TNT Australia 739

March/April 2014 Issue 739

WALKABOUT WOMAN

IT’S KICKING OFF Why and where you should watch the AFL

Mia Wasikowska on her latest role in Tracks

F F U T TOP S

lia’s Top End a tr s u A to in s: dive triking gorge s d n a s g n ri p pools, hot s Crystal-clear

+ DISCOVER DARWIN WAITOMO CAVES SOUTH AMERICA WORK AS A WWOOFER

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EDITORIAL Editor Caroline Garnar Online Editor Vicky Anscombe TNT Australia Editorial Ian Armitage ian.armitage@tntmagazine.com Contributors Emily Ray, Michael Gadd, Francesca Baker, Oliver Jones DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Design and production manager Lisa Ferron SALES Sales manager Jaqui Ward jaqui.ward@tntmagazine.com STARTRACK MEDIA LTD CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst PUBLISHER Startrack Media Ltd PRINTED BY Rural Press PICTURES Getty Images | Thinkstock | TNT Images | Tourism New Zealand | Tourism Fiji TNT Magazine tntdownunder.com General enquiries Phone +61 2 8332 7501 Fax +61 2 9690 1314 Email ian.armitage@tntmagazine.com WHERE TO GET TNT

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

FROM THE EDITOR From today, you might start noticing a few changes with your TNT Magazine.

For starters, I’m new, so hello. Then there’s the fact that we’ve had ourselves a bit of a makeover. Yes, we have had the magazine equivalent of a nice new haircut and a spring clean of our wardrobe. We would give you a twirl, if we could.

As well as a new look we have a few new features too: the Travel Review (p38) tells you all the latest news to help you decide on your next trip; the Travel Diary (p34) is for if you want to go further afield for a festival or two; the Oz Diary (p6) has had a reshuffle so it’s easier to navigate, and Desperately Seeking (p98) is our new column for those who have loved and lost – whether it be that hottie you spotted on the beach, your beloved cat that scarpered, or simply a limited-edition sandwich that you still dream about. Also, Prime Minister Tony Abbot gets some ‘action’ each month thanks to us – we’re not entirely sure he’ll appreciate it though...

Your usual favourites in the Travel section are all present and correct, and this month we are doing a special series of features on travelling the Top End (p40-50).

From Darwin to its national parks and indigenous islands, it’s a magical place 100% worth exploring while you’re in this part of the world.

Over in New Zealand we’re shitting ourselves, I mean stealing ourselves for a drop into the abyss of the Waitomomo Caves (p74), and if you want to travel further afield this year, check out our Big Trip feature on South America (p90) – the destination du jour.

We hope our changes suit you. If they don’t, keep it to yourself – I mean, I am happy to receive your feedback.

Enjoy!

caroline.garnar@tntmagazine.com

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests.

There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group.

TNT Magazine does not assume responsibility for unsolicited submissions – material is sent at the owner’s risk. TNT Magazine accepts advertising material and other contributions in good faith, and takes no responsibility for claims, errors or omissions. Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine.

Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers.

Kangaroo Island

Lake Wanaka

Try Thailand

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THIS MONTH DIARY 6 FOOD 10 DRINK 11

22

GIGS 12 PUBS

14

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

18

FOCUS: AFL

22

CHATROOM: NICK WARREN 26 SPORT ROUND-UP 28 NRL PREVIEW 30 TRAVEL

42

TRAVEL DIARY 34 HOTSHOTS 36 TRAVEL REVIEW

38

TOP 5: DARWIN 40 42

18

TOP 10: TOP END 48 ABORIGINAL CULTURE 52 NZ TRIP: WAITOMO CAVES 74 BIG TRIP: SOUTH AMERICA 90

ON THE COVER WALKABOUT WOMAN IT’S ALL KICKING OFF

56

Why and where to watch the AFL

NEW ZEALAND LISTINGS

78

DISCOVER DARWIN

DESPERATELY SEEKING

98

18

Mia Wasikowski on her role in Tracks

AUSTRALIA LISTINGS

CAREERS 96

40

22 40

Our top five Darwin must-dos

TOP END TALES

42

Discover the wonder of the Top End

WAITOMO CAVES Find your balls and go on down...

4

74

74

Photos: Thinkstock and Getty

OZ TRIP: TOP STUFF

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Check out TNT online for the latest news, gossip, gigs, bizarre headlines and awesome features

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T N T E R O M T N WA travel team! te ri u o v fa r u om yo t’s on offer fr a h w f o te s Here’s a ta

TRAVEL FEATURES & STORIES...

+ NEWS & REVIEWS

TRAVEL FEATURES & STORIES...NZ

JOBS, JOBS & MORE JOBS...

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THIS MONTH’S TOP PICKS SUICIDE GIRLS ON TOUR Mar 12-21 Various

NINE INCH NAILS & QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Until Mar 22 Various

Alternative women.

Is there anything sexier? Now throw in some burlesque. Oh, there you go.

Expect stripteases and a whole bunch of fun when the Suicide Girls bring their Blackheart Burlesque Tour Down Under this month.

Siegfried and Roy, Mario and Luigi, Burt and Ernie and now Nine Inch Nails and Queens of The Stone Age. Quite a mouthful but still epic and they’re joining forces for a double headline tour of Oz and NZ.

7pm-8.30pm Nationwide blackheartburlesque.com

Various times Australia and New Zealand frontiertouring.com

$67+

$125

MARCH’S MUST DO THE ROLLING STONES 14 ON FIRE March/April – SEE GIGS LISTINGS P12 There are bands and then there are BANDS. The Stones are a BAND. Don’t let the fact they’re in their 70s put you off because these guys still rock and Jagger has all the moves (it’s the best dad dancing ever!).

Prepare to be blown away. $99

Is there anybody cooler than Keef?

rollingstones.com

INDIGENOUS FASHION WEEK

BMW SYDNEY CARNIVAL

MELBOURNE THE NAKED FIG’S COMEDY FESTIVAL SKINNY DIP

Apr 11-12 Sydney

Mar 22-Apr 26 Sydney

Mar 26-Apr 20 Melbourne

Mar 30 Perth

The first Australian Indigenous Fashion Week is taking place at the Sydney Town Hall on April 11 and 12. Vogue Australia cover girl Samantha Harris is among several indigenous Australian models who will strut their stuff.

People have been betting on horse races since money was invented, and it can be both fun and profitable. The BMW Sydney Carnival has a staggering 49 group races. Do the math – that’s a lot of potential wins, even if you don’t have a clue.

It’s back and this year it has an absolutely cracking line-up, from the UK’s Paul Foot to the awardwinning Aussie comedian Wil Anderson and loads more in between. Warning: you’ll laugh so hard you’ll probably split your sides.

Perth’s Fig Cafe is attempting to smash the current Guinness World Record for the most amount of people skinny dipping at one time. But it isn’t for any old perv, just those that want to raise money for charity. Okay?

Various times Sydney Town Hall, Sydney aifw.com.au

Various times

Various times Melbourne comedyfestival.com.au

10.30am Marine Parade, Swanbourne thefig.com.au

$50+

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Various

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$25+

theraces.com.au

$20+

$35+

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This trippy beaut was in the 2005 expo

SCULPTURE BY THE SEA Now-24 Cottesloe Beach, Perth Sculpture isn’t everybody’s thing and you might think it’s the sort of thing mum and dad enjoy. While that might be true, this isn’t your average sculpture or your average setting – that being Perth’s beautiful Cottesloe Beach. Featuring works from renowned Australian sculptors as well as new talents and big international names, expect to see some fantastic art (and a giant goon bag) in some of the most beautiful landscapes in Western Australia.

FREE

Open 24 hours Cottesloe Beach, Perth

sculpturebythesea.com

BLUESFEST Apr 17-21 Byron Bay

ANZAC DAY SERVICES Apr 25 Nationwide

When you look at the line up for Bluesfest you’ll probably rub your eyes and question that they even work or maybe wonder if it is some sort of witchcraft.

Relax, witches aren’t real (we hope) and the eyes do work. The line up IS that awesome, honest.

April 25 is probably Australia’s most important national occassion and there will be ANZAC Day services around the country to remember fallen heroes from the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. Be sure to at least do your minute’s silence.

Daily Tyagarah, NSW bluesfest.com.au

Various Nationwide awm.gov.au

Words: Ian Armitage. Photos: Getty Images

$625

$35+

OZDIARY

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Moo and me: Disclosure will play at Groovin’ the Moo

Oz Comic-Con: Expect to see awesomeness like this

NORTH

SOUTH

EAST

PARAP MARKETS EVERY SAT / 8AM-2PM / FREE Tantalise your senses with a mixture of Asian cuisine and the aroma of fresh coffee in one of Darwin’s trendiest suburbs.

CAT EMPIRE 1000TH SHOW MAR 21 / 7PM / FREE Australian ska/jazz band The Cat Empire will play their 1000th show at Federation Square.

HOT DUB TIME MACHINE MAR 22 / TBC / $22 Hot Dub Time Machine is an audio-visual, boogie-powered journey through music history.

Federation Square

Chalk Hotel

Parap Shopping Village Darwin, NT

parapvillage.com.au

TOP END MUD RACING MAR 22 / 6PM / $15 Watch in awe as everything from VW Beetles to lawnmowers race through the mud against each other and the clock.

Downs Park

Melbourne, Vic

Brisbane, Queensland

thecatempire.com

hotdubtimemachine.com

SACE ART SHOW 2014 MAR 22-APR 30 / 9AM-4PM / FREE Showcase for the creative talents of many of SA’s finest young artists and designers.

KURRI KURRI NOSTALGIA FEST MAR 26-30 / DAILY / FREE A celebration of all things 1950s – rock n roll, cars, music, dance and fashion.

Light Square Gallery

Lang Street

Adelaide, SA

sace.sa.edu.au

Hidden Valley MS Complex, Darwin mudracing.asn.au

HERITAGE WEEK 2014 APR 12-20 / DAILY / VARIOUS Annual national celebration of Australia’s unique heritage.

Various venues Nationwide heritage-week.govspace.gov.au

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Hot Dub Time Machine: Loved by ‘hot-dubbers’

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Kurri Kurri, NSW kurrikurrinostalgiafestival.com

GROOVIN’ THE MOO APR 25 / 10AM / $99 Groovin’ the Moo promoters recently revealed this year’s line up and the big news is that UK house superstars Disclosure will be in attendance. It’s the first time it’ll roll into Oakbank Racecourse... Is Adelaide ready?

WOOLGOOLGA CURRYFEST APR 11-27 / VARIOUS / $40+ A celebration of Woolgoolga’s unique Punjabi heritage, Curryfest involves more than 100 food and market stalls featuring curries from all over the world...

Oakbank Racecourse

Woolgoolga Reserve

Adelaide. SA

2014.gtm.net.au

Woolgoogla, NSW

curryfest.com.au

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WEST

NZ

PERTH HOME GROWN MARKETS EVERY SUNDAY / 11AM-4PM / FREE This is perfect if you are stuck for something to do on a Sunday. Running from now until June.

DUNEDIN FRINGE 2014 MAR 13-23 / VARIOUS Dunedin’s annual Fringe Festival returns this month for a 10-day celebration of local and international talent in the arts community.

Forest Place Murray St, Perth

PARTY TIME

Throughout Dunedin

visitperthcity.com

Nelson, NZ

dunedinfringe.org.nz

CLOUD CONTROL MAR 20-23 / DAILY / FREE Sydney kids Cloud Control will be joining forces with Corona for special acoustic shows around Perth and they’re all free. Yep, free.

PICTON PESTIVAL MAR 22 / 11AM-6PM / $10 An annual festival to raise cash for Kaipupu Point Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the first year the event is open to the public.

Gallery of Western Australia

Waitohi Domain

Perth, WA

Picton, Malborough Sounds

cloudcontrolband.com

pictonpestival.co.nz

SEBADOH MAR 25 / TBC / $52 One of the 90’s great slacker rock outfits will play their extensive back catalogue alongside tracks from new album Defend Yourself, their first studio release in 14 years.

MARCHFEST MAR 22 / NOON-9.30PM / $29+ Celebrating the hop growing season, MarchFest is Nelson’s unique craft and beer festival. Music, beer, great food and fun. Is there anything better than that?

SYDNEY ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

The Rosemount Hotel

Founders Park

Sydney has one of the largest populations of Irish people in Australia and, considering about a third of the country has some Irish ancestry, it’s no wonder that they come out in force for this party on March 16.

This year there will be preparade entertainment, music and dancing on George Street beginning at 10.30am and finishing just before the parade starts at midday.

The parade starts at the corner of Bathurst and George Street and ends up at James Street.

Celebrating Irish culture, be sure to don lots of green (and drink lots of Guinness).

Family day in Hyde Park North starts at 1pm with the Aussie and Irish national anthems sung on the main stage, which will host several local Irish bands and musicians until 6.30pm.

After, head to O’Malley’s (omalleyshotel.com.au), Durty Nelly’s (durtynellyssydney.com. au) or P.J O’Brien’s (pjobriends. com.au) and enjoy the craic... stpatricksday.org.au

459 Fitzgerald St, North Perth

Atawhai Drive, The Wood, Nelson

sebadoh.com

marchfest.com

THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS MAR 25 / 7.30PM / $80 Having sold more than five million albums and with a new one on the horizon, this will be one of the most electrifying gigs of the year. Worth going to just to see what state lead singer Jared Leto’s hair is currently in.

West Challenge Stadium Mt Claremont

BALLOONS OVER WAIKATO MAR 26-30 / DAILY / FREE Experience the site of amazing balloons ascending through the Waikato sunrise at 7.30am every morning and again every evening.

Innes Common Lake Domain Dr, Hamilton balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz

thirtysecondstomars.com

OZ COMIC-CON MAR 29-30 / 9AM / $15+ Get out your lightsabers, find those Wolverine claws or dust off the Ned Stark costume and head down to Perth Convention Centre this month to join 130,000 people for Oz Comic-Con 2014. It’s an absolute geek fest.

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Mounts Bay Rd, Perth

WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA APR 18-20 / VARIOUS / $50+ Running over Easter, this year’s airshow will be extra special with a one-off event celebrating 100 years since the outbreak of WWI. And when you’re not looking at the planes, enjoy the crystal-clear waters of NZ’s fourth largest lake.

Wanaka Airport Lloyd Dunn Ave, Luggate warbirdsoverwanaka.com

Photos: Getty/Facebook

ozcomiccon.com

WORLD BOOMERANG CUP APR 21-23 / DAILY / FREE The boomerang is an Australian icon and great fun to lob too so why not hop down to this fantastic free event and learn from the best?

Terrace Road Perth, WA

ANZAC DAY APR 25 / VARIOUS / FREE ANZAC Day isn’t exclusively Australian, many Kiwis have lost their lives in conflict over the years too. This is the chance to remember them.

Various Nationwide

wbcperth2014.com

anzac.govt.nz

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OZEATS

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BITE SIZE STOMACH FOR HEIGHTS? If you want to take in a meal with a staggering view of Canberra’s sprawling cityscape then look no further than Lookout Red Hill Cafe Bar and Restaurant (the clue’s in the name). You’ll find a versatile menu from wraps, pizzas and burgers to steak, grilled fish and pork belly in a quaint, cosy setting. lookoutredhill.com.au

CHECK OUT THIS BIRD Blackbird Cafe in Darling Harbour is the perfect place for a lazy lunch with a great view (see below, but it looks over the water too...). The menu here lends itself perfectly to lunch with a group – moderately priced, big meals, cheap tap beers and house wine and a big interior that can comfortably seat large numbers. blackbirdcafe.com.au

MOJO RECORD BAR Bar, Sydney

Situated down York Street below a men’s discount clothing shop, Mojo Record fuses the two things that are most conducive to a happy night – or day for that matter: music and drinking. A collaboration between joint owners Neville Sergent, who used to run the original store a couple of streets down, and long-time fans Daniel McManus and Jon Ruttan, it’s a sumptuous cavern of dimly lit booths, red leather, dark wood and music merchandise. LPs line the walls and ceilings and gig posters adorn the surroundings, advertising ‘new’ bands such as The Beatles or Sonic Youth in support of artists long since faded from memory. It could not be more cool, yet there’s no pretentiousness. Loud at weekends, with live bands rocking up, but more mellow on early weekday evenings, it’s the kind of place that you don’t want to come with anyone too interesting or chatty, for fear of having to tell them to belt up whilst you listen to the tunes.

THE GRUB The hearty beer-battered chips and sharing platters are tasty, while pizza delivered from Taglio a few doors down is thin but fluffy and delicious.

BEHIND THE BAR Craft beers on tap from local breweries are delivered via old-school hand-pumps and only available in a two-litre growler. The wines all have a NSW focus, and the cocktail names are clever takes on famous musical phrases.

BILL PLEASE It’s not cheap, but given the location, far from pricey. Beers start at $8, wines at $9, all cocktails are $19, and that two-litre growler comes in at $40.

VERDICT High Fidelity without the judgemental staff, washed down with good drinks. Take me back. Review by Francesca Baker THE SCENE

Photos: Blackbird Cafe / Mojo Record Bar

PERFECT PIT-STOP

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Famous for its warm hospitality and massive Sunday sessions, The Pier Bar & Grill in Cairns also makes seriously delicious steak. The food is not only tasty it’s also affordable – big servings of pasta, pizza and other mains usually run at $12, which makes it perfect for fuelling up before a big night or meeting in large groups. The Pier hospitality is down to earth and it has possibly the best views in Cairns, overlooking the water. pierbar.com.au

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73 York Street, Sydney

mojorecordbar.com

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THE EVERLEIGH Cocktails, Melbourne

One of the criticisms regularly levelled at the cocktail bar community is that it is prone to originality-sapping fads. So, it was with trepidation I read that The Everleigh on Gertrude Street, in Melbourne’s Fitzroy, is a Prohibition-themed speakeasy. Oh lore! Another? But originality really is the most overrated virtue, especially in the cocktail world. I don’t care how innovative your new cocktail ingredients are, the resulting concoction doesn’t taste better than a perfect Manhattan does it? And, let me be blunt: everything at The Everleigh is perfect.

I could spends sentences effusing over the beautiful surrounds and flawless staff, but it’s the cocktails we need to get down to.

BEHIND THE BAR I start with an Old Fashioned, which is comfortably the best I’ve had in this hemisphere. But, it is my second drink that provides definitive evidence as to the special talent behind the bar. I ask the waiter for something bitter but fresh, what arrives is a rye-whiskey masterpiece: It has levels of complexity I’m tempted to compare to a Marcel Proust sentence, but I won’t.

THE GRUB If you asked for food here I imagine you’d be asked to leave.

BILL PLEASE Cocktails from $20, champagne from $15.

VERDICT The best bar I’ve been to in Australia, so probably the best bar in Australia.

THE SCENE

Review by Oli Jones Level 1, 150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 3065, Melbourne

3 OF THE BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK JOINTS

theeverleigh.com

CHAT THAI

CHILLIPADI

HEMMESPHERE

This is hands down one of the best Thai restuarants in Sydney and the supper menu is out of this world. A must order is the kana mhu grob ($13) but there’s loads to choose from in this family owned and operated joint.

Their mission is simple: cook the stuff we crave! The only drawback is the queue to get in.

By now you’re probably thinking we’re night owls with a preference for Asian cuisine? You’re right. When we’re in Melbourne we usually head to Chillipadi.

We go not just because of the great Pad Thai but because it’s open until 5am Thursday to Saturday. This place never disappoints.

You’ll love it.

We’re in Sydney again but this time we’re scoffing mini burgers at 1am. Yes, mini wagyu penny burgers. Nom. Hemmesphere’s late night supper menu is available 10.30pm till 3am Wednesday to Saturday. What’s better than having a beer on a comfy leather couch and eating some fine food?

Okay, sex, but not much else.

chatthai.com.au

chillipadi.com.au

merivale.com.au/hemmesphere

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GIGLISTINGS

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MONDAY 17 Nine Inch Nails and Queens of The Stone Age $125 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane frontiertouring.com

BOOK NOW!

Martha Davis & The Motels $61 The Basement, Sydney tombowler.com.au/martha-davismotels

TUESDAY 18 Neil Finn $99 Sydney Opera House, Sydney Livenation.com.au Billy Bragg $72 Manning Bar, Camperdown, NSW billybragg.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 19 Jurassic 5 $89 Enmore Theatre, Sydney Liveindustry.co.uk Amy Rose $TBC. Door sales only The Vanguard Sydney Facebook.com/loveamyrose

Billy Bragg $72 Canberra Theatre, Canberra billybragg.co.uk

THURSDAY 20 Jurassic 5 $93 Palace Theatre, Melbourne Liveindustry.co.uk Billy Bragg $72 The Tivoli, Fortidue Valley, QLD billybragg.co.uk Neil Finn $99 Civic Centre Newcastle, Newcastle Livenation.com.au

JURASSIC 5 AUSTRALIA REUNION TOUR Across Australia, various dates Six years after calling it a day, Jurassic 5 are embarking on a tour of Australia and will kick off a series of reunion tour dates at The Enmore Theatre in Sydney oztix.com.au on Wednesday 19 March before shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

SATURDAY 22 City Underground Show $7 (early bird special) The Magpie Club, Canberra Facebook.com/ events/667499249974259 Jurassic 5 $91 Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Liveindustry.co.uk

SUNDAY 23 Jurassic 5 $77 Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Liveindustry.co.uk

FRIDAY 21 Jason Kerrison and Herbs Unplugged $35 Paeroa & District Memorial Hall, Paero Eventfinder.co.nz The Holidays $19.40 Karova Lounge, Ballarat Central facebook.com/theholidaysband

MONDAY 24 Nine Inch Nails and Queens of The Stone Age $125 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane frontiertouring.com

TUESDAY 25

Billy Bragg $72 The Northern, Byron Bay billybragg.co.uk

Thirty Seconds to Mars $80 VenuesWest Challenge Stadium, Mt Claremont, WA thritysecondstomars.com

The Cat Empire FREE Federation Square, Melbourne thecatempire.com

The Rolling Stones $99 Allphones Arena, Sydney rollingstones.com

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THURSDAY 27 John Bulter Trio $76 Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth johnbutlertrio.com

FRIDAY 28 The Rolling Stones $99 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne rollingstones.com Thirty Seconds to Mars $80 Hisense Arena, Melbourne thritysecondstomars.com

SATURDAY 29 John Bulter Trio $76 Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton johnbutlertrio.com Sticky Fingers (single launch) $20) The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Cornerhotel.com Big Nui Music Fiesta $25 Wainui School, Wainui, Auckland Bignui.net

SUNDAY 30 The Rolling Stones $99 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne rollingstones.com

Thirty Seconds to Mars $80 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane thritysecondstomars.com

TUESDAY APR 1 John Bulter Trio $76 Palais Theatre, Melbourne johnbutlertrio.com Nine Inch Nails and Queens of The Stone Age $125 Perth Arena, Perth frontiertouring.com Bruno Mars $TBC Allphones Arena, Sydney Livenation.com.au

WEDS APR 2 The Rolling Stones $99 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane rollingstones.com

SATURDAY APR 5 John Bulter Trio $76 George Darwin Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre, Darwin johnbutlertrio.com

SUNDAY APR 6 Cloud Control FREE Waves Nightclub, Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong towradgibeachhotel.com. au

FRIDAY APR 11 Killswitch Engage $TBC Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane killswitchengage.com Tyga $70 Palace Theatre, Melbourne officialwestgate.com

SAT APR 12 Killswitch Engage $TBC UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney killswitchengage.com

TUESDAY APR 15 John Mayer $99 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide chuggentertainment.com Erykah Badu $99+ Palais Theatre, Melbourne palaistheatre.net.au

Photo: Getty

The Rolling Stones $99 Perth Arena, Perth rollingstones.com

$10 Meal Deals Now From 11am- 9pm Everyday

$10 Meal Deals $10 Meal Deals Wagyu Minute Steak Now Fromfed 11am9pmsteak Everyday $10 grain yg rump 250g with Fries $10 chicken schnitzel Steak250g $14 Wagyu grain fed Minute yg porterhouse Chicken Schnitzel with Fries with Fries Chicken All served withSchnitzel your choice of must be purchased at the bar with a drink

with Fries

chips, or mash * Meals must be salad purchased at the bar with a drink. * Salad on the side an extra $3

11am-9pm

* Meals must be purchased at the bar with a drink. * Salad on the side an extra $3

www.PalaceHotelSydney.com.au T:9212 2111 A:Corner George & Hay Streeet Sydney

www.PalaceHotelSydney.com.au www.PalaceHotelSydney.com.auT:9212 2111 A : C oAddress: r n e r Corner G e o r gGeorge e & &HHay a yStreet S t rSydney eeet Sydney Phone: (02) 9212 2111

MUSTANG TNT ADS FOR MARCH.indd 3 01_739p3-17 UPFRONT.indd 13

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PUBLISTINGS SYDNEY Bar Century Lvl 4 640, George St, CBD barcentury.com.au Beach Road Hotel 71 Beach Road, Bondi Beach beachroadbondi.com.au Candy’s Apartment 22 Bayswater Road, Potts Point candys.com.au Coogee Palace Hotel 169 Dolphin St, Coogee beachpalacehotel.com.au DOME Bar Level 1, 589 Crown Street, Surry Hills domebar.com.au Flinders Hotel 63-65 Flinders St, Surry Hills theflindershotel.com.au 4 Pines 29/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly 4pinesbeer.com.au Hotel Steyne 75 The Corso, Manly hotelsteyne.com.au In Situ 1/18 Sydney Rd, Manly insitumanly.com.au Kinselas Hotel 383 Bourke St, Darlinghurst kinselas.com.au Marlborough Hotel 145 King St, Newtown marlboroughhotel.com.au New Brighton Hotel 71 The Corso, Manly newbrightonhotel.com.au

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Scubar 4/23 Rawson Ln, CBD scubar.com.au

The Corner Hotel 57 Swan Street, Richmond cornerhotel.com

Side Bar 509 Pitt St, CBD wakeup.com.au/side-bar

Eden Bar and Nightclub 1/163 Russell Street, CBD edenbar.com.au

The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills merivale.com.au/ theberesfordhotel

Esplanade Hotel 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda espy.com.au

Hotel Bondi 178 Campbell Parade, Bondi hotelbondi.com.au Mount Batten Hotel 701 George Street, CBD sydneycityhostels.com.au The Palace Hotel George St, CBD palacehotelsydney.com.au The Vanguard 42 King St, Newtown thevanguard.com.au 3 Wise Monkeys 555 George St, CBD 3wisemonkeys.com.au Trinity Bar 505 Crown St, Surry Hills trinitybar.com.au

Brutale 18 Corrs Lane, CBD brutale.com.au Black Pearl 304 Brunswick St, Fitzroy blackpearlbar.com.au Northcote Social Club 301 High Street, Northcote northcotesocialclub.com Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, CBD palace.com.au Shamiana 420 Lonsdale St, CBD shamiana.com.au Star Bar Hotel Melbourne 160 Clarendon Street starbarhotel.com.au

The White Horse 381 Crown St, Surry Hills thewhitehorsesurryhills.com.au

The Gin Mill 173 High St, Prahran theginmillprahran.com

Donny’s Bar 7 Market Ln, Manly donnys.com.au

The Hi-Fi 125 Swanston Street, CBD thehifi.com.au

Anchor Bar 8 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach anchorbarbondi.com

The Night Owl 35 Elizabeth Street, CBD nightowl.com.au

MELBOURNE

The Nite Cat 137-141 Johnston St, Fitzroy thenightcat.com.au

Oxford Art Factory 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst oxfordartfactory.com

Asian Beer Cafe 211 La Trobe St, CBD asianbeercafe.com.au

The Penny Black 420 Sydney Road, Brunswick thepennyblack.com.au

Ryan’s Paragon Hotel Loftus St, CBD hotelparagon.com.au

Bar Hum Bug 586 Little Bourke St, CBD barhumbug.com.au

The Tote 67-71 Johnston Street, Coll. thetotehotel.com

Scary Canary 469 Kent St, CBD scarycanarybar.com

Cherry Bar 103 Flinders Lane, CBD cherrybar.com.au

Turf Bar 131 Queen St, CBD turfbar.com.au

ADELAIDE The Apple Bar 5-9 Gouger St, CBD theapplebar.com.au Earl of Leicester Hotel 85 Leicester Street, Parkside earl.com.au Electric Circus 17 Crippen Place, CBD electriccircus.com.au Grace Emily Hotel 232 Waymouth St, CBD yourbars.com.au The Promethean 116 Grote St, CBD theprom.com.au

PERTH The Clink 14-16 South Terrace, Fremantle theclink.com.au The Shed 69-71 Aberdeen St, Northbr. the-shed.com.au

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Hotel LA 68 Petrie Terrace, CBD hotella.com.au Iceworks Cnr Given Tce & Dowse St, Paddington iceworks.com.au Pig ‘N’ Whistle Riverside 123 Eagle Street, CBD pignwhistle.com.au The Exchange Hotel 131 Edward St, CBD theexchange.com.au The Fringe Bar Cnr Ann and Constance St fringebar.com.au The Met Nightclub 256 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley themet.com.au Sky Room 2/234 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley skyroom.com.au

GOLD COAST

The Subiaco Hotel 465 Hay Street, Subiaco subiacohotel.com.au

Benowa Tavern 117 Ashmore Rd, Benowa benowatavern.com.au

The Windsor 112 Mill Point Rd, South Perth thewindsorsouthperth.com.au

Blush Nightclub 21 Orchid Avenue Surfers Paradise blushnightclub.com.au

Voodoo Lounge 174 James St, Northbridge voodoolounge.com.au

BRISBANE Toro Bar Brunswick Central, 455 Brunswick St Fortitude Valley torobravo.com.au

Coolangatta Sands Hotel Griffith St, Coolangatta coolangattasandshotel.com.au Shooters Superclub Shop 46 The Mark Orchid Avenue Surfers Paradise shooterssuperclub.com

CAIRNS

Canvas Club 16b Logan St, Woolloongabba canvasclub.com.au

Vibe Bar and Lounge 39-49 Lake St vibebarcairns.com pubs

GPO Hotel 740 Anne St, Fortitude Valley gpohotel.com.au

Ba8 Lounge Bar Shangri-La Hotel, The Pier at the Marina, Pier Point ba8.com.au

PIZZA FACE

$4 PIZZAS AT THE ASIAN BEER CAFE Everybody loves pizza, and what’s not to love? Cheese, tomato sauce, meat. Now at the Asian Beer Cafe they’re $4 all week! Melbourne Central. 11am–3pm and 7pm–10pm, Mon–Fri. 211 La Trobe Street, Central asianbeercafe.com.au

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PUBLISTINGS Dunwoody’s Tavern 317 Sheridan St, North Cairns ourhotels.com.au

Cambridge Hotel 789 Hunter St, CBD yourcambridge.com

Salt House 6/2 Pier Point Rd, CBD salthouse.com.au

Cricketers Arms 61 Bruce St, Cooks Hill cricketersarmshotel.com.au

The Woolshed 24 Shields Street, CBD thewoolshed.com.au

Hamilton Hotel 71 Tudor St, Hamilton hamiltonhotel.com.au

HOBART Bar Celona 23 Salamanca Sq, CBD barcelonahobart.com Raincheck Lounge 392-394 Elizabeth St North Hobart rainchecklounge.com.au

Hamilton Station Hotel 2-6 Beaumont St, Islington hamiltonstation.com.au Hotel Delany 134 Darby St, CBD hoteldelany.com Silo Restaurant and Lounge 18/1 Honeysuckle Dr, CBD silolounge.com.au

Republic Bar & Cafe 299 Elizabeth St, CBD republicbar.com

Kent Hotel 59-61 Beaumont St, Hamilton thekenthotel.com.au

The Henry Jones Art Hotel 25 Hunter St, CBD thehenryjones.com

Kings Street Hotel 15 Steel St, Newcastle West kingstreethotel.com.au

The Duke 192 Macquarie Street CBD theduke.com.au

The Lass O’Gowrie 14 Railway St, Wickham lassogowriehotel.com.au

NEWCASTLE Albion Hotel 72 Hannell St, Wickham thealbion.com.au Bar Petite 5 King St, CBD barpetite.com.au The Burwood Inn Hotel 77 Berner Street, Merewether theburwood.com.au

Mary Ellen Hotel 57 Railway St, Mereweather maryellenhotel.com.au Oriental Hotel 53 Bull St, Cooks Hill facebook.com/theorihotel Premier Hotel 1 Brunker Rd, Broadmeadow hotelpremier.com.au Royal Inn Hotel Waratah 61/69 Station St, Waratah truelocal.com.au

follow us on Sunyside Tavern 20 Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow sunnysidetavern.com.au The Northern Star 112 Beaumont St, Hamilton northernstarhotel.com.au Wickham Park Hotel 61 Maitland Rd, Islington thewicko.com.au

BYRON BAY Beach Hotel Bay Lane beachhotel.com.au Buddha Bar 1 Skinners Shoot Road byronbaybrewery.com.au Cheeky Monkey’s 115 Jonson St cheekymonkeys.com.au The Northern 35-43 Jonson St thenorthern.com.au La La Land Level 1/6 Lawson St lalalandbyronbay.com.au Treehouse on Belongil 25 Childe St treehouseonbelongil.com Woody’s Surf Shack 90-96 Jonson St woodysbyronbay.com

CANBERRA Academy Club 15 Bunda St, CBD academyclub.com.au

Cube Nightclub 33 Petrie Plaza, CBD cubenightclub.com.au ICBM 50 Northbourne Ave, CBD icbmbar.com Mooseheads 105 London Circuit, CBD mooseheads.com.au Transit Bar 7 Akuna St, CBD transitbar.com.au

WOLLONGONG Alibi 76 Crown Street, CBD wollongongnightlife.com.au Castros 5 Victoria Street, CBD facebook.com/castros Glasshouse & Su Casa 90 Crown Street, CBD facebook.com/ sucasawollongong

Squires Tavern 3 Edmunds St, CBD squirestavern.com.au Shenannigans 69 Mitchell St, CBD shenannigans.com.au The Deck Bar 22 Mitchell St, CBD thedeckbar.com.au The Tap Bar 58 Mitchell St, CBD thetap.com.au

ALICE SPRINGS Bojangles Saloon 80 Todd St yourbars.com.au Firkin & Hound 21 Hartely St yourbars.com.au Monte’s Lounge Corner of Todd St & Stott Tce montes.net.au

Harp Hotel 124 Corrimal Street, CBD wollongongnightlife.com.au

The Barra Bar 34 Stott Tce chifleyhotels.com.au

Ivory Nightclub 77 Crown Street, CBD wollongongnightlife.com.au

The Juicy Rump Lasseters Hotel Casino lasseters.com.au

OneFiveOne 150 Keira Street, CBD wollongongnightlife.com.au

The Rock Bar 2/78 Todd St therockbar.com.au

Questions Unit 5 123-125 Corrimal Street wollongongnightlife.com.au

Todd Tavern Todd Mall toddtavern.com.au

FATHER’S OFFICE IS A HAPPY PLACE Melbourne’s coolest themed bar has Happy Hours every day from 5-7pm and 8-10pm with tap beers, wine, ciders and spirits for only $5.

249 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne fathersoffice.com.au

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DARWIN Ducks Nuts 76 Mitchell St, CBD ducksnuts.com.au

Grand Hotel 324 Keira Street, CBD wollongongnightlife.com.au

$5 HAPPY HOUR

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The Palace 2014

Sundays Rooftop From midday DJs Live Music

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27/02/2014 29/01/2014 8:42 5:11pm am

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CELEBINTERVIEW

Making Tracks Mia Wasikowska takes a well-deserved seat and chats to TNT about stepping into the shoes of the woman who walked 1,700 miles across Australia WORDS NINA BERTOK Smartphone apps that can track wherever you are in the world; making phone calls and sending emails while sat on a mountain. To leave the traps of daily life behind when you travel can seem like an impossible feat today. In the 1970s, however, adventurer-come-author Robyn Davidson took off on a seemingly-impossible 1,700-mile-long trek across the Australian desert, completely alone. At the time she was labelled ‘crazy’, but in the technology-crazed, all-accessible age of today, Davidson’s brave undertaking makes more sense than ever before (okay, it was still a little crazy – it is the Australian outback after all). Her epic journey is brilliantly portrayed in the new film Tracks, starring young Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska.

“I think people would relate to Robyn’s story even more now than they did back then,” Wasikowska says when we catch up on her promo tour. “It’s very relevant in this day and age that people would want to take off and remove themselves from being always accessible. However, I think it would be much harder to get lost now than it would have been in those days. Technology and things like the internet and having a phone; people can always keep track of us in one way or another. I think it’s unlikely that it would be the same journey today, but you never know.”

Whether or not a journey like Davidson’s would be feasible in 2014 is perhaps besides the point – there is no denying that the mere idea of escaping the mundanity of daily life is something most people have entertained deep down inside at one time or another. It takes a special – even complex – kind of person to have the guts and determination to actually tackle such a challenge, and an even stronger character to see the mission completed. For the young actress, it was quite a nerve-racking experience to meet the real woman behind the amazing tale, but also an eyeopening one, which allowed her to understand the reasoning behind Davidson’s amazing journey.

“People had such a hard time understanding her. After doing this film, I do understand her now and I know that she’s not just straight-forward – you can’t guess what she’s going to do next. It just seems very understandable to me to want to remove yourself from your environment and put yourself into a place where things are simplified. She took it all back to the basics of survival and attending to her needs

as they were in the moment. I think that’s very brave. I was quite nervous about meeting her because the Robyn in the book was ready to punch anybody who would try to play her, but while shooting the film she was so incredibly warm and kind. She’s a really nice person.”

Even more flattering, Davidson all but hand-picked Wasikowska to portray her inspirational character on the big screen after many, many pitches from movie studios and various actors vying to take on the role. For a number of years it seemed people were lining up to re-create Davidson’s journey via motion picture and faced nothing but rejection from the woman herself until producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning approached her with director John Curran. For the first time, the stars had aligned and, with Wasikowska in tow, Tracks was underway.

“The book had been around for such a long time, so many times people had pitched to Robyn that they wanted to make it into a movie but it never happened. It had gone through a number of people’s hands and I don’t think Robyn felt that it was right at the time. We got along really well and, when I got to know her, I realised she was such an amazing person in real life. Her individuality and the strength of her character is so admirable. I respect that she decided to do something and saw it through. She overcame a lot and, in that way, it was such a self-testing experience, ››

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seeing whether she could overcome and conquer this really harsh environment.”

And although Davidson walked 1,700 miles from Alice Springs to the west coast on her own, in many ways she wasn’t really alone. With four camels and her pet dog by her side, Davidson also found herself occasionally accompanied by the ever-persistent National Geographic magazine photographer Rick Smolan [Adam Driver] who not only helped her receive funding for her adventure, but also documented the entire nine-month trip. Also an onagain-off-again love interest, Wasikowska claims Davidson experienced many “blessings in disguise”, including Smolan, whether she was aware of it at the time or not.

“The very things that enabled her to take this journey were also the things that took away the essence of the journey. National Geographic was going to fund her, which was great, but it also took away from the essence of her being on her own. But I think she also has this openness about her where the universe brings these people and things into her life which turn out to be important for her to complete her journey. She wanted three camels at first, but ended up with more – she got four. Rick came along when she wanted to be alone, and yet he helped her so much.

There were so many blessings in disguise. I think Adam Driver plays Rick in such a super spontaneous way, he’s amazing.

He’s so unfazed with the idea of improvising and staying on his toes the whole time.”

For Wasikowska, meanwhile, it was adjusting to the towering creatures that were the camels that required the actress to stay on her toes as well. By the end of it all, she came to realise the size of the animal doesn’t mean much when a relationship is established between man and beast.

“In the beginning the camels will test you to see how much they can get away with and whether you’ll let them have control,” Wasikowska explains. “You have to let them 20

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know you’re the boss, though, you have to keep them in line, otherwise they’ll realise they’re stronger than you. They turned out to be quite sweet. I was so surprised because usually you associate big animals with something you shouldn’t touch. They actually have the personality of a cat or a dog – they’re goofy one minute then a bit snooty when they want to be. You can navigate their mood easily once you get to know them. When you put that experience together with the whole adventure Robyn went on, I think the whole message is to be in control of your own life, seize it.” ❚ Tracks is in cinemas this month

Photos: Supplied and Getty

Take her out back: Adam Driver plays Robyn's love interest, Smolan

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Clockwise: Patrick Dangerfield of the Adeleide Crows tackles Dean Terlich of the Melbourne Demons; Hayden Ballantyne of the Fremantle Dockers marks the ball in a match against the West Coast Eagles; The coveted cup

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Aussie Rules returns

There’s a buzz in the air, and a strong whiff of testosterone mixed with beer, lots of beer. Oh yes, footie season is back WORDS IAN ARMITAGE The Australian Football League (AFL) Premiership kicks off on March 14 and you’re going to want to get involved.

Why? Well, because it’s football, there’s lots of shouting and even more drinking. And you’re British so these are your favourite things in life.

To the untrained eye, it’s a rather brutal contact sport that combines elements of rugby, football, volleyball and even some basketball (come to think of it, there’s a couple of other sports in there too...). It is notoriously hard to follow and the rules are complex, so if you’re new to it you’re excused if you have no clue what’s going on. But, to stop you from looking like a total prat, here are the basics:

Beginner’s rule guide The pitch is oval shaped, like a cricket field, ranging in length and width between 135 and 185 metres. The ball is oval too (but call it a Sherrin, after the brand, everyone else does).

The game starts with a bounce in the middle of the pitch, where you'll see a square. Only eight of the 18 players on each team are allowed in that centre square at the start of a game when the centre umpire bounces the ball. There are four players on the bench and they can be interchanged on, off and back on throughout the game.

The bounce also happens when a goal is scored. Of that eight, only two ‘ruckmen’ – the tallest on the field usually – can go for the ball.

For scoring, you'll see four posts at each end – two tall ones and two shorter ones (one each outside the tall ones). The idea is to kick the ball between the two in the middle for a goal or a major – six points. If the ball misses those but goes inside two outside posts you get one point, or a 'behind'.

If you see a guy who isn't a player on the field, that's a runner – each team's allowed one and he's basically giving instructions from the coach, who is up in the stands.

There are umpires galore: goal umpires (they do the one arm sign for a behind, two arms for a goal, and then signal their mate at the other end about what's happened). The ones with the whistles though are the boundary and field umpires.

Players can run with the ball, but have to bounce it every 15m

or they give up a free kick. The field umpires judge this by eye. Players can release the ball by punching it (handballing) or kicking it – dropping or throwing it isn't allowed.

If a player catches a ball directly from a long kick (15m) it’s called a ‘mark’ – the catcher of a mark gets a free-kick and the player nearest him has to stand where the ball was caught (on the mark).

You can tackle – as hard as you like – but only around the torso (shoulders to hips). A player who has been tackled must release the ball by kicking or handballing it, if able, or he gives away a free kick. If he has no chance to release the ball, play restarts with a bounce, which is most of the time really. Head grabbing, tripping and pushing from behind are banned.

Every game consists of four 20-minute quarters (the break at half-time is much longer than between the first-second and third-fourth, mainly due to TV ads).

What to shout at the screen "BALL!" Heard more than anything else, it suggests an opposing player hasn't tried to release the ball and should concede a free kick. It's yelled, loudly.

"WHITE MAGGOT!" A not-so-kind term for the umpires, though they wear colours such as yellow these days. ››

A Fremantle Dockers fan TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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Soak up the crazy AFL atmosphere at the pub

"WHERE'S YA SEEING-EYE DOG REF?" Sometimes, AFL fans aren't especially classy, but saying anything derogatory about the umpires won't lose you any friends.

"FIFTY!" For some infringements the umpire can award a 50m penalty, which takes the player who was infringed upon up to the 50m line – the big curved one at each end.

"CHEWY ON YOUR BOOT!" Said by old ladies, really, to put off an opposing team player when going for goal.

"CARN THE [INSERT TEAM NAME HERE]!" Add as many As to the carn and pick a team. If you pick a team, be willing to stick with it. Chopping and changing is simply not on.

Where can I watch a game?

If you’re visiting Melbourne, you’re in luck as it’s home to no less than 10 of the league’s teams (Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs), and is the birth place of the sport (though some claim it was invented by Irish miners on the Ballarat goldfields).

There are two venues in Melbourne that host AFL games on a weekly basis during the season – the MCG located in Richmond and Etihad Stadium in the Docklands. The MCG is regarded as the spiritual home of Australian football and is a must-do, if you can get in. Tickets are around $60. Go to a night match if you have the chance.

The best watering holes It isn’t always possible to go to a game, so that’s where a great pub comes in handy. The requirements are simple – beer, a good footy atmosphere, multiple big screens, reasonable grub and cracking bar staff. Here are three of our top spots: THE PRECINCT HOTEL Nestled in the heart of Richmond, the Precinct ticks pretty much every single one of those boxes and is a great place to go and watch sport, with several 24

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strategically placed TV screens. The food menu is extensive, with some reasonably priced pub snacks and they have a good choice of beers on tap. precincthotel.com.au THE DECK This is a high-end venue, born out of a former strip club, which targets the over-25s and has a cracking rooftop bar. There is a strict dress code after 8pm but it has a massive TV screening games and they’re usually followed by slick DJ sets (so you can party the night away). There are a couple beers on tap but this is more of a wine joint, a slightly more sophisticated place. thedeckbar.net.au THE CRICKETERS ARMS The staff here are bonza and more than willing to get to know you. The front bar has some TV screens and it has a cracking beer garden with plasmas dotted around the place so you can watch the sport.

The outside area has a bar, long communal tables and a retractable roof. The menu has all the pub favourites and when it comes to beer there’s the usual suspects. thecricketersarms.com.au

MARCH'S MATCHES Collingwood v Fremantle – March 14, 7.30pm GWS Giants v Sydney Swans – March 15, 4.40pm Gold Coast Suns v Richmond – March 15, 6.40pm Carlton v Port Adeleide – March 16, 7.40pm Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows – March 20, 7.10pm North Melbourne v Essendon – March 21, 7.50pm Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions – March 22, 4.40pm St Kilda v Melbourne – March 22, 7.40pm West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs – March 23, 4.40pm The final takes place September 27

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31/10/13 6:09 27/02/2014 8:44 AM pm

CHATROOM

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Nick Warren

He’s the Bristol-born godfather of Global Underground and one half of DJ duo Way Out West, and he’s coming to Australia next month INTERVIEW IAN ARMITAGE

so obvious. I think after all these years in the industry I don’t really need to be playing the top 10 and certainly I wouldn’t want to – I’d rather find those slightly strange but still great vibes.

That is my goal really.

You started out as a tour DJ with Massive Attack and there isn’t much you haven’t done over the years. Are there any gigs that stand out?

I remember playing in Croatia many years ago and they had the DJ booth up on some sort of platform above the crowd – some 15ft to 20ft above – and I fell from it while doing my set.

I cut my arms and legs to bits but still managed to get up there in time to change to the next record and that was in the vinyl days, so you had to get back up! That was great.

[Caption]

This will be your first appearance in Oz since 2012. Are you looking forward to coming back?

Australia is always exciting. I’ve been coming a long time and love it. We’re doing Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, and Sydney. Should be a lot of fun.

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What can fans expect on your tour?

We’ll put on a show. There will be loads of music that they’ve never heard before. Stuff from the new album we are writing, which is exclusive to that.

You’re currently in Argentina. What’s it like out there?

South America is always the bomb. It’s amazing.

We have an outdoor party here next week and there will be about 5,000 people with it starting at 4am and finishing at 9am. Scandinavia is another cool place. They like slightly weird electronic music out there and that gives you the chance to be more experimental and not

Is it the best job in the world?

I do realise how lucky I am. There is nothing worse than when I hear DJs moaning about having to travel around the world – get a grip!

Catch Nick at the following events April 4, Darkbeat Boat Party, Melbourne April 5, The Met, Coco, Brisbane April 6, Garden Party, Court Hotel, Perth April 11, Academy, Canberra April 11, Starship, Sydney djnickwarren.com

Photo: supplied

What are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

Oz seems to be completely overrun with festivals these days – music festivals, big ones. I’ve done all of those in the past and they are great fun but when you’re playing those you feel the need to play all the big records, for that instant hit.

I like to do the smaller events in Australia now.

We’re doing a boat party in Sydney Harbour for instance, which is always good fun. Jody Wisternoff [the other half of Way Out West] is due to get out there at the same time and so we are doing that together. We are in the middle or writing a new Way Out West album at the moment and it’ll give us a chance to play some of the new ideas that we started for that. I’m excited about Melbourne too – another boat party. That is always good fun. And I’m looking forward to going back to the Met in Brisbane.

Describe your sound...

It’s always more melodic music that I take to Australia. It goes down well. I’ve always been fairly eclectic in my taste. I have a couple of radio shows – one on Frisky Radio and another on Delta FM – and part of that is always about really weird, ambient music. The club stuff always has a real mix with elements of melody and bass lines. I’ve always loved that. It is more music for the head than the obvious sort of dance floor stuff that I have gone for.

What are you up to after Australia?

Loads. I’m doing a party in London – at the Prince of Wales in Brixton – in May ahead of the release of my compilation series called The Soundgarden. Jody and I are working hard on the Way Out West album as well and we are hoping to get something out this year. I’ll be playing some amazing places, like Mauritius, doing a party out there on the beach with Hernan Cattaneo, who I’ve been doing loads of back-toback sets with in North America. I’ll be in North America doing more with him before Australia actually, and then I’m off to Asia immediately after Australia. I’ll be in Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Jakarta. And it looks like Hernan and I may be at Burning Man in Nevada later in the year, doing a 12-hour set. It’s busy busy.

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If that’s you in the circle, send an email with a photo of yourself and the title ‘Spotted’ to jaqui@tntdownunder. com. Boom! You’ve won a $100 bar tab at Scubar.

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SPORTROUND-UP

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YOUNG BULL DANIEL READY FOR BIG TIME FORMULA ONE The 2014 Formula One season puts the pedal to the metal from March 16 when qualifying begins for the Melbourne Grand Prix, with Aussie Daniel Ricciardo lining up as four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s teammate, having taken over from Mark Webber. TNT caught up with British F1 commentator David Croft ahead of three green lights.

Can anyone beat Vettel in 2014 or will he make it five titles in a row?

If you look at the talent on the F1 grid in 2014, there are plenty capable of toppling Vettel. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, Jenson Button at McLaren: all proven race winners who will fancy their chances in a year where we’ve seen such major regulation changes. I’m expecting big things from Mercedes.

What will be the most significant of the major rule changes? The change in engine size from a 2.4L V8 to a 1.6L V6 and all the associated energy recovery systems that go with it is the most seismic change to take place in F1 for a long time. Drivers will have to cope with more torque from the new power units, whilst coping with less fuel (just 100kg per race) and less down-force than they’ve been used to in recent years as well.

Ricciardo steps into Webber’s shoes at Red Bull – how do you think he’ll go? Daniel will do well now he’s made the move up to the big team. He’s been a part of the Red Bull driver talent programme for years, is a super driver 28

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FLASHBACK... 2012 and very quick, especially over one qualifying lap. He put his Torro Rosso into places on the grid that weren’t expected during the past couple of seasons, now he needs to do it consistently and in races too. If the car is quick there will be plenty of expectations on him to score podiums, but he’ll handle that the way he handles everything: with a massive smile on his face and a great attitude.

The season starts in Australia – which team is best placed to get off to a flyer? Because of the change to the new Powerunits (engines to you and me) any manufacturing team should have a head start. So not Red Bull, who may be Renault’s de facto manufacturing team, but their base is in a different country to where the new units have been designed and built.

Which leaves Ferrari and Mercedes and, of the two, it’s Mercedes that I’m expecting to do well from the outset.

You can watch every practice, qualifying and race day on Ten Sports.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is no stranger to a record – he scored the first triple century by a Kiwi with 302 against India at the Basin Reserve in Wellington last month to seal a shock series win.

He also holds the mark for biggest score in a World T20 match, a whopping 123 off 58 balls in his side’s opening match of the 2012 tournament in Sri Lanka, which is on again this month in Bangladesh

UNDER THE PUMP Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has been left counting the cost after headbutting Hull’s David Meyler during the Mapgie’s 4-1 EPL win at the KC Stadium on March 1. Pardew, who has managed the club since 2010, clashed with the Tigers midfielder after he attempted to retrieve the ball to take a throw-in. The club fined him £100,000 and issued a formal warning, although he will not face criminal punishment.

Pardew, who already has two previous offences, requested a personal hearing with the FA after accepting misconduct charge over the incident which some feel could get him a10-match ban.

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HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

Chelsea star Eden Hazard

A testing time: England’s Stuart Broad

PREVIEW ATTENTION TURNS TO SHORT FORM ICC WORLD T20 MARCH 16-APRIL 6, FOX SPORTS The fifth edition of the ICC Twenty20

Photos: Getty

World Cup in Bangladesh runs from March 16 to April 6 and it is one of the most highly anticipated and unpredictable tournaments ever.

Defending champs West Indies will enter as underdogs while the usual suspects – India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – begin as favourites, although anyone could win as previous years show.

Australia are the dark horses and in great form, while South Africa can

never be discounted, despite struggling in this format, and will likely make the final four. Amazingly though, neither nation have ever won the T20 Cup, with the Aussies going the closest when they were beaten by seven wickets by England in the 2010 edition.

When it comes to the 2010 champs, the less said the better. Except for Broad there is nobody with a fixed spot in the team. Players like Bopara will miss the experience of exciled batsman Kevin Pietersen and they’ll struggle to get past the group stage.

LET’S GET TRIVIAL | The battle for EPL survival So here we are again, it’s the business end of the season and nothing will be off limits as clubs try to cling to their lucrative EPL status.

There are a number of contenders for the drop with everybody from West Ham in tenth down on 31 points or less, below the magic 40 that is said to guarantee survival. Fulham, who sit bottom, wielded the axe in a bid to climb the table, hiring German Felix Magath, but the move hasn’t resulted in points with the London club picking up just one of a possible nine since his controversial appointment.

League Cup finalists Sunderland have undoubtedly improved since Gus Poyet took charge and they’ll be hoping to do enough through the critical March period to get to safety as will West Brom, Cardiff, Swansea, Norwich and Crystal Palace. It’s guaranteed to have a few twists yet with nine games left.

Are Fulham doomed?

13-16 MAR F1: Australian Grand Prix 14 MAR AFL SEASON KICK OFF 14 MAR CRICK T20: S.Africa v Australia 15 MAR SIX NATIONS: Italy v England, Wales v Scotland, France v Ireland 14 MAR SUPER RUGBY: Rebels v Crusaders 14-16 MAR NRL: Broncos v Cowboys, Storm v Panthers, Bulldogs v Sharks 15 MAR SUPER RUGBY: Brumbies v Waratahs 16 MAR-APR 6 ICC World T20 18 MAR FOOT UEFA CL: Chelsea v Galatasaray 21-24 MAR NRL: Broncos v Roosters, Sharks v Dragons, Storm v Knights 21-22 MAR SUPER RUGBY: Waratahs v Rebels, Blues v Cheetahs, Bulls v Sharks, Brumbies v Stormers 22 MAR PREM RUGBY: Saracens v Harlequins 22 MAR FOOT EPL: Chelsea v Arsenal, Cardiff v Liverpool, Manchester City v Fulham 27-30 MAR AFL: Richmond v Carlton, Swans v Collingwood, Essendon v Hawthorn 28-30 MAR F1: Malaysian Grand Prix 28-31 MAR NRL: Rabbitohs v Raiders, Dragons v Broncos, Reds v Stormers, Sharks v Waratahs 28-30 MAR SUPER RUGBY: Crusaders v Hurricanes, Rebels v Brumbies 29-30 MAR FOOT EPL: C Palace v Chelsea, Arsenal v Man City, Liverpool v Tottenham 2930 MAR SUPER RUGBY: Bulls v Chiefs, Sharks v Waratahs 3-5 APR Horse Racing: The Crabbies Grand National 4-6 APR F1: Bahrain Grand Prix 12-13 APR FOOT FA CUP: Hull v Sheff Utd, Wigan v Arsenal 13 APR FOOT EPL: Livepool v Man City TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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NRL 2014 lowdown Can Tomkins cut it?

Can the Roosters win again? Will Barba boost the Broncos?

WORDS MICHAEL GADD

The 2014 NRL season kicked off in intriguing fashion on March 6 with defending champs Sydney Roosters slumping to a 28-8 defeat to fierce local rivals South Sydney, with fullback Greg Inglis starring as they scored four second-half tries.

The Roosters though are still strong favourites to take the title, with bookies tipping a similar finish to last season with the Souths believed a strong chance to make the most of last year’s experience, as their impressive opening day win showed. After NRL debutant Trent Robinson’s success last year, two more new faces join the head coach ranks this term.

Paul Green has taken over the North Queensland Cowboys – the Nines winners – having coached the Roosters’ Holden Cup side, while Brad Arthur steps up from Manly assistant to Parramatta’s main man after Ricky Stuart left for Canberra.

Here's what else to be watching out for this season...

TOMKINS A TINY TARGET No player has more pressure on him to perform this season than England full-back Sam Tomkins, who comes to the NRL’s Warriors from Super League’s Wigan Warriors. The $1m-a-season three-year contract is a massive investment from the Kiwi club, especially considering his wispy 79kg size and the fact he’s hardly been tested at this level, save for a couple of games against New Zealand and Australia.

He’s won everything in England but that means little Down Under and Aussie hard men will be gunning for him. On his side, though, is Warriors owner Eric Watson who, after seeing him perform in the Auckland Nines, said “he looks worth it”, in reference to the huge hunk of his salary cap.

And the man himself is saying the right things: “I know it is going to be a tough challenge, but that is why I came here.”

GONE WITH GOD, NOW WILL’S BACK Just as Will Hopoate was getting his NRL career cranking, and after landing a spot in the NSW State of Origin side

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aged just 19, he turned his back on the game to spend two years as a Mormon missionary in Queensland. Reluctantly released from his Manly contract, he’s popped back up this season at Paramatta. Still just 21, the star back hasn’t played since winning a Premiership with the Sea Eagles in 2011.

Another big return this year is Eric Grothe Jr, the former Eels winger who fell out of love with the game and retired, but he’s done a John Farnham-style backflip and is back at almost 34 to see if he can cut it for the Sharks.

CHANCE AT REDEMPTION From the penthouse to the outhouse and back again, Ben Barba lines up for the Brisbane Broncos after a muchpublicised exit from the Bulldogs. Super-talented Barba burst onto the scene with moments of brilliance in 2011, then won the Dally M Medal with an epic 2012 that added consistency to his considerable arsenal. But in 2013 he found all sorts of strife and made some bad choices that saw him start last season in the wrong kind of rehab. A change of scenery in a new city and at the heart of his new club’s hopes in a likely five-eighth playmaker role could make or break Barba. Of course, as if there wasn’t enough drama to the scenario, the NRL’s kindly made his season opener against his former club.

READY TO EXPLODE Canberra’s player of the season last year, Anthony Milford, is a superstar in the making if the chorus of ga-ga is to be taken seriously. Or was last year a fluke? The Brisbane Broncos don’t think so after signing him up from the 2015 season after a tussle for his services. The 19-year-old plays in the halves or at fullback, and the Raiders are loathe to lose him after he turned down almost $1m a season there to return home to Queensland. It will be interesting to see how he goes given he really doesn’t want to be in the nation’s capital playing for new coach Ricky Stuart’s side.

Second chance: Bronco Ben Barba

Under pressure: Warriors’ record recruit Sam Tomkins

Comeback: Will Hopoate

ONE MORE YEAR Rugby Union kicked its rival in the guts in the off-season when South Sydney and England prop Sam Burgess was confirmed to be leaving the code to play for Aviva Premiership side Bath and hopefully for his country in their home World Cup in 2015. He’ll have no lack of motivation to perform for this season though; one last chance to taste glory with his three brothers who he’ll leave behind at the Rabbitohs. He’ll be keen to say farewell – for now anyway – to the Bunnies on a high after Michael Maguire’s side finished second on the ladder last season. It’s also a farewell season – until his next one – for proven mercenary Sonny Bill Williams at the premiers. After making the World Cup final with the New Zealand Kiwis, defeated by Australia, he’ll look to keep the title at Bondi Junction before an attempt to win another union World Cup with the All Blacks.

MAJOR LOSSES AND GAINS The annual ins and outs of the NRL didn’t disappoint this year with a host of top players switching allegiances – in some cases one club’s trash is another’s treasure, while in others the salary cap monster was lurking. Here are each club’s biggest losses and gains for 2014.

BRONCOS In: Ben Barba (Bulldogs). Out: Scott Prince (ret.)

RAIDERS In: Lagi Setu (Storm). Out: Blake Ferguson (rel.)

BULLDOGS In: Reni Maitua (Eels). Out: Ben Barba (Broncos) SHARKS In: Daniel Holdsworth (Hull). Out: Ben Ross (ret.)

TITANS In: Faifai Loa (Cowboys). Out: Jamal Idris (Panthers) SEA EAGLES In: None of note. Out: Brent Kite (Panthers) STORM In: Ben Roberts (Eels). Out: Gareth Widdop (Dragons) KNIGHTS In: Clint Newton (Panthers). Out: Russell Packer

TOP EIGHT TIPPED Sydney Roosters South Sydney Rabbitohs Manly Sea Eagles Melbourne Storm Canterbury Bulldogs North Queensland Cowboys New Zealand Warriors Newcastle Knights WOODEN SPOON FAVOURITE Parramatta Eels

COWBOYS In: Lach Coote (Panthers). Out: Matt Bowen (Wigan Warriors) EELS In: Will Hopoate (unattached), Liam Foran (Salford).

Out: Reni Maitua (Bulldogs) PANTHERS In: Peter Wallace (Broncos), Jamie Soward (London). Out: Luke Walsh (St Helens) RABBITOHS In: Lote Tuqiri (Irish RU). Out: Roy Asotasi (Warrington), Matt King (ret.), Michael Crocker (ret.)

DRAGONS In: Gareth Widdop (Storm). Out: Michael Weyman (Hull KR), Matt Cooper (ret.)

ROOSTERS In: Heath L’Estrange (Bradford). Out: Luke O’Donnell (ret.)

WARRIORS In: Sam Tomkins (Wigan). Out: Todd Lowrie (Broncos) TIGERS In: Pat Richards (Wigan), Dene Halatau (Bulldogs).

Out: Benji Marshall (union), Eddy Pettybourne (Wigan)

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DESIGN 1

TOUR SEARCH For the last 30 years TNT Magazine has brought travel advice and news to a growing audience of travellers. 18 to 35 year olds from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe have been using TNT as their guide to living and working in the UK and Australia. With a growing audience comes growing demand and over quarter of a million users are now demanding travel offers and information for tours across the globe.

Here at TNT we have listened to the demands of our readers and we’re excited to launch TNT Tours.

Whether you’re looking for a weekend in Dublin, a group tour across Australia, or a ten day epic adventure in South America, the TNT Tour Search facility is here to meet your travel wishes.

With tours being added on a daily basis and reviews to give you peace of mind, TNT Tours will become your primary destination when looking to travel anywhere around the globe and you know the process will be as good as you can get anywhere else, if not better.

t a ki n g y ou w h e re y ou d rea m t o be... tntmagazine.com/toursearch 04_739p_33-55 TRAVEL_FEATURES OZ.indd 32

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OZ TRAVEL TRAVEL DEALS | HOTSHOTS | TOP 10 | DIARY DATES WHAT A MELON

Photos: Thinkstock and Getty

If you need a new tent for camping season, look no further than fieldcandy. com. These quirky tent designers are the best in their field (geddit?). $728.15, fieldcandy.com

INSIDE

GO NORTH /42

TOP 10 TOP END /48

GOING DOTTY /52

We discover all there is to see and do in the vast and fascinating Top End, from Darwin to Katherine to Alice Springs and more.

It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it: we track down the 10 must-dos in the Top End in case time is of the essence.

We take an Aboriginal art class and uncover the power of painting – even when holding the brush upsidedown.

TRAVELDIARY ASK THE EXPERT FOODIE HEAVEN

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Blazing a trail: Jack Johnson is set to play Fuji Rock

Food writer and chef Stevie Parle recommends these destinations for food lovers.

Cambodia: Khmer cuisine is undergoing a renaissance.

Cambodians cook with more pepper and less chilli than other parts of south-east Asia, which gives a gentle, round heat – still spicy but more aromatic. Master local specialities at a cooking class, prepare a traditional meal with a local family, and sample fried tarantulas on Intrepid Travel’s Cambodia Real Food Adventure, from $860pp for eight days.

Sri Lanka: There may be similarities to Indian cuisine, but in Sri Lanka you will also find unique dishes like coconut roti and cucumber curry.

The multitude of spices (including cinnamon, cardamom and pepper) make it a fascinating destination for spice lovers. Intrepid has a Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure from $2,360pp which includes a traditional dinner with a local family, a lesson in making string hoppers, and tea leaf picking for the freshest cup of tea.

intrepidtravel.com

Bonnaroo – literally meaning ‘a really good time’ – promises to live up to its name. Despite its relative infancy, the festival has attracted some 12-15 big acts, with past performances from Paul McCartney, My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes and Wu-Tang Clan.

JUNE

WHERE: Manchester, USA WHY GO: With big names across all musical genres, plus its close proximity to the Music City of Nashville, who wouldn’t want to go?

WHAT ELSE? Only an hour’s drive from Nashville, visitors can truly immerse themselves in the festival spirit while soaking

PATTAYA

up Johnny Cash memorabilia and the historic RCA Studio B. HOW MUCH: Weekend passes (with a Nashville shuttle pass) currently cost around $520pp, but payment plans are available to help spread the cost. Hurrah! bonnaroo.com

SUMMERFEST

Pattaya, Thailand

Milwaukee, USA

Pattaya is Thailand’s biggest music festival and it attracts 21-23 music lovers and fun-seekers from all over the world. It starts at 6pm and goes on until midnight and you should expect to hear music of almost every genre. Best of all it’s on the beach. Cool, huh?

The Guinness Book of World Records named Summerfest 25-6 the World’s Largest Festival, a title it proudly displays. Indeed, the Milwaukee shindig is absolutely enormous. Headliners include Motley Crue and Lady Gaga.

MARCH

pattayamusicfest.com

FUJI ROCK

JUNE/JULY

summerfest.com

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS Byron Bay, Australia

Naeba, Japan

Splendour in the Grass 2014 will take place at North 25-27 Byron Parklands for three days between July 25 and 27. The line-up is yet to be announced but expect large dollops of fine sounds.

JULY

Kanye West, Franz Ferdinand and Jack Johnson 13-22 are among some of the acts confirmed for Japan’s largest festival set in a magical location.

JUNE

Street food: Cambodian fish

fujirock-eng.com

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splendourinthegrass.com

Photos: supplied./Getty Words: Emily Ray & Ian Armitage

Malaysia: Taking influences from China, India, Thailand and Europe, Malaysian cuisine combines spicy chilli, fragrant lemongrass and sumptuous coconut.

Eat at the best hawker stalls in Kuala Lumpur, venture to rural kitchens to learn traditional recipes and visit tranquil tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands on Intrepid’s Malaysia Real Food Adventure, from $2,025pp.

BONNAROO USA

SEE THE

MIGHTY

SIDE OF LIFE IN NZ OR OZ

CAMPERS FROM

BOOK NOW

NZ

$

29

A DAY *

0800 081 026 www.mightycampers.co.nz

*Van price based on Lowball Campervan, 3+ day rate, for pick ups in May 2014 in New Zealand. 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 details and terms and conditions, visit www.mightycampers.com. MT147-01/14.

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HOTSHOTS

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WINNER

Fiordland fury Alex Petryna, 29, Wales ALEX SAYS: “One doesn’t have to go far in NZ for great shots. After a 45-minute walk from the car park I got lucky as the sun was setting over Fiordland.”

WE SAY: We love the play of light among the clouds along the top of the mountain peak, and the reflections of this in the rippling waters. We know that New Zealand can be a beautiful country, but sometimes one forgets just how sensational it can be. We suggest you get yourself down there sharpish!

HOT TIPS: Keep it clean Digital cameras are precision pieces of equipment and need to be treated with a little respect. Even tiny particles of dust on the lens or the sensor can result in unsightly black circles on your photographs. If using a digital SLR, take care when changing lenses to avoid getting dust in the chamber of the camera. Keep your equipment in a decent quality camera bag and carry a few cleaning cloths and a blower with you to keep dust away. If you need to have the camera sensor cleaned, drop into a professional camera store and ask them to do it.

Tips by ocean photographer, Joel Coleman.

See saltmotion.com

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WIN

THE WINNER GETS THREE DAYS’ CAMPERVAN HIRE FROM MIGHTY CAMPERS

Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to: lisa.ferron@tntmagazine.com Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.

For terms and conditions, see our website tntdownunder.com

The winner gets three days’ campervan hire from Mighty Campers Australia (mightycampers.com.au)

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Darwin Katherine

The most relaxed way to see the vast Australian Outback is by train.

Alice Springs

• Travel city to city and see Perth everything between at great value.

• Stretch your legs in your spacious recliner seat.

• Make friends, have a snack or dinner in the licensed café/bar.

• Freshen up with onboard shower facilities.

• Point to point backpacker fares are also available from $58pp*.

ULURU

Adelaide

Sydney

Melbourne

Rail Explorer Pass The Rail Explorer Pass gives you 3 or 6 months of unlimited travel aboard The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland from only $495pp. Discover Uluru and the Red Centre, or explore Darwin and Katherine in the tropical Top End. Use your pass to hop on and off as you please and travel in any direction on our great train journeys. Fuel surcharge is payable at time of booking.

3 Month - $495pp

M atilda Café, Th e

Gha n

6 Month - $649pp

Find us at facebook.com/GreatSouthernRail

Ulu ru, Nort h e

rn Te rritory

To book your Rail Explorer Pass call 1800 721 329.

For journey information visit greatsouthernrail.com.au/backpackers or your local travel agent.

Rail Passes: For travel until 31 March 2014. Prices are subject to change without notice. The Rail Explorer Pass is issued to and accepted by the person named on the ticket, subject to the terms and conditions of carriage of Great Southern Rail. The pass is valid for use on specified rail services operated by Great Southern Rail (Red Service Day/Nighter Seats). *Point to point: From $58pp based on the Backpacker Readyrail fare Adelaide to Melbourne or vice versa. For bookings made before 31 March 2014 for travel until 30 June 2014. For full terms and conditions see www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/backpackers. Travel Agent License No. TTA164190.

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TRAVELREVIEW Life’s a breeze on the Ultimate coach

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While it has been all about bushfires and hot temperatures here in Oz, spare a thought for the folk back home. While Brits are no strangers to a bit of rain, they’ve had a month of unprecedented storms and floods which have caused chaos in southern England, leaving many without homes and crops destroyed. We really are on opposite sides of the world...

THE ULTIMATE WAY TO TRAVEL NEW ZEALAND

When you dream about travelling to New Zealand, you dream of seeing epic landscapes, not bustling cities or arrivals lounges. This is what makes a coach an appealing transport option because you can see mountains, tranquil lakes, stunning coastlines and fiords at every turn.

But we’re not talking your average coach, oh no. Grand Pacific Tours offers a deluxe coach tour, which is limited to just 20 people ensuring a ‘personal touch’.

And with prices starting from $474pp, it won’t break the bank either. The company has just released the 2014/15 guaranteed departure dates for its Ultimate Small Group Tours, so get booked in as the spots get snapped up quickly. ultimatenewzealand.com.au

PLANNING AN ASIA TRIP? YOU SHOULD CONSIDER LAOS

LAOS

Laos is a country often ignored when planning an Asia trip, but with natural beauty and some seriously lifechanging experiences in abundance, it really shouldn’t be overlooked.

Online boutique travel agency Backyard Travel, a specialist in Asia tours, has unveiled details of a new trip investigating the unique aspects of the local culture of this country, long isolated from the rest of the world. The eight day, seven night ‘Highlights of Laos’ tour begins in Luang Prabang, where travellers can investigate the spiritual side of this fascinating nation.

The tour visits key destinations such as Wat Mai, the former Royal Palace and the 38

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Pak Ou Caves where you’ll see hundreds of miniature Buddha sculptures crammed inside the local pilgrimage site. backyardtravel.com

EARLY BIRDS CATCH THE BARGAINS TASMANIA

D’ya fancy a stroll mate? If so Life’s An Adventure has just released their Super Early Bird deals on all its Tasmanian Walking Tours and you can save $200pp on the three-day Bay of Fires, Freycinet and Maria Island classic walking experiences if you book and pay in full before April 15, 2014.

The tours are all-inclusive and everything will be done for you – well, except maybe the walking.

The Tasmanian walking season runs

from September 2014 to April 2015 and packages start from $899pp. lifesanadventure.com.au

DOWNLOAD YOUR DESTINATION? APPSOBLOODYLUTELY

AUSTRALIA

We’ve seen some naff Apps in our time, including one that helps you locate the moon (as if looking up at the sky was hard enough), but this one is definitely worth a look.

The Queensland Visitor Information Centre app is free to download and helps users find their nearest information centre, attractions, events, tours and restaurants.

QLD Premier Campbell Newman gave it his seal of approval and said it will “ensure tourists get the timely information they

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MAD WORLD MARMITE AND IRNBRU BANNED CANADA

Canada has banned British exports including Marmite and Irn-Bru from being sold because they are ‘bad for the nation’s health’.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the colourings and additives in these products, as well as Ovaltine, Lucozade, Penguin Bars and Bovril, are illegal in Canada. Hmm, it may not be our place to say, but surely there are worst things on their shelves?

PILL-POPPING PENGUINS UK Paradise calling: Jet off to Koh Samui need to have the best possible Queensland holiday experience”.

The app provides users with up to 12 recommendations in your area. Handy. queensland.com/vics

It’s an open road, baby: Cruise the continent on wheels

PICK A PARADISE: ASIA ESCAPES

Photos: Thinkstock. Words: Ian Armitage/Rachael Getzels

THAILAND

Etihad Airways’ Asia sale to Koh Samui is now on and you can visit this unspoilt, serenely beautiful corner of the world and relax from as little as $1,000 return including booking fees and taxes.

Hang on a minute, though, isn’t there unrest and protests in Thailand? Well, yes, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any sign of it in Koh Samui so don’t let it put you off, especially if tropical paradises and parties are your thing. And there is an unexpected benefit – fewer tourists means cheaper hotels and smaller crowds. travel.com.au

ROAD TRIPPIN’ IN THE LOWER 48

USA

Road tripping across America is a dream for many – NYC to Californ-I-A and everything in between. But taking in that empty road ahead isn’t as easy

It’s not just Aussies who detest the winter in the UK – penguins do too.

Zoo penguins that are native to Chile in South America are being given anti-depressants to get them though the cold months. In the wild, penguins are known to commit suicide by leaving their packs and starving to death. Keepers at Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary in Yorkshire said its penguins have stopped laying eggs, have become unsociable and have lost their appetite, so they are turning to tablets to help...

WOMAN ZAPS BOYFRIEND IN FIGHT AMERICA as it sounds when you remember that you’ve got to rent a car, plan your route, choose the stop-offs (there are just so many) and learn the ways of the motel, cockroaches included.

That’s where On the Road Bus Adventures comes in. The travel company offers a first-of-its-kind trip across the lower 48 in one of their decked-out buses that will stop off at national parks, big cities, small-time towns and anything else that makes up the American road trip experience. There are six 25-day routes to choose from. With accommodation, park entrance, entertainment, lunch, breakfast, snacks and gear included, the month-long trips cost $2900. ontheroadbus.com

A woman in Florida used a stun gun on her boyfriend for failing to pick up the phone to her.

The 28-yearold woman was arguing with her boyfriend of two years because of his refusal to answer her calls – so she pulled out her stun gun and zapped him. The woman admitted what she did and is awaiting her plea date. The couple are expecting a child together.

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TOPFIVE

DARWIN

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TOP 5

DARWIN MUST-DOS

Darwin’s a great base from which to explore Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks (see p48 & 49), but it’s also a great little city in its own right (emphasis on the little – just 129,000 people live here, which is tiny considering it’s a state capital). Contrary to what you might have heard, there’s more to do than visit a croc farm and feed the fish.

The markets are excellent – and on a Thursday or Sunday night at Mindil Beach, there’s some serious bargainhunting to be had.

Those expecting to encounter a location as culturally desolate as it is geographically remote may be surprised that there are art galleries, theatres and museums here and great ways of taking advantage of the tropical nights. Here are our top five things to do in Darwin...

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1. BEER CAN REGATTA Depending on who you talk to, or believe, Darwinites are the heaviest drinkers in Australia. This comes in handy in a city that hosts the utterly insane annual Beer Can Regatta (July), in which participants take to the seas in boats made from empty beer cans.

The regatta is as Territorian as you can get, but it attracts people from around the world. It originally started following Cyclone Tracy in 1974; the tradesmen employed to rebuild the town drank a shitload of beer due to the tropical climate (any excuse) and many-an empty can was strewn across the street. The regatta was started as a means to get rid of the rubbish.

Resourceful. These days it raises funds for local charities. Now that’s worth drinking to. beercanregatta.org.au

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MINDIL BEACH MARKETS

MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are well worth a visit. With more than 270 food and craft stalls set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mindil Beach, these markets deserve their reputation as a tourist ‘must see’.

Running Thursday and Sunday evenings during the dry season (AprilOctober), Darwin’s proximity to Asia is reflected here, with inexpensive food from all over the continent and beyond on offer, as well as people juggling fire and all that kind of fun malarkey.

Thursday 5pm to 10pm. Sunday 4pm to 9pm mindil.com.au

The view from the NT’s Museum and Art Gallery alone is worth the visit.

Situated about a five-minute drive from the CBD, just back from Vestey’s Beach and opposite the much-loved Ski Club, this free museum is the perfect introduction to Darwin’s fairly tumultuous past. It provides an entertaining, diverse and educational experience for the local community as well as visitors to Darwin through exhibitions and events based on the region’s art, history and culture, and through touring exhibitions. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

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Photos: Suppiled and Thinkstock

DARWIN

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artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au

5

CROCOSAURUS COVE

DECKCHAIR CINEMA

Saltwater crocs are the most famous of the NT’s creatures, and if the idea of being face-to-face with one is appealing to you then you should visit Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin.

It allows thrill-seekers to swim with massive saltwater crocodiles, such as 18-footer Choppa, pictured (terrifying, right?). The ‘Cage of Death’ (reassuring) costs $160 for a single cage or $120pp for a double cage.

Let us paint a picture... grab yourself a cushion and a stubby cooler and chill under the stars on a tropical night, all while watching a film. What’s better than that?

This is exactly what you’ll experience at the Deckchair Cinema located in the Wharf precinct. It is a Darwin institution screening everything from the latest blockbusters to the classics, and it turns 20 this year. $16.

crocosauruscove.com

TOPFIVE WHERE TO STAY

DARWIN CENTRAL HOTEL Overview Friendly, courteous and efficient staff are one of this four-star place’s defining characteristics. It is a contemporary, boutique hotel within easy walking distance to cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, restaurants and shopping. It’s right in the centre of Darwin and although it’s set amid the bustle (Darwin’s version of ‘bustle’ anyway), it is devoted to providing a city sanctuary where you can relax. It’s rated Darwin’s top hotel on TripAdvisor, although it doesn’t have wifi. Can’t have it all can you?

Wow factor To be honest it’s a pretty run-of-the-mill hotel, but it’s basic, centrally located and clean, so what more do you want? Plus, any hotel that has a pillow menu is a winner in our books.

Bill please From $95 per room per night.

21 Knuckey St, Darwin NT 0800 darwincentral.com.au

deckchaircinema.com.au

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Take me to the Top End As summer draws to a close, what better way to see it off than a Top End trip where you can explore Australia’s final frontiers?

WORDS IAN ARMITAGE

From its beautiful beaches and natural wonders to its crocinfested waters, the Top End is both wild and expansive.

It’s also the ideal place to go to escape, because for all its masses of space, few people live up here.

A journey from Broome to Darwin, through the Kimberley, is an epic trip that’ll take you through the heart of the Outback. Plus, once you hit the NT’s capital, you can go on to see the beautiful Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land, Katherine, and venture as far down as Alice.

You can expect to hear some of the oldest languages in the world (Australia’s first people still speak in their native tongue and English can often be their third or fourth language), and there is adventure at every corner.

Broome On the north-western tip of Australia, Broome is 1,800km from the nearest city (Darwin) and nestles on Roebuck Bay, the Indian Ocean just a 10-minute drive away.

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Established as a pearling settlement in the late 19th century, Broome was once supplying 75% of the world’s pearls. It was hazardous work though, and hundreds of Asian immigrants who worked on the boats lost their lives in diving accidents.

Pop into Cygnet Bay Pearls (cygnetbaypearls.com.au) or the Pearl Luggers (pearlluggers.com.au) and listen to captivating stories of how it all began.

Western Australia’s most famous landmark is the 22kmlong Cable Beach (cablebeachclub.com), and it is a place that has to be seen to be believed. This stretch of coast is regarded by seasoned travellers as one of the best beaches in the world and its sunsets are legendary. To create a unique west coast experience, you can take a camel ride along the beach, watching the sun sink from aboard a hairy humpster.

There is more to Broome than beaches too: the place has a great community spirit, so join in with the locals. The annual Dragon Boat Regatta (September 13) isn’t to be missed and involves what seems like the entire town’s population.

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Cable Beach rush hour...

Staircase to the moon And for three days every month between March and October you can witness the natural phenomenon that is the Staircase to the Moon. It’s caused by the rising of the full moon reflecting off the exposed mud flats at extremely low tide – creating a beautiful optical illusion of stairs reaching up to the moon. A magical experience. broomewa.com

endless termite mounds. It’s a real event when you spot a truck passing the other way through the dust, so give them a wave.

Visit the Geikie, Windjana and Bell Gorges, Cape Leveque, the Windjana Gorge National Park and Tunnel Creek. kimberley-australia.com

Kimberley

Darwin

Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley region, Australia’s last frontier of pristine wilderness and rugged sun-scorched land, dotted with ancient gorges, weird-looking trees and sprawling cattle stations. It’s three-times the size of the UK but barely registers any detail on a map. It’s bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west, the humid top of the Northern Territory to the east, and the arid Great Sandy Desert to the south. It’s Australia at its most harsh and at its most diverse.

And it’s isolated – if you take the Gibb River Road, your only company will be free-roaming cattle, creek crossings and

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and is a real mixture between holiday resort and far-flung outpost. It is a bloody long way from anywhere and so it’s the type of town that only attracts people who are really trying to get away from it all – or those lured by the stunning scenery right on the city’s doorstep.

As Darwin is the centre of the NT’s tropical Top End, it essentially experiences only two seasons – ‘the Dry’ from May-October and ‘the Wet’ from November-April. The Dry is peak season, however the Tropical Summer (a fancy, touristTNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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View Katherine Gorge from above

[Caption]

friendly name for the Wet) brings its own attractions.

Darwin is mainly a gateway to two of Australia’s biggest must-visits: Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks (see p4849). Tours to these two places are available from pretty much everywhere in town.

Darwin is a relatively flat city and it’s easy to find your way around on foot. Buses run regularly and most hostels offer cheap or free bike hire. Two events have largely shaped the city’s landscape: it was the Australian frontline in WWII when many bombing raids were made by the Japanese, plus Darwin had to be re-built after Cyclone Tracy destroyed most of the city on Christmas Eve, 1974. The city’s diverse population and proximity to Asia also means that the city has more than 50 different nationalities. During your visit highlights include the Botanic Gardens, East Point Reserve, the Cage of Death at Crocosaurus Cove, and Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. See p40 for our top five must-dos in Darwin. tourismtopend.com.au The North Truly the Top End, to the east of Darwin is the beautiful Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land.

These areas are largely uninhabitable and filled with swamps, wetlands, waterfalls, ancient culture and angry crocodiles, and exploring here is a great privilege. You have to have respect for the land, its native owners and the wildlife – if you get too close to the wrong creek, you may end up as lunch. But, with a guide, this rugged land is an Australian must-do experience. kakadu.com.au

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Katherine Katherine is the crossroads of the south, north, east and west and your last stop before venturing into the great red unknown that links Darwin and Alice Springs.

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Crossing from Broome and the Kimberley you’ll hit Katherine after a complete lack of civilisation, and by that point you welcome the chance to see a few houses (it’s a town with all the mod cons, so make sure you stock up before moving on).

Your main reason for visiting is the Katherine Gorge, enclosed in the Nitmiluk National Park. It is one of the NT’s “Big Three” along with Kakadu and Uluru.

Here there are over 13 gorges with more than 100km of walking tracks set in rugged terrain, just outside of town.

You can explore the spectacular surrounds by canoe or cruise boat, foot or helicopter.

Beware that there are freshwater crocodiles and do not go to the beaches where the crocs have made nests for their eggs. Check with the rangers to see if any crocs have been spotted in the area before you take the plunge. Start at the information centre. visitkatherine.com.au Alice Springs Once you’ve travelled through The Red and past places such as Tennant Creek and the Devil’s Marbles, you’ll make it to Alice where you can stop for a while and soak up the atmospheric scenery (check out Feb’s issue, or tntdownunder. com for more info).

To the east, the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges are easily accessible by car and have some good walking trails and picnic areas.

The Western MacDonnells have an array of spectacular gorges and ancient landforms. They can be explored by hiking the Larapinta Trail, by bicycle on a specially developed cycle track or by road. alicesprings.nt.gov.au

MacDonnells Ranges Flights from Sydney to Broome start from $483 with Virgin, one-way virginaustralia.com. One-way flights to Broome from Melbourne with Qantas start from $507 and from Perth one-way flights start from $309 qantas.com.au. If you want to hire a 4wd and start your Top End adventure, Budget Rent a Car is a great place to look budget.com.au

Photos: Tourism NT and David Gordon, D-GaP Photos

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MY EXPERIENCE

BY STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

High and dry: the annual Henley on Todd Regatta

SPRING INTO ACTION ALICE’S ODDBALL EVENTS

Too remote and small to feature on most tour lists or sports leagues, even the biggest of outback towns has to get creative when it comes to entertainment.

HENLEY ON TODD REGATTA (August): If there’s one thing people in the outback love above all else, it’s the art of taking the piss, especially when the subject of their derision is something English and posh, such as the Henley Regatta. Alice’s homage to the iconic meeting is the annual Henley On Todd Regatta. Most race categories are taken straight from traditional regatta events, with the subtle difference being they involve people sprinting along the dry river bed while holding up bottomless boats. henleyontodd.com.au CAMEL CUP (July): Camel racing is a popular fixture throughout outback towns in the winter, and arguably the biggest is Alice’s Camel Cup. The real stars are of the four-legged variety – unpredictable, bad-tempered and often showing little interest in what their riders want them to do. The races are generally anarchic and hilarious. camelcup.com.au

Photos: Thinkstock and Getty

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BEANIE FESTIVAL (June): While beanies might not seem overly essential under the scorching outback sun, this community-based event has grown into one of Australia’s most unique festivals. Started in 1997 to help sell the beanies crocheted by Aboriginal women, the festival has evolved into a celebration of culture, art and women’s roles in society. beaniefest.org

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No trip to Alice Springs is complete without getting the hump with Marcus, aka ‘The Camel Man’. He’s been a camel wrangler for more than 30 years, and his rugged, outback look befits his profession. Before I know it, I’m on my camel, Saleh, ready for the heave up. And so, with our lumpy carriages in procession, we head out through the iron bark and mulga trees into an expanse of red dirt, with views to the beautiful West MacDonnell Ranges.

The camel sways so gently I can see why the early pioneers of the outback used them to go long distances.

Well, the fact they only need a bucket of water to drink every 10 days or so may have come into it as well!

My stomach is now yelling for some real food. I’d heard about a wonderful local initiative, called IAD, the Institute for Aboriginal Development, where local Aboriginal youths train to be chefs and the general public can stop in for coffee, breakfast and lunch. Sitting out on the deck, overlooking the sandy riverbed, I enjoy a great turkey salad sandwich, while my friends tuck into tom yum soup and a divine-smelling chicken curry.

To really see what a town has to offer, I always love to get on a bike. Therefore I head over to the YHA, where there’s an afternoon mountain biking tour due to leave.

I’m greeted by Clarke, today’s guide, who also happens to moonlight as a geophysicist. The value of this soon becomes clear as we are hurtling over the rocky track and he’s stopping to point out incredible rock formations before explaining why they look the way they do. It’s fascinating.

Two-and-half hours of mountain biking later, we arrive at the Telegraph Station, the original site for the bush telegraph system, which provided communications to Darwin and beyond. Clarke takes us out to the middle of the dry riverbed and starts digging. A group of five curious little locals are looking on in anticipation. We also start to wonder if the sun has got to Clarke, but he starts to explain how the riverbed isn’t as dry as it looks. And indeed, sure enough, about half a metre down, he hits water. Heading back to town, we leave the kids to play in their new desert pool.

Unleash your wild side Do you prefer your days action-packed, your meals cooked by bush BBQ and your nights spent under a blanket of stars?

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TOPTEN

TOP END

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TOP 10

TOP END In case you hadn’t already guessed, there’s a load to do in the vast and expansive Top End. We serve up the top 10 must dos in case time is of the essence.

1.KAKADU NATIONAL PARK Covering an area that’s the same size as Belgium and housing some of the great cultural and natural wonders of the world, Kakadu is certainly worth the hype. Located about three hours south-east of Darwin, it is a place you should explore by car, preferably 4WD, as some of the most popular sights lie at a fair distance from each other.

The standout attractions are the site of Ubirr, where the rock art is estimated to be up to 8,000 years old, Nourlangie rock, and a cruise along the Yellow Water wetlands – one of those rare places where reality matches expectation. We’d recommend a trip to the remote and spectacular Twin Falls and the 660ft high Jim Jim Falls, which can be reached along a 4WD track that turns south off the Kakadu Highway between the Nourlangie and Cooinda 48

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turn-offs. Maguk Gorge (formerly Barramundi Gorge) is also well worth a visit – a lovely spot for relaxing and swimming – as is Gubara. This pretty six kilometre trail ends at a rainforestcloaked chain of rock pools.

Be prepared to spend several days in Kakadu. The UNESCO-listed park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Everglades combined, so it will take a while to explore.

Boasting thundering waterfalls (at their most spectacular during the wet season), ancient rock art and the world’s biggest crocs (the Corroboree Billabong has the largest concentration of saltwater crocs in the world), this is one of Australia’s must-see destinations and has something to offer every traveller on any budget.

The dry season runs from June to September and is the most popular time of the year for visitors. Prices can be dramatically lower during the wet season, so it might be worth just bringing a brolly. kakadu.com.au

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LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK

No visit to the Top End is complete without a day trip to the magnificent Litchfield National Park. Indeed, some prefer it to Kakadu, so it’d be daft not to see both. Situated about an hour-and-a-half down the road from Darwin on the Stuart Highway, it is the perfect place to cool off, boasting several magnificent rock and plunge pools, cascading waterfalls and tropical walks. Wangi Falls is one of the main draws and is easily accessible. You can swim between May and October and watch the stunning waterfalls during the wet season.

Litchfield National Park is also packed with animals and birds that sound more fictional than factual – the spangled drongo being a perfect example. litchfieldtours.com.au

Outback Australia’s most impressive ancient sandstone region lies within the Nitmiluk National Park. The nearly 3,000sqkm national park is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people, who hold great ceremonial significance to the gorges and surrounding land. There are numerous walking trails ranging from strolls along the riverbanks to overnight walks and a five-day walk from Katherine Gorge (see no.4) to Leliyn (Edith Falls).

The 58km Jatbula Trail passes waterfalls, monsoon rainforest, stone country and Aboriginal rock art, and ends at Leliyn, a tranquil camping ground.

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Photos: Getty and supplied

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KATHERINE GORGE

KATHERINE HOT SPRINGS

Katherine Gorge is one of the Northern Territories’ biggest attractions, and a visit to the Top End is not complete without coming here. The gorge, known by the aboriginal name Nitmiluk, is the central attraction of the park and is made up of 13 separate gorges linked by a maze of sandstone-framed waterways. There are a number of options for exploring available and you can discover it at your own pace. Visitors cruise in flatbottomed boats, canoe, swim or walk to explore the magnificent gorges. You can spend a night in Katherine at one of the many hotels, motels or resorts to maximise your time here. katherinegorge.com

Mother Nature is one smooth lady as she just loves a hot tub. And so do we. The majestically beautiful Katherine Hot Springs are natural thermal springs situated on the banks of the Katherine River. They comprise a series of clear pools framed by native vegetation, and water temperatures average 32 degrees. Once, the main pool was simply an indentation at the edge of the Katherine River, but now the area is a place to relax, enjoy swimming in the pools, the picnic grounds and scenic walking tracks, which are crystal clear pools of water winding through the shade of trees to the river. visitkatherine.com.au

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TOPTEN

TOP END

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MOUNT BUNDY STATION

DOUGLAS HOT SPRINGS

If you’re into horse riding, fishing and country-style hospitality, Mount Bundy Station is the perfect detour for you, three kilometres off the highway after Adelaide River.

Mount Bundy is a working cattle station in the Top End, but its overnight options are far removed from your average cowshed. The original station buildings have become spotless guest accommodation, plus there are luxury safari tents if you want to sleep under the stars. There are 4WD tours and plenty of animals on the property − guided horse rides cost $60 per hour, with overnight treks by arrangement.

The Douglas Daly (Tjuwaliyn) Hot Springs is one of the Top End’s most popular attractions. The water is too hot where it first reaches the surface and can only be safely entered once it has mixed with cooler water from a tributary creek. The springs are 130km from Katherine and 200km from Darwin. If you are travelling south, take the Old Stuart Highway scenic route from Adelaide River.

If travelling north take the route just north of Hayes Creek. The last seven kilometres into Tjuwaliyn is a gravel road providing dry season access (May to September) for all vehicles and camping is permitted.

mtbundy.com.au

Photos: Thinkstock, Getty and NT Tourism

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10

TIWI ISLANDS

ARNHEM LAND

DARWIN

Bathurst and Melville Islands, collectively known as the Tiwi Islands, lie just off the coast of Darwin. Being cut off from the mainland has made their culture unique – they don’t have didgeridoos or boomerangs, for example. Entry to the Tiwi Islands is by permit only and most visitors come over on one-day tours of Bathurst, the smaller island.

Truly at the Top End is the beautiful Arnhem Land. An area of more than 94,000 square kilometres, it is Aboriginal-owned and home to many different clan groups (it is a cultural stronghold from which the didgeridoo originates). Its rugged ranges are fringed by idyllic billabongs, flood plains, paper bark swamps and monsoonal rainforests; an amazingly beautiful wilderness.

Darwin is plastered all over this issue of TNT, and with good reason – we bloody love the place. Darwin is great because it’s a real mixture between far-flung outpost and holiday resort, it being the centre of the NT’s tropical Top End. It is also the main gateway to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks (no.1 and 2).

See our Top 5 Darwin must-dos and Oz Trip for more.

nt.gov.au

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arnhemland-safaris.com

australia.com/darwin

THE ULTIMATE DRIVE HOLIDAY STARTS HERE. For a self-drive experience that highlights the best of the Top End, look no further than Nature’s Way. In five to ten days you can have an amazing adventure that links Darwin, Australia’s vibrant tropical capital city with the ancient cultural and natural wonders of Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks.

With incredible savings on Britz 4WD and 2WD vehicles in the NT, there’s no better time to book your trip than right now.

Visit adventurealltheway.com.au or call 1800 113 033.

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Dot painting ABORIGINAL CULTURE

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Art attack: dreams of dots Dot painting is about more than just creating art that’s good to look at. It offers a glimpse into the world’s oldest continuous culture WORDS XAV JUDD

Last time I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, it was because of my scout leader. He had the notion that standing in a poxy field, singing “Dib, dib, dib, dob, dob, dob” at twilight, and smelling like a smoked haddock on account of the fire, was interesting. All I can say is that if I had had my way, he would have made a bloody good Guy Fawkes!

On this occasion, however, surrounded by a raft of yellow-red desert that looks like it should be on the surface of Mars rather than enlivening Alice Springs, I am here to do something a lot more exciting – and rather cultural. Indeed, as soon as I step into the Alice Walker Arts Centre to have a dot-painting lesson, I am blown away by the plethora of imaginative canvases adorning the walls.

I HAVE A DREAM My teacher is Marilyn Armstrong, a distinguished Aboriginal elder. Before she puts a paintbrush in my hand, I am given a quick rundown on why this form of art is important in her people’s history. It’s a revelation! Hitherto, I had thought that compositions like Edvard Munch’s The Scream (anxiety) or Picasso’s Guernica (the tragedy of war) embodied mankind’s highest and most meaningful pictorial expression. Yet the metaphysical significance of native Australians’ colourful configurations dwarf this. And all because of Dreamtime, or what we might more readily comprehend as Creation, when sacred beings came either from the Earth’s atmosphere or from underground, in human or animal form, to shape the land, its flora and fauna.

For over 60,000 years Aborigines used this epoch-making occurrence to determine their moral and social laws, customs and conventions. The older folks passed it on in fables (or Dreamings) to the younger members of their communities to start their learning and point to how they should behave. Initially, these cultural nuggets of enlightenment were relayed using several types of natural and man-made instruments. These included weapons, rocks, stones, aerial desert landscapes and even bodies – hinging on the tribe and the area of Australia where they came from. By the

early 1970s, Johnny Warangkula and other members of the Papunya Tula School (north-west of Alice Springs) set down a representation of their Dreamings on canvas, as dots. This blew the art world away: not only because these new forms of expression were very beautiful, but also due to the fact that they continued the indigenous peoples’ old-age tradition of embodying the very essence and spirit of their way of life in an illustrative manner. What began as a small craze is now a multi-billion dollar industry.

COLOUR CODING So, with all this in mind I had a lot to live up to. And the pressure was telling, especially as the last time I tried to be artistic it involved sticking confetti on my man-boobs with Blu-Tack. Marilyn plonked a 60x60cm canvas in front of me, followed by some tiny pots of acrylic paint that seemed to contain more colours than The Wizard of Oz. There was blood red, sienna brown, azure blue, a fleshy pink and a vibrant yellow that could have graced a cornfield in summer. Surely fun time was about to begin...

Of course, as a Westerner, I picked up my brush and began to daub away with the bristles. But in this style of painting, you use the other end of the stick – at least to form the small dots. Eventually a few shapes were emerging even though, with utensil in hand, my strokes seemed to have all the poise and dexterity of a starving caveman clubbing a marsupial.

Luckily, Marilyn was über-patient. And she explained that the three earthy brown stripes I’d drawn as circles, enclosed by rows of lily-white marks, were a meeting place: in this case, a campsite. Now I was getting into the swing of things – an orangutan in the treetops had nothing on me. Soon all manner of specks and lines that I had depicted were converging into something meaningful: a blue line of dots (a creek); a pink starfish shape (gum flowers); a trio of thick white arrows (emu tracks); and a couple of egg-shaped light green blobs, that could have been scaled-down versions of my mama’s earrings, were actually bananas.

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Photos: Thinkstock/Tourism NT

“

Soon all manner of specks and lines were converging into something meaningful

”

SURREAL SQUIGGLES I’d have to be as drunk as a wasp in a beer keg not to realise that the next slew of images on my masterpiece were in fact oranges; the sun; a river; trees etc. But hold your horses! Like Luke Skywalker under the guidance of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Empire Strikes Back, this pupil was getting carried away. Fortunately, before I got completely above myself, Marilyn took control of the canvas and, rather than my amateurish squiggles, she came up with something quite surreal. Two, almost moon-shaped, configurations faced each other on either side of the campsite. And do you know what they were? They were Marilyn and me. There’s an argument that, unless it is a self-portrait, an artist should separate himself from his work. Imagine Andy Warhol with his own head stuffed in a Campbell’s tomato soup tin, or Damien Hirst submerged alongside half a sheep in formaldehyde 54

– I wish! But this depiction certainly added something to the composition.

Alas, my instruction was nearly at an end. I hoped I’d create something that would touch the hearts of Aboriginals across Australia. But it was not to be. My teacher told me that the types of pigment and meanings of the symbols used in these panoramas vary according to where a tribe or clan is from. Added to this, separate groups of Aborigines could layer the iconography in their pieces with several connotations. Thus it is deeply personal and largely incomprehensible to the uninitiated. And so I felt I felt extremely lucky to have been let into this other world – one where centuries of culture, society and politics combine in the most illuminating of artistic expressions. artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au

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TOUR SEARCH DESIGN 1

TOUR SEARCH For the last 30 years TNT Magazine has brought travel advice and news to a growing audience of travellers. 18 to 35 year olds from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe have been using TNT as their guide to living and working in the UK and Australia. With a growing audience comes growing demand and over quarter of a million users are now demanding travel offers and information for tours across the globe.

Here at TNT we have listened to the demands of our readers and we’re excited to launch TNT Tours.

Whether you’re looking for a weekend in Dublin, a group tour across Australia, or a ten day epic adventure in South America, the TNT Tour Search facility is here to meet your travel wishes.

With tours being added on a daily basis and reviews to give you peace of mind, TNT Tours will become your primary destination when looking to travel anywhere around the globe and you know the process will be as good as you can get anywhere else, if not better.

t a ki n g y ou w h e re y ou d rea m t o be...

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OZLISTINGS TRAVEL AGENTS Adventure Travel Bugs 07 3236 3266, adventuretravelbugs.com

Tours in Tasmania Tours around Tasmania 1800 777 103, tourstascom.au Bunyip Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 286 947, bunyiptours.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

Cool Dingos Fraser Island Tours 1800 072 555, cooldingotour.com Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com Groovy Grape Getaways Tours linking Adelaide, Alice Springs & Melbourne 1800 661 177, groovygrape.com.au

YHA Travel 02 9261 111, yha.com.au

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Heading Bush Adelaide to Alice Springs outback tours 1800 639 933, headingbush.com

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

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

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

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

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

follow us on Whitsundays Sailing Adventures Whitsundays sailing 07 4940 2007 WhitsundaysSailingAdventures. com.au Mojosurf Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 113 044, mojosurf.com Nullarbor Traveller Tours from Adelaide and Perth 1800 816 858, the-traveller.com.au Ocean Rafting Whitsundays tours 07 4946 6848, oceanrafting.com Oz Experience Hop on-hop off Australia-wide tours 1300 300 028, ozexperience.com Surfcamp Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 888 732, surfcamp.com.au The Rock Tour Red centre tours 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au Topdeck Tours covering all of Oz 1300 886 332, topdeck.travel Under Down Under Tours Tours around Tasmania 1800 064 726, underdownunder.com.au Western Xposure WA tours 08 9414 8423, westernxposure.com.au Wilderness 4WD Adventures

Top end tours 1800 808 288, wildernessadventures.com.au Wildlife Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 661 730, wildlifetours.com.au

RENTAL FIRMS Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com Mighty Cars and Campers (Formerly Backpacker Campervan Rentals) 1800 809 944 mightycampers.com.au

@tnt_downunder Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickedcampers.com

TRANSPORT CO Greyhound Australia Buses around Australia.

13 20 30, greyhound.com.au Jetstar Airline.

131 538,

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Premier Transport Group Buses along the east coast.

13 34 10, premierms.com.au

Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangrentacar.net

Qantas Airline. 13 13 13, qantas.com.au

Hippie Camper 1800 777 779, hippiecamper.com

Regional Express Airline.

13 17 13, rex.com.au

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

Spirit of Tasmania Ferries to Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com Tiger Airways Airline.

03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania. 03 6336 1446, tasredline.com.au Virgin Australia Airline.

13 67 89, virginaustralia.com

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SYDNEY STAY Base Sydney 477 Kent St. CBD. 02 9267 7718 stayatbase.com

Taronga Zoo Mosman. taronga.org.au

CHECK IN

Waves Surf School wavessurfschool.com.au

Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St. CBD. 02 9281 6030 bighostel.com

SYDNEY MUSIC Hordern Pavillion playbillvenues.com

Bounce Budget Hotel 28 Chalmers St. CBD. 02 9281 2222 bouncehostel.com.au

Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com

Easy Go Backpackers 752 George St. CBD. 02 9211 0505, easygobackpackers.com.au Eva’s Backpackers 6-8 Orwell Street Kings Cross 02 9358 2185, evasbackpackers.com.au City Resort Hostel 103-105 Palmer St. Woolloomooloo 02 9357 3333 cityresort.com.au Sydney Central YHA 11 Rawson Place.

CBD. 02 9218 9000 Sydney Harbour YHA 110 Cumberland Street.

The Rocks. 02 8272 0900 yha.com.au Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 921 4588 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 Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills.

02 9318 0902 Avalon Beach Hostel 59 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach.

02 9918 9709, avalonbeach.com.au Bondi Shores Level 1. 283 Bondi Road, Bondi bondishores.com.au Bondi YHA 63 Fletcher Street.

Tamarama.

02 9365 2088, yha.com.au Lamrock Lodge 19 Lamrock Ave. Bondi.

02 9130 5063, lamrocklodge.com Lochner’s Guesthouse 27 Paul St. Bondi.

02 9389 5421 Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee.

04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.com.au

The Annandale annandalehotel.com

BOUNCE SYDNEY 34 Harrington St The Rocks, Sydney. Beds from $26 This upmarket hostel was voted ‘Best Hostel in Australia’ and ‘Most Popular Hostel in Sydney’ at the 2013 HostelWorld.com Hostel Awards.

Sydney

bouncehostel.com.au

Coogee Beach House 171 Arden St. Coogee.

02 9665 1162, coogeebeachhouse.com 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 Boardrider Backpacker Rear 63, The Corso, Manly.

02 9977 6077 boardrider.com.au The Bunkhouse 35 Pine St, Manly.

1800 657 122, bunkhouse.com.au

Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au Skydive the Beach Wollongong. skydivethebeach.com Sydney Olympic Park Darling Harbour. sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au Sydney Tower and Skytour 100 Market St, CBD. sydneytowereye.com.au Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour. sydneyaquarium.com.au Sydney Wildlife World Darling Harbour. sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au The Metro metrotheatre.com.au

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 Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal.

02 4384 1919, yha.com.au The Entrance Backpackers 2/56 The Entrance Road, The Entrance, 2261 02 4334 5005 theentrancebackpackers.com Skydive Central Coast Warnervale. skydivethecentralcoast.com.au

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

1800 6680 7966, nomadsworld.com Byron Bay YHA 7 Carlyle St. 1800 678 195 yha.com.au Skydive the Beach Byron Bay Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina 1800 302 005 skydivethebeachbyronbay.com

COFFS HARB Coffs Harbour YHA 51 Collingwood St. 02 6652 6462, yha.com.au Harbour City Holiday Park 123 Pacific Highway coffsholidaypark.com.au Hoey Moey Backpackers 80 Ocean Pde hoeymoey.com.au Solitary Islands Marine Resort North St, Wooli NSW 1462 1800 003 031 solitaryislandsresort.com.au

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Manly Backpackers 24-28 Raglan St. Manly.

02 9977 3411 manlybackpackers.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

GLEBE A Sydney inner western suburb, Glebe is very cool with something of a ‘crusty’ edge – think organic cafes and feminist bookshops, thanks in large part to being where the majority of the city’s students are based. It’s also a backpacker centre, with lots of cheap eats and plenty of cafes and pubs. Not only that, but it boasts the grungie, more alternative of the markets in town (Saturdays in the schoolyard on Glebe Point Road).

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QLDLISTINGS BRISBANE STAY

1800 24 2273

stayatbase.com

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

Balmoral House 33 Amelia St, Fortitude Valley vipbackpackers.com

Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace.

07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com

Brisbane City YHA 392 Upper Roma St yha.com.au

Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452, brisbanebackpackers.com.au Brisbane City Backpackers 380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com

The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm.

04 3270 6666

Somewhere to Stay Cnr Brighton Rd & Franklin St somewheretostay.com.au The Palace Backpackers Cnr Anne & Edward St backpackbrisbane.com Tin Billy Travellers 462 George St tinbilly.com

BRISBANE DO

Bunk Backpackers Cnr Ann & Gipps Sts, 1800 682 865, katarzyna.com.au

Base Uptown Cnr George & Herschel Sts.

The Elephant Hotel 230 Wickham St elephanthotel.com.au

follow us on Kangaroo Point.

07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au

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

XXXX Brewery Tours & Ale House Brewery tours.

Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton.

07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com. au

GOLD COAST Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen St, Surfers Paradise.

1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise. 1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au

Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah.

07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au

Coolangatta YHA Pl, 230 Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga.

07 5536 76442, yha.com.au

Gallery of Modern Art 07 3840 7303, qag.qld.gov.au

Coolangatta Sands Hostel Cnr Griffiths & McLean Sts, Coolangatta.

07 5536 7472, coolangattasandshostel.com.au

Riverlife Adventure Centre Kayaking & rock climbing.

Lower River Terrace,

Gold Coast International BP

Sleeping Inn Surfers 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.

07 5591 5616, trekkersbackpackers.com.au Nomads Islander Resort 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, nomadsworld.com Surf & Sun Backpackers 3323 Surfers Paradise Blvd surfnsun-goldcoast.com

GC DO

@tnt_downunder Dreamworld Theme park. dreamworld.com.au Get Wet Surf School 1800 438 938 Seaworld

seaworld.com.au

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

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

1800 020 120 mooloolababackpackers.com

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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!

WHITSUNDAYS 3 DAYS IN ONE... Whitehaven Beach, top snorkel destinations & island bushwalks.

P: 07 4946 6848 www.oceanrafting.com.au

Photo: Tourism Queensland

CAPE TRIBULATION

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Ask about our 2 trip special deal with our sister company OCEAN SAFARI - www.oceansafari.com.au

Great Barrier Reef - Half Day Snorkel Tour

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NOOSA Noosa is located on Australia’s east coast and is home to several beautiful beaches, a stunning coastline, a national park and pristine rivers as well as events spread out over the calendar year. The list is endless when visiting Noosa, ranging from visiting the world famous Eumundi markets, shopping on Hastings Street or soaking up the sun on Noosa beach.

r.

. . .

E R E H Y L L A IN F E YOU’R

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!

Backpackers 40% off ALL economy rail fares* Get more out of your Queensland adventure with these great value fares for overseas backpackers and you can enjoy the journey almost as much as the destination.

LIAʼS N TO DIVE WITH AUSTRA TAKE THE PLUNGE, LEAR VE PROFESSIONALS GREAT BARRIER REEF DI

Spirit of Queensland The Sunlander Tilt Train Spirit of the Outback The Westlander The Inlander Connecting Coach Connecting City Network

Thursday Island

Bamaga

Lizard Island

Cape York Peninsula Green Island

Cairns

QUEENSLAND Mount Isa

Cloncurry

Our 5 Day PADI Open water course is the most popular way to do it.

Magnetic Island

Townsville

Charters Towers

Julia Creek

Longreach Barcaldine

ee ed

Whitsunday Islands

Proserpine

Hughenden

Winton

Great Barrier Reef

Tully

Airlie Beach Mackay

Drummond Range Emerald Alpha

Pacific Ocean

Yeppoon Heron Island

Rockhampton

Gladstone

Bundaberg Charleville

r

Quilpie

Mitchell

Cunnamulla

Maryborough West Gympie Toowoomba

Lady Elliot Island Fraser Island

Hervey Bay Sunshine Coast

Brisbane Gold Coast

ree

y

We also specialise in Liveaboard dive trips and all levels of dive education.

e se e ht

the ou

d. ck eir ns

Book your backpacker rail fares at queenslandrailtravel.com.au

www.prodivecairns.com

Terms and conditions: *To receive the discount international backpackers must hold a current passport with an international address. Discounts of 40% applies to economy, premium economy and business seat fares.

These fares exclude Australian resident backpackers who receive up to 10% discounts off the rail fare. For full terms and conditions and other fares available ask your travel agent or visit queenslandrailtravel.com.au.

Queensland Rail ABN 68 598 268 528 Travel Agent Lic. No. QLD 327 4957 QR3789.37_87x245_1113

SHOP: Cnr Shields & Grafton Sts, Cairns FREECALL: 1800 353 213 PHONE: +617 4031 5255 RES: info@prodivecairns.com tntdownunder.com

05. 739 56-71 SECTIONS OZ.indd 59

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1/03/2014 6:20 am

QLDLISTINGS HERVEY BAY Aussie Woolshed 181 Torquay Rd 07 4124 0677 woolshedbackpackers.com.au Next at Hervey Bay 10 Bideford St. 1800 102 989, nextbackpackers.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 Barefoot Lodge Long Island barefootlodge.com.au Colonial Village YHA 820 Boat Harbour Drive, Urangan, Hervey Bay yha.com.au Cool Dingo’s Rainbow Beach 20 Spectrum St dingosresort.com Dropbear Adventures Williams Ave, Fraser Island. QLD +61 487 333 606

dropbearadventures.com.au Frasers On Rainbow Beach 195 Torquay Terrace, Torquay, flashpackersherveybay.com Kingfisher Bay Resort River Heads Road, Fraser Island kingfisherbay.com Fraser Coast Top Tourist Park 21 Denmans Camp Road, Scarness, Hervey Bay frasercoasttouristpark.com.au Fraser Island Backpackers Cathedral Beach, Fraser Island fraserislandco.com.au Fraser’s on Rainbow 18 Spectrum Av, Rainbow Beach frasersonrainbow.com The Friendly Hostel 182 Torquay Rd, Hervey Bay friendlyhostel.com.au Woolshed Backpackers 181 Torquay Road woolshedbackpackers.com.au

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

07 4131 2999

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bundabergrum.com.au

TOWN OF 1770 1770 Backpackers 6 Captain Cook Dr. 1800 121 770, the1770backpackers.com 1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com. au

AIRLIE BEACH airliebeach.com 259 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 677 119 Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 07 4946 6312, yha.com.au Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com Base Airlie Beach Resort 336 Shute Harbour Rd 07 4948 2000, stayatbase.com Magnums Whitsunday Village Resort 366 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 624 634 magnums.com.au

BOWEN Bowen Backpackers

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

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 IS

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absolutebackpackers.com.au Beach Shack 86 Porters Promenade missionbeachshack.com Scotty’s Beach House 167 Reid Rd. 07 4068 8676, scottysbeachhouse.com.au Jackaroo Hostel Mission Beach Frizelle Rd, Bingil Bay jackaroohostel.com Mission Beach Retreat 49 Porters Promenade missionbeachretreat.com.au

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

Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 07 4778 5777, stayatbase.com

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

Bungalow Bay Backpackers Horseshow Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay.com.au

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

Hotel Arcadia 7 Marine Parade, Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177, hotelaracadia.com.au

JJ’s Backpackers Hostel 11 Charles St. 07 4051 7642, jjsbackpackers.com

Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

MISSION BEACH Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road.

07 4068 8317,

NJoy Backpackers Hostel Harbour 141 Sheridan St. 1800 807 055, njoy.net.au Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St. 1800 229 228,

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MAROOCHY Located an hour-and-a-half north of Brisbane is Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and, more specifically, the idyllic Maroochy area. This beachside community boasts all of the normal attributes you would expect from a coastal location - sandy beaches, surf-clubs and a decent nightlife. The Sunshine Coast has more individual National Parks than any other region in Queensland, which means that Maroochy is blessed with natural beauty. If surfing is not your thing but you still want to be in the water, Aussie Sea Kayak Company has a number of different packages available.

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Australia’s

Gold Coast

Famous for fun

AdventureGoldCoast.com 05. 739 56-71 SECTIONS OZ.indd 61

facebook.com/AdventureGoldCoast twitter.com/AdventureGoldCoast 1/03/2014 7:20 am

QLDLISTINGS nomadshostels.com Northern Greenhouse 117 Grafton Street.

1800 229 228, northerngreenhouse.com.au

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 PK’s Jungle Village Cnr Avalon & Cape Trib Rd. 1800 232 333, pksjunglevillage.com.au

INNISFAIL Innisfail Budget Backpackers Worker’s Hostel 125 Edith St. 07 4061 78337

Walkabout Motel & ackpackers 07 4061 2311 walkaboutbackpackers.com

PORT DOUGLAS Parrotfish Backpackers Resort 37 Warner St, Kuranda.

07 4099 5011, parrotfishlodge.com

GULF SAVANNAH Emu Creek Cattle Station 08 9943 0534

DAINTREE Koala Beach Resort Lake St, 07 4051 4933

MORETON ISLAND Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort tangalooma.com

NOOSA STAY Flashpackers Noosa 102 Pacific Avenue, Sunshine Beach flashpackersnoosa.com

like us on

halselodge.com.au Dolphins Beach House Noosa 14 – 16 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach dolphinsbeachhouse.com

NOOSA DO Australia Zoo 1638 Steve Irwin Way, Sunshine Coast australiazoo.com The Discovery Group Noosa Everglades thediscoverygroup.com.au Drop Bear Adventures Fraser Island from Noosa dropbearadventures.com.au Kanu Kapers Australia Noosa Everglades kanukapersaustralia.com Noosa Learn to Surf Noosa Main Beach, Noosa Heads learntosurf.com.au

PORT DOUGLAS Dougies Backpackers Resort 111 Davidson St dougies.com.au

Nomads Noosa Backpackers 44 Noosa Dr Noosa Inland nomadsworld.com

Global Port Douglas 38 Macrossan St globalbackpackerscairns.com. au/port-douglas

Noosa Backpackers 9-13 William St, Noosaville noosabackpackers.com

Parrot Fish Lodge 37 Warner St parrotfishlodge.com

Halse Lodge YHA 2 Halse Lane, Noosa. 1800 242 567,

Port O’Call YHA 7 Craven Close

portocall.com.au

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cottontreebackpackers.com

INNISFAIL Codge Lodge 63 Rankin St codgelodge.com Crown Hostel 25 Ernest St (07) 4061 2266 Backpackers Shack 7 Ernest St fbackpakershack.com Farm work, Innisfail farmwork.tv/farmwork/innisfail

AGNES WATER 1770 Beachside Backpacker 12 Captain Cook Drive independentbackpackers.com 1770 Southern Cross Backpackers 2694 Round Hill Rd 1770southerncross.com

ROCKHAMPTON Emu Park Resort 92 Patterson St, Emu Park emusbeachresort.com Rockhampton Backpackers YHA 60 Macfarlane St yha.com.au Childers Eco-Lodge Off the Princess Highway childersecolodge.com.au

TOWNSVILLE Adventurers Backpackers 79 Palmer St

adventurersresort.com Civic Guest House Backpackers Hostel 262 Walker St civicguesthousetownsville.

com.au Foreign Exchange Accommodation Beachside 19 Eyre St, North Ward

foreignx.com.au

MACKAY Gecko’s Rest 34 Sydney St

geckosrest.com.au

MAGNETIC IS Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd

stayatbase.com Bungalow Bay Koala Village

SUNSHINE COAST Cotton Tree Beachouse 15 the Esplanade

YHA 40 Horseshoe Bay Rd

bungalowbay.com.au

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CAPE YORK PENINSULA The top of Australia is a land of mystery and adventure. By road it’s only really accessible by 4WD, so if you’re not an off-road enthusiast you might do better with an overland tour. If you’re looking for isolation then you won’t be disappointed. Secluded beaches and waterfalls abound in this wild corner of Oz. Activities in the area include fishing trips, croc spotting and Aboriginal cultural tours. Just be careful choosing a swimming location. If you reach the very top you can always jump a little further and check out the Torres Strait Islands.

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HOBART STAY Backpackers Imperial Hobart 138 Collins St. 03 6229 5215, centralbackpackers.com.au

LAUNCESTON DO

CHECK IN

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

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

Montgomery’s YHA 9 Argyle St. 03 6231 2660, yha.com.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 Transit Backpackers 251 Liverpool St. 03 6231 2400, transitbackpackers.com

HOBART DO Cascade Brewery 140 Cascade Rd. 03 6224 1117 cascadebreweryco.com.au Mt Wellington Descent Bike tours. 03 6274 1880 mtwellingtondescent.com.au Salamanca Markets Every Saturday, Salamanca Place. salamanca.com.au Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery 5 Argyle St. tmag.tas.gov.au

DEVONPORT THE PICKLED FROG 281 Liverpool St, Hobart. Dorms from $24 A five minute stroll to the waterfront or Hobart’s CBD, the Pickled Frog is the beating heart of Hobart and a multi-award winnner.

Hobart

thepickledfrog.com

PORT ARTHUR 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

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

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

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

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 Big 4 Iluka Reserve Rd. 03 6257 0115, yha.com.au Freycinet National Park Brewery, Wineglass Bay camping. 03 6256 7000 wineglassbay.com

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

STRAHAN DO Wild Rivers Jet Jet Boat Cruises.

0364717396 wildriversjet.com.au Water by Nature Extreme multiday whitewater rafting. 1800 111 142, franklinrivertasmania.com

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

DEVONPORT The unofficial capital of Tasmania’s beautiful north coast is also the main ferry link between the island state and the Australian mainland. A picturesque, coastal city of some 25,000 people it produces upwards of 40 per cent of Tasmania’s total vegetable crop. Devonport has developed into a proper shopper’s city, with elegant boulevards and malls dotted with unique boutiques and specialist shops. The city also makes the most of the natural coastlines with beautiful beaches in close proximity to the city centre, including the Mersey Bluff Beach. Just a short drive from the city centre, the Tasmanian Arboretum displays trees and shrubs from around the world. Culture is centred at the Devonport Regional Art Gallery, which boasts great works from local and internationally renowned artists.

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VICLISTINGS

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MELBOURNE STAY

CHECK IN

Wildlife Tours Australia Specialising in Victorian tours +61 3 9314 2225 wildlifetours.com.au

Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond.

03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net

THE RITZ FOR BACKPACKERS

The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, spencerbackpackers.com.au Back of Chapel 50 Green St, Windsor nomadshostels.com College Lawn Hotel 36 Greville St, Prahran collegelawnhotel.com.au Claremont Guesthouse 189 Toorak Rd, South Yarra hotelclaremont.com City Centre Budget Hotel 22-30 Little Collins St citycentrebudgethotel.com Elephant Backpackers 250 Flinders St

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169B Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182. Dorms from $27 This fun-filled accommodation boasts one of the best locations in Melbourne, positioned in the heart of St Kilda.

Melbourne

ritzbackpackers.com

elephantbackpacker.com.au Elizabeth Hostel 490 Elizabeth St elizabethhostel.com.au King St Backpackers 160 King Street kingstreetbackpackers.com.au Hotel Discovery 167 Franklin St hoteldiscovery.com.au Lords Lodge Backpackers 204 Punt Rd lordslodge.com.au Melbourne International Backpackers 450 Elizabeth St mibp.com.au Melbourne Metro YHA 78 Howard St yha.com.au

Coffee Palace Backpackers 24 Grey St coffeepalacebackpackers.com. au Habitat HQ 333 St Kilda Rd, thehabitathq.com.au

Apollo Eco Beach YHA 5 Pascoe St. 03 5237 7899, yha.com.au

Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA 10 Erskine Av, Lorne.

03 5289 1070, greatoceanroadcottages.com Port Campbell Hostel 18 Tregea St, Port Campbell.

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

MELBOURNE DO Sorrento Reserve 5 minute walkForeshore to city

03 5984 4323,

The Spencer City Central BP 475 Spencer St spencerbackpackers.com.au

Discovery Melbourne 167 Franklin St. discoverymelbourne.com

The Nunnery 116 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy nunnery.com.au

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

Urban Central 334 City Road, Southbank urbancentral.com.au

Melbourne Museum

Base St Kilda 17 Carlisle St stayatbase.com

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yha.com.au

The Island Accommodation 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road.

03 5956 6123

theislandaccommodation.com.

$2

au

Bayplay Lodge

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

ST KILDA

03 5952 3620,

Grampians YHA Eco Hostel 46 Canterbury Jetty Rd, FREE in room oversized locker with personal Blairgowrie.

03 5988 0188, Cnr Grampians & Buckler Rds, power point bayplay.com.au

St Kilda Beach House 169B Fitzroy St stkildabeachhouse.com.au

St Arnaud 99 Park St, South Yarra, starnaudguesthouse.com

Back of Chapel Backpackers 50 Green St backofchapel.com

97 Church St, Cowes.

FREE all you can eat breakfast (cereal, toast and ju The Ritz for Backpackers MORNINGTON 109 Barkly St weekly meal, rice and pasta,GRAMPIANS tea and coffee ritzbackpackers.com

Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square.

03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au

Victoria Hotel Backpackers Victoria Hotel, 380 Victoria St vichotelbrunswick.com.au

Amaroo Park YHA

Maximum 4 bed dormitories with linen and towel

Oslo Hotel 38 Grey St oslohotel.com.au

Nepean Hwy. 1800 850 600, mornpen.vic.gov.au

Melbourne Oasis YHA 76 Chapman St yha.com.au

PHILLIP ISLAND

Stay

Halls Gap.

03 5356 4544,

Large bar with big screen yha.com.au YHA (all majorSorrento sporting events shown) 3 Miranda St, Sorrento. yha.com.auat the bar Drink specials Tortoise Head Lodge French Island.

03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

44 Grampians

Public transport on doorstep

Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288,

Unique value tour packages

11 Nicholson St, Carlton.

13 11 02

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

DANDENONG Emerald Backpackers 03 5968 4086

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

03 5480 6522, yha.com.au

$2

Tim’s Place

timsplace.com.au

Maximum 4 bed dorm

FREE all you can eat weekly meal, rice and

FREE in room oversiz power point UC103

Space Hotel 380 Russell St. 1800 670 611, spacehotel.com.au

1800 101 113

Maximum 4 bed d 5 minute walk to city

MILDURA

FREE breakfast (c

with big sc Large barweekly meal, rice Mildura City Backpackers (all major sporting ev FREE in room ove 50 Lemon Avenue

power point

Drink specials at the b

FREE inbound tra

milduracitybackpackers.com.au 5 minute walk to c Public transport on d

(all major sporting City Backpackers 631 288 urbancentra Book NowMildura 1800 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura.

Old Melbourne Gaol STRATHMERTON Public transport o

377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228, oldmelbournegaol.com.au

03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au

Official Neighbours Tours 570 Flinders St. 03 9629 5866,

Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura.

04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au

Large bar with big

Unique value tour pac

Unique value tour

Riviera Backpackers YHA 669 Esplanade

yha.com.au

Book1800 Now 1800 Book Now 6 UC103

Nomads Melbourne 198 A’beckett St. 03 9328 4383, nomadshostels.com

117 Johnson St, Maffra.

UC103

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

Cambrai Hostel Maffra

$22 $ Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea.

03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au

UC103

Discovery Melbourne 167 Franklin St. 03 9329 7525 discoverymelbourne.com

0427 875 735

GREAT OCEAN RD

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

Home Travellers Motel 32 Carlisle St, St Kilda.

1800 008 718, homehostels.com.au

Prom Coast YHA Backpackers

maffra.net.au/hostel

Exford Hotel 199 Russell St. 03 9663 2697, exfordhotel.com.au

Home at the Mansion 66 Victoria Parade.

03 9663 4212 homemansion.com.au

Skydive the Beach Melbourne 1300 798 843 skydivethebeachmelbourne.com Tourism Victoria Backpacking ideas. backpackmelbourne.com

Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda.

09 8598 6200, stayatbase.com

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

GIPPSLAND

neighbourstour.com.au

All Nations Nomads 2 Spencer St. 03 9620 1022, nomadsworld.com.au

The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane.

1800 249 207, greenhousebackpacker.com.au

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UC 103 TNT $22 175x122.in

urba

Fed up of carrying around heavy guidebooks?

Then TNT has the answer We’ve published our 2014 Independent Traveller’s Guide to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

It’s free, it’s online and it’s full of tips on where to go, what to do and how to find work.

T THE INDEPENDEN

UIDE TRAVELLERS' G JI ZEALAND & FI AUSTRALIA, NEW

It’s also got listings for all the best hostels, tour companies and job agencies for all three countries, complete with links that will take you straight to their websites.

To check it out, just head to tntdownunder.com and click the link on the right hand side.

2014

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PERTH STAY

CHECK IN

Billabong Backpackers Resort 381 Beaufort St. 08 9328 7720, billabongresort.com.au

Grand Central Hotel Backpackers 379 Wellington St 08 9421 1123 Hay Street Backpackers 266-268 Hay St haystbackpackers.com

Britannia on William 253 William St, Northbridge.

08 9227 6000, perthbritannia.com

Hotel Bambu Backpackers 75 - 77 Aberdeen St, Northbridge bambu.net.au

Emperor’s Crown 85 Stirling St, Northbridge.

1800 991 553, emperorscrown.com.au

Mountway Holiday Apartments 36 Mount St mountwayapartments.com.au Ocean Beach Backpackers 1 Eric St, Cottesloe oceanbeachbackpackers.com.au

Globe Backpackers & City Oasis Resort 561 Wellington St. 08 9321 4080, globebackpackers.com.au

BRITANNIA ON WILLIAM

Ocean Beach Backpackers 1 Eric St, Cottlesloe.

08 9384 5111, oceanbeachbackpackers.com.au One World Backpackers 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge.

1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au

@tnt_downunder

23 Wiliam St, Northbridge. Beds from $24 Located just 200 metres from the centre of the Perth CBD this comfortable hostel is also one of Western Australia’s most conveniently located.

Perth

perthbritannia.com

Perth City YHA 300 Wellington St. 08 9287 3333, yha.com.au

Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St, Northbridge.

08 9228 3755, undergroundbackpackers.com.au

The Old Swan Barracks 2-8 Francis St. 08 9428 0000, theoldswanbarracks.com

The Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St. 08 9228 4228, Witchs-hat.com

Backpack City and Surf 41-43 Money St backpacker.com.au Beatty Lodge 235 Vincent St beattylodge.com.au Cheviot Lodge 30 Bulwer St

Perth Beach YHA 256 West Coast Hwy, Scarbrough yha.com.au Planet Inn Backpackers 496 Newcastle St planetinn.com.au The Shiralee Hostel 107 Brisbane St, Northbridge shiralee.com.au

cheviotlodge.com Coolibah Lodge 194 Brisbane St coolibahlodge.com.au

Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St, undergroundbackpackers.com.au

Easy Perth Backpackers 4 Francis Street, Northbridge

Wickham Retreat Backpackers 25-27 Wickham St East Perth 08 9325 6398

easyperthbackpackers.com.au

Book online at www.integritycoachlines.com.au or call 08 9274 7464 (1800 226 339 free call W.A only)

HOP ON HOP OFF TICKET PERTH TO BROOME WITH UNLIMITED STOPS IN ONE DIRECTION FROM $329!

Your “Hopper” ticket is valid for 12 months!

Lots of time to explore the wonders of W.A. like Monkey Mia, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Kalbarri, Broome and many more.

With discounts for YHA, VIP & Nomad members, Integrity Coach Lines is well-priced, reliable and a great way to see Western Australia! Check us out online at integritycoachlines.com.au

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YMCA Jewell House 180 Goderich St ymcajewellhouse.com.au Coolibah Lodge 194 Brisbane St coolibahlodge.com.au

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

08 9447 7500, aqwa.com.au Kings Park & Botanic Garden bgpa.wa.gov.au Perth Mint 310 Hay St. 08 9421 7223, perthmint.com.au Perth Zoo 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth. 08 9474 3551, perthzoo.wa.gov.au Aviation Heritage Museum Bull Creek Drive, Air Force Memorial Estate, Perth. 08 9311 4470, raafawa.org.au St Mary’s Cathedral 17 Victoria Square,, Perth. 08 9223 1350, perthcatholic.org.au St George’s Cathedral 38 St George’s Terrace, Perth. 08 9325 5766, perthcathedral.org

Penguin Island 153 Arcadia Drive (corner of Penguin Road), Shoalwater, Perth. 08 9591 1333, penguinisland.com.au The Perth Mint 310 Hay Street, Perth. 08 9421 7376, perthmint.com.au Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth Cultural Centre/Roe St, Perth. 08 9492 6600, artgallery.wa.gov.au The WACA Nelson Crescent, East Perth. 08 9265 7222,, waca.com.au Perth Concert Hall 5 St George’s Terr., Perth. 08 9231 9900, perthconcerthall.com.au Western Australian Museum James St, Perth. 08 9212 3700, museum.wa.gov.au Crown Perth Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood. 08 9362 7777, crownperth.com.au Moonlight Cinema Synergy Parklan, Kings Park, Perth.

moonlight.com.auP

PERTH MUSIC

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK If you’re fond of a spot of bushwalking but don’t want to rule out a quick escape to the beach then Kalbarri is the place for you. This rugged coastl park covers a massive 1,000 sq km and is packed with both wildlife and wild flowers.

It’s centred around a dramatic gorge through which the Murchison River wind, presenting plenty of opportunities for spectacular lookouts.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

NINGALOO REEF Ningaloo Reef is 260km long and the only place in Australia that you can check out the whaleshark in all its glory. It is also a cracking location for snorkelling and diving in general, with super lovely colourful fish, turles, manta rays and the seasonal whalesharks that need to be seen to be believed. In some places the reef itself can be reached by just a short swim from shore, or you can take a boat out to some of the best spots. It’s about 1,200km north of Perth and on a west coast road trip it’s a good few days drive without being silly about it.

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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 Perth Arena pertharena.com.au Metro Cityl metroconcertclub.com The Newport Hotel thenewport.com Amplifier Capitol amplifiercapitol.com.au The Beat Megaclub thebeatmegaclub.com.au Ya-Ya’s ya-yas.com.au

FREO STAY Backpackers Inn Freo 11 Pakenham St. 08 9431 7065, backpackersinnfreo.com.au Old Firestation Backpackers 18 Phillimore St. 08 9430 5454, oldfirestation.com.au Sundancer Backpackers Resort 80 High St. 08 9336 6080, sundancerbackpackers.com Pirates Backpackers Resort 11 Essex St. 08 9335 6653, piratesbackpackers.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 The Shipwreck Galleries Cliff St, 08 9212 3700, museum.wa.gov.au Fremantle Arts Centre 1 Finnerty Street.

08 9432 9555, fac.org.au Spare Parts Puppet Theatre 1-9 Short St. 08 9335 5044, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

ROTTNEST ISL Rottnest Island YHA Kingstown Barracks.

08 9372 9780, yha.com.au

MARGARET RIVER Margaret River Lodge YHA 220 Railway Tce. 08 9757 9532, yha.com.au Harmony Forest 248 Sebbes Rd. 08 9757 7055, harmonyforest.com.au Surfpoint 12 Riedle Drive Prevally 08 9757 1777 surfpoint.com.au

$27fully ensuited from

per night

with

FREE breakfast

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

s

MONKEY MIA

alconie s with b All room

Monkey Mia Dolphin Lodge Monkey Mia Road Monkey Mia 1800 653 611, monkeymia.com.au

Comfortable

NINGALOO REEF

bunks

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

Tropic

Ningaloo Club Coral Bay 08 9948 5100, ningalooclub.com

al pool

area

Excape Backpackers YHA Murat Rd, Exmouth.

08 9949 1200, yha.com.au

Cafe

BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road.

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

CORAL BAY Ningaloo Club Robinson St ningalooclub.com

ESPERANCE Blue Waters Lodge YHA 299 Goldfields Rd, yha.com.au

EXMOUTH Pete’s Exmouth Backpackers YHA Cnr Truscott Cres & Murat Rd yha.com.au

& pool

table

• • • • • •

Swimming pool ALL rooms have air conditioning FREE on-site parking FOXTEL Internet café and WIFI Within walking distance of city and Northbridge • All rooms have private bathroom including the dorms

WINNER BEST HOSTEL IN WA 2007 FINALIST 2008-2013

Rottnest Express 1 Emma Place North Fremantle 1300 Go Rotto rottnestexpress.com.au

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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

CHECK IN

BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road.

1800 501 984, big4.com.au

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

Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers Third St. 08 8972 2722

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

KATHERINE DO

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

Airborne Solutions Scenic helicopter flights.

08 8972 2345 airbornesolutions.com.au

Gecko Lodge 146 Mitchell St. 1800 811 250, geckolodge.com.au Melaleuca on Mitchell 52 Mitchell St. 1300 723 437, momdarwin.com

ANNIE’S PLACE Traeger Avenue, Alice Springs. Dorms from $23 Offering free Wifi, free breakfast, free airport pick up and free luggage storage, this funky hostel in the heart of the Alice also has a rocking bar.

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

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

Alice Springs

anniesplace.com.au

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

08 8999 8264, magnt.nt.gov.au

Oz Jet Boating Stokes Hill Wharf.

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

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

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

ALICE SPRINGS Alice 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

@tnt_downunder

Haven Resort 3 Larapinta Drive.

1800 794 663, alicehaven.com.au Toddy’s Resort 41 Gap Rd. 1800 027 027, toddys.com.au

ALICE DO Alice Springs Desert Park Larapinta Drive.

08 8951 8788, alicespringsdesertpark.com.au Alice Springs Reptile Centre Meet and hold lizards.

9 Stuart Terrace.

08 8952 8900, reptilecentre.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 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

A

$ ns apply

Conditio

-

Terms & Conditions apply see website

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

KATA TJUTA (THE OLGAS) Experience Aboriginal history first hand with a breathtaking visit to Kata Tjuta. Situated not far from the Yulara region, the rock-based dome formations got their name from the largest one, Mount Olga. Mount Olga is about 1066m high, that’s 198m higher than Uluru. Created from a mix of cobbles, boulders, granite and sandstone, the red colour is an unforgettable sight for all.

Jump on a tour to learn all about the Aboriginal traditions and how many important ceremonies were, and still are, performed here, mainly at nightfall. The whole area is a national park, so there is plenty to stop off and see along the way. The bright red sand and Spinifex plants are among the main attractions that 500,000 tourists see every year.

Fly to Alice Springs from SYD/MELB from

$89.95

one way with Tiger Air TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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With 45+ New Zealand hostels, you can kayak alpine rivers, raft wild white waters or jetboat remote lakes and still sleep in comfort. YHA have got your accommodation sorted. Easy as.

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06_739p_72-77 TRAVEL_FEATURES NZ .indd 72

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NZ TRAVEL TRAVEL IDEAS | NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND LISTINGS

HANGING OUT IN CAVES /74 The incredible Waitomo Caves offer disco lights in the form of glow worms and thrills in the form of zip lines, canyoning and climbing through tiny crevices. Do it. Now.

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Waitomo Cave System NORTH ISLAND

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TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

SHORTTRIP

Don’t Waitomo-ment longer to go caving Adventures don’t come more epic than the Waitomo Caves – and we’ve got the inside scoop WORDS IAN ARMITAGE

New Zealand is a country that thrives on adventure, and the Kiwis have made it possible to jump, drive, slide, roll, fly or hike through pretty much any part of its terrain. The Waitomo Caves are one of the best examples of this and, while exploring the belly of the earth isn’t everybody’s idea of a good time, if you can muster the courage it’s worth heading deep down into a damp, dark tunnel for a day of extreme caving where you can explore a hidden world.

Waitomo, sitting in the heart of the North Island, is every caver’s wet dream. Hundreds of underground limestone caverns ageing back millions of years spiral deep below the surface, intertwining to create a subterranean labyrinth of Neolithic proportions.

Coupled with this geological marvel are thousands of glowworms (larvae with glow-in-the-dark poop), which help to create an unearthly underground world that mixes aesthetics and adrenaline to suitable measure.

Over the years, we’ve sent a few intrepid explorers down into the caves. Here, they share their experiences...

Finding the lost world Paul Franklin abseiled down a Waitomo sinkhole about 100m deep and tried out a ‘Lost World Epic’ tour with Waitomo Adventures. Here he shares his experience...

“Meaning ‘water passing through a hole’, Waitomo is just a village with a pub, campsite and a peculiar motel,” Paul tells.

“In the 1800s, a bunch of waistcoat-wearing chaps went to investigate the land’s suitability for a railroad and almost fell down a bloody great hole. This sinkhole is about 100m deep, and is where my brother and I commenced our ‘Lost World Epic’ tour.

“We were clad in rubber wetsuits that, if condoms, would be the opposite of Fetherlite, latched to a slender cable and dropped into a mossy abyss. I’ve abseiled before, but it’s different when you aren’t leaning against a sturdy wall.

You’re just dangling, easing out the rope, trying to find the balance between ‘too slow’ and ‘fuck, stop!’.”

The ‘Lost World’ title for the hole is apt, says Paul, since (a) you can see how someone might lose it, and (b) it’s Jurassic Park-like, with its prehistoric age and verdant rainforest feel.

“This is the beginning, the literal scratch on the surface of a 45km-stretch of limestone caves that concede the volume

of a double-decker bus each year to acid erosion.”

Once at the bottom, the pair scrambled up some hefty boulders and stopped to make amusing silhouettes against the backlit scene of the entrance behind. Nice.

“Venturing on, we saw the route we would’ve taken had it not recently rained,” Paul says. “Gushing is the word. Plan B seemed preferable to drowning, so we side-stepped that via some glowworms and braved a big ladder. After a surprisingly arduous climb that made my forearms ache like I had been whipping meringue for too long, we ducked and dived and occasionally crawled until we reached a rope and a hole.

We clipped on, turned around, and abseiled down a drop of unknown height whilst a gush of cold water coursed over us.

You know those ‘invigorating’ shower gel adverts? Similar, minus the minty aroma.

“After I’d hit the bottom, fallen on to my arse and stood up again, I got my bearings (‘I’m somewhere in a dark wet hole’) and splodged to one side. Once we were all down, grinning like soggy hyenas, the guides led us through more tricky channels and to another waterfall. We were made to tuck our limbs in and turn out our headlights... then we dropped into darkness. Screaming like we were on a log flume... without the log.” ››

›› TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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produces an echo and the knowledge that an ancient Maori burial ground is nearby provides a chilling atmosphere.

“The butterflies in my stomach have not yet settled, but soon guides Drew (a chirpy Canadian) and Jed (a super-chilled Kiwi) are taking us through a practice run, teaching us how to use our carabiner clips which attach to the ropes snaking throughout the cave system. We get taught to fight our instincts and lean back on the ropes, relying on our metal clips. We’re also reminded of the buddy system – looking out for our appointed partner at all times – before we squeeze into a crevice and make an ascent along what appears to be just a minute crack in a massive limestone slab.

“I creep gingerly onto a tiny ledge and begin the painstaking task of attaching and unlatching my three carabiners as I shuffle along in my gumboots, part of a slow army of human spider-walkers, silent except for the clacking of the clips and Drew’s ever-enthusiastic cheer leading. At some places in the cave there doesn’t even seem to be a ledge, and I peer into the shadowy stone in search of a foothold.

There’s always one to be found, though; it’s amazing how resourceful you can be when you’re miles underground, living only on your wits and the strength of your rope.”

“You learn things about yourself in a place like Ruakuri.

Fears are conquered; new strength is discovered; and you learn that even in the darkness your determination can light a path for you.”

Jahn’s tour took four hours and all his equipment was provided, as was a hot shower and some soup at the end of his adventure. Black Odyssey Tours take place twice daily and cost AUS$175. waitomo.com/black-water-rafting.aspx Further on, past ancient whalebones and oyster fossils, he met another waterfall. But this one he had to go up. He had the option of using a ladder to the side or to climb it. Paul climbed.

The first few metres were easy enough, but near the top was an overhang and a narrow cleft to wriggle through.

“The guide at the top urged me on, but I found I was hindered not only by my belt buckle snagging in the tight gap, but my right boot, filled with water, which was surprisingly heavy to lift. With one big push and a tennis player grunt, I made it. Then I crawled through a few more passages into yet another cave, flicked off my light, and enjoyed a chocolate bar in total blackness.

“Eventually, after a relatively gentle ascent but still flanked by some vertiginous drops, we emerged, blinking, through a small leafy hole into the daylight. My immediate thoughts were, ‘I could do that all over again, right now’. But, next on the agenda was a hot shower, which I happily settled for.”

Paul’s tour took seven hours and costs $490 (it is cheaper if you book an Early Bird special). The Lost World Epic includes lunch, a dinner barbecue meal and all drinks. Take your swimwear and towel. Booking is essential. waitomo.co.nz

The descent We sent Jahn Vannisselroy to Waitomo’s main attraction, Ruakuri Cave, for a day of extreme caving with Waitomo’s Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. Here he shares his take on the Black Odyssey experience...

“As we enter Ruakuri through two massive doors and stamp our way down a seemingly never-ending spiral staircase, the feeling is a descent into the underworld. The smallest sound 76

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WAI

Become part of the legend with New Zealand’s original Black Water Rafting company. Experience the exhilarating world of ancient caves, rivers, waterfalls and breath taking glowworms.

NEW!

Climb, leap and float with the Black Labyrinth or descend into the black, bottomless depths with the ultimate caving tour, the Black Abyss. Or try our newest adventure, the Black Odyssey, a caving and high wire ropes tour, that will push you to the limit.

BOOK NOW! 0800 228 464 +64 7 878 6219 www.waitomo.com 739 NZ TRIP Waitomo.indd 77 WAI255_BWR TNT NZ_Full Page_Feb2013.indd 1

1/03/2014 12:56 am 13/02/13 4:33 PM

NORTHISLAND AUCKLAND

follow us on ever lived and experience a Maori cultural show.

09 309 0443, aucklandmuseum.com

BOOK NOW!

In Maori language the city’s name is Tamaki Makau Rau, which translates as “the city of 100 lovers”. Auckland is admired for its cosmopolitan flavour, its sunny harbour and for the fact that it makes every other city in NZ feel like a small town.

Auckland Zoo See kiwi birds in the nocturnal house and over 900 animals.

09 360 3800, aucklandzoo.co.nz Coast to Coast Walkway A walk between Waitemata Harbour and Manukau Harbour.

It takes about four hours and takes in Albert Park, Auckland Uni, Auckland Domain, Mt Eden, and One Tree Hill.

i-SITE Auckland Atrium, skycity, Cnr Federal & Victoria Sts Backpackers World Travel 16-20 Fort St, 09 300 9999, backpackersworld.com i-SITE Visitor Information 287 Queen St, 09 979 2333, aucklandnz.com Ferry Tickets Online (For inter-island ferry services) 39 Beach Rd, 0800 500 660, ferrytickets.co.nz Department of Conservation Auckland Details on tramping, camping grounds, the Gulf Islands and exploring the regional parks.

137 Quay St Cnr, Princes Wharf, open Mon-Fri (9am-5am); SatSun (10am-4pm), 09 379 6476 Airport Transport The airport is 21km from the city and shuttle buses run every half an hour.

Airbus Airport is every 20 mins.

0800 247 287, airbus.co.nz City buses Tickets and timetables are available from the 10 central city Star Mart stores.

09 366 6400, maxx.co.nz Auckland InterCity Travel Centre Buses around Auckland and the rest of New Zealand leave from here. Located beside the casino, Hobson St, 09 583 5780, intercity.co.nz Train Intercity trains arrive and depart from Britomart, 12 Queen St, Auckland.

09 366 6400, transdev.co.nz

AUCKLAND STAY Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere.

09 275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584, aucklandinternationalbp.co.nz Base Backpackers Auckland 229 Queen St. 09 358 4877, stayatbase.com Bamber House (BBH) 22 View Rd, Mt Eden.

09 623 4267, bbh.com BK Hostel (BBH) 3 Mercury Ln, Central.

09 307 0052, bkhostel.co.nz

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KIWI INTERNATIONAL HOTEL 411 Queen St, Auckland. Dorms from $59 Kiwi International Hotel offers quality, value, comfort and friendly service right in the heart of Auckland.

Auckland

kiwihotel.co.nz

City Garden Lodge (BBH) 25 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell.

09 302 0880 citygardenlodge.co.nz City Groove Backpackers (BBH) 6 Constitutional Hill, Parnell.

09 303 4768.

Kiwi International Hotel 411 Queen St. 0800 100 411, kiwihotel.co.nz Auckland Airport Kiwi Hotel 150 McKenzie Road, Mangere.

09 256 0046, kiwiairporthotel.co.nz

09 378 8990, uenukulodge.co.nz Surf ‘n’ Snow Backpackers 102 Albert St. 09 363 8889, surfandsnow.co.nz The Brown Kiwi (BBH) 7 Prosford St, Ponsonby.

09 378 0191, brownkiwi.co.nz Verandahs (BBH) 6 Hopetown St. 09 360 4180, verandahs.co.nz

Lantana Lodge (BBH) 60 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell.

09 373 4546, lantanalodge.co.nz

YHA Auckland City 18 Liverpool St. 09 309 2802, yha.co.nz

The Fat Camel (Nomads) 38 Fort St. 09 307 0181, nomadsworld.com

YHA Auckland International 5 Turner St. 09 302 8200, yha.co.nz

Borders Beyond 8 Nixon St, Grey Lynn.

09 360 9880, bordersbeyond.co.nz Nomads Auckland 16-20 Fort St. 09 300 9999, nomadshostels.com Oaklands Lodge (BBH) 5A Oaklands Rd, Mt Eden.

09 638 6545, oaklands.co.nz Pentlands (BBH) 22 Pentland Ave, Mt Eden. +64 9638 7031 pentlands.co.nz Ponsonby Backpackers (BBH) 2 Franklin Rd, Ponsonby.

09 360 1311, ponsonby-backpackers.co.nz Princeton Backpackers 30 Symonds St. 09 963 8300, princeton.net.nz Queen Street Backpackers 4 Fort St. 09 373 3471, qsb.co.nz Uenuku Lodge (BBH) 217 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby.

AUCKLAND DO Explorer Bus Sightseeing around Auckland, 0800 439 756 explorerbus.co.nz Sealink Ferries can take you all over the harbour. Info about timetables and destinations are available online on the Sealink website.

0800 732 546, sealink.co.nz America’s Cup Sailing Experience A unique opportunity to participate as crew on an actual America’s Cup yacht. Take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the action as you sail the beautiful Waitemata Harbour.

The two hour sails departs daily from the Auckland Viaduct. No experience necessary.

09 359 5987, explorenz.co.nz Auckland Museum See the world’s finest collection of Maori and Pacific Island artefacts. Explore New Zealand’s natural history, discover the largest bird that

Devonport A 15-minute ferry or bus ride across the harbour on the north shore, Devonport is an idyllic setting for a picnic or a stroll along the beach.

Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World A seawater aquarium with a moving walkway through a transparent underwater cavern.

Antarctic Encounter is a recreation of an Antarctic environment where you jump on a snow mobile and tour a penguin colony, get attacked by an orca whale.

Orakei Wharf, Tamaki Drive.

0800 80 50 50, kellytarltons.co.nz Mt Eden The highest point in the city, 4km south of the city centre with spectacular views. Get there by bus.

NZ National Maritime Museum The museum celebrates NZ’s maritime heritage.

09 373 0800, nzmaritimemuseum.co.nz

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sheltered waters of Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and is world famous for its sailing and dining cruises. Join them for a coffee, lunch, dinner, Waiheke sailing experience cruise or a full-day sailing adventure and experience the “City of Sails” for what it is known for.

0800 397 567, exploregroup.net Auckland Bridge Climb Up and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Westhaven Reserve, Curran St, Herne Bay. 09 360 7748, bungy.co.nz Auckland Harbour Bridge Jump NZ’s only ocean touch bungy, 40m high. Westhaven Reserve, Curran St, Herne Bay. 09 360 7748, bungy.co.nz Canyonz Ltd Explore subtropical canyons and abseil down crashing waterfalls.

0800 422 696, canyonz.co.nz New Zealand Surf Tours Learn to surf on uncrowded, beautiful beaches.

09 828 0426, newzealandsurftours.com Sky Jump Fall from the top of the 192m Sky Tower, 0800 759 586, skyjump.co.nz Sky Walk Walk around the external 1.2m wide platform, 192m up.

0800 759925, skywalk.co.nz Fullers Bay of Islands Tours One, two and three-day tours from Auckland.

09 367 9111, fullers.co.nz

Ponsonby West of the city, explore Victorian architecture and narrow streets with cafés, bars, clothes shops, art galleries and Awesome Adventures Three-day Bay of Islands tours. some lively nightlife.

0800 658 058, awesomenz.com Queen Street Auckland’s main boulevard with Beaches shops, cafés and restaurants.

Auckland is surrounded by great beaches, including Judges Bay, Whale & Dolphin Safari Kohimarama, Okahu Bay, St See whales and dolphins from Heliers Bay and popular Mission Auckland’s doorstep. The Hauraki Gulf is considered one Bay. of the most biologically and Aotea Square Markets geographically diverse marine Every Friday and Saturday at parks in the world. See Aotea Square, Queen St. NZ dolphins, whales, sea birds and/ fashion labels, retro gear, foods, or even penguins. Dolphins are Pacific-style crafts, jewellery viewed on over 90% and whales and furniture, on 75% of trips. Departs daily 09 309 2677, from the Auckland Viaduct. the-edge.co.nz Dolphin viewing guaranteed.

09 357 6032, Victoria Park Market exploregroup.co.nz 3km from the CBD, an outdoor market with fruit, veggies, Fullers Cruises books, clothes and handicrafts.

Inner harbour cruises and longer cruises to Hauraki Gulf islands, with all-day passes and hop-on, GREAT BARRIER hop-off options.

09 367 9111, This unique island destination is fullers.co.nz dominated by a native forest a network of criss-crossing tracks.

Pride of Auckland thebarrier.co.nz The Pride of Auckland operates an impressive fleet of large, Orama Oasis purpose-built yachts on the Karaka Bay Rd,

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09 429 0063, orama.org.nz Stray Possum Lodge (VIP) Stray Possum Lodge is situated on the beautiful Hauraki Gulf 09 429 0109, straypossum.co.nz

BARRIER DO Fullers Cruises Depart from the Ferry Building.

09 367 9111, fullers.co.nz Great Barrier Airlines Fly out of Auckland Airport or Auckland Shore Airfield.

09 275 6612, greatbarrierairlines.co.nz Fullers Great Barrier Explorers Cruise and tours, summer only (October-April).

09 367 9111, fullers.co.nz

WAIHEKE ISLAND A 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland. It is popular for its long sweeping beaches and craft shops.

Hekerua Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 11 Hekerua Rd, Oneroa, 09 372 8990, hekerualodge.co.nz Kina Backpackers 421 Seaview Road, Onetangi, 09 372 8971, kinabackpackers.co.nz

HELENSVILLE The hot springs here have indoor and outdoor thermal pools and waterslides.

Malolo House (BBH) 110 Commercial Rd, 09 420 7262, helensville.co.nz

HIBISCUS COAST Orewa Beach Hillary Square, Orewa 09 426 2638, orewabeach.co.nz Marco Polo Backpackers Inn (BBH) 2d Hammond Ave, Orewa North, 0800 426 8455, orewabackpackers.co.nz

SAIL ROCK Hen & Chickens Island and Sail Rock These offshore areas offer great sailing and diving. Boat trips leave from the area daily.

Waipu Wanderer (BBH) 25 St Marys Rd, 09 432 0532 bbh.co.nz

WHANGAREI Whangarei I-SITE Visitor Centre 92 Otaika Rd, 09 438 1079 whangareinz.com

WHANGAREI STAY Bunkdown Lodge (BBH) 23 Otaika Road, 09 438 8886, bunkdownlodge.co.nz Little Earth Lodge (BBH) 85 Abbey Caves Road, 09 430 6562, littleearthlodge.co.nz Piano Hill Farm (BBH) Piano Hill, Kauri, 09 433 7090, thefarm.co.nz YHA Whangarei Manaakitanga 52 Punga Grove Ave, 09 438 8954, yha.co.nz

WHANGAREI DO Dive! Tutukaka Poor Knights Islands dives, plus tours with kayaking, cave explorations, snorkelling, swimming, sea mammal-spotting.

PAIHIA Paihia is one of the most beautiful towns on the North Island with equal parts love for adventure, nature and a raucous nightlife.

AwesomeNZ Tours include Maori mythology, dolphin swimming and fast boats. Maritime Building, on the waterfront, 09 402 7421, awesomenz.com Bay of Islands i-Site The Wharf, Marsden Rd, 09 402 7345, paihia.co.nz

PAIHIA STAY Base Backpackers Bay of Islands 18 Kings Rd 09 402 7111, stayatbase.com Captain Bob’s Beachhouse (BBH) 44 Davis Crescent, 09 402 8668, capnbobs.co.nz Centabay Lodge (BBH) 27 Selwyn Rd, 09 402 7466, centabay.co.nz Admirals View Motel 2 MacMurray Rd, 09 402 6236, admiralviewlodge.co.nz Mousetrap (BBH) 11 Kings Rd, 09 402 8182, mousetrap.co.nz Peppertree Lodge (BBH) 15 Kings Rd, 09 402 6122, peppertree.co.nz Pickled Parrot Backpackers Grey’s Lane, 09 402 6222, pickledparrot.co.nz Saltwater Lodge (BBH) 14 Kings Rd, 09 402 7075, saltwaterlodge.co.nz

PAIHIA DO Haruru Falls Picturesque falls offering swimming, camping and kayaking opportunities – and a pub!

Opua Forest The DOC provides a leaflet of forest walks, which features a small stand of Kauri trees. Drive into the forest via Oromahoe Rd or walk from School Rd. Te Rawhiti Cape Brett Walkway Guided tours include experienced local Maori guides, all meals, hut accommodation, transport by boat to hut taking in the famous Hole in the Rock, Maori culture, myths and legends and hangi, capebrettwalks.co.nz Waitangi Treaty Grounds The site where the historic Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

Also see carvings that represent all Maori tribes in NZ and one of the largest ceremonial waka (canoe) in the world, launched every Waitangi Day (Feb 6).

09 402 7437, waitangi.net.nz Boat cruises & dolphin watching Cape Brett “Hole in the Rock” Cruise Four-hour cruises, dolphincruises.co.nz Dolphin Discoveries With the warmest water and friendliest dolphins (bottlenoses), this is a great place for swimming with the dolphins (conditions permitting).

The high-speed luxury catamaran offers easy access to the water and hot showers. Or do a “Hole in the Rock and Dolphin Viewing Experience” and see dolphins, whales, birds and other wildlife. Visit Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island during your island stop and explore this amazing place.

0800 000 784, exploregroup.co.nz Dune Rider Unique Adventure Tour Make your way up to Cape Reinga while traveling to the Gumdiggers Park and drive along the famous Ninety Mile Beach. Climb huge sand dunes and boogie board back down on the way and stop at the world famous Mangonui Fish Shop for fish and chips. Departing daily from Paihia. exploregroup.co.nz Sale Lion New Zealand: “The Ultimate Day Sail in the Bay” Join Lion New Zealand, NZ’s legendary maxi yacht. The friendly crew will show you the ropes and share the stories of the Bay and Legend of Sir Peter Blake.

0800 000 784, exploregroup.co.nz Awesome Cape Reinga Via Ninety Mile Beach – learn Maori myths and legends, navigate the quicksand stream, ride the dunes, visit a thousand year old forest.

0800 653 339, awesomenz.com

RUSSELL

KARIKARI PENIN

Catch a ferry to Russell, originally a sprawling fortified Maori settlement.

Information Centre End of the Pier, Russell 09 403 8020, exploregroup.co.nz

The Rusty Anchor (BBH) 1 Tokerau Beach Rd, 09 406 7141, rustyanchor.hostel.com

KAITAIA

RUSSELL STAY

The ideal starting point for Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach.

The Coast Road Farm Coast Rd, Whangaruru, 09 433 6894, thefarm.co.nz Pukeko Cottage 14 Brind Rd, 09 403 8498, pukekocottagebackpackers.co.nz Pipi Patch Backpackers 18 Kings Road, 09 403 7111.

Pukenui Lodge Corner Wharf Rd & State Hwy 1, Houhora, 09 409 8837, pukenuilodge.co.nz Mainstreet Lodge 235 Commerce St, 09 408 1275 mainstreetlodge.co.nz

KERIKERI

KAITAIA DO

A highlight of the sparsely populated town is the wonderful Maori village.

There is also an historic Maori pa (fortress) and the Kerikeri Mission Station. kerikeri.co.nz

Ancient Kauri Kingdom Giant kauri tree stumps are fashioned into furniture and other trinkets.

KERIKERI STAY Kerikeri Top 10 Holiday Park & Aranga Backpackers Aranga Drive off Kerikeri Rd, 0800 272 642, kerikeritop10.co.nz

Pack or Paddle Thoms Landing, 09 4098 445, packorpaddle@hotmail.com

AHIPARA

Hideaway Lodge Wiroa Rd, 0800 562 746 kerikeri.co.nz

Ahipara Holiday Park 168-170 Takehe St, 09 409 4864, ahiparaholidaypark.co.nz

Hone Heke Lodge (BBH) 65 Hone Heke Rd, 09 407 8170, honeheke.co.nz

Endless Summer Lodge (BBH) 245 Foreshore Rd, 09 409 4181, endlesssummer.co.nz

Kerikeri Farm Hostel (BBH) Springbank Rd, 09 407 6989, kerikeri.co.nz

AHIPARA DO

MATAURI BAY A very well-kept tourist secret, Matauri Bay is Maori land, home to the Ngati Kura people, and has beautiful, quiet beaches.

The Welcome Swallow Backpackers 249 Hikuru Rd, Off Matauri Bay Rd, 09 405 1019, welcomeswallow.com

WHANGAROA This area was once well known for its Kauri forests, but these days it’s more about game fishing. The scenery is ruggedly spectacular and sailing cruises are popular.

Sunseeker Lodge (BBH) Old Hospital Rd, 09 405 0496, sunseekerlodge.co.nz

Tuatua Tours Guided quad tours of Ninety Mile Beach sand dunes. 3 Main Road, 0800 494 288, tuatuatours.co.nz

HOKIANGA

The Rainbow Warrior A monument to the noble but doomed Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, sits on the site of a Maori pa on the headland at Matauri Bay. Travellers come here to dive the ship’s wreck.

Tourist info centre Boyd Gallery, 09 405 0230, whangaroa.co.nz

Far North Regional Museum Featuring all kinds of goodies, like the skeleton of a giant moa bird and salvages from local shipwrecks.

Heading south, you’ll hit Hokianga Harbour and the quiet twin towns of Omapere and Opononi. The Koutu Boulders are worth a look.

Hokianga Information 09 405 8869, hokianga.co.nz

HOKIANGA STAY Okopako Lodge (BBH) 140 Mountain Rd, Whirinaki, 09 405 8815, bbh.co.nz Globetrekkers Lodge (BBH) 281 State Highway 12, Omapere, 09 405 8183, globetrekkerslodge.com The Tree House Backpackers Lodge 168 West Coast Rd, Motukaraka 09 405 5855, treehouse.co.nz

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On the road from Hokianga, the famous “Big Trees”, the native kauri trees of Waipoua Kauri Forest. Once in Dargaville, attractions include the masts from the ill-fated Rainbow Warrior and the fascinating bird sanctuary nearby.

Dargaville Holiday Park 10 Onslow St, 09 439 8296, kauriparks.co.nz

Travellers Lodge (BBH) 64 Jellicoe Rd, Ruawai, 09 439 2283, bbh.co.nz Matakohe House B&B Hotel 24 Church Rd, RD1, 0800 492 452, matakohehouse.co.nz

WAIKATO Waikato District Info Centre 160 Great South Rd, Huntly, 07 828 6406, info@waikatodistrict.govt.nz, waikatodistrict.govt.nz Shekinah (BBH) 122 Pungapunga Rd, Pukekawa, 09 233 4464, shekinahbackpackers.co.nz Raglan Kopua Holiday Park Marine Parade, Raglan, 07 825 8283, stay@raglanholidaypark.co.nz, raglanholidaypark.co.nz

HAMILTON NZ’s largest inland city and is known for its parks and gardens.

Hamilton Visitor Centre Corner Caro and Alexandra St, Hamilton, 07 839 3580 visithamilton.co.nz DOC Office 73, Rostrevor St. 07 858 1000

HAMILTON STAY Backpackers Central 846 Victoria Street, 07 839 1928, backpackerscentral.co.nz Forty Winks (BBH) 267 River Rd, Claudelands, 07 855 2033, bbh.co.nz

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WAITOMO

BROWN KIWI 7 Prosford St, Freeman’s Bay. Dorms from $28 An unassuming little hostel, known for being gay friendly and also close to great shopping. Also boasts a neat garden courtyard.

Kaihu Farm (BBH) 334 State Highway 12, Kaihu, 09 439 4004.

MATAKOHE

TE KUITI STAY Casara Mesa Backpackers (BBH) Mangarino Rd, 07 878 6697, bbh.co.nz

Otorohanga kiwi House & Native Bird Park 20 Alex Telfer Drive, 07 873 7391, kiwihouse.org.nz

DARGAVILLE STAY

The Greenhouse Hostel (BBH) 15 Gordon St, 09 439 6342, bbh.co.nz

OTOROHANGA Just 59km south of Hamilton, many travellers use this small farming community as a base for visiting the Waitomo Caves.

Otorohanga Visitor Info Centre 27 Turongo St, 07 873 8951, otorohanga.co.nz

Dargaville Info Centre 4 Murdoch St, 09 439 4975, dargaville.co.nz

Auckland

brownkiwi.co.nz

J’s Backpackers (BBH) 8 Grey Street, 07 856 8934, jsbackpackers.co.nz Eagle’s Nest Backpackers 937 Victoria St, 07 838 2704, eaglesbackpackers.co.nz Microtel YHA 140 Ulster St, 07 957 1848, microtel.co.nz YWCA Hostel Cnr Clarence & Pembroke St, 07 838 2219, hamilton.ywca.org.nz

HAMILTON DO Waikato Museum of Art & History Cnr Victoria and Grantham Sts. More than 3,000 items, with a permanent Maori War canoe.

Gold coin donations welcomed.

MATAMATA Rural town famous for being turned into Hobbiton in those films – some of the set still stands.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, 07 888 1505, office@hobbitontours.com

CAMBRIDGE This very Olde English town with its town square and abundance of trees is in the heart of Waikato. The region is famous for its horses and jetboating.

Cambridge Info Centre Cnr Queen and Victoria Sts, 07 823 3456 cambridge.co.nz

RAGLAN One of New Zealand’s best-known surfing beaches, Raglan is situated 48km west of Hamilton.

Raglan Information Centre 2 Wainui Rd,

07 825 7076, ragland.org.nz

RAGLAN STAY Solscape Eco Retreat Backpackers 611 Wainui Rd, 07 825 8268, solscape.co.nz Raglan Backpackers 6 Wi Neera St, 07 825 0515, raglanbackpackers.co.nz Karioi Backpacker Lodge (VIP, BBH) & Raglan Surfing School 5 Whaanga Rd, Whale Bay, 07 825 7873, karioilodge.co.nz Dream View Farmstays 430 Te Hutewai Rd, 07 825 8186 dreamview.co.nz Raglan Kopua Holiday Park 61 Marine Parade, 07 825 8283, raglanholidaypark.co.nz Raglan Farmhouse and Flashpackers 61 Marine Parade, 07 825 8747, raglanfarmstay.com

TE AWAMUTU Given that it calls itself the “Rose Town of New Zealand”, it’s not surprising the 2,000-strong Rose Garden is the town’s major attraction.

Te Awamutu Info Centre 1 Gorst Ave, 07 871 3259, teawamutuinfo.com Te Awamutu District Museum 135 Roche St. 07 872 0085 tamuseum.org.nz

KAWHIA The main attraction of this peaceful port town, 55km south of Raglan, is the Maketu Marae where you can experience the rich cultural tapestry of NZ’s indigenous history.

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Definitely one of the best adventure spots in New Zealand. There are a range of caving adventures here.

Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre 21 Waitomo Caves Rd, 0800 474 839, waitomocaves.com

WAITOMO STAY Juno Hall (BBH) 600 Waitomo Caves Rd, 07 878 7649 junowaitomo.co.nz Kiwi Paka Hotel Caves 256, Access Rd, 07 878 3395 waitomokiwipaka.co.nz Rap Raft & Rock Backpackers (BBH) 95 Waitomo Caves Rd, 07 873 9149, bbh.co.nz

WAITOMO DO Dundle Hill Walk A two-day walk through native bush; limestone outcrops includes overnight with spectacular views at Kays Cabin.

07 878 7640 dundlehillwalk.com Marakopa Falls, Managapohue Natural Bridge and Piri Piri Cave, 30 minutes drive from Waitomo.

Rap Raft ‘n’ Rock Blackwater adventures combining abseiling, rafting, glowworms, caving and rockclimbing all in one five-hour adventure.

0800 228 372, caveraft.com The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co Cave tubing in the blackness of the Ruakuri Cave river. 585 Waitomo Caves Rd, 07 878 6219, waitomo.com

TE KUITI

OTOROHANGA Just 59km south of Hamilton, many travellers use this small farming community as a base for visiting the Waitomo Caves.

Otorohanga Visitor Info Centre 27 Turongo St, otorohanga.co.nz

OROMANDEL PEN A series of towns loop around the peninsula, broken by rolling green hills. Highlights include Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove and the cosy little Coromandel township.

THAMES A great canyoning spot, with loads of natural pools and waterslides.

Information Thames 206 Poland St, 07 868 7284 thamesinfo.co.nz DOC Office Pahau St, 07 867 9180 doc.govt.nz

THAMES STAY Dickson Holiday Park 115 Victoria St, 07 868 7308, Gateway Backpackers (BBH) 209 Mackay St, 07 868 6339, bbh.co.nz Sunkist International Backpackers 506 Brown St, 07 868 8808, sunkistbackpackers.co.nz Te Aroha YHA Hostel Miro Street, Te Aroha (south of Thames), 07 884 8739, yha.co.nz

COROMANDEL Some 55km north of Thames is the town of Coromandel, home to the popular Driving Creek Railway.

Coromandel Information Centre 335 Kapanga Rd, 07 866 8598, coromandeltown.co.nz

CORO STAY Anchor Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 448 Wharf Rd, 07 866 7992, anchorlodgecoromandel.co.nz Black Jack Backpackers (BBH) Kuaotunu, 07 866 2988, black-jack.co.nz

Te Kuiti Information Centre Rora St, 07 878 8077.

Colville Farm (BBH) 2140 Colville Road, Colville, 07 866 6820

Dept of Conservation 78 Taupiri Street, 07 878 1080.

Mahamudra Retreat Colville Rd, 07 866 6851 mahamudra.org.nz

Tiffany’s Cafe, 241 Rora St, 07 878 7640

Lions Den (BBH) 126 Te Tiki St, 07 866 8157 ionsdenhostel.co.nz

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Coromandel Top 10 Holiday Park (BBH) 636-732 Rings Rd, 07 866 8830, coromandeltop10.co.nz Tui Lodge (BBH) 60 Whangapoua Rd, 07 866 8237, coromandeltuilodge.co.nz

OPOUTERE This is a good place to go to just chill out. The beach here is glorious and generally empty. Skinny dip anyone?

YHA Opoutere 389 Opoutere Rd, 07 865 9072, yha.co.nz

WHANGAMATA A real surfie town, Whangamata has one of the best surf beaches in New Zealand and a laidback atmosphere to match.

Whangamata Info Centre 616 Port Rd, 07 865 8340 Southpacific Accommodation 245 Port Rd, 07 865 9580, thesouthpacific.co.nz Whangamata Backpackers Hostel (BBH) 227 Beverley Tce, 07 865 8323 Whangamata-backpackers.co.nz

WHITIANGA Whitianga, perched on pretty Mercury Bay, is the most popular stop-off point for travellers on the Coromandel. You can learn to make your very own bone carving, dive and surf to your heart’s content.

Whitianga Information Centre 118 Oceanview Rd, 09 372 1234 whitianga.co.nz Baywatch Backpackers (VIP) 22 The Esplanade, 07 866 5481, whitianga.co.nz/baywatch Cathedral Cove Lodge 41 Harsant Ave, Hahei Beach, 07 866 3889, cathedralcove.co.nz Cat’s Pyjamas Backpackers (BBH) 12 Albert St, 07 866 4663, cats-pyjamas.co.nz Fernbird (BBH) 24 Harsant Ave, Hahei, 07 866 3080, bbh.co.nz On the Beach Backpackers Lodge (BBH, YHA) 46 Buffalo Beach Rd, 07 866 5380, onthebeachbackpackers.co.nz Seabreeze Tourist Park (BBH) 1043 SH25 Tairua-Whitianga Rd, 07 866 3050

Tatahi Lodge (BBH) 9 Grange Rd, Hahei, 07 866 3992, tatahilodge.co.nz

TAURANGA One of the fastest growing places in NZ, Tauranga combines a young population with a harbourside atmosphere. Enjoy diving, sailing, fishing and surfing.

Tauranga i-site 95 Willow St, 07 578 8103 bayofplenty.co.nz Department of Conservation 253 Chadwick Rd West, 07 578 7677

TAURANGA STAY Appletree Cottage 47 Maxwell Rd, 07 576 4001 appletreebackpackers.co.nz

Just The Ducks Nuts Backpackers (BBH) 6 Vale St, 07 576 1366, justtheducksnuts.co.nz Loft 109 (BBH) 8/109 Devonport Rd, 07 579 5638, loft109.co.nz Tauranga Central Backpackers 64 Willow St, 07 571 6222, tgabackpack.co.nz YHA Tauranga 171 Elizabeth St, 07 578 5064, yha.co.nz

TAURANGA DO Butler’s Swim With Dolphins 101 Te Awanui Dr, 0508 288 537 Waimarino Adventure Park 07 576 4233, waimarino.com

Harbourside City Backpackers (BBH) 105 The Strand, 07 579 4066, backpacktauranga.co.nz

Coyote Bar and Restaurant 107 The Strand, 07 578 8968.

Bell Lodge (BBH) 39 Bell St, Judea, 07 578 6344, bell-lodge.co.nz

Te Puke Information Centre 130 Jellicoe St, 07 573 9172 tepuke.co.nz

TE PUKE

TE PUKE STAY Hairy Berry Backpacker Hostel 2 No One Rd, Te Puke, 07 573 8015, work@hairyberrynz.com Kiwi Corral Backpackers 26 Young Road, 07 573 4530, kiwicorral.co.nz Blue Tide Beachfront Retreat 7 Te Awhe Rd, Maketu Beach, 07 533 2033, bluetides.co.nz

TE PUKE DO Kiwifruit Country Young Rd, 07 573 6340, kiwifruitcountry.co.nz Gotcha Paintball, 720 State Highway 33, Paengaroa, 022 649 1158

WHAKATANE For a very different adventure, visit White Island, an active volcano where sulphur-lipped fumeroles and roaring steam vents create a stark wonderland. whakatane.com Karibu Backpackers (BBH) 13 Landing Rd, 07 307 8276 Whakatane Hotel 79 The Strand, 07 307 1670

CATHEDRAL COVE MARINE RESERVE A popular holiday destination for Kiwis, in particular Aucklanders, the Coromandel Peninsula boasts scenic bushland, superb beaches and cosy villages. While there is a huge summer pilgrimage to the Coromandel – about an hour’s drive south-east of Auckland – there’s plenty of room for everyone.

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NORTHISLAND Windsor Lodge Backpackers 10 Merritt St, Whakatane, 07 308 8040, windsorlodge-backpackers.co.nz

WHAKATANE DO Dive White 168 The Strand, 0800 348 394, divewhite.co.nz White Island Tours Departs Whakatane daily.

15 The Strand.

07 308 9588 whiteisland.co.nz The Wharf Shed Restaurant 2/2 The Strand E. 07 308 5698 Roquette Restaurant & Bar 23/29 Quay St. 07 307 0722 Wallys on the Wharf 2 The Strand, 07 307 0722, wallysonthewharf.co.nz

ROTORUA Rotorua is a must for three reasons: the abundance of accessible Maori culture, the steaming volcanic scenery and adrenalin thrills.

Tourism Rotorua & Visitor Info Centre 1167 Fenton St, 07 348 5179 rotoruanz.com

ROTORUA STAY Base Backpackers Rotorua 1286 Arawa St, 07 348 8636, stayatbase.com Cactus Jack Backpackers 1210 Haupapa St, 0800 122 228 cactusjackbackpackers.com YHA Rotorua 1278 Haupapa St, 07 349 4088, yha.co.nz Astray Motel & Backpackers 1202 Pukuatua St, 07 348 1200, astray.co.nz Blarney’s Rock Backpackers 1210 Tutanekai St, 07 343 7904, blarneysrock.com Crash Palace Backpackers 1271 Hinemaru St, 07 348 842, crashpalace.co.nz Kiwipaka 60 Tarewa Rd, 07 347 0931, kiwipaka.co.nz

Agroventures Five adrenalin activities in one adventure park, including bungy jumping, sprint boats and a wind tunnel.

1335 Paradise Valley Rd. 07 357 4747, agroventures.co.nz Hell’s Gate Mud baths to heal and stimulate your body hellsgate.co.nz Kaitiaki Adventures Extreme whitewater activities.

Sledging and rafting trips on the Kaituna and Rangitaiki Rivers, 0800 338 736, kaitiaki.co.nz Off Road NZ Sprint car racing, Monster 4X4, 4WD Bush Safari and more, 07 332 5748, offroadnz.co.nz Polynesian Spa Historical hot mineral water bathing spa on the edge of Lake Rotorua, 07 348 1328, polynesianspa.co.nz Raftabout Whitewater rafting and sledging, 0800 723 822, raftabout.co.nz Skyline Skyrides Spectacular Get the best views and luge down 5km of tracks, or take the 150ft skyswing, 07 347 0027, skylineskyrides.co.nz

Tamaki Maori Village New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Experience!

Experience an evening of ceremonial ritual, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting.

Hinemaru St, 07 349 2099 tamakimaorivillage.co.nz Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Maori village set amidst a landscape of geothermal wonders. Take a guided tour, see a cultural performance, check out Maori art.

07 349 3463, whakarewarewa.com

LAKE TAUPO Taupo Visitor Centre 30 Tongariro St, 07 376 0027, greatlaketaupo.com

TAUPO STAY Berkenhoff Lodge 75 Scannell St, 07 378 4909, berkenhofflodge.co.nz Riverstone Backpackers 222 Tautahanga Rd, 07 386 7004, riverstonebackpackers.com Rainbow Lodge 99 Titiraupenga St, 07 378 5754, rainbowlodge.co.nz Finns Global Backpackers 8 Tuwharetoa St, 07 377 0044, finnsglobal.co.nz

Waikite Hot Pools Natural hot spring water bathing. Provides private spas, BBQ area and campground facilities, 20 minutes south of Rotorua. hotpools.co.nz

Wairakei Lodge State Highway, 0800 737 678, budgetaccommodationtaupo. co.nz

Waimangu Volcanic Valley The location of the Pink and White Terraces which were destroyed in the 1886 volcanic eruption. waimangu.co.nz

Sportsman Lodge Backpackers Retreat 15 Taupahi Rd, 0800 366 208, sportsmanslodge.co.nz

Wet ‘n’ Wild Rafting Guided rafting options on five different rivers – the Wairoa, Rangitaiki, Kaituna, Motu and Mohaka, 0800 462 7238, wetnwildrafting.co.nz

Base Taupo 7 Tuwharetoa St, 07 377 4464, stayatbase.com

Zorb Rotorua Get harnessed inside the perspex Zorb before rolling head-over-heels downhill, 07 357 5100, zorb.com

MAORI CULTURE

Oasis Hostel/Backpackers 33A Tarewa Rd, 07 343 6563, oasishostel.co.nz

While you’re here, take the opportunity to see how the Maori lived before European settlment.

The Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Whakarewarewa is a good place to begin . nzmaori.co.nz.

Rotorua Central Backpackers 1076 Pukuatua St, 07 349 3285, rotoruacentralbackpackers.co.nz

NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute 07 348 9047 tepuia.com

Planet Nomad Backpackers 1080 Eruera St, 07 350 2550, rotoruaplanetbackpackers.co.nz

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ROTORUA DO

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Taupo Urban Retreat 65 Heu Heu St, 0800 872 261, tur.co.nz Tiki Lodge 104 Tuwharetoa St, 0800 845 456, tikilodge.co.nz YHA Taupo 56 Kaimanawa St, 07 378 3311, yha.co.nz Silver Fern Lodge 118 Tamamutu St, 07 377 4929, silverfernlodge.co.nz Lake Maraetai Lodge 5 Totara Terrace, 07 882 8940, lake-maraetai-lodge.co.nz

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TAUPO DO Craters of the Moon One of the most geothermally active areas in the region, full of boiling mud and steaming craters. Wairakei Park. cratersofthemoon.co.nz Huka Falls Take a relaxing walk up to Huka Falls where the water pours over the 35ft drop at up to 62,000 gallons per second. hukafalls.com

@tnt_downunder The Crossing Backpackers Erua Rd East, 07 892 2894, thecrossingbackpackers.co.nz Howards Lodge (BBH) Carroll St, National Park, 07 892 2827, howardslodge.co.nz Skotel Alpine Resort Whakapapa Village, 07 892 3715, skotel.co.nz

Hukafalls Jet Jetboating by the falls, 0800 485 2538, hukafallsjet.com

National Park Backpackers YHA (BBH) 4 Finlay St. The hostel runs transport to the Tongariro Crossing, 07 892 2870, npbp.co.nz

Rock ‘n’ Ropes Ropes Courses including the trapeze and Giant Swing. At Crazy Catz on Highway 5. 0800 244 508, rocknropes.co.nz

Pipers Lodge 18 Millar St, National Park Village, 07 8922 777, piperslodge.co.nz

Taupo Bungy Bungy from a platform 47m above the Waikato River. 202 Spa Rd. 0800 888 408, taupobungy.com

Ski Haus Carroll St, McKenzie St, 07 892 2854, skihaus.co.nz

Tongariro Crossing Transport and National Park Links From Taupo and Turangi during summer months (NovMay). 07 377 0435, thetongarirocrossing.co.nz Taupo Tandem Skydiving Skydive from up to 15,000 feet (over one minute freefall). Free shuttle, DVD and digital photos.

Yellow Hangar, Taupo Airport.

0800 275 934, taupotandemskydiving.com

TURANGI On the southern shores of Lake Taupo, Turangi is known as the trout fishing capital of the world. It offers heaps of outdoor adventure activities and is a good base for venturing into the Tongariro National Park.

Turangi Visitor Centre Tongariro St, 07 376 0027, turangi.co.nz

TURANGI STAY Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park 13 Te Reiti Tamara Grove, 07 386 8754, turangiholidaypark.co.nz Judges Pool Motel 92 Taupahi Rd, 07 386 7892, judgepoolmotel.co.nz Settlers Motel 24 Arahori St, 07 386 7745, settlersmotelturangi.co.nz Asure Parklands Motorlodge Cnr Arahori St & State Hwy 1, 07 386 7515, parklandsmotorlodge.co.nz

MT RUAPEHU The park’s showcase is Mt Ruapehu, an active volcano towering at 2,796m.

Ruapehu Visitors’ Centre 54 Clyde St, 06 385 8427 visitruapehu.com Whakapapa Visitor Centre SH 48, Whakapapa Village, 07 892 3729 visitruapehudc.govt.nz

RANGITIKEI The Rangitikei District is a top destination for adventure sports.

Amongst stunning scenery, you can navigate grade five whitewater and take the leap of elasticated faith from an 80m bungy.

Rangitikei Farmstay 422 Makuhou Rd, 06 327 4495, rangitikeifarmstay.govt.nz River Valley Dorms Makuhou Rd 06 388 1444, rivervalley.co.nz

RANGITIKEI DO Mokai Gravity Canyon Extreme flying fox, bridge swing and bungy jump.

0800 802 864 River Valley Rafting and horse trekking.

06 388 1444, thelodge@rivervalley.co.nz

OPOTIKI

TONGARIRO

Opotiki Information Centre Cnr St John and Elliot Sts, 07 315 3031 opotikinz.com

Adventure Lodge & Motel (VIP) Carroll Street, National Park, 07 892 2991, adventurenationalpark.co.nz

Central Oasis Backpackers 30 King St, 07 315 5165, centraloasis@hotmail.com

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Fruit Forest Studio 197 Omarumutu Rd, 07 315 8143, fruitforest.co.nz

EAST CAPE As you head around the Cape the towns get tinier and the scenery more dramatic. At Te Araroa, you can thead around to the East Cape Lighthouse.

Brians Place (BBH) 21 Potae St, Tokomaru Bay, 06 864 5870, bbh.co.nz Maraehako Bay Retreat (BBH) SH35, Whanarua Bay, 07 325 2648. maraehako.co.nz Wainui Beach Motel 34 Wairere Rd, 06 868 5882, wainuibeachmotel.co.nz

GISBORNE Flying Nun Backpackers (BBH) 147 Roebuck Rd, 06 868 0461, bbh.co.nz YHA Gisborne 32 Harris St, 06 867 3269, yha.co.nz

WAIROA Wairoa Visitor Information Centre Queen St, 06 838 7440 Haere Mai Cottage (BBH) 49 Mitchell Rd, 06 838 6817 DOC office for hut bookings Lake Waikaremoana, 06 837 3900

NAPIER Napier is a beautiful, surprising city.

Its “pleasing to the eye” status is actually the result of an enormous earthquake which meant the entire town had to be rebuilt.

Visitor Info Centre 100 Marine Parade, 06 834 1911 Depart of Conservation Office Marine Parade, 06 834 3111

NAPIER STAY Aqua Lodge (BBH) 53 Nelson Cres, 06 835 4523, bbh.co.nz Criterion Art Deco Backpackers (VIP, Roamfree) 48 Emerson St, 06 835 2059, criterionartdeco.co.nz Napier Prison Backpackers (BBH) 55 Coote Rd, 06 835 9933, getnicked@napierprison.com Waterfront Lodge & Backpackers (BBH) 217 Marine Pd, 06 835 3429, napierbackpackers.co.nz YHA Napier 277 Marine Parade, 06 835 7039, yha.co.nz

HASTINGS Hastings is 20km south of Napier and most notable for its fertile plains, which have given birth to a multitude of beautiful parks, gardens and farms.

A1 Backpackers (BBH) 122 Stortford St, 06 873 4285, bbh.co.nz Glenross Lodge (BBH) Route 52, Rakaunui, 06 376 7288, bbh.co.nz Lochlea Farmstay (BBH) 344 Lake Rd, Wanstead, 06 8554 816 bbh.co.nz The Rotten Apple Backpackers (BBH) 114 Heretaunga St, 06 878 4363, rottenapple.co.nz AJ’s Backpackers Lodge (BBH) 405 Southland Rd, 06 878 2302, bbh.co.nz

TARANAKI Best known for its snow-capped mountain, Mt Taranaki. Peaceful and impressive, Taranaki has skifields, excellent surf beaches, great walking and climbing.

MOKAU Palm House Backpackers (BBH) 06835 7039, taranaki-bakpak.co.nz

NEW PLYMOUTH Taranaki’s major town is New Plymouth. One of NZ’s finest art galleries is here (the GovettBrewster Art Gallery). It hosts a great café.

Department of Conservation 55A Rimu Street, 06 759 0350 New Plymouth Info Centre Puke Ariki, 65 St Aubyn Street, 06 759 0897, visitnewplymouth.co.nz

PLYMOUTH STAY Eco Inn (BBH) 671 Kent Rd, between Egmont Village and New Plymouth on SH3.

06 752 2765 bbh.co.nz Egmont Lodge (BBH, YHA) 12 Clawton St, 06 753 5720, yha.co.nz bbh.co.nz Seaspray House (BBH) 13 Weymouth St, 06 759 8934, bbh.co.nz Ducks & Drakes Backpackers (BBH) 48 Lemon St, 06 758 0404 bbh.co.nz Sunflower Lodge (BBH) 33 Timandra St, 06 758, 2842 bbh.co.nz

PLYMOUTH DO Brooklands Zoo Brooklands, New Plymouth, 06 759 6060, info@npdc.govt.nz

MT TARANAKI Stratford Heritage Lodge 103 Miranda St, 06 765 7482, eastern-taranaki.co.nz Taranaki Accommodation Lodge (BBH) 7 Romeo St, Stratford, 06 765 5444, info@mttaranakilodge.co.nz

TARANAKI DO Climbing Mount Taranaki It is possible to climb it and return to civilisation in one day, however the weather is notoriously volatile and you must always notify the DOC.

STRATFORD Stratford Information Centre Broadway Stratford (State Hwy 3), 06 765 6708, stratford.govt.nz Department of Conservation Pembroke Rd, 06 765 5144

SOUTH TARANAKI Information South Taranaki 55 High St, Hawera, 0800 111 323, southtaranaki.com Wheatly Downs Farmstay Backpackers (BBH) 484 Ararata Rd, Hawera, 06 278 6523, bbh.co.nz

WHANGANUI

Department of Conservation Office 717 Tremaine Ave, 06 350 9700

WELLY DO Cable car Walk down Lambton Quay and you will see a sign for the cable car which departs every 10 minutes past Kelburn Park to the Botanic Gardens, 04 472 2199

Grandma’s Place (BBH) 146 Grey St, 06 358 6928, bbh.co.nz Peppertree Hostel (BBH) 121 Grey St, 06 355 4054, bbh.co.nz

Cosmic Corner Funk Store The funkiest store in the universe. Check out the legal highs and chat to the staff, who will happily point you in the right direction for parties, events and scenic spots.

215 Cuba St, 04 801 6970, cosmiccorner.co.nz

WELLINGTON The nation’s capital is to many people, New Zealand’s most interesting city.

Wellington Visitor Info Centre Corner of Victoria & Wakefield Sts, 04 802 4860, wellingtonnz.com DOC Information Centre 18 Manners St, 04 384 7770 Ferry to the South Island Boats to Picton on the South Island. Ferries can be booked up well in advance in holiday periods.

Ferry Tickets Online 186 Victoria St, 0800 500 660, ferrytickets.co.nz

WELLY STAY Base Wellington 21-23 Cambridge Tce. 04 801 5666 stayatbase.com Cambridge Hotel (BBH) 28 Cambridge Tce. 04 385 8829, cambridgehotel.co.nz Downtown Wellington Backpackers (BBH) 1 Bunny St. 04 473 8482 bbh.co.nz

Zealandia Many of New Zealand’s rarest birds, reptiles and insects are living freely in this awardwinning conservation safe haven. Look for kiwis on a guided tour by torchlight. Times vary and bookings are essential.

Waiapu Rd, Karori. 04 920 9200, visitzealandia.com Mount Victoria The views are breathtaking. It’s damn windy so make sure you’re wearing heavy shoes. Walk, drive or bus it.

Museum of Wellington City & Sea Queens Wharf, 04 472 8904 Parliament House Free tours. Visit the Beehive, a uniquely designed centre of government with a distinct style of architecture, 04 471 9503 Te Papa – The National Museum Experience the earthquake simulation room, find out what the early settlers went through and visit Te Marae, Te Papa’s living modern marae.

Free entry, Cable St, 04 381 7000, tepapa.govt.nz

YHA Whanganui 2 Plymouth St, 06 348 2301, yha.co.nz

Lodge in the City (VIP) 152 Taranaki St. 04 385 8560 lodgeinthecity.co.nz

Tamara Backpackers Lodge (BBH) 24 Somme Pde, 06 347 6300, tamaralodge.com

Wellywood Backpackers 58 Tory St, 04 381 3899, wellywoodbackpackers.co.nz

Wellington Zoo Located in Newtown and home to a wide variety of weird and wonderful animal and bird life, 04 381 6755

Nomads Capital 118/120 Wakefield St. 0508 666 237, nomadscapital.com

Harbour cruises The harbour is a handsome thing and the best way to fully appreciate its beauty is by boat.

Rosemere Backpackers (BBH) 6 McDonald Cres.

04 384 3041, backpackerswellington.co.nz

Wellington Rover Tours Small group day tours exploring Wellington, its stunning rugged coastline and the Lord of the Rings locations. 021 426 211, wellingtonrover.co.nz

Whanganui National Park The major attraction is the Whanganui River, snaking through picturesque scenery.

Explore with a kayak or riverboat tour.

Wanganui Information Centre 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui, 06 349 0508, wanganui.com Department of Conservation Office 74 Ingestre St, 06 348 8475

PALMERSTON NTH Palmerston North Visitor Centre The Square, 06 350 1922, manawatunz.co.nz

Rowena’s Lodge 115 Brougham St. 04 385 7872, wellingtonbackpackers.co.nz Worldwide Backpackers (BBH) 291 The Terrace.

04 802 5590, worldwidenz.co.nz YHA Wellington City 292 Wakefield St. 04 801 7280 yha.co.nz

Beaches Wellington’s waterfront has cafés, restaurants and parks.

Oriental Bay is good for a dip, but the water is cold and not always clean. It’s also good for a walk along the foreshore. If you are desperate for a swim, Scorching Bay is good or head up the coast towards Otaki where the best beaches in the region are found.

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SOUTHISLAND ABEL TASMAN The Abel Tasman National Park has great tramping with 56,000 acres to explore. The Coastal Track is one of the most popular walks in New Zealand, especially in summer when you can cool down at the stunning beaches. Nelson, Motueka and Marahau are all good bases for visiting the park. Sea kayaking is excellent here too.

ABEL DO Wilsons Abel Tasman Sea kayaking, water taxis and lodge accommodation.

03 528 2027, abeltasman.co.nz Abel Tasman Kayaks Ltd 0800 527 8022 abeltasmankayaks.co.nz

NELSON Nelson is seen as the “sunshine capital” of NZ. Home to a string of attractive beaches, Nelson is only a short drive away from the famous Abel Tasman National Park. The town boasts great cafés and a strong artistic subculture. Nelson’s great climate is conducive to fruit growing and travellers can find plenty of work in the area.

Nelson Visitor Centre Cnr Trafalgar & Halifax St, 03 548 2304, nelsonnz.com Airport Shuttle supershuttles.co.nz Nelson City Taxis 03 548 8225

NELSON STAY Amber House B&B 46 Weka St, 021 202 4961, amberhouse.co.nz Accents on the Park (BBH/VIP) 335 Trafalgar Square.

03 548 4335, accentsonthepark.com Almond House (BBH) 63 Grove St. 03 545 6455, almondbackpackers.co.nz Alpine Lodge St Arnaud.

03 521 1869, alpinelodge.co.nz Beach Hostel (BBH) 25 Muritai St. 03 548 6817, nelsonbeachhostel.50megs.com The Bug (BBH) 226 Vanguard St. 03 539 4227 thebug.co.nz The Customhouse (BBH) 252 Haven Rd. 03 545 8365, customhousenelson.co.nz Footprints by the Sea (BBH) 31 Beach Rd, Tahuna Beach.

03 546 5441, footprints.co.nz Tramways Hotel Nelson 66 Trafalgar St, 03 548 7049, tramwayshotel.co.nz Honey Suckle House (BBH) 125 Tasman St. 03 548 7576 bbh.co.nz

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Hu Ha Bikerpackers (BBH) State Highway 6, Glenhope.

03 548 2707, bbh.co.nz The Palace Backpackers (BBH) 114 Rutherford St. 03 548 4691, thepalace.co.nz Paradiso (BBH) 42 Weka St. 0800 269 667, backpackernelson.co.nz Courtesy Court Motel 26/30 Gold Rd, 03 548 5114, courtesycourt.co.nz The Honesy Lawyer Country Pub 1 Point Rd, Monaco, 03 547 4070, honestlawyer.co.nz

BOOK NOW! MOTUEKA STAY Happy Apple 500 High St, 03 528 8652, happyapplebackpackers.co.nz Avalon Manor Motels 314/316 High St, 0800 282 566 avalonmotels.co.nz Eden’s Edge Backpackers (BBH) 137 Lodder Lane, Riwaka.

03 528 4242, motuekabackpackers.co.nz Motueka Garden Motel 71 King Edward St, 0800 101 911, motmotel.co.nz

Shortbread Cottage (BBH) 33 Trafalgar St. 03 546 6681

Hat Trick Lodge Backpackers 25 Wallace St. 03 528 5353, hattricklodge.co.nz

Tasman Bay Backpacker Hostel 10 Weka St. 03 548 7950, tasmanbaybackpackers.co.nz

Laughing Kiwi (BBH) 310 High St. 03 528 9229, laughingkiwi.co.nz

Trampers Rest (BBH) 31 Alton St. 03 545 7477

Old Macdonald’s Farm Holiday Park 03 527 8288, oldmacs.co.nz

Idesia B&B 14 Idesia Grove, Richmond, 03 544 0409

The White Elephant (BBH) 55 Whakarewa St. 03 528 6208, whiteelephant.co.nz

YHA Nelson 59 Rutherford St, 03 545 9988, yha.co.nz

Equestrian Lodge Motel 2 Avalon Ct, 03 528 9369

NELSON DO Abel Tasman Kayaks Ltd 0800 527 8022 abeltasmankayaks.co.nz Happy Valley 4x4 Motorbike Adventures Tours around spectacular private farm on chunky fourwheel motorbikes.

03 545 0304, happyvalleyadventures.co.nz Kaiteriteri kayaks Transport from Nelson.

03 527 8383, seakayak.co.nz Skydive Abel Tasman Tandem jumps from 13,000ft over Abel Tasman.

0800 422 899, skydive.co.nz

NELSON LAKES Located 118km south-west of Nelson, the park comprises Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rotoiti, and is surrounded by forests and mountains. Apart from tramping and skiing at Rainbow Valley and Mt Robert in winter, the lakes offer fishing and other water activities.

MOTUEKA This is an alternative hang-out for creative types and those seeking to veer off life’s fast lane. Most people use Motueka as a base to launch an assault on Abel Tasman National Park, but if you take the time to look around your efforts will be well rewarded. Try Marahau Beach and Cobb Valley.

Motueka i-SITE Visitors Centre 20 Wallace St, 03 528 6543, motuekaisite.co.nz

MOTUEKA DO Wilsons Abel Tasman 265 High St, 03 528 2027, abeltasman.co.nz Abel Tasman Kayaks Ltd 0800 527 8022 abeltasmankayaks.co.nz

TAKAKA Known as the “Heart of the Parks”, the much underrated Golden Bay region is a place of considerable natural beauty. If you venture slightly out of Takaka you will see the Te Waikoropupu (Pupu Springs), one of the largest freshwater springs in the world.

Information Centre Willow St, 03 525 9136 Dept of Conservation Office 62 Commercial St, 03 525 8026

TAKAKA STAY Nirvana Lodge (BBH, YHA) 25 Motupipi St. 03 525 8766, nirvanalodge.co.nz Aquapackers (BBH) Anchorage Bay, Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park. 0800 430 744, aquapackers.co.nz Golden Bay Barefoot Backpackers (BBH) 114 Commercial St. 03 525 7005, bare-foot.co.nz

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The Rocks chalets 2086 Takaka Valley Hwy, 03 525 8096, travelbug.co.nz

The Jugglers Rest (BBH) 8 Canterbury St. 03 573 5570, bbh.co.nz

River Inn (BBH) Golden Bay. 03 525 9425 riverinn.co.nz

Fat Cod Backpackers 9 Auckland St, 03 573 7788, fatcodbackpackers.co.nz

Shambhala Retreat Hwy 60, Onekaka. 03 525 8463, shambhala.co.nz

KAHURANGI NP The second-largest national park in NZ, Kahurangi includes the Heaphy Track. There are more than 100 bird species and an impressive cave system to be seen here. For info see the Nelson DOC office.

COLLINGWOOD North-west of Takaka is the tiny community of Collingwood (the people aren’t particularly small, their numbers are), a good base for expeditions to Farewell Spit.

The Innlet (BBH) 839 Pakawau Main Rd, 03 524 8040, bbh.co.nz Somerset House (BBH) 10 Gibbs Rd. 03 524 8624, backpackerscollingwood.co.nz

FAREWELL SPIT Arching east from the top of Golden Bay, this is a sand bar of epic proportions, home to some of the largest sanddunes in the world and some amazing birdlife.

Golden Bay Visitor Centre 03 524 8454

MARLBOROUGH The Marlborough Sounds are a beautiful labyrinth of islands and bays, serving as an impressive gateway to the South Island. Hire a kayak to paddle the coves in style, or go swimming with the dolphins.

Anakiwa Backpackers (BBH) 410 Anakiwa Rd. 03 574 1388, anakiwabackpackers.co.nz Hopewell (BBH) Kenepuru Rd. 03 573 4341, hopewell.co.nz The Partage Resort Hotel Kenepuru Sound. 0800 275 373, portage.co.nz

PICTON This pretty town is the opening to the South Island, where the North Island ferry comes in, a centre for the many activities in Queen Charlotte Sound.

Airport shuttle bus 03 573 7125

PICTON STAY

Kiwiana (BBH) 73 Motuipipi St. 03 525 7676

Atlantis Backpackers (BBH) 42 London Quay, 03 573 7390, atlantishostel.co.nz

Kanuka Ridge (BBH) 21 Moss Rd, Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park. 03 527 8435, abeltasmanbackpackers.co.nz

The Buccaneer Lodge 314 Waikawa Rd, 03 573 5002, buccaneerlodge.co.nz

Sequoia Lodge (BBH, VIP) 3 Nelson Sq. 03 573 8399, sequoialodge.co.nz Atlantis Backpackers 42 London Quay, 03 573 7390, atlantisbackpackers.co.nz The Villa (BBH) 34 Auckland St. 03 573 6598, thevilla.co.nz Tombstone Backpackers (BBH) 16 Gravesend Place. 03 573 7116, tombstonebp.co.nz Parklands Marina Holiday Park 10 Beach Rd, 03 573 6343, parktostay.co.nz

PICTON DO Dolphin Watch Encounters Picton Foreshore, 03 573 8040, naturetours.co.nz Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company 03 573 6078, malboroughsounds.co.nz Southern Wilderness NZ Guided walk, wine trek and sea kayaking specialists.

0800 666 044, southernwilderness.com EcoWorld Aquaium Discover the animals that make NZ unique.

03 573 6030 ecoworldnz.com

QUEEN CHARLOTTE On the road-free outer Queen Charlotte Sound, everyone and everything travels by boat. The Queen Charlotte Track covers 71km and passes through magnificent forest, at times allowing spectacular views over the Marlborough Sounds. The whole track can be walked in four days, though you can also ride it by mountain bike.

Endeavour Express Water Taxi Day-trips, round-trips and luggage transfers.

03 573 5456

HAVELOCK Nestled at the head of Pelorus Sound, Havelock is the best place from which to explore the Marlborough Sounds. For trampers and mountain bikers there’s the beautiful Nydia Track.

DOC Office Mahakipawa Rd, 03 574 2019 Explore Pelorus Sea Kayaks 03 576 5251

HAVELOCK STAY Bluemoon Lodge (BBH) 48 Main Rd. 03 574 2212, bluemoonhavelock.co.nz

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Linkwater Motel 1594 Queen Charlotte Dr, 03 574 2600 linkwatermotel.co.nz

Sunrise Lodge (BBH) 74 Beach Rd, 03 319 7444, bbh.co.nz

Okiwa Bay Lodge 169 Anakiwa Rd, 03 574 2527, okiwabaylodge.co.nz

The Fairways at Ocean Ridge 1 Kersage Drive, 03 319 3055

PELORUS SOUND The largest waterway within the Marlborough Sounds, it can be accessed from Havelock, Linkwater or Rai Valley.

BLENHEIM The largest town in Marlborough, and considered (ahem, also) the“sunshine capital of New Zealand”. Whitewater rafting on the Buller and Gowan Rivers is great fun.

Blenheim I-Site 8 Sinclair Street Railway Station 03 577 8080 Honi-B-Backpackers (BBH) 18 Parker St. 03 577 8441, honi-b.com Koanui Backpackers (BBH) 33 Main St. 03 578 7487, koanui.co.nz The Grapevine 29 Park Terrace, 03 578 6062, thegrapevine.co.nz Arrow Backpackers 107 Budge St, 03 577 9857, bbh.co.nz Leway Backpackers 33 Lansdowne St, 03 579 2213, bbh.co.nz

KAIKOURA Kaikoura is famous for its large sperm whale population and picturesque mountain range. You can also snorkel with dolphins or swim with the inquisitive NZ fur seals (Sept-May).

Kaikoura Visitor Info Centre, West End, 03 319 5641

KAIKOURA STAY Adelphi Lodge (BBH, VIP) 26 West End. 0800 423 574, adelphilodge.co.nz Albatross Backpacker Inn (BBH) 1 Torquay St. 03 319 6090, albatross-kaikoura.co.nz Bad Jelly Backpackers (BBH) 11 Churchill St. 03 319 5538, bbh.co.nz Dolphin Lodge (BBH) 15 Deal St. 03 319 5842, dolphinlodge.co.nz Dusky Lodge (BBH) 67 Beach Rd. 03 319 5959 duskylodge.co.nz The Lazy Shag (BBH) 37 Beach St. 03 319 6662 lazy-shag.co.nz Lyell Creek Lodge (BBH) 193 Beach Rd. 03 319 6277, lyellcreeklodge.co.nz

YHA Kaikoura 270 Esplanade. 03 319 5931, yha.co.nz

KAIKOURA DO Kaikoura is famous for its large sperm whale population and picturesque mountain r Albatross Encounter Enjoy the sight of the magnificent albatross so close to the boat you can almost touch them. 96 Esplanade, 0800 733 365 albatrossencounter.co.nz Dolphin Encounter Swim with the acrobatic dusky dolphins or if you prefer, join the tour to view them from the boat. 96 Esplanade, 0800 733 365, dolphin.co.nz Fyffe House 62 Avoca St, Kaikoura’s oldest building, 03 319 5835.

Kaikoura Kayaks Paddle with the playful fur seals, dusky dolphins and marine life of Kaikoura. Seal kayaking, kayak school, hire, retail and kayak fishing.

19 Killarney St, 0800 452 456, kaikourakayaks.co.nz Seal Swim Kaikoura Swim with wild NZ Fur Seals. 58 West End, 0800 732 579, sealswimkaikoura.co.nz

Dorset House (BBH) 1 Dorset St, 03 366 8268, dorset.co.nz Chester Street Backpackers (BBH) 148 Chester St East.

03 377 1897, chesterst.co.nz Foley Towers (BBH) 208 Kilmore St. 03 366 9720, backpack.co.nz/foley Haka Lodge 518 Linwood Ave. 03 980 4252 hakalodge.com Jailhouse Accommodation (BBH) 338 Lincoln Rd. 0800 524 546 jail.co.nz Kiwi Basecamp (BBH) 69 Bealey Ave. 03 366 6770 kiwibasecamp.com Kiwi House 3 Devon St, Hanmer Springs. 03 315 5111, kiwihouse.co.nz Jack in the Green 26 Nayland St. 03 326 6609 bbh.co.nz Point Break Backpackers (BBH) 99 Seaview Road.

03 388 2050 pointbreakbackpackers.co.nz The Old Countryhouse (BBH) 437 Gloucester St. 03 381 5504 oldcountryhousenz.com Tranquil Lodge (BBH) 440 Manchester St. 03 366 6500 tranquil-lodge.co.nz Rucksacker Backpacker Hostel (BBH) 70 Bealey Ave. 03 377 7931, rucksacker.com Vagabond Backpackers (BBH) 232 Worcester St. 03 379 9677 vagabondhostel.com

CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch is the South Island’s major city and a lively, pretty base with a distinctly English feel to it.

Throw in Mount Cook and Mount Hutt with their skifields (early June to late October) and the Canterbury area is well worth spending some time discovering.

Christchurch & Canterbury i-Site Visitor Centre Rolleston Avenue (Next to the Canterbury Museum) Christchurch 8011 03 379 9629 christchurchnz.com Department of Conservation 7 Rolleston Ave, 09 526 9743

C’CHURCH STAY Around the World Backpackers 314 Barbadoes Street. 03 365 4363 aroundtheworld.co.nz At The Right Place 85 Bealey Street. 03 366 1633 atrp.co.nz Avon City Backpackers Worcester Street. 03 389 6876, avoncitybackpackers.com

C’CHURCH DO

chock full of mountains and wildlife.

The two harbours of Akaroa and Lyttelton are craters of a once majestic volcano.

LYTTELTON

AKAROA

Akaroa Information Centre 80 Rue Lavaud, 03 304 8600 Akaroa Shuttle Christchurch to Akaroa buses.

0800 500 929

Christchurch Backpackers Haka Lodge 518 Linwood Av, Woolston,. 03 980 4252, hakalodge.co.nz

BANKS PENINSULA Banks Peninsula is a beautiful region with a stunning coastline

Jack in the Green 3 Devon St. 03 315 5111, jackinthegreen.co.nz

CASTLE HILL Gateway to the Craigieburn Range.

AKAROA STAY

Chill Adventures Multi-mountain snow passes. chillout.co.nz

Bon Accord Backpackers (BBH) 57 Rue Lavaud.

03 304 7782, bon-accord.co.nz

Springfield Hotel State Highway 73, Springfield. 03 318 4812, springfieldhotel.co.nz

Chez La Mer (BBH) 50 Rue Lavaud. 03 304 7024, chezlamer.co.nz

ARTHUR’S PASS

Double Dutch (BBH) 32 Chorlton Road, Okains Bay. 03 304 7229, doubledutch.co.nz

This township is the HQ for the magnificent national park which offers tramping expeditions to skiing.

Halfmoon Cottage (BBH) SH25 Barrys Bay. 03 304 5050, halfmoon.co.nz

National Park Visitor Centre 03 318 9211 Rata Lodge Backpackers (BBH) State Highway 73, Otira Arthur’s Pass National Park, 03 738 2822 rata-lodge.co.nz

AKAROA DO

Smylies Accommodation (YHA) 03 318 9258, yha.co.nz

METHVEN

Black Cat Cruises Offer a number of cruises in Akaroa. See Akaroa Harbour or swim with dolphins. blackcat.co.nz

Methven is a small, friendly town popular with fishermen, hunters and backpackers. The area provides a variety of adrenalin thrills, including hot air ballooning, bungy jumping and skydiving. Mt Hutt also has the longest ski run in Australasia.

Dolphin Experience Swim with dolphins in Akaroa Harbour. 61 Beach Rd, 0508 365 744, dolphinsakaroa.co.nz

Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre 160 Main St, Methven, 03 302 8955,

LEWIS PASS About 200km north of Christchurch, the Lewis Pass connects the west and east coasts on the SH7, with stunning surrounding scenery.

HANMER SPRINGS Hanmer Springs boasts the Hanmer

Kakapo Lodge (YHA) 14 Amuri Avenue. 03 315 7472, kakapolodge.co.nz

Waipara Sleepers (BBH) 12 Glenmark Dr, Waipara.

03 314 6003, waiparasleepers.co.nz

Akaroa French Connection Tours and shuttle bus, 0800 800 575

Akaroa Museum 71 Rue Lavard, 03 304 1013

SUMNER

HANMER STAY Hanmer Backpackers 41 Conical Hill Rd. 03 315 7196, www.hanmerbackpackers.co.nz

Swim with dolphins, horse-ride and paraglide. If your tastes are a little more sedate, the foreshore is lined with cafes, galleries and boutiques.

Skydivingnz.com Skydiving and training courses, 0800 697 593 skydivingnz.com

This surf beach is also a great place to chill for a while. If you’re feeling adventurous, mountain biking, paragliding and surfing are just some of the activities you can try.

The Hanmer Connection Christchurch to Hanmer Springs buses. hanmerconnection.co.nz

Lyttelton Information Centre 20 Oxford St, 03 328 9093

Onuku Farm Hostel (BBH) 03 304 7066, onuku.co.nz

Aoraki Balloon Safaris Hot air ballooning, 03 302 8172, nzballooning.com

Department of Conservation 115 Ludstone Rd, Kaikoura 03 319 5714

Lyttelton is a quaint township with a beautiful scenic harbour and historic buildings. The harbour is a great place for boating, while the surrounding hills are good for mountain biking and walking.

Black Cat Cruises Wildlife Cruises on Lyttelton Harbour. Free shuttle bus from Christchurch, 03 328 9078. blackcat.co.nz

Springs Thermal Reserve, where the water can reach 40°C (03 315 7511, hotfun.co.nz). Mt Lyford offers good winter skiing and is a cheaper option to the South Island resorts.

NZ Ski.com Info on Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Mt Hutt. nzski.com

METHVEN STAY Brinkley Resort 43 Barkers Rd, Mt Hutt,

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SOUTHISLAND 03 302 8885, brinkleyresort.co.nz Big Tree Lodge 25 S Belt, 03 302 9575, bigtreelodge.co.nz Mt Hutt Bunkhouse (BBH) 8 Lampard St. 03 302 8894, mthuttbunkhouse.co.nz Pinedale Backpacker Lodge (BBH) 11 Alford St. 0800 638 483, pinedalelodge.co.nz Redwood Lodge (BBH) 3 Wayne Place. 03 302 8964, bbh.co.nz Skiwi House (BBH) 30 Chapman St. 03 302 8772, skiwihouse.com Breckenridge Lodge 49 S Belt, 03 302 8902, breckenridgelodge.co.nz

TIMARU Despite being industrial, it’s picturesque with views of the Southern Alps, plains and sea.

anywhere in New Zealand. The showcase is the majestic Mt Cook (Aoraki). NZ’s greatest climber Sir Edmund Hillary used it as a practice ground before conquering Mt Everest, but Mt Cook has claimed the lives of more than 160 people.

Discuss climbing plans with park rangers before you go.

Department of Conservation Visitor Information Centre Aoraki/Mt Cook Alpine Village, 03 435 1819 The Cook Connection Day trips to Mt Cook from Tekapo. Ph: 021 583 211, cookconnect.co.nz

MT COOK STAY YHA Franz Josef Glacier 2 Cron St, Franz Josef, 03 752 0754, mt.chalets@xtra.co.nz YHA Mt Cook Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

03 435 1820, yha.co.nz

1873 Wanderer Backpackers (BBH) 24 Evans St. 03 688 8795 Timaru Top 10 Holiday Park 154A Selwyn St, Waimataitai 0800 242 121 Anchor Motel 44 Evans St, 03 684 5067 anchormotel.co.nz

WEST COAST Rugged is the word often used when it comes to the South Island’s west coast. It’s quite an amazing place, sparsely inhabited, untouched in many areas and studded with geographical wonders. Don’t miss the two mighty glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef, or the Pancake Rocks.

GERALDINE As well as a wonderful old movie theatre and whitewater rafting on the Rangitata River, visiting the mighty Emily Falls is recommended.

Geraldine Information Centre Talbot Street, 03 693 1006 Peel Forest Horse Trekking Wilderness adventures trekking through some gorgeous country, 03 696 3703, peelforesthorsetrekking.co.nz

KARAMEA Karamea contains pleasant walks, interesting caves and the Oparara River, a great trout fishing spot.

Walk along the wonderful Fernian Track or, try the more challenging hike up Mt Stormy.

Karamea Information Centre 106 Bridge St, 03 782 6652.

Rongo Backpackers 03 782 6667, rongobackpackers.com

Rangitata Rafts Peel Forest, 0800 251 251 rafts.co.nz Rawhiti Backpackers (BBH) 27 Hewlings St. 03 693 8252 rawhitibackpackers.co.nz

LAKE TEKAPO A stunning turquoise-coloured lake, 100km west of Timaru. The tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935, frames the view beautifully.

Activities include walking, watersports, fishing and skiing.

Tailor-Made-Tekapo Backpackers (BBH) 10/11 Aorangi Cres.

03 680 6700 tailor-made-backpackers.co.nz

MURCHISON With crazy terrain skewed by mining and earthquakes, one of the major attractions of Murchison is its proximity to Buller Gorge, a wonderfully scenic cluster of cliffs and trees. Activities include rafting on the Gowan River and mountain biking on the Matakitaki.

Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park 03 523 9809, bullergorge.co.nz The Lazy Cow Accommodation (BBH) 37 Waller St. 03 523 9451, thelazycownz.wordpress.com

YHA Lake Tekapo 3 Simpson Lane. 03 680 6857, yha.co.nz

MT COOK Mount Cook National Park is part of a World Heritage area that forms one of the most amazing sights

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REEFTON The centrepiece of the town is Victoria Forest Park, the largest forest park in New Zealand.

Reefton Visitor Centre 67 Broadway,

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BOOK NOW! 03 732 8391 Reefton Old Bread Shop 155 Buller Rd, 03 732 8420, reeftonbackpackers.co.nz The Old Nurses Home 104 Shiel St, 03 789 8881

WESTPORT Visitor Information Westport 1 Brougham St, 03 789 6658

Global Village (BBH) 42-54 Cowper St, 03 768 7272, globalvillagebackpackers.co.nz Neptunes International Backpackers (BBH) 43 Gresson St, 0800 003 768, neptunesbackpackers.co.nz Noahs Ark Backpackers (BBH) 16 Chapel St, 03 768 4868, noahs.co.nz

Bazil’s Hostel (VIP) 54/56 Russell St. 03 789 6410, bazils.co.nz

Greymouth KIWI Holiday Park & Motel 318 Main South Rd, 03 762 6768, southbeach.co.nz

Beaconstone Eco Lodge Birds Ferry Road Charleston 027 431 0491 beconstoneecolodge.co.nz

Kainga-RA YHA 15 Alexander St, Ph: (03) 768 4951, yha.co.nz

TripInn (BBH) 72 Queen St. 03 789 7367 tripinn.co.nz

PAPAROA NP This park is home to the amazing Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. These are a series of eroded limestone rocks moulded into what appears to be a giant stack of pancakes.

Visitor Information Punakaiki 03 731 1895 punakaiki.co.nz Barrytown Knife Making 2662 Coast Road, Barrytown, 03 731 1053, barrytownknifemaking.com

PAPAROA STAY Punakaiki Beach Hostel (BBH) 4 Webb St. 03 731 1852, punakaikibeachhostel.co.nz Te Nikau Retreat (BBH, YHA) 03 731 1111, tenikauretreat.co.nz Punakaiki Beach Camp Owen Street, 03 731 1894, punakaiki.co.nz

GREYMOUTH The west coast’s largest town is dominated by the Grey River.

Highlights include the Monteith’s brewery tour, as well as aquatic activities like rafting and canyoning.

Visitor Information Herbert and Mackay Sts, 03 768 5101 TranzAlpine Scenic railway from Christchurch to Greymouth, travelling through Canterbury Plains and the Alps. Departs 9am every morning. 0800 872 467 tranzscenic.co.nz

GREYMOUTH STAY The west coast’s largest town is dominated by the Duke Hostel (BBH) 27 Guiness St. 03 768 9470 bbh.co.nz

HOKITIKA Greenstone, a form of practically indestructible rock that was used by the Maori to make weapons and ornaments, is the main attraction here. There’s also the Westland Water World for all things wet, the Glowworm Dell and some excellent whitewater rafting.

Hokitika Visitor Info Centre Carnegie Building, corner of Hamilton & Tancred Street, 03 755 6166

HOKITIKA STAY Hokitika Holiday Park 242 Strafford St, 03 755 8172

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OKARITO The tiny beach settlement of Okarito, near Franz Josef Glacier, sits at the mouth of New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland – the Okarito Lagoon. Hike up to the Okarito Trig for excellent views.

Okarito Nature Tours 03 753 4014, okarito.co.nz Royal Hostel (BBH) The Strand, 03 753 4080, okaritohostel.com

FRANZ JOSEF The glacier is about 12km long and offers a wide variety of challenging activities. To get the ultimate perspective on the magnitude of Franz Josef, head for Sentinel Rock, which gives a sweeping view over both the Waiho Valley and the mighty glacier.

DOC Visitors Information Centre Westland National Park, Hwy 6, 03 752 0796

FRANZ STAY Chateau Franz (VIP, BBH) 8-10 Cron St, 0800 728 372, chateaufranz.co.nz Glow Worm Cottages (BBH) 27 Cron St, 0800 151 027, budgetaccommodation.co.nz Montrose (BBH) 9 Cron St, 03 752 0188, bbh.co.nz

Birdsong (BBH) 124 SH6, 03 755 7179 birdsong.co.nz

Rainforest Retreat (VIP) Cron St, 0800 873 346 rainforestretreat.co.nz

Drifting Sands Backpackers (BBH) 197 Revell St, 03 755 7624,

YHA Franz Josef 2-4 Cron St, 03 752 0754, yha.co.nz

Mountain Jade Backpackers (BBH) 41 Weld St, 03 755 5185, mountainjadebackpackers.co.nz Riverview Cottage & Cabins (BBH) 154 Kaniere Rd, 03 755 7440 bbh.co.nz Stumpers Accommodation 2 Weld St, 03 755 6154, stumpers.co.nz

HOKITIKA DO Whitewater Kayaking hokitika.org Hokitika Gorge Sometimes you see photos of a tourist spot and think yeah right, it can’t look as good as that in real life. Hokitika Gorge is one of those places. hokitika.org

WHATAROA About 35km south of Harihari and one of the South Island’s prime fishing spots. Also the magnificent white heron (Kotuku) colony which thrillseekers can reach by jet boat.

FRANZ DO Alpine Adventure Centre Footage on a helimax screen, 03 752 0793 scenic-flights.co.nz Franz Josef Glacier Guides Guided walks and heli-hikes on the Franz Josef Glacier 0800 484 337, franzjosefglacier.com Glacier Country Kayaks Explore the glaciers from the water 03 752 0230, glacierkayaks.com Skydive Franz At 18,000ft, they currently offer NZ’s highest skydive.

0800 458 677, skydivefranz.co.nz

FOX GLACIER Similiar activities to Franz Josef only with fewer crowds. The best walk is up to the Welcome Flat Hot Springs.

For stunning views, head up the wonderfully scenic Chalet Lookout Walk. Look out for the beautiful kea (grey-green mountain parrot).

Nearby is Lake Matheson, with its stunning twin mountain reflection.

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SOUTHISLAND

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DOC Visitor Centre State Hwy 6, 03 752 0796

FOX STAY Fox Glacier Inn 03 751 0088 foxglacierinn.co.nz Ivory Towers (BBH) 03 751 0838, ivorytowerslodge.co.nz

FOX DO Fox Glacier Guiding Guided walks and heli-hikes on the FoxGlacier. 0800 111 600, foxguides.co.nz Glacier Country Kayaks 20 Cron St, 0800 423 262, glacierkayaks.com Skydive NZ: Fox Glacier 0800 751 0080, skydivingnz.co.nz

HAAST PASS Running through Mt Aspiring National Park, this stretch of road is among the most scenic that you’ll come across in New Zealand, showing off pristine lakes, magnificent forests and waterfalls.

DOC Centre Cnr SH 6 and Jackson Bay Rd, 03 750 0809 Wilderness Backpackers (BBH) Marks Rd, 03 750 029, bbh.co.nz

SOUTHLAND The top of your chest will quickly get sore as the South Island’s jaw-dropping scenery becomes more prevalent. From the adrenalin thrills of Queenstown to the achingly beautiful Milford Sound, there’s never a dull moment down south. Stop frequently, take deep breaths and enjoy one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Info Centre Mt Earnslaw, 03 443 7660

LAKE WANAKA The cosy town and its crystal-clear waters which reflect the dramatic landscape is the gateway to Mount Aspiring Park. The World Heritage area has magnificent tramping and mountaineering. Lake Wanaka boasts almost as many adrenalintastic activities as neighbouring Queenstown, such as mountain biking, jet-boating, canyoning, and whitewater sledging. It’s a favourite with snowboarders in winter, and has lively nightlife year-round.

Boasting the most sceneray from those films with wizards and hairyfooted hobbits, there are great Lord of the Rings tours, too.

Lake Wanaka Visitors Centre The Log Cabin, Lakefront, 100 Ardmore Street.

03 4431 1233

WANAKA STAY Albert Town Lodge (BBH) Cnr SH6 and Kingston St, Albert Town, 03 443 9487, alberttownlodge.co.nz Holly’s Backpackers (BBH) 71 Upton St, 03 443 8187, hollys-backpacker.co.nz Mountain View Backpackers (BBH) 7 Russell St, 0800 112 201, wanakabackpackers.co.nz The Purple Cow (BBH) 94 Brownston St, 03 443 1880, purplecow.co.nz Wanaka Bakpaka (BBH) 117 Lakeside Rd, 03 443 7837, wanakabakpaka.co.nz YHA Wanaka 181 Upton St, 03 443 7405, yha.co.nz

WANAKA DO Adventure Consultants Mountaineering instruction courses and guided ascents, 03 443 8711, adventure.co.nz Aspiring Guides Guided mountain climbing and ice climbing instruction courses, 03 443 9422, aspiringguides.com Classic Flights Vintage Tiger Moth flights over Lake Wanaka. 03 443 4043, classicflights.co.nz Deep Canyon Canyoning in the Matukituki Valley.

Adventure Wanaka, 23 Dunmore St, Wanaka. 03 443 7922, deepcanyon.co.nz Frogz Have More Fun Sledge down either the Clutha, Hawea or Kawarau Rivers.

0800 437 649, frogz.co.nz The Silver Demon Aerobatic flights. 03 443 4043, silverdemon.co.nz Skydive Lake Wanaka Freefall from 12,000 or 15,000ft with views of NZ’s highest mountains. 0800 786 877, skydivenz.com Treble Cone Ski Field 03 443 7443, treblecone.co.nz Wanaka Rock Climbing One, three and five-day rock climbing courses for everyone.

03 443 6411, wanakarock.co.nz Wanaka Flightseeing Milford Sound flight and cruise from Wanaka, 03 443-8787, flightseeing.co.nz Wanaka Sightseeing Includes Lord of the Rings tours, 2 Anderson Rd, 03 338 0982, wanakasightseeing.co.nz

LAKE HAWEA Thirty-five kilometres long and more than 400m deep, Lake Hawea is a great source of salmon and rainbow trout.

QUEENSTOWN Paradise for the energetic traveller, Queenstown is one of the world’s most action-packed towns. The town, which is surprisingly small compared to its big reputation, is located on Lake Wakatipu and rises up to the peaks of the aptly-named Remarkables (which you can ski in winter). In winter, the town is a centre for nearby skifields and in summer adventure activities and tramping take over. There’s also a hectic social scene which extends well into the wee small hours.

Info & Track Guided Walks 37 Shotover St, 03 442 9708 Peterpans Adventure Travel 27 Shotover St Queenstown. peterpans.com.au Queenstown Travel & Visitor Centre Corner of Shotover & Camp Sts, 03 442 4100

Q’TOWN STAY Alpine Lodge (BBH) 13 Gorge Rd. 03 442 7220, bbh.co.nz Aspen Lodge (BBH) 11 Gorge Rd. 03 442 9671, aspenlodge.co.nz Base Discovery Lodge Queenstown 49 Shotover St. 03 441 1185, stayatbase.com Black Sheep Lodge (BBH/VIP) 13 Frankton Rd. 03 442 7289, blacksheepbackpackers.co.nz Bungi Backpackers (VIP, BBH) 15 Sydney St. 0800 728 286, bungibackpackers.co.nz Butterfli Lodge (BBH) 62 Thompson St. 03 442 6367, butterfli.co.nz Cardrona Alpine Resort Between Queenstown and Wanaka.

03 443 7341, cardrona.com Deco Backpackers (VIP, BBH) 52 Man St. 03 442 7384, decobackpackers.co.nz Flaming Kiwi Backpackers (BBH) 39 Robins Rd. 03 442 5494, flamingkiwi@xtra.co.nz Hippo Lodge (BBH) 4 Anderson Hts. 03 442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz Nomads Queenstown 5-11 Church St. 03 441 3922, nomadshostels.com Pinewood Lodge (VIP) Queenstown’s best value accommodation. We offer an excellent variety of accommodation, everything from deluxe en-suite rooms with private bathroom amenities, inexpensive double and twin

rooms, dorm beds and selfcontained family cabins. 48 Hamilton Rd. 0800 746 396, 03 442 8273, pinewood.co.nz

nzone.biz NZ Ski.com Info on Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Mt Hutt, nzski.com

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

Queenstown Rafting Raft the Shotiver, Kawarau and Landsborough rivers. 35 Shotover St. 03 442 9792 rafting.co.nz

Hippo Lodge 4 Anderson Heights. 03 442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz

Real Journeys Visitor Centre Doubtful Sound & Milford Sound daytime and overnight cruises.

Te Anau glow-worm cave excursions. TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship cruises and Walter Peak High Country Farm.

0800 65 65 01, realjourneys.co.nz

Flaming Kiwi Backpackers 39 Robins Rd, 03 442 5494 YHA Queenstown Central 48A Shotover Street.

03 442 7400, yha.co.nz YHA Queenstown Lakefront 88-90 Lake Esplanade.

03 442 8413, yha.co.nz

Q’TOWN DO There are hundreds of activities to keep you occupied in Queenstown.

Bungy, jetboating and rafting are all experiences not to be missed, and in winter, skiing the Remarkables is a must. To really appreciate the beauty of the region, take a scenic flight, or even jump out the plane.

AJ Hackett Bungy Queenstown Jump off one or all of New Zealand’s most well-known sites. Nevis Highwire Bungy, the highest in New Zealand – 134m above the Nevis River. The Kawarau Bridge, the world’s first bungy – 43m above the Kawarau River. The 47m Ledge, 400m above the town which you can jump day or night. Access is

by Skyline Gondola.

0800 286 4958 bungy.co.nz Awesome Foursome Bungy (Nevis – 134m), jetboat, helicopter, whitewater rafting, combos.co.nz Dart River Safaris Jetboating wilderness tours, 0800 327 8538, dartriver.co.nz Fat Tyre Adventure Mountain biking/heli biking, 0800 328 897, fat-tyre.co.nz Fergburger Best burgers in NZ. Shotover St, fergburger.com Flight Park Tandem Paragliding Operates from Coronet Peak 0800 467 325, tandemparagliding.com Haka Adventure Snow Tours 03 980 4250, hakatours.com

Shotover Canyon Swing Jump or be released 109m off the world’s highest cliff jump.

0800 279 464, canyonswing.co.nz Shotover Jet Jetboat ride. 0800 746 868 shotoverjet.com Sky Trek Hang Gliding 03 442 9551, skytrek.co.nz Vertigo Mountain Biking Heli-bike and gondola downhill.

0800 837 8446, vertigobikes.co.nz

GLENORCHY Just out of Queenstown is Glenorchy (or “Isengard”) which has some of the best walks in the area, including the Greenstone and Caples tracks.

Department of Conservation Beech St, 03 442 7933 Glenorchy Backpackers Retreat (VIP) Cnr Mull and Argyle Streets, Glenorchy, glenorchynz.com Kinloch Lodge (BBH) 862 Kinloch Rd, 03 442 4900, kinlochlodge.co.nz

ARROWTOWN Poplar Lodge (BBH) 4 Merioneth St, 03 442 1466, spoplarlodge.co.nz Arrowtown Holiday Park 12 Centennial Ave, 03 442 1876

TE ANAU

Milford Sound Flightseeing Scenic flights to Milford Sound, 0800 65 65 01, realjourneys.co.nz

Home to the second largest lake in NZ, Te Anau is a beautiful little town, a good jumping off point for the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. The park is the largest in New Zealand and offers some spectacular sightseeing. The Milford Track is one of the most famous in the world, but often booked out. The Routeburn, ReesDart and Kepler are ace alternatives. doc.govt.nz

NZONE Skydive Skydive from 15,000ft. 35 Shotover St, 03 442 5867,

Fiordland I-site Visitor Centre Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, 03 249 8900

Mad Dog River Boarding River sledging & other actionpacked water activities, 03 442 7797, riverboarding.co.nz

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SOUTHISLAND Department of Conservation 03 249 8514 Te Anau Glowworm Caves realjourneys.co.nz Air Fiordland Flights to Queenstown, Milford and Mt Cook, 03 249 7505, airfiordland.co.nz Real Journeys Coaches to Milford Sound, 0800 656 503 realjourneys.co.nz Scenic Shuttle Daily between Te Anau and Invercargill in summer months, twice weekly in winter. Connects with the Catlins Coaster from Invercargill to Dunedin 0800 277 483 Top Line Tours Coach to and from Te Anau and Queenstown, 03 249 8059

TE ANAU STAY Barnyard Backpackers (BBH) 80 Mt York Rd, Rainbow Downs, 03 249 8006, barnyard.moonfruit.com

ANAU TO MILFORD The distance between Te Anau and Milford Sound may be 119km but the breathtaking scenery along the way makes the journey extremely enjoyable. Along the road watch out for the Mirror Lakes and the disappearing mountain. Another highlight is the 1.2km rough-hewn Homer Tunnel. It’s pitch black, having no lighting plus it’s pretty darn steep – a thrilling experience for those afraid of the dark.

MILFORD SOUND Green, wet and breathtakingly beautiful, Milford Sound is one of the most picturesque sights in the world. Much of the action in the Milford Sound takes place on the water and the best way to appreciate the beauty on show is on a cruise or kayak. Bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins all hang out there.

Milford Sound Lodge (BBH) 03 249 8071, milfordlodge.co.nz

Bob & Maxine’s (BBH) 20 Paton Place, 03 931 3161, bbh.co.za

Real Journeys 0800 656 501, realjourneys.co.nz

Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers 48/50 Lakefront Dr, 03 249 7713, teanaubackpackers.co.za

Great Sights On and under the water, 03 442 9445 greatsights.co.nz

Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park & Motel 77 Manapouri, 03 249 7457, teanauholidaypark.co.nz

Milford Sound Underwater Observatory Discover a coral reef beneath Milford Sound, 03 249 9442

YHA Te Anau 29 Mokonui St, 03 249 7847, yha.co.nz

TE ANAU DO Adventure Fiordland 72 Town Centre, 03 249 8500 fiordlandaventure.co.nz High Ride Adventures Quad riding and scenic horse trekking. 03 249 8591, highride.co.nz Luxmore Jet Jetboating on the Waiau River, 0800 253 826, luxmorejet.co.nz Real Journeys Doubtful Sound daytime wilderness, small boat and overnight cruises. Milford Sound daytime, overnight scenic, nature and small boat cruises. 0800 656 501, realjourneys.co.nz Milford Track Day Walk Lake cruise and guided walk, 0800 656 501 milfordlodge.co.nz Rosco’s Milford Sound Sea Kayaks 0800 476 726, roscosmilfordkayaks.com Skydive Fiordland Dive 44 Caswell Rd, Te Anau, 0800 829254,

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MILFORD DO

Milford Sound Cruise & Observatory Visit 0800 656 501 Milford Wanderer Cruises Day and overnight options with kayaking, etc. Coach connections, 0800 656 501, realjourneys.co.nz Tawaki Dive See Fiordland’s unique marine life on a day-trip with two guided dives in Milford Sound.

Rental gear available, max four divers. 0800 829254, tawakidive.co.nz TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak Farm tours, barbecue lunches, horse treks and cycling. realjourneys.co.nz Wanaka Flightseeing Milford Sound flight and cruise, 0800 105 105, flightseeing.co.nz 

MANAPOURI Manapouri is the proud owner of arguably New Zealand’s most beautiful stretch of water. This is where the boat trip on Doubtful Sound leaves from – most start the trip in Queenstown or Te Anau. From the boat you may see seals and possibly dolphins and penguins.

BOOK NOW! Adventure Charters and Hires fiordlandadventure.co.nz Real Journeys 03 249 6602 realjourneys.co.nz

MANAPOURI STAY Freestone Backpackers (BBH) 270 Hillside Rd, 03 249 6893, bbh.co.nz Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn 68 Cathedral Drive, 03 249 6652, manapouri.co.nz Possum Lodge (BBH) 13 Murrel Ave, 03 249 6623, possumlodge.co.nz

DOUBT SOUND If you’re not one for crowds, an alternative Fiordland option is Doubtful Sound – the deepest of the fiords, made up of 100km of waterways. Where Milford is all pointy peaks and endless cascading falls, Doubtful is rounded mountains – a serene sanctuary, inhabited by loads of interesting critters.

Real Journeys Daytime wilderness, small boat and overnight cruises.

0800 656 502 realjourneys.co.nz Fiordland Navigator Pearl Harbour, Manapouri 03 249 6602, doubtfulsound.co.nz Deep Cove Hostel Doubtful Sound, 03 249 7713, deepcovehostel.co.nz

INVERCARGILL The southernmost city in New Zealand, Invercargill is a farmingorientated community with a pleasant collection of parks and museums to keep you busy.

Invercargill I-site Visitors Centre 108 Gala St, 03 214 6243 Dept of Conservation Office Don St, 03 214 4589 Catlins Coaster Invercargill to Dunedin via the Catlins with many stops to the main natural attractions and wildlife encounters. Farmstay options are available, 0800 304333, catlinscoaster.co.nz Stewart Island Flights Flights to Stewart Island, 03 218 9129, stewartislandflights.co.nz

INVERCARG STAY Southern Comfort (BBH) 30 Thompson St, 03 218 3838 bbh.co.nz

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Tuatara Backpacker Lodge 30 Dee St, 03 214 0956, tuataralodge.co.nz

SOUTH SCENIC The beautiful road west of Invercargill towards Fiordland is known as the Southern Scenic Route.

Pepper Tree Hostel 121 Grey St, Palmerston, 06 335 4054, peppertreehostel.co.nz Grandma’s Place 146 Grey St, Palmerston North, 06 358 6928, grandmas-place.co.nz The Globe Backpackers (VIP) 144 Palmerston St, Riverton, 03 234 8527, globebackpackers@xtra.co.nz Harbison Backpackers (BBH) 5 Harbison St, Otautau, 03 225 8715, michdale@xtra.co.nz Shooters Backpackers 73 Main St, Tuatapere, 03 226 6250

GORE Gore spans the Mataura river and boasts some lovely scenery in the Hokonui Hills and the Country and Western festival each June.

Old Fire Station Backpackers (BBH) 19 Hokonui Dr, 03 208 1925, thefirestation.co.nz Oakleight Motels 70 Hokonui Dr, 03 208 4863, oakleighmotel.co.za

THE CATLINS The beautiful Catlins is a sprawling mass of bush, forest and rivers, stretching all the way from Waipapa Point in Southland to Nugget Point in Otago. The best bit about the Catlins is the abundance of wildlife.

Catlins Community Info Centre 3 Main Rd, Owaka, South Otago, 03 415 8371, catlins.org.nz Elm Lodge Wildlife Tours Two-day camping trips, 0800 356 563, elmwildlifetours.co.nz

CATLINS STAY Wrights Mill Lodge (BBH) 865 Tahakopa Valley, 03 204 8424, bbh.co.nz Lazy Dolphin 529 Curio Bay Rd, 03 246 8579. bbh.co.nz Fernlea Backpackers (VIP) Moana St, Kaka Point, 03 412 8834 The Split Level (BBH)

@tnt_downunder 9 Waikawa Rd, Owaka, 03 415 8304, brianwayne@clear.net.nz Surat Bay Lodge (BBH) Surat Bay Rd, New Haven, 03 415 8099, suratbay.co.nz Penguin Paradise Holiday Lodge (BBH) 612 Waikawa-Niagara Rd, Waikawa Village South Catlins, 03 2468 552, dolphinsurf@xtra.co.nz Thomas Catlins Lodge & Holiday Park, 8 Clark St, Owaka 03 415 8333, thomascatlins.co.nz Wright’s Mill Lodge (BBH) 865 Tahakopa Valley Rd, 03 204 8424 catlinsaccommodation.co.nz

DUNEDIN Dunedin is Celtic for “Edinburgh” and many Scottish principles endure here. One thing the locals do much better than their Scots ancestors is play rugby, so if there’s a game on at Carisbrook (the “House of Pain”) while you’re in town, beg, borrow or steal to get yourself there.

Dunedin Visitor Centre 48 The Octagon, 03 474 3300 Dept of Conservation Office 77 Stuart St, 03 477 0677 Penguin Patch 9 the Octagon, 03 471 8571, Email: penguinpatch@xtra.co.nz

DUNEDIN STAY The Asylum Lodge (BBH) 36 Russell Rd, Seacliff, 03 465 8123, bbh.co.nz Bus Stop backpackers (BBH) 252 Harrington Point Rd, Portobello, 03 478 0330, bbh.co.nz Chalet Backpackers (BBH) 296 High St, 03 479 2075 bbh.co.nz Dunedin Central Backpackers (BBH) 243 Moray Pl, 03 477 9985, bbh.co.nz The Jolly Poacher (BBH) 74 Elm Row, 03 477 3384 bbh.co.nz Hogwartz (BBH) 277 Rattray St, 03 474 1487, bbh.co.nz The Jolly Poacher (BBH) 54 Arthur St, 03 477 3384, bbh.co.nz Kiwis Nest (BBH) 597 George St, 03 471 9540, bbh.co.nz

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Leviathan Hotel 27 Queens Gardens, 0800 773 773, dunedinhotel.co.nz Manor House (BBH) 28 Manor Place, 03 477 0484, manorhousebackpackers. co.nz On Top Backpackers (BBH) 12 Filleul St, cnr Moray Pl, 03 477 6121, bbh.co.nz Pennys Backpackers (BBH) 6 Stafford St, 03 477 6027, bbh.co.nz Next Stop Backpackers 2 View St, 03 477 0477, nextstop.co.nz Ramsay Lodge (BBH) 60 Stafford St, 03 477 6313, bbh.co.nz YHA Dunedin, Stafford Gables 71 Stafford St, 03 474 1919, yha.co.nz

DUNEDIN DO Baldwin Street In the Guinness Book of Records as the steepest street in the world.

Cadbury World 280 Cumberland St, 0800 223 2879, cadbury.co.nz Cosmic Corner Funk Store Check out the legal highs and chat to the staff about where to go for parties, events and the beautiful parts of New Zealand.

355 George St, 03 479 2949 Dunedin Public Art Gallery 30 The Octagon, 03 474 3240, dpagmail@dcc.govt.nz Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony View blue penguins just metres away every evening at dusk. Waterfront Rd, 1-1/2 hrs north of Dunedin, 03 433 1195, penguins.co.nz

Sinclair Wetlands and Educational Centre Freedom or conducted walks over 5km of walkways. Backpacker and camping facilities. Rapid no 854 Clarendon/Berwick Rd (signposted on SH1 30km south of Dunedin), 03 486 2654 Speights Brewery Heritage Tours 03 477 7697, speights.co.nz

OTAGO PENINSULA The Otago Peninsula is a beautiful stretch of rugged coast, home to a fascinating collection of rare and native birds such as the albatross and yellow-eyed penguin.

Billy Browns (BBH) 423 Aramoana Rd, Port Chalmers, 03 472 8323, billybrowns.co.nz McFarmers Backpackers (BBH) 774 Portobello Rd, Portobello, 02 5206 0640, bbh.co.nz

OTAGO DO Historic Fort Taiaroa An underground complex built in the 1880s, this fortified stronghold has been inhabited since earliest Maori settlement of the area. Tours available at the Visitor Centre.

Fletcher House, Broad Bay, 03 478 0180 Larnach Castle Australasia’s only castle. The architecture is amazing and the intricate details (including a foyer ceiling that took nearly seven years to build) are breathtaking.

NZ Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium Run by the University of Otago, the Portobello Aquarium and Marine Biology Centre (near Quarantine Point) is a refuge for a diverse collection of fish and reptile life.

03 479 5826 Elm Wildlife Tours 0800 356 563, elmwildlifetours.co.nz

TAIAROA HEAD Taiaroa Head is the place to see the albatross colony, the only mainland colony in the world inside the bounds of a city.

ALEXANDRA Alexandra and Roxburgh are the two main towns for fruitpicking work in the Central Otago region.

Grasshopper Rock One of the world’s southernmost vineyards, situated on the Earnscleugh Rd. grasshopperrock.co.nz

ROXBURGH Villa Rose Backpackers (BBH) 79 Scotland St,

03 446 8761, remarkableorchards@xtra. co.nz

OAMARU A charming little place noted for both its interesting collection of white granular limestone buildings and its large penguin population.

Visitor Information Centre Thames St, 03 434 1656 Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony View blue penguins at dusk. Waterfront Rd, 03 433 1195, penguins.co.nz Chillawhile Backpackers (BBH) & Art Gallery 1 Frome St, Roberts Park, 03 437 0168, chillawhile.co.nz Coastal Backpackers (BBH) The Hall, Waianakarua Rd, All Day Bay, 03 439 5411, coastalbackpackers.co.nz Buscot Station (BBH) 732 Omarama, 03 438 9646, buscotstn@xtra.co.nz

NEVIS UmNetreGsY B 134 G IN W S NthEe woVIS rld’s biggest swing

Empire Hotel (BBH) 13 Thames St, 03 434 3446, empirehotel@hotmail.com Old Bones Backpackers (BBH) Rapid Number 468 Beach Rd, Kakanui, 03 434 8115, simon@oldbones.co.nz YHA Oamaru, Red Kettle Seasonal (open September/ October to May/June only).

Corner of Reed and Cross Sts, 03 434 5008, yha.co.nz Swaggers Backpackers (BBH) 25 Wansbeck St, 03 434 9999, swaggers@es.co.nz

MOERAKI Just 30km south of Oamaru lies a remarkable collection of eerie giant boulders.

Olive Grove Lodge (BBH) 2328 SH1, Waianakarua, 03 439 5830, info@olivebranch.co.nz The Dubliner 105 Tiverton St, Palmerston, 03 465 8123

www.bungy.co.nz

Photos: Tourism New Zealand, Winter Festival

Parachute Experience Skydiving from a great height 03 489 4113, dropzone.com

Royal Albatross Centre 03 478 0499, albatross.org.nz

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Mount Fitz Roy at sunrise, Patagonia, Argentina

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Salsa through South America Spellbinding scenery, hip-shaking music, sultry summer sun and endless partying on the beach – you will fall in love with South America in a drumbeat WORDS RACHAEL GETZELS

South America is an explosion of colour and chaos, with vibrant cities that never sleep, tropical coastlines and wild jungle terrain. Every country has its own flavour – and the dance of choice will tell you all. From sexy samba in Brazil, to sassy salsa in Colombia to fiery tango in Argentina, this is a continent that really knows how to move and we guarantee your hips will be shaking in no time.

The continent bursts with passion: religion turns magical as pre-colonial rituals merge with Catholicism and the Latin spirit burns bright no matter what. Nowhere else in the world does an airport delay turn into a full-flung fiesta – believe us, in no time you will have made friends with your pilot’s grandmother, grandfather, great-aunts (all seven) and even their chickens who will be joining you on board.

Not to mention you will have mastered salsa and feasted on fresh empanadas that mysteriously emerged from behind the service desks... at least that’s what happened to us.

Latin cities will feel familiar to anyone who has spent time in Europe, with white-washed colonial buildings surrounding buzzing green plazas. Except here, rather than rushing to work, the entire population, it seems, meet each afternoon to chat over street food and kick back under the shade of the tropical trees.

In Buenos Aires you can feast on steak to your heart’s content (or until it gives out). Just across the border is windbattered Bolivia where the Andes mountains stretch from Peru and cliff-top towns make your head spin in the thin air – not to mention what the views can do. And then there are the non-stop parties of Rio where bronzed babes and musclemen sun themselves on the city shores under the watchful eye of Christ the Redeemer.

There’s something for everyone and the captivating mix of old and new, of European and pre-colonial, will pose endless questions that everyone is happy to answer along the way.

Most people start their trip in Argentina and travel up by coach or plane depending on how much time they have. But as you will quickly learn, ticking clocks are irrelevant here and all you will have the power to do is sit back and let the adventure come to you. It won’t take long.

Let’s dance: You’ll find a party everywhere you turn ARGENTINA Argentines, or more specifically ‘Portenos’ (people from Buenos Aires), like to think of their country as the most European of the bunch. Their neighbours often joke that Argentina has a chip on its shoulder but the truth is both are right: the country has a unique culture that stems from close European alliances combined with Latin passion. There is beautiful wilderness in Argentina when you get down to the pristine and untouched icebergs of Patagonia and then there’s also pulsing nightlife and culture with parties that rival Ibiza’s. And don’t forget that steak...

What to do: Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires will give you a sense of the city’s old-style pomp and grandeur.

Although this graveyard of the rich and famous is also home to hundreds of cats who are left to freely roam the graves.

The glitzy clubs in Palermo and the arty street markets in San Telmo will give you a sense of the city’s split personality.

There’s plenty of partying to be done in the city of Rosario, where the women are said to be the most beautiful in Argentina. For some true celebration, head to Iglesia Maradoniana (Church of Maradona). Nowhere could a footballer be more adored. And if you continue further West you’ll get to wine land, where you can cycle through TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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All white: Bolivia’s Salt Flats vineyards and sample the fine Argentine Malbecs as you go.

Ultimate adventure can be found in the south of the country where glaciers make up Patagonia. It’s also the furthest point on earth before you reach the Antarctic, and the surreal launchpad town of Ushuaia truly feels like the final frontier.

Food and drink: You can’t utter the name ‘Argentina’ without someone piping up about the steak – and it really is that good (and cheap). In Buenos Aires, La Cabrera (parillalacabrera.com.ar) is the tourist benchmark and your juicy slabs will come served with a mouthwatering selection of sides. Family run ‘parillas’ or grills are also abundant and they’re good for some authentic flavours. Empanadas, which are pastries stuffed with meat or cheese and sold in street stalls or small cafes, are also tongue-tickling good.

Where to party: Capital Buenos Aires is party central with nights that don’t get started until 2am. Tourist bars are located in Palermo and the bigger clubs can be found along the water in Puerto Madero. San Telmo has an array of smaller pubs and arty watering holes that will take you off the beaten track. Weekly Bomba del Tiempo (ciudadculturalkonex.org) is BA’s biggest party; it combines African drumming with folk beats in a huge warehouse turned theatre.

Where to stay: Buenos Aires is full of ‘boutique hostels’ and, though prices aren’t as cheap as they used to be, you can still do better than a dorm room for a decent price. Milhouse (milhousehostel.com) is legendary in the city for its sociable guests and all-night parties. Further afield, you can stay in stunning ranches in ‘guacho’ (Argentine cowboy) territory such as El Bordo de las Lanzas in Salta (estanciaelbordo.com).

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BOLVIA This is the land where coca smugglers hide out on mountainsides and ladies in traditional dress sell love potions; where Inca spirituality meets modern-day Christianity; where llamas rule the mountains and piranhas the rivers. And if that doesn’t get your head reeling, the altitude certainly will as you struggle to breath in the thin air. Bolivia does not make for easy travelling – take Death Road for one, which has been labelled the most dangerous road in the world due to its soaring cliff-cut paths – but it’s certainly an adventure.

What to do: The surreal Salt Flat landscape in the south of the country is mind-blowing. In the space of a historic dried lake is now miles and miles of white salt which has hardened into a reflective surface studded now and again with the odd cactus. You can trek across the flats by Jeep or, if you’re hardy, motorbike. Stop-offs include bright blue lagoons, hot springs and a lake that has been taken over by flamingos.

There’s also good jungle in Bolivia along Amazon tributaries. A death-defying coach journey or a flight to Rurrenbaque Airport (simply a wooden hut in a field) will lead you on to wooden jungle shacks reachable only by boat.

On your trip you will encounter crocodiles, pink dolphins, piranhas, tropical birds and perhaps even jungle cats.

La Paz is a dizzying capital city with market stalls, music and food jammed into the steep alleyways. There’s a witches’ market where you can find shrunken llama foetuses used for healing and there are also many museums and galleries.

Food and drink: Food is simple here but hearty – grains and potatoes abound and grilled meats can be found sizzling on street corners. Lunch is the most important meal and often

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includes chairo, a beef and vegetable soup, followed by chicken or meat cooked in a tomato-based sauce with rice.

Bolivia, like most countries in South America, has its own version of meat cooked in pastry; saltenas, as they’re known here, are extremely juicy and drip with a delicious spicy kick.

Market Squares are the best places to head for food and most restaurants or stalls serve up the same menu.

Where to party: The clubs in Bolivia are not exactly worldclass hot spots but they’re an authentic experience as you learn to swivel your hips to salsa with the locals. More ‘Western’ clubs verge on disco cheese but that isn’t to say they’re not fun and travellers in Bolivia certainly know how to party. Malegria in La Paz combines Afro-beats with more familiar tunes. Party hostels such as Wild Rover are also good hang-outs. But the most fun you’ll have is at local village fiestas which take place non-stop and will have you sipping on home-brewed Chicha (an extremely strong beer), listening to Latin trills, late into the night.

Where to stay: Hostels in Bolivia are incredibly cheap with rooms in some starting at around $6 a night. There are also many ‘Posadas’ which are family-run guest houses with private, clean rooms that have some extra comforts. In La Paz you can stay at five-star hotels such as Hotel Europa (hoteleuropa.com.bo) or Camino Real (caminoreal.com.bo), for as little as $100.

PERU Peru is synonymous with Maccu Picchu and the Inca Trail, but beyond the sky-high trails to this hidden, perfectly preserved ancient city, there is plenty more to see. That isn’t to say give Maccu Picchu a miss – it is truly one of the most spectacular journeys on earth – however, it is just to remind you that besides the now well-trodden trail that is heavy with tourists and guides, there is a whole country to explore.

What to do: Cuzco will be an important stop-off if you’re doing the Inca Trail and here you can explore traditional markets, see ancient city walls and enjoy some ‘gringo’ (Western-style) cafes.

As well as jungle terrain in the Amazon basin, you can also get a taste of the desert. Flying over the mysterious Nazca lines is a stomach-churning experience (seriously, bring a sick bag) but the views over the ancient geoglyphs from the fourman plane is worth it.

Huacachino is a traveller’s paradise – the oasis in the desert has some really chilled-out backpacker hostels and the weather is almost always good so you can get some sun in.

The most fun you’ll have however, is sandboarding down the towering cliffs of sand. A high-speed ride in an opentop 4WD will take you up and over the dunes so that you can surf down as gracefully – or as clumsily – as your heart desires. Unintentionally face-first, skidding in a zig-zag pattern is usually the name of the game, but the speeds you can gather are immense.

Lima is not a particularly beautiful city but, if you spend some time exploring, you will discover just how much this cosmopolitan centre has to offer. There are museums where hundreds of archaeological artefacts have been kept in pristine condition and there are nightclubs with sizzling hot

Volunteer for puma care at Parque Jacj Cuisi in Bolivia

Photo credit 50bucksabroad.com/blog

Bolivian train cemetery near Uyuni

Sandboarding in Peru

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tropical beats. There’s also some world-class food in Lima, which won’t go amiss if you’ve been travelling for a while.

Food and drink: Peru is a known throughout South America for its fresh produce and great dishes. In Lima the everfamous restaurants Astrid y Gaston (astridygarcon.com) and Rafael (rafaelosterling.com) offer up delicious seafood dishes with a curious combination of sauces. On your travels you’ll probably eat more simply – stews and grilled meat. Still, many of the ingredients and spices are unique to the region so new tastes will abound. Lomo Saltado – stir-fried beef and vegetables – is a dependable and easy-to-find staple. Ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in lime juice, is refreshing and delicious. Of course, Peru is famous the world over for its cholocate and Choco Museo (chocomuseo.com) will help you learn the secrets of the sweet treat enjoyed since the Maya, 1000 years ago.

Where to party: The best after-dark scenes in Peru can be found in the bohemian neighbourhoods of Miraflores and Barranco in Lima. The Plaza de la Pizzas road in the former location is lined with bars, discos, all-night clubs and it even has an English-style pub. La Noche (lanoche.com.pe) in Barranco features lesser-known Peruvian indie artists; at La Posada del Angel (facebook.com/PosadaDelAngelI) you can sip your drinks on a terrace overlooking the sea.

Where to stay: There’s a vibrant hostel scene in Peru so it’s easy to meet other travellers. The Loki Hostel (lokihostels. com) in Lima is a particularly popular option for backpackers, $10 a night. The Point Hostels (thepointhostels.com) offer all the backpacker amenities and can be found at good locations around the country. Rooms start at $10 a night.

BRAZIL

Pictures: Getty, Thinkstock, and 50bucksabroad.com/blog

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Brazil is everything you ever hoped it would be, and more: non-stop street parties, wilderness adventure, tropical islands and lush rainforest. The beaches are picture-perfect and it’s impossible not to get swept away in the energy and rhythm of the cities. This is the country people fall in love with – and fall in love in – and it’s all down to those sultry summer nights and sexy samba beats. Brazil is the fourth largest country in the world and you’ll feel it – distances travelled are huge and you’ll barely scratch the service. But that doesn’t matter – you’ll want to come back again and again.

Oh yes, and again...

What to do: Nowhere is quite like Rio where dazzling coastline, dotted with dolphins and lush jungle mountains, merges onto a grimy urban backdrop. So up for having fun are Rio’s residents that just sitting on the beach each night is a party, and you will feel the good-time vibes right away.

There’s dramatic architecture and street art to explore and nothing will take your breath away quite like watching the sun set behind Christ the Redeemer from Sugar Loaf Mountain. Ilha Grande, a foot-traffic-only island near Rio, has some spectacular beaches and offers endless hammocks to relax in after drinking the nights away in the city.

Sao Paolo is a sprawling metropolis of world-class museums, theatres, restaurants and clubs and is good for a heavy dose of culture.

Further up north in the state of Bahia you will find the

beaches of your dreams; turquoise water and white sand bordered by bright red tropical flowers and hidden waterfalls that plunge in to sun-soaked bathing pools. This is truly paradise. On your way you should stop in the northern city of Salvador which is an eclectic mix of Brazilian, African and Caribbean art, culture, food and music.

Food and drink: Street stalls sell moreish fried parcels of meat, cheese and potato. Coxinhas, which are the most popular, consist of potato or manioc-coated spicy chicken and creamy cheese, but there are hundreds of variants of these quick bites and all are delicious. The acai berry, which is native to the Amazon and is known for its medicinal properties (and its power to aid weight loss), is sold in the form of smoothies all over the place. Indeed, the fruit in Brazil is out of this world; the ultimate in sweet, ripe and locally grown. Menu staples include a black bean and meat stew called feijioda, which is popular in the south, and in the north, Moqueca de Camarones, which is a sort of seafood coconut curry.

Where to party: More apt perhaps would be the question: where not to party? Brazilians really know how to have fun.

From the biggest carnival on earth in Rio, to street gatherings in villages: the drinks will be flowing, the music pumping and the dancing ‘hip’notic. Each week (yes, each week!) there are huge street parties in an area of Rio called Lapa – it will

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

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Tayrona Park, Colombia, Caribbean coast

be easy to find. Everyone goes. Paraty may as well drop the extra ‘a’ because it’s another stop that is always happening.

The stunning coastal town is legendary for beach hang-outs that range from chilled guitar circles to hip-swinging sandy raves. It’s no use listing clubs in Brazil because that’s not where it’s at – the fun happens out in the open as you make new friends. People are friendly and if you go where the night takes you, you’ll find house parties, village ‘festas’ and dance circles that crop-up with no rhyme or reason, but are simply open to those in the know.

Where to stay: It’s not easy to find cheap accommodation in Brazil and city hostels can be extremely cramped. The Che Legarto Hostels (chelagarto.com) have good offerings in Rio and on the beach of Ilha Grande. Rooms start at $26.

COLOMBIA You will not be disappointed with Colombia. Lush Caribbean beaches, spellbinding colonial cities, towering skyscrapers or sacred ancient ruins, Colombia has it all. But it’s the dream-like quality of the land that will really capture your imagination.

Nothing is quite as it seems here, which makes it no wonder that it’s the home of magical-realist writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Perhaps it’s the Caribbean sun setting over ancient pirate walls or maybe it’s the fact that tourism is relatively new due to decades of civil strife. Whatever it is, Colombia is

Streets of Cartagena, Colombia

as magical as it is beautiful and words will never do it justice.

What to do: Cartagena is a fairytale maze of cobbled streets and vine-draped balconies protected by an ancient pirate wall that comes alive at dusk with musicians, dancers and lovers who nestle in to the ramparts and watch the red-hot Caribbean sun sink behind the ocean. Nearby you can get to the hippy beach hang-out of Tanganga, which will suck you in with its local boardwalk bars and open-top clubs.

Tayrona National Park has wild beaches fit for treasure seekers. There’s also the Lost City Trek which will take you up in to lush jungle mountains where camouflage-clad military still guard over the ancient ruins of a sacred city. Capital city Bogota doesn’t have the same Caribbean feel but its Andean mountain roots are strong and it’s a serious city full of art, friendly people and intellectual chatter. Medellin, on the other hand, is party central and it’s worth checking out Botero’s fat-bottomed lady paintings at the Museo del Antioquia. There’s also the endless coffee growing valleys of Salento where outdoor adventurers get their fix.

Food and drink: Beans, rice, fried plantains and meat or fish are the staples here, but you’ll learn to love it as you eat it directly from an abuela’s (grandmother’s) kitchen on makeshift tables that look out over the ocean. Pig-roasts are also a favourite and you’ll eat the meat with arepas, traditional Colombian bread. Don’t forget of course to wash it all down with their world-famous coffee.

Where to party: Clubs in Medellin and Bogota attract international DJs. However, open-top bars along the beach are where it’s at. The city of Cali, which is considered the world capital of salsa, has some great places to dance.

Tropical Cocktails (tropicalcocktails.com.co) is a firm favourite. Tin Tin Deo (tintindeo.com), which is the oldest and best salsa club in the city, is for really serious lovers of Afro-Caribbean music.

Where to stay: The white-sand island of Playa Blanca near Cartagena has hammocks under the stars for $2 a night. You can’t book so just turn up and stroll until you find your spot of choice. La Casa de Felipe in Taganga (lacasadefelipe.com) is close to perfect for a hostel. Rooms start at $15 a night.

Local pub at La Casa de Felipe in Taganga TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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OZCAREERS

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My expat story Antonia Robinson tells us why she was barking up the right tree with WWOOFing to help extend her gap-year stay in Oz What made you come to Australia for work?

I came to Australia on my gap year after university. I applied for a working holiday visa before going out. You need to do three months’ farm work to apply for your second-year visa.

This process was stress free but the visas cost a bit of money… about £100 each.

What jobs have you done out here?

Mostly promotional work and field marketing for various companies. I did festival work, work at exhibitions, shows, at the races in Darwin – every backpacker who lives there during the summer can do this. I even worked as an elf in a shopping centre in Sydney! I did some temping and admin in Sydney for various agencies and worked as a receptionist and PA in Melbourne. My best job, though, was WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) in Queensland and Perth where I did voluntary work but got food and accommodation in exchange.

How did you land these jobs?

I applied via email to the temping agencies and promotion companies with my CV and cover letter. I then had to go for interviews. Some of the temp agencies have office tests to complete. For WWOOFing you have to sign up and pay a small fee. Then you simply email the farms you wish to go to.

How was the pay?

Pay in Australia is amazing. I was getting on average $22 per hour, which is about £12.

What were the good points?

Great pay, relaxed, and nice working hours.

And what wasn’t so great?

Sometimes the work was quite boring. I didn’t do any actual “career-focused” jobs.

Anything else to share?

Wwoofing is a great way to see the country. It is unpaid work but you get your food and accommodation in exchange for working in exciting places and doing interesting things.

I worked on a cattle station in Northern Queensland, a 60,000acre sheep station three hours from the closest town, and a horse-riding school outside of Perth.

To look for jobs in Australia, head to

96

tntdownunder.com/jobs

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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MISSION CRITICAL PROJECT DELIVERY? 457 SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE l BLUE CHIP CLIENTS l HIGHLY RESPECTED CONSULTING PMO MANAGER

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You will work collaboratively with the project management team and the PMO Manager to ensure all aspects of the project’s multiple timelines are accurately captured, maintained and analysed to ensure on time delivery.

Your role will play an integral role in ensuring successful delivery of a large-scale & complex technology based transformations.

Ensuring transparency in reporting and all communications, strong stakeholder management and implementing rigorous control disciplines will enable you to meet the client’s expectations and deliver a first quality service.

Seven Consulting is a Program Management Consultancy providing seasoned professionals to deliver large-scale business transformation and IT programs to agreed performance criteria. We are listed in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 BRW Fast 100 as one of Australia’s fastest growing companies.

We focus exclusively on the delivery of large-scale complex business transformation and IT programs for blue chip clients, working with the executives and delivery teams of these organisations to achieve their desired results.

We have been operating in Sydney since 2002 and Melbourne since 2012. Our clients include the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank, Bauer Media, Telstra, Superpartners, AMP, Oil Search, QANTAS, APA, Medibank Private, Hewlett-Packard, Vodafone Hutchison and Stockland.

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DESPERATELYSEEKING

follow us on

@tnt_downunder

Are you desperately seeking someone or something? Email ian.armitage@tntmagazine.com with your message

SAY WHAT?!

Stevie wonder is great, considering he has no eyes. uhh...he does have eyes, he’s just blind.

i didn’t choose the flappy bird life. the flappy bird life chose me.

i kind of just want to put mayonnaise on that cat and eat it.

we’re young, single, twenty-somethings living in sydney.

If we want to stay in with a meal for two, candles and the Notebook, then we will, god damn it.

do you ever talk to the mirror so you can see what your face looks like during conversations?

the second biggest selling supermarket item is the same shape as a banana. uh...milk?

Sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage another nick ‘honey badger’ cummins classic.

98

THINGS TONY ABBOTT SHOULD DO, JUST BECAUSE

Photos: Getty

when i was younger i used to cut slow worms in half and give them little insect funerals.

Big screen: I’m on the look out for a Melbourne cinema buddy who won’t mind going to see all the latest blockbusters with me.

Preferably someone who can go the length of a film without eating/slurping so I can concentrate on the film. Ben. Don’t cry over spilt coffee: To the guy I accidentally bumped into at the airport last week – sorry I made you spill your coffee over an old man.

I would like to take you out sometime to apologise. Jess.

Love is...blind? Miss G, I believe in love at first sight.

Email me if you agree. The lovestruck optometrist.

John the plumber: Thank you so much for all your amazing hard work in my kitchen. Those tiles look incredible, and it’s so nice to have running hot water again.

Swing by for a beer when you’re next in the area. Sally.

Male to join couple: I’m a slim and attractive young aussie female looking for a male to join in with me and the hubby. Preferably older male. Must have a hoolahoop.

Scarlett W Destination Brazil: There was a power cut at the pub last week and I got talking to a bloke who said he would give me his spare ticket to the World Cup for free if I painted his fence for him. I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, and I couldn’t find him to get his contact details. If you’re serious, my painting skills are all yours. Derek.

Cat lady: After another Valentine’s Day alone, I’m determined next year will be different! I’m a big home-bird on the lookout for a guy or girl with a great sense of humour and the ability to handle my 24 cats. Don’t be scared by my feline friends –

Join his fellow Aussies down the pub to watch an AFL game

I have room for another special person in my life!

Play the right notes: Been in Sydney for eight weeks and looking for a LTR. A musical companion would help me get my life back on track. I’m a sweet blonde that loves to travel. Charlotte.

Lost ring: I dropped my mood ring in Darling Harbour last Thursday (Feb 22nd). I know it’s so circa 1990, but I’ve had it since I was nine and it’s my lucky piece of jewellery.

Please get in touch – I’m currently feeling very orange (unsettled). Nelly At last: A big congratulations to my best friend Joanna on

her engagement to Daniel!

(Only took you 10 years to pop the question...). Let’s hope I can get a date before the big day! Love you. Lisa.

Dancing queen: To the hot guy in my Saturday Zumba class. You impress me with your dance moves every week, but I think you need some bigger shorts...I keep getting distracted when you thrust. Let me know if you fancy a coffee some time.

Hannah.

Cold shoulder: Josh, do me a favour mate, stop playing Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ at 3am every morning, or you’re out. Ryan.

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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