TNT Downunder 702

October 8-14 2012 Issue 702 tntdownunder.com

IN W -DROPPING

A JAW U TH LOOT OF SO N AUSTR ALIA S ADVENTURE

TINY IN TINSELTOWN Fast cars and seeing stars in Los Angeles

LET’S GET xx xx RADICAL Finding Adelaide’s sweet spot

R E D N O W F O S E ISL p 10 al our sexy to e v re d n a n dow We narrow it . s d n la is 0 0 s over 8,0 Australia ha + NEWS & SPORT WHAT’S ON FILM REVIEWS TRAVELLERS’ TIPS

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ALEX HARMON EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com

EDITOR’S LETTER This week we go a little Hollywood – and not just because our writer was seduced by the lights of LA. We chat to the director of the hot film Looper, and Sam Clark, one of the stars of Mental. But first we must make out way to the other city of bright lights, yes, Adelaide. And if that’s not enough we set tongues wagging with Australia’s sexiest islands. Now, enough glamour, where’s my goon bag?

THIS WEEK OZ DIARY

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CHATROOM

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FILM

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TRAVEL

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COMPETITION

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NEWS

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OPINION

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SPORT

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LISTINGS NSW

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LISTINGS QUEENSLAND

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LISTINGS VICTORIA

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LISTINGS TASMANIA

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LISTINGS NT

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LISTINGS WA

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LISTINGS SA

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LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND

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WORK

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TRIVIAL PURSUITS

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FEATURES ISLAND PARADISE

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We look at 10 of the best smaller islands around the world’s biggest

AROUND THE LOOP

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We talk to Looper director Rian Johnson about keeping time travel simple

RADELAIDE

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With some insider knowledge, South Australia’s capital takes us by surprise

STARRY EYED

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Searching for celebs? LA’s the place to look, provided you know where to start

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EDITORIAL Editor Alex Harmon Staff writer Hugh Radojev Contributors Ian Neubauer, Andrew Westbrook Interns James Besanvalle, Amelia Gray, Caitlin Stanway

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

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MAIN EVENT QUEENSTOWN ARTS FESTIVAL TASMANIA

The biennial Queenstown Heritage & Arts Festival is a hand-crafted program of contemporary arts and cultural activities that are bold, fresh, surprising and fun. An experience unique to this beautiful part of Tasmania (not the Queenstown in New Zealand). The 2012 festival will be paying a sombre tribute to 42 men who tragically lost their lives in a mine fire 100 years ago. The festival’s aim is to create significant benefits for Tasmania’s west coast, and generate awareness of the value of the arts and culture in growing healthy, regional communities.

Oct 12-14, Queenstown Tasmania

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OPEN ART GALLERY LAUNCH

REGURGITATOR RETROTECH TOUR

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In an attempt to revitalise the industry and reinvent the way people interact with art galleries, OPEN is the latest open air art gallery to set up in Sydney. First exhibitions will feature works from noted local artists Anthony Lister and Shannon Crees.

Having been together nearly 20 years, local boys the ‘Gurge are gearing up for another go around. They’ll start their new tour, Retrotech, at the Hi-Fi in Melbourne playing songs from their two most successful commercial albums. One not to miss.

This year’s carnival brings back childhood favourites with Aladdin’s cave, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a giant chessboard and lots more from wonderland and beyond. There will also be market stalls, live entertainment and more.

Sep 21- Oct 26 Darling Harbour, Sydney darlingquarter.com

Oct 12 125 Swanston St, Melbourne regurgitator.net

Oct 14 Majors Bay Rd, Concord canadaybay.nsw.gov.au

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Offshore mission Islands. They inspire fantasies of sun-soaked romps with celebrities and cocktails. And we get lucky because Oz has no shortage of them WORDS JAMES BESANVALLE

Australia is the largest island in the world (we disqualified Greenland on a technicality) and fringed across its extensive coastline are more than 8,200 smaller islands. With so many to choose from, there’s bound to be one you’ll love, so we’ve put together a list of Australia’s top 10 island getaways.

From Rottnest in the west to Fraser in the east, and the Whitsundays in the north to Bruny in the South, each one offering its own unique island escape for any type of coast loving tourist.

Ever had that dream where you’re sitting under a tropical tree, drinking from a coconut through a straw with

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Jessica Alba or Justin Timberlake? Well, you were most likely fantasising about Queensland. The state has the most amount of islands in Australia, so you’ll be spoiled for choice, whatever your tropical-celebrity-romp dream may be.

If exploring an adventure island is more your thing, there are plenty of islands with almost untouched natural landscapes. Your footsteps may well be the first ever, as local wildlife look at you with confusion. The rainforests and national parks on these islands offer rugged cliffs, breathtaking bays and greenery that matches the colour of envy your friends and family will be

wearing once they see your photos.

Many of the islands feature animals that are unique to Australia too. This uniqueness attracts a popular tourist interest and is what makes Australian islands stand out from the rest.

With island names such as Daydream, Spectacle, Solitary, Magnetic, King and Swan, there’s an island for everyone. Whether you’re tightening your walking shoes for an adventure hike or taking them off for a walk along the beach, make sure you take plenty of photos because you’ll need them as daydreaming material for when you return home.

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FRASER ISLAND

KANGAROO ISLAND

In a nutshell: Dingoes, lakes and lush rainforests thriving on the world’s largest sand island.

Tell me more: Fraser Island is extraordinary – it has a World Heritage listing to prove it. The incomparable isle is the world’s largest sand island, with subtropical rainforests stubbornly thriving in a seemingly infertile environment.

There are no tarmac roads, so most people see the island on multi-day 4WD tours (though you can dodge the crowds, stay longer, and do it cheaper by walking around it if you’re feeling hardy). Fraser is also home to more than 40 freshwater dune lakes – over half the world’s known total.

Indeed TNT’s favourite spot is Lake McKenzie, a massive freshwater lake where crystal clear water meets sands so white you’re tempted to sprinkle them on your dinner/snort them up.

Where? Off the Queensland coast, from Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach or River Heads.

In a nutshell: So much wildlife it should be renamed something better.

Tell me more: Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island (after Melville Island and Tassie). It has a population of 4,500 people and 25,000 koalas. So really it should have been renamed Koala Island, or better still, You’ve Never Seen So Much Wildlife In One Place Except Possibly At The Zoo (But Even Then The Cool Animals Are Always Asleep) Island.

Works so much better. As well as the abundant wildlife – if you don’t see koalas, roos, wallabies, seals, sea lions, the odd snake and plenty more you’d better get them glasses checked – there are the what-it-says-on-the-tin Remarkable Rocks, some epic sand dunes (ideal for sandboarding) and a greedy collection of gorgeous beaches. Go and see why all the celebrities are tweeting about this place.

Where? Off the Fleurieu Peninsula, about one hour 45 mins drive from Adelaide, South Australia.

HINCHINBROOK ISLAND

ROTTNEST ISLAND

In a nutshell: As close to “unspoilt” as it gets.

Tell me more: That’s the inevitable problem with pretty places. People find them and want to tell everyone else about them. Everyone else comes, takes a look and builds souvenir shops, car parks and petrol stations on it. Suddenly it’s not very pretty anymore. Hinchinbrook Island National Park is a glorious exception.

Think granite mountains, sweeping beaches, boulder-strewn bays, craggy headlands, waterfalls plunging into inviting pools, lush rainforest, cute creeks and plenty of wildlife, especially wallabies, er, crocodiles, and hardly anyone around. Unsurprisingly, this barely disturbed wilderness is popular – mainly in the form of hikers walking the famous Thorsborne Trail.

Where? Off the coast of Cardwell, Queensland.

In a nutshell: “Rotto” is Santa’s Grotto (er, if Santa gave out beautiful beaches).

Tell me more: With motorised traffic all but non-existent (private vehicles are banned), the island is best experienced by bike and it goes a little bit like this: Cycle for a bit. Find an irresistible beach. Snorkel. Laze about. Feel happy. Cycle for a bit. Find another irresistible beach. Snorkel. Laze about.

Feel happy. Cycle for a bit. Find an even more irresistible beach. Snorkel. Laze about. Feel happy.

As Rotto’s surrounding reefs are littered with shipwrecks it’s popular with divers, snorkellers, surfers and fishing types.

Plus, due to the exclusion of feral pests, this is one of the few areas in the world where the cute quokka can be found.

Where? About 18km off Fremantle, near Perth, Western Australia.

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FITZROY ISLAND In a nutshell: A day trip to paradise Tell me more: If you’re short on time (and funds) Fitzroy Island is a must-do for visitors to Cairns.

Bring your camera and leave your fishing rod behind because the spectacular Fitzroy Island is one of the most unspoiled islands of the Great Barrier Reef and is World Heritage protected. The place is choc-a-block full of activities including hiking and bush trails through woodlands, tropical rainforest or coral beaches; diving and snorkeling to see brightlycoloured fringing reef, green sea turtles, clown fish, dolphins and whales; kayaking; glass bottom boat trips, or the chance to kick back and unwind at Foxy’s bar with a refreshing beer or a cocktail or two. If you can’t bear to leave, accommodation ranges from camping grounds and hostels, to luxury resorts.

So you don’t have to break your budget.

Where? It’s only 29 kilometres south-east of Cairns, QLD and the ferry takes 45 minutes from the mainland. .

Orchid Guest House offers backpackers the option of staying in a cosy, clean and friendly “home away from home”. Relax in a tranquil setting amongst the palm trees and orchids. All Rooms air/con and fan, TV & fridge, beds made up with linen.

Free washing machine. Fully equipped kitchen.

Cleanliness guaranteed - Free pick-up from bus, train and ferry during office hours or by arrangement.

www.orchidguesthouse.com.au Lonely Planet “Best Choice” 2009

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BRUNY ISLAND

MAGNETIC ISLAND

In a nutshell: The sort of place you hide away to write a novel.

Tell me more: It’s just an hour from Hobart, yet on Bruny you can feel like you’re at the end of the world – miles from civilisation. Windswept, pleasingly wild and undeniably beautiful, Bruny is essentially two islands connected by a long isthmus called The Neck.Cross The Neck and you’re in a world of cliffs, rainforest, endless, white, lonely beaches, some good bushwalking trails and penguins and fur seals. We like it there. In fact, we’re currently saving up to buy a cottage here (to write that first novel).

Where? Around an hour south from Hobart. Ferry from Kettering, Tasmania.

In a nutshell: Party or park your arse.

Tell me more: It was a close call between Maggie and the less developed Great Keppel and both offer similar: party prospects married with park your arse and “chillax” opportunities.

There’s superlative scenery, beaches, wildlife and activities, such as diving and snorkelling. Maggie has great wildlife experiences too, with koalas living in the wild and cute little rock wallabies.

Where? A ferry ride from Townsville, Queensland.

MARIA ISLAND In a nutshell: Maria, you should have seen her.

Tell me more: Who loves islands that are entirely national parks? We do, that’s who. Off Tassie’s gorgeous and surprisingly sunny east coast, Maria Island National Park is uninhabited (aside from one ranger).There’s eerie ruins, sweeping bays, rugged cliffs, mountains and oodles of wildlife. There’s a hiking trail and campsites, but the island is arguably best experienced on a mountain bike, charging through the woods and along cliff-tops. TNT’s fave spot here is the painted cliffs, with bizarre colours and patterns, almost like a butterfly print.

Where? Get the ferry from Triabunna, Tassie.

MORETON ISLAND

THE WHITSUNDAYS In a nutshell: A bit like heaven really.

Tell me more: Angels serve you free beer and... Nah. But the scenery is out of this world. We’ve cheated a little bit here – we simply can’t chose one island above the rest, so we’re including all 74. Most isles are sandy with tropical rainforest and several have accommodation options, ranging from fivestar resorts to basic camp grounds (34 in all). It’s all shallow, gently swirling turquoise waters and talcum powder beaches, with the famous Whitheaven Beach (on Whitsunday Island) the must-have photo. As if all that wasn’t good enough, the islands are surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, so the snorkelling and diving is pretty much as good as it gets.

Staying on an island or two is fun, but sailing in amongst them is arguably better. If you meet someone who toured the east coast and didn’t go to the Whitsundays, you’ll meet someone who looks marginally suicidal.

Where? From Airlie Beach, in between Mackay and Townsville, Queensland.

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In a nutshell: In a nutshell: Fraser Island without the crowds.

Tell me more: Another idyllic isle made entirely of sand. The island is 98 per cent national park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping and whale watching. It’s more famous though for its dolphins and shipwrecks, which you can feed and snorkel amongst respectively. It is often compared to Fraser Island. The island’s biggest wonder is that Moreton’s beautiful beaches are left pretty much undisturbed year-round.

Where? 60km north-east of Brisbane.

BIG UPS TO: Picking just 10 islands was much more difficult than we thought. There are so many more we haven’t got room for, with Queensland especially spoilt for choice. Also worthy of a mention is the new ‘mates only island’, XXXX Island, yes, it’s brought to you by the beer, and can be found off the Capricorn Coast. Further up the reef is Heron, with its turtles, Lady Elliot with its great diving and Lady Musgrave Island, with its enclosed lagoon big enough to sail into. We’ve never been, but we hear on good authority that Tasmania’s King Island is worth a visit, while New South Wales’ best kept secret Lord Howe Island is supposedly spectacular if you’ve got a bit of cash to spare. For something more cultural, the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands are a fascinating place to sample Aboriginal culture, while way, way, off the coast of Western Australia, the stunning Cocos and Christmas Islands look like they’ve been nicked form the Caribbean.

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CHATROOM

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Sam Clark The Neighbours star has just appeared in his first feature film, Mental. He talks to us about being Tasered by Liev Schreiber, jamming with Dr Karl, and how we’re all a little bit mental INTERVIEW ALEX HARMON

“The hair made me look like a bit of a junkie”

an intimidating character. I mean he’s a big guy and he’s very focused on his work. I was really lucky that I had met him prior to the shoot – I got taken out for dinner with him and Naomi (Watts) which was a big ice-breaker. He can do comedy really well, which I admire in any actor.

The Taser scene – how did you prepare?

Well I watched a few videos to prepare but then I thought, well, it’s a comedy so I have a little bit of leeway. But I mean it’s a pretty big Taser. I don’t know how good someone would be feeling after that.

What’s next for you?

I just got back from the UK, I did a six week tour, playing music. Then I’m going to L.A where I’ll try to find work, do an acting course, continue writing music, and just try to stay focused.

Tell me about your character, Trout He’s a bogan surfer that you never see surf, and he’s a lifesaver who you never see life-save.

All you ever see him does is serenade girls and really torment Trevor (Liev Schreiber’s character).

I based a lot of him on people that I grew up with at school, mainly traits of people that I didn’t really like.

Not too much like yourself then?

I don’t think so. I mean, playing Ringo on Neighbours for so many years, was definitely a lot more like me as a person, partly because you’re doing the same thing over and over and the script writers get to know you as a person and every now and then they put in bits and pieces in that suit you. But I don’t surf and I had to wear hair extensions, that wasn’t my real hair.

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role. In the first read, you know it’s going to be a good film and then when I got to the second audition, I found more and more layers to it. The comedy just runs right through it, as well as it having real meaning, which is something that a lot of comedies can lack. And then the fact that the character sings and plays music, which is my other passion and something I am trying to combine at the moment.

How ‘mental’ is your character?

Well I think I’m one of the most sane people in the film! But as the film points out, what is normal, and what is mental? In a sense we’re all a bit mental. It’s hard to put your finger on what is mental with Trout because he really does have the best of intentions.

Oh that hair was awful!

I know, it was seven hours in a chair on my first day to get them in and it was a very interesting social experiment to see how people would treat me, actually. I had people crossing the road when they saw me. I looked like a bit of a junkie.

So it tackles the issue of mental health?

Mental health is something that is heavily prevalent in society but no one talks about it. A lot of kids growing up, myself included, want to be ‘normal’, and the older I’ve gotten, the more I realise how much wasted energy is spent trying to be something that you’re not.

What attracted you to the role?

The entire script itself really, not just the specific

How was it working with Liev?

He does a fantastic Australian accent. He’s quite

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So it is music or acting?

I always get asked that question and I don’t have a good answer for it, I’m afraid. If I could do both – brilliant. I would love to continue what I did for Mental, in writing songs for film. I love writing heartfelt songs but I also love writing comedy songs to make people laugh.

Ever jam with Dr Karl on Neighbours?

Well we were in the same room when he was playing his ukulele and I was playing my guitar, but we’ve never really jammed together. There was talk of teaming up but it never happened.

I was concerned that it was going to end up sounding like The Wiggles.

Ever do the Neighbours’ nights?

I used to do them and the times that I did perform with Fletch was on those nights.

Unfortunately I don’t do them anymore. I used to do the bus tours as well which were great, but if there are any UK readers over here, they should know that they’re more likely to see me over in the UK these days.

Mental, starring Sam Clark, Toni Colette, Liev Schreiber, Rebecca Gibney and Anthony LaPaglia is in cinemas now. universalpictures.com.au

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FILMREVIEW

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Brad Pitt making the goatee cool again, one scene at a time

KILLING THEM SOFTLY FILM review by Hugh Radojev STARRING: Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, James Gandolfini /MA/ 97mins

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 FILM preview. Released Oct 18 Katie Featherston, Matt Shively | MA | 90mins

The Paranormal Activity franchise has followed in the footsteps of other well known horror movie serials like Saw. In that they’ve made one seminal movie and then following it up with steadily worse sequels. We’re up to number four now, and you can expect the same bollocks plot line here. A haunted house, an unsuspecting family, and plenty of creepy, handheld camera work. Scary? Debatable. HR 14

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Set amongst the furore of the 2008 American Presidential race in Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Killing Them Softly tries to be both a hard-as-nails gangster movie and a cutting satire of America’s failing jobs sector. Unfortunately the juggling act between cerebral reflection and ruthless violence never really quite finds a good balance.

The film’s plot, on the surface is fairly simple – two down and out no hopers fresh out of prison – Frankie (Scoot McNairy) and Russell (played by Australian actor Ben Mendhelson) pull a job on an illegal poker game, then the mobsters who get robbed want them dead. Sounds simple, but soon things get a little complicated.

This is where Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) comes in, a mob enforcer and gun for hire.

Pitt is absolutely immense in this film; bringing a believable weight to Cogan the cold blooded hitman with a savvy head for business. In every scene Pitt acts as the pivot around which all other actors in the film play off. In particular, his scenes with Mickey (James Gandolfini) are some of the film’s highlights.

The biggest problem with this film is its length. The story jumps in at a random point in the story and then hurries through to a conclusion. So many things happen to the characters off-screen that the audience is not privy to. It is no surprise that this film’s original director’s cut came in at over two hours in length.

This is a film that could have been great, but in trying to appeal to fans of both mob movies and sweeping satirical statements, falls short on both accounts.

GOOD FOR: People who like Brad Pitt, or the sound of Ray Liotta vomiting blood

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Time travel made easy Director Rian Johnson talks about how he kept things simple for the audience, and himself, in new sci-fi action thriller Looper WORDS ALASDAIR MORTON

Photos: Entertainment One, Getty Images

Time travel films are tough to get right – get the formula spot on and you have a cine-classic, like Back To The Future or Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys. Get it wrong and you can stumble into an indecipherable labyrinth of complications resulting in audience bafflement. These were concerns that writer-director Rian Johnson was well aware of when he embarked on his time travel gangster thriller Looper.

“If you dig too deeply into any time travel construct it makes no sense and it’s going to hurt your head,” the east coast-born, California-raised filmmaker says. “As a writer you have to consign yourself to being a card magician – you have to come up with a consistent set of rules and stick to them.

Your job’s to give the audience enough so the time travel will perform its function in your story, but then figure out how to misdirect with your other hand so they don’t spend the whole movie thinking too deeply about it.”

The action takes place in 2042; time travel is yet to be dreamt up, but that doesn’t mean the year is free from the effects of future users. Within the next 30 years, time travel is invented; by 2072, it has already been outlawed. But people can still travel back, and, because of better forms of police detection, the practice has become a useful tool for criminals.

Rather than bumping people off using a pair of lead boots and the nearest river, they send them back 30 years to be eliminated by loopers. These hitmen wait at pre-arranged locations, gun in hand, to kill the marked men – and they get a big payoff for their efforts. The only rule is not to let your target get away. Of course, in Johnson’s tightly scripted thriller, this is exactly what happens to Joe when his older self is sent back.

Johnson’s third directorial offering sees him tackling a new genre. After making his mark with high school noir Brick and conman caper The Brothers Bloom, Looper sees Johnson making his science fiction debut, and he brings the sort of witty, smart-mouthed dialogue and narrative surprises that we’ve come to expect from this hotshot filmmaker.

He re-teams with his Brick star Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises) as looper Joe, with Bruce Willis (Die Hard) playing Joe’s older self, whose 2042 arrival sparks cause-

“

Time travel films are tough to get right

”

and-effect time travel machinations that could change the future drastically. As well as contending with grandfather paradoxes, Johnson had to convincingly portray the same character on screen at two different ages.

“If we were going to have this distinct a concept where they’re supposed to be the same person, I wanted some physical transformation,” Johnson says. “It is one thing where you have flashbacks or forwards and the actors are never in the same scene, but [Willis and Gordon-Levitt] were going to be sitting across the table from each other.”

The answer was to subject the younger actor to three hours of prosthetic makeup every day to have him more closely resemble his co-star.

“I thought: let’s go the extra mile and make their profiles match a little bit, which was tough as they couldn’t look less alike. We changed the shape of Joseph’s nose, gave his lip more of a shelf, adjusted his brow and changed his eye colour with contacts to make the connection stronger.”

Gordon-Levitt even studied Willis’ mannerisms and speech to ensure their portrayals tallied up. “Joseph wrapped himself around Bruce, who recorded Joseph’s voiceover lines and sent them to him so he could study how he [Bruce] would say them.”

Small adjustments like Bruceifying his lead were just part and parcel of Johnson’s dedication to making a sci-fi film rooted in the now, and is as believable as can be for a movie with such an outlandish premise.

He weaves his tale through a future that refracts the present to maximise effects. The world 20 years on is bleak: a dystopia riddled with deprivation, despair and urban decay, yet where the rural areas remain relatively unchanged,

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"I wanted to create a very grounded world"

at least to our technology-scoping eyes. That’s not to say Johnson’s future view is not populated with eye-catching gadgets and designs, though.

“I wanted to create a very grounded world that was recognisable and fun, and where you know instantly where you are at,” he says. “I wanted to knock the futuristic design elements back down to Earth a little.”

Looper is full of subtle future-tech designs – weaponry, paper-thin mobile phones, for example – only given a Johnson spin for practicality. So, where sci-fi film perennial the hoverbike is present, in Johnson’s world it is far from the coolest thing on the road. “They don’t even look like hoverbikes, they look like Triumphs, and they don’t work

Rian Johnson (left) and GordonLevitt on location in Shanghai

that well. It’s a flashy thing to turn up to the club on, but they don’t steer well, they don’t brake well and anyone who cares about their ride wouldn’t be seen dead on one.”

More conspicuous amid the future tech, though, is the moral conundrum at Looper’s heart – if you knew how the future would play out, and your role in it, what would you do to ensure that good won out and evil, no matter where or who it was, did not?

In among his cross-generational leaps are subplots involving future gangsters (2072, right?) and the evolutionary development of telekinesis, but it is how the central character(s) deal with the aforementioned moral dilemma that drives the film.

While there are action sequences (foot chases, shootouts, hoverbike encounters …) and moments of heart-stopping visual invention (a tracking shot as Joe Jr falls from a building, the camera tilting and following his perspective the whole way down), it is these ethical and philosophical questions that engage the most, with clear lines to be drawn between Johnson’s film and The Matrix, another movie that mixes action thrills with profound ponderings.

“Sci-fi is geared towards getting at a real emotional core and recognisable human dilemma through crazy concepts,” Johnson says. By using the time travel concept in his latest work, he’s made a mind- and heart-troubling movie. And he may well have made a cine-classic into the bargain. ❚ Looper is out now through Roadshow. See: tntdownunder.com/entertainment for our review

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ARE YOU SPOTTED IN THE CIRCLE?

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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 Scary Canary. facebook/tntLike us on downunder for more party pics from the night!

SCARY CANARY Spring Break Hoedown 30 September

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5/10/12 9:58 AM

HOTSHOTS

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WINNER

WEEKLY WINNER SUNRISE SALUTE: Nicolas Espeisse, 29, France NICOLAS SAYS: “This photo was taken very early on the second morning of a hike in the Kauaeranga Valley in New Zealand.”

WE SAY: “Every week people send us in photographs of places at sunset. We at TNT Down Under are not necessarily adverse to sunset, not by any means, but we applaud Nicolas’ enterprise to get up early and give us something a bit different. The lighting in this photograph is exceptional and so too is the composition, a very nicely framed photograph using the natural tree stump.”

HOT TIPS: Find a Style Having your own style in any creative field is always preferable – and photography is no exception. Its what you will be known for, what will set your photograph apart from the others. Like anything though it will take time and hard work to develop but once you do it will definitely be worth it.

All the great photographers have their own style, something to set them apart from the pack. English photographer David Bailey for example, loves to crop the top of his subject’s heads off and shoot black and white in the studio with a clean background – all known techniques.

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THE MONTHLY WINNER GETS THREE DAYS CAR HIRE FROM TRAVELLERS AUTOBARN

WIN

Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to:hugh@tntdownunder.com.

Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.

Weekly winner Nicolas 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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TRAVELTIPS

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ON THE ROAD WITH TRAVEL

TALK LOKTING CHAN 22, HONG KONG

YOU ASKED FOR IT...

WE ANSWER YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS

heard that it is safe to go Q I’ve swimming with freshwater crocodiles.

Is it and where can I do it? Joe Pie, UK freshwater crocodile is a smaller A The version of its saltwater brethren and they can grow up to three metres in length. As with any crocodile they do come equipped with sharp teeth. Overall though they’re considered too small to be of proper concern to human beings although they have on occasion been known to take a nibble or two, more out of curiosity then anything else and as a result I wouldn’t recommend swimming with them. As the name suggests freshwater crocs tend to inhabit inland waterways like billabongs, swamps and rivers across Australia’s Top End. Whilst they can survive in saltwater the presence of the munch larger and meaner crocodiles always displace them. This can have its advantages though as any body of water with ‘freshies’ living in it will almost certainly be free of nastier crocs. If

you want to go swimming with crocs do it at Darwin’s Crocosaurs Cove, in a Perspex box for a bit of protection. to look at dolphins whilst I’m Q Iinwant Australia, where’s the best place?

Melissa Stoke, Northern Ireland up close and personal with A Getting dolphins is something that everybody should experience at least once in their lives. If you’re in Sydney then a quick road trip to Port Stephens would be the best bet. In less than three hours you could find yourself being towed behind a catamaran while pods of dolphins frolick in the water alongside you in Nelson Bay. NSW is not the only state to be blessed in this department though, Adelaide’s Glenelg beach and Rockingham near Perth also offer a chance to swim with dolphins. Baird Bay in South Australia is also a good place to go swimming with seals, more fun then it sounds.

CHECKING IN WAKE-UP SYDNEY This award-winning hostel is about to celebrate its ten year anniversary and you can tell why it does so well. Modern, clean, spacious and with a sense of fun at all times. You only need OVERVIEW

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to visit their bar downstairs any night of the week to know why.

ROOMS Mixed or all-female dorms as well as private rooms with and without an en-suite. Very secure.

BILL PLEASE Dorms from $34/night with a shared bathroom.

509 Pitt St, Sydney (opp Central Station) wakeup.com.au

WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY? I just got an internship in Sydney so I’m not normally used to waking up before 9am during weekdays. After working I am going to Market City with my flatmates to get fresh ingredients for dinner.

WHAT MADE YOU COME TO OZ? After finishing my degree, I decided to take a gap year and Oz was my first choice. Lovely weather, nice beaches and definitely a good place to unwind.

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE? The first time I saw koalas at the Wildlife Park, wondering how they can sleep their whole life in the trees.

WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST? Traditional home cooked food and family.

CRAZIEST EXPERIENCE? Drinking countless bottles of wine at home as if there was water inside.

ANY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS? Don’t think too much and just do it. You will be surprised, getting around Oz is not as difficult as you think.

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TRAVELLERS TALE

SOUR APES

N

Desperate to win back some monkeymojo, Craig Sheather headed into the Malaysian jungle of Sabah...

I like monkeys. But for some strange reason they don’t like me.

Maybe they pick me as an easy target. Maybe they can sense that they are smarter than me. Maybe we are too alike. Nevertheless, they amaze me with their human-like mannerisms.

But it seems whenever a monkey is close by, the joke is always on me.

For example, while trekking in Uganda a mountain gorilla peed on me, in Bali a “crazed” monkey attacked me when I refused to give it my can of Coke, in South Africa a baboon attempted to car jack my vehicle when it refused to move from the bonnet.

On a Thai beach a well-trained macaque clung to me like a leech until I bought an ice-cream from its scheming owner. While visiting a temple in Nepal a cheeky monkey simply gave the “bird” as I walked by – a place of worship of all places! And a howler monkey in the Amazon kept me awake all night with its hideous screams.

What is with these animals? They all give me hell. It drives me bananas!

Undeterred by these monkey tactics I was determined to encounter one of

the more intelligent primates while visiting Sabah. Maybe, the Bornean orangutan would understand me?

At the rehabilitation centre I learnt many useful (and not so useful) facts about the orangutang: It shares 97 per cent DNA with humans and it is 10 times stronger than one man.

Determined to see one in the wild, we made our way to the Kinabatangan River for a three-day adventure.

The reserve is home to more monkeys and primates than you can poke a stick at: orangutans, proboscis and all types of macaques. However, my excitement quickly subsided when I read about the dwindling numbers of orangutangs due to palm oil plantations. Over the past few years the population within the reserve has decreased by 300.

Nevertheless, I decided to ask anyone I met about my chances: the bus driver, the tour guide, other travellers and even the lodge cook.

The response was similar: “Sometimes you may see them”, “If you are lucky”, “Not very often”, “Maybe, Maybe not” – it was not encouraging.

The nature lodge operates early morning and afternoon wildlife spotting boat trips along the river. An

orangutan had not been seen for over a week so I was not getting too wound up. However, I got quite a shock when we rounded the first bend and the guide started shouting and pointed towards a large blob in a tree. The blob was dead still and looked like a beach ball stuck in the tree. But as we approached the shore, a long arm extended from the blob and reached out to an overhanging branch. Its legs then dangled below and suddenly the blob had transformed into an apelike figure. It swung majestically from branch to branch and hung still for a moment. It then climbed down the trunk and disappeared amongst the foliage. The sighting was brief but nonetheless remarkable.

I was excited and somewhat relieved. I was expecting some dung to be hurled towards me or to be whacked on the head with a branch.

Or for the beast to come charging out of the jungle and rip my arms off.

But nothing happened. Maybe I had regained my monkey mojo? Maybe we could be friends again?

We roamed the river spotting all kinds of wildlife including some long tail macaques scrounging the forest floor for food. I finally felt at peace with my monkey friends.

Later that night at dinner I dropped a chicken leg onto the floor.

Instinctively, I began scrounging around and quickly jammed the food into my mouth (much to the horror of other diners). You know what they say: “Monkey see, monkey do!”

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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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Adelaide SOUTH AUSTRALIA

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Sweet disposition If you thought Adelaide was boring – think again. But don’t wander the city of churches aimlessly, let the insiders show you her treasure trove WORDS IAN NEUBAUER PHOTOS GARY FRIEDLAND

I heard this joke once that went, “When WHAT TO DO: A Taste of you leave Adelaide, turn off the lights”.

South Australia (tastesa.com.

And after an hour walking around the CBD au) charges $127 per person for and Central Market on a recent Spring half-day tours. Haighs Visitor Centre morning, I was beginning to wonder if (haighschocolates.com.au) on it may be true. Sure, there were tonnes Greenhill Rd, Parkside offer free of beautiful buildings and churches (they 20-minute factory tours at 11am, don’t call it the City of Churches for 1pm and 1:30pm Mon-Fri, with the nothing) and what appeared to be a ring of last session starting at 2pm on Sat parks and gardens surrounding the city, but ACCOMMODATION: it was all too spaced out and hard to make Adelaide Central YHA (Ph: 08 8414 sense of.

3015) on Waymouth St has dorms But I’m here to suss out the soul of with breakfast for $27 and private this city and am not going to give up rooms with bathroom for $88 without a fight. So, after checking into the GETTING THERE: There are Adelaide Central YHA, I call a professional: daily services to Adelaide Airport Mary Anne Kennedy of A Taste of South from Australia’s capital cities Australia. Along with her small team of SEE: southaustralia.com for more local know-it-alls, Mary Anne offers four themed half-day walking/driving tours of Adelaide.

I opt for number three – the North Terrace – art galleries, historic houses and museums – and, while walking to Marry Anne’s car, tell her about how her city had left me underwhelmed earlier that morning.

“I’ve heard that a lot – people arriving in Adelaide, going for a walk, and thinking the place is boring,” she says. “It’s not like Sydney where you can walk around and say ‘There’s the Opera House, there’s the Harbour Bridge’. You really need to speak to locals to get an understanding of the place.

It’s what inspired me to start these tours.”

so Colonel Light, the city’s founding father, designed the parks to be wider than a cannonball could be shot from the most powerful cannon in the Russian’s arsenal at the time,” Mary Anne explains.

Our first stop is Light Square, where a bronze statue of the Colonel stands watch over the city he founded 176 years ago.

Directly in front of him is the majestic Adelaide Oval, one of the world’s greatest cricket grounds. And sandwiched between it and the rolling green pastures of the Adelaide Hills, Adelaide’s gleaming buildings and monolithic cathedrals reach into the sky in testament to the Colonel’s genius. “The reasons that led me to fix Adelaide where it is I do not expect to be generally understood,” he wrote after ordering the settlement to pack up and move from the city’s original position on the coast

Russian cannonballs Unlike most Australian cities, Adelaide didn’t begin as a colony for convicts but as a base for free English settlers who first came to South Australia in 1836. It is also unique in that it was built on a grid and surrounded by parks and gardens – 29 of them I learn, covering 45 percent of the central business district!

“At the time people feared an invasion from Russia,

Colonel Light stands guard

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Get barrelled at the National Wine Centre

Adelaide’s chocolate factory

to this spot on the banks of the River Torrens. “But I leave it to posterity, and not to my enemies to decide whether I am entitled to praise or blame.”

Castles, fire stations and hothouses

And the golden result

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We continue along North Adelaide’s aptly named Strangeway Terrace – a long, wide boulevard lined with the classic Victorian bluestone mansions of such size and scale that they’d put the Wayne Manor to shame. A few I’d even classify as castles, with towers and minarets and maze-like gardens.

Marry Anne points out the wrought iron fences that were the all the rage in the early 1800s, some covered with rose bushes. On another street, she points out the balconies and wraparound verandas of the Federation-style homes built in the century that followed when Colonel Light’s great grandchildren got sick of being stuck inside hotboxes on 40degree summer days and finally cottoned on to the idea of indoor-outdoor living.

On another street yet we see old workman’s cottages that have been converted into cute little one-bedroom terrace apartments, and in another, an old fire station that’s been converted into a holiday suite. The Fire Station Inn not a cheap place to stay – nearly ten times the price of a dorm at the YHA – but the rate can be split four ways and it’s one of the few places in the world where you can sleep alongside a 1942 International fire truck! It’s in mint condition and the engine still works, or so reckons the innkeeper, antique dealer Rodney Swift. “Most fire trucks in Australia are made for fighting bush fires, but this one was brought in from America to fight factory fires as there were lots of Air Force bases

MAJESTIC ROOF GARDEN HOTEL

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around Adelaide during WWII,” he says. “It was never used, though. The Japanese Imperial Navy never got this far.”

After a long chat with Rodney, we jump back in the car. Our route takes us down O’Connell Street, past rows of trendy cafés and old pubs with stained glass windows.

We keep on driving, past the University of Adelaide Sport Ground where an archery class is going down and into the car park of the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. I’m not that keen on checking it out but Mary Anne insists and I’m glad she did. Because like so many other things in this city, it’s amaze-balls! It’s design was based on Versailles and is home to a stunning glasshouse from Germany was that dismantled, shipped over and reassembled in front of the main lake in 1875; the Bicentennial Conservatory – 100-metre-long hothouse with its own tropical jungle and trees from as far as North Queensland and New Guinea; the National Rose Garden; and a genuine wetland system. On and on it goes, 125 acres of lush, colourful flora, and we’re only a few minute’s drive from the heart of the city.

Adelaide’s sweet spot

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We’re back in the car and my head is spinning again. On the left is the Australian National Wine Centre – a futuristic building shaped like the ribs of a wine barrel where visitors can learn about South Australia’s rich winemaking history and partake in wine tasting.

But we’re now on a different mission, to learn about (read: consume) a temptation that’s much closer to my heart – the Haigh’s Chocolate Visitor Centre.

If you’ve never heard the name before, Haighs is an TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

27

institution. Founded in 1915 and run by fourth-generation members of the Haighs family, it is the Rolls Royce of Australian chocolate (sorry Cadburys fans, but you’re eating glue in comparison). Yet it’s the aroma of slowly roasting cocoa beans – not the rich sweet taste that’s soon to come – that assault me the moment I walk into the door.

What follows ranks as my own version of heaven: a department store-size chocolate shop where I find chocolate frogs the size of dinner plates, rocky road chunks the size of house bricks and a shelf of factory seconds where I go totally nuts (the same great taste at low, low prices). After sampling a chocolate bars, a dozen fruity centres and a couple of chocolate truffles, we join one a free factory tour. My eyes want to pop out of my head as I see technicians in lab coats mix huge vats of melted chocolate and spread rich, gooey fudge across a stainless steel bench in a scene cut straight out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

beautiful old pubs and cool bars and restaurants – where she turns into a little laneway called Synagogue Place. Standing alongside a row of antique shops is a domineering art-deco building painted gunmetal grey that could be mistaken for a super villain’s lair if not for the large Star of David – the Jewish insignia – carved into the façade. Built in 1939, this house of worship was converted into a nightclub in 2009 and is now a high-energy nightclub called Apple that’s also known as the Synagogue Nightclub and the Church Nightclub. Set across two pulsating levels with three sleek bars, dance floors and glamorous settings all around, it epitomizes the hidden mystique and unexpected wealth of this city.

I think back to the joke about turning the lights off when you leave Adelaide, and then the endless traffic, cold steel buildings and generic nightclubs of my home city, Sydney. The joke, it seems, is totally on us. ❚

Going to the chapel By the time I roll myself out of there, Mary Anne tells me it’s time to wrap up our tour. But before my guide drops me back at the YHA, she offers to show me St Xavier’s Cathedral in Victoria Square. A towering Gothic Revival Catholic Church that took 109 years to build, it’s the jewel in the crown of Adelaide’s 800-odd churches.

“Well, this is the City of Churches,” I say. “Might as well see one church while I’m here.”

“Did you know?” says Mary Anne, “Adelaide was called the City of Churches not because there are so many churches but because South Australia was founded on the concept of freedom: freedom for work as convicts were never brought here, and freedom of worship. Not only for the major Christian denominations, but for people of all faiths and religions.”

“Are there any old synagogues?” I ask.

“Yes. Are you Jewish?”

“Yes,” I reply.

“Then I’ve got a treat for you.”

Mary Anne takes me to Rundle Street – another strip of

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Living up to its moniker, the ‘City of Churches’

Experience

SOUTH AUSTRALIA If you’ve climbed the bridge, circled the rock and snorkelled the reef... it’s time to do the stuff that other people are only just beginning to discover… diving with Great White Sharks, swimming with sea lions and dolphins, getting up close and personal with wildlife on Kangaroo Island or camping under the stars in the amazing Flinders Ranges.

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If you want to get away from the crowds for an authentic Australian experience it’s time to come to South Australia.

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GRAND PRIZE WORTH $3,028 Return flights from your nearest capital city to Adelaide by the South Australia Tourism Commission – $1,000 value. Calypso Star Charters Port Lincoln, two shark cage dives – $990 value. Sealink Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island adventure tour for two – value $778. Majestic Minima Hotel Adelaide. Two nights free of charge - $260 value.

RUNNER UP PRIZE WORTH $1,600 Nullarbor Traveller. Three day southern wildlife encounter package for two - all meals and accommodation, four of the top wildlife encounters in Australia: get up close with the local sealions, dolphins, tuna, great white sharks, koalas, kangaroos and emus (activities at additional cost) – value $1,430 value.

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THIRD PRIZE WORTH $990 Groovy Grape Getaways Two day Kangaroo Island wildlife adventure for two – $790 value.

Adelaide’s Shakespeare Backpackers International Hostel. Two nights in a private room or a week in a dorm – $200 value.

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CJAA6G7DG IG6K:AA:G Adventures between Adelaide

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Los Angeles UNITED STATES

Photos: Andrew Westrbook, Starline Tours, Discover Los Angeles

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BIGTRIP

Life in the fast lane Los Angeles might be home to the stars, but trying to catch them is another story – you’re probably going to need a bigger car WORDS ANDREW WESTBROOK

“You’ve got a compact, wanna upgrade?”

WHAT TO DO: Universal The City of Angels. Tinseltown. La-La Land. asks the car hire lady at LAX. “No thanks, Studios (universalstudioshollywood. Whatever you want to call the Californian that’s what I ordered.” The keyboard com) costs USD$80 (USD$159 for capital of crazy, it’s hard to imagine a place we tapping stops. Silence. front of line pass). The Stars’ Homes think we know more about than Los Angeles.

“Really? Okaaay,” she adds, staring There aren’t just beaches in LA, there’s Tour costs USD$44 and the TMZ for just a little too long before frantically tour costs USD$49 (both through Baywatch beaches. There’s not just shops in pounding at the computer. Going small is starlinetours.com) LA, there’s Pretty Woman shops. And bars? apparently not the norm in Los Angeles.

GETTING AROUND: SelfWell, pick up any gossip mag, anywhere in the I hit the road. Unfortunately, so has drive is the best way to get around world, and you’ll soon work out where to go. the rest of the city. But the traffic still California Theme parks and recreation flows, the streets having grown fat on the CURRENCY: $1 = USD$1.03 infamous American diet, stretching five, ACCOMMODATION: Beds at I’m in town for a TNT assignment that seems six, seven lanes wide each way. Cars weave Banana Bungalow West Hollywood simple. I’m to go in search of the stars. My odds in and out, indicating optional, tailgating from USD$27/night. Beds at Venice seem favourable. After all, LA is where most of preferable, no lane obviously faster than Beach Cotel from $30/night. the world’s big celebrities call home. the next. It’s intimidating to say the least.

SEE: visitcalifornia.com.au I get started in one of the biggest star I’d resisted hiring a car at first, always factories in town – Universal Studios. It’s school preferring to explore cities on foot. I’d holidays and almost lunch by the time I arrive. resisted even more when told by the friendly tourism board One look at the crowds and I realise the lie-in was a mistake. that “getting around without a car is really easy”.

Luckily, I’ve been uncharacteristically organised and told However, my LA buddies on the ground told me Universal I’m coming their way. Luckier yet, they hand me otherwise, suggesting I’d be insane to even attempt the city a front of line pass. It’s the American Dream. Or the theme without my own wheels. And now I can see why. park dream at least, skipping guiltily to the front of every queue, head bowed, the Brit in me dying to tell everyone, The fast and the curious “sorry, I’m not rich, I drive a compact”.

Indeed, during my four days in the city, I repeatedly ask The Americans are the kings of theme parks and no film people how they’re getting about. Each time the answer fan could leave Universal disappointed. The rides blow is identical, the speaker bemused at being asked such an me away. Sure, some feel a little dated now (Terminator 2 obvious question. “I’m driving. This is LA.” anyone?) but the majority have me screaming, laughing like The city sprawls as much across southern California as a lunatic or simply holding on as tight as I can. it does our cultural psyche. Even if the buses and metro A real highlight is the new Transformers 3D ride. I’m yet are now up to scratch, the distances are big, and besides, to be convinced by 3D in the cinema, but rides are a whole it’s often the streets themselves – Rodeo Drive, Sunset different world. I’m thrown left and right, up and down, Boulevard, Mulholland Drive – that conjure up the most each time ducking and twisting, desperately trying to avoid excitement amongst visitors. the Autobots and Decepticons as they enthusiastically get I give the map the briefest of glances and the names stuck into World War 3 around me. Behind me a child hollers jump out – Santa Monica, Bel Air, Compton, Venice Beach, in horror, his mum screaming, “Take off the glasses!”

Pasadena, Malibu, Hollywood, each sparking flashes of Next up is the Revenge of The Mummy ride. At first it faces, scenes and lyrics drip fed into the subconscious over a seems a more traditional indoor rollercoaster, with a few lifetime of movies, TV and music. scarab beetles thrown in for good measure. Traditional that

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Clearly he has been to see a green doctor

is, until the lights go out, sending us into pitch dark and ramping the screams up a notch. The effect is then multiplied when, thinking we’ve reached the end, we suddenly jerk backwards, and proceed to do the entire course again, in reverse.

Nerves suitably tingled, it’s back into the blazing sun for a cool-off on the Jurassic Park log flume. Around we go, dodging the dinosaurs, always edging our way higher, higher, higher. When the drop eventually comes, the turning of the stomach is made even tighter by the perfectly-timed lunging T-Rex on the summit, making the rush of the fall and the inevitable soaking all the sweeter.

But of course Universal is not just about the rides. There’s all action live shows to be seen, special effects demonstrations to gawp at and of course the main tour itself. This takes you all over the studio, stopping every now and then to fend off King Kong or Jaws or watch the Fast and the Furious cars do a fiery little jig. Perhaps most fascinating, however, is driving through the sets, fake cities that are little more than painted boards with only the LA desert behind.

Hopping from ride to show to ride, stopping now and then to pose with a mummy or transformer, the hours fly by.

Suddenly it’s 10pm. Time to hit the road.

The clock ticking on my trip, my celeb count remains on zero. I need to step it up.

Venice the menace The next day is an early start for a divine brekkie at Manhattan Beach 24-hour institution The Kettle. The food is fantastic, but no post-party names are in attendance, so onwards it is, to the full-on freakfest that is Venice Beach.

Venice has long been a major counterculture hub.

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basketball courts and open-air muscle gym once frequented

by Arnie, the 2.5 mile strip is an all-day circus of performers, artists and fortune-tellers. Down and outs hold out placards offering “shitty advice for $2”, while reclining stoners occasionally lift boards claiming they “work for marijuana”.

Every 100 metres or so is a marijuana medical centre, places where for about $40 you can see a so-called green doctor, somebody who can legally prescribe you weed. Competition is tough so boisterous hawkers dressed in green scrubs urge you through the doors. Less tough, apparently, is getting approval from the doctor, with the list of required ailments including

“

Made famous by the open-air muscle gym once frequented by Arnie

”

insomnia, anxiety and “many other disorders”.

Leaving the crazies, I go in search of some more natural sights and head south, out of town, to Palos Verdes. The views of the Pacific coastline are spectacular and, as the sun melts into the ocean (Baywatch theme in head), we’re treated to the rare sight of about 15 blue whales swimming south, spouting water high into the air each time they touch the surface. It’s a timely reminder that there’s more to this most famous of desert cities than simply being famous. From the creaking oil wells besides the freeways, to the surrounding parks, bountiful ocean and massive, spacious strip of sand that forms the city’s western flank, there’s much more variety

On the search for rock stars, it’s important to blend in than I’d expected in a place I’d considered plastic.

But one problem persists. I’ve still not got a celebrity spotting to call my own. With just one day remaining, it’s time for extreme measures. It’s time for the celebrity tours.

I head downtown and quickly realise that just about every other vehicle belongs to Starline Tours, who’ve been stalking celebs for tourists since way back in 1935. I figure they’re the ones for me.

High on Hollywood thrills On my way to their base by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, I stroll up Hollywood Boulevard, taking in some of the 2,500 stars that dot the pavement, bearing the names of some of the biggest talents in history. There’s Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin and Houdini, as well as some of the real giants of entertainment, like the Rug Rats and Power Rangers. More interesting, perhaps, is who’s not there. Julia Roberts, for example, apparently didn’t like the idea of 10 million people a year walking all over her. Mohammed Ali supposedly had the same opinion, but they liked him more, so put his on the wall. Others, like George Clooney, simply didn’t fancy having to attend the opening ceremony, while yet more no doubt baulked at the $30,000 fee.

Clambering through the multitude of Spider-Men, Darth Vader’s and Avatar characters also lining Hollywood Boulevard, hoping for tips in return for photos, I make it to my Stars’ Homes Tour bus, ready to accomplish my mission.

Off we go, up onto Mulholland Drive, taking in the views of the Hollywood Sign (recently saved from developers, incidentally, by none other than Hugh Hefner). We’re soon past Jason Statham’s new pad and looking out over Beverly Park, the grand canyon of mansions, average price $20-50m, where the likes of Charlie Sheen and Denzel can be found.

Seeing anything from up on high is tricky, however, so street level we go, into the Hills.

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It rapidly becomes hard keeping track of the A-list names.

Ronald Reagan’s former house was also where they filmed Fresh Prince? No way! Elvis’ old home was across the street from Michael Jackson? Crazy.

Also abundantly clear is that imagination is key to the experience. A common theme develops – admiring and photographing random parts of houses. Well, gates. I get Christina Aguilera’s gate and Eddie Murphy’s gate. I get Ellen’s gate, which is next to Ringo Starr’s gate. And then there’s Sandra Bullock’s gate, which is opposite Cameron Diaz’s gate. I’m now an expert on gates. And the occasional chimney (thanks Mr Cruise). But no people.

It’s odd to say the least, but the tour is still strangely enjoyable, giving an eye-popping insight into the staggering wealth that Hollywood creates. However, I’m after people, so line up a second tour – one run by the celebrity news jokers TMZ. These guys promise more than gates. They offer the bars, shops and restaurants where celebs hang out and they even jump out and interview celebs if any are spotted.

I’m sold, so it’s back on the bus and back to Beverly Hills.

We pass Saks Fifth Avenue (think Winona shoplifting) and the Beverly Hills Courthouse (think Lindsay Lohan writing “F U” on her nails), we pass the Four Seasons Hotel (think Paris Hilton sex tape) and L’Ermitage Hotel (think, er, Verne Troyer, aka Mini Me, sex tape). But we don’t see people.

People that matter that is, famous people.

Until, hang on sec, is that a murmur from the back?

Somebody’s been spotted on Rodeo Drive!

I look across the street and there she is, a famous-looking person waving at us! But no, it’s too late, our guide hadn’t made the spot and so misses the interview as the target ducks into a shop. Who was it, we ask? ”Shaunie O’Neal!

The star of Basketball Wives!” Eh? “She’s the ex of NBA legend Shaq!”

Hmm, I think that’s a fail. ❚

Just five hours from the east coast of Australia and across the glistening Pacific lies the Treasured Islands of Samoa – voted the best value destination of the South Pacific.

Make your way around the islands and you’ll discover spectacular waterfalls, dramatic blowholes, stunning coral reefs and crystal clear lagoons where you can swim with turtles. Samoa boasts the most pristine beaches with dazzling white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters.

Life ambles at its own measured pace and it’s not just because of the balmy tropical weather. With the average temperature at 30 degrees Celsius, no wonder there is a smile on every face that greets you.

Getting around is easy – rent a car, hop on a colourful island bus or take a taxi to explore Samoa!

For bookings visit www.samoadirect.com.au

www.samoa.travel

TRAVELWEEKENDER

Life’s a beach This is Noosa in 48 hours WORDS ALEX HARMON

DAY 1:xIt was once a sleepy little surfer town, but over the years Noosa has grown into stylish resort town with a bustling hub of restaurants and bars. In the epicentre of it all, you'll find Hastings St, which will spoil you food-lovers with choice along the water’s edge.

8:00: The sun, the surf and the adventure on offer means a big breakfast is in order, head to Canteen and fuel up on their corn fritter breakfast with bacon and avocado. Wash it down with a banana milkshake –Queensland has the best bananas in the country, after all.

9:00: Take a short boat trip along the beautiful Noosa River to Jew Shoal for your Scuba Diving (divenoosa.com) adventure. Noosa is famous for its caves with several large swim throughs filled with marine life. As you dive, discover the coral trout, perch, and snapper, to name a few.

12:00: Nothing like breathing tanked oxygen to get your appetite going. Aromas Noosa in Hastings Street serves delicious, honest food within an airy French themed space with a stylish central coffee bar creating the perfect environment for anytime. Dine al fresco, it's the perfect spot to engage in some people watching.

15:00: Spend your afternoon at one of Australia’s biggest animal farms – the Australia Zoo (australiazoo.com. au) about 30 minutes from Noosa. It’ll cost you $5 to take the shuttle bus and once you’re there, check out Australia’s biggest collection of wildlife. Get up close and personal with a koala (you can't do that in other states, you know), snakes,

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and even those charming little Tasmanian devils.

17:30: Nearby, get the blood pumping again at the Big Kart Track (bigkart.com.au) the biggest and fastest commercial go-kart track in the country. Test your skills and your friendships on the 1200m long racetrack 18:00: Back on two feet, make tracks to Burger Bar (burgerbar.com.au) indisputably the best burgers in town.

Spice up your life with the Jamaican and chilli burger. They call themselves a non-robotic business, so expect burgers with heart and friendly service.

20:00: Treat yourself on one of Noosa’s balmy evenings at Laguna Jacks (lagunajacks.com.au). On Hastings St, it’s Noosa's newest bar and cellar, they have over 500 wines and 103 beers from around the world. Or, if you want to be a true backpacker, you can even buy a bottle of wine from their integrated bottle shop and drink it in the bar.

21:30: Once you’re in the mood, it’s time to check out your hostel bar: KB’s at Noosa Nomads (nomads.com.au) with live music most nights and drinking games galore.

DAY 2: 9:00: Wash away the hangover at Noosa Main Beach, just a short stroll from your hostel. While you’re there, get boarded up for a Surfing lesson (learntosurf.com. au). In the soft, rolling waves become one with your board and learn the art of wave-riding with a qualified instructor.

12:00: Back on the sand, head inland to the world’s most photographed pub. The Ettamogah Pub(aussieworld. com.au/content/ettamogah-pub), is an iconic Aussie pub

What lies beneath

that was built in 1989. The word “ettamogah” is Aboriginal for “place of good drink”. It’s an impressive 18m in height and has a quirky shape and caricature appearance. You can get traditional Aussie pub meals and of course, ice cold beer.

14:00: While you’re there, check out the thrills and spills of Aussie World (aussieworld.com.au) the theme park that is more Aussie than Steve Irwin at an Australia Day BBQ. Jump on the giant slides, rollercoasters and mini golf while devouring weird and wonderful Aussie carnival food.

18:00: Back in town, watch the sunset over you gallop along beautiful Noosa River System on a Horse riding adventure (noosahorseriding.com.au). Throughout your ride, enjoy views of the famous Noosa Heads south to Sunshine Beach and down to Perigian Beach and Noosa National Park. Be sure to look out for stingrays and the abundant birdlife in and around the lake.

20:30: Unwind with a late dinner at Zachary’s (zacharys. com.au) a shabby chic pizza joint on Hastings Street. Try their famous Moroccan lamb with caramelised onion, hummus and spinach. Or if you want to try something a bit fancy, how about their award-winning Hoisin Duck Pizza with fresh chilli, cashews and cucumber?

10:30: Try and fit in one more drink at the Noosa Surf Club overlooking the beach. There are over 30 beers to choose from on tap an extensive cocktail list. On weekends they have live music and during the week there’s karaoke so, one way or another, you’ll leave Noosa on a high note.

Noosa’s piece of the Riviera

Horse power TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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Simon ‘baby face’ Cowell

SIMON IS THE WOLF IN SHEEP’S PLACENTA UNITED KINGDOM

Simon Cowell has turned to sheep placenta facials in a bid to stay looking young and regularly attends the Lancer clinic in Beverly Hills for the treatment.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “He’s tried vitamin injections, drips, detoxes, smoothies, Botox and massages, but after reading rave reviews about placenta facials, decided he had to give them a go.

“He reckons they take years off his complexion, and give him back the shine and joie de vivre long hours and smoking take away.”

Dr. Lancer insists the treatment is completely animal friendly and says how the sheep are raised plays a huge part in the procedure.

He explained: “These sheep are completely untouched by the modern world. It is very important they have no impurities.”

AUSSIE GOVT NEEDS ANATOMY LESSONS AUSTRALIA

Aboriginal health posters depicting the female body are riddled with errors including lungs being labelled as the stomach.

The government produced the female human anatomy posters as part of its Live Longer campaign and sent to indigenous health services across the country.

Opposition indigenous health spokesman Andrew Laming says the embarrassing errors include the pancreas and the ovaries being mistaken for kidneys.

“The oesophagus runs into the lung,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

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Chip off the old croc: Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin, feeds a freshwater crocodile at Australia Zoo. Junior zookeeper Robert will soon be ready to move on to the saltwater crocodiles, the more aggressive and dangerous of the species “The ureters look like they join to the small intestine instead of the kidneys and bladder is sitting on top of the uterus.”

Dr Laming has urged Indigenous Health Minister to recall the posters.

DENTIST CREATES S MUSICAL DRILL INDONESIA

A dentist who hopes to ease his patients’ surgery fears has created a musical drill to help keep their mind off the horror-inducing instrument.

The dentist has tested out his unique song-playing drill

equipment during procedures at his dental surgery in Central Java.

He modified a conventional dentist’s drill to play p y music via an MP3 player instead of the custom buzzing sound usually associated with a dentist’s asso surgery.

The musical drill has proved mu popular with w his younger patients, who wh can even request their own music to make their day at the th dentist a bit more pleasant. pleasan “The “Th children are not afraid of doctor, many of them are afraid of drill,” he said.

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 20

Metres in the air a Flyboard (a combination of jet ski and jet pack) can fly. The device enables riders to dive like dolphins

We blame the hipsters

IT’S TWO WHEELS OR THE HIGHWAY ITALY

Italians bought more bicycles than cars in 2011 for the first time in decades, according to new reports.

Last year approximately 1.75 million bicycles were sold, about 2,000 more than the number of new cars registered, an Italian newspaper reported.

It attributed the change to a slump in car sales during the economic crisis and the rising price of petrol, as well as the trend of bikes coming back into play.

Car sales have slumped to the level at which they stood in 1964, it said.

Not since World War II (or the release of the classic film, The Bicycle Thief) have bikes outsold cars.

COP PREVENTING CRIME BECOMES VICTIM

Photos: AAP; Thinkstock; Getty

UNITED KINGDOM

A cardboard policeman used as a shoplifting aid has been stolen from a supermarket.

The six-foot tall life-size policeman figure, was placed in a Sainsbury’s supermarket to deter shoplifters.

After the cardboard cut-out was stolen, photos of it have appeared on social networking sites, including appearing at several house parties since being stolen from the shop in Barnsley, UK. A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “It is bizarre that someone would want to steal our cardboard copper PC Bobb. We’d got used to having him being around and hope he is returned in one piece.”

Many claim they’re a waste of funds.

Minutes a homeless man spent with his head stuck in a bin in Arberdeen.

He has become an internet sensation

10,000

10

Distance, in miles, a message in a bottle travelled from the English Channel. It was found in Australia

Cost, in dollars, of the new 18-carat goldplated iPhone 5. It’s also fitted with 53 flawless diamonds

31,500

Crime imitating art?

WAITING LINES FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS UNITED KINGDOM

The UK Border Agency has revealed plans that could give wealthier passengers a fast-track through passport control in an attempt to reduce the waiting times in airports.

To attempt to banish the sights of two hour waiting times, plans are underway that could see passengers from Australia, Canada, the USA, New Zealand and other “old commonwealth” countries fasttracked fast tracked as they do not need a visa to enter the country, as outlined by outgoing UK Border Force head Brian Moore to the Commons home affairs select committee.

This proposal, which was trialled earlier this year, has drawn criticism as it would in effect mean that the rich would be granted a quicker passage into the country.

Similar priority queueing systems are already in place in other countries around the world.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I feel like it’s an educational and interesting read Harry Styles admits to using Fifty Shades of Grey as a handbook. I’m sure it works on the cougars.

Oh my!

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OUR VIEW COMMENT: HUGH RADOJEV

E: hugh@tntdownunder.com

I feel the need... the need to be free

How to lose two wives, a girlfriend and alienate people Tom Cruise seems set to leave Scientology... might be a little late

» Agree or disagree? Should Tom Cruise give Scientology away? hugh@tntdownunder.com

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We should have known. The Bulldog’s failure to win the Rugby League Grand Final last week was going to spell trouble.

For some reason I found myself in Kings Cross on a Sunday night of the long weekend and was surprised to find nothing on fire and little-to-no fist fighting.

Everything was quiet. Too quiet.

They were obviously just cooling their jets after their grand final loss for Monday.

‘Mad Monday’ is an Australian sporting (particularly rugby league) tradition that

No wonder David “Gallop left the NRL ” I’ve never really understood.

Last season it saw an innocent Bulldog player get a mouthful of another player’s twig and berries. This year it was sexist behaviour directed at a female reporter.

No wonder David Gallop left the NRL and went across to soccer.

Sure nobody watches, but it’ll definitely be quieter.

Photos: Getty Images

There was a time when Tom Cruise was the most marketable and sought after man in Hollywood, an absolute superstar, a legend in the making. His filmography in the mid Eighties/early Nineties included such classics as Top Gun, Cocktail, Rain Man, Born on the Fourth of July and A Few Good Men. In 1990 though, he heard about L. Ron Hubbard and things started to go wrong.

Tom Cruise has since become the face and voice of Scientology. While it was once viewed as a fairly harmless – if entirely crazy – fad followed by people with more money than sense, it has, in the last few years, come to be publicly condemned as nothing less than a cult.

Whether or not Scientology is something to be feared isn’t really the point. The very fact that this so called “religion” was started by a man who wrote science fiction for a living made the whole thing instantly suspicious.

Cruise’s unwavering devotion to Scientology has definitely had a negative effect on the way he has been perceived by the public. The more and more weird the stories coming out of the Church of Scientology became, the more vitriolic the tabloids, and the more vicious the water-cooler-gossip.

The truth behind these rumours almost becomes irrelevant when you think about what it has cost him. Scientology’s peculiar influence has seemingly dissolved two of his marriages and brought undue media attention on his children, particularly on little Suri.

The word coming out of Hollywood now seems to be that the man who once wore a towel for nearly a whole movie about fighter pilots is thinking seriously about leaving Scientology behind him – if he hasn’t actually made the decision already.

Surely it’s the right thing to do, because if Rupert Murdoch thinks that something you’re part of is evil and weird, it must be. If anyone knows evil, it’s Murdoch.

THEY’RE A PACK OF MONGRELS

Ph t

G tt I

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LEWIS HAMILTON GETS MCLAREN BACKING FORMULA 1

Despite recently announcing that he would be joining Mercedes next season Lewis Hamilton’s bid for the F1 title has been supported by his team manager.

Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren after five years with the team had sparked speculation that he would be frozen out in favour of team mate Jensen Button.

McLaren’s David Whitmarsh has denied this though, claiming the Woking based racing team are committed to winning a championship.

“We have a competitive car at the minute and we have six races left. We think we can win all of those six races and in my view we can win the championship.”

Hamilton currently sits fourth in the drivers standings, 52 points behind the current leader Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s Spanish driver.

KP RETURN COULD BE IMMINENT CRICKET

Having spent the majority of the English summer in proverbial exile after his highly publicised indiscretions on tour the England coach, Andy Flower has thrown KP a lifeline.

“The situation is ongoing, I think it’s nearing an end now – hopefully in a positive way.”

Since the fiery South African born batsman’s removal from the team, England’s fortunes have taken something of a dive, losing their number one test ranking and crashing out of the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Pietersen is undeniably a hugely talented player, averaging close to 50 in test cricket and his return would undeniably bolster a middle order that has clearly missed his experience and power.

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Double Dutch: Manchester United’s highest profile summer acquisition Robin Van Persie has continued his fine goal scoring form since jumping from Arsenal. His two goals helped United to a 2-1 win in its opening Champions League game of the season in Transylvania against Romanian Champions FC Cluj

MOSCOW DERBY TURNS VIOLENT FOOTBALL

CSKA Moscow have been knocked off of the top of the Russian Premier League after a 2–0 defeat to cross town rivals Dynamo Moscow.

To make matters even worse for CSKA, they will be without star forward and Russian international Alan Dzagoev for up to 12 games after he was sent off.

Dzagoev’s second straight red of the season came early in the second half of the match when he punched Australian defender Luke Wilshire in the face.

Dzagoev has since apologised to his teammates and CSKA’s fans for the incident insisting he “could not hold back his emotions” towards Wilshire who he insisted had antagonised him during the game.

BIG WEEK FOR ...

Having brought in eleven new players in the summer transfer window, Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Hughes’ side are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. Hughes’ charges have managed to pick up just two points from their first six games without ever really looking capable of winning a game, and the back pages are already prophesying doom for the Welshman. The very fact that QPR’s owner, Tony Fernandez, has felt the need to publicly back his manager must have set alarm bells ringing.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK They Th make a joke but I d don’t care, I have to go on sunbeds or I willl lose my tan Liverpool FC’s Spanish defender Jose Enrique won’t let the jibes of his teammates stop him from going to the electric beach

Fijian Flyer: Osea Kolinisau is one of the most exciting players around

PREVIEW RUGBY AND FUN IN THE SUN RUGBY SEVENS, OCT 13-14 The 2012/13 HSBC Rugby Sevens season kicks off in Queensland’s sunny Gold Coast this week with all the big names ready and raring to go, hoping to start their seasons well.

Perennial Sevens’ powerhouses, Fiji and Samoa, have drawn each other in Pool B, in what will be a mouth watering clash between two of the Pacifics’ great rugby nations, and two dominant forces in the shorter games.

Another great southern hemisphere rivalry will be played out between New

Zealand and South Africa in pool A. While the Kiwi’s are the dominant force in the 15 man version of the game, expect the South Africans to give a great account of themselves.

Now into its second year on the Gold Coast, having moved from Adelaide in 2010, expect the excitement on the pitch to be matched in the stands. Plenty of interesting costumes marked the 2011 tournament and this year ought to be no exception. The promise of vibrant and exciting rugby will definitely be delivered.

THE CHAT | Fergie’s broad brush

Photos: Getty Images

What has Sir Alex Ferguson been saying about Q foreign players diving in football? one to hold back his views on anything, the A Not Manchester United manager has now taken a swipe at presumably all foreign players. The Scotsman’s comments came in the wake of a complaint made by Argentinian Striker, and Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, that British born players get preferential treatment from referees. “It’s not worth going into the subject,” he said in a press conference before United’s Champions League game against FC Cluj, before proceeding to go into it anyway. “Down the years there have been plenty of players diving, and you’d have to say in particular the foreign players.”

IIt w would make a lot of m mo money – when you get the gloves on then you ip p forget about friendship English Boxer Amir Khan obviously has as no problem beating up his good mate Ricky ‘the Hitman’ Hatton whose making his long awaited comeback. So long, of course, if the price is right

II’m ’m m not answering that.

We’re here to talk about football. Christ Man United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson’s response to a journalist’s questions concerning Golf’s Ryder Cup. Obviously not a big golf fan

TV HIGHLIGHTS FOOTBALL Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets The A-League season continues Sat, 5:30pm. Fox Sports

RUGBY Gold Coast Sevens The International series kicks off Sat, 10:30am. Fox Sports

DARTS World Grand Prix The biggest tournament in world darts Mon, 5:00am. Fox Sports

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OZLISTINGS TRAVEL AGENTS Adventure Travel Bugs 07 3236 3266, adventuretravelbugs.com Backpackers World Travel 1800 997 325 backpackersworld.com Peter Pans Adventure Travel 1800 669 424, peterpans.com.au Travellers Contact Point 1800 647 640, travellers.com.au Tribal Adventure Travel 1800 984 484, tribaltravel.com.au YHA Travel 02 9261 111, yha.com.au

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

Mojosurf Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 113 044, mojosurf.com

Cool Dingos Fraser Island Tours 1800 072 555, cooldingotour.com

Nullarbor Traveller Tours from Adelaide and Perth 1800 816 858, the-traveller.com.au

Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com

Ocean Rafting Whitsundays tours 07 4946 6848, oceanrafting.com

Mighty Cars and Campers (Formerly Backpacker Campervan Rentals) 1800 809 944 mightycampers.com.au

Oz Experience Hop on-hop off Australia-wide tours 1300 300 028, ozexperience.com

Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangcars.com.au

Surfcamp Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 888 732, surfcamp.com.au

Hippie Camper 1800 777 779, hippiecamper.com

Groovy Grape Getaways Tours linking Adelaide, Alice Springs & Melbourne 1800 661 177, groovygrape.com.au Heading Bush Adelaide to Alice Springs outback tours 1800 639 933, headingbush.com

The Rock Tour Red centre tours 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au

Adventure Tours Australia-wide tours 1800 068 886, adventuretours.com.au

Jump Tours Tours around Tasmania 0422 130 630, jumptours.com

Airliebeach.com Whitsundays packages 1800 677 119, airliebeach.com

Kakadu Dream Kakadu tours 1800 813 266, kakadudreams.com.au

Under Down Under Tours Tours around Tasmania 1800 064 726, underdownunder.com.au

Autopia Tours Tours around Victoria 03 9391 0261, autopiatours.com.au

Kangaroo Island Adventure Tours Adelaide to KI tours 13 13 01, kiadventuretours.com.au

Western Xposure WA tours 08 9414 8423, westernxposure.com.au

Awesome Adventures Oz Whitsundays packages 1800 293 7663, awesomeoz.com

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Adventures South Australia 1800 786 386, surfandsun.com.au

Wilderness 4WD Adventures Top end tours 1800 808 288, wildernessadventures.com.au

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

Wildlife Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 661 730, wildlifetours.com.au

RENTAL FIRMS Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com

Kings Cross Car Market For buying and selling vehicles. 110 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo.

02 9358 5000, carmarket.com.au Spaceships 1300 132 469, spaceshipsrentals.com.au Standbycars.com 1300 789 059, standbycars.com

@tnt_downunder

wickercampers.com

TRANSPORT CO Greyhound Australia Buses around Australia. 13 20 30, greyhound.com.au Jetstar Airline.

131 538, jetstar.com.au Premier Transport Group Buses along the east coast.

13 34 10, premierms.com.au Qantas Airline.

13 13 13, qantas.com.au Regional Express Airline.

13 17 13, rex.com.au Spirit of Tasmania Ferries to Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com Tiger Airways Airline.

03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com

Travellers Auto Barn 1800 674 374, travellers-autobarn.com.au

Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, redlinecoaches.com.au

Wicked Campers 1800 246 869,

Virgin Australia Airline.

13 67 89, virginaustralia.com

With great fares HYHU\ GD\ . . . why not travel PREMIER class!

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• FLEXIBLE TRAVEL on na budget to suit you • One, three and six month PASSES available ilable e • DAILY SERVICES from m Melbourne to Cairns ns

MELBOURNE • SYDNEY • BYRON BAY • GOLD COAST BRISBANE • AIRLIE BEACH • MISSION BEACH • CAIRNS

www.premierms.com.au or phone 13 13 34 34 10 10 www.premierms.com.au or ph 46

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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

Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills.

02 9261 1111

Boardrider Backpacker Rear 63, The Corso, Manly. 02 9977 3411 boardrider.com.au

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

Avalon Beach Hostel 59 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach.

02 9918 9709, avalonbeach.com.au

The Bunkhouse 35 Pine St, Manly. 1800 657 122, bunkhouse.com.au

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

Manly Backpackers 24-28 Raglan St. Manly. 02 9977 3411 manlybackpackers.com.au

Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com

Bondi YHA 63 Fletcher Street.

Tamarama. 02 9365 2088, yha.com.au Lamrock Lodge 19 Lamrock Ave. Bondi. 02 9130 5063, lamrocklodge.com

City Resort Hostel 103-105 Palmer St. Woolloomooloo 02 9357 3333 cityresort.com.au Sydney Central YHA 11 Rawson Place. CBD. 02 9218 9000

Lochner’s Guesthouse 8 Gowrae Ave. Bondi.

02 9387 2162,

Sydney Harbour YHA 110 Cumberland Street. The Rocks.

02 9261 1111 yha.com.au

Coogee Beach House 171 Arden St. Coogee. 02 9665 1162, coogeebeachhouse.com

Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 013 186 nomadshostels.com Boomerang Backpackers 141 William Street, Kings Cross.

02 8354 0488, boomerangbackpackers.com Dlux Hostel 30 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross.

1800 236 213 dluxbudgethotel.com.au

Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee.

04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.com.au

Coogee Beachside 178 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee. 02 9315 8511, sydneybeachside.com.au Surfside Backpackers 186 Arden Street. Coogee.

02 9315 7888, surfsidebackpackers.com.au Glebe Point YHA 262-264 Glebe Point Road. Glebe. 02 9692 8418, yha.com.au

Cammeray Gardens 66 Palmer St, North Sydney. 02 9954 9371 sydneyboardinghouse.com Wake Up! 509 Pitt St, CBD. 02 9288 7888, wakeup.com.au

SYDNEY DO Manly Surf School Manly Beach.

02 9977 6977, manlysurfschool.com Maritime Museum Darling Harbour. anmm.gov.au My Sydney Detour Unique city tours. mysydneydetour.com Oceanworld Manly West Esplanade. oceanworld.com.au Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au Skydive the Beach Wollongong. skydivethebeach.com

BLUE MTNS Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba.

02 4782 1416, yha.com.au

CENTRAL COAST Newcastle Beach YHA 30 Pacific St, Newcastle.

02 4925 3544, yha.com.au

Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour. sydneyaquarium.com.au

Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal.02 4384 1919, yha.com.au

Sydney Wildlife World Darling Harbour. sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

Skydive Central Coast Warnervale. skydivethecentralcoast.com.au

Taronga Zoo Mosman. zoo.nsw.gov.au

BYRON BAY

Waves Surf School wavessurfschool.com.au

SYDNEY MUSIC Hordern Pavillion playbillvenues.com Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com The Annandale annandalehotel.com The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au The Metro metrotheatre.com.au

Backpackers Holiday Village 116 Jonson St 1800 350 388, byronbaybackpackers.com.au Backpackers Inn 29 Shirley St 1800 817 696,ackpackersinnbyronbay.com.au Byron Bay Accom 02 6680 8666, byronbayaccom.net The Arts Factory 1 Skinners Shoot Rd. 02 6685 7709, nomadshostels.com Nomads Byron Bay Lawson Lane.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com

o Scan hUeTr Me OtREÒ ND O CAMPERS FROM

35 $105 AU

AU

$

PER DAY*

FOR 3 DAYS*

CARS ALSO AVAILABLE

*Van price based on a Lowball Camper, 3+ day rate, for travel 21/10/2012 – 27/10/2012. Prices correct at time of print, rates change weekly so contact our Reservations team for the best daily rate. Minimum hire applies, offer subject to availability and liability reduction cover is additional. For full terms and conditions contact Mighty Campers.

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QLDLISTINGS

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BRISBANE STAY Aussie Way Backpackers 34 Cricket St. 07 3369 0711, aussiewaybackpackers.com

XXXX Ale House Brewery tours. Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton.

07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au

DON’T MISS

GOLD COAST

Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace.

07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com

Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen St, Surfers Paradise.

1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au

Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com

Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise.

1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au

Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452, brisbanebackpackers.com.au

LONG WAY TO THE TOP Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Oct 12, $99 See 17 of Australia’s legendary rock’n’roll superstars from the 1960s, 70s and 80s pay tribute to the late, great Billy Thorpe.

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

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

07 5536 76442, yha.com.au

Brisbane

Coolangatta Sands Hostel Cnr Griffiths & McLean Sts, Coolangatta.

07 5536 7472, coolangattasandshostel.com.au

ticketek.com.au

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

Riverlife Adventure Centre Kayaking & rock climbing.

Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point.

07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au

Gold Coast International BP 28 Hamilton Ave, Surfers.

1800 816 300, goldcoastbackpackers.com.au

Story Bridge Adventure Climb 170 Main St, Kangaroo Point.

1300 254 627, storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au

Islander Backpackers Resort 6 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise.

1800 074 393, islander.com.au Sleeping Inn Surfers

@tnt_downunder 26 Peninsular Dr, Surfers Paradise.

1800 817 832, sleepinginn.com.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 Get Wet Surf School 07 5532 9907 Seaworld seaworld.com.au Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World wetnwild.myfun.com.au Warener Bros Movie World movieworld.com.au Zorb 07 5547 6300

SUNSHINE CST Mooloolaba Backpackers 75-77 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba.

WORKERS WANTED

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

AYR NORTH QUEENSLAND

AYR BACKPACKERS stay at Wilmington House Working Hostel of the Burdekin District

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

WORKERS WANTED Call Mick & Daphne 07 4783 5837

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

WORKERS WANTED FOR FARM IN INNISFAIL. Free accommodation and food provided. Offers very good working and living conditions.

PHONE 0437 692 002 48

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Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gold Coast

Famous for fun

AdventureGoldCoast.com

facebook.com/AdventureGoldCoast twitter.com/AdventureGoldCoast

QLDLISTINGS 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 111126, 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 woolshedbackpackers.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

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Bundaberg Bondstore Distillery tours.

07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au

TOWN OF 1770

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

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

Nomads Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com

1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com

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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FEATURES

FREECALL: 1800 000 541

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

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

SCAN TO

BOOK

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

FREE DAILY BREAKFAST

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

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

Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 247 251, yha.com.au Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com 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

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

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

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 Horseshow Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay.com.au Hotel Arcadia 7 MArine Parade, Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177, magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

MISSION BEACH

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52

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St. 1800 155 353, bohemiaresort.com.au Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St. 1800 815 628, calypsobackpackers.com.au 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. 1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com

CAIRNS DO AJ Hackett Bungy jumping & canyon swinging.

1800 622 888 cairns.ajhackett.com Pro Dive 07 4031 5255 prodivecairns.com Raging Thunder Adventures Whitewater rafting.

07 4030 7990, ragingthunder.com.au Skydive Cairns POBOX 105N 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 78337 Walkabout Motel & Backpackers 07 4061 2311

ATHERTON Kuranda Rainforest Park 88 Kuranda Heaights Rd, Kuranda.

07 4093 7316, kurandarainforestpark.com.au

PORT DOUGLAS

Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road.

07 4068 8317, absolutebackpackers.com.au

Parrotfish Backpackers Resort 37 Warner St, Kuranda.

07 4099 5011, parrotfishlodge.com

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

Emu Creek Cattle Station 07 4094 8313

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

GULF SAVANNAH

DAINTREE Koala Beach Resort Cape Kimberly Rd. 1800 466 444

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

VRC4031TNT

VICLISTINGS 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

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

Melbourne Aquarium Cnr of Flinders St & King St. 03 9923 5999, melbourneaquarium.com.au

The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane.

1800 249 207, greenhousebackpacker.com.au

Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Av. 03 9657 8888 mcg.org.au

Habitat HQ 333 St Kilda Road, St Kilda. 1800 202 500, habitathq.com.au

Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton. 13 11 02 melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au

Home at the Mansion 66 Victoria Parade. 03 9663 4212, homemansion.com.au

National Gallery of Victoria Federation Square. ngv.vic.gov.au

Home Travellers Motel 32 Carlisle St, St Kilda.

1800 008 718, hometravellersmotel.com.au

Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228, oldmelbournegaol.com.au

Hotel Bakpak Melbourne 167 Franklin St. 1800 645 200, hotelbakpak.com

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

Melbourne Central YHA 562 Flinders St. 03 9621 2523, yha.com.au

Skydive the Beach Melbourne 1300 798 843 skydivethebeachmelbourne.com

Nomads Melbourne 198 A’beckett St. 1800 447 762,

JUST THE TIP

Tickets must be pre-purchased Call Ticketmaster 1300 136 122, visit melbournecup.com or scan the QR code Saturday 3 Nov AAMI Victoria Derby Day Tuesday 6 Nov Emirates Melbourne Cup Day Thursday 8 Nov Crown Oaks Day Saturday 10 Nov Emirates Stakes Day

melbournecup.com WILSONS PROMONTORY This granite peninsula, about three hours from Melbourne, forms the southern-most tip of mainland Australia and also happens to be Victoria’s largest area of coastal wilderness. Sealed off during World War II so that commandos could happily practice blowing each other up without disturbing the locals, ‘the Prom’ is a great national park, packed with scenic walks, beautiful beaches and loads of animals, especially wombats and mobs of roos. For sublime views of the entire rugged coastline, try and stagger to the top of Mt Oberon.

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VICLISTINGS DON’T MISS

FREE UNLIMITED INTERNET

!!

Awards

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ASIS ANSARI: BURIED ALIVE Kicking goals on the comedy circuit, there’s no doubt the chronically funny Parks and Recreation star will deliver a side splitting show.

go to: goldenbackpacks.tntdownunder.com

The Arts Centre. Oct 9. $79.90 Melbourne

MELB MUSIC Cherry Bar myspace.com/cherrybarmelbourne Corner Hotel cornerhotel.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. 03 5237 7899, yha.com.au

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!

SCAN TO

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Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA 10 Erskine Av, Lorne.

03 5289 2508, yha.com.au 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

MORNINGTON Bayplay Lodge 46 Canterbury Jetty Rd, Blairgowrie.

03 5988 0188, bayplay.com.au

artscentremelbourne.com.au

Tortoise Head Lodge French Island.

03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

DANDENONG 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

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 The Island Accommodation 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road.

03 5956 6123 theislandaccommodation.com.au

GRAMPIANS

Sorrento Foreshore Reserve Nepean Hwy. 1800 850 600, mornpen.vic.gov.au

Grampians YHA Eco Hostel Cnr Grampians & Buckler Rds, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4543, yha.com.au

Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St, Sorrento.

03 5984 4323, yha.com.au

Tim’s Place 44 Grampians Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288, timsplace.com.au

Stay. Play.

Melbourne.

$22

Accommodation from $22 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

T S E F R E B OKTO

MAKE YOUR DAY! COME TO THE BEST PARTY IN TOWN...

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55

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

LAUNCESTON DO

DON’T MISS

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

Brisbane Bar. Oct 13. From $35 The ‘Gurge will be playing two of their most successful and best loved albums back to back in a gig for fans both young and old.

HOBART DO

Mt Wellington Descent Bike tours. 03 6274 1880 mtwellingtondescent.com.au

West Hobart

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

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

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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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

moshtix.com.au

PORT ARTHUR

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

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

REGURGITATOR

Cascade Brewery 140 Cascade Rd. 03 6224 1117 cascadebreweryco.com.au

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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

Alex Vivas, UK

Photo: Tourism Tasmania

MACQUARIE ISLAND

56

About halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica lies the south most Australian landmass on the planet, Macquarie Island. This island is the home to an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna. Penguins, seals and birds are the highest populated animals on this island with numbers reaching well into the millions. The island’s human population usually remains relatively small however, with about 20 to 40 people living on the island at any given time. This is a fantastic tourist destination because the nature remains virtually untouched and if seclusion is your taste, you’re in good hands. It gets pretty cold here, but the island is home to some of Australia’s most adaptable plants and animals. In 1997, Macquarie Island was listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, due to the fact that it is the only place in the world where rocks from the mantle are actively exposed at sea level.

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WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN TAS? Everywhere, pretty much. I love this place so much I’ve been here twice.

FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? WHY? I loved the Overland Track in general; really spectacular and I saw a platypus in the wild. Bay of Fires, Stanley’s Nut, Strahan, The far south too, including Bruny Island, it’s hardly visited but very beautiful. I’ve promised myself that I’m going to live here one day.

YOUR FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? It’s got to be Hobart really. There are some cosy welcoming watering holes down near the harbour.

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NTLISTINGS

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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

DARWIN FRIDGE FESTIVAL Darwin Waterfront. Oct 12-17 A salute to art, people and, of course, the humble fridge. This is an arts and music festival where everyone can take part.

Darwin

darwinfridgefestival.com

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

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 SPRINGS Alice Lodge 4 Mueller St. 08 8953 1975, alicelodge.com.au Alice Springs YHA Cnr Parsons St & Leichhardt Tce. 08 8952 8855, yha.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

WORD FROM THE STREET

Helen Gillespie, Scotland WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN NT? Tennant Creek, Daly waters, Katherine, Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Alice Springs, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon. Quite a lot of places really.

FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Katherine is a great place to spend some time. We spent the day kayaking down Katherine Gorge then soaking our tired muscles in the hot springs in Katherine.

FAVOURITE NIGHTSPOT? : Daly Waters Pub. This place is iconic. The bar is filled with random items along the walls such as ID’s, badges, flags, currency and everything else from all the punters.

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

57

WALISTINGS

follow us on One World Backpackers 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge.

1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au

@tnt_downunder

DON’T MISS

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

DON’T MISS SOMETHING FOR KATE Fly By Night Musicians Club. Oct 28. From $40 Paul Dempsey and the band are back touring the country with songs from their new album as well as all the hits. Check them out in WA.

Fremantle

seatadvisor.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 Emperor’s Crown

58

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, oceanbeachbackpackers.com.au

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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,

ROCK FOR RECOGNITION The Bakery Artrage. Nov 10. From $30 Dan Sultan leads something of an all-star line up of Aussie/Aboriginal alternative bands and songwriters.

Perth

nowbaking.com.au

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

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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 Henderson Street Fremantle 08 9335 2515, fremantlemarkets.com.au Fremantle Prison 1 The Terrace. 08 9336 9200, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

ROTTNEST ISL Rottnest Island YHA Kingstown Barracks. 08 9372 9780, yha.com.au Rottnest Express 1 Emma Place North Fremantle 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 1777surfpoint.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 Monkey Mia Road Monkey Mia 1800 653 611, monkeymia.com.au

NINGALOO REEF Blue Reef Backpackers 3 Truscott Crescent, Exmouth 1800 621 101, aspenparks.com.au Ningaloo Club Coral Bay 08 9948 5100, ningalooclub.com Excape Backpackers YHA Murat Rd, Exmouth.

08 9949 1200, yha.com.au

BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road.

1800 655 011, cablebeachbackpackers.com Kimberley Club 62 Fredrick St 08 9192 3233, kimberleyklub.com

WORD FROM THE STREET

Guillaume Ripoll, France WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN WA? I visited all the north of Perth!

We went to Pinnacles the first night, the second night we slept in Hamilton bay (Shark bay), the following day we arrived in Monkey Mia which was one of my dreams.

FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? It was when we swam with the whale shark in Exmouth. The beach was also beautiful.

FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? It was Coral bay, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to choose one. We spent the night wandering around the beach, listening to music, lying under the stars.

WINNER BEST HOSTEL IN WA 2007 1 FINALIST 2008,2009,2010 & 2011

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

59

SALISTINGS

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ADELAIDE STAY

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

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

DON’T MISS

Blue Galah Backpackers Lvl 1, 52-62, King William St. 08) 8231 9295, bluegalah.com.au

BILLY BRAGG

Glenelg Beach Hostel 5-7 Moseley St. Glenelg. 1800 359 181, glenelgbeachhostel.com.au

Adelaide Town Hall Oct 31.

Influential UK artist Billy Bragg returns to Australia marking the centenary of the birth of Woody Guthrie and his new album.

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 Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide CBD

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

billybragg.co.uk

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

@tnt_downunder

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 Port Elliot Beach House YHA

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

NEW YORKE

YORKE PENINSULA If you want to get out of the city in search of sun, sea and sand, the Yorke Peninsula is the place to go. Being just over an hour’s drive from Adelaide, the postcard worthy beaches will take your breath away. With a distinctive 700 kilometres of coastline, it’s easy to find the perfect beach spot and let your worries melt away. The Yorke Peninsula can also brag about having some of Australia’s greatest surfing beaches with many well known surfing and body boarding competitions held over there. If you are a beginner or an experienced scuba-diver or snorkeller there are numerous scattered shipwrecks, reefs and unspoiled ocean waters to discover – some are even maritime Heritage listed. In 1919, World War One pilot and aviation pioneer, Captain Harry Butler, made the first airmail flight from Adelaide to the Yorke Peninsula. He was the first man to fly across St Vincent Gulf and the first to fly over water in the southern hemisphere.

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NZLISTINGS

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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 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

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

AUCKLAND 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

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

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

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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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

6/07/12 9:47 AM

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AM

63

OZWORK

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Harvest the future Want to get out of the city and see the real Australia? Farm work could be just the ticket. And it could also earn you another visa...

There’s a reason why travellers do farm work – they’re desperate to extend their working holiday visas. You’ve probably heard the word by now that you can get a second year visa by doing three months of regional work.

But as many then realise, there’s a lot more benefits to farm work than simply putting off the flight home.

You get the chance to work outside, meaning you’re working on your tan, not just your job. Positions are generally fairly easy to find and the working days, while physical and tiring, are often relatively short.

But perhaps most appealing for the more dedicated see-the-world traveller-type is the chance to spend a few months really getting to know an area and its people which you might not otherwise have visited, thereby getting a glimpse of Australia that most city-based backpackers

64

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

simply wouldn’t see or experience.

The crops you get to work with obviously vary massively depending where you are and what time of year it is, but the jobs currently available contain a pretty wide selection, with everything from cattle ranching and sheep herding to picking asparagus and cherries. And the beauty of it is, “as long as you have got two arms and legs you’re good for farming and fruitpicking work,” explains Gary Locke from Work in South Australia.

Plus, if you pick the right farm you can rack up enough seasonal work to sort out your visa and complete your Australian rite of passage in one foul swoop.“When it comes to apple and citrus farms, the work can easily go on for three months,” says Gary.

What are you waiting for? Get your hands dirty for a visa!

HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES? YOUR SOLUTION IS SOLVED!!!

Come and earn BIG DOLLARS in Sydney’s Western Suburbs busiest Gentleman’s Club. All nationalities welcome,18+, training provided.

Requirements: Friendly,well presented.Secure private car parking & accommodation provided. Only drug free to apply.

CLEOPATRAS GENTLEMANS CLUB Phone (02) 9609 6668 www.cleopatrasgentlemansclub.com.au cleopatrasmanagment@hotmail.com

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.

Work with us:

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

Looking for work?

Tired of eating one minute noodles on a goon hangover?

Look no further, TNT has jobs just for backpackers - ranging from fruit picking to bar work!

FRUIT PICKING SALES HOSPITALITY LAW NURSING ADULT SERVICES SKILLED LABOUR

tntdownunder.com/jobs TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

65

TOTALLYTRIVIAL

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WHO TO BLAME

AND THE ALBUM THEY’D NEED ON A DESERT ISLAND EDITOR

ALEX HARMON [S.O.S, LCD Soundsystem]

STAFF WRITER

HUGH RADOJEV (Home for Christmas N*Sync)

INTERN

AUSSIE FOOTBALL ISLAND RULES NATIONS

(Blood, Sugar Sex, Magic, Red Hot Chilli Peppers)

island was invdaded by the US Q Q 1.in Which 1983? a) Jamaica c) Grenada

DESIGN & PRODUCTION LISA FERRON

(Odyssey Number Five, Powderfinger)

Which island, geologically speaking, Q 2.is the youngest on Earth? a) Komodo c) Ireland

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOM WHEELER (Kid A, Radiohead)

Q

ACCOUNT MANAGER

JUSTIN STEINLAUF (Burnin’, Bob Marley)

SALES EXECUTIVE MIKE RAMMITIN (Anything by the Hilltop Hoods)

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER TRISH BAILEY

(Money, ABBA)

WHAT WE DID THIS WEEK

66

3. Which of these Pacific Islands is the region’s only monarchy? a) Vanuatu b) Nauru c) Tonga d) Samoa

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4

2 6

9

9

LEARNT HOW TO SURF AND PITCH A TENT ON THE NEW SOUTH WALES MID NORTH COAST

4

1 9

3

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b) Kyushu d) Shikoku

Tenerife belong to? a) Bosnia b) Spain c) Italy d) England

AUSSIE-ISM “SHONKY”

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Which is the largest of Japan’s Q 8.islands?

Q 9. Which country does the island of

SUDOKU PUZZLE 5

a) Five b) One c) Six d) Eight

a) Honshu c) Hokkaido

Q 5. Which island is split between Turkish and Greek residents? a) Cyprus b) Malta c) Rhodes d) Gibraltar

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TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

How many islands are part of the Q 7.African continent?

b) New Zealand d) Greenland

Q 4. Which is the largest island? a) Iceland b) New Guinea c) Australia d) Borneo

HEADED SOUTH TO TASMANIA FOR A WEEKEND OF HIKING IN CRADLE MOUNTAIN, CHEESE TASTING AND GENERAL AFTERNOON DELIGHT

STRUGGLED WITH THE EPIC HANGOVERS THAT COME FROM THE LONG WEEKEND. THANKED GOD FOR THE SHORT WORKING WEEK

b) Madagascar d) Tasmania

6. Which island is one of the last Communist run governments on earth? a) Trinidad Tobago b) Sicily c) Cuba d) Australia

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

AMELIA GRAY

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When something is not made properly or to a particularly high standard. You don’t want somebody to say you’ve done a shonky job: “That shed you built me is pretty shonky, mate!”

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26/06/12 3:01 PM