TNT Down Under 689 by TNT MAGAZINE

July 9-15 2012 Issue 689 tntdownunder.com

IN W C A TION-

AN N PACKED FIJIAE ADVENTUR

REEFER MADNESS Up north and in the drink in Cairns

GOING WALKABOUT Get your head around indigenous culture

O R B , H S U R A IT’S ng n’t hibernati re a is iw K g eekin ed but thrill-s iv rr a s a h r Winte

+ NEWS & SPORT WHAT’S ON FILM REVIEWS TRAVELLERS’ TIPS

TOM STURROCK EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com

EDITOR’S LETTER It’s a real grab bag this week – we continue our epic adventures through Fiji, this week sending our intrepid deputy editor into a highland village. But we’re over in New Zealand as well and up north in Cairns, too. And, if you’re on a tight schedule, why not check out our weekend guide to Hobart? We’ve really got the corners of the world covered this week. Good times.

THIS WEEK OZ DIARY

CHATROOM

FILM

TRAVEL

COMPETITION

NEWS

OPINION

SPORT

LISTINGS NSW

LISTINGS QUEENSLAND

LISTINGS VICTORIA

LISTINGS NT

LISTINGS TASMANIA

LISTINGS SA

LISTINGS WA

LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND

WORK

TRIVIAL PURSUITS

FEATURES ICE BREAKERS

It may be cold but that doesn’t stop the action from happening in New Zealand

BOOMERANG BLUES

A new book promises to help you get your head around indigenous culture

YES, WE CAIRNS

Feel the fear of the bungy and wash it away with a few beers in Cairns

VILLAGE PEOPLE We go to church in Fiji, the beginning of our introduction to village life

34 TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

OZDIARY EDITORIAL Editor Tom Sturrock Deputy editor Alex Harmon Editorial assistant Leigh Livingstone Contributors Andrew Westbrook

@tnt_downunder

Putting VB to good use since 1974

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

02 8332 7511 tom@tntdownunder.com

PHONE EMAIL

MAIN EVENT BEER CAN REGATTA DARWIN

One of Australia’s quirkiest festivals – and they have their fare share of them – returns to Darwin this week. The regatta has been held since 1974 and the aim is simple really – create a boat made out of beer cans (or soft drink for those in AA) and race them in the ocean. The boats that founder, sink or crash get the most cheers, so everyone’s a winner. We say beers and boats have always been a great mix, so sink a few as they, er, sink. FREE

July 15 Mindil Beach, NT

beercanregatta.org.au

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MASTERCHEF DINING

WHALE WATCHING SEASON

BIKE AND LIFESTYLE SHOW

Taking TV dinners to a whole new level, you can now dine with your favourite celebrity chefs. Past winners of reality cooking show MasterChef will cook you a three-course meal in a pop-up restaurant situated near the stunning St Mary’s cathedral.

Whale watching season has begun and if you can’t afford a guided cruise, catch them along the coastline of the Royal National Park. This is one of Sydney’s best land-based spots to catch humpback and southern right whales in the wild.

If you think biking is more of a lifestyle than a way of getting from A to B, you need to head to Fox Studios this weekend. This show will go ‘beyond the wheel’ with education, entertainment and industry info. Plus stalls on health, nutrition and fashion.

Until July 22 Sydney, NSW masterchef.com.au

During July Just south of Cronulla, NSW environment.nsw.gov.au

July 13-15 Moore Park, NSW bikeshow.org.au

$98

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests. There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group. 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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Across the ditch The Kiwis come into their own during this time of year, boasting a stack of activities to keep you busy during your winter visit WORDS TOM STURROCK

Australians are very rude about New Zealanders and it’s probably a bit unfair, really. The Kiwis, after all, despite all the unpleasant jokes about their fondness for sheep, aren’t so different from Aussies – they’re basically more low-key, less obnoxious cousins. And, while Aussies hibernate during the winter months, New Zealand comes into its own as a destination where there’s still plenty going on. Everyone knows that New Zealand is a world-class spot for skiing and snowboarding and, certainly, any holiday across the Tasman at this time of year is likely to involve a trip to the slopes. But there are other activities on offer as well, many of which are

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within a short journey from the country’s fabled snowfields. If you start in the north, you can get your fill of powder on Mt Ruepehu – just cross your fingers that this active volcano doesn’t decide to blow its lid during your visit. And, once again, it’s not just skiing and snowboarding on offer – if you’re in that neck of the woods, make sure you explore the Tongariro National Park. You’ll want to check out Auckland as well – the rest of the country gives Aucklanders a hard time for thinking they’re too cool for school, referring to them as Jafas: just another expletive Aucklander. But that’s harsh, as Aucklander is a delightful city – it’s pretty low-key and you’re unlikely to

get swept away by the pace of it but it’s very pretty and you’ll find enough to keep you busy while your crazy mates do the Skywalk – that, in case you didn’t know, involves dangling off the edge of the city’s tallest building. You’ll likely wend your way south at some stage – quite a few of New Zealand’s big-ticket items are down there. Make you go bungy jumping in Queenstown and clambering over glaciers in Westland. If you keep yourself occupied, maybe you’ll be able to avoid getting drawn into a conversation about rugby – let’s face it, in New Zealand, that can never end well for visiting supporters. So what are you waiting for? Get over there already.

EXPLORE MT RUAPEHU WAIKATO Visitors to New Zealand are spoiled for choice when it comes to places to ski and snowboard and, traditionally, the South Island has been a popular spot for anyone seeking to hit the slopes. But the North Island should not be overlooked and Mt Ruapehu, in Tongariro National Park, is one of the top spots for snow bunnies, as well as a spectacular location to explore. Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano and casts its shadow over the area’s sacred Maori sites and the calm waters of Lake Taupo (main image). There are a stack of activities available in the area – you can go hiking, gamefishing and rafting – and, of course, if you’re a Lord Of The Rings fan, you can explore the locations used in the blockbuster trilogy. mtruapehu.com

BLACKWATER RAFTING WAITOMO You may have experienced whitewater rafting before, bouncing down a rocky current in the great outdoors. But, in Waitomo’s caves, which draw tourists from the world over, you’ll have the chance to ride through echoing, underground caverns, putting a whole new spin on a familiar adventure sport. You’ll abseil down a sheer rockface into Waitomo’s netherworld before the surreal experience of floating through these vast catacombs in a rubber tyre tube. Deeper into the caves, you’ll encounter the resident glow worms, which light up the darkness like a Christmas tree. The caves were first explored more than 120 years ago, by an English surveyor and a Maori guide, who built a raft and floated into the network. So, in reality, you’ll be doing much the same, admittedly with more reliable lighting. waitomo.com/black-water-rafting.aspx

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SKYWALK AUCKLAND

HOT SPRINGS HANMER

It’s all well and good to be out and about in New Zealand’s gorgeous countryside but there’s also plenty on offer for city slickers. And Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city – not the capital, though, as that honour falls to Wellington. It’s got a delightful harbour and laidback vibe but thrill-seeking tourists flock to the city’s Sky Tower, where they are then strapped into little harnesses and connected to a handrail that runs along the perimeter of the building’s top storey. It creates the unnatural sensation of being able to lean out over the edge, teetering on the bring of the 192m drop, while remaining completely safe. If that’s too vanilla for you, you can take the plunge with the Sky Jump at the same location, where you’ll fall down to the plaza below.

Going to New Zealand and making a special stop to take a fancy bath might seem like a bit of a soft option but if you’ve never gone to a hot springs before, you’ll be amazed by how enjoyable it is. Hanmer Springs is a touch over 100km north of Christchurch and a short drive from a lush conservation park. Inside, you’ll find heated pools and natural, thermally heated baths, their temperatures ranging from 28 to 42 degrees. You can get a private bath if you want to relax in seclusion or you can float away in one of the three sulphur pools. If you’re tired and sore from travelling or feeling a bit under the weather after a big night on the tiles, you’ll be astounded by the restorative qualities of these all-natural hot tubs.

skywalk.co.nz

ZORBING ROTORUA

BUNGY JUMPING QUEENSTOWN

You’ve probably seen this crazy pastime on TV – basically, you hop inside a big plastic ball and go careering down a hill, rolling head-over-heels until stopping safely at the bottom of the slope. If it doesn’t sound like it would make you a bit ill, you should head to Rotorua to join in the madcap fun of zorbing. On the North Island, Rotorua is the birthplace of this roly-poly adventure and proudly brandishes its credentials as the best place in the world to take a protracted tumble. And they’re not letting the grass grow under them – already, there are a bunch of different routes you can take: you can go zig-zagging down one or end up splashing through water on another. Be warned, though – it’s pretty hard to take a photo during your ride.

Whatever possesses people to jump from dizzying heights, with only a flimsy little cord preventing them from plummeting to a sticky end, Queenstown is the place to do it. It’s become something of a rite of passage for those who come to the area – you haven’t properly done Queenstown unless you’ve gone hurtling downward at very high speeds. It’s a gorgeous place to give yourself the fright of a lifetime, which is at least some consolation, the scenery providing a welcome distraction from the gut-churning effect of bungy jumping. Also in Queenstown is the renowned Shotover canyon swing, where participants go flying off the edge of a platform, into a yawning chasm below, before swinging up and out, high enough to enjoy the view.

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FOX GLACIER WESTLAND You’ll find Fox Glacier, named after former prime minister Sir William Fox, is New Zealand’s largest commercially accessibly glacier and can be found on the west coast of the South Island. It’s an unreal landscape, which can be explored over the course of a day’s guide hike or, if that sounds like too much hard work, you can limit your expedition to a half-day. It’s probably worth taking the helicopter tour as well, to take in the big picture. foxguides.co.nz

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CHATROOM

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Brendan B Brown Best known for being a Teenage Dirtbag, the frontman of Wheatus talks about the Aussie tour, his love of Nicole Kidman and why he always needs lavender oil on tour INTERVIEW ALEX HARMON

don’t have stories, but it’s generally a fairytale of me being in a small town and moving to the big city, being starry-eyed and realising that if you’re going to stay and make it work, you’re going to have to be part of the darkness and complexity of the city. You can’t keep it simple like you did back home. Y ou have to get in there. It’s also biographical of the story of F Scott Fitzgerald, the guy who wrote The Great Gatsby.

Brendan (second from left) in 2001, looking like the love child of Kermit the Frog and Bono Is this your first Aussie tour? No, it’s our second time, I have been there myself three or four times, but only once on tour in December of 2000. Ah, during the Teenage Dirtbag years? Well there are really no non-Teenage Dirtbag years – that song just keeps coming back and coming back. Is it strange singing about being a teen? Yeah but the thing is, I didn’t write that song as a teenager. I wrote it from the perspective of someone who had been through those years and looking back on it. It is a bit of a narrative with a fictional ending that everyone likes. It’s an anthem for some people, it’s annoying for others. Why do Nienties bands keep resurfacing? Stuff goes in cycles, I guess. People start paying attention to certain things that make them nostalgic for a certain time. In this particular instance, it’s the time before the banks took over the world and the whole financial crisis. But what is the song actually about? I don’t think a lot of people realise this but here you go – I was 10 years old in the summer of 1984 and in the woods behind my house there

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was a drug induced satanic ritual homicide. And the kid who sacrificed his friend to the devil was a kid called Ricky Kasso and he was arrested wearing an AC/DC T-shirt. Now, at the time, as a 10-year-old, I was walking around with a tape case full of AC/CD and Iron Maiden music. I’m an atheist – I don’t believe in all that magic bullshit – but it didn’t really matter because it was the music that did it, as far as the parents, police and teachers were concerned. What about the BMX bandits song – is that anything to do with Aussie film? It had everything to do with that film. I cannot wait to play that song in Australia. I’m a BMX-er myself and Nicole Kidman is this gorgeous chick rocking the shit out of a BMX. When you’re 11, it’s like oh my god, how do I get to meet this girl? She hadn’t married a Scientologist at that point so it’s a pure memory. Your latest album, tell us about that. It’s called Pop, Songs & Death and it’s two volumes with six songs on each volume. There’s a bit of prog rock. Check out the song, The Story Of The Egg. What is the story of the egg? Well (laughs) it’s a bit of irony because eggs

Do you still party hard on tour? Hate to disappoint but we never partied hard even when we were young. We’re just nerds. We watch science documentaries on the tour bus, but we sometimes drink tequila and turn into different people then. What do you always travel with? Lavender oil. It solves all sorts of problems. First of all, you’re on tour so your shoes get wrecked and stink so bad, so you just drop a bit of lavender oil on your shoes every now and then – problem solved. It also makes for a great emergency deodorant. Do you put that on your rider? No, but we do always request to have socks and batteries on our rider. We’re very practical. How do you cope on long-haul flight? Try and keep it to once every ten years. You can’t prepare for it, you’re going to be destroyed so for next five days you drink too much coffee and then you get into a fight with somebody and you regret it the next morning. You can’t cope, really. Three albums you’d want to listen to on a desert island? From when I was a kid, Powerage by AC/DC, and Justice For All by Metallica. But as an adult, I’d have something by Willie Nelson. And I listen to a lot of Ani de Franco – she’s kickass, so something by her. Okay sorry, that’s four albums.

Catch Wheatus at the Fat As Butter festival in Newcastle (Sept 22). Also, Melbourne (Sept 19), Fremantle (Sept 20), Sydney (Sept 21) and Brisbane (Sept 23) wheatus.com

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FILMREVIEW

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Shaving your boyfriend’s chest can make for messy foreplay

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FILM review by Leigh Livingstone STARRING: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans | M | 136mins

THE DARK KNIGHTS RISES FILM preview STARRING: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy | M | 164mins

When The Dark Knight came out in 2008, it raised the bar for superhero flicks. Now, let’s see what director Christophr Nolan does for an encore. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for the fans, this one is unmissable. On general release July 19

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The Amazing Spider-Man is more than just another installment of a tired old franchise – it’s the reboot of a story that attempts to give a more honest insight into the web-slinging Marvel hero. Peter Parker (Garfield) is desperate to find out what really happened to his parents but that important plotline gets lost somewhere along the way. Instead, the audience spends two hours learning about how Peter becomes Spider-Man. Again. A scene after the end credits, which feels like an afterthought, attempts to tie up the parent loose end vaguely – it is the hallmark of a sequel set-up. Despite the clunky storyline, Garfield plays a more believable, human SpiderMan for a younger audience and is a joy to watch as the goofy kid growing into a hero. Emma Stone does a good job as his romantic partner, Gwen Stacy, but then, she’s a cinema favourite these days and they are reported to be dating in real life. This is the first Spider-Man film to place the focus on Peter Parker’s budding relationship with original girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, instead of his enduring love interest Mary-Jane Watson. It helps refresh the franchise. Despite the star-studded older cast and some impressive turns from the younger actors, some elements let the film down. The use of 3D technology is almost nonexistent, even though it is billed as 3D. Indeed, most of the film could be watched without the glasses on. GOOD FOR: Marvel fans and superheroes at heart.

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Indigenous answers Australia, a young country, is home to the ancient aboriginal culture and a new book sets out to correct misunderstandings WORDS TOM STURROCK

Indigenous culture remains a source of fascination for many visitors to Australian shores and, indeed, for many Australians as well. But the appreciation of the indigenous connection to the land, of their art and music, is silhouetted by deep and divisive issues, by the question of how, in 2012, indigenous quality of life can be improved. It is a question that has left many generations of Australians and more than a few governments scratching their heads, despite good intentions. It's one of the most enduring, intractable debates in Australian life – in a country enjoying unprecedented prosperity, how can one section of the population have been left so far behind? The author of a new book, Indigenous Australia For Dummies, Larissa Behrendt, has taken on the onerous tasks of tieing these various threads together, presenting a treasure trove of background information for those interested in the indigenous experience, while also attempting to unpick some of the tougher questions that continue to circle. “I thought it would be helpful if people had more background and knew more,” Behrendt says. “It’s also for teachers, some of whom want to teach about indigenous culture, but aren’t confident enough to do it. So something like this, which covers off different areas, is quite useful.” Indeed, Behrendt, who has a background in advocacy and law reform, has left no stone unturned, compiling a guide that runs the full gamut. “The first part looks at history and culture – all before 1788 – it’s about clan structures and diversity of aboriginal culture. And then we look at how things developed chronologically from first contact, through colonial times all the way up to modern relationships, taking in citizenship and land rights. “There’s also a section on contemporary culture – art and music – and we finish off with a section about the socioeconomics affecting indigenous people, looking at their access to employment, education, healthcare and housing. “The real problem was deciding what to leave out. There were some sections where I really had to brush up.”

“

An indigenous experience can be the highlight of a trip

”

For travellers who comes to Australia and then go walkabout up north, an indigenous experience can be one of the highlights of their trip. Whether it‘s an afternoon spent cooking bush tucker or learning about aboriginal art, there’s something authentic and unique about it. “Australian aboriginal culture is the oldest living culture in the world,” Behrendt explains. “The country has this striking landscape and that aboriginal culture is wrapped up in it, so I think people are fascinated by that connection with the land. “It’s the diversity too. That was one of the things that really surprised me – the difference between saltwater people and freshwater people, the differences between aboriginals in the Northern Territory and people in Tasmania. “To try to write informatively about kinship systems and totemic systems, while summarising all the differences, was really quite hard. And although aboriginals were of course traditional hunter-gatherers, there are different ecosystems across the country and very different climates. They used very different language groups across Australia, as well, so it’s difficult to generalise about things like that.” After writing Indigenous Australia For Dummies, Behrendt believes there are more than a few points that will challenge the casual assumptions about aboriginal life; in particular, she says, the caricature of remote communities, out in the middle of nowhere is misleading. “The largest aboriginal population is in western Sydney, a place called Mt Druitt and, overall, there are more aboriginals in NSW than Queensland, which I think would surprise a lot of people,” she says.

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Aboriginal culture is the oldest in the world

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM M

Indeed, so much of Australia‘s coverage of indigenous issues focuses on the problems – although it is entirely newsorthy, it can create a skewed perception and fix certain mind. And, on this point, Behrendt images within the public m argues that, where these problems exist, it is the breakdown of traditional values that is to blame. “There’s danger of people looking at the da various social socia problems and attributing them to aboriginal culture – whether it’s domestic violence or anti-social do behavior,” she says. “But, where be there’s that level of dysfunction, it’s th because the traditional values have be been bee unravelling. The things we were taught, taugh growing up in an aboriginal family, family were respect for the land, respect respec for the wisdom of the elders and for their the life experience. And, certainly, there’s respect for women.” For Behrendt, the way forward for Be indigenous communties and the millions indige of other oth Australians who would like to help hel but are no longer sure what that means, the answer revolves around me engagement with communities rather than engagem prescribed government solutions. g “People might mig look at the money spent on helping aboriginal communities and all these aborig expensive programs but 75 per cent of it goes to prog contractors so the t government, despite all the rhetoric in the world, is just not able to deliver,” she wo says. “All the research says that you need aboriginal rese people involved, these communities with their informal com networks. Some governments still don’t get that, so there’s governme still a lot of myth-busting that needs to happen.” t

Photos: Jonathan David

“There were some other things that would really challenge public perception – people might think of aboriginals living in remote communities but it’s often the ones living in urban communities who are in abject poverty. It’s just reinforced ed for me that, when you talk about indigenous Australians, you’re not talking about one thing – you’re talking about 500 00 different nations, different clans. The connection to the country is similar, but someone in Broome, for example, lives very differently to someone in Tasmania.” ” Perhaps this breadth of experience has contributed to some fundamental misunderstandings among ng white Australians who, even if they are broadly oadly supportive of improving conditions among ong indigenous communities, might not necessarily grasp the nuances of how they live and where they’ve come from. “A lot of Australians probably feel that a lot of effort has gone one into helping aboriginals without out much of an outcome,” Behrendt acknowledges. “And when you look at it, t, and all the policies, there’s not been a quick fix. But, where you see the improvements, mprovements, where you see communities ties coming up, you see that the best results ults don’t come from the top-down, but through working with the communities. “There’s sometimes a bit of a view that aboriginals can be part off the problem, that they don’t manage money ey very well. But it’s not true. We’ve had so many local solutions – thinks like dry communities in parts of the Northern Territory – that’s done on n a voluntary basis.”

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WEEKLY WINNER PIP STOP: Ian Chou, 25, Taiwan IAN SAYS: “I took this photo of a group of backpackers digging for pippies at Rainbow Beach on Queensland’s Fraser Coast.” WE SAY: “The leisurely activity of looking for shellfish has an action feel to it in this shot. Because of the staggered diggers and tyre tracks, it almost looks like it’s a race. I wonder if these backpackers were hungry.“ THE MONTHLY WINNER GETS THREE DAYS CAR HIRE FROM TRAVELLERS AUTOBARN Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to: alex@tntdownunder.com. Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.

Weekly winner Ian 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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HOT TIPS: Detail FINDING THE HOOK Photographs can be an extremely satisfying way of getting your point across creatively. When choosing your subject and composing your shot, seek out ‘the hook’ – the object or subject in a photograph that jumps out and grabs people’s attention. It is the rare detail that rises from the scene to pull the viewer into the image. The subject can be powerful and often it’s the unusual, accidental or humorous quality that locks people in. It could be a tiny detail or something huge. The point is to keep your eyes peeled for the quirk that will take your image to the next level.

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You can’t go wrong with Jervis

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is good to visit on NSW’s Q Where south coast? Charlie Cherry, UK reckon Jervis Bay on the less-explored A We NSW south coast is an ideal spot for camping, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, and is perfect for a long weekend away from Sydney. The Marine Park in particular is home to many unique sea creatures, including weedy sea dragons, whales, bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and grey nurse sharks, meaning diving and snorkelling there is amazing. Plus, Hyams Beach has what locals claim is the whitest sand in the world. There’s plenty of camping, but other options are available in Huskisson, Callala Bay, Myola and Culburra Beach. I learn to throw a boomerang in Q Can Sydney? Stephanie Hutch, Ireland boomerangs, an ancient technological A Ah, marvel, showcasing the skill and ingenuity

of early humans and not just a frisbee for loners. So you want to wow your family with your aerodynamic abilities and throwing nous, but your boomerang doesn’t come back? It’s the right shape, nicely decorated, cost $30 and the guy at the market assured you it works – yep, you’ve bought a colourful stick. Congrats. Cut your losses, throw your stick at a Rolf Harris lookalike and make your way to the Boomerang School. Duncan MacLennan and his daughters, Sarah and Belinda, have been running this Sydney institution for 40 years. Not only do they sell Australian-made, genuine returning boomerangs, they give free lessons as well. The lessons run at varying times during the week and Sarah won’t let you get out of there until you get it right at least once, which must impress the local birds, joggers and her insurance company. Not many Aussies can throw and return a boomerang, so the best thing is to go and learn – and show them up.

CHECKING IN SCOTTY’S MISSION BEACH OVERVIEW Known as the ‘party hostel’ in town, Scotty’s has a rocking bar, a pool, wine and cheese nights, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. By staying here, you can help the staff

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build a goon raft that they are planning to sail to Dunk Island. ROOMS Dorms with bar fridges and TVs. Also princess palaces with pink sheets and hairdryers. BILL PLEASE Beds start from $24/ night for a 6-share with a shared bathroom. 167 Reid Rd, Mission Beach QLD scottysbeachhouse.com.au

We had been in Oz three weeks before my friend and I decided to leave the cities and head out bush. We found a bar in Chillagoe – a town of 227 locals and 200 miners that wanted two new barmaids. The fact that we were fresh off the plane from Sweden with no experience didn’t scare the bar owner off. On the contrary, natural blonde hair and a cute foreign accent turned out to be our greatest assets. It was like being thrown into a lion’s den – drunk miners as far as the eye could see. After a brief introduction on which taps had what beer and where the Bundy was, we were left to ourselves. After closing, my overwhelmed and exhausted friend whispered to me: “We’ll give it two weeks, but if it stays this bad, can we please make a run for it?” We needn’t have worried, it was simple: the miners would get shitfaced every night of the week. However, they had every 14th day off, and would spend most of the night before getting completely off their trees. That was good times for us, because they would tip us even more than normal. Drunk miners supported our future Oz travels! Ida Jonsson, Sweden

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

Fed up of carrying around heavy guidebooks? Then TNT has the answer We’ve published our 2012 Independent Traveller’s Guide to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. It’s free, it’s online and it’s full of tips on where to go, what to do and how to find work. FIJI W ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA NE

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

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If you’re travelling on, there’s also sections on Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

2012

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Devil’s delight This is Hobart in 48 hours WORDS ALEX HARMON

DAY 1: xHobart is Australia’s second-oldest capital city, after Sydney, and you can still see the history in the old buildings, docks and cobbled lanes. But funnily enough, Hobart is also one of the most progressive cities in Australia. Check out their edgy festivals, world-class restaurants and, of course, their controversial new museum. Hobart certainly isn’t the sleepy seaside town the other states would have you believe. 9:00: Get a bird’s eye view of Hobart by driving to the summit of Mt Wellington which peaks at 1270m. In winter, it is cloaked in snow and even in summer it can be chilly up the top. What better way to warm up than by cruising down on a mountain bike with Mt Wellington Descent (mtwellingtondescent.com.au)? The three-hour guided tour includes off-road sections for the adventurous. You’ll cycle past the historic Female Factory and through South Hobart and Battery Point. 12:00: The tour conveniently wraps up in Salamanca Place where you’ll be spoiled for lunch choices. The Ball and Chain Grill (ballandchain.com.au) salutes Hobart’s convict past and boast the only real charcoal grill in Tassie. Try some of the region’s steaks or seafood cooked in a traditional method using only charcoal – no gas or electricity. 14:00: With a stomach full of food, make you way down to the harbour to catch the private Mona ferry. The Museum of Old and New Art (mona.net.au) is the brainchild of Hobart-born David Walsh, an eccentric self-made millionaire. It’s a weird and wonderful place, where ancient Egyptian

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mummies are placed next to blown-up Lamborghinis and there is a whole room dedicated to making excrement – hold your nose for that one. It’s known as the ‘adult Disneyland’ – once you’ve visited you’ll know why. 18:00: Catch the ferry back to Hobart and find yourself a cosy bar. You’re going to need it after Mona. The Lark Distillery (larkdistillery.com.au) is a cute little bar that makes its own single-malt whiskey, vodka and gin. Try their pepperberry gin martinis while you listen to the live band – usually an Irish folk group – for a rocking good time. 20:00: Now that you are good and relaxed, it’s time to do what Hobartians do so well – eat. Back in Salamanca Place, head to Cargo Bar Pizza Lounge for Hobart’s best pizza. Choose from an array of flavours, such as baby abalone pizza with croutons or spicy octopus. Make sure you finish up with a chocolate truffle pear pizza. Man, those Tasmanians know their flavours. Kick on here with some drinks and meet the locals who congregate on the outside tables – that’s right they don’t feel the cold. 23:00: Check into your accommodation for the night, Central City Backpackers (centralcityhobart.com). As the name suggests, it’s located in the heart of Hobart on Collins Street. Sleep well – a big day awaits. DAY 2: 9:00: Rise and shine, you’re heading to the shores of Marieville Esplanade to get kitted up for your next adventure: kayaking Hobart’s Derwent River. Hobart Paddle (freycinetadventures.com.au) will take you on a relaxed,

Majestic Mt Welly

two-hour tour where you’ll explore Hobart’s docklands, learn about the history and also taste some of the best fish and chips in town – all from the comfort of your kayak. 12:00: You rode past it yesterday but this time make sure you step into Cascade Brewery (cascadebreweryco.com. au). It’s the country’s oldest operating brewery and they offer two-hour tours every day which include tastings and a history of the golden ale. 12:00: If you want to live like Tom Cruise for a day (before he got weird) treat yourself by heading to Top Gun Australia (topgunaustralia.com) and fly with a militarytrained fighter pilot. You’ll do loops, rolls, flips, flops, vertical climbs and feel the “speed rush” at 700 kph. 14:00: Come back to earth and pick up your hire car, a trusty map and make your way south towards Port Arthur. It’s only an hour outside Hobart, making it the perfect destination for a day trip. At the Port Arthur Historic Site (portarthur. org.au) pay your respects to the tragic past, both distant and recent. See over 30 historic buildings, extensive ruins and the now beautiful grounds and garden. 18:00: Lift the mood once you get back to Hobart with some live music and food at Republic Bar and Cafe (republicbar.com) situated in the North Hobart hub. There is live music on every night of the week, anything from jazz to indie rock. Plus inexpensive and tasty meals and a log fire to warm your weary feet. Congratulations – you've done a weekend in Hobart in style.

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Cairns QUEENSLAND

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Kicking it in Cairns If you head north to escape the winter blues, spend your days in freefall and your nights looking for action at storied bars WORDS ANDREW WESTBROOK

The bungy jump had seemed a good idea the day before. At the time, I’d been supping an afternoon beer in glorious sunshine. Work stresses were a million miles away and I was off to meet my new best buds: sunburn and one too many. Happy days, indeed. However, those are dangerous times, the sort of moments when you’ll agree to do just about anything. And so, now standing at the base of AJ Hackett’s 50m bungy, head pounding and stomach curdling from the night before, my opinion of what makes a good idea has shifted slightly. Well, drastically. I’d been told that part of the appeal of the Cairns bungy, which is the world’s second-oldest commercial jump – after Queenstown in New Zealand – is its spectacular surroundings. And sure, there’s the looming jungle, squawking birds and lapping water, so that’s probably true. But I don’t notice. All I can see is a dangling rope. As luck would have it – oh, joy – I’m the first jump of the day and so begin the climb. Ascending the wooden steps I go up, up, up, watching through the gaps with mounting terror as the ground gets further and further away. Brain gone to jelly, I finally reach the top and it’s onto the next challenge: dealing with the harness guys. I’ve always thought there must be a specialist school for the people who do that job, so gifted are they in the art of delivering deadpan sadism. And so, trying to blot out the calls for a body bag, I teeter towards the edge. I look down at the thin air beneath my toes, my head screaming at me to escape the madness. And then the countdown begins. My heart pounds through my rib-cage as suicidal urges mix with fears of my impending doom. And then, suddenly, I’m away. Within a second, all fear is gone as I fly through the air, screaming, laughing and whooping as I bounce around like a demented doll. The rush, the relief and the all-round jubilation is total, the hangover a thing of the past. Permagrin firmly fixed on my face, there’s only one thought going through my mind: “I need to do that again!” However, rather than go for a repeat performance, I opt for trying out the other trick up Hackett’s sleeve, the Minjin

“

Blotting out the call for a body bag, I teeter toward the edge

”

Swing. Soon enough, I’m harnessed up again, before this time being lifted 45m into the air. I hover for a few tranquil moments and then pull the release cord. In just over three seconds, I’m screeching through the trees at 120km/hr before rising back beyond the canopy and down again. When finally I come to a rest, I’m buzzing. I also start to think about beer.

It’s beer o’clock Luckily, Cairns is not a place to shy away from having a good time. Indeed, it feels like it’s practically bubbling over with the sort of irrepressible energy that can only come from being packed with people on holiday. And so, while those enjoying a slightly gentler easing into their days take to strolling up and down the pretty Foreshore Promenade, or lounging by the manmade lagoon, I go in search of refreshment. Feeling fairly proud of myself, and glad to be alive, I start the proceedings off with style. I head to Ba8, which sits beneath the Shangri-La Hotel, at the southern end of the Esplanade, where many of Cairns’ more wallet-damaging accommodation options are grouped together, hoping they’ll escape the attention of marauding backpackers. As yachties, businessmen and high-end tourists mill about, I sit back and savour the marina views, contentedly lowering the tone as the ocean breeze envelops me. Suitably relaxed, it’s then onto the Esplanade, Cairns’ main tourist street that stretches the length of the town’s coastal side. You pay a slight premium for the waterfront location for sure, but the number of places is seemingly

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Wash off your hangover in the lagoon endless and the competition is tough, meaning there are always deals to be had. But, suitably refuelled after a few more pit stops, I head away from the ocean and into the heart of Cairns. It’s at this point that a crossroads is fast approaching. As I crawl around the pubs that litter the land between Shields St and Spence St, a particular certainty draws ever closer, that of losing another night within the walls of one of Cairns’ pair of legendary backpacker drinking establishments, Gilligans and the Woolshed. Indeed, no east coast experience is really complete until you’ve found yourself stumbling into daylight after hours of dancing on the tables at one of those two bars. But I’m determined to branch out. Instead, I jump in a cab to the outskirts of town, where I find the Tanks Arts Centre. Located within the Cairns Botanical Gardens precinct, the Tanks is a much-celebrated multi-arts centre housed in three converted Second World War naval oil-storage tanks. The unique venue will soon be playing host to many of the events at the upcoming Cairns Festival, but I’m there to catch a gig. Used to store oil until as recently as 1987, the Tanks, cunningly concealed from enemy eyes by the surrounding rainforest, are a great venue which feel a million miles away from the wet T-shirt debauchery no doubt playing out at the Woolshed. I find the Afrobeat act Shaolin Afronauts on the stage, while it seems that every dreadlocked hippy in Northern Queensland has left their fire twirling sticks at home to come along for a bop. For what it’s worth, I think the Afronauts are heavy on promise and crazy outfits, without ever quite delivering the highs I’d hoped for, but the packed crowd seem to lap it up and the atmosphere is great. Watching a band play within the confines of an old oil tanker hidden in the jungle is undeniably cool, and a completely different Cairns experience.

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A fish called wonder The next day is my last in Cairns, which means I absolutely must do the one thing you can’t leave Cairns without doing – seeing the reef. Stretching for over 2,000km, or about the length of 70 million football pitches, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and, put simply, you shouldn’t leave Australia without seeing it and taking the requisite Facebook photo. Actually comprising more than 3,000 separate reefs, there are stacks of places along the coast where you can jump in the wet stuff to glimpse some of the 1,500 species of fish on display, but Cairns is undoubtedly the most popular option, with scores of operators making boat trips as competitive as anywhere. I opt for a day on Green Island, a rainforest-clad coral cay just an hour’s swift ride from Cairns Marina. I’ll admit I feared this little isle on the Inner Reef so near to Cairns might be overrun with tourists and slightly underwhelming, but how wrong I was. Snorkelling in the shallows right off the white sandy beaches, I’m surrounded by colour. Huge brain and honeycomb corals rise from the sea-grass beds, giant clams open and close as I pass overhead and shoals of tropical fish dart one way and then the other, the sun piercing the water to shine off their backs and fill my vision with luminous yellows, reds and blues. At one point I stalk a friendly green sea turtle for 10 minutes as he nonchalantly does his rounds before I’m distracted by the shimmering markings of a passing blue-spotted lagoon ray. The amount and variety of life on display is mesmerising and addictive and it’s hard to drag myself away from the giant aquarium I’m floating atop. Difficult, that is, until one other thought crosses my mind. Perhaps there’s time for just one more afternoon beer in the glorious sunshine. ❚

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WIN an amazing Fijian adventure for you and a mate To celebrate our special Fiji month, in which we will be exploring the various attractions of this gorgeous destination, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving our readers the chance to win a stack of awesome adventures. Whether you want to head to Fiji for a relaxing holiday spent idling in a hammock or an adrenalineďŹ lled skydiving and snorkelling romp, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered. Fiji, of course, is renowned for its warm welcomes and friendly residents and our lucky winners will be able to enjoy Fijiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charms to the fullest, staying in the most comfortable, fun resorts on the mainland and the various islands. So if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already sick of winter and fancy a tropical break, get online and you could win the following trips:

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PLUS A 0!$) OPEN WATER COURSE 6ALUED AT TOTAL VALUE: $1503 THIRD PRIZE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Smugglers Cove Beach Resort: s TWO NIGHTS OF ACCOMMODATION IN A PREMIUM DELUXE ROOM s CLUBS PROVIDED TO PLAY ON THE GOLF COURSE AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES s CONTINENTAL BUFFET BREAKFAST AIRPORT PICK UP SERVICE KAYAKS SCUBA LESSONS 6ALUED AT Malolo Surf: s TWO BOAT TRIPS FOR THE ADVANCED SURFER TO THE OUTER REEF TO SURF .AMOTU AND 4AVARUA OR TWO LEARN TO SURF TRIPS 6ALUED AT TOTAL VALUE $487 Competition closes midnight AEST August 12, 2012. Log on to tntdownunder.com for further details and to enter.

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4/07/12 1:53 PM

Nausori Highland FIJI

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A kava conversion We head to a remote village on the mainland of Fiji, where an unlikely spiritual awakening and bucketloads of local brew await WORDS ALEX HARMON

It’s a number of years since I’ve stepped WHEN TO GO: You want to on the cheeks, touch our heads and treat inside a church for a Sunday service. I’m get over there before the humid us like they’ve known us their whole lives. wearing some rosary beads that were bought ramps up toward the end of the Ordinarily, I’d find this confronting but their by a friend – an ironic gift to an atheist. genuine warmth and excitement is infectious year and it’s not a bad idea to Despite the heat, we are told to cover up – I’ve even forgotten that I look like a avoid the school holidays. But, out of respect for the locals. Noticing that castaway in oversized clothes. those considerations aside, any I’m carelessly under-dressed, my tour guide One of the churchgoers who speaks time in the next six months it’s rummages through the bus and finds me English takes us on a tour of the local prime time for Fiji and you should a sarong and an oversized T-shirt with ‘Fiji’ village. His name is Samuel and he’s one be able to get great weather. written on the front. It was conservative of the Christian missionaries. He wears a WHERE TO STAY: Uprising enough, even if I do appear to be styled crisp white shirt, navy sulu – basically a manBeach Resort is two hours from by a church charity. skirt – and a very serious demeanor. This is the Nausori Highland and offers Inside the House of God, in the Nausori in stark contrast to our Fijian guide, Jerry, traditional beach-front bures as Village, about an hour’s bus ride from Suva, who drinks beer with breakfast and tells us well as dorm accommodation. See it’s not our clothing that attract stares. he falls in love with a new girl on every tour. uprisingbeachresort.com Rather, it’s the 12 of us, mostly faithless Samuel shows us inside some of the houses, CURRENCY: Fijian dollar. Westerners, in a remote Fijian village, made mostly of tin. They’re humble and $1=1.85 FJD crashing a Sunday church service that solicit unadorned, with outdoor toilets and beds on SEE: For more information, check constant attention. the floor made from layers of pandanus leaf. out tourismfiji.com The children can’t concentrate on We’re taken inside one of the houses to see the service, their eyes transfixed on the two rows of a family of 11 eating their lunch. foreigners cooling themselves with woven raffia fans. Walking through the village, I hoist my sarong above They whisper to each other, smile and giggle when we my knees to avoid the mud from the morning’s rain. As smile back. Intermittently, the all-female church choir, it’s slippery, I hang onto the guy next to me to avoid going decked out in white dresses, breaks into song and the skidding down the path. Samuel looks at me with disdain – room fills with beautiful music. Putting my own reservations it must be my uncoordinated tiptoeing that has attracted about organised religion aside, I am overcome with his attention. It’s not. He pulls me aside. a heartwarming feeling, coupled with the last remnants “Miss, you must not wear your sarong like that,” he of Catholic guilt. whispers. “You must not show your knees to the locals – The people in this village, who have no access to it is very disrespectful.” electricity are happier, more grounded and more enlightened Ashamed, I quickly lower the length of my sarong, than most Sydneysiders I know. apologising for my ignorance. He returns to the front of the pack and directs us to the village chief’s bure, where we’ll be Finding my religion having lunch. En route, the guys from my tour make a beeline for me and with mock disappointment, branding me the After the church service we stand outside, greeting the “village whore”. congregation as they come through the doors. We form The chief’s bure – a hut, essentially – is the village’s town a line, shaking hands with each person, exchanging “bulas” hall. It’s the most impressive building there, made of bamboo and smiling from ear to ear. Some of the older ladies kiss us

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A traditional kava ceremony – complete with mobile technology and coconut tree materials. Entering, we are treated to more singing by the locals and a traditional kava ceremony. The Village People Kava is special to the Fijian people. Sure, it looks like ditch water and has a strangely medicinal, dentist’s mouthwash taste, but it’s a special, ceremonial drink with natural calming effects. It is used for all occasions, from welcoming important guests to celebrating a child’s birth. The village chief sits in front of us, wearing a threepiece suit and no shoes, but retains an aura that demands respect. Jerry, our guide, appoints a “chief” from our group who presents the village chief with a gift of Kava root. It’s very important to respect the village chief – if you show up emptyhanded you probably won’t be allowed to enter the building. It reinforces the story Jerry related earlier that morning on the bus. “Back in the cannibalistic days, a reverend from England was killed and eaten for insulting a village when he touched the hair of the chief,” he says. We look shocked, quietly wondering how much of the cannibalism is exaggerated for the benefit of campfire ghost stories. “If you don’t believe me you can go to the museum in Suva and see the boiled sole of a shoe. It’s all that remains.” We laugh dismissively but Jerry remains insistent, deadpan, continuing his grisly tale. “The villagers didn’t know what shoes were, they thought they were part of a white man’s body,” he says. “So when they killed this reverend they tried to eat his shoes too.” Sure enough, the legend appears to be true. A quick Google that evening of ‘cannibal’, ‘Fiji’ and ‘boiled shoe’ turns up the legend of Thomas Baker, the Methodist

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missionary who was eaten by Fijians in 1867. Thankfully, cannibalism has died out due to the acceptance of Christianity. But hey, there’s nothing like a tale of human flesh-eating to get you in the mood for lunch. Several bowls of kava later, we are presented with a smorgasbord of Fijian food. There’s an array of fruit, seafood, chicken and lots of taro on offer. Samuel tells us to get our cameras ready. “Please, take photos, it shows your respect,” he says. “And show your friends at home all the wonderful food the ladies have prepared.”

Tucking in, Fiji-style

NEXT WEEK

Mud, glorious mud They look so proud of their bounty of food, fanning it profusely to keep the flies away. After we sit on the floor to eat, we realise that no one else has helped themselves to food. Instead, the 30 or so villagers watch us with eager eyes as we dive into lunch. I cannot help but feel guilty as they smile, deriving such obvious pleasure from watching us eat. The root of evil Unaware of what it is when first picking it up, I end up with exceedingly too much taro on my plate. It’s a root vegetable that’s tasteless and dry but I devour every piece of it with a smile on my face, not wanting to disrespect anyone – not after the sarong incident. After the girl next to me can’t get through her plate of food and puts it aside, I decide to finish hers off too. More smiles from the locals come my way. This time, my knees are well and truly covered. Outside the chief’s bure, a woman gives me her address so I can send her the photos of the locals. She puts the piece of paper in my hand and wraps her hands around mine as I promise to fulfill her wish. “God bless you,” she says before I get back on the bus. That evening, we stay at the four-star Uprising Beach Resort with traditional Fijian bures that have all the modern, luxurious finishes. We gather around the pool, wearing very little clothing and taking photos of each other jumping into the pool that overlooks the Pacific Harbour. Jerry has had a few too many beers and has just discovered planking. Although he’s a little behind the times, he’s hundreds of years ahead of the villagers. Jerry has Facebook and keeps pestering us to add him so we can upload the shots. “There’s free Wifi here, do it now,” he begs. We order some more pineapple daiquiris and flick through our phones, enjoying the last light of the sun as it sets over the ocean.

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Nadi: We hit the surf before exploring the big smoke

Back in Australia it’s a few weeks before I manage to get the photos of the villagers printed and sent off to the Nausori Village. Unable to forget their warmth and hospitality, I hope the photos arrive but it soon dawns on me that I’ll never know either way. I suppose I’ll just have to have a little faith in the Fijian postal service. ❚ Alex Harmon travelled with Feejee Experience Hop-On-Hop-Off bus feejeeexperience.com

Basic but beautiful

A Fijian sampler: seafood, fruit and vegetables

Fiji Islands

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Good eating Naturally, Fiji is renowned for its abundance of fresh seafood, from boney reef fish to mud crabs and lobster. In the resorts you’ll find internationally acclaimed chefs cooking up world-class food. But what are some of the more traditional Fijian dishes?

Explore the real Fiji from 4 to 11 nights, visiting up to 6 stunning islands. Accommodation, meals and vessel transfers all included from $ 470 *

Lovo: The lovo involves a hole in the ground with fire wood, coconut husk as the heat source and rocks as the heat material. The meat or fish is wrapped in a weave of banana leaves and left to cook for two to three hours. It’s similar to the New Zealand hangi and it tastes like a barbecue, only it has a little more of a smokey flavour, due to the wood and coconut husk used to heat the lovo. You’ll generally be eating one of these at traditional ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals and other communal gatherings. Fijian Indian: Indian cuisine developed in Fiji because of the Indian slaves the British introduced to work on the sugar plantations. Thanks to the Indian influence, a lot of Fiji cuisine now uses spices such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, fenugreek, coriander and cumin. If you’re eating with a Fijian-Indian family you’ll most likely be eating curries made with a lot of seafood, coconut, taro and sweet potatoes. Kokoda: This dish is made from a large fish, usually tuna or wahoo, chopped into chunks, marinated overnight in lime juice and chillis and covered in coconut cream. It’s served cold, usually in a fleshed-out coconut. It tastes amazing. Rourou: You can’t go to Fiji without trying taro, a root vegetable that has been a staple of the Fijian diet for centuries. Rourou is a popular dish made by soaking taro leaves – kind of like spinach, so it’s good for you – in coconut milk and spices and served with rice, bananas or flat bread.

For info and db bookings boo ki see your ur travel centre or contact us info@awesomeﬁji.com SKYPE awesomeﬁji Freephone 1 800 007 129 * Daily departures for all packages and passes from Denarau Marina. Prices are ex Denarau, Fiji, in Australian dollars and valid for travel to 31 March 2013.

awesomefiji.com

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Just avoid this man

AVOID SAUSAGES AND FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS SCOTLAND

Japanese tourists visiting Scotland have be advised to avoid “weird” Lorne sausages and stay away from extreme football fans. The Insider’s Guide To Scotland, which is written in Japanese and published in Edinburgh, is designed to help visitors from the nation understand Scottish customs. While it tells people to stay away from Scottish sausages, the book holds Iron Bru, Mackie’s honeycomb ice-cream, ginger marmalade and Scottish whiskey, on which they should get “merrily drunk,” in high esteem. The book also advises travellers to steer clear of “men in green or blue football tops” and avoid council estates. Furthermore, the author clearly does not think much of the Scottish service industry, warning visitors that they cannot expect the same “quick, polite and accurate service” they would in Japan.

UNI SUES NERD FOR LOSS OF FEES GERMANY

While students are usually encouraged to excel, one German uni is suing a student for graduating too quickly. Marcel Pohl completed a total of 60 examinations during his 20 months at the Essen-based School of Economics and Management (FOM). He finished in around a quarter of the normal time. Now FOM is suing Mr Pohl US$3,772 (AU$3,676) for loss of income after he fast-tracked and completed his studies in August last year. “When I got the lawsuit, I thought it couldn’t be true,” Pohl told a local newspaper. “Performance is supposed to be worth something.”

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Redneck Day: Residents of Liberty, New York, a small town with a population of around 5,000, watch a 4th of July parade in which flag-bearing parade participants roll the streets in tractors. Only in America. Meanwhile, $10 for a handbag? That’s a bargain While studying, he also completed ted an apprenticeship in a bank. “We didn’t get any freebies, and d we agreed our plans in advance with the he school,” Pohl said. The university refused to comment on the case.

MAYOR IS ‘FRANK’’ ABOUT PUNS UNITED STATES

The mayor of New York City was left red-faced after he rattled off over a dozen hot dog g puns at a July 4 Hot Dog Eating Contest. Michael Bloomberg took a light-hearted dig at an adviser afterr the cringe-worthy speech, candidlyy

asking: “Who “Wh wrote this shit”? Mayor Bloomberg began with B a weak gag about New York being “top dog” for food. As audience groaned, he the au glanced at his pun-laden glan notes and warned no them that he was just th getting warmed up. g Speaking about tthe current male and ffemale champions, he aasked: “Will one of their dogged pursuers th nally ketchup, cut fin the mustard and be pronounced wiener? No prono question it is going to be questio a dog fight.”

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 5 She’s just doing a ‘Keira Knightley’

Percentage of female Facebook users who admit to posting unflattering photos of friends on purpose

GIRL REFUSES FAMILY IMPLANT TRADITION ENGLAND

A 14-year-old schoolgirl is refusing to conform with a family tradition – saying she has no interest in having a breast enhancement like her mother and four older sisters. Britney Marshall, from Notts, has perplexed her mother Chantal with her wish not to have her body altered. Her mother and four sisters boast a total of £50,000 (AU$76,000) worth of silicone breasts. Mrs Marshall said: “Britney is going through a funny phase at the moment. But I know my daughters, and I know Britney is no different from the rest.” She added: “I really love the fake look of my girls and I know that Britney will go that way when she’s a bit older. I love the idea of us all looking similar and glamorous.”

ICE CREAM SAVED IN HIT AND RUN

Photos: Getty Images

UNITED STATES

A melting tub of ice cream was no excuse for a woman who was involved in a hit-and-run crash. A male driver who was stopped in a turning lane of a highway was rearended by another vehicle, driven by Flora Burkhart, 58, who then sped off. When police followed Burkhart to her Arkansas home to ask why she left the scene without stopping, she responded, “I left the scene because I didn’t want my ice cream to melt.” Burkhart added that she “didn’t think there was enough damage to the vehicles to call police”. The police fined her for leaving the

Ranking the city of Sydney was given in a new ‘most liveable cities’ list. Hong Kong came in number one

135

Russians who participated in a mass bungy jump from a bridge, breaking the world record

Amount, in dollars, of the eBay starting price for a ‘slightly used’ school in Philadelphia. They’re even throwing in a pizza

But Darwin is known for getting legless scene of an accident and driving too closely to the victim’s vehicle. The police estimate that both cars suffered damage worth $500 (AU$487).

MUTANT CANE TOAD LEAPS INTO TOWN AUSTRALIA

A six-legged cane toad has hopped into the limelight in a small Northern Territory town. The unnamed mutant cane toad with four front limbs was found in the town of Batchelor, 42km south of Darwin. Toad-catcher Savvas Christodoulou noted that the beast’s additional limbs didn’t actually enhance its mobility. He said: “He was more clumsy than normal. I hope there’s no more.” While a local commented: “This toad could revolutionise the souvenir industry in Darwin. Think about it. You’d get 30 per cent more back-scratchers, bottle-openers and “up yours” key rings.”

600,000

QUOTE OF THE WEEK You can’t have dark brown hair when you’re in your sixties Sir Tom Jones, in an obvious dig at his peer Sir Paul McCartney, says he’s happy to be a silver fox

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OUTSIDE THE FLAGS COMMENT: ALEX HARMON alex@tntdownunder.com

Katie’s height was always Risky Business

Like Oprah’s sofa, the dirt will come out in the wash Theories abound about the truth behind Tom-Kat’s divorce

» Agree or disagree? What do you think is behind the Tom-Kat split? alex@tntdownunder.com

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Proving nepotism is well and truly alive, Brad Pitt’s brother now stars in a Virgin Mobile commercial. Doug Pitt, who looks a little like his famous brother, is having a go at cashing in on one of the world’s most valuable genetic connections. Doug, who describes himself as “the second-most famous Pitt”, appears in a new ad campaign for Virgin called ‘Fair Go Bro’ where he takes us into his home.

“

He’s just a poor man’s Brad Pitt

”

He washes his car, he designs his own birdhouse, he even wipes his feet on the doormat. You see, the ad sets out to prove that Virgin Mobile believes in a fair go for everyone. That’s why they’ve given Doug a taste of the high life in the form of a celebrity endorsement. I’m sure there are some women who wouldn’t kick him out of bed for not wiping his feet, but to me he’s just a poor man’s Brad. And that’s not fair at all.

Photos: Getty Images

It was the fairy-tale marriage that warmed hearts across the world. He was the heart-throb she wanted to marry ever since adorning her walls with Top Gun posters. And she was worth jumping up and down on Oprah’s upholstery. Five years of marriage and one robot child later, what went wrong? Well, it seems the finger has been pointed at the Church Of Scientology. Just listen to News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch, who described the church as a “weird cult”, the diciest thing he’s said since he told the phone-tapping inquiry that the wool had been pulled over his eyes. Although the geezer isn’t fit enough to run a major company, he’s one hell of a tweeter. He also called members of the church “creepy, maybe even evil”. Indeed, the catalyst in Holmes’ decision to split seems to be her fear that the church was planning to induct Suri into Sea Org. Although Sea Org sounds like a budget marine biology school, pictures emerged last week showing that it’s anything but a happy place. It’s a heavily guarded compound protected by razor-tipped wire fences, motion sensors and bunkers. And we all thought Michael Jackson’s digs were weird. Sure, it seems like a plausible theory that Katie would want Suri to be running for the Hollywood hills as fast as her little heels could take her. But there are plenty more theories. There’s the one about Katie’s height ruining any good sham marriage photo op. Or even that five years of marriage was all Katie was officially signed up for. Seems plausible. But the best theory is that Katie was desperate to do the Dawson’s Creek reunion show, which Tom vehemently put the brakes on. What a monster. Although Murdoch might be right about the weird cult, the lure of reigniting the Dawson-Pacey love triangle would be enough to make any former teen actor jump on a couch, even if it is purely to climb out of a window – that’s a Dawson’s reference, for those born post-1990.

NEW AD CAMPAIGN IS JUST THE PITS

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Oscar Pistorius

PISTORIUS READY TO COMPETE IN LONDON ATHLETICS

South African double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius had cause for joy after being told he could run in the 400 metres and the 4x400m relay at the Olympic Games in London. Confirmation that he would become the first amputee to compete at the Games came with his inclusion in the relay team, and a few hours later the national Olympic committee did a U-turn and agreed to him also running in the individual event. His selections came five days after conceding defeat in a battle to run in the 400m as he finished 0.22 outside the qualifying mark. “Today is really one of the happiest days of my life. I will be in London for both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games,” Pistorius tweeted.

Does this count as sport?: Joey Chestnut competes in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. He tied his own record by sucking down 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Give that a shake at your next barbecue

FIFA FINALLY ADOPTS NEW TECHNOLOGY

ARMSTRONG CLAIMS DOPING ‘VENDETTA’

Football’s world governing body FIFA has agreed to allow the introduction of goal-line technology (GLT) at a meeting of the sport’s executives. The technology will be used at the Club World Cup in Tokyo in December, the Confederation Cup in 2013 and also the World Cup in 2014. The decision by the International Football Association Board followed a vote at the Zurich headquarters of FIFA, the international association of football federations. It means footballing authorites around the world can introduce the technology into their competitions, using either the Hawk-Eye or GoalRef systems that have been undergoing tests.

Lance Armstrong has again hit out against his anti-doping charges after a report that five former teammates testified had against him. One of the Americans said to have given evidence is George Hincapie, the only rider to support Armstrong through all his record seven Tour de France wins. “Come in and tell @usantidoping exactly what they wanted to hear in exchange for immunity, anonymity, and the opportunity to continue to race the biggest event in cycling,” Armstrong tweeted. “This isn’t about @usantidoping wanting to clean up cycling – rather it’s just plain ol’ selective prosecution that reeks of vendetta.”

FOOTBALL

CYCLING

BIG WEEK FOR ... Cathy Freeman fulfilled Australia’s golden hopes at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and British heptathlete Jessica Ennis will be aiming to do the same in London. She missed Beijing so, this time around, the stakes are even higher. And, this weekend, she will be competing at the Diamond League meeting in the same city – a strong performance will send expectation into overdrive but a wobble will have the hosts wringing their little hands.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK It has become very clear to me that in many aspects we disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward Arsenal striker Robin van Persie sounds like he’s played his last game for them. How much will the Gunners get?

No love lost between Queensland and NSW

PREVIEW An Australian derby to end the season The embers from another year’s State of Origin are still glowing but here we go with another NSW v Queensland clash, this time in the Super 15, right at the end of the season, when there is still plenty of jostling for the last spots in the playoffs. It’s been a pretty disappointing year for Australian rugby – for most of the season, the ACT Bumbies have been the best-performed of the local sides, while the Reds, the reigning champions, have struggled for consistency. Still, it’s all going to down to the wire, the Reds still in the hunt should they get over the line against the Tahs, who have had another mediocre

We’re really trying to see who the next batsmen are. They’re the best we’ve got

year. Even if you’re not an Aussie, you have to take sides. That’s just how it works. Elsewhere, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs go at it for the final bragging rights in the Kiwi conference. The Chiefs, long regarded as slightly flakey, have been the benchmark for much of the season. But it remains to be seen whether can keep it together and keep the heavyweights, like the Crusaders, the Stormers and the Bulls at arm’s length when the ante goes up.

Australian cricket’s chief selector John Inverarity doesn’t pretend to have any answers to the country’s batting dearth

HURRICANES V CHIEFS

Australian basketballer Andrew Bogut has a whinge about other sportsmen buying followers on Twitter. Are you outraged?

FRIDAY 5.30PM, FOX SPORTS 3

REDS V WARATAHS

SATURDAY 7.30PM, FOX SPORTS 3

THE CHAT | Villas-Boas joins Spurs

A company has reached out to me and said, ‘Would you be interested in buying followers?’

TV HIGHLIGHTS CYCLING

Photos: Getty Images

Tour de France an unhappy exit from Chelsea, Andre Q After Villas-Boas has taken over at Chelsea. Will it end in tears? many ways, Spurs are in good shape – they have A Ina talented roster and were unlucky to be denied a Champions League berth thanks to Chelsea’s unlikely triumph. So it’s a good gig for Villas-Boas who, given he’s only 34, probably bit off more than he could chew at Stamford Bridge. Still, it’s a high-risk appointment for Spurs, who have a history of getting excited about various ‘saviours’ only for it to go pear-shaped. If Spurs have a slow start to the season, the fans will be pining for the now-departed Harry Redknapp.

More long nights with the peloton Every night 10pm, SBS1

CRICKET England v Australia The fifth and final ODI Tuesday 10.30pm, Fox Sports 1

AUSTRALIAN RULES Geelong v Collingwood Andre Villas-Boas

A replay of last year’s grand final Saturday 7.30pm, Fox Sports 3

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

TOUR FIRMS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com

Ocean Rafting Whitsundays tours 07 4946 6848, oceanrafting.com

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

Oz Experience Hop on-hop off Australia-wide tours 1300 300 028, ozexperience.com Surfcamp Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 888 732, surfcamp.com.au The Rock Tour Red centre tours 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RENTAL FIRMS Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com Backpacker Campervan Rentals 1800 767 010, backpackercampervans.com.au Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangcars.com.au Explore More Rentals 1800 708 309, exploremore.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 Spaceships 1300 132 469, spaceshipsrentals.com.au

@tnt_downunder Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickercampers.com

TRANSPORT CO Greyhound Australia Buses around Australia. 13 20 30, greyhound.com.au Jetstar Airline. 131 538, jetstar.com.au Premier Transport Group Buses along the east coast. 13 34 10, premierms.com.au Qantas Airline. 13 13 13, qantas.com.au Regional Express Airline. 13 17 13, rex.com.au Spirit of Tasmania Ferries to Tasmania. 03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com Tiger Airways Airline. 03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com

Standbycars.com 1300 789 059, standbycars.com

Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania. 03 6336 1446, redlinecoaches.com.au

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

Virgin Australia Airline. 13 67 89, virginaustralia.com

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Don’t be too quick to dismiss Aussie capital Canberra. Admittedly it’s not the most exciting of cities, but as the epicentre of the federal state, the ACT is the hub for much of Australia’s most important art, culture and, of course, politics. Plus many of the top sites are free. Pick of the bunch are Parliament House (pictured), as well as Old Parliament House, with the Aboriginal Tent Embassy outside, while not to be missed are the fantastic Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia, home to Sidney Nolan’s iconic Ned Kelly paintings.

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Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 013 186 nomadshostels.com Boomerang Backpackers 141 William Street, Kings Cross. 02 8354 0488, boomerangbackpackers.com Dlux Hostel 30 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross. 1800 236 213 dluxbudgethotel.com.au Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills. 02 9261 1111

WHEATUS The HiFi. Sept 21. $39.50 The teenage dirtbags are arriving down under, with a new line up and a new lease on life 15 years after that catchy tune.

Moore Park, Sydney

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

moshtix.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

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 Lochner’s Guesthouse 8 Gowrae Ave. Bondi. 02 9387 2162, Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee. 04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.com.au

MAROON 5 Sydney Entertainment Centre. Oct 13. $98.65 Maroon 5 have given us the moves like Jagger and now they want to show Australia what else they have been up to in the last few years.

Darling Harbour, Sydney 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

Assaulted by bouncers, hotel staff or drunken patrons.

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

Compensation for recreational activities gone wrong.

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

“ N O W I N - N O PAY ” All driving, criminal, violence and alcohol related offences.

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

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

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Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour. sydneyaquarium.com.au Sydney Wildlife World Darling Harbour. sydneywildlifeworld.com.au Taronga Zoo Mosman. zoo.nsw.gov.au Waves Surf School wavessurfschool.com.au

SYDNEY MUSIC Hordern Pavillion playbillvenues.com Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com The Annandale annandalehotel.com

Cammeray Gardens 66 Palmer St, North Sydney. 02 9954 9371 sydneyboardinghouse.com

The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au

Wake Up! 509 Pitt St, CBD. 02 9288 7888, wakeup.com.au

The Metro metrotheatre.com.au

SYDNEY DO Manly Surf School Manly Beach. 02 9977 6977, manlysurfschool.com Maritime Museum Darling Harbour. anmm.gov.au

sydney city solicitors

ticketek.com.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

The Gaelic Hotel thegaelic.com

BLUE MTNS Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba. 02 4782 1416, yha.com.au

CENTRAL COAST Newcastle Beach YHA 30 Pacific St, Newcastle. 02 4925 3544, yha.com.au Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal. 02 4384 1919, yha.com.au

BYRON BAY

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

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

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

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

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BRISBANE STAY Aussie Way Backpackers 34 Cricket St. 07 3369 0711, aussiewaybackpackers.com Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace. 07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452, brisbanebackpackers.com.au Brisbane City Backpackers 380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com Bunk Backpackers Cnr Ann & Gipps Sts, 1800 682 865, bunkbrisbane.com.au The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm. 04 3377 7061 Tinbilly Travellers Cnr George and Herschel Sts. 1800 446 646, tinbilly.com

BRISBANE DO Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah. 07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au Gallery of Modern Art 07 3840 7303, qag.qld.gov.au Riverlife Adventure Centre Kayaking & rock climbing. Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point. 07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au Story Bridge Adventure Climb 170 Main St, Kangaroo Point. 1300 254 627, storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au XXXX Ale House Brewery tours. Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton. 07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au

GOLD COAST Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen St, Surfers Paradise. 1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise. 1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au Coolangatta Kirra Beach YHA Pl, 230 Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga. 07 5536 76442, yha.com.au

Coolangatta Sands Hostel Cnr Griffiths & McLean Sts, Coolangatta. 07 5536 7472, coolangattasandshostel.com.au Gold Coast International BP 28 Hamilton Ave, Surfers. 1800 816 300, goldcoastbackpackers.com.au Islander Backpackers Resort 6 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise. 1800 074 393, islander.com.au Sleeping Inn Surfers 26 Peninsular Dr, Surfers Paradise. 1800 817 832, sleepinginn.com.au Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort 2837 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers. 1800 282 800, surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au Surfers Paradise YHA Mariners Cove, 70 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise. 07 5571 1776, yha.com.au Trekkers Backpackers 22 White St, Southport. 1800 100 004, trekkersbackpackers.com.au

GC DO Dreamworld Theme park. dreamworld.com.au Get Wet Surf School 07 5532 9907 Seaworld seaworld.com.au

181 Torquay Rd 07 4124 0677

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

woolshedbackpackers.com

Warener Bros Movie World movieworld.com.au

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

Zorb 07 5547 6300

Nomads Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade. 1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com

SUNSHINE CST Mooloolaba Backpackers 75-77 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba. 1800 020 120 mooloolababackpackers.com

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

Nomads Noosa 44 Noosa Dr, Noosa Heads. 1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com

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

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

RAINBOW BEACH Dingos Backpacker Adventure Resort 20 Spectrum St. 1800 111 126, dingosresort.com

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

BUNDABERG

Pippies Beach House 22 Spectrum St. 1800 425 356, pippiesbeachhouse.com

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

Skydive Rainbow Beach 0418 218 358, skydiverainbowbeach.com

Northside Backpackers 12 Queen St. 07 4154 1166

HERVEY BAY Aussie Woolshed

Bundaberg Bondstore Distillery tours. 07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au

WATCH

MORETON BAY Each year, Australia’s entire whale population embarks on its annual pilgrimage to and from the Antarctic, and they don’t mind an audience. July to November is whale-watching time, and you don’t have to go further north than Brisbane to catch these gentle giants breach, slap their tails and play around. Seeing whales up close and personal gives you a feeling of wellbeing and a sense of awe. Buses and trains run from Brisbane. Moreton Bay is only a 30-minute drive east of the CBD. Just follow the signs.

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QLDLISTINGS

TOWN OF 1770

BOOK NOW

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

Hotel Arcadia 7 Marine Pde, Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177 magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com

MISSION BEACH

AIRLIE BEACH airliebeach.com 259 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 677 119 Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 247 251, yha.com.au Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com Base Airlie Beach Resort 336 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Magnums Whitsunday Village Resort 366 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 624 634 magnums.com.au

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

CIRQUE DU SOLEI - OVO

Eagle Farm, Brisbane bowenbackpackers.net

TOWNSVILLE Adventurers Resort 79 Palmer St. 1800 211 522, adventurersresort.com Adrenalin Dive Yongala diving. 07 4724 0600, adrenalindive.com.au

MAGNETIC ISL Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 1800 24 22 73, stayatbase.com

&RUIT AND 6EGETABLE PICKING JOBS AVAILABLE s 4RANSPORT TO FROM WORK s &2%% COURTESY BUS PICK UP s ,AUNDRY FACILITIES s )NTERNET FACILITIES s 0LEASANT AND FRIENDLY STAFF s "ISTRO AVAILABLE AT "ANJO S TAVERN NEXT DOOR

6!2)%49 /& 7/2+ !6!),!",% 9%!2 2/5.$ "REEZY 4ROPICAL VERANDAHS CLEAN FRIENDLY #LOSE TO SHOPS BANKS OLYMPIC POOL

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

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

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CAIRNS DO

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

Pro Dive 07 4031 5255, prodivecairns.com

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

Yongala Dive Yongala diving. 07 4783 1519, yongaladive.com.au

Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St. 1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com

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

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

tickets.cirquedusoleil.com

Harbour 141 Sheridan St. 1800 807 055, njoy.net.au

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

CAIRNS STAY

Grand Chapiteau, MacArthur Rd. July 14 - Sep 2. From $94 Ovo is a magical ride into the colourful world of insects - full of love, energy and amazing, awe-inspiring aerial performances.

7/2+%23 7!.4%$

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

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Raging Thunder Adventures Whitewater rafting. 07 4030 7990, ragingthunder.com.au Skydive Cairns 07 4052 1822, skydivecairns.com.au

CAPE TRIB

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

Crocodylus Village Lot 5, Buchanan Creek Rd, Cow Bay. 07 4098 9166, crocodyluscapetrib.com

JJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backpackers Hostel 11 Charles St. 07 4051 7642, jjsbackpackers.com

PKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jungle Village Cnr Avalon & Cape Trib Rd. 1800 232 333,

Y PLACE TO BE! THE ONL

Backpacker Resort

Innisfail North Queensland 50 fruit pickers wanted NOW! Guys & girls s #ABLE TELEVISION GAMES ROOM SPORTING OVAL s !LL 4RANSPORT PROVIDED 30%#)!,)3).' ). !33)34).' 7)4( 3%#/.$ 9%!2 6)3! 7/2+

Phone: 07 4061 2284

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

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gold Coast

Famous for fun

AdventureGoldCoast.com

facebook.com/AdventureGoldCoast twitter.com/AdventureGoldCoast

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MELBOURNE STAY

BOOK NOW

All Nations Backpackers Hotel & Bar 2 Spencer St. 1800 222 238, allnations.com.au Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond. 03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net

JACK WHITE

The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane. 1800 249 207, greenhousebackpacker.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

Festival Hall. July 25. $83.70 + booking fee Jack’s hotly anticipated solo tour will showcase his already successful album, Blunderbuss – his biggest endeavour since The Stripes.

Dudley St, Melbourne

ticketmaster.com.au

Hotel Bakpak Melbourne 167 Franklin St. 1800 645 200, hotelbakpak.com Melbourne Central YHA 562 Flinders St. 03 9621 2523, yha.com.au

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

The Tote thetotehotel.com

Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228, oldmelbournegaol.com.au Official Neighbours Tours 570 Flinders St. 03 9629 5866, neighbourstour.com.au

Space Hotel 380 Russell St. 1800 670 611, spacehotel.com.au The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, hotelspencer.com

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

MELBOURNE DO

Northcote Social Club northcotesocialclub.com Palace Theatre palace.com.au

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

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

Esplanade Hotel espy.com.au

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

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

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

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

Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square. 03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au

MELB MUSIC Cherry Bar myspace.com/cherrybarmelbourne Corner Hotel cornerhotel.com East Brunswick Club eastbrunswickclub.com

The Hi-Fi thehifi.com.au

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

Stay. Play. Melbourne.

$20

Accommodation from $20 a night (subject to availability)

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

UC103

Unique value tour packages

Book Now 1800

631 288 urbancentral.com.au

334 CITY ROAD SOUTHBANK MELBOURNE VIC 3006 AUSTRALIA

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VICLISTINGS DON’T MISS

follow us on 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

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Aug 14. From $195 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Future is a visionary live event exploring the life of actor Michael J.Fox.

South Wharf, Melbourne

MELBOURNE STAY

MELBOURNE DO

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

Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square. 03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au

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

Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton. 13 11 02 melbourne.museum.vic.gov.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 Hotel Bakpak Melbourne 167 Franklin St. 1800 645 200, hotelbakpak.com Melbourne Central YHA 562 Flinders St. 03 9621 2523, yha.com.au

ticketmaster.com.au

MORNINGTON Bayplay Lodge 46 Canterbury Jetty Rd, Blairgowrie. 03 5988 0188, bayplay.com.au Sorrento Foreshore Reserve Nepean Hwy. 1800 850 600, mornpen.vic.gov.au Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St,

Sorrento. 03 5984 4323, yha.com.au Tortoise Head Lodge French Island. 03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

DANDENONG Emerald Backpackers 03 5968 4086

MURRAY RIVER Echuca Gardens YHA 103 Av, Mitchell St, Echuca. 03 5480 6522, yha.com.au Mildura City Backpackers 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura. 03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura. 04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au

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

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

GO FOR GOLD

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

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

Palace Theatre palace.com.au

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

The Tote thetotehotel.com

BALLARAT

GREAT OCEAN RD

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

Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea. 03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au

Ballarat gets its fame from being a boom town of the Aussie gold rush during the 1850s. Because of its past success as an area where you could easily find gold, there’s still the opportunity here to pan for a nugget or two. The best place to do so is at the open-air period museum Sovereign Hill. The attraction is located at the site of where the second-largest gold nugget in the world was found, weighing 69kg. You never know your luck! You’ll find it about a 90-minute drive north-west of Melbourne, or eight hours south-east of Adelaide.

The Hi-Fi thehifi.com.au

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

KATHERINE STAY

DON’T MISS

BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road. 1800 501 984, big4.com.au

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

KATHERINE DO

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

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

DARWIN DO Crocosaurus Cove Crocodile park and cage of death. 58 Mitchell St. 08 8981 7522, crocosauruscove.com Deckchair Cinema Jervois Rd, Darwin Waterfront. 08 8981 0700, deckchaircinema.com.au

ALICE DO Alice Springs Desert Park Larapinta Drive. 08 8951 8788, alicespringsdesertpark.com.au

Airborne Solutions Scenic helicopter flights. 08 8972 2345 airbornesolutions.com.au

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

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

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

Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers Giles St. 1800 626 722

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

Alice Springs Reptile Centre Meet and hold lizards. 9 Stuart Terrace. 08 8952 8900, reptilecentre.com.au

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

CAMEL CUP Blatherskite Park, Alice Springs. July 14. $17 One of Australia’s most unique events has come around again. Watch the humped contestants hoof their way around the track and more.

Alice Springs

camelcup.com.au

Fannie Bay Gaol Heritage prison. East Point Road, Fannie Bay. 08 8941 2260, nt.gov.au Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 19 Conacher St, Bullocky Point. 08 8999 8264, magnt.nt.gov.au

Oz Jet Boating Stokes Hill Wharf. 1300 135 595, ozjetboating.com.au Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise Adelaide River. 08 8978 9077, jumpingcrocodile.com.au Wave Lagoon Waterfront Precinct. waterfront.nt.gov.au

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

Outback Ballooning Hot air balloon rides. 1800 809 790, outbackballooning.com.au Royal Flying Doctor Service Base Museum and operations room. Stuart Terrace. 08 8952 1129, flyingdoctor.net

ALICE SPRINGS Alice Lodge 4 Mueller St. 08 8953 1975, alicelodge.com.au Alice Springs YHA Cnr Parsons St & Leichhardt Tce. 08 8952 8855, yha.com.au Annie’s Place 4 Traeger Ave. 1800 359 089, anniesplace.com.au

Haven Resort 3 Larapinta Drive. 1800 794 663, alicehaven.com.au

School of the Air Long-distance schooling museum. 80 Head St. 08 8951 6834, assoa.nt.edu.au The Rock Tour Uluru tours. 78 Todd St. 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au

WORD FROM THE STREET

Vanessa Kaubisch, Germany WHERE ARE YOU STAYING IN THE NT? Melaleuca on Mitchell in Darwin FAVOURITE DAY SPOT IN THE NT? Kakadu because there is heaps to see, great wildlife on the way and I had an awesome time with my tour group AND NIGHT SPOT? Mindil Beach Markets – great atmosphere and the sunsets are just unbelievable (I slept on the beach – not alone)

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TASLISTINGS HOBART STAY

LAUNCESTON DO

BOOK NOW

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

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 BILL BAILEY - QUALMPEDDLER Albert Hall Convention Centre. Sep 15. $89.90 King of the musical mash-up comedy, Bill Bailey is heading down under for the eighth time peddling his surreal ideas about the modern world.

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

Tamar St, Launceston

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

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

Hobart Hostel 41 Barrack St. 1300 252 192, hobarthostel.com

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

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

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

DIVING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WORD FROM THE STREET

Sarah Jenkins, England

Photo: Tourism Tasmania

KING ISLAND

Escape the mainland crowds and explore some of Australia’s quietest, cheapest and most rewarding dive sites. The Tassie waters maybe chillier, but that just means there’s different stuff to see, like towering kelp forests, sea dragons and plenty of seals. Great diving spots litter Tassie’s east coast, Flinders Island and Rocky Cape in the north. But to really get off the beaten track then head to former sealer station King Island, bang in the middle of Bass Strait. Over 60 shipwrecks fill the surrounding waters. Get there by flying from Melbourne or a number of Tassie towns.

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WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN TASSIE? I spent 12 days driving around the whole of Tasmania FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Spending the afternoon in Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet National Park FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? It’s got to be the waterfront restaurants in Hobart MOST MEMORABLE EXPEREINCE? Trekking around Cradle Mountain National Park

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ADELAIDE STAY

DON’T MISS

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

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

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

KANGAROO IS

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

ADELAIDE DO Adelaide Oval Home to the Donald Bradman collection. War Memorial Drive. 08 8300 3800 cricketsa.com.au

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

XAVIER RUDD Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide. September 22. $60.20 + bf Australia’s most eclectic musician is celebrating the release of seventh album Spirit Bird with an Aussie tour full of crazy instruments.

Torrensville, Adelaide

Adelaide Zoo Frome Rd. 08 8267 3255, zoossa.com.au Haigh’s Chocolates Factory tours. 153 Greenhill Rd, Parkside 1800 819 757, haighschocolates.com.au Temptation Sailing Dolphin swimming, Glenelg. 04 1281 1838 dolphinboat.com.au

venuetix.com.au

BAROSSA VAL Barossa Backpackers 9 Basedow Road Tanunda. 08 8563 0198, barossabackpackers.com.au

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

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

EYRE PENINSULA Coodlie Park Farmstay Flinders Highway, Port Kenny. 08 8687 0411 coodliepark.com

Kangaroo Island YHA 33 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw. 08 8553 1344 yha.com.au

Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience Sea lion and dolphin swims. 08 8626 5017 bairdbay.com

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

Calypso Star Charters Great white shark cage diving. 08 8682 3939, sharkcagediving.com.au

RIVERLAND Berri Backpackers Sturt Highway, Berri. 08 8582 3144, berribackpackers.com.au Harvest Trail Lodge Loxton. 08 8584 5646, harvesttrail.com.au Nomads on Murray Sturt Highway, Kingston on Murray. 1800 665 166, nomadsworld.com Riverland Backpackers Labour Hire Services 08 8583 0211

FLEURIEU PENIN

Nullarbor Traveller Tours across to Perth. 1800 816 858 the-traveller.com.au Port Lincoln Tourist Park 11 Hindmarsh St. 08 8621 4444, portlincolntouristpark.com.au Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Great white shark cage diving. 08 8363 1788 rodneyfox.com.au

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

ANCIENT

Smug European travellers often complain that there’s nothing old in Australia. Well, these mountains have been around for about 540 million years, which it’s fair to say is quite a while. Characterised by their glowing red peaks, the ranges stretch for over 430km. Their undisputed posterboy is the dramatic natural basin of Wilpena Pound (pictured), without a doubt one of South Australia’s highlights. Enjoy some spectacular views while hiking, hot air ballooning, tearing around in a 4WD or simply chilling out on the Pichi Richi scenic railway. Buses and tours leave from Port Augusta, north of Adelaide.

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Photo: Tourism Australia

FLINDERS RANGES

WALISTINGS

@tnt_downunder

One World Backpackers 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. 1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au Perth City YHA 300 Wellington St. 08 9287 3333, yha.com.au The Old Swan Barracks 6 Francis St. 08 9428 0000, theoldswanbarracks.com Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St, Northbridge. 08 9228 3755, undergroundbackpackers.com.au

DON’T MISS

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

BAND OF SKULLS The Bakery Artrage Centre. July 23. From $52.50 This UK trio exploded onto the festival circuit with the debut Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, this is the first taste of the new stuff.

James St, Northbridge

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

nowbaking.com.au 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

PERTH DO Aquarium of Western Australia 91 Southside Drive, Hillarys. 08 9447 7500, aqwa.com.au Kings Park & Botanic Garden bgpa.wa.gov.au

DON’T MISS PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS: LIVE IN 3D Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. July 27. $39.90 Come and see the dick trickers as you’ve never seen them before, in full frontal 3D. New tricks and revamped favourites await.

Blair St, Bunbury

bunburyentertainment.com

Amplifier amplifiercapitol.com.au

Perth Mint 310 Hay St. 08 9421 7223, perthmint.com.au

Astor liveattheastor.com.au

Perth Zoo 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth. 08 9474 3551, perthzoo.wa.gov.au

The Bakery nowbaking.com.au

PERTH MUSIC

WORD FROM THE STREET

Mojo’s Bar mojosbar.com.au

The Rosemount Hotel rosemounthotel.com.au

FREO STAY Backpackers Inn Freo 11 Pakenham St. 08 9431 7065, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

Ningaloo Club Coral Bay 08 9948 5100, ningalooclub.com

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

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NINGALOO REEF

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

Fremantle Prison 1 The Terrace. 08 9336 9200, backpackersinnfreo.com.au

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

Old Firestation Backpackers 18 Phillimore St. 08 9430 5454, fremantleprison.com.au

Fremantle Markets 08 9335 2515, fremantlemarkets.com.au

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN WA? I stayed in Perth which is a really beautiful city (not as beautiful as Sydney of course) and we travelled from Perth to Exmouth, went to Pinnacles the first night, the second night we slept in Hamilton bay (Shark bay), the following day we arrived in Monkey Mia which was one of my dreams FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Swimming with the whale sharks in Exmouth FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? It would have to be Coral bay, even though it’s difficult to choose one, because everything is so beautiful in WA! We spent the night wandering around the beach, listening to music while watching the stars

Metro Inn Albany 270 Albany Hwy. 1800 004 321, metrohotels.com.au

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

FREO DO

Guillaume Ripoll, France

122 Middleton Rd. 08 9842 9599, cruizeinn.com

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 Cruize-Inn

Excape Backpackers YHA Murat Rd, Exmouth. 08 9949 1200, yha.com.au

BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road. 1800 655 011, cablebeachbackpackers.com Kimberley Club 62 Fredrick St 08 9192 3233, kimberleyklub.com

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 Rottnest Express 1300 Go Rotto rottnestexpress.com.au

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KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK If you’re fond of a spot of bushwalking, but don’t want to rule out a quick escape to the beach, then Kalbarri is the place for you. This rugged coastal park covers a massive 1,000 sq km and is packed with both wildlife and wild flowers. It’s centred around a dramatic gorge through which the Murchison River winds, presenting plenty of opportunities for spectacular lookouts, such as Nature’s Window (pictured). There’s even the chance to feed some pelicans. Just make sure you avoid the school holidays. You’ll find it about 600km north of Perth.

Aspen Parks Begin your re today... Darwin

u t n e v d A n e Asp

Qld

Brisbane

Sa Perth

Nsw Sydney

Adelaide

Vic Melbourne Hobart

1355

Visit our website for great accommodation specials and online bookings

Holiday Parks with a difference Australia Wide Western Australia Woodman Point Holiday Park Coogee Beach Holiday Park Perth Vineyards Holiday Park Exmouth Cape Holiday Park Blue Reef Backpackers Pilbara Holiday Park Cooke Point Holiday Park

1800 244 133 1800 817 016 1800 679 992 1800 621 101 1800 621 101 1800 451 855 1800 459 999

South Australia Port Augusta BIG4 Holiday Park 1800 833 444 Myall Grove Holiday Park 1800 356 103 Victoria Boathaven Holiday Park Geelong Riverview Tourist Park Golden River Holiday Park Yarraby Holiday Park Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village

1800 352 982 1800 336 225 1800 621 262 1800 222 052 1800 061 444

New South Wales A Shady River Holiday Park Maiden’s Inn Holiday Park Magic Murray Houseboats Murray River Holiday Park Wymah Valley Holiday Park Twofold Bay Beach Resort Wallamba River Holiday Park

1800 674 239 1800 356 801 1800 356 483 1800 357 215 1800 776 523 1800 631 006 1800 268 176

Queensland Island Gateway Holiday Park

1800 466 528

aspenparks.com.au TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

NZLISTINGS BUS TOURS

Rent-A-Dent 0800 736 823, rentadent.co.nz

Kiwi Experience +64 9366 9830 kiwiexperience.com Magic Travellers Network +64 9358 5600, magicbus.co.nz

Rental Car Village +64 9376 9935, hire-vehicles.co.nz Spaceships 1300 139 091, spaceships.tv

Nakedbus.com 0900 62533, nakedbus.com

Standby Cars 1300 789 059, standbycars.com.au

NZ Travelpass 0800 339 966, travelpass.co.nz

Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickedcampers.com

Stray +64 9309 8772, straytravel.com

AUCKLAND

RENTAL FIRMS

Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere. +64 9275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz

Ace Rental Cars 1800 140 026, acerentalcars.com.nz Backpacker Campervan & Car Rentals +800 200 80 801, backpackercampervans.com

Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584,

Bargain Rental Cars 0800 001 122, bargainrentals.com.nz

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

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

Bamber House (BBH) 2 2 View Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9623 4267, hostelbackpacker.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

Less clicking and more member savings on the new, faster yha.co.nz.

Backpacking just got easy as.

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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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QUEENSTOWN 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

WHEN YOU

JOIN YHA

yha.co.nz

Get paid to holiday! Djihed`Zc! hdX^Vaan VlVgZ ^cY^k^YjVah cZZYZY# :c\V\Z i]Z ejWa^X ^c bZVc^c\[ja Y^Vad\jZ VcY gV^hZ [jcY^c\ [dg gZVaan Xdda 6jhigVa^Vc X]Vg^i^Zh#

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Western Australia’s Challenger Institute of Technology offers a selection of hospitality short courses that will get you qualified and working in no time at all! These industry-relevant courses are run by highly qualified lecturers in a hands-on training environment. No need to give up long days at the beach. Challenger short courses are run on weekends or weeknights for minimum disruption to your itinerary.

CTA1612_Jan

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Make the most of your Aussie travel experience.

Challenger Institute of Technology located in Western Australia is the preferred choice for more than 25,000 students studying a diverse range of careers, courses and subjects.

INTERESTED? Visit www.challenger.wa.edu.au or email stephne.ceicys@challenger.wa.edu.au

Looking for

work? tntdownunder.com/jobs

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

OZWORK

@tnt_downunder

Dive into tourism If you’re in Oz because you love the ocean, the weather and have a passion for travel, why not combine these and get a job in diving? these hidden costs on top. A good idea would be to call the Dive Center beforehand and ask about the course. Can you get employed as an Dive Professional easily? Like in every job, if you are hard working and you love what you are doing then you will find a job easily. If you’re there at the right time and show a good attitude you will find jobs all over the world. Memorable moments at your new job? Memorable people and moments almost every day. Because you are interacting with so many different cultures and different parts of the ocean you meet friends for life – in and out of the ocean. And are there any bad points? I have to teach people from TNT! But seriously, often the job is hard work and physically enduring. But introducing new divers to the submerged world and seeing them breathe underwater for the first time is very rewarding.

Michael Haselbacher, from Germany: divemaster with Pro Dive How did you get your job as a dive instructor? I started working on dive boats up in Cairns and realised that diving for a living is an experience that you shouldn’t miss out on. So I applied for a job in an area where diving never gets boring and after a few days getting to know the Pro Dive way of teaching I wanted to stay here in Sydney. And what does the job involve? Working in the diving industry offers a great range of job varieties, but you would generally work either in a dive center and/or on a dive boat and either job is very customer orientated. I work for Pro Dive Coogee and my job there involves work in retail, bookings, teaching and of course, giving the customer the best time possible. What costs are involved in becoming qualified? Your first course will be the “Open Water Scuba Diver” which is the learn to dive course in which you learn the basics of breathing beneath the ocean. Depending on the company you will get “all inclusive prices” where you don’t have to pay for certification, transport, gear or pool hire, but there are other companies that charge a very low price and put all 64

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

How’s the pay? Depends on where you work. In general the more qualified you are as a diver and the more experience you have, the better you will get paid. In the end, our hobby is our job and our office is the ocean. You won’t make millions, but we love what we are doing. What courses did you take to become qualified? You have to do all the courses from Open Water to Divemaster to be able to work as a diver and then further to Open Water Scuba Instructor if you want to teach people. Is there potential for sponsorship? Yes, but it’s not very easy. If you can show that you have skills that are essential for the company (language skills, ability to fix or drive boats), it will be easier. Is there potential for travel in the job? The job is basically your way of seeing the world. Divers are people who want to explore, and so most of us travel the world, work in different places, and when the “wanderlust” takes you, you can always find work in other exciting locations and exotic places and meet new awesome people.

To find out more about becoming a divemaster or to simply get qualified as a diver, head to prodive.com.au

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

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

Paramour of Collins Street

SETTING A WORLD-CLASS STANDARD IN AUSTRALIA. Melbourne’s most exclusive escorts, models, dinner dates and travelling companions. Paramour is a Melbourne’s leading Escort Agency with over 40 beautiful women. Paramour provides the most outstanding outcall adult entertainment in Melbourne. Since the 1980s, we have been providing high class escorts in all Melbourne suburbs. Paramour is the only escort service agency located in the city area of Melbourne. Paramour girls are very highly paid, beautiful women for international executives. Our ladies are the elite of Australia and are treated as princesses. Our girls come from many different countries and speak many languages. We understand that the best clients deserve the very best, most feminine ladies and we are continually interviewing to keep our standards high - Paramour Girls are the pinnacle.

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TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

TOTALLYTRIVIAL

@tnt_downunder

MYTHBUSTERS WHY THE FUNNY ACCENT?

THIS WEEK’S QUIZ

INDIGENOUS CULTURE What are indigenous Australians Q 1.called? b) Aborigine d) Inuits

a) Arnhem Land b) Northern Territory c) Yapa d) Uluru

is Uluru’s other name? Q 2.a)What The Rock

is a didgeridoo for? Q 7.a) What Hunting

b) The Olga c) Red Rock d) Ayers Rock

b) Playing music c) Dancing d) Fishing

is Kakadu National Park? Q 3.a)Where Tasmania b) Queensland c) South Australia

What was the first Aboriginal word Q 8.used in the English language?

d) Northern Territory

Q 4. What is a ‘throwing stick’ more commonly called? a) Hit stick b) Didgeridoo c) Boomerang d) A weapon

waterhole? a) Koolabah b) Billabong c) Didgeridoo d) Barramundi

SUDOKU PUZZLE

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

AUSSIE-ISM

“WOMBAT”

4 2

7 3

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

WEEK Wadaya mean? Strayans done tork funny, do we? Not actually being qualified linguists, we can’t really go into the reasons why different accents develop. What we can tell you is that Australian English is generally considered to differ from other varieties of English mainly in the pronunciation of vowel sounds. It also tends to be a lot more contracted, with some sounds and even entire syllables omitted. Here is a short lesson on how to speak as if you were born Down Under. “G’dye myte” = “Good day, mate”; “egg nishner” = air conditioner; and “Jeet yet?” = “ Did you eat yet?”. See? You’re sounding more True Blue than Alf Stewart. Stone the flamin’ crows!

Q 9. What is the Aboriginal term for a

Q 5. What is the time of Aboriginal ancestors referred to as? a) The Dreamtime b) The Ancient Era c) The Past Life d) The Spirit World

a) Uluru b) Koala c) Kangaroo d) Boomerang

OF THE

8 5

The poor little defenseless wombat has his good name trodden on in this case. A wombat is also a sleazy term referring to a man who ‘eats, roots (meaning has sex) and leaves’ – geddit?!

ANAGRAM-ARAMA

THIS WEEK IT’S... NEW ZEALAND WINE REGIONS 1. HOMO BURGLAR 2. A RAW. A PAIR. 3. SOBERING 4. NEARBY CURT ANSWERS: 1. Marlborough 2. Wairarapa 3. Gisborne 4. Canterbury

a) Aussie c) Maori

What is the largest Aboriginal Q 6.reserve in Australia called?

MYTH

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