TNT Down Under 678

April 23-29 2012 Issue 678 tntdownunder.com

IBNAR!RIER W EAT

A GR GALA REEF & YON IVE WRECK D E ADVENTUR

IISRAELI SRAELI NIGHTS Party until dawn in the Holy Land

SIZE STILL MATTERS Big is better when it comes to Aussie sites

THE HEAT IS ON UP NORTH And the crocs are waiting in Darwin

!

Y R A HAIL M

nts ls in their pa ir g t o h t s ju ’s not pparently, it a – ll a tb o o F Lingerie Introducing + NEWS & SPORT WHAT’S ON FILM REVIEWS TRAVELLERS’ TALES

FBI, TIMEOUT & DRUM MEDIA PRESENTS

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE

BLACK DOG INSTITUTE

S I H T N O EKEND

WE H & 2 8 T H 27T

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BELFORD

HUNTER VALLEY

CUSTARD - JINJA SAFARI ASH GRUNWALD FEATURING VIKA AND LINDA BULL

WAGONS - SIETTA

KIM CHURCHILL - THE BAKERY

FIRE! SANTA ROSA, FIRE! - ROESY FRONT END LOADER - THE TONGUE

CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES MASSY FERGUSON (USA) - THE JOE KINGS THE DELTA RIGGS - BENJALU - EUCALYPSO

TWO RIVERS BLUES - PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND

WWW.THEGUMBALL.COM.AU FULL WEEKEND PRE SALE TICKETS $165 PER PERSON INCLUDES TWO NIGHTS CAMPING + BYO

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ANDREW WESTBROOK EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com

EDITOR’S LETTER Well guys, after four-and-a-half years and 232 issues of the mag, it’s time for me to say farewell to both the TNT team and you lovely readers. It’s been a blast, but there’s only so long you can do this job before the cravings to hit the road again take over, so South America here I come. Enjoy Australia folks, I know you will. Just remember, there’s more to the land Down Under than simply the anarchy of the east coast. Seeya!

THIS WEEK OZ DIARY

4

MUSIC & FILM

10

COMPETITION

14

CELEB GOSSIP

20

SPOTTED

22

NEWS

24

SPORT

26

TRAVEL

32

LISTINGS NSW

47

LISTINGS QUEENSLAND

48

LISTINGS TASMANIA

52

LISTINGS VICTORIA

53

LISTINGS WA

56

LISTINGS NT

58

LISTINGS SA

59

LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND

61

WORK

62

TRIVIAL PURSUITS

66

6

42

FEATURES SUPERSIZE ME

6

From the iconic banana to the bizarre peanut, we discover Oz’s ‘Big Things’

TOUCHDOWN

16

Uncovering Lingerie Football, the sport about to take Oz by storm

TROPIC THUNDER

36

The crocs, the bombs, the beers. We hang out in the frontier town of Darwin

HOLY NIGHTS Crossing borders and dancefloors in Israel’s hot, hot city, Tel Aviv

42

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EDITORIAL Editor Andrew Westbrook Staff writer Alex Harmon Editorial assistant Leigh Livingstone Contributors Tom Sturrock | Simon Webster | Jahn Vannisselroy DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Design and production manager Lisa Ferron SALES Account manager Justin Steinlauf Sales executive Caroline Ward MARKETING & EVENTS Business development manager Tom Wheeler Marketing assistant Leroy Meurs DISTRIBUTION Lee Sutherland ACCOUNTS Financial controller Trish Bailey

Jason has nothing to do with Puppetry of the Penis, honest TNT MULTIMEDIA LTD CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst

PUBLISHER TNT Multimedia Limited PRINTED BY Rural Press NEWS AAP PICTURES Getty Images | Thinkstock | AAP | TNT Images | Tourism Australia | Tourism Victoria | Tourism New South Wales | Tourism NT | Tourism Queensland | Tourism Tasmania | South Australia Tourism | Tourism Western Australia | Tourism New Zealand | Tourism Fiji | TNT Magazine , 126 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW 2008 tntdownunder.com General enquiries Phone 02 8332 7500 Fax 02 9690 1314 Email enquiries@tntdownunder.com SALES ENQUIRIES

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MAIN EVENT SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SYDNEY

Hot on the heels of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney begins its own month-long festival of laughs, which rolls into town this week. Running until the 12th of May, the eight annual comedy festival boasts everything from slapstick to puppetry to men singing in their pajamas. Top international shows include Jason Byrne, David O’Doherty, Mark Watson and Henry Rollins, as well as local acts like Fiona O’Loughlin and ‘Chopper’. $30

From April 24 Various venues across Sydney

sydneycomedyfest.com.au

WHERE TO GET TNT

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MINDIL BEACH SUNSET MARKET

ANZAC DAY AUSTRALIA

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL

With the dry season in Darwin comes the Mindil Sunset Markets, every week on Thursdays and Sundays. Enjoy the sunset, lots of live entertainment, hundreds of stalls and plenty of delicious food, along with just about everyone in town that day.

This Wednesday we remember the fallen soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli during WWI. There’s a dawn service in most cities and The Australian Hotel in the Rocks will host one of the biggest games of 2-up.

If you haven’t caught any flicks from the Goldie’s festival, now is your last chance. It wraps up this week with the closing night film, Safe. In it, Jason Statham does what he does best: playing an elite agent who must outwit the Russian Mafia.

April 26 – October Mindil Beach, Darwin mindil.com.au

April 25 Everywhere anzacday.org.au

Until April 29 Selected cinemas on the Gold Coast gcfilmfestival.com

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

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19/10/11 2:05:12 PM

Yes, size matters Ever since a banana seller got inspired by Hawaii’s Big Pineapple back in 1964, over 150 so-called Big Things have sprung up across Australia. Laughably tacky or brilliantly kitsch? You decide...

Such a big country ought to be home to lots of big things. After all, why build something small when you’ve got a spare seven million square kilometres or so to play with?

At least that seems to be the opinion held by a growing number of Aussie businesses and towns, over 150 at last count, who have decided they need that extra little marketing push when it comes to encouraging travellers to take a break from the highway.

The variety of Big Things to be encountered on a roadtrip around Australia might range from the downright strange to the mildly bizarre, but we guarantee you’ll still pull over for a photo, and then maybe 6

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buy a drink, or take a tour... so who gets the last laugh eh?

Generally speaking, the subject of Big Things tends to take the form of the product a town is most famous for, such as Coffs Harbour banana, Bowen’s mango, Berri’s orange or Nambour’s pineapple.

Likewise, it’s often the animal for which the area has made its name, like Rockhampton with cows, Wyndham with crocodiles, Mission Beach with cassowaries, Kingston (SA) with lobsters, Goulburn (NSW) with its merino, Kimba (SA) its galah or, er, Richmond in Queensland for dinosaurs.

People make a few appearances as well, notably the giant Captain Cook

in Cairns, the crouching gold panner in Bathurst (NSW) and, of course, the Big Ned Kelly in Glenrowan (VIC).

Yet there’s also the truly random.

Anyone fancy a trip to Hexham (NSW) to check out the Big Mosquito, or perhaps Myrtleford (VIC) for a puff on the Big Cigarette?

Quite whether the big things are anything but ridiculous eye sores is highly debatable, but the one thing for sure is that the longer you find yourself roadtripping around this vast sunbaked land, the larger your collection of comedy photos next to surreal giant objects will become. As such, here’s some of our favourites, from the quirky to the classics, via the plain stupid...

THE BIG PENGUIN NORTH-WEST TASMANIA

THE BIG BANANA COFFS HARBOUR, NEW SOUTH WALES

The cool thing about the Big Penguin is that it’s the only ‘big’ thing named after its hometown. It’s also in Tasmania – meaning it’s one of very few big things on that strange and distant island. The 3.15m model of the fairy penguin (interestingly, the smallest species of penguin), plays Mum to the hundreds of little black-and-white fairies that flock to the seashore each evening. It was built in 1975 to mark 100 years since the ‘Proclamation of the Town of Penguin’.

An oldie but a goodie, the Big Banana is (according to its website – bigbanana.com) Australia’s ‘most famous big icon’. In 1964, John Landy decided the best way to boost sales at his roadside banana stall was to build the biggest banana in the world. At 1,500 pounds, the huge yellow fruit is now a fully-fledged tourist attraction, home to a toboggan ride, ice-skating rink, the ‘banana slip’ waterslide and too many banana-themed gifts.

THE BIG PRAWN BALLINA, NEW SOUTH WALES

THE BIG BOXING CROC HUMPTY DOO, NORTHERN TERRITORY

What could be more tacky than a giant prawn that’s 27m long, 20m high, 4.5m wide and sits atop a building? In fact, because of the size of the Big Prawn and the hike in liability insurance, the viewing platform at the top of the building had to be closed.

A mere giant crocodile wasn’t quite gimicky enough for this NT attraction (unlike the simpler Big Crocodile in the Kimberley’s Wyndham), so they decided to put boxing gloves on this giant icon. This 13m ‘Big Thing’ doesn’t take itself too seriously and is definitely worth the effort.

THE BIG MERINO GOULBURN, NEW SOUTH WALES

THE BIG MANGO BOWEN, QUEENSLAND

While there’s a couple of Big Merino’s dotted around the country (the other being in Blackall, QLD), this one, found on the road between Sydney and Canberra, is by far the most impressive. Admire its 15m height, peruse the ‘delights’ found in the museum within it and ride its life-size mate.

What this one lacks in comedy value and pure insanity, it makes up for in pretty colours, especially against an electric blue Queensland sky. It sits proudly next to Bowen’s visitor centre, which you can head into for all sorts of mango souvenirs. Just what you’ve been looking for.

OzParty Bus every Thursday and Saturday Night.

5 AWESOME venues, 5 FREE drinks, Live DJ + MC on the bus.

$5

OFF when you quote TNT and book direct:

t: 0416 888 699 e: promotions@ozpartybus.com w: www.ozpartyevents.com TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

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THE BIG PIE YATALA, QUEENSLAND

THE BIG GOLDEN GUITAR TAMWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Is it a UFO? No, it’s a giant pie mounted on a totem pole between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It’s not a bad Aussie icon considering that each Australian puts away an average of 12 meat pies a year. The Big Pie measures 4.5m in diameter and is well over 10 years old now. It is a grand advert that was constructed for Yatala Pies.

Tamworth’s ‘Big Thing’ is 12m half a tonne and is one of and photographed sites in by the ‘King of Country 1988, the Big Golden Guitar bigger) replica of the 325mm

THE BIG WINE CASK BURONGA, NEW SOUTH WALES The 8m high, 11m long, 7m wide water-purifying plant for the winery was turned into a Big Thing with just a coat of paint and a tap. This giant cask is certainly an improved version of the (much smaller) original. If it was a real wine cask it would hold 400,000 litres of wine.

That’s one Big Hangover.

THE BIG PEANUT ATHERTON TABLELANDS, QUEENSLAND The Big Peanut is, er, not very big. Unless of course you take into account the ratio between real peanut size and replica size – then it’s one big nut. The peanut is why we mentioned ‘plain stupid’ earlier. It stands outside a peanut shop, wearing a big, corny smile and a top hat.

THE BIG BULL ROCKHAMPTON, QUEENSLAND This big beast stands as a beacon of pride for Australia’s ‘Beef Capital’. Unfortunately, we don’t think the bull has much pride left – his coconut-sized balls have been robbed on a regular basis for the past 20 years. We imagine the council worker who’s job it is to replace them could be quite a test-y bloke.

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high, weighs over the most visited Australia. Unveiled Music’, Slim Dusty, in is an exact (but er...

Golden Guitar award.

THE BIG NED KELLY GLENROWAN, VICTORIA No other character is so much a part of Australia’s bush history as the legendary bushranger Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly. Ned Kelly was captured and hanged in 1880 following a string of bush thefts and murders. Despite this, he is one of Australia’s most loved men. Big Ned rises to 6m tall and is, in fact, the third ‘Big’ Ned Kelly to be constructed. The first was found floating in a river and the second was moved to the Kellyland Museum.

$5

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ONLY $30 WITH 5 AWESOME Sydney THIS OFFER venues, 5 FREE drinks, Live DJ + MC on the bus.

Quote TNT and book direct: t: 0416 888 699 e: promotions@ozpartybus.com

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WISH YOU WERE HERE FILM REVIEW by Alex Harmon STARRING: Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Felicity Price | CERT: CTC | 93mins | Out April 25

THE WAY FILM REVIEW by Andrew Westbrook STARRING: Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez | CERT: PG | 123mins | Out April 25

Father and son team Sheen and Estevez (with the younger also in the director’s chair) join forces for what is clearly a highly personal project, which follows Sheen walking Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimmage, to complete the journey started by his son before an untimely death. Despite dragging at first, with plenty of cliché-ridden flashbacks, the Camino itself has an uplifting and touching effect. A true backpacking tale of self-discovery.

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A Cambodian holiday turns sour when a young Aussie vanishes into thin air.

Without trivialising this emotionally-charged film, it will appeal to anyone who’s ever travelled abroad and woken up with more than just a hangover.

A passion project for writer-director-actor Kieran Darcy-Smith, who asked his highschool buddy Joel Edgerton (The Warrior) to play the lead role of Dave, the film, shot mostly with a hand-held camera, feels like a personal one. It begins with a stunning montage of southern Cambodia: the colours and energy portrayed with precise attention to detail, from the poverty to the hedonism.

But while the film opens on a high, the three remaining, free-spirited Westerners return to Sydney with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Mystery drives the film through flashbacks and scraps of information. Drugs and infidelity turn the straight investigation into a mystery plagued with darkness.

Dave, in particular, returns with guilt sprawled all over his constantly perspiring face. He knows more than he is telling his wife, the police and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Relationships are strained and the truth rips the characters apart.

Even long after the film ends, there’s something in it that will unsettle you, as you put the twisted pieces of the puzzle back together.

And ladies, come on, when will you learn never to trust a rich and charming, but elusive man who has vague business dealings in South-East Asia?

GOOD FOR: The intrepid, thinking man’s Hangover

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140 POP UP PROJECT

BOOK

FASHION

NOW!

Perth finally caught onto the popup craze and launched a shop at 140 William Street, underneath the popular drinking hole, The Aviary. There’s vintage clothing, quirky gifts, jewellery, artwork, hipster antiques, nick-nacks, bric-a-brac and gadgets. Pop-up might be transient but this shop is unique, it will be here for three months.

140.com.au

GUMBALL FESTIVAL

HARD ROCK ANZAC DAY

FESTIVAL

GIG

Dust off those gumboots and head for the hills, the Gumball Festival takes place this weekend in the picturesque Hunter Valley. Catch recently reformed band Custard, as well as Ash Grunwald, Jinja Safari, Kim Churchill, Sietta, and a Silent Disco until 2am each night. All of this as you get comfy in wine country.

Guaranteed to be fruity!

Celebrate Anzac Day with an Irishman who managed to win Australian Idol at an American bar. If you’re in Sydney, head to the Hard Rock Cafe in Darling Harbour and you’ll have Damien Leith on the mic, performing tracks from his new album. He’ll even be signing copies after the event. Will he play 2-up? You’ll have to wait and see.

April 27-28. Bedford, NSW thegumball.com.au

April 25, from 1pm. Free hardrockcafe.com/sydney

PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS Think you’ve seen everything on stage? Well, unless you’ve seen a man turn his penis into a hamburger, then think again! For the last dickade, these masters of illusion have been around the world, going from Edinburgh festivals to hen’s nights and breaking box office records along the way. Now they’re back on home turf and this time they’re giving the audience a 3D show. That’s right, it’s so real you can almost touch it. Catch their genital origami at Enmore Theatre on May 5.

Tickets from $34 enmoretheatre.com.au

BALCONY BAR, BYRON

NEWTONS NATION

BAR

FESTIVAL

If you like a cocktail to truly titillate your taste buds then look no further than Balcony Bar. From a sweet, sophisticated espresso number to something more fruity, Balcony’s got it. And it’s surely one of the best spots to perve at the beauties of the bay walking by. There’s also some tasty tapas to clench your jaws into.

This weekend, Mount Panorama in Bathurst comes alive with the biggest action sports and music festival in the country. There’s skateboarding, extreme BMX competitions, downhill luge, inline and more. Plus music from AJAX, The Getaway Plan (pictured), Parachute Youth and more. Camp for as little as $27.50 for three nights.

Lawson St, Byron Bay. balcony.com.au

April 27-29. Mt Panorama, NSW

IRON SKY TIX

WIN

TNT has teamed up with Hoyts cinemas to give you guys 10 double passes to see the film Iron Sky, starring Julia Dietze, Chistopher Kirby and Stephanie Paul. This FinnishGerman-Australian science-fiction comedy is about a Nazi space programme from WWII which aims to return them to power in 2018.

Head over to tntdownunder.com and answer our question for your chance to win!

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Krafty Kuts No stranger to these shores, Martin Reeves, aka Krafty Kuts, is back with a national tour. He chats to us about everything from films and Ibiza, to where to eat in Sydney INTERVIEW ALEX HARMON

funk, soul, drum and bass, things that inspire me. Future wise, I want to add a bit more of a spectacle to the live events, add visuals, but not like massive lasers shining in you face. As much as I like that when I’m watching Afrojack at Ultra in front of 20,000 people, it detracts from what the DJ is doing. When you come and see Krafty, it’s all about the music, scratching, dropping a capella’s, mixing edits from things you know, like a Skrillex track. I want to play tunes that people come up to me after and say I want to hear it again. I like to make people smile, I like to see girls shaking their arses on the dancefloor.

We need to talk about Krafty...

Hi Krafty, what are you up to?

I’m getting used to the time zone change here in Sydney, I need to get to the gym and get healthy.

I DJ’d in Austria last week with Fat Boy Slim in a massive street party, which was awesome, but they all smoke in the clubs and I got sick. It was like being in a smoke machine.

So, New Zealand next, doing anything crazy over there? Bungy jumping?

Funny you say that, the last time I was there, it was my birthday and they said we’re gonna do something crazy for your birthday. I thought they’ll take me to the top of a mountain and we’d all sit there in our boxers, something crazy like that. But no, they said we want you to jump out of a plane. I just couldn’t do it, I am so afraid of heights and every time I look in the paper I hear about someone’s parachute not opening.

What do you like doing in Sydney?

Hitting my favourite restaurants, like Hurricanes in Bondi. I went to Golden Century last night, the food was amazing as always. I went fishing in Sydney Harbour, caught a large salmon, two kingy’s, and some mackerel, weather was nice. Sydney to me is like a second home, it’s a place I could live. I miss it like a sister when I’m away.

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You’re playing at the Ivy this time...

Yeah I am. I had a look at the last event they did with the Freestylers and it looked really good.

I think Sydney has these great, unique venues, I played at the Hyde Park Barracks once.

You play in Ibiza a lot. What’s it like?

Oh, I gotta tell you, it’s a mental place. It’s unlike anything you’ll ever experience in your life, it’s cool as fuck. Some of the best DJs in the world, the clubs are cutting edge, so liberal, it’s like 24 Hour Party People, but it’s not like that crappy American stuff that you see, like party rockers in the house tonight sipping champagne. Women dress up, men dress up in cool gear, it’s amazing.

Has it changed much over the years?

No, it just gets better, the lineups get stronger, the clubs get better. Even bands, which is what Australia does so well, you guys incorporated electronic music into bands, like The Presets. It’s really cool music that you can listen to at the beginning of the night, which is what they have kind of done with [the club] Ibiza Rocks.

What’s next for Krafty?

Well, I’ve got a new album, it’s called Let’s Ride.

It encompasses everything that I have been involved in for the last 10 years; electro, disco,

If you weren’t Krafty what would you be doing...

I love this question, there are so many things that I would love to do. If I had the choice I would probably be a soccer manager, I am so passionate about soccer. I would also like to write a movie, I think everyone would like to do that, but it’s one of those things that you have to be totally skilled at. I love movies.

Seen anything good lately?

I watched We Need to Talk about Kevin and I am still gobsmacked about the ending of that film, it’s devastating, it knocks you for six.

Make you not want to have kids?

I tell you what, if you’ve got kids, it will improve your parenting. It’s like anything in life, if you just take that extra minute to explain something to your kids, it makes all the difference in the world and that’s what the film explains: that extra minute can save someone’s life. Because the ending of that film is fucking horrific. It’s like Drive, have you seen that yet?

No, not yet...

I tell you what, if you can handle tough, hard hitting movies, that will blow your pants off. Go and hire it, you and your boyfriend will love it.

Then maybe go and watch Crazy Stupid Love with Ryan Gosling, just to even it out.

Krafty plays Melbourne (Apr 25), Sydney’s Ivy (Apr 28), Gold Coast (May 5), Cairns (May 6), Brisbane (May 6) and Perth (May 12) kraftykuts.com

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HOW TO ENTER

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

WIN AN AMAZING CAIRNS AND YONGALA DIVE ADVENTURE There are several things that you simply have to do while you’re in Australia.

No complaining, ‘nuff said. See a kangaroo, for example, or meet Karl Kennedy. Best of all, however, is the Great Barrier Reef, which is why TNT has got together with some diving buddies to offer this fantastic prize...

THIS PRIZE INCLUDES: PRO DIVE CAIRNS: A three-day, two-night liveaboard dive trip for one certified diver or snorkeller, valued at $650. You will get: • 11 dives (including two night dives) • All dive and snorkelling equipment – including dive computer, long leg wetsuits and dive torch • Accommodation transfers (Cairns City & Northern Beaches) • All meals & bed linen Double or twin share accom.

• Guided orientation and night dive • Dive insurance

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YONGALA DIVE: A one-day diving package for two people, including full gear and two dives each, valued at $460.

This is your chance to experience Australia’s most celebrated wreck dive, the SS Yongala, from Alva Beach, Ayr. Meet giant gropers, huge marble rays, schooling barracuda, sea snakes, turtles and much more. It’s a dive you will never forget.

Competition closes midnight AEST Sunday, May 13, 2012. Log on to tntdownunder.com for further details and to enter.

worth over

$1,100

Rail Explorer Pass

Red Centre Expedition Package

Enjoy unlimited travel in any direction on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland trains. Take in all major cities plus all the stops in between.

No Aussie adventure is complete without witnessing the magic of the Red Centre. That’s why we’ve put together this fantastic package, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the journey.

Includes: r OJHIU BCPBSE UIF *OEJBO 1BDJàD 4ZEOFZ UP "EFMBJEF JO 3FE %BZ /JHIUFS 4FBU r OJHIUT BU :)" "EFMBJEF TIBSF EPSNJUPSZ

r EBZ #BSPTTB 7BMMFZ 5PVS r OJHIU BCPBSE 5IF (IBO "EFMBJEF UP "MJDF 4QSJOHT JO 3FE %BZ /JHIUFS 4FBU r OJHIUT BU :)" "MJDF 4QSJOHT TIBSF EPSNJUPSZ

r EBZ 5IF 3PDL 5PVS FYQMPSJOH 6MVru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon Booking code: BP4SAS

Additional packages and passes available.

Visit greatsouthernrail.com.au/backpackers or book with your licensed travel agent.

Terms and conditions apply. Package fares based on low season prices and per person based on Red Day/Nighter Seat. Airfares not included in package price. For the Rail Explorer Pass a fuel surcharge is payable at time of booking a journey and is only available to bona fide overseas visitors to Australia. All Backpacker fares are based on Red Service Day/Nighter Seat Service and are available to members of recognised backpacker organisations for bookings made from 1 April 2012 for travel until 31 March 2013. All prices are subject to change without notice. For full terms and conditions visit greatsouthernrail.com.au Travel Agent License No.TTA164190.

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ENTERTAINMENTFOCUS

It’s no pillowfight In case you haven’t heard, Lingerie Football is the next big thing and it’s headed Down Under with a mission to seduce and convert WORDS TOM STURROCK

Business is booming. It is, with only a hint of hyperbole, America’s fastest growing sport and now it’s got designs on global domination. Women in sport often play second fiddle to the fellas but here we have a football code – seven against seven full-contact American gridiron – breaking payper-view records and growing with alarming speed since it arrived just three years ago. The kicker, of course, is that it’s played by models in their underwear.

The Lingerie Football League is the brainchild of Mitch Mortaza, a technology exec who cashed in during the internet boom of the 1990s before dipping his toe into the world of sports marketing. His venture began with a one-off Lingerie Bowl in 2004, its success emboldening him to set up a full-time league with 10 franchises, all with ’sexy’ names like Chicago Bliss and Orlando Fantasy, telecast to 43 countries worldwide.

“It’s been an incredible ride. To start with, people told us that no stadium manager would book our events and we’d never find models willing to put their bodies on the line to play football,” Mortaza admits. “But it’s all happened and then some. It started out almost taboo but has turned mainstream – we’re outpacing WWE and UFC after their first three seasons.

“I thought I would need to have a 10-year plan; I expected to run out of money and have to beg, borrow and steal. But now we’re expanding already. The appetite internationally has been incredible.”

Indeed, Mortaza has brought his roadshow out to Sydney to build anticipation for two All-Star games to be played in Brisbane and Sydney in June. And then, in early 2013, Australia’s own league, with teams to be based in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth will kick off. Impressively, a world series in Brazil is also in the pipeline, with as many as 65,000 expected to show up. Mortaza seems like he’s on to a winner but there’s still plenty of skepticism – after all, it’s hot girls running around in their pants, not real sport. Right?

“These girls are serious athletes – 98 per cent competed at college level,” Mortaza insists. “Does it objectify women?

Most people who ask that haven’t seen a game. When you

see how seriously they take the game – of course we use sex appeal to sell the product and get attention, but unless we were a real sport that demanded real athleticism, it wouldn’t grow.”

Chloe Butler hails from far north Queensland, where she grew up playing rugby, and later represented Australia in track and field. Now, though, she runs around for the Los Angeles Temptation, the three-time reigning champions,

“

I’ve had a wardrobe malfunction – I lost my pants on a touchdown

”

where she plays as an inside and outside receiver and won all-star selection in her second year.

“Marketing is a huge part of all sport,” the 24-year-old says, batting away the reservations about the seriousness of a sport where competitors are in their underwear. “Look at someone like David Beckham. He’s made a few bucks by taking his shirt off. I was a runner and a gymnast and this isn’t that different. I’m an athlete and my body is my asset.”

A brief glimpse of Butler’s highlights reel confirms that she, like all her teammates and opponents, is eye-wateringly fit. The girls might be wearing lycra but there are no high heels or bling; the promotion might leave sceptics shaking their heads, but the athleticism of the ladies involved is hard to question.

“It’s for real – we’re tough girls,” Butler says. “Sometimes girls show up to try out and just want to do the glamorous side of it but they last about five minutes and we have a giggle at them.

“Yes, I’ve had a wardrobe malfunction – I lost my pants after a touchdown. But once you’re in the zone, you forget about it. It’s intense – we’ve had girls with fractured ribs and

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17

Chloe Butler in action for the LA Temptation smashed noses, we get girls with concussions.”

Lingerie Football has attracted predictable criticism for its supposed devaluing of mainstream women’s sport by peddling the implicit assumption that crowds will only tune into women’s sport if the competitors are sexy. In Lingerie Football, so the critics say, the sex appeal isn’t just the cherry on top – there’s no sundae without it. But Adrian Purnell, another former track and field star, now a linebacker for the Tampa Breeze, is forthright when it comes to her footballing bona fides and her lack of concerns about the attire.

“Maybe people come for the uniforms but they come back for the product,” she says. “We’re all comfortable in our skin and it keeps the crowds around. I’ve been a cheerleader since I was seven years old and had my stomach showing so it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Even the dressing rooms, brimming with 20-something women in their smalls, are, according to Purnell, proper football inner sanctums, admittedly without the jockstraps and flicking towels.

“Every dressing room is different – some are pretty controlled while others have music blasting and it’s like a party. I like to turn up my music real loud and just get angry,” Purnell says. “But there are no pillowfights if that’s what you’re asking and we don’t have sleepovers.”

Australian crowds may not be immediately convinced but, either way, they’re going to get plenty more opportunities to change their minds and embrace Lingerie Football.

The local league, considering its rare distinction of having a TV deal locked in before any of the teams have been minted, is bound to make a high-visibility splash and

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Mortaza is confident of finding enough players with the right blend of telegenic athleticism to fill the new franchises.

“We’re using the same formula in Australia as what worked in the US,” he says. “There are a ton of women with that athletics background but who have maybe hit that ceiling in terms of the notoriety they can achieve.”

That American football is tactically complex and mostly unfamiliar to Australian women is, according to Mortaza, no obstacle. They will learn on the job.

“Chloe’s been at it for eight or nine months and now she’s an all-star. That’s why we brought her out here – we’re fortunate she’s Australian but we brought her out because she’s been a real success story,” Mortaza says of his Australian star (pictured left).

“It’s part of the reason we’re confident it will work – the vast majority of the ladies never touched a football but as along as you have that intensity and athletic, we’ll teach you the game. Within 10 years, we expect this will be a major product that sits alongside the football codes.”

The more Mortaza talks about it, and the more the glamorous players insist that running around in their underwear is no big deal, the more it seems like Lingerie Football is one of the safest bets around. After all, months before the first Australian bra strap has been twanged, Lingerie Football sounds more bankable than the A-League and no more contrived than T20 cricket. ❚

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Dannii’s in a book that isn’t about Kylie?

DANNII’S REVENGE IS BEST SERVED COWELL

KIM PUTS THE MAYOR BACK INTO NIGHTMARE On the other side of truth, you have politics. Enter Kim Kardashian. That’s right, she’s throwing her hat in the ring and running for mayor.

Unfortunately we have to wait five years for Kimmy K’s campaign to begin, in what is sure to be the best thing in politics since Sarah Palin looked out of her window and told us she saw Alaska.

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Cole-gate: Cheryl Cole has finally ditched that deadweight in her life. No, not Will.I.Am, but her surname. She now wants to be referred to by her first name only, like Madonna.

What’s wrong with her maiden name? (Google search reveals it’s Tweedy. Oh.) Her third solo album A Million Lights, will be released in June. And just to drum it home, the first single off the album is called “Call My Name”. Okay Cheryl...

Kim told The LA Times: “I decided I’m going to run for the mayor of Glendale,” later clarifying that “it’s going to be in, like, five years.”

She found out that you need to be a resident of “Armenian town” Glendale for five years before you can enter the race.

What she didn’t realise was, there is no such position as mayor of Glendale, and in fact the city is run by five council members – who take it in turns in the top spot.

Another KK fail.

SERVICED BY THE BUTLER Gerard “The Ugly Truth” Butler (we’re on a roll

here) is fresh out of rehab and making up for lost time it seems. He was seen at Coachella hooking up with a random woman.

Nothing new there, you say.

Well the Scottish lad thought that some alone time with his lady friend would be best spent in a Portaloo. And they say romance at festivals is dead. The only thing dead at Coachella was 2-Pac and even he was on stage.

See, Dreams can come true ladies.

Photos: Getty Images

They say it all comes out in the wash.

Well if you’re a celebrity, it comes out in the tell-all book. Set to spin-cycle.

Boom. Dannii Minogue’s dirty laundry is hanging out and it’s got Simon Cowell all over it. Too far.

The Minogue-Cowell affair from 2007 isn’t surprising, what’s strange is that Simon is claiming he isn’t a love rat, but a truth-seeking lover on the moral highway.

He told TMZ he had to be “ungentlemanly” in order to be true to the journalist, and writer of the book, Tom Bower. He said: “If someone is going to write an in-depth book on you, I want him to really understand, you know, how I work... so [he would] have a clear understanding when writing the book.”

This Tom Bower must be the Jack Bauer of the literary world. “You’ve got 24 hours to tell me all the women you’ve bedded or I beat you to a pulp. Now go!”

The book is called Sweet Revenge, so it’s not exactly going to be about his charity work now is it? But yes, Simon, you be true to your writer who’s just doing his job.

Screw the women you’ve screwed over!

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TWEETS OF THE WEEK @Lilyrosecooper “Shock horror, just went to get a latte from the local coffee shop and the barista actually asked me to pay for it. #facenotprettyenough

000

@TheGame “If she can’t make turkey tacos she not #wifeymaterial” @NicoleRichie “All I want for Christmas is some southern sass”

Just ordering some sushi. Liquefied

@KourtneyKardashian “Wow claustrophobia attack in customs.

Not fun. Ahhhhh deep breath!”

UP THE DUFF AND LOOKING FOR WEED Pregnant stars and their bizarre cravings. It’s like rock stars and their riders. I don’t know why we care but for some reason we do. Like we’re going to get some insight into their wacky minds.

Up the duff star Reese Witherspoon is the latest star to reveal her cravings.

According to The Sun: “Reese has been waking up at 3am and craving seaweed smoothies, pickles and peanut butter all together, plus chicken wings smothered in barbecue sauce.”

Yeah pretty standard pregnancy stuff, really not getting a portal into Reece’s mind and, apart from the seaweed shakes, it sounds pretty damn tasty to us. Hang on a minute, Britney just called, she wants her breakfast back.

RIRI’S FUN COMES WITH DANDRUFF Coachella: where rich celebrities dress like hobos, pretend they’re into hipster music and upload Instagram photos.

Or if you’re Rihanna, you make that a photo of yourself racking up drugs on top of your festival buddy’s head.

Yeah, that’s how she rolls. While Gerard Butler was using a portaloo as a love shack, Rihanna used her friend’s big bald head as a coffee table.

The photo she sent to her thousands of followers shows her playing with a mysterious white powder on her friend’s head as she sat perched on his shoulders.

We’re not speculating it was drugs, we seem to recall a Disney star last year partaking in white chocolate at Coachella (yeah right). But Ri did tweet: “Memories don’t live like people do #coachella”.

We’re too sober to make sense of that.

@RainnWilson “17th sequel title: The Girl who got her Dragon Tattoo Removed” @ParisHilton “DJs are the new rockstars #coachella” @JoanRivers “Demi Moore would like suggestions for a new Twitter name.

I’m thinking @SingleCradleRobber might work” @PiersMorgan “Nothing against him, but how on earth can David Beckham make the GB Olympic Football squad on merit? We should go for gold, not celebrity”

The new Herbie. Also fully loaded

BEWARE, LI-LO 2.0 IS BEHIND THE WHEEL Amanda Bynes, the child-actor turned train-wreck, wants people to stop calling her “the new Lindsay Lohan”.

But Amanda, or should that be, AmByn? – we personally prefer Man-Bin – the similarities to Li-Lo are too great. It’s like looking into a cracked mirror (or a mirror laced with crack, or a friend of Rihanna’s scalp. Okay, enough).

Let’s lay out the facts. You’re both child stars, the pair of you haven’t made a credible film as an adult, you’ve both been arrested for DUI, you’ve both got a touch of the ginge (don’t deny it Amanda, we see those roots), you’ve both been kicked off films (Amanda was fired from the 2010 film Hall Pass), and you’ve both burnt out in your early 20s.

Her reps are saying it’s ridiculous because she hasn’t stolen anything or been arrested with drugs. But come on, that’s just a technicality. They’re practically twins.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Twitter should ban my mother Frances Bean Most kids would say this, but when your mother is Courtney Love, you’ve got a point

WIN

ARE YOU SPOTTED IN THE CIRCLE?

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‘Ich bein supersizer’

EXPLOSIVE FATTIES WORRY CREMATORIA GERMANY

BARRISTER TAKES WRAP AFTER 20 YEARS AUSTRALIA

A barrister has turned himself into police after being overcome with guilt after stealing loose change from a shop nearly 20 years ago.

Simon Matters, now a barrister in Melbourne, was reportedly “highly embarrassed” about taking the coins as a 19-year-old in 1992. He apparently grabbed the loose change, including some now defunct 2-cent coins, during a holiday at Surfers Paradise.

Matters subsequently returned home to Melbourne and entered a career in the law. Almost two decades later, he turned himself in to Queensland police and appeared before the Southport

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Nice threads: It might not have been a million-man march but those who turned out to a New York protest against corporate tax cheats get massive props for effort.

They brought little baseball bats and matching hats and everything.

Magistrates’ Court on charges of stealing and failing to appear in court.

The Gold Coast Bulletin etin newspaper reported that the chief magistrate, Ron Kilner, accepted Matters’ atters’ plea of guilty. The court ordered d that Mr Matters not be punished and no o conviction be recorded on his criminal record.

EMOS BANNED NED FROM UNIS SAUDI ARABIA A

Emos, with their eyeliner and silly haircuts, have been banned from attending universitiess

by Saudi officials.

Universities in the

conservative Muslim kingdom have been ordered to ban students sporting emo clothing and spor hairstyles, after an official hairs investigation concluded that invest this subculture is “improper su and deviant”.

The paper added dev that female students dressed f in boyish styles were to be b barred too. bar The country’s morality police have been told to po be on the lookout for emos and tomboys in public places.

Emo fashion-followers have been arrested and condemned “disciples of Satan” or as as “d homosexuals in some Middle hom Eastern countries.

Easte

Photos: Getty Images, Thinkstock

Spiralling obesity rates in Germany have created problems in crematoria after fat corpses have proved dangerously combustible.

Cremations have gone awry and uncontrolled fires started by temperatures generated by the combustion of the high fat content of the obese dead.

News magazine Der Spiegel reported an incident at a crematorium in Hamelin earlier this year when the cremation of a 440-pound corpse led to flames shooting out of its 35-foot chimney and metal elements melting. The fire brigade estimated that temperatures in the chimney hit 1,100F (600°C), and it eventually took four hours to reduce the corpse to ashes.

Bavaria’s Environment Agency has intervened, now recommending the introduction of “weight limits specific to each facility” and the furnace manufacturers will soon be required to set maximum weight limits for their products.

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 9

Cost, in Australian dollars, of a new fleet of German police cars which turned out to be too small for officers to fit

‘Dude, is that your missus?’

FIRST-TIME PORN FAN GETS NASTY SURPRISE EGYPT

A man who ventured online to watch his first pornographic film was shocked to see that the leading lady was his own wife.

The man, who is identified only as Ramadan, began watching the film in an internet café and instantly collapsed in disbelief after spotting his wife on the screen. At first she reacted with anger and denied the allegations while swearing profusely at him, although she later admitted to starring in the film after Ramadan showed her the videos.

Ramadan told Egyptian newspapers: “I found 11 films showing my wife in indecent scenes with her lover… it was the first time I watched a porno film and I did this just out of curiosity.”

VILLAGE TO VOTE ON NAME CHANGE AUSTRIA

The village of Fucking is to vote on a name change in an attempt to escape the constant ridicule and attention the name attracts.

“People are now willing to discuss changes to the spelling of the name,” Franz Meindl, the village’s mayor, said in a television interview. “But first all Fuckingers have to agree on whether they want to change it or not.”

For centuries the tiny village in northern Austria lived life in happy obscurity, but life changed when US troops, stationed in the area at the end of the Second World War, discovered it, and since then the village’s name has been a constant source of amusement for tourists and irritation for locals. At least 13 road signs bearing

Age, in months, of baby Jonas, who has become a YouTube hit after being filmed doing chin-ups using a table

5

Monthly price, in US dollars, of DogTV, a new cable channel designed to keep pet dogs stimulated and relaxed

Amount, in pounds, to be spent by Stoke-onTrent council on a video showing tenants how to do simple DIY tasks

Who you gonna call? the village’s name have been stolen, and the sight of semi-naked women posing for photographs beside signs has become a common sight.

PUB HAUNTED BY SEX PEST GHOST UNITED KINGDOM

The staff at a Birmingham pub claim the premises are haunted by a ghost who has a nasty habit of pinching them on the bum.

“It’s quite shocking – and definitely not a muscle spasm,” manager Christian Dixon said. “It happens day and night. You turn round but there’s no one there. It’s most off-putting.”

Paula Wharton, assistant manager of the Queens Arms pub in Birmingham, has also felt the vice-like grip of the playful spook. But the 41-year-old won’t have a bad word said against the spirit.

“I don’t think he’s nasty, he’s just another regular,” she said.

32M

10,000

QUOTE OF THE WEEK She is 100 per cent gay.

Certain people thought being bi was trendy, exotic and a fashion statement

Chloe Govan, author of an unauthorised biography of Jessie J, claims the singer is a ‘secret lesbian’

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On the way back: Victor Matfield

MATFIELD WEIGHING UP BOKS RETURN RUGBY UNION Rumours that South African rugby legend Victor Matfield will come out of retirement and lead his country in a three-Test June home series against England are refusing to go away.

Initially dismissed as an April Fools’ joke orchestrated by the local media, the possibility of the 34-year-old World Cup winner – who retired last October after playing 110 Tests – could play for the Springboks again is gathering momentum.

“New Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer asked me to make a comeback to the playing field and it is something I am giving thought to, but we are a long way from anything being decided,” Matfield said. “If it were not Heyneke asking me I would not even be considering it.”

DAVIS: MICK WOULD HAVE LET ME STAY AUSTRALIAN RULES Former Collingwood player Leon David has weighed into the deepening rift between the club and estranged former coach Mick Malthouse.

At the end of last season, Davis quit the club after being asked to take a paycut, but believes he would still be in the squad had Malthouse been allowed to stay on as coach rather than being replaced by Nathan Buckley.

“Me and Mick sort of had that special bond, where he took me in as an 18-yearold when I first got over there and really did make sure that I felt comfortable and welcome down at the club,” Davis said.

“I’m confident that if Mick was still around at the Collingwood Football Club, there’s a good chance I’d still be there.”

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Don’t blow a tyre: Wheelchair rugby might seem like a bizarre sport but it’s not for the faint-hearted. There were plenty of clashing axles at the test event in London last week, international teams enjoying their last hit-outs before the Paralympics.

LINEKER WANTS TO SEE BECKHAM AXED FOOTBALL Former England striker Gary Lineker believes David Beckham does not deserve a spot in the Great Britain squad for this year’s Olympics.

Team GB manager Stuart Pearce can pick three over-age players in a squad otherwise made up by Under-23s and Lineker last week suggested Beckham, who turns 37 next month, should not be selected for the London Games.

“If you are going to pick the best three over-age players then you would say no [to Beckham],” Lineker said of the veteran’s prospects. “If it is a ‘thank you’ for all the work that Beckham has done for the Olympics and getting it to London, then it is a different matter.

“I would pick my best three players if I was in charge. That is who I would want, but who knows? It might be a done deal.”

BIG WEEK FOR...

The Aussie batting line-up has underwhelmed with its performances against the West Indies but Ed Cowan is in particular need of runs. He’s a well-organised batsman but, having been picked at age 29, doesn’t have the luxury of time, of losing form and hoping selectors keep the faith. His partnership with David Warner at the top of the order looked promising but has tailed off, meaning Cowan needs a big score if he is to lock down his opener’s berth beyond the current series.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Photos: Getty Images

I th think h that it would make a lot of sense; both are in need of a lot of support Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett suggests Melbourne and North Melbourne merge. Sure to be popular

I ha have to be honest – Id di didn’t know he was born a Kiwi. I thought he was a Queenslander

Dane Swan knows how to find the footy

PREVIEW Cold Pies vulnerable ahead of Anzac Day COLLINGWOOD V ESSENDON

WEDNESDAY 2.30PM, FOX FOOTY Collingwood are under the pump after a slow start to the season and it won’t get any easier when they square up against the Bombers this week.

The Magpies have had the edge in recent times, winning the past four clashes en route to becoming one of the league’s powerhouse sides. So Essendon will be looking to cash in against a Collingwood outfit that has started the season relatively slowly and has been hobbled

by a mounting injury toll. The Bombers are building impressively under Hird and, although Collingwood should still recover to finish the year strongly, the Bombers have a golden opportunity to bloody the nose of their more-fancied rival.

It’s more than 15 years since these clubs pioneered the Anzac Day match and it has since grown into an institution. The MCG will be packed to the rafters and the atmosphere electric. Outside a finals series, it doesn’t come any bigger than this and, with both sides in the hunt for finals, there’s plenty at stake. Neutrals, as always, will want to see Collingwood lose.

THE CHAT | Chicago Bulls on parade NBA playoffs start this weekend – do the Q The Chicago Bulls have what it takes to win their first title since the glory days of Jordan and co?

Jordan played his last game, the Bulls have endured A Since some tough times, but have been building solidly in the past few years, making the conference finals last season and entering this year’s playoffs with the best record in the league.

And, in Derrick Rose, they have the reigning MVP, who they will be hoping goes some way to measuring up against Jordan’s awesome legacy. The Bulls are in good shape but the Spurs and the Lakers will still take some beating. Bulls fans know, perhaps better than anyone, that playoffs are different.

Kangaroos hard nut Paul Gallen denies he coaxed James Tamou into abandoning New Zealand

I h If he turned up l sloppy it would’ve been an indication of a different attitude Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett was impressed by the condition in which recruit Willie Mason reported for duty

TV HIGHLIGHTS CRICKET West Indies v Australia The third Test from the Caribbean Tuesday midnight, Fox Sports 1

RUGBY Blues v Reds The Reds need to make sure of it Saturday 5.30pm, Fox Sports 3

FOOTBALL Manchester United v Everton Derrick Rose

Ferguson’s men close in on another title Sunday 9.20pm, Fox Sports 2 TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

27

Europe at war The Heineken Cup semi-finals begin this weekend WORDS TOM STURROCK Europe’s top rugby competition further intensifies this weekend when Ulster host Edinburgh in Dublin and Clermont Auvergne clash with Leinster in Bordeaux, with a spot in next month’s Heineken Cup final up for grabs.

Historically, England has performed the best of the countries represented, their clubs winning six of the 16 tournaments held, but not a single English club has made it to the final four this time around, after Saracens were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

It leaves a couple of Ireland’s usual suspects, an emerging French powerhouse and, lo and behold, a plucky Scottish side venturing further into this tournament than any before it. The last stage of the Heineken Cup produced its share of surprises, so who would bet against this weekend’s matches delivering a few more?

Ulster Overall: They’re still hustling for a playoff spot in the Pro12 league – which includes the top Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian sides – but scored possibly their most memorable result of the year in the quarter-finals when they put one over on Munster in Limerick. The Munster men had breezed through the group stage unbeaten, whereas Ulster had been forced to scrap, only edging out Leicester on bonus points.

But form did nothing to prevent a dramatic upset, leaving Ulster in the box seat to go through to the final.

Key players: In terms of personnel, Ulster have a core of Irish stayers, complimented by a handful of Saffa ring-ins.

The signing of Ruan Pienaar has already paid dividends, the 27-year-old scrumhalf pulling the strings masterfully and scoring crucial points with the boot against Munster. At fullback, the evergreen Stefan Terblanche has also been a consistent contributor, using his vision and creativity to help

28

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

set up many of the team’s best drives. Among the locals, hooker Rory Best and wing Andrew Trimble have been stars.

Prediction: Should be too strong for Edinburgh at home but will start as underdogs in the final.

Edinburgh Overall: It’s been a remarkable campaign for the Scots, made all the more improbable by the fact their performances in the league have been disastrous – they’re right down the bottom end of the Pro12 but somehow managed to turn it on for the European competition. They topped their pool and then, in the quarter-finals, scored one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, knocking over four-time champions Toulouse at Murrayfield. Previously, no Scottish team had made it to the last four of the Heineken Cup and the Gunners will be hoping their unlikely run continues.

Key players: Flyhalf Greig Laidlaw will be closely marked

by Ulster after proving the difference against Toulouse.

His partnership with scrumhalf Mike Blair will determine whether Edinburgh simply weather the storm or manage to threaten enough while in possession to keep Ulster on their toes. Up front, hooker Ross Ford is Scotland’s national captain and won’t take a backward step.

Prediction: It’s been emotional but Edinburgh will be outgunned in Dublin.

Clermont Auvergne Overall: In the past couple of seasons, Clermont and Toulouse have emerged as the dominant sides in French rugby, sharing the last two titles and pulling away from the chasing pack in this year’s Top 14 race. Still, their fans were made to sweat during the group stage, their team, like Edinburgh, only qualifying for the knock-out stage on bonus points. But

Photos: Getty Images

Clockwise: Leinster legend Brian O’Driscoll; Edinburgh has cause for celebration; Ruan Pienaar has starred for Ulster

they found an extra gear when they went to Vicarage Road and beat Saracens, the only English side who looked at all capable of firing a shot in Europe.

Key players: They boast a clutch of French stars, most notably Aurelien Rougerie at centre and superstar scrumhalf Morgan Parra (main image). Both players were stand-outs during France's World Cup campaign and are among the highestprofile players in French rugby. Out wide, former All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu poses a constant attacking threat – his breakaway runs were a feature of his career with the Chiefs and he’s no easier to stop since moving to France.

Prediction: Are they favourites at home? Hard to say – they still lack Leinster’s pedigree in this competition.

Leinster Overall: They’re the reigning European champions and have retained plenty of players who also won the Heineken Cup two years earlier so they’re no strangers to this stage of the tournament. They’ve been in imperious form in the Pro12, topping the table and asserting themselves as hot favourites for the title. They qualified comfortably for the knock-out stage and then belted Cardiff in the quarter-finals.

So basically, they’ve been simmering along beautifully and they’re the team no one wants to face.

Key players: They’ve got a stack of Irish hard heads, led by Cian Healy and Mike Ross in the forward pack, complimented

by All Blacks legend Brad Thorn and captain Leo Cullen. In the back half, it’s all about Brian O’Driscoll, who has been a fixture at centre for club and country over the course of his glittering career. O’Driscoll needs to cross once more to become equal top try-scorer in this tournament.

Prediction: They have the heavy artillery to go all the way but getting past Clermont won’t be easy.

HAYMAN IN THE DRINK IN AN ALL-FRENCH AFFAIR The semi-finals of the Amlin Cup, the second-tier European competition, are also being played this weekend, and the four spots are filled entirely by French clubs.

Carl Hayman, the former All Blacks prop, is running around for Toulon these days, after a stint in England playing for Newcastle. As impressive as Hayman’s rugby CV may be, he has achieved distinction off-field as well.

When Australian cricketer David Boon drank 52 cans of Victoria Bitter on a long-haul flight from England, he set a long-cherished record but the whisper in rugby cricles is that Hayman has since eclipsed that mark, inhaling a remarkable 60 cans en route to New Zealand after the 2007 World Cup. Now in France, it might be worth asking whether he’s traded in the beer for a nice little Beaujolais.

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OUTSIDE THE FLAGS

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Andrew Strauss is under pressure after a lean trot

Blowhard Botham too keen to let England off the hook Poms will lose top spot to the Proteas within months, writes Tom Sturrock

» Agree or disagree? Will England retain their ranking in Test cricket? editor@tntdowunder.com 30

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The AFL may think it is good PR to introduce prayer rooms at grounds. If it is to be consistent in its inclusiveness, why stop at one religion?

Andrew Demetriou, the AFL’s head honcho, claims the prayer rooms are for people of all faith but, patently, they’re more for Muslim fans than for anyone else.

Indeed, it was a request from a Muslim player that put the issue on the agenda.

“

Sport in Australia is a religion-free zone

”

Forget the shrill reaction from some quarters, tinged with barely veiled xenophobia about Islam encroaching on Australian life. The real point is that sport in this country is a religion-free zone – it’s a godless place.

When people go to the footy, they leave their faith at home. Does the AFL really want to alter that? If so, when can we expect stalls selling kosher chicken burgers and halal meat pies?

Photos: Gettuy

It’s nothing new for an English cricket team to return from the subcontinent with major question marks over their performances and a few players under pressure.

But, according to Ian Botham, the team’s recent struggles against Pakistan and Sri Lanka are no cause for concern. Move on, people. Nothing to see here.

Despite England being completely bamboozled against Pakistan and then having to fight back to draw the series against Sri Lanka, Botham was emboldened to declare that England’s status as Test cricket’s top dog is under no threat at all. ”England are a good team. I don’t know what went wrong in the first part of the winter. It was really weird, all of that,” Botham said unconvincingly. “But they are still number one and I think they are going to stay at number one for quite a while now.”

Things may get a whole lot weirder for Botham when South Africa arrive in England in July for Test cricket’s heavyweight title fight. Sure, they’ll dish out a hiding to the West Indies before then but Botham might pause to consider that the Proteas have lost just one series in nearly six years. In light of that, his bullishness is entirely misplaced.

Equally bewildering is his blinkered defence of captain Andrew Strauss, for the runs have well and truly dried up. Botham, however, insists, “Strauss is good enough to carry on for another couple of years. He deserves to.”

Sorry, Beefy, but that’s bullshit. Strauss has been a wonderful captain but deserves to be in the team only for as long as his performances with the bat justify it. And it’s an increasingly hard sell at the moment. If England try to carry him indefinitely, they won’t be number one much longer, no matter how deep Botham sticks his head in the sand.

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WEEKLY WINNER SUNSET OF YESTERYEAR: Simon Haward, 21, from England

HOT TIPS: Light

SIMON SAYS: ”This is a photo taken from the Town of 1770 during sunset. One of the most beautifully peaceful places I’ve seen up the east coast of Australia.”

Shooting in low light

CAR HIRE OR A REEF TRIP Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description, to: alex@tntdownunder.com. Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.

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

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Capturing images in little natural light can be tricky. The main rules for digital photography is to use a fat ISO (1,000-1,600 or higher if you can) and a fast lens (f1.8 or lower).

This combination of settings can help you capture that night-time cityscape by artificial light. Shooting at dusk or dawn can give you a small but amazing window to capture a common subject manner in a new light. To avoid camera shake you will need to keep your shutter speed to 1/60 or shoot on a semi-automatic setting. Depending on your situation, consider making use of a tripod.

This will ensure sharp results even while employing the longest of exposures.

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TRAVELTIPS

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ON THE ROAD WITH TRAVEL

TALK YAZMIN LOPEZ MORENO 24, MEXICO WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN OZ? Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, Mission Beach, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Fraser Island, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Port Macquarie.

WHY DID YOU COME TO OZ? To study English.

YOU ASKED FOR IT...

WE ANSWER YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS

Q

I’m in Sydney and I heard I can’t hold a koala. Why is this? Ben Tasman, USA

holding of koalas by the public has A The been illegal in the state of NSW for about 16 years, although you can hold them and get your photo taken in many of the zoos in other states, like Queensland and South Australia. The reasoning behind the NSW ban is that koalas get stressed from excessive handling – wouldn’t you? The koalas that are accustomed to being handled are bred in captivity, but the wildlife authorities still impose strict regulations on how much the animals can be handled. For instance, each koala is only allowed to be held for short intervals a couple of times a day, while mother koalas who have joeys (babies) aren’t allowed to be handled at all. If you are lucky enough to see a koala in the wild, it’s best not to touch them.

They might look cute and cuddly, and generally they’re pretty docile, but they have been known to attack. The males during mating season can be quite aggressive, similarly with the females who have joeys. You’ll find koalas in their natural habitat in eucalypt forests around the east and south coasts of Australia, but you really shouldn’t be cuddling these ones. Your best bet for a hug is in a zoo. So far, they have never attacked a visitor to any Australian zoo, 34

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so we reckon you’re pretty safe. The worst that can happen is that they’ll piss on you, which isn’t that rare. The Cairns Tropical Zoo is a great place to get close and cuddle a koala, as is Brisbane’s Lone Pine Koala Santuary. Also Australia Zoo, just north of Brisbane, is popular for holding koalas as well as getting up close with kangaroos. On average, getting your photo taken with a koala at a zoo will cost you around $25. is the story behind the town Q What Lighting Ridge? Jean Ameris, France Ridge is a town named after an A Lighting unfortunate incident in 1963 when a flock of sheep, their drover and his dog were struck down by lightning. Famous for its underground opal mines, it boasts the largest deposit of black opals in the world. Less famous for the annual goat race rodeo every Easter where children are harnessed to goats and compete down the main road. Visit an open mine and experience the environment encountered by your average opal miner. Tours operate daily. Try your luck fossicking for opals or check out the therapeutic (and free) artesian bore baths. You’ll find the town about a nine-hour drive northwest of Sydney and about an hour south of the Queensland border.

ANY SCARY EXPERIENCES? My scariest experience was my first night in Cairns. We slept in the van and couldn’t sleep all night!

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE? The trip that I did driving from Cairns to Sydney was amazing. I went with two friends and it was really perfect.

We hired a van, slept inside and cooked for ourselves. We really did what we wanted.

DONE ANYTHING UNUSUAL? Driving on the opposite side of the road.

WHERE’S ON THE WISHLIST? I would like to go to Alice Springs.

I have never been to the desert, plus I would like to ride camels.

BIGGEST SURPRISE? The people are really nice!

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GENDER BENDING

N

SASHA FILIMONOV got dragged (literally) to a free bar tab while on Magnetic Island...

After spending the afternoon on Magnetic Island getting fleeced of $300 and dealing with the police, I was feeling rather dejected; but my hopes were somewhat lifted at the realisation that the cross dressing contest was taking place at my hostel that evening.

Determined to win in an attempt to redeem the day (and get the $50 bar tab, plus the glory), I got into man mode: one pair of board shorts, a shirt with a rendering of Heidi Klum naked, and a pair of trainers – all of which were borrowed from various boys staying in the hostel. The ensemble was topped off with my aviators, a backpack, and a pseudo skater cap purchased from the IGA supermarket.

My female roommates, excited by my transformation, assisted with the final touches of changing from Lady to Lad by smearing dark eye shadow across my lip, chin, jawline and sideburns (or where they would be).

Then I had to adjust my body language: slumped shoulders, chest and butt tucked in, and my backpack slung over one shoulder.

So with my newly gained mannish

swagger, I exited the room to head towards the bar. Stumbling through the darkness (my sunglasses made walking a challenge), I tried to keep my face stern and jaw locked – fully committing to this alter ego.

Weaving through the small swarm of heavily made up and bra-clad boys, I eventually made it up to the bar to collect my free glass of goon juice (faux-wine topped up with a mystery liquid)... mmm, delightful.

The next few hours involved confusing a dozen or more people, many of whom did a triple-take upon hearing my effeminate voice. They declared to have genuinely believed me to be a bloke – one even remarking that I closely resembled George Michael. A friend of mine, who made a very convincing woman, was only able to recognise me once I smiled, “Sasha, is that you? I recognised your teeth.”

I had lent my most scandalous items of clothing to a friend and was somewhat disheartened by the fact that he looked a good deal better than me in said outfit: denim cut-offs, a onepiece swimsuit, and wedges.

The toilet situation was rather tricky as the men’s and women’s labels no longer held any bearing. At one point

I was shoving a toilet paper roll down my trousers when a tall “lady” with a wide brim hat calling herself Beyoncé came into the ladies room. Noting her keen eye for style, I asked for advice on what my male pseudonym should be.

Unflinching ‘she’ responded, “Tyrone”, then walked away in her heels.

Hmmm... Tyrone. Tyrone from New York. I was sold. The walk-off commenced shortly thereafter and when Tyrone was called up I hopped onto the table and attempted the best hip-hop swagger I could muster; grabbing my heavily wadded crotch for the ‘ladies’ and tightly clenching my jaw for an aura of mystery. It seemed that the crowd was buying into my performance and Tyrone was crowned the winner of the men’s walk off.

After a photo-op, I was free to indulge in my justly won bar tab, but it seemed the bartender did not recognise me without my hat, aviators, and 5’o’clock shadow; as such I had to re-don my accessories to prove that I was indeed Tyrone. Taken aback that I was so convincing as a male, he let me know that I was the most believable winner of the cross-dressing competition he had ever seen.

Not sure if this is really a badge of honour, but I graciously thanked him nevertheless and enjoyed my hard-earned beverages.

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Darwin NORTHERN TERRITORY

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Drinking in Darwin Terrorised by cyclones, Japanese bombs and crocs, it’s no surprise that Darwin is home to Australia’s biggest beer-drinkers WORDS SIMON WEBSTER

The first time I went to Darwin I flew from Sydney, and the Territory’s capital felt like a hick town. All I could see were beer-bellies and beards. The second time, I arrived by car, at the end of a 10-day cross-country drive from Cooktown, and Darwin seemed like a metropolis of millions, an oasis of sophistication, a hub of commerce. The city hadn’t changed – surely not much, anyway, in just six months – but my perspective had. Fly there from another big city and there’s a danger you’ll be underwhelmed; drive there and you’ll be amazed at what’s on offer. After all, you’ll have just spent days looking at nothing. Very cunning of the city fathers to make Darwin seem bigger than it is by positioning it a million miles from anywhere. Very cunning, indeed.

Half the population of the Northern Territory call Darwin their home. That adds up to a whole 106,000 people. Not many for a state capital, but that’s all part of the city’s charm.

One minute you’re playing blackjack in the casino, the next you’re chatting to strangers in the supermarket. It’s the old big-town-small-town trick. Works every time.

Darwin’s obviously a great base from which to explore Kakadu and Litchfield national parks. It’s also a great little city in its own right, and 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, too — what with the Sunday morning session in Nightcliff, Saturday morning in Parap, or Thursday night at Mindil Beach, there’s some serious bargain-hunting to be done around town.

Even if you’d rather go to the dentist than go shopping, Mindil Beach is well worth a visit. Darwin’s proximity to Asia is reflected here, with inexpensive food from all over the continent and beyond on offer, as well as funny-looking boys juggling fire and all that kind of thing.

Some might say the only culture you’re likely to find in the Top End is in the yoghurt, but other ways of taking advantage of the tropical nights include the Deckchair Cinema, and an outdoor classical concert season courtesy of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

Those expecting to encounter a location as culturally desolate as it is geographically remote may be surprised,

as there are art galleries, theatres and museums here, too.

But, of course, it’s not all diletantes and wine bars either.

Crocodiles like it up here, too.

Crocodile rock “When we go fishing around here we take our dog. Crocs prefer dog meat to people meat,” says Greg, our guide on a Mary River cruise. Hmmm, sensible, if you don’t like your dog much. Crocodile cruises are popular up here – everyone wants to see one of these famous Top End creatures, but no-one really wants an impromptu encounter. Much better to view these monsters from the safety of a boat. Preferably a big boat.

Perhaps the most famous croc encounter out of Darwin is the jumping croc cruise at Adelaide River. There, they dangle chickens over the side of the boat for the massive animals to lunge at, leaping right out of the water for their lunch. It’s a dramatic sight.

Ms Hilton wondered what happened to her chihuahua

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Photos: Tourism NT, TNT Images

Darwin’s famous Beer Can Regatta, held every July Here, at Corroboree Billabong, the crocs don’t jump, they just swim and lounge about and lie on the banks with their mouths open. You know, they’re just hanging out doing their usual crocodile stuff. They are still a dramatic sight though.

Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry about crocs in the Top End. Yep, there are lots of them and yes, they’re pretty big and scary-looking. But attacks on humans are rare and if you obey the signs and don’t go leaping into any old body of inviting water, you should pretty much avoid becoming lunch.

Gone troppo Darwin’s great outdoors can be sampled for free by strolling through the Botanical Gardens, or heading down to the beach. Whether or not you’ll want to risk having a dip after having had a close-up look at those crocs, though, is another matter altogether.

Flattened twice in its short history – by the Japanese in World War II, then by Cyclone Tracey on Boxing Day, 1974 – Darwin has rebuilt itself and carved out a unique identity.

The locals tend to be very proud of their city – of its melting pot of cultures, its ever increasing sense of modernity and sophistication, its friendly residents and its eventful history. They also revel in what they call the ‘tropical lifestyle’. What that basically means is that it’s laidback and it’s got great weather. The year is divided not into spring, summer, autumn and winter, but into three seasons: the Wet, the Dry, and the Build-Up.

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“

If you give Darwin a while to grow on you, you’ll find it does

”

Everyone loves the Dry. While Sydneysiders are shivering in front of their little electric heaters, Darwinites are sitting on their verandahs at night in shorts and thongs. The days are sunny and warm, and rain is unheard of.

The Build-up starts late August. As temperatures start to rise, so does the humidity. People become sluggish and those backyard swimming pools come into their own. It’s also a time when some people are prone to have “gone troppo, mate”. Which means going a bit loopy.

The occasional thunderstorm signals that the onset of the monsoon is not far away, and the clouds loitering menacingly on the horizon provide dramatic sunsets.

When the Wet does finally sweep in over the Arafura Sea, it’s a relief. Not only is rain better for the nerves than high humidity, but the parched land gets a new lease of life, with grasses and palms and all manner of green things undergoing growth spurts, transforming the Top End. Whatever time of year you go, give Darwin a while to grow on you. It’s the kind of place that does.

HOW LONG IS THIS GHAN-A TAKE? RIDING INTO THE RED CENTRE IN STYLE It’s not often I look forward to a long journey – I still find it near-impossible to get excited about the prospect of spending a day or two trapped in one seat. But there’s something different about trains. Rolling and shaking across the horizon, they’re the epitome of romantic travel, oozing old-fashioned charm and timeless adventure – which is why, preparing to head south from Darwin, I was excited about catching the Ghan.

Named in honour of the Afghan camel drivers who criss-crossed Australia’s unforgiving outback over a century ago, the Ghan cuts the country in half. Twice a week, it sets out from Darwin and Adelaide before snaking its way straight through Australia’s sunbaked heart, stopping at the likes of Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy.

It’s just a few hours from Darwin to the town of Katherine. With four hours to explore the nearby Nitmiluk National Park, which is home to the headline-grabbing Katherine Gorge, the train eagerly empties. As one of the main attractions of the Top End, I was keen to make the most of it. And so, never one to miss a Hollywood moment, I jump aboard a helicopter and lurch towards the skies.

With “The Ride of The Valkyries” blasting through my mind, Apocalypse Now-style, we swoop, dip and dive over the low-lying shrubs that follow the Katherine River, which

has twisted and carved its way through the sandstone to form the dramatic gorge.

From being close enough to admire the gorges’ intricate nooks and wallowing water buffalos, we soar upwards to see the plunging crevices against the backdrop of an endless Outback. This is nature viewing at its most exciting – and I celebrate by firing off my camera like a trigger-happy gunner.

There’s no doubt that when crossing some of the driest lands on Earth it’s hard to beat travelling by train. So when, the next morning, we pull into Alice Springs, I jump eagerly from the train into the outback dust. Whatever lay ahead of me, I knew I’d arrived in the best way possible.

When in Rome...

There’s some lively nightlife out here too – and it’s mostly within staggering distance of the backpacker strip, Mitchell Street. If you ever feel guilty about going out too much, just remember that Darwinites are supposedly the heaviest drinkers in Australia.

It wouldn’t be right not to join them. “When in Rome,” is the stock answer if anyone accuses you of overdoing it.

This is, after all, the city which hosts the annual Beer Can Regatta (July), where participants take to the seas in boats made from empty beer cans.

The Regatta originally started once Cyclone Tracey left town. The tradesmen employed to rebuild the town drank a shedload of beer due to the tropical climate and many an empty can was strewn across the street. The Regatta was started as a means to get rid of the rubbish.

Now that’s the kind of community spirit that’s worth drinking to. ❚

NEXT WEEK The Whitsundays: Paradise in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef

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Tel Aviv ISRAEL

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Where east meets west Israel can be a challenging destination, but offers an eye-opening adventure for those willing to step outside of their comfort zones WORDS JAHN VANNISSELROY

WHEN TO GO: Israel’s good It’s 11am and I’m lying on Tel Aviv’s main – Radio Bar is the pick of the bunch, with to visit all year round although beach, nursing a hangover earned the night a live soul-funk band, enormous bar, and the best months are October and before in the many bars around the city’s surreptitious spliffs doing the rounds. The May, when it’s not as hot. July Allenby district. As I lie softly groaning on locals are friendly, welcoming and interested the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, trying without fault, the girls included. At 4.30am, and August are the hottest and to block out the Hebrew squawking of a we stumble back to the hostel, past kebab what with the school holidays, persistent ice-cream seller, a squadron of jet and pizza vendors, to crash out, dreaming of should be avoided. fighters roars overhead to perform stunts for the olive-skinned brunette beauties we’ve CURRENCY: Israeli shirkel. an appreciative crowd in a display of military met. Outside, people are still going strong.

1AUD = 3.9 ILS might. It seems wherever you go in Israel, They may be living in the shadow of war but ACCOMMODATION: For reminders of the state’s precarious position, superior hostel accomodation, book that doesn’t stop them enjoying life. slap-bang in the middle of an Arab world, The next morning, after the in at Hayarkon 48 (hayarkon48. abound. However, while you can’t avoid it, com) in Tel Aviv. It’s clean, spacious, aforementioned beach-based self-pity there’s plenty to take your mind off a conflict and close to the beach and the session, we catch an hour-long bus-ride that will probably never be resolved. to Jerusalem. Having rocked up to Tel Aviv party area of Allenby. There’s a pool Twelve hours earlier, at our hostel in without a hostel booking, we figure we table and big-screen TV and the downtown Tel Aviv, my travelling companion, staff is knowledgeable. From $26pn. can do the same in Jerusalem. But due to the Ryan, and I run into an American, the shaven- SEE: goisrael.com religious holiday Sukkot, there’s no rooms at headed Jordan from Colorado. His US Marines the inn and we’re forced to stay in Wadi alT-shirt is no fashion statement – he was part of the corps but Joz, an Arab neighbourhood on the east side of town. left the States to take advantage of his Jewish ancestry and We don’t mind, but getting lost late into our first live in Israel. “The Israeli girls, man, they’re hard to crack,” night reinforces the old travelling adage of remembering he confides. “You’ve got more chance with the Russians. landmarks. We muddle through dark streets with signs Don’t get me wrong, the Israelis know how to have a good written in nothing but Arabic and locals without a word time but they can be snobby with it. I gave up on them. of English, just unhelpful shrugs and resentful stares.

It’s Russian all the way for me now.”

Israel’s never easy, but if we wanted easy we’d have taken a package holiday to Bali.

A night on the tiles Even on the taxi ride there, after some aggressive bartering, our Arab driver feels it’s fit to tell us about the With Jordan’s sterling advice and a list of bars to hit, we state of the nation. “Look, we hate them and they hate us,” venture out into the city night. Tel Aviv’s nightlife doesn’t he explains of Israel’s Jews. “But we get along because if we even start warming up until 11pm but when it does, you’re don’t, it will be World War III and nobody wants that.” in for a treat. We spend the night and early morning in a Just then, a bus full of Orthodox Jews glides past, its host of pumping bars, from the cleverly disguised Deli Bar, occupants looking serious and pious in their suits, beards and which you have to access through an actual deli, to Cheers pigtails. Our driver glares at them, shakes his head and sighs.

Bar, which throws up all manner of rock tunes from Pearl We change the subject, talking about London, and his mood Jam to Tool all night long. improves. Note to self: try to avoid talking politics.

The super-hip, hard-to-find and underground – literally

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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Holy Land

Where it all began

Twelve hours later, within the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, it’s good to see that the Jews, Arabs and Christians manage to exist in relative peace among the labyrinth of streets.

Pilgrims mix with holy men, tourists with locals selling food and crafts. Every turn offers something new; another spicy food aroma, another colourful character jangling trinkets.

We follow the trail of Jesus’s crucifixion walk, ending up at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the spot where Christ is believed to have been nailed to his cross and then later laid to rest in a nearby tomb. Christians quietly pray in anticipation of their messiah returning while tourists snap pictures of the impressive Ottoman baroque architecture.

Outside, no one bats an eyelid when we play with life-size crucifixes, lugging them on our backs as a group of Indian tourists takes photos.

Over at the sacred site of the Wailing Wall – the remnants of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple, God’s supposed footstool on Earth, and one of the most holy sites in Judaism – thousands of Jews of all ages, mostly dressed in the black religious attire of the Orthodox sect, line up to take their turn to touch it. Speaking in Hebrew and reading scriptures on their approach up to the wall, the worshippers creep closer as the midday sun beats furiously down upon their black hats. Some bury their noses in the stacks of religious tomes that lay upon lecterns. Although not a believer, I inch closer to see what the fuss is about and realise how it got its nickname. Hundreds of men – there’s a separate section for women – are openly sobbing, mourning the Roman destruction of their ancestor’s holy site in 70AD. The wall’s cracks are filled with scraps of paper containing prayers. I think about making a wish for world peace but then realise it won’t happen, so save my breath for the winding journey back through the streets to our hotel.

To come this far, especially after a stay in the Arab quarter, and not take the opportunity to go to Palestine would be a waste, but after our midnight wanderings among the locals, there’s no way we’re doing it alone. Tour buses travel to the border with regularity so we jump aboard one and snake our way towards another wall, this time the 8m-high West Bank barrier.

On the Israeli side, it’s cold and clinical, a solid grey barricade keeping terrorism at bay. However, after we’ve passed through the checkpoint in Palestine, leaving our Jewish guide behind, it springs alive with colour – the

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On Palestine’s side of the wall

Photos: Getty Images, Thinkstock, TNT Images

Worshipping is a serious business

result of layers of graffiti thrown up over the years by the Palestinians. Vibrant splashes of spraypaint combine to create humans dressed in hearts; messages imploring the reader to “break through this wall”.

“Outside Israel, inside Palestine,” our driver says, as we

“

It’s very safe here.

You could sleep in the street, no problem

”

speed past the wall. And then to reinforce there’s no ill will here, he says: “I am Palestinian. I welcome you.”

He casts one hand out the window while we tear along the uneven road. “It’s very safe here,” he promises. “You could sleep in the street, no problem.”

We wind our way through the busy streets of Bethlehem to the Church of Nativity, the site claimed by Christians to house the birthplace of Christ. The guard at the exit of the Altar of Nativity has a little scam going, where he takes a ‘donation’ from guides in order for ‘clients’ to enter the exit and avoid the hour-and-a-half-long queue.

After a nod to the guard, we’re in, sneaking behind a curtain and down a narrow flight of stairs to a cramped room where Christians get down on all fours to plant their lips on a silver star. Centuries of good and bad carried out in one man’s name all started here.

Whatever your beliefs, Cape Town: Hitch you can’t help but a wild ride through marvel at the legacy the so-called ‘LA that stemmed from of Africa’ this very spot. ❚

NEXT WEEK

The Insider's guide Yael Rozenfeld is the assistant manager at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon 48 hostel (hayarkon48.com) Some people are nervous about travelling to Tel Aviv.

What are they missing out on?

Tel Aviv could indeed be “hard to digest” at first, but people need to know that underneath the noise, the crowds and the rapid rhythm of life, lies a town mostly about fun – all types of fun, all around the clock.

When’s the best time to visit Israel?

The Tel Aviv summer can be hot and humid but is full of attractions: white nights, street parties, night running marathons, open street folk dancing and much more.

Where do you take your friends when they visit you?

Rosh Hanikra – a beautiful site on the northern border of Israel – where you can find an extreme combination of cliffs and water caves – nature at its best!

Where are the best places to meet the local people?

Israelis love tourists. Go and hang on Lilienblum Street, which is packed with all different types of restaurants, pubs, and bars – there is nothing like a drink to break the ice.

What’s your favourite place to go out in Tel Aviv?

The Penguin Club – a dark, late-night underground club that plays the finest electro in Tel Aviv. The nightlife scene in Tel Aviv changes rapidly – nearly every week there is a new place to check out, and another to say goodbye to. The best thing to do is ask your new local friends what’s going on in town.

Any tips to make a trip to Israel go smoother?

Try to forget all you saw on the news, try to avoid political talks when you’re here. Come clean and enjoy all the best Israel has to offer.

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OZLISTINGS TRAVEL AGENTS Adventure Travel Bugs 07 3236 3266, adventuretravelbugs.com Backpackers World Travel 1800 676 67 63, backpackersworld.com Peter Pans Adventure Travel 1800 188 799, peterpans.com Travellers Contact Point 1800 647 640, travellers.com.au Tribal Adventure Travel 1800 984 484, tribaltravel.com.au YHA Travel 02 9261 111, yha.com.au

TOUR FIRMS

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

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

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

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

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

Melbourne Australia Tours Victorian tours. 03 9016 9347 melbourneaustraliatours.com.au

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

Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickercampers.com

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

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

Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Western Xposure WA tours 08 9414 8423, westernxposure.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

RENTAL FIRMS

TRANSPORT CO

Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com

Greyhound Australia Buses around Australia. 13 20 30, greyhound.com.au

Backpacker Campervan Rentals 1800 767 010, backpackercampervans.com.au

Jetstar Airline.

131 538, jetstar.com.au

Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangcars.com.au

Premier Transport Group Buses along the east coast.

13 34 10, premierms.com.au

Explore More Rentals 1800 708 309, exploremore.com.au

Qantas Airline.

13 13 13, qantas.com.au

Hippie Camper 1800 777 779, hippiecamper.com Kings Cross Car Market For buying and selling vehicles. 110 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo.

02 9358 5000, carmarket.com.au

Regional Express Airline.

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

03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com Tiger Airways Airline.

03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com

Spaceships 1300 132 469, spaceshipsrentals.com.au

Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, redlinecoaches.com.au

Standbycars.com 1300 789 059, standbycars.com

Virgin Australia Airline.

13 67 89, virginaustralia.com

S S O R C KINGS RKET A CAR M ENT BUY, SELL & R

WE ARE HERE s "59).'

3%,,).'

2%.4).'. Good selection of Cars, Wagons, Vans & Campervans. 7$ 30%#)!,)343. Over 50 vehicles in stock with up to 50% BUY BACK. All with camping gear. s All vehicles for sale have a Government approved Roadworthy Certificate (Pink Slip) issued by ).$%0%.$%.4 -%#(!.)#3, not company employees like most car dealers. s &2%% information with tips for buying, selling and travelling.

Transfer & Registration forms for all States. s &2%% Advice on Registrations, Transfers, which States are cheapest/easiest to Transfer and Register. s &2%% 12 Months Australia Wide Warranty (guaranteee) with (2 2/!$3)$% !33)34!.#% available on most vehicles.* NOT a 5000km warranty which gets you about 25% of your way around Australia. *Conditions apply

INSURANCE CE FREECALL: LL 1800 808 188 We sell the only known â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No Excessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 3rd Party Property Insurance available to travellers from $230* For 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12 months. Insurance available even if you buy a car from another place and without you having to tell lies to get it.

NOW IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF

PUTTING TRAVELLERS ON THE ROAD

#534/-%23 #!. 4 "% 72/.'

NOT COMING TO SYDNEY? THEN BUY AND SELL ONLINE @ www.carmarket.com.au OR CALL 02 9358 5000 46

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SYDNEY STAY Base Sydney 477 Kent St. CBD. 02 9267 7718, stayatbase.com Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St. CBD. 02 9267 7718, bighostel.com Bounce Budget Hotel 28 Chalmers St. CBD. 02 9281 2222, bouncehotel.com.au Easy Go Backpackers 752 George St. CBD. 02 9211 0505, easygobackpackers.com.au 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 9261 1111, yha.com.au Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 013 186 nomadshostels.com Boomerang Backpackers 141 William Street, Kings Cross.

02 8354 0488, boomerangbackpackers.com

Avalon Beach Hostel 59 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach.

02 9918 9709, avalonbeach.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 Lochnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guesthouse 8 Gowrae Ave. Bondi.

02 9387 2162, Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee.

04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.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

The Bunkhouse 35 Pine St, Manly. 1800 657 122, bunkhouse.com.au 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 Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au Skydive the Beach Wollongong. skydivethebeach.com

Dlux Hostel 30 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross. 1800 236 213 dluxbudgethotel.com.au

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

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

Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills.

02 9261 1111

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

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

Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com

CENTRAL COAST

Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour. sydneyaquarium.com.au

Newcastle Beach YHA 30 Pacific St, Newcastle.

02 4925 3544, yha.com.au

Sydney Wildlife World Darling Harbour. sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal.

02 4384 1919, yha.com.au

Taronga Zoo Mosman. zoo.nsw.gov.au

BYRON BAY

Waves Surf School wavessurfschool.com.au

Backpackers Holiday Village 116 Jonson St 1800 350 388, byronbaybackpackers.com.au

SYDNEY MUSIC

Backpackers Inn 29 Shirley St 1800 817 696, backpackersinnbyronbay.com.au

Hordern Pavillion playbillvenues.com Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com

Byron Bay Accom 02 6680 8666, byronbayaccom.net

Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com

The Arts Factory 1 Skinners Shoot Rd. 02 6685 7709, nomadshostels.com

The Annandale annandalehotel.com The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au The Gaelic Hotel thegaelic.com The Metro metrotheatre.com.au

BLUE MTNS Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba.

02 4782 1416, yha.com.au

Nomads Byron Bay Lawson Lane.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Byron Bay YHA 7 Carlyle St. 1800 678 195, yha.com.au

COFFS HARB Coffs Harbour YHA 51 Collingwood St. 02 6652 6462, yha.com.au

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QLDLISTINGS

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BRISBANE STAY

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

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

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS!

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

07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au

Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace.

07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452, brisbanebackpackers.com.au

BRONCOS VS TITANS

Brisbane City Apartments 1800 110 443, brisbanecityapartments.com

Suncorp Stadium. Fri, 27 Apr. From $12.

Brisbaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-flying Broncos will be looking to assert their authority in this rugby league local derby as they take on the Gold Coast boys.

Brisbane City Backpackers 380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com Brisbane City YHA 392 Upper Roma St, 07 3236 1947, yha.com.au Chill Backpackers 328 Upper Roma St. 1800 851 875, chillbackpackers.com Bunk Backpackers Cnr Ann & Gipps Sts, 1800 682 865, bunkbrisbane.com.au

Castlemaine St, Milton

ticketek.com.au

BRISBANE DO

The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm.

04 3377 7061 Tinbilly Travellers Cnr George and Herschel Sts. 1800 446 646, tinbilly.com

Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah. 07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au Lone Pine Koala Santuary 708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket.

07 3378 1366, koala.net

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

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

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

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 Ale House Brewery tours.

Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton.

07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au

Sleeping Inn Surfers 26 Peninsular Dr, Surfers Paradise.

1800 817 832, sleepinginn.com.au

GOLD COAST

Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort 2837 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers. 1800 282 800, surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au

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 Cheers International Backpackers 8 Pine Av, Surfers Paradise.

1800 636 539, cheersbackpackers.com.au Coolangatta Kirra Beach YHA Pl, 230 Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga.

07 5536 76442, yha.com.au

Surf â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sun Beachside Backpackers 3323 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise.

1800 678 194, surfnsun-goldcoast.com Surfers Paradise YHA Mariners Cove, 70 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise.

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

GC DO Dreamworld Theme park. dreamworld.com.au

WORKERS WANTED

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

AYR NORTH QUEENSLAND

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

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

WORKERS WANTED Call Mick & Daphne 07 4783 5837

WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED

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

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

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

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

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

PHONE 0437 692 002

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Get Wet Surf School 07 5532 9907

BOOK NOW!

Seaworld seaworld.com.au

FRASER ISLAND

Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World wetnwild.myfun.com.au

Eurong Beach Resort 07 4120 1600, eurong.com.au

Warener Bros Movie World movieworld.com.au

Palace Adventures 184 Torquay St, Hervey Bay, 1800 063 168 palaceadventures.com.au

Zorb 07 5547 6300

SUNSHINE CST

BUNDABERG

Mooloolaba Backpackers 75-77 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba.

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

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

Federal Backpackers 221 Bourbong St. 07 4153 3711 federalbackpackers.com.au

ORBITAL The Tivoli. Sun, 6 May. From $68.90.

Catch the British dance pioneers on a whirlwind tour in honour of the original ravers’ latest album, Wonky, coming 25 years after they started.

52 Costin St, Fortitude Valley

ticketek.com.au

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

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

HERVEY BAY Aussie Woolshed 181 Torquay Road.

07 4124 0677 woolshedbackpackers.com Colonial Village YHA 820 Boat Harbour Drive.

07 4125 1844, yha.com.au

Fraser Roving 412 The Esplanade. 1800 989 811, fraserroving.com.au

Northside Backpackers 12 Queen St. 07 4154 1166 Bundaberg Bondstore Distillery tours.

07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au

TOWN OF 1770

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

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

Nomads Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com

1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com

AIRLIE BEACH airliebeach.com 259 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 677 119 Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 247 251, yha.com.au Airlie Waterfront Backpackers 6 The Esplanade. 1800 089 000, airliewaterfront.com Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com Base Airlie Beach Resort 336 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Magnums Whitsunday Village Resort 366 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 624 634 magnums.com.au Nomads Airlie Beach 354 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 666 237 nomadshostels.com

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

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

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

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

07 4783 1519, yongaladive.com.au

MAGNETIC ISL Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 1800 24 22 73, stayatbase.com Bungalow Bay Backpackers Horseshoe Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay.com.au Magnums 7 Marine Pde, Arcadia Bay. 1800 663 666, magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

MISSION BEACH

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Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road. 07 4068 8317, absolutebackpackers.com.au Scottyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beach House 167 Reid Rd. 07 4068 8676, scottysbeachhouse.com.au

CAIRNS STAY Bohemia Central Cairns 100 Sheridan St. 1800 558 589, bohemiacentral.com.au Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St. 1800 155 353, bohemiaresort.com.au

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Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St. 1800 815 628, calypsobackpackers.com.au Dreamtime Travellers Rest 189 Bunda St. 1800 058 440, dreamtimehostel.com

8H?I87D;Ă&#x160;I CEIJ FEFKB7H 879AF79A;HI

Gilligans Backpackers and Hotel Resort 57-89 Grafton St. 1800 556 995, gilligans.com.au JJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backpackers Hostel 11 Charles St. 07 4051 7642, jjsbackpackers.com NJOY Travellers Resort Harbour 141 Sheridan St. 1800 807 055, njoy.net.au Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St. 1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com Nomads Cairns 341 Lake St. 1800 737 736, nomadshostels.com Nomads Esplanade 93 The Esplanade.

1800 175 716, nomadshostels.com Northern Greenhouse 117 Grafton St. 1800 000 541, 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 07 4052 1822, skydivecairns.com.au

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

GOOD REEF

;JC G:A6M:9 6IBDHE=:G: ;G>:C9AN 6JHH>: HI6;; <G:6I >CC:G 8>IN AD86I>DC 9>G:8IAN DEEDH>I: I=: IG6CH>I 8:CIG: ;G:: 77F BDC L:9 6I DJG ;6BDJH 76G <G>AA EG>K6I: GDDBH 9DGBH 6AA L>I= :CHJ>I: 6>G"8DC ?D7H ;DG IG6K:AA:GH ') =DJG G:8:EI>DC L>";> 8>C:B6 GDDB IDJGH IG6K:A 9:H@ Ă&#x2C6;9:AJM: 9>K6Ă&#x2030;H 9DGBĂ&#x2030; ?JHI ;DG I=: A69>:H####DD= A6A6 AD69H BDG:

LADY ELLIOT ISLAND

*,, =[eh][ Ijh[[j" 8h_iXWd[ effei_j[ j^[ JhWdi_j 9[djh[

50

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If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for fantasic diving away from the crowds then this could be the place for you. Forming the southern-most coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot, about 80km north-east of Bundaberg, is one of only a handful of islands where you can actually stay on the reef and literally dive from the beach. Teeming with life, the surrounding waters boast a resident population of 40 manta rays and are also one of the best places in the world to view green and loggerhead turtles. If visiting between November and March you may even catch a glimpse of the majestic creatures lumbering up the beach to lay their eggs.

Photo: Tourism Queensland, Darren Jew

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QUEENSLAND’S BEST BACKPACKERS

Reception open 24/7 for your convenience Beer garden & cocktail lounge open 7 days Awesome, well-travelled local staff Pool & hot tub for lazy afternoons Free drop-off to Koala Sanctuary Global Gossip & wireless internet All rooms are air-conditioned Ensuite rooms available Surround sound TV lounge Huge self-catering kitchen Tour & Travel Sales Desk

QLD’S #1 HOSTEL

www.bunkbrisbane.com.au Untitled-1 1

1800 682 865 or +61 7 3257 3644

16/4/12 5:22:16 PM

TASLISTINGS HOBART STAY

LAUNCESTON DO

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

Cataract Gorge launcestoncataractgorge.com.au

BOOK NOW!

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEVONPORT

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

Republic Bar. Fri, 25 May. $22.90.

Back with new single “Beginning of the End”, the Melbourne-bred hip-hoppers are taking their show on the road to eight Aussie cities.

HOBART DO

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

299 Elizabeth St, Hobart

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

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

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

TZU

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

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

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Launceston Backpackers 103 Canning St. 03 6334 2327, launcestonbackpackers.com.au

MUST SEE

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

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

BICHENO

moshtix.com.au

Lloyds Hotel 23 George St. 03 6331 9906, backpackersaccommodation.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

WORD FROM THE STREET

Photo: Tourism Tasmania, Chris Bray

Gareth Holland, Ireland

52

WINEGLASS BAY This spectacular inlet, about 125km north-east of Hobart, is the highlight of Freycinet National Park, on Tassie’s east coast. Possibly the most beautiful spot in Australia’s most travellerneglected state, the whole park, with its craggy, foresty wilderness and stunning beaches, is a walker’s paradise. Apart from the pin-up looks of Wineglass Bay, where you can camp in the bush just behind the beach, and its frolicking dolphins, the park also boasts Schouten Island, the imposing peaks of the Hazards, plus Freycinet Peninsula, where knuckles of red granite mountains jut out into azure bay.

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HEY G-REX. SEEN MUCH OF TASSIE? “We flew into Hobart, then drove over to the west coast to a place called Strahan and Ocean Beach. Then back over to the east coast, stopping at Cradle Mountain on the way. On the east coast we did the Bay of Fires, and went all down the coast to Wineglass Bay and back to Hobart.”

WHAT’S YOUR PICK OF THE BUNCH? “Wineglass Bay. Take your time. Pack some lunch and have a lazy afternoon on one of the best beaches you’ll find in Oz.” HOW ABOUT AFTER DARK ENTERTAINMENT? “Around Salmanca Market in Hobart has some good drinking spots.”

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

MELBOURNE DO Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square.

03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS!

Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com

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

Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond. 03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net

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

Exford Hotel 199 Russell St. 03 9663 2697, exfordhotel.com.au Flinders Station Hotel 35 Elizabeth St. 03 9620 5100, flindersbackpackers.com.au The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane.

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

1800 008 718, hometravellersmotel.com.au

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

COLLINGWOOD VS ESSENDON MCG. Wed, 25 Apr. From $25.

Collingwood might be struggling this year, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still one of the biggest supported teams, so expect a big crowd at this historic clash.

Brunton Ave, Melbourne

ticketek.com.au

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

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

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

The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, hotelspencer.com

Nomads Melbourne 198 Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;beckett St. 1800 447 762, nomadshostels.com

Urban Central 334 City Rd, Southbank. 1800 631 288, urbancentral.com.au

National Gallery of Victoria Federation Square. ngv.vic.gov.au Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228, oldmelbournegaol.com.au Official Neighbours Tours 570 Flinders St. 03 9629 5866, neighbourstour.com.au

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

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

GREAT OCEAN RD Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea.

03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au Eco Beach YHA 5 Pascoe St. 03 5237 7899, yha.com.au Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA 10 Erskine Av, Lorne.

03 5289 2508, yha.com.au Port Campbell Hostel 18 Tregea St, Port Campbell.

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

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VICLISTINGS

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DANDENONG

BOOK NOW!

Emerald Backpackers 03 5968 4086

BOOK NOW!

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

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

03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au

DANIEL MERRIWEATHER Phoenix Public House. Sat, 12 May. $30.

Catch one of Australia’s most successful exports as he quits hanging out with Mark Ronson in NYC for a couple of intimate shows in Oz.

133 Sydney Rd, Melbourne

MORNINGTON Bayplay Lodge 46 Canterbury Jetty Rd, Blairgowrie.

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

moshtix.com.au

Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St, Sorrento.

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

03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura.

04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au

GIPPSLAND Prom Country Backpackers 03 5682 2614 Rawsom Caravan Park Depot Rd, Rawson.

03 5165 3439, rawsoncaravanpark.com.au

PHILLIP ISLAND Amaroo Park YHA 97 Church St, Cowes.

03 5952 3620, yha.com.au

NICKI MINAJ Hisense Arena. Fri, 18 May. $100.

Currently one of the hottest artists on the planet, the controversial rapper’s two gig tour sold out in no time, so head to Gumtree etc.

Olympic Blvd, Melbourne

The Island Accommodation 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road. 03 5956 6123 theislandaccommodation.com.au

GRAMPIANS Grampians YHA Eco Hostel Cnr Grampians & Buckler Rds,

WORD FROM THE STREET

ticketmaster.com.au

Halls Gap. 03 5356 4543, yha.com.au Tim’s Place 44 Grampians Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288, timsplace.com.au

CITY BREAK

Alan Gallagher, Ireland

54

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

Photo: Tourism Victoria

HI ALAN. SEEN MUCH OF VIC? “Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory, Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road, the Dandenong Ranges, Snowy River, Brighton Beach, St Kilda, the list’s endless!”

GOT A FAVE DAY SPOT? “It’s gotta be Melbourne’s laneways sipping a coffee and watchin’ the world go by.”

AND HOW ABOUT FOR A FEW DRINKS? “St Jerome’s in the city.

Cool place, live DJs and Coopers beer... mmm....”

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

1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au

DON’T MISS!

DON’T MISS!

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

08 9228 3755, undergroundbackpackers.com.au The Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St. 08 9228 4228, witchshat.com

FORCE VS STORMERS nib Stadium. Sat, 28 Apr. From $42.

The West Coast Super 15 representatives could be in for a thrashing with this one, as they play host to the super hot South African Stormers.

310 Pier St, Perth

ticketmaster.com.au

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

08 9227 6000, perthbrittania.com

56

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

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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

THE BAMBOOS The Bakery. Fri, 6 July. $TBC. Back on the road for the first time in two years, and with their fifth album under their belts, the Aussie funksters are hitting seven cities.

233 James St, Northbridge

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

nowbaking.com.au

FREO STAY Backpackers Inn Freo 11 Pakenham St. 08 9431 7065, backpackersinnfreo.com.au Old Firestation Backpackers 18 Phillimore St. 08 9430 5454, fremantleprison.com.au

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Sundancer Backpackers Resort 80 High St. 08 9336 6080, sundancerbackpackers.com.au

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

08 9336 9200, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

ROTTNEST ISL Rottnest Island YHA Kingstown Barracks. 08 9372 9780, yha.com.au

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

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

08 9949 1200, yha.com.au

MARGARET RIV Margaret River Lodge YHA 220 Railway Tce. 08 9757 9532, yha.com.au

ALBANY Albany Bayview Backpackers YHA 49 Duke St. 08 9842 3388, yha.com.au

BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road.

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

Cruize-Inn 122 Middleton Rd. 08 9842 9599, cruizeinn.com Metro Inn Albany 270 Albany Hwy. 1800 004 321, metrohotels.com.au

BROOME DO Sun Pictures Carnarvon St. 08 9192 1077, broomemovies.com.au

WORD FROM THE STREET

Whitley Vogler, USA HEY WHITLEY.WHERE’VE YOU BEEN IN WA SO FAR? “From down in Albany all the way up, through the Kimberley, to Darwin.”

GOT A FAVE DAY SPOT? “Coral Bay. I like spending time at the beach and relaxing.”

HOW ABOUT AFTER DARK? “Kalbarri. It’s on the beach and really small. We just had a great time there. Plus Dunsborough. I digged the caves there, they were diggity diggity dank.”

WHERE ARE YOU HEADING NEXT? “Darwin.”

7 ,Ê -/Ê "-/ Ê Ê7 ÊÓääÇ -/ÊÓäänÊEÊÓää

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NTLISTINGS

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DARWIN STAY

KATHERINE STAY

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

BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road.

1800 501 984, big4.com.au

DON’T MISS!

Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers Giles St. 1800 626 722

Darwin YHA 97 Mitchell St. 08 8981 5385, yha.com.au Elkes Backpackers 112 Mitchell St. 1800 808 365, elkesbackpackers.com.au

KATHERINE DO Airborne Solutions Scenic helicopter flights.

08 8972 2345 airbornesolutions.com.au

Frogshollow Backpackers 27 Lindsay St. 1800 068 686, frogs-hollow.com.au Gecko Lodge 146 Mitchell St. 1800 811 250, geckolodge.com.au

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

MINDIL BEACH SUNSET MARKET

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

Mindil Beach. Thur, 26 Apr. After a long break for the wet season, Darwin’s iconic markets reopen this week. They’re on every Thursday and Sunday until late October.

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

Mindil Beach, Darwin 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

mindil.com.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

WORD FROM THE STREET

Sara Chare, the UK HOWDY SARA. BEEN MANY PLACES IN THE NT? “Katherine, Darwin, Kakadu, Alice Springs, Uluru, The Olgas and Kings Canyon.”

FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? “Kings Canyon because it was so unexpected. I knew I was going to see Uluru but to find these rock formations that look like an ancient city blew me away.”

AND NIGHT SPOT? “Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema because you could never have that at home in the UK because of the rain.”

ANYWHERE YOU WISH YOU’D BEEN BUT COULDN’T? “Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu because they look so beautiful and I’d love to swim there.”

58

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ADELAIDE STAY

COOBER PEDY

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

BOOK NOW!

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

Radeka Down Under 1 Oliver St. 1800 633 891, radekadownunder.com.au

Adelaide Travellers Inn 220 Hutt St. 08 8224 0753, adelaidebackpackers.com.au

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

Annie’s Place 239 Franklin St. 1800 818 011, anniesplace.com.au

KANGAROO IS

Backpack Oz 144 Wakefield St. 1800 633 307, backpackoz.com.au Blue Galah Backpackers Lvl 1, 52-62, King William St. 08) 8231 9295, bluegalah.com.au Glenelg Beach Hostel 5-7 Moseley St. Glenelg. 1800 359 181, glenelgbeachhostel.com.au Hostel 109 109 Carrington St. 1800 099 318, hostel109.com

Kangaroo Island YHA 33 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw.

08 8553 1344, yha.com.au

THE BLACK KEYS Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Tues, 30 Oct. $90.85.

Looking way into the future, the band behind one of last year’s biggest hits have just announced a six city Aussie tour for later in 2012.

Port Rd, Hindmarsh

My Place 257 Waymouth St. 1800 221 529, adelaidehostel.com.au

Memorial Drive.

08 8300 3800, cricketsa.com.au

Shakespeare Hostel 123 Waymouth St. 1800 556 889, shakeys.com.au

Adelaide Zoo Frome Rd. 08 8267 3255, zoossa.com.au

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

Opal Cave Coober Pedy Hutchinson St. 08 8672 5028, opalcavecooberpedy.com.au

Haigh’s Chocolates Factory tours. 153 Greenhill Rd, Parkside. 1800 819 757, haighschocolates.com.au

ticketek.com.au

Temptation Sailing Dolphin swimming, Glenelg.

04 1281 1838, dolphinboat.com.au

BAROSSA VAL Barossa Backpackers 9 Basedow Road Tanunda.

08 8563 0198, barossabackpackers.com.au

RIVERLAND Berri Backpackers Sturt Highway, Berri.

08 8582 3144, berribackpackers.com.au Harvest Trail Lodge Loxton.08 8584 5646, harvesttrail.com.au

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

EYRE PENINSULA Coodlie Park Farmstay Flinders Highway, Port Kenny.

08 8687 0411, coodliepark.com Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience Sea lion and dolphin swims.

08 8626 5017, bairdbay.com Calypso Star Charters Great white shark cage diving.

08 8682 3939, sharkcagediving.com.au Nullarbor Traveller Tours across to Perth.

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

08 8363 1788, rodneyfox.com.au

FLINDERS RANGES

Nomads on Murray Sturt Highway, Kingston on Murray.

1800 665 166, nomadsworld.com

Angorichina Tourist Village 08 8648 4842, angorichinavillage.com.au

Riverland Backpackers Labour Hire Services 08 8583 0211

Wilpena Pound Resort Wilpena Rd. 08 8648 0004, wilpenapound.com.au

IF YOU DARE?

Named by British explorer Matthew Flinders after his home town, Port Lincoln almost pipped Adelaide to the title of South Australian capital, only losing out due to a lack of fresh water.

It’s now an attractive and bustling harbour town worth a stop. However, to many, the area is known for one reason only – cage diving with great white sharks. Dangerous Reef, 30km from shore, is the best place in Oz to come face-to-face with the toothy giants. So much so that the area was used when filming the genuine shark scenes in the original Jaws. Found about 280km directly west from Adelaide (but about 650km when travelling by road), it’s also the place to try the surreally fun swimming with tuna. Indeed, it’s thanks to the area’s high grade tuna, most of which ships straight out to Japan’s sashimi markets, that the town boasts the most millionaires per capita in Australia.

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Photo: SATC, Calypso Star Charters

PORT LINCOLN

59

NZLISTINGS N ZL TIV NE GS LLING RISA T ON TO FIJI?

FIJILISTINGS follow us on

NADI & WEST Aquarius Pacific Hotel +679 672 6000 Beach Escape Villas +679 672 4442, beachscape@ connect.com.fj Cathay Hotel +679 666 0566, fiji4less.com Horizon Backpackers +679 672 2832, horizonbeachfiji.com

mote ere.

Visit the re ds, Fiji.

- it s all th n la Is a w k , explore sa a Ya ay k , e iv el d Chill, snork

Nadi Bay Resort Hotel +679 672 3599, fijinadibayhotel.com

entures

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Nadi Down Town Backpackers Inn +679 670 0600, pacvalley@connect.com.fj

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for backpacketravellers tive and alterna xperience the e

Nadi Hotel +679 670 0000, ndht@connect.com.fj Nomads Skylodge Hotel +679 672 2200

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Saweni Beach Apartment Hotel +679 666 1777, fiji4less.com

“real Fiji”

Smugglers Cove +679 672 6578, smugglers beachfiji.com Travellers Beach Resort +679 672 3322, beachvilla@connect.com.fj

ISLAND HOPPING PASSES Complete freedom to explore the Yasawa Islands, including Beachcomber.

Choose from a 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 or 21 day pass.

Passes from $217

YASAWA ISLANDS Awesome Adventures Fiji +679 675 0499, awesomefiji.com Coconut Bay Resort +679 666 6644 coconutbay_fiji2002@yahoo.com

EASY FLEXIBLE PACKAGES

Korovou Eco Tour Resort +679 666 6644 korovoultk@connect.com.fj

Explore the real Fiji. From 5 to 11 nights.

Includes vessel transfers, accommodation, meals and activities. Packages from $586

Kuata Resort +679 666 6644 Long Beach Backpackers Resort +679 666 6644

ISLAND ESCAPES

Manta Ray Island +679 672 6351 mantarayisland@connect.com.fj

A bit like survivor but a lot more fun! Strand yourself on one island for 2, 4 or 6 nights. If you can stand nd the pain of coral lagoons and coconut palms then stay longer. Packages from $224

Nabua Lodge +679 666 9173 nabualodge@connect.com.fj Oarsmans Bay Lodge +679 672 2921, nacula@hotmail.com Octopus Resort +679 666 6337 reservations@octopusresort.com

GREAT PAIRS 5 days 4 nights 2 islands Straight out of your tropical Island Fantasy.

Two island stays have always been extremely popular so we ve made it really easy for you with a matching of islands that we think make a great pair. Packages from $421 Daily departures for all packages and passes from Denarau Marina

info@awesomefiji.com

www.awesomefiji.com

Prices are ex Denarau, Fiji, in Australian dollars and valid for travel to 31 March 2013.

60

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Mango Bay Resort +679 653 00690, mangobayresortfiji.com Pacific Safaris Club +679 345 0498, safariclub@connect.com.fj Rendezvous Dive Resort +679 628 4427, surfdivefiji.com Robinson Crusoe +679 629 1999, robinsoncrusoeislandfiji.com Seashell Cove Resort +679 670 6100, seashellresort.com Tabukula Beach Bungalows +679 650 0097, fiji4less.com The Uprising Beach Resort +679 345 2200, uprisingbeachresort.com Tsulu Luxury Backpackers & Apartments +679 345 0065, tsulu.com Vakaviti Motel & Dorm +679 650 0526, bulavakaviti@connect.com.fj Vilisite Place +679 650 1030

SUVA Colonial Lodge +679 92 75248, sailevukaga@yahoo.co.nz Lami Lodge Backpackers +679 336 2240, volau@connect.com.fj Leleuvia Island Resort +679 331 9567, eleen@leleuvia.com Raintree Lodge +679 332 0562, raintreelodge.com Royal Hotel +679 344 0024 royal@connect.com.fj South Seas Private Hotel +679 331 2296, fiji4less.com Tailevu Hotel +679 343 0028

NORTH VITI LEVU Bethams Cottage +679 669 4132, bethams.com.fj Macdonalds Beach Cottages +679 669 4633

Sunrise Lagoon Resort +679 666 6644

Morrison’s Beach Cottagess +679 669 4516, tipple@connect.com.fj

Wayalailai Island Resort +679 672 1377 wayalailai@connect.com.fj

Safari Lodge Fijis +679 669 3333 safarilodge.com.fj

White Sandy Beach Dive Resort +679 666 4066

Volivoli Beach Resort +679 669 4511, volivoli.com

MAMANUCA ISL Beachcomber Island Resort +679 666 1500, beachcomberfiji.com Bounty Island Resort +679 666 6999, fiji-bounty.com Rau Kini’s Hostel +679 672 1959, rtkinihostel@connect.com.fj

AAF3373 - Issue 674

For info and bookings see your travel centre or contact us: phone1800 007 129 or SKYPE awesomefiji

@tnt_downunder

The Funky Fish Beach Resort +679 628 2333, funkyfishresort.com The Resort Walu Beach +679 665 1777, walubeach.com

CORAL COAST Beachouse +679 653 0500, fijibeachouse.com

VANUA LEVU Bayside Backpacker Cottage +679 885 3154, tripntour@connect.com.fj Hidden Paradise Guest House +678 885 0106 Naveria Heights Lodge +679 851 0157, justnaveria@connect.com.fj Savusavu Hot Springs +679 885 0195, hotspringshotel@connect.com.fjj

TAVEUNI Albert’s Sunrise +679 333 7555 Matava Resort +679 330 5222, matava.com

NZLISTINGS

NZLISTINGS

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BUS TOURS Kiwi Experience +64 9366 9830 kiwiexperience.com Magic Travellers Network +64 9358 5600, magicbus.co.nz Nakedbus.com 0900 62533, nakedbus.com NZ Travelpass 0800 339 966, travelpass.co.nz Stray +64 9309 8772, straytravel.com

RENTAL FIRMS Ace Rental Cars 1800 140 026, acerentalcars.com.nz Backpacker Campervan & Car Rentals +800 200 80 801, backpackercampervans.com Bargain Rental Cars 0800 001 122, bargainrentals.com.nz Darn Cheap Rentals 0800 447 363, exploremore.co.nz Econo Campers +64 9275 9919, econocampers.co.nz Escape Rentals 1800 456 272, escaperentals.co.nz Explore More 1800 800 327, dcrentals.com.nz Jucy Rentals 0800 399 736, jucy.com.nz

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

AUCKLAND Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere. +64 9275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584, Base Auckland 229 Queen St. 0800 227 369, stayatbase.com Bamber House (BBH) 2 2 View Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9623 4267, hostelbackpacker.com

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QUEENSTOWN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YHA Wellington City 292 Wakefield St. +64 4801 7280

CHRISTCHURCH Chester Street Backpackers (BBH) 148 Chester St East. +64 3377 1897, chesterst.co.nz Foley Towers (BBH) 208 Kilmore St. +64 3366 9720, backpack.co.nz/foley Jailhouse Accommodation (BBH) 338 Lincoln Rd. 0800 524 546, stay@kiwibasecamp.com

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Base Discovery Lodge St. +64 Queenstown 49 Shotover St. +64 3441 1185, stayatbase.com Bungi Backpackers (VIP, BBH) 15 Sydney St. 0800 728 286, bungibackpackers.co.nz Cardrona Alpine Resort Between Queenstown and Wanaka. +64 3443 7341, cardrona.com Flaming Kiwi Backpackers (BBH) 39 Robins Rd. +64 3442 5494, flamingkiwi@xtra.co.nz Hippo Lodge (BBH) 4 Anderson Hts. +64 3442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz Nomads Queenstown 5-11 Church St. +64 3441 3922, nomadshostels.com

Kiwi House 373 Gloucester St. +64 3381 6645, kiwihouse.co.nz

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

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

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

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

YHA Queenstown Central 48A Shotover Street. +64 3442 7400, yha.co.nz

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

YHA Queenstown Lakefront 8890 Lake Esplanade. +64 3442 8413, yha.co.nz

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61

OZWORK

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Step into my office Some of the best paid jobs available for travellers wanting to quickly boost their travel funds are found in Aussie offices...

Even if you’re only answering the phone or training as teamaker extraordinaire, Aussie offices offer some of the best paid jobs available to travellers.

With most travellers taking time out in an Aussie city to fund the next leg of travelling, many end up landing some office work. And that’s for a good reason, or three.

Temporary or “temp” jobs tend to be fairly easy to get, are quite well paid and not too stressful.

“People can email us their CV and then we’ll call them back and get them to come in,” says Geoffrey Nathan candidate manager Mandy Bayrami, who is on a working holiday visa herself.

“We get most people interviews within a few days.

Sometimes the same afternoon.

“Plus, we have offices in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so if you register in one city we can help you find work in another.”

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TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

Firms are generally looking for positive, switched on individuals with at least six months office experience. But with it being a candidate-short market, a good personality can be almost as important.

Experience will most likely determine what sort of role you can land, but there are plenty of positions to choose from, whether it be receptionists, data entry operators, customer service reps, call centre, administration, clerical, PA’s, legal secretaries, to name a few.

How much hard-earned cash you get to stuff in your wallet will obviously also vary depending on the type of role you get in the office.

But as a rough estimate you could expect to earn at least $18-20/hour for call centre work or $20/hour for receptionist jobs. That could easily escalate to $25/hour and above for more skilled positions, such as in banking.

So what are you waiting for? It’s only a CV away...

Classy reliable ladies needed for intimate drug-free boutique establishment opposite the Casino. $$$ for the right ladies.

No experience required as full in-house training provided.

Female management.

Call 02 9660 1849.

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winning escort agency is looking for women, 18-28 years old for high class escort work.

Earn in excess of $5,000 per week No experience necessary Please call 02 9279 3999 Or ďŹ ll out the employment form on the website

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LADIES REQUIRED Expereinced and good looking ladies required for sensual massage at Glebe. 15 mins walk from the Central Station.

Previous experience will be an advantage but training will be provided. Wages according to your experience will be paid.

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TODAY! 100% Online Instant Certificates - Only $50 Certificates Available s Responsible Service of Alcohol s Responsible Service of Gambling s Food Handling Certificate Jobs requiring Certificates s Bar Attendants s Waiter, Waitress s Room Service Staff s Gaming attendant s Work within TAB or KENO Facility s Kitchen hands, Catering staff s Cafe and fast food outlet

Phone 1300 72 66 34 or register online

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Finding the right holiday work should be this easy.

Pick from one of these temporary legal jobs: Law Clerk

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Minimum one year legal experience is required, long and short term temp assignments available.

For a legal recruitment company that likes to keep things simple contact BRISBANE 07 3231 1200 SYDNEY 02 9375 2222 MELBOURNE 03 9098 8750 PERTH 07 3231 1200 or visit www.empirecareers.com.au TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

65

TOTALLYTRIVIAL

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MYTHBUSTERS ESPECIALLY FOR JEW?

THIS WEEK’S QUIZ

MYTH

WORLD BRIDGES a) The Golden Shower Bridge b) The Golden Gate Bridge c) The Golden Bridge d) The Golden Oldie Bridge wrote A View from the Bridge?

Q 2.a)Who Arthur Miller b) Hunter S Thompson c) Charles Dickens d) Virginia Woolf

made out of? a) Felt b) Steel c) Silver d) Paul Hogan

is the longest bridge Q 6.in Where the world? a) China b) Australia c) Thailand d) Egypt

If you’re “playing bridge”, Q 3.what do you have in your hands?

According to the song, London Bridge Q 7.is what?

a) Playing cards b) A bat c) A hammer d) Another person’s hand

a) The best bridge in the world b) Poorly designed and lacking inspiration c) Falling down d) Leaning over

Q 4. Fill in the blank, build a bridge

Q 8. Where is the ANZAC bridge?

and... over it? a) Crawl b) Get c) Climb d) Come all

a) Sydney c) Brisbane

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

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AUSSIE-ISM

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TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

5

ANAGRAM-ARAMA

b) Wellington d) Auckland

SUDOKU PUZZLE 5

66

Q 5. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is

“THROW A SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE” What not to say. Aussies don’t use the word shrimp, it’s prawn. And you wouldn’t catch us throwing a prawn on a barbie; never gonna fill us up! We like to load up with snags and steak instead. And beer.

THIS WEEK IT’S...

BIG THINGS IN OZ 1. PEG AB NIPPLE 2. BAN IN A BAG 3. WANK CINGE BIS 4. B PIG WARN ANSWERS: 1. Big Pineapple 2.

Big Banana 3. Big Cask Wine 4. Big Prawn

What is the name of San Francisco’s Q 1.iconic bridge?

OF THE

Was Israel almost in Oz? WEEK It’s debatable how close it ever came to becoming reality, but there was a plan to buy up seven million acres of land in the Kimberley and move 75,000 Jews there after WWII. The idea was the brainchild of Latvian lawyer Isaac Steinberg who set up the Freeland League, which aimed to find a refuge for persecuted Jews.

The Kimberley the perfect solution.

Steinberg went there in 1939 and won over the WA government. But Aussie Prime Minister John Curtin put an end to the plan in 1944, saying it was against Australia’s “alien settlement” policy and was too “exclusive”. The idea finally ended with Israel’s creation in 1948.

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More importantly, they are right there in Airlie Beach upon your return to ensure that the trip met with your expectations. We all know it is safer and can be much cheaper to book your trip in Airlie. Drop in to meet their friendly staff at the travel and internet centre next door to the Hog’s Breath Cafe, top end of the main street.

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