tours around Tasmania 1800 777 103, bottombits.com.au

Maxi Ragamuffin Whitsundays sailing 1800 454 777 maxiaction.com.au

Bunyip Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 286 947, bunyiptours.com

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Topdeck Tours covering all of Oz 1300 886 332, topdeck.travel

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SYDNEY STAY Base Sydney 477 Kent St. CBD. 02 9267 7718 stayatbase.com Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St. CBD. 02 9267 7718 bighostel.com Bounce Budget Hotel 28 Chalmers St. CBD. 02 9281 2222 bouncehotel.com.au Easy Go Backpackers 752 George St. CBD. 02 9211 0505, easygobackpackers.com.au City Resort Hostel 103-105 Palmer St. Woolloomooloo 02 9357 3333 cityresort.com.au Sydney Central YHA 11 Rawson Place. CBD. 02 9218 9000 Sydney Harbour YHA 110 Cumberland Street. The Rocks.

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PAUL OAKENFOLD Horden Pavilion. Sept 30. $71.90 It has been three years but the original superstar DJ is back and TNT is giving away tix to his Sydney show. Head to our website to enter!

Sydney

futureentertainment.com.au

tours. mysydneydetour.com

skydivethebeach.com

Oceanworld Manly West Esplanade. oceanworld.com.au

Sydney Olympic Park Darling Harbour. sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au

Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au

Sydney Tower and Skytour 100 Market St, CBD. sydneyskytour.com.au

Skydive the Beach Wollongong.

Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com

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QLDLISTINGS

@tnt_downunder

follow us on Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise.

1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au

DON’T MISS

Coolangatta Kirra Beach YHA Pl, 230 Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga.

07 5536 76442, yha.com.au Coolangatta Sands Hostel Cnr Griffiths & McLean Sts, Coolangatta. 07 5536 7472, coolangattasandshostel.com.au Gold Coast International BP 28 Hamilton Ave, Surfers. 1800 816 300, goldcoastbackpackers.com. au

DON’T MISS PRIMAVERA FESTIVAL Primavera. 1 Sep - 30 Nov. Free Lovers of food, wine and culture are called to Primavera to indulge in the fresh spring tastes, sights and sounds.

Leslie Parade, Stanthorpe

BRISBANE STAY Aussie Way Backpackers 34 Cricket St. 07 3369 0711, aussiewaybackpackers.com Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace.

07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452, brisbanebackpackers.com.au Brisbane City Backpackers 380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com Bunk Backpackers Cnr Ann & Gipps Sts, 1800 682 865, bunkbrisbane.com.au The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm.

04 3377 7061

agfg.com.au Tinbilly Travellers Cnr George and Herschel Sts. 1800 446 646, tinbilly.com

BRISBANE DO Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah. 07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au Gallery of Modern Art 07 3840 7303, qag.qld.gov.au

Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort 2837 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers. 1800 282 800, surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au Surfers Paradise YHA Mariners Cove, 70 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise.

07 5571 1776, yha.com.au Trekkers Backpackers 22 White St, Southport. 1800 100 004, trekkersbackpackers.com.au

GC DO Dreamworld Theme park. dreamworld.com.au

Story Bridge Adventure Climb 170 Main St, Kangaroo Point.

1300 254 627, storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au

Seaworld seaworld.com.au

GOLD COAST Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen St, Surfers Paradise.

1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au

Family Nightclub. 9 Sept. $18.80 With a new album and recent singles reaching platinum status, RickiLee Coulter promises to bring an explosive live show.

Sleeping Inn Surfers 26 Peninsular Dr, Surfers Paradise.

1800 817 832, sleepinginn.com.au

Riverlife Adventure Centre Kayaking & rock climbing. Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point.

07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au

XXXX Ale House Brewery tours.

Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton.

07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au

RICKI-LEE

Islander Backpackers Resort 6 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise.

1800 074 393, islander.com.au

Get Wet Surf School 07 5532 9907

Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World wetnwild.myfun.com.au Warener Bros Movie World movieworld.com.au Zorb 07 5547 6300

McLachlan St, Fortitude Valley 75-77 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba.

1800 020 120 mooloolababackpackers.com Nomads Noosa 44 Noosa Dr, Noosa Heads.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Halse Lodge YHA 2 Halse Lane, Noosa. 1800 242 567, halselodge.com.au

RAINBOW BEACH Dingos Backpacker Adventure Resort 20 Spectrum St. 1800 111 126, dingosresort.com Pippies Beach House 22 Spectrum St. 1800 425 356, pippiesbeachhouse.com Skydive Rainbow Beach 0418 218 358, skydiverainbowbeach.com

HERVEY BAY Aussie Woolshed 181 Torquay Rd 07 4124 0677

SUNSHINE CST Mooloolaba Backpackers

woolshedbackpackers.com Next at Hervey Bay 10 Bideford St. 1800 102 989,

moshtix.com.au

nextbackpackers.com.au Nomads Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Palace Backpackers 184 Torquay, 1800 063 168, palaceadventures.com.au

FRASER ISLAND Eurong Beach Resort 07 4120 1600, eurong.com.au Palace Adventures 184 Torquay St, Hervey Bay, 1800 063 168 palaceadventures.com.au

BUNDABERG Federal Backpackers 221 Bourbong St. 07 4153 3711 federalbackpackers.com.au Northside Backpackers 12 Queen St. 07 4154 1166 Bundaberg Bondstore Distillery tours.

07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au

WORKERS WANTED

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

WORKERS WANTED

AYR NORTH QUEENSLAND

FOR FARM IN INNISFAIL.

AYR BACKPACKERS stay at Wilmington House

Free accommodation and food provided. Offers very good working and living conditions.

s /PEN AND AIRY 1UEENSLAND STYLE FOUR AND SIX BEDROOMS s )NTERNET #AFÏ s 0OOL ""1S AND TROPICAL GARDENS s 4ABLE TENNIS AND &2%% POOL TABLE s ,OCKERS s #LEAN COMFORTABLE QUIET AND FRIENDLY s 4RANSPORT PROVIDED TO WORK s &IVE MINUTE WALK TO MAIN STREET SHOPPING AND FAST FOOD STORE s &REE PICK UP FROM !YR BUS TERMINAL AND RAILWAY STATION s 6IDEO AND 46 ROOMS s &IVE FULL KITCHEN FACILITIES

PHONE 0437 692 002

WORKERS WANTED

Working Hostel of the Burdekin District

Call Mick & Daphne 07 4783 5837

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

48

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Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gold Coast

Famous for fun

AdventureGoldCoast.com

facebook.com/AdventureGoldCoast twitter.com/AdventureGoldCoast

QLDLISTINGS TOWN OF 1770 1770 Backpackers 6 Captain Cook Dr. 1800 121 770, the1770backpackers.com

follow us on Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177 magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

BOOK NOW

MISSION BEACH

1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com

AIRLIE BEACH airliebeach.com 259 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 677 119

THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES

Base Airlie Beach Resort 336 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Magnums Whitsunday Village Resort 366 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 624 634 magnums.com.au

BOWEN Bowen Backpackers Beach end of Herbert St. 07 4786 3433 bowenbackpackers.net

Scottyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beach House 167 Reid Rd. 07 4068 8676, scottysbeachhouse.com.au

Pro Dive 07 4031 5255 prodivecairns.com

Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St. 1800 155 353, bohemiaresort.com. au

The Hi-Fi. 6 Sep. $67.10.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the opportunity to join the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21st birthday celebrations with all four original members.

Brisbane

Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St. 1800 815 628, calypsobackpackers.com.au

moshtix.com.au

TOWNSVILLE Adventurers Resort 79 Palmer St. 1800 211 522, adventurersresort.com Adrenalin Dive Yongala diving.

07 4724 0600, adrenalindive.com. au Yongala Dive Yongala diving.

07 4783 1519, yongaladive.com.au

MAGNETIC ISL Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 1800 24 22 73, stayatbase.com Bungalow Bay Backpackers Horseshoe Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay. com.au Hotel Arcadia 7 Marine Pde,

CAIRNS DO

Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road. 07 4068 8317, absolutebackpackers.com.au

Bohemia Central Cairns 100 Sheridan St. 1800 558 589, bohemiacentral.com.au

Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com

1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com

AJ Hackett Bungy jumping & canyon swinging. 1800 622 888 cairns.ajhackett.com

CAIRNS STAY

Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 247 251, yha.com.au

@tnt_downunder

JJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backpackers Hostel 11 Charles St. 07 4051 7642, jjsbackpackers.com NJoy Backpackers Hostel Harbour 141 Sheridan St. 1800 807 055,njoy.net.au Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St.

Raging Thunder Adventures Whitewater rafting.

07 4030 7990, ragingthunder.com.au Skydive Cairns 07 4052 1822, skydivecairns.com.au

CAPE TRIB Crocodylus Village Lot 5, Buchanan Creek Rd, Cow Bay. 07 4098 9166, crocodyluscapetrib.com PKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jungle Village Cnr Avalon & Cape Trib Rd. 1800 232 333, pksjunglevillage.com.au

INNISFAIL IInnisfail Budget Backpackers Workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hostel 125 Edith St. 07 4061 7833

7/2+%23 7!.4%$ &RUIT AND 6EGETABLE PICKING JOBS AVAILABLE

s 4RANSPORT TO FROM WORK s &2%% COURTESY BUS PICK UP s ,AUNDRY FACILITIES s )NTERNET FACILITIES s 0LEASANT AND FRIENDLY STAFF s "ISTRO AVAILABLE AT "ANJO S TAVERN NEXT DOOR

6!2)%49 /& 7/2+ !6!),!",% 9%!2 2/5.$

"REEZY 4ROPICAL VERANDAHS CLEAN FRIENDLY #LOSE TO SHOPS BANKS OLYMPIC POOL

&EDERAL "ACKPACKERS "OURBONG 3T "UNDABERG 1LD

0HONE WWW FEDERALBACKPACKERS COM AU FEDERALBACKPACKERS HOTMAIL COM #OMPLIES WITH ALL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS QUANTITY DEPENDS ON SEASON

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IF YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE LOOKING FOR SUMMER FUN THERE IS NO PLACE BETTER THAN THE BRISSIE SUN!

FREE UNLIMITED INTERNET

Awards!!

rated 9/10 on

Vote for us!

go to: goldenbackpacks.tntdownunder.com

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FEATURES

FREECALL: 1800 000 541

Air-conditioning 24 hour reception Kitchen & laundry Keycard access Secure parking Free BBQ

HEAPS OF ACTIVITIES!

S 7Zhi 6XXdbbdYVi^dc 7Zhi EVgin C^\]i

Day trip to Crystal Cascades, Wakeboarding, Sailing, Movie nights and much more!

117 Grafton Street Cairns, QLD Australia 4870 northern@friendlygroup.com.au www.northerngreenhouse.com.au www.greenhousebackpacker.com.au

FREE DAILY BREAKFAST

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GREAT BARR IER REEF MAR INE PARK

@tnt_downunder

GET WILD

heart of the reef Airlie Beach QUEENSLAND T HE WHI TSUNDAY IS L ANDS

are one of the world s most spectacular aquatic playgrounds ndss & encompass 74 tropical islands rising from pristine turquoise oise oi s se waters, hosting lots of incredible marine and wild life.

W H I T E H AVE N B E AC H C AMIR A S AILING ADVEN T URE

Swimming, snorkelling, beautiful beaches and bays, a stuff-yourself-stupid BBQ lunch with unlimited drinks plus luss exhilarating sailing aboard Camira one of the world s fastest est st sailing catamarans ‒ an awesome day out on the water!r!! $145*pp SAVE $30

GRE AT BARRIE R R E E F ADVE N T UR ES ES

The Great Barrier Reef is truly one of the great wonderss of the natural world. Cruise aboard Seaflight to Queensland an d s an most innovative reef pontoon featuring a giant waterslide lide and underwater viewing chamber. Explore the underwater water wa ter te wonderland with diving, snorkelling, semi-sub or glasss bottom boat rides. Includes morning / afternoon tea and nd an all you can eat buffet lunch. $145*pp SAVE $65

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT B AR E F O OT L A Z Y DA Z E

Start your holiday with a choice of either a Whitehaven venn ve Beach Camira Sailing Adventure, or a Great Barrier Reef Adventures. Overnight at Long Island. When you ou dream of an Island experience this is what you dream of! Spend the day enjoying the facilities at Long Island Resort or find your own secluded bay and nd take in the great outdoors. Great snorkelling. Ferry/ bus buu departures back to Airlie available at a variety of times. es. es You may just be tempted to stay another night!

From $215*pp (Dorm accommodation)

plus heaps of other great packages 3-6 days All day cruises and packages depart daily from Airlie Beach. For info and bookings see your travel centre or contact us: FREECALL1800 awesome

info@awesomeoz.com www.awesomeoz.com prices only available on presentation of a valid Student, Peterpans, YHA, ISIC, VIP * Backpacker or NOMADS card. Valid for travel until 31 March 2013. Conditions apply, see our website for details.

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MISSION BEACH Where the rainforest meets the reef. Mission is a special place with a real village feel to it. Once an Aboriginal mission and a hippie hangout, it’s now home to budget accommodation. Enjoy 14km of secluded beaches and pretty rainforest areas. It’s also developed a reputation for its love of adrenalin. Mission is one of the best places to do a skydive, admiring the reef before landing on the sand, while the area is also good for less crowded dive sites and day-tripping to the Tully rafting.

D

VICLISTINGS MELBOURNE STAY All Nations Backpackers Hotel & Bar 2 Spencer St. 1800 222 238, allnations.com.au

FREE UNLIMITED INTERNET

!!

Awards

Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda.

1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond. 03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net Exford Hotel 199 Russell St. 03 9663 2697, exfordhotel.com.au

Vote for us!

Flinders Station Hotel 35 Elizabeth St. 03 9620 5100, flindersbackpackers.com.au

go to: goldenbackpacks.tntdownunder.com

The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane.

1800 249 207, greenhousebackpacker.com.au Habitat HQ 333 St Kilda Road, St Kilda. 1800 202 500, habitathq.com.au Home at the Mansion 66 Victoria Parade. 03 9663 4212, homemansion.com.au Home Travellers Motel 32 Carlisle St, St Kilda.

1800 008 718, hometravellersmotel.com.au Hotel Bakpak Melbourne 167 Franklin St. 1800 645 200, hotelbakpak.com

Melbourne Central YHA 562 Flinders St. 03 9621 2523, yha.com.au Nomads Melbourne 198 A’beckett St. 1800 447 762, nomadshostels.com Space Hotel 380 Russell St. 1800 670 611, spacehotel.com.au The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, hotelspencer.com

MELBOURNE DO Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square.

03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au Melbourne Aquarium Cnr of Flinders St & King St. 03 9923 5999, melbourneaquarium.com.au Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Av. 03 9657 8888 mcg.org.au Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton. 13 11 02 melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au National Gallery of Victoria Federation Square. ngv.vic.gov.au Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228,

FEVER PITCH

FEATURES

FREECALL: 1800 249 207

Central location 24 hour reception Kitchen & laundry Keycard access Luggage Storage Lockers

HEAPS OF ACTIVITIES!

Level 6, 228 Flinders Lne Melbourne, VIC 3000 greenhouse@friendlygroup.com.au www.greenhousebackpacker.com.au www.northerngreenhouse.com.au

FREE DAILY BREAKFAST

Walking tour, Pub crawl, Bingo night, Pasta night, Sunday pancakes and much more!

THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND

SCAN TO

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If any one place could get away with calling itself the spiritual home of Aussie sport, it would have to be the MCG. Located in Yarra Park and dating back to 1853 (making it 70 years older than the original Wembley), ‘The G’ is the sort of stadium that inspires almost religious fervour.

It witnessed the first Test Match between England and Australia, the birth of Aussie rules, the 1956 Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games. It’s also home to the National Sports Museum. You can check out cricket, including the Big Bash, soccer (okay, football) or Aussie rules. You can take a tour all-year round for $20. mcg.org.au

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oldmelbournegaol.com.au

03 5237 7899, yha.com.au

Official Neighbours Tours 570 Flinders St. 03 9629 5866, neighbourstour.com.au

Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA 10 Erskine Av, Lorne.

03 5289 2508, yha.com.au

Skydive the Beach Melbourne 1300 798 843 skydivethebeachmelbourne.com

MELB MUSIC Cherry Bar myspace.com/cherrybarmelbourne Corner Hotel cornerhotel.com

Port Campbell Hostel 18 Tregea St, Port Campbell.

03 5598 6305, portcampbellhostel.com.au Surfside Backpackers Cnr Great Ocean Rd & Gambier St, Apollo Bay. 1800 357 263, surfsidebackpacker.com

East Brunswick Club eastbrunswickclub.com Esplanade Hotel espy.com.au Northcote Social Club northcotesocialclub.com Palace Theatre palace.com.au The Hi-Fi thehifi.com.au The Tote thetotehotel.com

GREAT OCEAN RD Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea.

03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au Eco Beach YHA 5 Pascoe St.

MORNINGTON Bayplay Lodge 46 Canterbury Jetty Rd, Blairgowrie.

03 5988 0188, bayplay.com.au Sorrento Foreshore Reserve Nepean Hwy. 1800 850 600, mornpen.vic.gov.au Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St, Sorrento.

03 5984 4323, yha.com.au Tortoise Head Lodge French Island.

03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

DANDENONG

BOOK NOW

Emerald Backpackers 03 5968 4086

MURRAY RIVER Echuca Gardens YHA 103 Av, Mitchell St, Echuca.

03 5480 6522, yha.com.au Mildura City Backpackers 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura.

03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura.

04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au

TRIPLE J’S HOUSE PARTY Prince Bandroom. 30 Aug. $23.90 Triple J’s most popular youth radio show is coming at you live with host of the night, Nina Las Vegas.

GIPPSLAND Prom Country Backpackers 03 5682 2614 Cambrai Hostel Maffra 117 Johnson St, Maffra.

1800 101 113 maffra.net.au/hostel

PHILLIP ISLAND Amaroo Park YHA 97 Church St, Cowes.

03 5952 3620, yha.com.au

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda The Island Accommodation 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road.

03 5956 6123 theislandaccommodation.com.au

GRAMPIANS Grampians YHA Eco Hostel

moshtixcom.au Cnr Grampians & Buckler Rds, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4543, yha.com.au Tim’s Place 44 Grampians Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288, timsplace.com.au

Stay. Play.

Melbourne.

$20

Accommodation from $20 a night (subject to availability)

Maximum 4 bed dormitories with linen and towel FREE all you can eat breakfast (cereal, toast and juice), weekly meal, rice and pasta, tea and coffee FREE in room oversized locker with personal power point 5 minute walk to city Large bar with big screen (all major sporting events shown) Drink specials at the bar Public transport on doorstep

UC103

Unique value tour packages

Book Now 1800

631 288 urbancentral.com.au

334 CITY ROAD SOUTHBANK MELBOURNE VIC 3006 AUSTRALIA

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DARWIN STAY Banyan View Lodge Darwin 119 Mitchell St. 08 8981 8644, banyanviewlodge.com.au

KATHERINE STAY

DON’T MISS

BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road.

1800 501 984, big4.com.au

Elkes Backpackers 112 Mitchell St. 1800 808 365, elkesbackpackers.com.au

KATHERINE DO

Gecko Lodge 146 Mitchell St. 1800 811 250, geckolodge.com.au

Youth Shack 69 Mitchell St. 1300 793 302, youthshack.com.au

DARWIN DO Crocosaurus Cove Crocodile park and cage of death. 58 Mitchell St. 08 8981 7522, crocosauruscove.com Deckchair Cinema Jervois Rd, Darwin Waterfront.

08 8981 0700, deckchaircinema.com.au

ALICE DO Alice Springs Desert Park Larapinta Drive.

08 8951 8788, alicespringsdesertpark.com.au

Airborne Solutions Scenic helicopter flights.

08 8972 2345 airbornesolutions.com.au

Frogshollow Backpackers 27 Lindsay St. 1800 068 686, frogs-hollow.com.au

Melaleuca on Mitchell 52 Mitchell St. 1300 723 437, momdarwin.com

Toddy’s Resort 41 Gap Rd. 1800 027 027, toddys.com.au

Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers Giles St. 1800 626 722

Darwin YHA 97 Mitchell St. 08 8981 5385, yha.com.au

Alice Springs Reptile Centre Meet and hold lizards.

9 Stuart Terrace.

08 8952 8900, reptilecentre.com.au

Nitmiluk Tours Gorge cruises and kayak hire. 1300 146 743 nitmiluktours.com.au

D’TOUR Happy Yess/Browns Mart. 8 Sept. $23.50 Featuring Ego Lemos, June Mills and B2M, D’Tour will bring Darwin and Dili together for a night of music, community, culture and celebration.

Darwin

moshtix.com.au

Fannie Bay Gaol Heritage prison. East Point Road, Fannie Bay. 08 8941 2260, nt.gov.au Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 19 Conacher St, Bullocky Point.

08 8999 8264, magnt.nt.gov.au

Oz Jet Boating Stokes Hill Wharf.

1300 135 595, ozjetboating.com.au Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise Adelaide River.

08 8978 9077, jumpingcrocodile.com.au Wave Lagoon Waterfront Precinct. waterfront.nt.gov.au

TENNANT CREEK Tourist Rest Leichardt St. 08 8962 2719, touristrest.com.au

ALICE SPRINGS Alice Springs YHA Cnr Parsons St & Leichhardt Tce. 08 8952 8855, yha.com.au

WORD FROM THE STREET

Outback Ballooning Hot air balloon rides.

1800 809 790, outbackballooning.com.au Royal Flying Doctor Service Base Museum and operations room.

Stuart Terrace. 08 8952 1129, flyingdoctor.net

Alice Lodge 4 Mueller St. 08 8953 1975, alicelodge.com.au

Annie’s Place 4 Traeger Ave. 1800 359 089, anniesplace.com.au

Haven Resort 3 Larapinta Drive.

1800 794 663, alicehaven.com.au

School of the Air Long-distance schooling museum.

80 Head St. 08 8951 6834, assoa.nt.edu.au The Rock Tour Uluru tours.

78 Todd St. 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au

MUST-DO

Carol Murphy, Ireland WHAT MADE YOU COME TO OZ? Destiny. I came on a month long holiday, then on the working holiday, and now I am here on a residency visa. I just love the place MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE? Peaking out of the plane window and seeing Uluru for the first time. It’s one big rock! I also loved Moreton Island. A chilled out version of Fraser, with less traffic CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE DONE? Zorbing. It only lasts about a minute but I laughed so much. If there wasn’t water in the zorb already I probably would have wet myself!

KAYAKING KATHERINE GORGE Sure, you can empty your wallet for a scenic helicopter flight, or you can join the masses of grey nomads on a boat cruise (especially when the Ghan train is in town), but the best way to really get a croc’s eye feel for the spectacular gorges of Nitmiluk National Park is to jump in a kayak and go for a paddle. It’s also the cheapest way to see them. Double score! Just be careful where you swim.

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TASLISTINGS HOBART STAY Central City Backpackers 138 Collins St. 1800 811 507, centralbackpackers.com.au

LAUNCESTON DO

BOOK NOW

Cataract Gorge launcestoncataractgorge.com.au Centre for Beer Lovers Boag’s Brewery, 39 William St. 03 6332 6300, boags.com.au

Hobart Hostel 41 Barrack St. 1300 252 192, hobarthostel.com Montgomery’s YHA 9 Argyle St. 03 6231 2660, yha.com.au

Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery 2 Invermay Rd & 2 Wellington St. 03 6323 3777, qvmag.tas.gov.au

Narrara Backpackers 88 Goulburn St. 03 6234 8801, narrarabackpackers.com

Tasmania Zoo 1166 Ecclestone Rd. 03 6396 6100, tasmaniazoo.com.au

Pickled Frog 281 Liverpool St. 03 6234 7977, thepickledfrog.com

DEVONPORT

Transit Backpackers 251 Liverpool St. 03 6231 2400, transitbackpackers.com

EIFFEL 65 + NTRANCE UniBar. 26 Sept. 8:00pm. Adult $44, Student $33.80.

The Nineties are back with a vengeance when two of the decade’s biggest selling dance artists team up.

HOBART DO Cascade Brewery 140 Cascade Rd. 03 6224 1117 cascadebreweryco.com.au Mt Wellington Descent Bike tours. 03 6274 1880 mtwellingtondescent.com.au

Hobart

Port Arthur Historic Ghost Tours 1800 659 101, portarthur.org.au

Salamanca Markets Every Saturday, Salamanca Place. salamanca.com.au Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery 5 Argyle St. tmag.com.au

moshtix.com.au

PORT ARTHUR

LAUNCESTON Arthouse Backpacker Hostel 20 Lindsay St. 1800 041 135, arthousehostel.com.au

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Launceston Backpackers 103 Canning St. 03 6334 2327, launcestonbackpackers.com.au Lloyds Hotel 23 George St. 03 6331 9906, backpackersaccommodation.com.au

GO WILD

Tasman Backpackers 114 Tasman St. 03 6423 2335, tasmanbackpackers.com.au

Mt Roland Budget Backpacker Rooms 1447 Claude Rd, Gowrie Park. 03 6491 1385

CRADLE DO Devils at Cradle Tassie devil sanctuary. 3950 Cradle Mountain Rd. 03 6492 1491. devilsatcradle.com Overland Track Six-day walk parks.tas.gov.au

FREYCINET Iluka Backpackers YHA Reserve Rd. 03 6257 0115, yha.com.au Freycinet National Park Brewery, Wineglass Bay camping. 03 6256 7000, wineglassbay.com

BICHENO Bicheno Backpackers 11 Morrison St. 03 6375 1651, bichenobackpackers.com Bicheno Penguin Tours 03 6375 1333, bichenopenguintours.com.au

CRADLE MTN Discovery Holiday Parks Cradle Mountain Rd. 1800 068 574, discoveryholidayparks.com.au

STRAHAN, Strahan YHA 43 Harvey St. 03 6471 7255, yha.com

STRAHAN DO Four Wheelers Henty Sand Dunes quadbike tours. 04 1950 8175, 4wheelers.com.au Water by Nature Extreme multiday whitewater rafting. 1800 111 142, franklinrivertasmania.com

WORD FROM THE STREET

Photo: Tourism Tasmania

Colette Sosiniski, Germany

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SOUTH-WEST TASMANIA One of Australia’s most remote wilderness regions and a World Heritage area. This is really a place for intrepid adventurers and requires preparation. There are few roads (the area hasn’t even been fully mapped). It’s fantastic for hiking, fishing and whitewater rafting.

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WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY? I went on a tour to the Frankland Islands, in Queensland. I went snorkelling and saw some really big turtles, it was amazing WHAT MADE YOU COME TO OZ? When I was young I watched a movie called Ocean Girl. It’s about a girl that lives on an island in the Great Barrier Reef. The scenery just fascinated me MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE? Snorkelling and diving with the turtles. They were so close and they didn’t swim away, it seemed like they enjoyed watching me

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SALISTINGS

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ADELAIDE STAY

DON’T MISS

Adelaide Backpackers Inn 112 Carrington St. 1800 24 77 25, adpi.com.au

Riba’s Underground 1811 William Creek Rd. 08 8672 5614, camp-underground.com.au

Adelaide Central YHA 135 Waymouth St. 08 8414 3010, yha.com.au

KANGAROO IS

Adelaide Travellers Inn 220 Hutt St. 08 8224 0753, adelaidebackpackers.com.au Annie’s Place 239 Franklin St. 1800 818 011, anniesplace.com.au Backpack Oz 144 Wakefield St. 1800 633 307, backpackoz.com.au Blue Galah Backpackers Lvl 1, 52-62, King William St. 08) 8231 9295, bluegalah.com.au Glenelg Beach Hostel 5-7 Moseley St. Glenelg. 1800 359 181, glenelgbeachhostel.com.au Hostel 109 109 Carrington St. 1800 099 318, hostel109.com My Place 257 Waymouth St. 1800 221 529, adelaidehostel.com.au Shakespeare Hostel 123 Waymouth St. 1800 556 889, shakeys.com.au

ADELAIDE DO Adelaide Oval Home to the Donald Bradman collection. War Memorial Drive.

08 8300 3800 cricketsa.com.au

1 Oliver St. 1800 633 891, radekadownunder.com.au

EVERMORE The Gov, 14 Sept. $29.40 The band reunite after a three year hiatus to showcase their new album which is set to drop on October 12.

Port Rd, Hindmarsh

moshtix.com.au

Adelaide Zoo Frome Rd. 08 8267 3255, zoossa.com.au Haigh’s Chocolates Factory tours. 153 Greenhill Rd, Parkside 1800 819 757, haighschocolates.com.au Temptation Sailing Dolphin swimming, Glenelg.

04 1281 1838 dolphinboat.com.au

BAROSSA VAL Barossa Backpackers 9 Basedow Road Tanunda.

08 8563 0198, barossabackpackers.com.au

COOBER PEDY Opal Cave Coober Pedy Hutchinson St. 08 8672 5028, opalcavecooberpedy.com.au Radeka Down Under

Port Elliot Beach House YHA 13 The Strand, Port Elliot. 08 8554 2785 yha.com.au

EYRE PENINSULA Coodlie Park Farmstay Flinders Highway, Port Kenny.

08 8687 0411 coodliepark.com

Kangaroo Island YHA 33 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw.

08 8553 1344 yha.com.au

Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience Sea lion and dolphin swims.

08 8626 5017 bairdbay.com

Vivonne Bay Lodge 66 Knofel Drive, Vivonne Bay 13 13 01 seaink.com.au

Calypso Star Charters Great white shark cage diving.

08 8682 3939, sharkcagediving.com.au

RIVERLAND Berri Backpackers Sturt Highway, Berri.

08 8582 3144, berribackpackers.com.au Harvest Trail Lodge Loxton.

08 8584 5646, harvesttrail.com.au Nomads on Murray Sturt Highway, Kingston on Murray.

1800 665 166, nomadsworld.com Riverland Backpackers Labour Hire Services 08 8583 0211

FLEURIEU PENIN

Nullarbor Traveller Tours across to Perth.

1800 816 858 the-traveller.com.au Port Lincoln Tourist Park 11 Hindmarsh St. 08 8621 4444, portlincolntouristpark.com.au Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Great white shark cage diving.

08 8363 1788 rodneyfox.com.au

FLINDERS RANGES Angorichina Tourist Village 08 8648 4842, angorichinavillage.com.au Wilpena Pound Resort Wilpena Rd. 08 8648 0004, wilpenapound.com.au

DESERT TIME

FLINDERS RANGES

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Photo: SATC

Smug European travellers often complain that there’s nothing old in Australia. Well, these mountains have been around for about 540 million years, which it’s fair to say is quite a while.

Characterised by their glowing red peaks, the ranges stretch for over 430km. Their undisputed posterboy is the dramatic natural basin of Wilpena Pound (pictured), without a doubt one of South Australia’s highlights. Enjoy some spectacular views while hiking, hot air ballooning, tearing around in a 4WD or simply chilling out on the Pichi Richi scenic railway. Buses and tours leave from Port Augusta, north of Adelaide.

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WALISTINGS

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DON’T MISS

One World Backpackers 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge.

1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au Perth City YHA 300 Wellington St. 08 9287 3333, yha.com.au The Old Swan Barracks 6 Francis St. 08 9428 0000, theoldswanbarracks.com Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St, Northbridge. 08 9228 3755, undergroundbackpackers.com.au

WINTER WONDERLAND Forrest Centre Reception Centre 30 Sep. 6:30pm. $90.

Fairy floss, snow cones and human snow globes will capture memories, while Ruby Rose and other DJs help raise money for charity.

Perth CBD

moshtix.com.au

PERTH STAY Billabong Backpackers Resort 381 Beaufort St. 08 9328 7720, billabongresort.com.au Britannia on William 253 William St, Northbridge.

08 9227 6000, perthbrittania.com

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Emperor’s Crown 85 Stirling St, Northbridge. 1800 991 553, emperorscrown.com.au Globe Backpackers & City Oasis Resort 561 Wellington St. 08 9321 4080, globebackpackers.com.au Ocean Beach Backpackers 1 Eric St, Cottlesloe. 08 9384 5111,

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The Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St. 08 9228 4228, witchshat.com

PERTH DO Aquarium of Western Australia 91 Southside Drive, Hillarys.

08 9447 7500, aqwa.com.au Kings Park & Botanic Garden bgpa.wa.gov.au Perth Mint 310 Hay St. 08 9421 7223, perthmint.com.au Perth Zoo 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth. 08 9474 3551, perthzoo.wa.gov.au

PERTH MUSIC Amplifier amplifiercapitol.com.au Astor liveattheastor.com.au Mojo’s Bar mojosbar.com.au The Bakery nowbaking.com.au The Rosemount Hotel rosemounthotel.com.au

FREO STAY Backpackers Inn Freo 11 Pakenham St. 08 9431 7065, backpackersinnfreo.com.au Old Firestation Backpackers 18 Phillimore St. 08 9430 5454, fremantleprison.com.au Sundancer Backpackers Resort 80 High St. 08 9336 6080, sundancerbackpackers.com.au

FREO DO Fremantle Markets 08 9335 2515, fremantlemarkets.com.au Fremantle Prison 1 The Terrace.

08 9336 9200, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

ROTTNEST ISL

@tnt_downunder Rottnest Island YHA Kingstown Barracks. 08 9372 9780, yha.com.au Rottnest Express 1300 Go Rotto rottnestexpress.com.au

MARGARET RIV Margaret River Lodge YHA 220 Railway Tce. 08 9757 9532, yha.com.au Surfpoint 12 Riedle Drive Prevally 08 9757 1777 surfpoint.com.au

ALBANY Albany Bayview Backpackers YHA 49 Duke St 08 9842 3388, yha.com.au Cruize-Inn 122 Middleton Rd. 08 9842 9599, cruizeinn.com

MONKEY MIA Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort 1800 653 611, monkeymia.com.au

NINGALOO REEF Blue Reef Backpackers 3 Truscott Crescent, Exmouth 1800 621 101, aspenparks.com.au

WALISTINGS MUST-VISIT

FREMANTLE The hub of Western Australia’s arts and culture, the city of Fremantle is only a short 20km south of Perth. Established in 1829, Fremantle was the port to the Swan River Colony and for a long time was the major city in WA. Its strong heritage can be seen in its colonial architecture, with the city’s picturesque streets adding to its charm. With a strong focus on arts and music, Fremantle plays host to festivals all year round. From the Fremantle Street Art festival to the Hidden Treasure- Fremantle Winter Music Series festival, there is always something happening to keep the locals and tourists busy.

7 ,Ê -/Ê "-/ Ê Ê7 ÊÓääÇ -/ÊÓäänÊEÊÓää

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NZLISTINGS BUS TOURS Kiwi Experience +64 9366 9830 kiwiexperience.com Magic Travellers Network +64 9358 5600, magicbus.co.nz Nakedbus.com 0900 62533, nakedbus.com NZ Travelpass 0800 339 966, travelpass.co.nz

Rent-A-Dent 0800 736 823, rentadent.co.nz Rental Car Village +64 9376 9935, hire-vehicles.co.nz Spaceships 1300 139 091, spaceships.tv Standby Cars 1300 789 059, standbycars.com.au Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickedcampers.com

Stray +64 9309 8772, straytravel.com

RENTAL FIRMS Ace Rental Cars 1800 140 026, acerentalcars.com.nz Backpacker Campervan & Car Rentals +800 200 80 801, backpackercampervans.com Bargain Rental Cars 0800 001 122, bargainrentals.com.nz

Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere. +64 9275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584,

Darn Cheap Rentals 0800 447 363, exploremore.co.nz

Base Auckland 229 Queen St. 0800 227 369, stayatbase.com

Econo Campers +64 9275 9919, econocampers.co.nz

Bamber House (BBH) 22 View Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9623 4267, hostelbackpacker.com

Escape Rentals 1800 456 272, escaperentals.co.nz Explore More 1800 800 327, dcrentals.com.nz Jucy Rentals 0800 399 736, jucy.com.nz

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AUCKLAND

follow us on The Fat Camel (Nomads) 38 Fort St. +64 9307 0181, nomadshostels.com

Nomads Capital 118 Wakefield St. 0508 666 237, nomadscapital.com

Base Discovery Lodge St. +64 Queenstown 49 Shotover St. +64 3441 1185, stayatbase.com

Nomads Auckland 16-20 Fort St. +64 9300 9999, nomadshostels.com

Rosemere Backpackers (BBH) 6 McDonald Cres. +64 4384 3041, backpackerswellington.co.nz

Bungi Backpackers (VIP, BBH) 15 Sydney St. 0800 728 286, bungibackpackers.co.nz

Oaklands Lodge (BBH) St. +64 5A Oaklands Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9638 6545, oaklands.co.nz

Rowena’s Backpackers (VIP) 115 Brougham St. 0800 80 1414

Cardrona Alpine Resort Between Queenstown and Wanaka. +64 3443 7341, cardrona.com

Queen Street Backpackers (VIP) 4 Fort St. +64 9373 3471, enquiries@qsb.co.nz Surf ‘n’ Snow Backpackers 102 Albert St. +64 9363 8889, surfandsnow.co.nz YHA Auckland City Cnr City Rd & Liverpool St. +64 9309 2802, yha.co.nz YHA Auckland International 5 Turner St. +64 9302 8200, yha.co.nz

WELLINGTON Base Wellington 21-23 Cambridge Tce. +64 4801 5666 stayatbase.com

Central City Backpackers 26 Lorne St. +64 9358 5685, backpacker.net.nz

Downtown Wellington Backpackers (BBH) 1 Bunny St. +64 4473 8482 db@downtownbackpackers.co.nz

City Garden Lodge 25 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. +64 9302 0880

Lodge in the City (VIP) 152 Taranaki St. +64 4385 8560 lodgeinthecity.co.nz

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@tnt_downunder

YHA Wellington City 292 Wakefield St. +64 4801 7280

CHRISTCHURCH

Flaming Kiwi Backpackers (BBH) 39 Robins Rd. +64 3442 5494, flamingkiwi@xtra.co.nz

Chester Street Backpackers (BBH) 148 Chester St East. +64 3377 1897, chesterst.co.nz

Hippo Lodge (BBH) 4 Anderson Hts. +64 3442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz

Foley Towers (BBH) 208 Kilmore St. +64 3366 9720, backpack.co.nz/foley

Nomads Queenstown 5-11 Church St. +64 3441 3922, nomadshostels.com

Jailhouse Accommodation (BBH) 338 Lincoln Rd. 0800 524 546, stay@kiwibasecamp.com

Peterpans Adventure Travel 27 Shotover St Queenstown. peterpans.com.au

The Old Countryhouse (BBH) 437 Gloucester St. +64 3381 5504, oldcountryhousenz.com

Pinewood Lodge (VIP) 48 Hamilton Rd. 0800 7463 9663, rgrieg@xtra.co.nz

Tranquil Lodge (BBH) 440 Manchester St. +64 3366 6500, tranquil-lodge.co.nz

Southern Laughter (BBH, VIP) 4 Isle St. 0800 728 448, southernlaughter.co.nz

Rucksacker Backpacker Hostel (BBH) 70 Bealey Ave. +64 3377 7931, rucksacker.com

QUEENSTOWN

YHA Queenstown Central 48A Shotover Street. +64 3442 7400, yha.co.nz YHA Queenstown Lakefront 8890 Lake Esplanade. +64 3442 8413, yha.co.nz

Welcome to your Australian Adventure, Guys and Girls!

We are a company that was started by backpackers for backpackers 17 years ago and have given literally thousands of backpackers their dream travelling jobs while they are here.

We know that you need your job to provide...

Lots of money Lots of travelling around Australia A very sociable environment where you can meet lots of people Visa sponsorship opportunities if you want to stay Overseas transfer opportunities /RWV RI Ă H[LELOLW\ IRU \RX WR WDNH WLPH RII WR explore Lots of fun and a good challenge Your dream job awaits if you have excellent English, drive, determination and a sense of adventure.

Call Sally today on 1800 64 64 78 and we will give you an interview tomorrow.

Good Luck, The Ministry of Paintball Team www.ministryofpaintball.com

registered nurses required in Australia Randstad Care is seeking qualiďŹ ed registered nurses for various positions in metropolitan and rural and remote areas across Australia.

Looking for

work?

Full-time business sponsorship is available for international qualiďŹ ed nurses whom hold current Australian or New Zealand Nursing Registration.

Work with Randstad Care and enjoy the beneďŹ ts of: t OBUJPOBM PQQPSUVOJUJFT t nFYJCMF BTTJHONFOUT t GVMM UJNF QPTJUJPOT t POHPJOH TVQQPSU GSPN PVS dedicated consultants Contact Randstad Care today.

Australia: +61 7 4031 8755

tntdownunder.com/jobs

E: nurses@randstad.com.au www.randstad.com.au

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OZWORK

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A hands on career Whether it’s skyscrapers in Sydney or townhouses in Tully, qualified tradesmen are almost certain to land a job in Oz...

You don’t have to walk the streets of any Aussie city for long to realise how many building sites there are. As a result, qualified tradesmen are in high demand in Oz. However, the skills and experience you have could well dictate where you’re most likely to pick up work.

For example, Sydney is all about looking to the skies – so if big developments are your background then you could be laughing all the way to the bank.

“Anybody who’s completed an apprenticeship and has got a decent skill level at either electrical work, plumbing work, or anything to do with air-conditioning or refrigeration is highly in demand,” says Hays regional director of construction Shane Little.

But he adds that the people New South Wales is crying out for is “anyone with commercial or industrial experience.

People who’ve worked on big office block installations”.

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Any brickies preferring smaller projects should head west, suggests Little.

“Bricklaying in NSW is probably pretty quiet, there’s not a huge amount of house building going on.

“People who’ve just done house wiring or house building in terms of plumbing or bricklaying are probably better off focusing on Western Australia,” he says.

Once in a job there’s a “massive variance” of pay and regular work, depending on where you are and whether you’re working for an agency, contractor or sub-contractor.

“Working through an agency you may not earn as much as if you work directly for a contractor,” says Little, “but you’re going to have more stability and work.”

However, workers shouldn’t expect sponsorship on a plate. “A tradesman has to demonstrate that he’s reliable, efficient, hard-working and loyal,” warns Little.

ON THE JOB

Try us just once and you will not be disappointed!

Call us now on

02 9212 1195 www.tiffanysgirls.com.au

Tiffany’s has Sydney’s largest selection of immaculately groomed, stunning girls who are specialists in the art of making a man feel totally at ease and relaxed. Easily found in a peaceful central location, spread over five large terraces, Tiffany’s boasts a number of beautifully appointed self-contained spas, double bedrooms and private waiting lounges.

SIMON ARNOLD CAREER Plumber AGE 28 FROM England What made you decide to work in Oz? The opportunity to travel and work at the same time How did you land your new job?

I was referred to Hays recruitment agency through a friend, and within two days I got work in Perth. I’ve been here for six months so far.

And what exactly is it that you do now?

I’m working as a skilled labourer for a plumbing company. I’m a qualified gas fitter in England, but due to licensing laws in Australia I can’t work as a plumber.

Work with us:

Unlimited earning potential Shifts to suit Full training provided Quality accommodation provided 99 Albion Street, Surry Hills, NSW

KINKY FUN, FETISH, FANTASY OR BDSM Play out your fun fantasies with Salon Kitty’s Professional Mistresses, Masters and Submissives Hetro, Bi-curious and gay-friendly All are welcome to come and play!

Clean and safe environment Discreet service Worldwide reputation as a centre of excellence QU Only six minutes by taxi a OT from the Sydney city centre 10%nd re E TNT ce tow Partners welcome! a DIS ive of y rds a COUN our fan T cho tasy ice 310 Cleveland St, Surry Hills p: 0418 280846 or contact amanda@salonkittys.com Visit www.salonkittys.com for more information

What are you planning to do with the earnings?

I’ve already travelled to New Zealand with the money I’ve earned so far but I plan to see more of Australia and Asia.

Memorable moments at your new job?

There is a great social environment at work, and the funny stories are many.

What are the good points about your new job?

Good pay, I get paid on time, good managers and of course free drinks on Fridays.

And are there any bad points?

Well, it’s still work... But at least it pays for more travelling and for going out on the weekends.

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TOTALLYTRIVIAL

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@tnt_downunder

MYTHBUSTERS WHY CANBERRA?

THIS WEEK’S QUIZ

AUSSIE FILMS film franchise is about Q 6.to Which start filming another sequel? a) The Matrix b) Crocodile Dundee c) Mad Max d) Star Wars

a) Hugh Jackman b) Paul Hogan c) Nicole Kidman d) Russell Crowe “Aussie actor” is the only Q 2.oneWhich actually born in Australia?

7. Where did the bad guys of Mission: Q Impossible 2 try to release their virus?

a) Cate Blanchett b) Nicole Kidman c) Russell Crowe d) Mel Gibson

Q

a) Melbourne c) Sydney

3. Which Aussie film has the classic line “tell him he’s dreaming”? a) Australia b) Wolf Creek c) Moulin Rouge d) The Castle

Aussie singer starred in the Q 8.filmWhich “The Delinquents”?

Q 4. What is the highest grossing Aussie film ever made? a) Crocodile Dundee b) Muriel’s Wedding c) Strictly Ballroom d) Babe

Q 5. Which film is part of Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Trilogy? a) Strictly Ballroom b) Moulin Rouge c) Romeo and Juliet d) All of the above

a) Kylie Minogue b) Delta Goodrem c) Dannii Minogue d) Holly Valance

Q 9. Aussie actor George Lazenby once portrayed which famous film character? a) Tin Tin b) James Bond c) Freddy Krueger d) Batman

SUDOKU PUZZLE

ANSWERS: 1. b 2. a 3. d 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. c 8. a 9. b

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b) Canberra d) Brisbane

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If someone is a “piker” then they’re likely to back out of an arrangement or run away from an argument. It can also be used as an explanation – “Sorry mate, I’ve got to pike on ya.”

ANAGRAM-ARAMA

THIS WEEK IT’S...

ROAD TRIP MOVIES 1. DIRE YEARS 2. RAPID ROT 3. MADAM X 4. I’M EASY CROCODILE ANSWERS: 1. Easy Rider 2. Road Trip 3. Mad Max 4. Motorcycle Diaries

Aussie actor once worked Q 1.asWhich a rigger on the Harbour Bridge?

MYTH Why is Canberra the OF THE capital of Australia?

WEEK Sydney’s the biggest and mostvisited city in Australia, followed by Melbourne, so why on earth did they make Canberra capital? Well the short answer is that when Australia was united into one country in 1901, Sydney and Melbourne were equal rivals and no one could decide which should be the capital. The government decided to compromise and build a brand new capital, midway between the two.

Melbourne got to be the temporary capital until 1927. Nowadays it’s the seat of Australian politics – although the former PM refused to live there.

We are looking for volunteers who are 18-60 years of age to take part in a study to investigate a new antibiotic for those infections that are currently resistant.

This study will look at different doses of the medication and compare to placebo.

The study will last for approximately 8-10 weeks.

You will have a free medical screening to assess your suitability.

You need to be a non smoker and generally of good health.

Those successfully enrolled in the study receive $3290 for completion.

For more info call 1800 475 475

volunteers.4.trials@gsk.com The study is being run at the GSK Medicines Research Unit located at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. This study is recruiting in Sydney Only

GSK_689.indd 1

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CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS Experience Queensland’s most innovative and spacious reef pontoon located at Knuckle Reef. Knuckle Reef Pontoon features Queensland’s largest and most spectacular underwater viewing chamber and is the only reef pontoon in Australia with a giant waterslide. Student and Backpacker Discounts available.

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