TNT Australia 711

17-30 December 2012 Issue 711 tntdownunder.com

IIVNE DAY W IC F

AN EP ST SOUTH COA G NSW SURFIN SAFARI

SUNDAY SESSION Cruising the splendid Whitsundays

REWARD OFFERED Volunteering in remote Indonesia

G N A B A H T I OUT W vered! ear’s Eve co Y w e N t o g e’ve ucker up – w p d n a s e o h dancing s Put on your + NEWS & SPORT WHAT’S ON FILM REVIEWS TRAVELLERS’ TIPS

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VISIT OZEXPERIENCE.COM OR CALL 1300 300 028 T&Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Prices are subject to change without notice. Local payments are to be paid to the tour operator directly. For full terms and conditions visit www.ozexperience.com.

ALEX HARMON EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com

EDITOR’S LETTER While Christmas in Australia is a bizarre concept for you northern-hemi folk, bringing in the New Year is as thrilling here as anywhere in the world. From eco-festivals to dancing in the sand on Bondi with the Chemical Brothers, we’ve got a comprehensive list to suit all tastes. Whatever you do, bring it in with style. And thanks for supporting TNT, it’s been a great year. Now to give up goon (again).

THIS WEEK OZ DIARY

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GIGS

6

FOOD AND DRINK

8

CHATROOM

16

FILM

18

LIFESTYLE

20

NEWS

22

SPORT

24

TRAVEL

26

HOT SHOTS

28

WIN

44

WEEKENDER

46

LISTINGS AUSTRALIA

52

LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND

61

LISTINGS FIJI

69

WORK

70

RECRUIT INTERVIEW

72

TRIVIAL PURSUITS

74

38

10

FEATURES THE SILENT TYPE

10

We sat down with the more talkative half of Jay and Silent Bob for a discussion

HAPPY ENDING

32

Celebrate surviving the Mayan Apocalypse with our NYE 12/13 list

LOST YOUR WHITS

38

We go cruising around Australia’s most beautiful collection of islands

FOOTY FEVER We visit a remote village in Indonesia bringing the gift of the beautiful game

48

32

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OZDIARY

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MAIN EVENT SUNBURNT CHRISTMAS BONDI BEACH

Forget the Eastenders’ special and the Queen’s speech, this festive mash-up will give you a Christmas like never before. Sydney’s biggest orphan’s Christmas Day party by Bondi Beach comes complete with BBQ lunch and obligatory wet t-shirt competition (as much a part of the yule tide tradition in Bondi as anything else). You’ll be sure to have an Xmas extravaganza like you’ve never had before. Renowned English DJ Yoda headlines a massive lineup of international and local DJs and producers including Helena, DJ Valentine and Nukewood.

Dec 25. Bondi Beach, NSW

sunburntchristmas.com.au

ROOFTOP CINEMA MELBOURNE

SNOWY MOUNTAIN MUSTER

SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE

Set in the heart of the CBD, this fully licensed bar also runs movie nights. Films shown in this fortnight include recently released thriller Prometheus and the classic Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander. Take in a movie and a few beers overlooking the city.

Riders from all across the country will be heading to the beautiful Snowy Mountains to take part in the biggest muster yet. Watch some of the best horseman around battle it out for the Stockman Challenge or check out the world’s largest horse.

While for most of us Boxing Day is for relaxing, 82 seperate boats and their crews will be setting off for the 67th annual race. Grab a spot a long the Harbour with a drink and some food and marvel at the spectacle of one of Oz’s iconic events.

1 Dec – 31 Jan 252 Swanston St, Melb CBD rooftopcinema.com.au

Dec 30 Jindabyne, NSW snowymountainsmuster.com

Dec 26 Sydney Harbour, Sydney rolexsydneyhobart.com

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THE NORFOLK

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[Caption]

PUB review by Hugh Radojev

Just off of Cleveland Street, in one of the less seedy areas of Redfern, this pub was once a notorious hang out for the less fortunate, council housed folk who lived further up Walker Street. In the last 18 months or so, with a lick of paint and a few pot-plants, The Norfolk has undergone a radical transformation and is now a wonderful place for a beer or two, or a quick bite to eat. A large, shady beer garden and three bars serve a decidedly hip crowd, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights or during a Sunday afternoon session. Apart from two TV’s in the front room, The Norfolk is otherwise stripped off any screens or pokies, so if you want to have a quick slap look somewhere else.

THE GRUB The Norfolk’s little cantina offers some pretty standard pub grub with a slightly American diner type twist. Things like the $12 cola-braised (whatever that means) Quesadillas, $9 chilli fries and the pork sliders are all good, but four soft shell taco’s for $20 can’t really be beaten.

BEHIND THE BAR Think your usual selection of beers on tap, house wines and spirits supplemented with some more interesting stuff for those willing to pay. The $15 cocktail list is also awesome.

BILL PLEASE Cocktails $15; beers from $5.50.

VERDICT While the staff aren’t always the friendliest, The Norfolk is great whether you’re looking for a few quiet beers or a raucous night on the tiles.

THE SCENE

305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills.

3 OF THE BEST TEQUILA BARS 6

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thenorfolk.com

CAFE PACIFICO

MISS MARLEY’S

ROCK LILY

Long before the juice of the Agave plant came roaring back into vogue, this Darlinghurst bar has been repping Mexico something fierce. The melt in your mouth food aside, this place knows its tequila with 90 on offer and serves up 12 different Margaritas, most of which will take your head off (in the best possible way).

The décor in this Manly staple might be classy, 1950s slim fit suits and slicked back hair, but the drinks menu is all Tijuana. The relatively cheap cocktail menu are all tequila based and will have you wondering how people get by slamming shots of Cuervo with salt. The Mexican’t Magarita is an absolute standout!

Opened as part of the refurbished casino in Pyrmont, this rock’n’roll venue honours the age old tradition between awesome music and tequila. Catch a live band or two while sampling a few of the 120 tequilas on offer and kick back in the booths made from salvaged bits of old 1950s Cadillacs. How cool!

cafepacifico.com.au

missmarleys.com.au

futurestar.com.au/rocklily

SYDNEYEATS GREAT BARR IER REEF MAR INE PARK

heart of the reef

GRILL’D

Airlie Beach

FOOD review by Alex Harmon

QUEENSLAND

9 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction

T HE WHI TSUNDAY IS L ANDS

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

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

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

G R E AT B AR R I E R R EE F ADV EN T U R E S

The Great Barrier Reef is truly one of the great wonders of the natural world. Cruise aboard Seaflight to Queensland s most innovative reef pontoon, featuring an underwater viewing chamber and explore the underwater wonderland with diving, snorkelling, semi-sub or glass bottom boat rides. Includes morning / afternoon tea and an all you can eat buffet lunch. $145*pp SAVE $65

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

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

You may just be tempted to stay another night!

From $215*pp (Dorm accommodation)

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

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

TNT AAO3643

The latest burger joint to open in the empire of 90 or so stores across Australia can be found in Bondi Junction.

They claim to be the healthiest, but I don’t buy into any ‘the burgers are better’ sing-song; and the number of calories written by the burger may as well be foreign currency to me.

That said: there’s no clouding of judgment when I say that the burgers here are damn good. Bondi Junction is not an easy hustle, amongst a sea of fast-food hot-spots but Grill’d aim high. They’re licensed, provide al fresco dining, and even donate a buck from every meal to a local charity of your choice.

THE GRUB Now, the burgers are big: the Summer Sunset ($12.50) is your classic Aussie beef burger with avocado, pineapple and bacon (just missing beetroot). It’s juicy and messy – the way it should be. Field of Dreams ($11.50) caters to the vegos with mushroom, basil pesto, roasted peppers, cheese and a mayo that makes the mouth sing. Somewhere in the middle there’s the Baa Baa Burger ($12.90). While the name may make sensitive vegetarians wince, this lamb burger will transport you to a happy place. Chips ($4.50/ regular) are not too crispy, not too soggy; and don’t shy away from the salads either – the Chicken, Pomegranate and Goats Cheese ($13.90) will have you hoping a Grill’d will materialize in your ‘hood.

BEHIND THE BAR A large range of wines and local/imported beers. But what you really want to try is the Rekorderlig cider slushies. Hello summer!

BILL PLEASE Burgers start from $9.50; salads from $12.90; sides from $3.50. If you’re a petite eater you can get a kid’s burger for $7.90.

VERDICT A fast-food joint with the heart and soul of an oldfashioned American diner.

THE SCENE

grilld.com.au

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GIGLISTINGS

follow us on The Datsuns Free Esplanade Hotel, Meb espy.com.au

DON’T MISS!

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DON’T MISS!

Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield $49 Metro Theatre, Sydney ticketek.com.au J-Lo From $102 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Bris ticketek.com.au Propaganda $5 Worldbar, Syd theworldbar.com.au

PACHA NEW YEAR’S EVE Ivy, Sydney. Dec 31. From $99 AN21 & Max Vangelli, Junior Jack & Kid Crème and Infinity Ink headline this New Year’s Eve event along with some of Australia’s best DJ’s.

Ivy Hotel, Sydney

pachasydney.com

MONDAY 17

WEDNESDAY 19

The Shades From $15 The Toff, Melb moshtix.com.au

Human Nature From $69 State Theatre, Syd ticketmaster.com.au

Parkway Drive $43 Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle moshtix.com.au

Lost $ Found Free Revolver Upstairs, Melb revolverupstairs.com.au

Human Nature From $82 Adelaide Entertainment Centre ticketek.com.au

Rufus Free Beach Road Hotel, Syd beachroadbondi.com.au

Morrissey From $108 Brisbane Convention Centre ticketek.com.au

Daryl Braithway From $40 Wellers of Kangaroo Ground, VIC moshtix.com.au

Jason Winters From $69 NIDA Sydney ticketek.com.au

Chix n Stix: Pool Comp Free The Imperial Hotel theimperialhotel.com.au

TUESDAY 18 Legally Blonde: The Musical from $75.90 The Star, Pyrmont showbiz.com.au

THURSDAY 20 Kendrick Lamar $55 Enmore Theatre, Syd enmoretheatre.com.au

BOOK NOW!

FRIDAY 21 The Sundance Kids From $20 The Governer Hindmarsh, Adl moshtix.com.au The Owls From $20 Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay thenorthern.oztix.com.au J-Lo From $102 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Bris ticketek.com.au Jason Byrne From $59.90 Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne ticketek.com.au Morrissey From $108 Enmore Theatre, Sydney ticketek.com.au Rumours: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac From $25 The Basement, Sydney moshtix.com.au Project Mykonos 15-18’s From $35 C-Side Function Centre ticketek.com.au

SATURDAY 22

HARBOUR PARTY Luna Park, Sydney. Dec 31. From $119 Join Rick-Lee, The Ashton Shuffle, Luciana, Marvin Priest, Ivan Gough and many more as they bring in the New Year at Luna Park.

North Sydney

harbourparty.com

Jason Byrne From $59.90 Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne ticketek.com.au

MONDAY 24 The Colosseum in Lego Free University of Sydney sydney.edu.au/museums

TUESDAY 25 XMAS Kandy Classic Trance Edition $59 Billboard The Venue, VIC ticketek.com.au

WEDNESDAY 26 Monster Slam From $25 Fairfield Showgrounds, NSW ticketek.com.au

Orchestra present Timless Classics From $43 Sydney Opera House ticketek.com.au Pearson Sound, Ben UFO, XXXY and Guests From $38 Metro Theatre ticketek.com.au

SATURDAY 29 Karnivool From $39 Metro, Sydney ticketek.com.au Pacha ft. Sam La More From $30 ivy Sydney pachasydney.com The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra present Timless Classics From $43 Sydney Opera House ticketek.com.au

THURSDAY 27

Kid Ink From $60 The Hifi Sydney moshtix.com.au

The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra present Timless

Lost Angels $60 Metro, Sydney ticketek.com.au

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Jason Byrne From $59.90 Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne ticketek.com.au Pacha ft. Kaz James From $30 ivy, Sydney pachasydney.com Cell Block 69’s Awesome Live Rock Spectacular! $18 ANU Bar, ACT ticketek.com.au

THE REUNION FESTIVAL The Entrance Leagues Club. Dec 22. $28 After The Fall, In The Grey, Angela’s Dish, The Lazys, We Are Grace, Bright Yellow, One Jonathon, Miramar, Cocapenny and many more.

Central Coast

8

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SUNDAY 23 Girl’s Xmas Bash ft Rocco D’Amore, DJ Sveta, Girlthing DJ’s Free Newtown Hotel newtownhotel.com.au

Classics GUMBALL FESTIVAL From $43 Sydney Opera House Belford, NSW. April 25-27. Weekend pass + camping is $165 ticketek.com.au Joining Custard, Jinja Safari and Ash Grunwald will be energetic 11 piece funk/soul group The Bakery, folk singer Roesy, and Silent Disco.

FRIDAY 28

Hunter Valley thegumball.com.au The Australian Philharmonic

NYE JUST GOT BIGGER 10 HOURS OF PARTYING 4PM–2AM 10 BARS / 4 LEVELS / 4 STAGES

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Snootchie bootchies...

Jason Mewes comes clean on Jay, Silent Bob, his first forays into threesomes and escaping a drug-fuelled past WORDS ALASDAIR MORTON

Photos: Courtesy of Dimension Films/ Miramax Films/Getty; Kevin Winter Images

The first time Jason Mewes, the foul-mouthed half of Jay and Silent Bob, came to London, it was on the press tour for 2001’s Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back movie and the city failed to make much of an impression. Eleven years later, when he and Kevin Smith embarked on touring the live show of their hugely popular weekly podcast, Jay And Silent Bob Get Old, around the UK, Smith discovered that his newly sober buddy had little recollection of being in London previously. Which might explain why Mewes was much more taken with the Big Smoke when he and Smith played at the Hammersmith Apollo in London earlier this year.

“Me and the wife [Jordan] talk about it. I love living in LA, but if there was anywhere else I’d love to live, it would be London,” Mewes tells us, as we catch up with him on the phone from his home in LA. He’s chatting to us while packing ahead of jetting off to Connecticut for what is fast approaching the 100th ... Get Old podcast.

“I like the people, I feel the vibe of it. It’s a beautiful city, man.” Mewes’ opposing experiences of London fairly encapsulate the journey in recent years of this slacker/junkieturned-Hollywood actor.

Mewes was thrust into the spotlight by Smith’s breakout Clerks, a comic book-splattered no-budget flick that achieved instant cult fame, in which he played Jay, the crude and highly vocal half of the convenience store-loitering duo. He appeared as the character in Smith’s following five movies, but while his supporting turns ran right up to a whole film about the hapless duo, 2001’s ... Strike Back, off camera, Mewes’ life wasn’t following the same climb to success.

Behind the scenes he was plagued by substance abuse, and continued attempts at rehab, none of which ever took.

As long-term friend and supporter Smith noted of Mewes on stage in London at the start of the year: “You couldn’t even produce a fucking heart beat because of all the heroin, and now you’ve produced a movie.”

The pair’s, but particularly Mewes’, past are the focus for their live podcast tour – all three of their 2012 Teabagging In The UK shows feature in the out-for-Christmas DVD – which is equal parts for the ‘View Askewniverse’ fans (as Smith’s

“

There’s usually some crazy sex story there

”

movie fans call it), as it is for Mewes himself as a weekly therapy stand-in where he can discuss his unruly past.

“The first part of the show is us talking about what has been going on in the last couple of weeks,” Mewes says of the format they’ve taken out on the road for nearly two years now. “The second part is usually some kind of wacky, crazy sex story, like crapping yourself when you’re in bed with a woman, and the last part is usually a drugs story in which I tell people how many days I have sober (closing in on 700 days at the time of the London show, which received a strangely ‘American’ round of applause).”

Such has been the role that the show’s played in Mewes’ recovery that the odd times they have not been able to record a podcast when other movie work has clashed, fans have tweeted the duo, unsure of whether this marks a falling from the wagon or not.

“People are always really concerned and keeping track of whether I am sober and stuff, which is really cool,” he says, clearly moved by people’s support.

Mewes, for one, does not shirk from talking about the more gut-wrenching moments of his past life: getting booted out by his missus for spending the last of their money on drugs, tearing off through back alleys and fields with a pocket full of narcotics and the cops in pursuit, or a festive memory that would be especially grim and harrowing, were it not told with his trademark self-mocking awareness and the wisdom of a reformed junkie.

“People always dig the story about when I got high during Christmas,” he recalls of what is, in some respects, the Stairway To Heaven of his ‘past indiscretions’ tour.

“It’s one of the biggest drug stories I have that I can go

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

11

Mewes at the movies; hanging out in Clerks II; on stage with Kevin Smith

back to now and laugh at, but it was really sad at the time.

“I was really messed up and we’d lost all the power and the heat as we hadn’t paid our bills. We were getting thrown out of our apartment and had candles everywhere, all over the place, man. We fell asleep high and the fucking couch caught fire!”

If the show is half about Mewes’ narcotic past, then it is just as much about his sex life, too – its past, its present and, as an anecdote about wanting his wife to put on a British accent reveals, its possible future.

Predictably, he and Smith’s penchant for the lurid is never far from the discussion, whether it be their dogs humping each other or Mewes explaining his reliance on his ‘halfhalf-whole’ penetrative approach. As fans of Jay and Silent Bob will know, sex – be it discussed, sought or simulated – is never off, or far from, the agenda. For example, a segment that frequently closes out the show involves audience members in on-stage clinches with Mewes as they act out sexual positions such as ‘Riding Nelson’s Column’.

“I love telling stories and telling the truth,” he says of his fearless approach to the shows. “But also entertaining and keeping people interested.”

Does he have any favourite stories for the smut segment?

“The first time I had a threesome,” he shoots back without any pause for thought. “It’s always a good one to tell, especially when it is given in great detail. It’s a pretty amazing story, and it was a pretty awesome situation, man.”

Despite the fact the content of their shows is not for the easily offended, ‘off-stage’ Mewes comes across as less like his on-screen alter ego than you might expect. Their penchant for profanity is a shared passion, granted, but Mewes now seems humbled by his success rather than unaware of it, and proud of the century milestone he and Smith have almost reached with ... Get Old. 12

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Walking out on to the stage of the 5000-capacity Apollo back in February, their biggest show to date which was sold out weeks before, was clearly still a moving experience for someone who knows just how fortunate he has been.

“Everything with me is an open book and the podcast is me being accountable to other people,” he reflects.

“It’s me being able to tell old stories that I can laugh about now, but I don’t want to ever go back there or be in that sort of situation again. As long as the podcast helps me stay sober and entertains, that’s the goal.”

Away from Jay, he now has a successful career as an actor, with 10 projects this year alone and more lined up. He has plans to move behind the camera in the future, too.

“I am into anything,” he says of his ambition. “I just directed a PSA [public service announcement – called My Mom Is ...] and am producing a cartoon [and exec-produced horror movie Switchback] and I want to do more. More TV, and just to direct more, too.”

But as for the live action Jay and Silent Bob, it appears they may have loitered on the big screen for the last time, with Mewes saying he and Smith are set to focus on the cartoon and podcast for now, with no more plans for New Jersey convenience store-bound movies right now.

Will they be back in Mewes’ second favourite town again in the near future? For fans the news on this is significantly better. “Definitely, we’ve been talking about it and exploring the possibilities of how we can do it again,” Mewes says.

“Any chance to be able to go out to London for work is a real plus for me.” ❚

Jay And Silent Bob Get Old – Teabagging In The UK is out now.

Available through Amazon. Put it in your Christmas stocking! amazon.com

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The Black Seeds Daniel Weetman of The Black Seeds spoke to us about the importance of compromise in music, playing Peats Ridge Festival again and the band’s latest album Dust and Dirt INTERVIEW HUGH RADOJEV

“A lot of compromising goes on but it’s good to have those challenges”

What was the inspiration behind the band’s name?

Originally, it was our first bass player who came up with the name. I have never really liked the name, always wanted to change it, and obviously that didn’t happen. He had this idea that all sort of “seeds” come from Africa and we’re all connected in some way as humans and citizens of the Earth. That kind of made sense to him and the name stuck. But now I think the music speaks more than the name.

So when did you join the band, Daniel?

That would have been about 1999.

For someone who’s never listened, how would you describe your band’s music?

You get asked the question so many times and I think I always sort of come up with different answers but it’s bass heavy, definitely got reggae and funk elements in there. A Pacific sort of flavour, what with us being from New Zealand. I guess, though, we just try and write good music.

Speaking of the writing process, how

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does that work with eight in the band?

There used to be eight a few years ago, now there are six of us.

It must still be difficult when you all come together to write a song?

The last album, Dust and Dirt everybody had a hand in writing the songs with individual ideas. We also did a lot of jamming together.

Sometimes it is hard, because we listen to different kinds of music and bring different ideas to the table but we usually meet somewhere in the middle, which is good. Yeah, so you can have half the band trying to go down one way and the other half trying to go another way, so a lot of compromising goes on but it’s good to have those challenges when writing. You have to learn to compromise and something else, something you never thought of at first can come out of compromising.

Dust and Dirt represents a four year space since your last record, why the gap?

We were just touring so much, we went to

Europe a number of times, three times in the last 18 months or so alone and we also spent quite a bit of time touring in the US. We tried to break into that European market and still are I guess, so yeah just lots of touring. In that time though we did release a live album and a remix album as well, so we’ve tried to fill in the gaps with stuff like that. Time just sort of flies when you’re busy I guess.

How do you think the new album holds up to your other four albums?

I think in the earlier albums less people contributed to the writing, which is plain. As we’ve grown up and got more comfortable with what we do we’ve all began to contribute more to the music. Probably from Into the Dojo, with a new rhythm section the musicianship’s’ probably stepped up. All those things that challenge you are exciting, so hopefully the next album is a progression, it’s hard to say it definitely will be, but we’ll see where we get.

Can you still sit down and relate to the first few albums content?

Yeah, I think they still stand up to a listen though, there’s a kind of refreshing naivety about it, where you don’t really exactly know where you’re going with it, which is great.

Have The Black Seeds considering relocating to Europe or the States?

Yeah, we thought about that probably three years ago. Now a couple more babies have come along since then, so that kind of plans gone out the window really. I would have loved to have done that and would love to take my son on tour, but some have two kids and don’t want to relocate their family and that’s fair enough. Fact of it is though we’ve got to get to Europe at least twice a year and that means you don’t see your family as much as you’d like. It’s really hard.

Catch The Black Seeds playing at the Peats Ridge Festival (peatsridge.com.au) 29 Dec – 1 Jan and also look out for their new album Dust and Dirt out now on Easy Star Records

Photos: Cardinal Spin

Played Peat’s Ridge before?

Yeah, few years ago now. 2008 or something now. It’s good fun and great to be able to fit that in. We’ll pretty much just fly in, play the gig, back to the hotel for a nap then fly back to New Zealand. We want to come back to Australia more, hopefully more in the new year.

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FILMREVIEW

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LOVE STORY FILM review by Caitlin Stanway STARRING: Florian Habicht, Masha Yakovenko | M | 93min

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY FILM preview Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen | M | 166mins

Hardly needing any introduction, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first marathon-length (three hours) installment of Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit. Little man (sorry, Hobbit) Bilbow Baggins sets out on a quest to save a lost kingdom from the savage dragon, Smaug. Cue trolls, sorcerers, Orcs, and of course our favourite creepy creature, Gollum.

In cinemas December 26 18

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New Zealand director Florian Habicht defines genre-defying in this reality-blurring documentary about his attempt to film a love story on the streets of New York.

Taking on dual roles of director and lead actor, Habicht casts himself as an avantgarde film maker who falls in love with a Russian model, Masha Yakovenko, after he sees her carrying a plate with a single slice of cake on the subway.

Taking to the streets, Florian asks seemingly random New Yorkers “what happens next?” building the plot around both their suggestions and the advice of his bizarre German father during their many Skype chats.

Florian’s infatuation with Masha fuels both the documentary and the plot of the film and, much like the documentary itself, is constantly crossing the boundary between reality and fiction.

The interaction with New Yorkers is both an engaging and welcome break from the confusion that is Florian and Masha’s faux relationship, with the gritty Manhattan characters giving the doco a much needed dose of comedy.

While Florian’s eccentricity lends him a puppy-dog like vulnerability the audience can connect with, Masha’s disconnection – whether a deliberate directional decision or not – it makes it difficult to believe in the relationship.

The quirky contrast of ‘real life’ and ‘scenes’ is visually well done, but the constant questioning of what is real and what is fiction makes it difficult to lose yourself in the love story.

GOOD FOR: Those who want to be transported away from banal life

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LIFESTYLELIVING

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Get out of the mall Put down the koala magnet (it was probably made in China) and buy your Christmas presents local WORDS HUGH RADOJEV Some say that there’s no such thing as real culture anymore. Some people argue that due to rampant globalisation and the rise of the multi-national corporation that you can get off a plane in Durban, Jakarta, Berlin or Anchorage and the majority of the shops will all be the same. And in many parts of Australia you’ll find that it is no different.

There’s something to be said, then, for that line of thought. Money greases the wheels that turn the world on its axis and the big brands have their fingers in just about every pie. A Top Shop just opened in Sydney, for God’s sake!

Thankfully, however, there are places around where you can buy some unique clothes or souvenirs without having to spend an absolute packet and know that you’re helping out local manufacturers and designers in the process.

So there’s no need to be worried about globalisation, because we here have done the ground work so you can spend your hard earned dollars on something you wouldn’t be able to pick up from the local mall back home. And while you’re spending, you’ll be supporting local retailers.

So if you’re looking for a present to bring back to the family put down the plush novelty kangaroo with the silly cork hat and read on!

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Sydney, NSW ABOUT: Australia’s largest city is one of the best for shopping. Of course all the big brands are out in force in the big shopping centres and glitzy arcades in the CBD, but there are also a number of suburbs with great boutiques and markets to keep the more discerning consumer happy.

WHERE: Oxford Street, one of the main arteries connecting the eastern suburbs beaches with the city, is a great place for shopping. The long main street is riddled with beautiful boutique stores as well as cafes and restaurants for when you need to refuel. Newtown is a suburb well known for its great selection of leftof-centre stores. Up and down the main thoroughfare of King Street you can find locally produced and vintage clothing, or even a tattoo if you’re looking to treat yourself to a Christmas present. The Rocks Markets held every weekend in the historic area of Sydney is one of the best places to buy authentic souvenirs all sorts of handmade arts and crafts, figurines and photographs.

Melbourne, VIC ABOUT: The Victorian capital is generally considered the “coolest” city in Australia, although Sydneysiders may disagree. Melbourne’s beautiful CBD is full of malls and shopping centres while the suburbs have a

Brunswick St, Melbourne number of arcades and boutiques which help reinforce its reputation as the trendiest place in Australia.

WHERE: The leafy and decidedly upmarket suburb of South Yarra is a great place to go whether you want to do a little high-end shopping amongst the mansions on Toorak Road, or if you’re after something a little grungier, head to the famous Chapel Street. This is one of the places to be in Melbourne, where you can mingle with the beautiful young people cruising the strip, pop your head into all the wonderful vintage clothing stores or grab an ice cold beer or sushi at any number of little bars and restaurants. If you’re looking for something really alternative however you could always pop across to Fitzroy and drift around Brunswick Street with the tight jeans crowd looking disaffected (in a really cool way of course) with your iPod playing Interpol or whatever it is the ‘hip’ kids are listening to these days.

Brisbane, QLD ABOUT: Brisbane is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, blossoming in the last 20 years from

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LIFESTYLELIVING

Photos: Getty

Newtown, Sydney

Tis the season for tack something of a stagnant backwater to a thriving commercial hub and a place awash with a bustling nightlife and restaurant scene. Predictably the shopping has improved out of sight!

WHERE: Come for the affordable and delicious food options and stay for the eclectic mix of boutique fashion, shoes and electronics stores.

Elizabeth Arcade in South Brisbane is a must visit spot in the heart of the city. Stretching from Elizabeth to Charlotte Street, Elizabeth Arcade is home to a great range of boutiques each offering diverse fashion options.

The trendy suburb of Fortitude Valley holds its own markets every Saturday and Sunday which have a whole range of awesome handmade, locally manufactured clothes and trinkets. Our tip is to go on a Saturday afternoon and then hang around afterwards for a few beers and a live band at night. That’s what the suburb is best known for!

Hobart, TAS ABOUT: For many people Hobart conjures images of a windswept coastline or a few Nissen huts dusted

across the snow capped peak of Mount Wellington, but that is simply untrue! Apart from being one of the most beautiful cities in Australia, Hobart is also one of the most happening and has a wonderful set of markets that will surely convince anyone that the homemade, well loved creations make for excellent presents whether for friends and family or as a little personal treat for oneself. Go on and indulge!

WHERE: Ringed by sandstone warehouses, Salamanca Place has a definite village vibe, and the locals manning the 300 hundred stalls are all too keen for having a yarn and making visitors feel welcome. The Salamanca Markets are held on the Saturday mornings and really are all about the locals. The produce is farmed, grown, picked and cooked by the very same local selling it, and the stunning hand-crafted jewellery is melted twisted and polished by the artist holding up the mirror. Grab some breakfast, have a chat with a local designer, or just wander around the beautiful sandstone buildings down by the water, this is one of the most beautiful markets in the country.

Perth, WA ABOUT: Perth is fast become Australia’s richest city. With the mining sector in the state continuing to explode, the money is pouring in to the state capital at a rate of knots.

Perth is a surprisingly lively, sprawling city with a burgeoning art scene, as well as some of the best restaurants anywhere in the country with fresh wine and produce coming straight out of the Margaret River. Oh yeah, the shops are pretty good too.

WHERE: Just north of the city centre Leederville is one of the trendiest suburbs in the west. Quaint little cafes and bars jostle with boutique clothing stores for prominence along lovely, leafy streets and narrow lanes.

It’s also a good place to rub shoulders with some of Western Australia’s most famous musicians, actors and alternative minded athletes. If a market is more your style then take an hour long trip out of the city to Fremantle and check out the markets there. With live music and street performers entertaining shoppers over the weekend, the eclectic-ness is exactly why the locals love them.

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21

WORLDVIEW

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Stranded: don’t forget a map

APP LEAVES DRIVERS STRANDED IN DESERT AUSTRALIA

Drivers are getting stranded in the Outback for up to 24 hours after relying on iPhone apps for directions.

Six motorists have found themselves in Murray Sunset National Park – 43 miles from their desired destination of Mildura.

The park is 3000sq miles of desert and is home to poisonous snakes. Some stranded drivers spent as long as a day lost, without food, having to walk for hours in temperatures of up to 46ºC. Inspector Simon Clemence said: “Some people just trust the technology. Any satnav is going to give you errors, but this one ... may end up in a loss of life.”.

‘HOW TO LOVE?’ TOPS GOOGLE SEARCHES

Unexpected Journey: Australian actress Cate Blanchett poses at the European premiere of the first of The Hobbit films in Leicester Square.

Do you think she’s just seen the crazed fan in the background?

AUSTRALIA

Who says Aussies are a shallow bunch?

According to Google, “how to love?” was the most searched for “how to” question in 2012.

The findings released last week show swimmer Stephanie Rice was Australia’s most searched-for Olympian, and “what is permeate?” as one of Australia’s most Googled questions.

Lara Bingle (pictured) was the year’s most looked-for celebrity. AFL champions Sydney Swans were the most searched-for sports team (followed by Essendon FC) and Hurricane Sandy was the most searchedfor news event.

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The results were revealed in Google’s annual Zeitgeist report, which the company describes as “a barometer for what captivated Aussies during 2012”.

Korean pop act Psy’s Gangnam Style was the nation’s highest-trending search term, followed by Nine Network’s The Voice and English-Irish boyband, One Direction.

The trending category is calculated on the basis of how long a search term remains popular, rather than simply how many people search for it.

‘JESUS LOOKALIKE’ ABUSED AT DARTS UNITED KINGDOM

A darts fan was told to leave

a televised match involving Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor after the 4500-strong crowd started chanting “Jesus” at him.

Bearded Aussie Nathan Grindal was enjoying the final against Kim Huybrechts when the lively audience started to turn on him at the Cash Converters Players’ Championship at Butlins, Somerset.

Security was called, as play was interrupted by the chanting. Grindal, a labourer from Oxfordshire, was visibly upset when he was escorted out by security.

As he left the crowd chanted, “Stand up if you love Jesus”. He was escorted to a nearby pub to watch the game on TV. I guess that’s just the kind of persecution Jesus felt back in the day?

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 11.72

Time, in seconds, it took James Gallaugher, 11, to run final 25m of a 100m relay race at a New South Wales primary school.

Per cent of over 30-yearold British travellers who have never been on a plane according to a sunshine.co.uk survey

Season’s greetings: the card sent by police

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COPS SEND CRIMBO CARDS TO CRIMINALS UNITED KINGDOM

Santa knows if you’ve been naughty or nice, and it seems the police do too.

They’re sending Christmas cards to criminals in the hope of guilt-tripping them into behaving over Crimbo.

West Midlands Police are posting them to burglars, robbers and car thieves. The design of the cards varies depending on whether the criminals are single or have a family. For those with children, the cover features the face of a sad kid and reads: “All I want for Christmas is for you to be there.” Inside, it carries the message: “All the presents in the world won’t make up for your lack of presence.”

Chief Superintendent Neil Evans said: “[They should] work with police and partner agencies to help them break free from crime or we will work to catch and convict them, resulting in them spending time in prison.”

LOST IKEA MONKEY TAKEN TO SANCTUARY Photos: AAP; Thinkstock; Getty

CANADA

An adorable baby monkey who was spotted wandering around an IKEA store whilst wearing a very stylish shearling coat, has been taken to a primate sanctuary.

Darwin, a five-month-old rhesus macaque, was a much-loved pet who escaped from his owner’s car to go on his

Amount of Brillo pads eaten by a boxer owned

by Southend Utd’s Marc Laird. The dog survived an op to remove them

Number of green, blue, yellow and pink Post It notes used by Aussie Nathan Atkins’ mates to cover the 21-year-old’s car

Monkey business: Darwin adventure. Unfortunately, owning monkeys as pets is not legal in Toronto, and Darwin’s lawyer owner was fined C$240 (£151) for owning a prohibited animal.

The little monkey has now been transferred to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ontario.

TRAVELLER HIT WITH $150K ROAMING BILL AUSTRALIA

We all know roaming charges are extortionate, but a woman was left stunned after being slapped with a gobsmacking AU$150,000 mobile bill.

After a nine-week trip around Europe, the unnamed Australian woman returned home to find her phone calls had cost more than her entire holiday.

After complaining to the industry watchdog, the sky-high charge was reduced to AU$1147. It was among AU$8m worth of disputed global roaming fees. Let this be a lesson to us all.

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8,000

QUOTE OF THE WEEK As soon as I finish this job & can get home, my priority is to try to bring my family back together.

Reports are false & cruel Russell Crowe sets the record straight on Twitter after being falsely accused of dating Billy Joel’s ex-wife Katie Lee

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SPORTSNEWS

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New Swan: Kurt Tippett

TIPPETT READY TO FLY FOR THE PREMIERS AFL

Controversial Sydney Swans recruit Kurt Tippett is looking at homes in Sydney after he was unveiled last week.

Tippett, 25, was picked up in the preseason draft from the Adelaide Crows and gives the Swans a forward who can be a focal point for their attack – not that the defending premiers needed it last year.

He won’t be able to play until the 12th round – the week after the Swans play the Crows – after he was fined AU$50k and given a 12-week suspension for a draft tampering rule infringement. But the 202cm star seems to have put that behind him.

“It’s a great city and the team’s very, very successful and well respected,” he said. He added the Swans environment is one he thought he “could play my best football in”.

CROWE BLAZING OVER TAYLOR’S SACKING CRICKET

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe reportedly burned his Black Caps blazer in protest at the treatment of dumped Test skipper Ross Taylor.

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox re-tweeted, “Burnt NZ cricket blazer Dec 7, 2012. RIP” from @MartinCrowe299. The account and tweet has since been deleted, but when contacted by the NZ Herald Crowe said he’d make “no comment now or ever”.

Taylor withdrew from NZ’s tour of South Africa, which starts with a Twenty20 match on Sunday, after he was axed. NZ Cricket admitted it had handled the situation poorly. But as TNT went to print, NZ Cricket had apologised and Taylor was likely to play the Saffas. “Keen to put it behind me and looking forward to getting back with the

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An extra bootylicious Caroline Wozniacki padded her up and downstairs assets to parody her mate Serena Williams’ proudly full figure at an exhibition match in Brazil. Some people said it was racist.

Others said it wasn’t amusing. Wozniacki said she was having fun team soon,” he tweeted.

GRIFFITHS RARE GOOD NEWS FOR THE BLUES FOOTBALL

Sydney FC has lured Joel Griffiths back to the A-League after four years in Asia in a major coup for the club’s new manager Frank Farina.

Striker Griffiths agreed to a three-year deal with the club which, despite signing Alessandro del Piero, is struggling at the bottom of the ladder.

The Blues have been playing del Piero as a lone striker in the absence of better options due to a series of injuries.

Griffiths won the league and the Johnny Warren medal for the competition’s top player in 2008. He’ll come from Shanghai Shenhua where he’s been lining up next to Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.

BIG WEEK FOR ...

Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock went out in the semis of last year’s World Darts Championships but has every reason to have his eye on the final prize in this year’s final on New Year’s Day in London.

The Aussie came even closer in 2010 when he lost to living legend Phil “The Power” Taylor in the final.

Leading up to this year’s champs, which began on Friday, The Wiz has won his first European Masters and the Dutch Masters, so he’s in top form.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK Iw was happy. It shows tha th h no matter who you that ou are and whatever you do, you can fall Swimmer Ian Thorpe on disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace. Seems a little bit uncharitable of Thorpey

I’m m enjoying my b o bowling.

I try to take wickets. I am satisfied

Gylfi Sigurdsson takes it to Rio Ferdinand

PREVIEW Swan song for Red Devils?

SWANSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City side show no signs of intimidation when faced with clubs above them on the ladder, but they don’t come any higher up than Alex Ferguson’s United.

The Premier League leaders come to Liberty Stadium to face an in-form Swans side, one of the most enjoyable to watch passing sides of the season who have converted fluency into results for the most part. They’ve taken down the year’s bolters West Bromwich Albion 3-1 and Arsenal 2-0 in recent weeks and their 4-3 loss to

Norwich seemed to be a blip.

The last time high-flyers visited south Wales in November last year, the sides were only split by a solitary Javier Hernandez goal in the 11th minute.

This is the first time the teams have met this campaign and don’t be surprised if Fergie’s lads sit back and absorb Swansea’s sweet early exchanges, then look to counter with their bevy of options.

Seriously don’t be shocked by an upset.

We’re talking the EPL here afterall.

December 7-9

THE CHAT | Wiggo backflips on TDF defence

Massive understatement from slinger Lasith Malinga. He’d just taken six for seven for the Melbourne Stars in the T20 Big Bash, ripping through a flimsy Perth Scorchers batting line-up. Seems unlikely to get a nod in the test side though

Not N ot o good enough. I would like to apologise to all of you. You deserve better Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis to the fans after the Premier League side were humbled

by League Two side Bradford in the League Cup

TV HIGHLIGHTS DARTS

Is Brad Wiggins going to play second fiddle to Q Chris Froome for Team Sky at next year’s Tour

World Darts Championship

de France or what?

The best from the action in the UK Until Jan 1 6:30am, Fox Sports 3

Cycling’s a curious team sport – it seems so individual but

Photos: Getty Images

A Wiggins needed his team, especially Froome who came

second, to win the Tour. Next year’s more hilly course is said to suit Froome more than Wiggins, and Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said it was likely Wiggins would play back-up and look to take out the Giro D’Italia instead. But Wiggo was mixed on that last week. “I’m probably going to try and win,” he said. “Maybe we’ll have two leaders.” Sky is strong enough to. Wiggins will go with the team’s wishes, but they could just as easily both go for yellow and see what happens. Sacre bleu!

FOOTBALL Capital One Cup: Leeds v Chelsea The battle for the last semi-final spot Thurs, 6:00am, Fox Sports 1

CRICKET Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers Wigg out?

Warnie’s Stars take on Sydney Thurs, 8:00pm, Foxsports 1

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TRAVEL HOTSHOTS | TRAVEL NEWS | TRAVEL DEALS | TRAVEL STORIES |

Photos: Thinkstock, Getty

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

THE OTHER SIDE Choristers from Winchester Cathedral don ice-skates on an artificial rink set up beside the cathedral. Bondi on the other hand...

INSIDE

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CHEERS TO YOU /34

SUNNY DAYS /38

INDO REWARDS /48

Would you Adam and Eve it? Another year has passed. Luckily we are prepared and have the best New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events for you.

We take gorgeous a three day sailing trip through the Whitsundays where gourmet meals and cocktails await.

Think Indonesia is for drunk Aussie bogans?

Think again. We head to the remote village of Bintan for a volunteering experience.

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HOTSHOTS

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WINNER

WEEKLY WINNER SARAH ISLAND SKYLINE: Theresa Kolterer, 28, Germany THERESA SAYS: “When I was in Tasmania, I went to Sarah Island where convicts lived and did not have any chance of to escape.”

WE SAY: “Yet again we have more photographic evidence of just how beautiful the little Island state of Tasmania truly is. What a beautiful spot this is and to look at it you would never know the stories of suffering and woe it has provided the backdrop to through the years. The way the sky reflects off the water is just breathtaking. What fools those Poms were, sending their convicts to paradise. ”

HOT TIPS: Landscapes Good light is essential. Dramatic storm clouds, soft dawn mists and low evening sun all bright out the texture and drama of a wild hillside. Midday sun and flat grey days will make your scene look dull. Scale is important. Include a focal point to show the scale of the scene and make it more dramatic. This element should be obvious but not distracting. Foreground are especially important for rolling countryside shots as the scene will otherwise seem very distant, particularly on wide angles.

A few tufts of grass or the branches of an overhanging tree usually work wonders.

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WIN

THE MONTHLY WINNER GETS THREE DAYS CAMPERVAN HIRE FROM MIGHTY CAMPERS

Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to: hugh@tntdownunder.com. Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion. Photos will also be placed on TNT’s Facebook page. For terms and conditions, see tntdownunder.com.

Weekly winner Theresa wins a free night’s stay at the award-winning Sydney Central YHA (yha.com.au). The monthly winner gets three days’ campervan hire from Mighty Campers Australia (mightycampers.com.au)

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SICK OF FLYING SOLO? For those of you who are gagging to join the mile high club, but have never been able to persuade someone else to join in the fun – well now’s your chance. Dating website meetattheairport.com, based in the US and with 200,000 members worldwide, helps horny jetsetters hook up in the airport before they take off. You just plug in info about yourself and the site matches you up with anyone with similar interests and travel arrangements. Meet in the departures lounge, and the rest is up to you: travel companionship, a sweet holiday fling – or a quickie in the plane loos. Who says romance is dead?

Photos: Thinkstock

CRUISING’S A DRAG Carnival Cruises found itself at the centre of a storm last week, when the company, which offers a ‘Drag Stars at Sea’ package, asked customers not to cross-dress in case they offended families.

There was instant uproar, as the Caribbean cruise, which includes drag shows featuring stars from the US TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race, is supposed to be LGBT-friendly. Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president quickly reversed the cross-dressing ban, saying: “We sincerely apologise for the miscommunication and for any unintended offence we have caused.”

Hooray! Now where did we leave those fishnets?

Airport e-dating: he hopes to avoid the early arrivals lounge

RECORD BREAKER A 33-year-old has just broken a new Guinness World Record by visiting every country in the world without setting foot on a plane. Brit Graham Hughes travelled 160,000 miles in 1426 days using boats, buses, trains and his own two feet.

More impressive still, he managed the whole epic journey on a shoestring – just £62 a week.

The Liverpudlian, who filmed the expedition for a National Geographic documentary series and to raise money for the charity WaterAid, completed the mission last week when he finally arrived in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

APOCALYPSE NOW The Mayan apolcalypse is, of course, just around the corner, so many of those convinced the world will end have been taking comfort in rumours that Pic de Bugarach, a ‘sacred’ mountain in southwest France, will burst open to reveal an alien spaceship that will carry nearby humans to safety.

Unfortunately, French officials are having none of it. They have already announced they’ll be closing off the mountain and village below on December 21 because of concerns they will be overrun with hysterical New Age crazies. Or perhaps they’re just saving all the spaceship seats for themselves. Darn.

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Live the resolution Where’s the ice, the endless hype and the rubbish novelty singles?

Christmas and NYE in Oz is about just one thing – the parties WORDS ALEX HARMON & HUGH RADOJEV

New Year’s Eve is kind of like planning a wedding, says she who has never planned one. Hear me out though.

You put in a lot of preparation, hoping that everything goes smoothly, that everyone around you is happy, that you look and feel good... and yet the event climaxes very quickly (I’m not talking about consummating the marriage). “You may kiss the bride”, for the New Year’s Eve reveller, is the equivalent to that momentous midnight kiss.

There’s this great song but this awful band called Casiotone for the Painfully Alone with a chorus that captures the feeling of many New Year’s kisses. “Not the way that 32

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you’d imagined it. On a balcony with champagne lips/ But in a pantry against the pancake mix, you had your New Year’s kiss.” Sometimes the planning just doesn’t come off.

You’re in Australia and you want the stroke of midnight on December 31 to be special. Where all of the year’s problems can be forgotten and put down to experience, where you get a fresh slate and the chance to reinvent your life with those inspiring New Year resolutions. Well, if my eves are anything to go by, I’m in trouble.

Invariably at the countdown I am bordering on blind drunk, I’ve lost all of my friends and loved ones in a sea of people, I’m partaking in the things I

should be giving up and I can’t fathom living to the next day, let alone year.

One New Year’s Eve countdown I spent lining up for a port-a-loo, desperately trying not to piss myself as the strangers around me counted down from 10 and embraced my full bladder on number one. Luckily the pun was lost on me. That New Year should have been spent with adulation, but sadly it was urination. They say that the moment is a symbol of the year ahead and it’s true, that was a piss-weak year. Luckily I’m beginning to learn. We’ve put together a guide for you to follow so that you are guaranteed not to have a pissy night ›› and therefore not a pissy year...

ALOHA NEW YEAR’S EVE TELL ME MORE Honey Bar in South Melbourne is bringing a touch of Honolulu to their New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Dust off your grass skirts and coconuts for this Hawaiian Beach Party at one of Melbourne’s largest rooftop bar, located above the underground station. Guests can look forward to two levels of entertainment, a four hour beverage package and canapes followed by two hours of spirits to really get the party going when the clock strikes 12. Wear your daggiest shirt for prizes.

THE DAMAGE Early bird tickets are on sale now $99.

THE DETAILS honeybar.com.au

THE BELL RINGS TWICE TELL ME MORE For some people (not mentioning any TNT staff names), it has been revealed that sometimes the big countdown can be a bit anti-climactic, so why not get a second shot at that perfect midnight pash by celebrating twice? Due to the time difference between New South Wales and Queensland, the border town of Tweed Heads is the perfect place to start your celebrations because New South Wales is one hour ahead of Queensland. Throw back some champagne, take your practice pash and belt out a rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”, then head across either Boundary Street or Thompson Street to the Queensland town of Coolangatta for round two. There are sure to be plenty of new friends to show you the way.

Another champagne, another pash and why not another set of resolutions? With two sets you are bound to keep at least one... right?

THE DAMAGE It won’t cost you anything to cross the border.

THE DETAILS tweed.nsw.gov.au

FIRST 2013 SUNRISE TELL ME MORE Get ahead of everyone else in Australia and catch a glimpse of the first Aussie sunrise of 2013. The common misconception is that Mt Warning near Byron Bay is the place to celebrate the first morning but the best place is actually on Lord Howe Island. Although there are no officially organised events, this laidback paradise will host a number of bonfires on the beach, along with a few drinks with new friends. According to locals, the accepted tradition is skinny dipping at dawn to welcome the daylight. There is a limit of 400 tourists at a time on the island so get your flights early.

Qantas and Qantaslink fly direct to Lord Howe Island from most major and regional airports.

THE DAMAGE Free beach fun and byo food/drink.

THE DETAILS qantas.com.au and lordhoweisland.info

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FALLS FESTIVAL TELL ME MORE Beautiful Marion Bay in Tasmania is the perfect spot for a rocking music festival.

With spectacular wilderness scenery as your backdrop, you are all set to enjoy a killer lineup, including Hot Chip, Hilltop Hoods and ultra-amazing rapper Coolio. The journey is half the fun though, so hire a camper or invest in some camping gear and make a trip of the stunning journey down to the festival. It’s a three day event but every ticket package includes New Year’s Eve. THE DAMAGE Tickets on sale now and start from $202.90 for a two day pass.

THE DETAILS Visit fallsfestival.com.au

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LUNA PARK HARBOUR PARTY

BRISBANE BALL

TELL ME MORE Has your year been a rollercoaster? Well there’s no better way to bring it in than on the wild rides at Sydney’s Luna Park. Not only are they free all night but you’ll get one of the best vantage points in Sydney for the fireworks display. Plus be entertained by the likes of RickiLee, Marvin Priest and the Aston Shuffle to name a few.

THE DAMAGE Tix are on sale now, second release are $119.

THE DETAILS harbourparty.com

TELL ME MORE While the Mayan apocalypse doesn’t appear to have happened, the battle between good and evil still rages and it’s time for you to take sides.

The 2012/13 Brisbane Ball is Hero and Villain themed, which gives as always plenty of scope for awesome costumes. Tickets include all food, drink (including spirits) and rides available.

There will be a number of stages with live music and DJs to keep the party going through to midnight and beyond. If I see anyone else there in a batman cape though I’m going to be mad.

THE DAMAGE Tickets on sale now at $145 with a group discount for 10 or more.

THE DETAILS Visit ballevents. org.au for full information.

HUGE SCREENS FOR ALL THE BEST LIVE SPORT!!!

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SUMMADAYZE TELL ME MORE Summerdayze has moved from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve this year.

The “Colourfornia” themed festival runs in Rymill Park, Adelaide featuring a full afternoon and evening of colourful music and spectacular fireworks. The lineup includes the likes of MIA, Knife Party and a DJ set from the Chemical Brothers to help revellers burst into the new year. It is guaranteed to be a big bright night in the park, with the party carrying on into the small hours of 2013.

THE DAMAGE Tickets start from $126.50 and the promoter even offers a “buy now pay later” option.

THE DETAILS summadayze.com .

PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL TELL ME MORE Located in Glenworth Valley, New South Wales, Peats Ridge is a fantastic location for a fabulous festival full of all sorts of fun things. The best of Australian and international musicians take over the stage as well as artists and theatre installations to keep you occupied between your favourite gigs. There are markets, food stalls, places to chill out and even opportunites to take a swim in the river nearby, since it will no doubt be a scorcher.

Don’t forget to take along a fancy dress costume for the huge New Year’s Eve Masquerade party.

THE DAMAGE Tix start from $156.10 for a one day pass. Camping passes start at $355 for the festivals duration THE DETAILS peatsridgefestival.com.au

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NYE AT LASSETERS TELL ME MORE Before the Neighbours fans get too excited, we aren’t talking about Paul Robinson’s Lassiters, but Lasseters in Alice Springs.

The hotel casino in the heart of Australia is hosting a NYE party on their front lawns. It will be a bit of a family affair until after the 9pm kiddies fireworks are done, then all the responsible sober adults can go inside and do some responsible sober gambling until it is time to calmly cheer in the new year.

Of course we aren’t being serious. After the kiddies fireworks, there is all sorts of adult fun to be had, drink stalls, entertainment, live music and the midnight fireworks (why should the kids have all the fun?). Party goers can even grab a room at the hotel to make the stumble home much shorter.

THE DAMAGE The lawn event is free. Rooms at the hotel start from $110.

THE DETAILS lhc.com.au

The Whitsundays QUEENSLAND

Photos: Tourism Queensland, Nicola Moyne

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Seizing the ‘Sundays Submerge yourself in a world of sailing, snorkelling and five-star fare while visiting the Whitsundays and you’ll have one hull of a trip WORDS NICOLA MOYNE

It’s not often you get to stroke the head of an electric blue and green, six-foot humphead wrasse while hanging off the side of a dingy, let alone be nibbled by what seems like hundreds of brightly coloured parrot fish at the same time. But apparently my half-hour snorkel at Manta Ray Bay, off Hook Island, is fairly standard. So much so that ‘my’ humphead wrasse – a fish so clever that it can even change sex if it needs to – has a name “That’s George, he’s my favourite. Look at his vivid blue head and lips – he’s a beauty,” shouts Dave, the captain of the Pacific Sunrise, as he throws yet more frozen peas into the azure-blue ocean to swarm my face with a flurry of dramatically-striped fins.

Half the fun of the game is to try and shoot a pea down my snorkel as I immerse myself in the feeding whirlwind of colour, but Dave also likes to point out more of his tropical friends from time to time, too. And as I look around I can see why the captain and his crew are adamant they have the best job in the world. Just metres away is a green turtle majestically gliding through the water.

Apparently he’s ‘stoned’ from eating a jellyfish, which is why he’s so content to swim with us. But maybe he’s just happy to be here. And why wouldn’t you be?

A few days ago I decided to set sail on the open seas for three nights in spite of my motion sickness nightmares. But I’m seeking more than just sun, sea and sex-changing marine life: I want an adventure.

And with the Whitsunday Islands offering a wealth of stunning beaches, secluded lagoons and, of course, some of the best snorkelling and diving spots in the world, it’s the perfect place to start.

Life’s a beach The Whitsundays, dubbed ‘the Great Barrier Reef’s little brother’ by our young and incredibly tanned crew members, boasts more than 70 paradise isles.

Think white sand, turquoise ocean and more than their fair share of aquatic life. But one of the most breathtakingly beautiful spots is Whitehaven Beach and it’s the only bit of land the Pacific Sunrise guarantees you’ll step foot on during

the four-day sail.

Surrounded by the clearest aqua water you’ll ever see and fringed with lush, green vegetation, this picture-perfect stopoff is pretty much how you imagine heaven to be – minus the angels and harps, of course.

Still, if it’s music you want, you just need to put one foot in front of the other, because the sugar-white sand (98 per cent pure silica apparently) is so soft it actually squeaks as you walk on it, and it’s just the thing for polishing up your jewellery, too.

In fact, as one of Australia’s most photographed beaches, chances are you’ve sent your mum and dad a postcard showcasing Whitehaven’s beauty already, so it’s a must-see for any self-respecting flashpacker.

Even as I jump off the dive boat to get my first glimpse of the island, I’m unprepared for just how bright it is. It’s as if the whole place has been drenched in sunshine and a good dose of super-strong bleach for good measure. It literally gleams at you from beneath an expanse of uninterrupted blue sky. The sand is so fine it seems fake; the water is so pristine that the playful stingrays cruising along the shoreline become an unwanted distraction, and the swirling fusion of sand and sea at the island’s Hill Inlet is mesmerising.

If you’re prepared to scale some wonderfully decorative rocks after all that ‘oohing and aahing’, you’ll even find a Robinson Crusoe-style cove that’s completely sheltered from the wind, making it one of the most scenic sunbathing spots in the world. In fact, my new-found sailing friends and I find we’re the only sun worshippers on the bay, so keep the secret to yourself when you visit for a true desert island experience.

The only downside to Whitehaven Beach is leaving and, unfortunately, leaving comes all too soon, with most boats only mooring up for two hours. So, after a quick stop off for Facebook photos from the viewing point, I’m forced to brush down my flip flops (taking any sand from Whitehaven is against the law, can’t think why?) and get back on deck for an afternoon of sailing – the hardcore way.

Ahoy there sailor!

Part of the beauty of being on board a 33-metre bona fide

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The motley crew aboard their high sea adventure

sailing vessel for four days is you actually get to experience real sailing – so long as the wind plays ball, of course. And, as we set off from Whitehaven Beach, the skipper starts handing out the ginger: it’s going to get rough and we’ve got to be ready.

I’m with a motley crew of passengers: two German couples, an Australian hippie who is obsessed with Tasmania; a young French guy who is finding his ginger hair and porcelain-white skin fairly incompatible with the Whitsundays sun; a fun elderly Irish couple celebrating their wedding anniversary; and a group of Canadian friends, who so far haven’t even seen a kangaroo along their travels so are becoming increasingly giddy from all the marine life. In short, we’re an odd bunch but we’re getting on famously and we’re all excited to sail.

On the first day, as we board the boat at Airlie Beach’s Abel Point Marina, we proudly announce we’ve never been seasick.

“That’s for girls,” my Paddy pal declares bluntly. “There’ll be no ginger for me.” But within 15 minutes of the sails going up, the ketch is practically on its side (which the skipper informs me is known as heeling) and the majority of my ‘sea-loving’ friends are throwing up and begging for mercy – or at least for the engine to be started up. Nice. But even as my stomach lurches climbing another huge wave, it’s still a fantastic experience, especially when I get to help out with the rigging.

While I place a rope of insignificant importance in a figure of eight on deck, the more butch among us are hanging from the ropes as if their lives depend on it and it’s a genuine thrill to see the boat sailing, even if we are losing our lunch overboard. And then, just as we’re all settling down to drink cocktails and discuss how Captain Cook had it easy in his day,

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disaster strikes: a rope has snapped and the main sail is billowing fiercely in the strong easterly wind.

All too quickly we realise we haven’t got a clue what to do or where to stand; thoughts of buying a boat back home and cruising round the coastline suddenly disperse.

Thankfully though, the crew jump into action and Leon, the ship’s first mate, starts climbing the mast like Tarzan to make sure we don’t lose the sail and our pride in the process. It’s exciting stuff and despite getting a good drenching on deck, we all stand out to watch the action.

Comfort food If you’re not an adrenaline junkie, you don’t like snorkelling (amazingly there were at least four people on my trip that had no intention of setting foot in the sea at all) and you’re not impressed by huge green sea turtles gliding past you first thing in the morning (in which case you need to take a long, hard look at yourself), I can guarantee it’s still worth boarding the Pacific Sunrise just for its food.

Alan, the ship’s humble Scottish chef is, in short, a culinary genius and I can honestly say that his vastly better than average gastro pub-style grub was the best I tasted while on my travels. In fact, the crew prides itself on its five-star fare and the nightly antipasto platter that’s served on deck as the sun sets – and I sip my fourth gin and tonic of the day – quickly becomes something I hanker for after breakfast each morning.

The menu changes seasonally, but if you’re treated to the chicken and vegetable pot pie, you’re onto a winner. In fact, I can recall each day just by the breakfast: Eggs Benedict

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One of the many shades of colour found in the Whitsundays

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with smoked salmon, spinach and avocado = an awesome day of snorkelling at Tongue Bay. Blueberry pancakes drenched in maple syrup = exploring the rich coral reefs at Catamaran Bay. And the boat’s warm timber bar and restaurant makes the experience all the more inviting. There’s no buffet-style dish-up on deck for 40 people on this boat.

In fact, the vessel sleeps a maximum of 21 passengers and each night follows a similar pattern: loud raucous laughter over cocktails followed by silence as everyone tucks into their mouthwatering chicken/fish/duck/lamb.

It’s only after the meal has been fully enjoyed and fully appreciated that the excited chatter from the day starts up again.

Everyone on board is on their first sailing trip. And everyone I speak to considers it to be the highlight of their trip so far. Including myself. In fact, as we pull up to Abel Point Marina on our last day, a wave of emotion washes over me: excitement to see land for the first time in two days, but also a sadness at leaving the hugely entertaining crew and my new sailing friends behind. All that snorkelling, sailing and eating has bonded us and we’re now a little family.

The last word from skipper Dave says it all: “It’s been a bloody good trip guys, now get out there and sink a beer for me.”

It’s an unfortunate turn of phrase Dave, but you’re the captain. ❚ Damage and details: Two day, two night sailing trips through the Whitsundays start at $260pp. See: airliebeach.com for more information.

island hopping Melbourne from

Hobart

$64

95*

*“TIGER RAW” FARE CONDITIONS: Book by 31st December 2012, see the web site for the full travel period. The “Tiger Raw” fare is the lowest available single price fare from Tiger Airways Australia – fully inclusive of all taxes and charges. “Tiger Raw” fares must be purchased on line using a Mastercard debit card issued by an Australian financial institution. The “Tiger Raw” fare does not incur the $7.50 convenience fee for credit card purchases (per flight, per sector). Fare is for travel one-way with hand luggage only. Seats are limited and may not be available during peak periods or on all flights, public holidays or certain blackout periods or once sold out. Bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable, except as provided in the Conditions of Carriage. Promotions may be modified or cancelled without prior notice. Refer to www.tigerairways.com for more information. Tiger AirwaysAustralia Pty Limited ABN 52 124 369 006.

DA

TRAVELWEEKENDER

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.

Making waves in the harbour

Aviator sunnies are mandatory TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

45

HOW TO ENTER

WIN

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

Total prize worth over

$1,100 DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE 5 DAY SURF CAMP There are a few essential things you have to tick off your list whilst travelling in Australia. Seeing Uluru at sunrise and sunset; drinking goon on Bondi Beach at Christmas time (or anytime really); and the other Aussie caper? Learning to surf. There is no reason why you can’t try it while you’re here, hell, you might even like it so much that you ending up transporting your ‘stick’ back to whatever cold, northern hemisphere place it is you call home.

That’s where we come in. We’re offering one lucky reader and a friend the following package: Five full days of progressive surf lessons with four nights accommodation at surf camp in the uncrowded beauty of Seven Mile Beach National Park on 46 TNTDOWNUNDER.COM TNTDOWNUNDER.COM 46

the beautiful south coast of New South Wales.

All meals for you and your mate for the duration of the camp including an Australian BBQ. Accommodation in modern beachside cabins.

Total value: $1,100 Competition closes: January 13th 2013 Terms & conditions apply.

Visit tntdownunder.com for all entry details.

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47

Bintan INDONESIA

48

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Indo needs you Avoid throngs of drunk Aussies in Bali and head to the remote island of Bintan where you can give something back to the local communities WORDS MARINA THOMAS

We are racing towards an infamous island in our speedboat at full throttle in a sea famed for pirates, enjoying our James Bond moment. We’re a couple of mere backpackers seeking adventure in foreign waters.

We’ve just left behind a luxury Indonesian private retreat.

Nikoi – part jungle and part beach – with big boulders looming over lush mangroves that creep into the turquoise waters of a desert island that was uninhabited until 2007.

But our target destination is the bigger Indonesian island of Bintan – the largest of 3,000 which make up the Riau Archipelago – and just 85km from affluent Singapore. The area has a notorious history of pirates and the seas can get treacherous during the monsoon period in December with fisherman in rickety boats negotiating terrifying 10-metre swells.

As we bounce over the waves, we jet past several bobbing, traditional fishing boats being steered by Indonesians who seem perfectly content to take their time.

I shut my eyes and imagine the sea gypsies, pirates and fierce warriors who protected the Malay royal family on Bintan all crossing the Singapore Straights in their own unique craft a few hundred years ago.

Bintan was a major trading post for ships laden with exotic wares like spices, tea, opium and silks travelling between India and China. The island was a strategic haven for trading ships sheltering from the fierce typhoons that rampage the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. And my heart is thumping to the thud of the bow as I remember we are following in the footsteps of some of the globe’s keenest explorers.

In 1202 Marco Polo, the infamous Venetian world traveller, spoke of his voyage to Bintan. And British TV adventurer Charley Boorman travelled to Bintan and Nikoi by boat during his By Any Means voyage from Ireland to Australia.

and our translator for the day. Atok is helping lead Nikoi’s Island Foundation’s education programme for Bintan’s poor families.

Aussie Andrew Dixon, along with other Nikoi Island owners, set up the foundation in 2009. The foundation is hungry for more volunteers to get involved with teaching and mentoring children, football coaching and more.

We are here to see what opportunities are available for backpackers and travellers looking for a volunteering experience. It is certainly not for the fainthearted, or those needing Western comforts, but it will be very rewarding.

Most Bintan families are illiterate fishermen or labourers and educational attainment among kids on the island is low.

As well as helping kids, the foundation is aiding locals gain new skills like jewellery making and encourages the development of business skills too.

Choose your own adventure We, too, feel like adventurers as the brakes are applied sharply and we ride a bow wave, pulling up at the small jetty.

We are greeted by Atok, a charismatic and bright teacher

A fisherman of Orang Laut

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

49

All smiles: the library opening at Berakit

Due to over-fishing and government restrictions preventing sea gypsy families with a mythical knowledge of the sea from living on boats on the ocean, the fishing industry is suffering greatly. In many cases, the tourism industry passes them by too as they don’t have the skills – or the English language – to get involved.

Untouched Indonesia The island feels much more like the real Indonesia – unlike the one that many Aussies and backpackers will have experienced during drunken bacchanalias in the party paradise of Bali.

We begin our journey across the green and hilly island, negotiating large potholes, plenty of dusty, noisy scooters and the odd cheeky monkey near the forests.

We pass colourful shacks and roadside stalls with smoke spiraling up from grills selling sweet-smelling chicken satay, noodles and tropical fruits. Children sit on the roadside - some play with old, worn footballs in the field and others grip on tight as they hitch a ride on their parents’ scooter.

The foundation has set up five learning centres where the children can supplement their curriculum by dropping by before or after their normal school day ends.

Teluk Bakau and the other four learning centres are basic but kids’ drawings decorate the walls and there are books in English as well as Bahasa, the local language. As our car pulls up outside the first school, Teluk Dalam, a group of girls erupt into laughter when we step out. They are not used to seeing western faces here and we are happy to provide amusement.

The boys are crowding round the tuckshop man, vying for his attention for an array of lollies and sweets with their pocket money.

Local staff try to bring confidence up by teaching the children some English and helping them with their curriculum work as well as playing games on the few computers that 50

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have been donated.

Who Wants To Be a Millionaire is very popular in class, and one boy wearing oversized maroon school shorts, Amat, does an impressive and amusing job of asking me if I want to play for a million dollars.

“We want to raise children of the 21st century or they will always be on the fringes,” says Atok. “They don’t have a voice.

“We want to show kids they are world citizens too and could work in state or abroad.

“These kids still have their full sensory experience as they are not in the city, they are easy to teach.”

Too tired for school Teachers will often see kids fall asleep at their desks after going out on a night’s fishing voyage squidding with their parents.

“The problem is, parents don’t see the value in school, but we are getting them involved too.

“The families here are 80 years back in time,” adds Atok, who the kids find great amusement in referring to as the “handsome monkey”.

“They are scared to touch a computer but have become more confident over time.”

The Island Foundation is also keen to reconnect Bintan with Singapore after its long trading history.

“Singaporeans don’t appreciate the island and its culture,” says Heena Patel, The Island Foundation’s director.

Wealthy Singaporeans and expats frequent Nikoi and Bintan on weekends but rarely go beyond the resorts to explore.

We have a bit of an ‘Angelina Jolie moment’ next as we say goodbye to the kids and jump in the car to head to the ancient fishing community of Orang Laut.

Wooden shacks line the water on the jetty and dogs roam

around, their hungry eyes ogling the small rays and other fish drying out in the sun on nets.

We go inside the basic shack of village headman Pak Boncet and his wife Ibu Satna. I notice straight away there are no bedrooms in the shacks, but there are blankets on the floor.

From the 1960s, the boat nomad Suku Laut tribe was forced off its homes at sea when the shipping and fishing lanes of the busy Malacca Straights were contested and drawn up.

The Teluk Bakau school

The jewel of Singapore Just an hour’s ferry ride from prosperous Singapore, the tribe still has all the traditions of the sea but was forced to live on land on Bintan after hundreds of years of boat nomadism. And with global over-fishing and paying off debts to the Chinese, the Catholic tribe struggles to survive and is ostracised within the mostly Muslim society of Bintan.

The tribe, who have animistic beliefs, face extinction.

Most are illiterate, dwell in basic shelters and they still live in an economy mostly based on bartering fish.

Development is happening fast on Bintan and the Indonesian government is planning a tourist village where visitors will come to see the traditional fishing shacks and homes of the tribe.

Now, with coaching from the foundation and jewels donated by global brand Swarovski, the women are sharing their stories of the sea by creating symbolic jewellery to be sold in Singapore.

“I am sharing my dreams and stories from my grandmother and mother about knowledge of the sea that has lay dormant for years,” Ibu Satna says.

“We are very bewildered at all the changes happening on the island and we are scared of the future. We fear we will be like fish an aquarium with tourists coming to gawk at us, but making jewellery is a way for us to dream and be productive too.”

Goals for life Our day ends with a visit to another community where a football programme led by local coaches and some legendary Singaporean players has been very successful.

The foundation is keen for sports coaches to volunteer on Bintan and for people with handicraft skills, computer and English literacy competency.

“Volunteers will have a touching and real experience,” adds Heena. “The kids here are so enthusiastic and really want a brighter future for their families.”

Volunteers can stay in authentic homestays with locals and will also get the chance to have their own Robinson Crusoe desert island experience with a break at Nikoi Island.

We head off back to Singapore on the ferry which negotiates the hectic shipping lanes through the tropical heat haze.

We leave with plenty of memories and great stories, and dreaming of our next high sea adventure. ❚

If you are interested in volunteering on Bintan, contact Heena at Heena@theislandfoundation.com or see: theislandfoundation.com

Making jewellery to be sold in Singapore

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

TOUR FIRMS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com

Ocean Rafting Whitsundays tours 07 4946 6848, oceanrafting.com

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

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

RENTAL FIRMS Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com Mighty Cars and Campers (Formerly Backpacker Campervan Rentals) 1800 809 944 mightycampers.com.au Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangcars.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

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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

Spaceships 1300 132 469, spaceshipsrentals.com.au

Spirit of Tasmania Ferries to Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com

Standbycars.com 1300 789 059, standbycars.com

Tiger Airways Airline.

03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com

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

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

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

Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickercampers.com

Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania.

03 6336 1446, redlinecoaches.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

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

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

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

Virgin Australia Airline.

13 67 89, virginaustralia.com

SS O R C S KING KET R A M CAR NT BUY, SELL & RE WE ARE HERE s "59).'

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

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

CHECK IN

Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St. CBD. 02 9281 6030 bighostel.com Bounce Budget Hotel 28 Chalmers St. CBD. 02 9281 2222 bouncehotel.com.au Easy Go Backpackers 752 George St. CBD. 02 9211 0505, easygobackpackers.com.au

AQUARIUS BACKPACKERS

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

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

The Rocks.

02 9261 1111 yha.com.au Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 013 186 nomadshostels.com

16 Lawson St, Byron Bay, Dorms from $31 Just a two minute walk from the world famous Byron beaches this is one of the great party hosetls on the NSW North Coast.

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Boomerang Backpackers 141 William Street, Kings Cross.02 8354 0488, boomerangbackpackers.com

Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills.

02 9261 1111

Dlux Hostel 30 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross.

1800 236 213 dluxbudgethotel.com.au

Avalon Beach Hostel 59 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach.

02 9918 9709, avalonbeach.com.au

Bondi Shores Level 1. 283 Bondi Road, Bondi bondishores.com.au

Glebe Point Road. Glebe.

02 9692 8418, yha.com.au

Bondi YHA 63 Fletcher Street.

Tamarama.

02 9365 2088, yha.com.au

Boardrider Backpacker Rear 63, The Corso, Manly.

02 9977 3411 boardrider.com.au

Lamrock Lodge 19 Lamrock Ave. Bondi.

02 9130 5063, lamrocklodge.com

The Bunkhouse 35 Pine St, Manly.

1800 657 122, bunkhouse.com.au

Lochner’s Guesthouse 8 Gowrae Ave. Bondi.

02 9387 2162,

Manly Backpackers 24-28 Raglan St. Manly.

02 9977 3411 manlybackpackers.com.au

Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee.

04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.com.au

Cammeray Gardens 66 Palmer St, North Sydney.

02 9954 9371 sydneyboardinghouse.com

Coogee Beach House 171 Arden St. Coogee.

02 9665 1162, coogeebeachhouse.com

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

Coogee Beachside 178 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee.

02 9315 8511, sydneybeachside.com.au Surfside Backpackers 186 Arden Street. Coogee.

02 9315 7888, surfsidebackpackers.com.au Glebe Point YHA 262-264

SYDNEY DO Manly Surf School Manly Beach.02 9977 6977, manlysurfschool.com Maritime Museum Darling Harbour. anmm.gov.au My Sydney Detour Unique city tours. mysydneydetour.com

o Scan hUeTr Me OtREÒ ND O

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NSWLISTINGS Oceanworld Manly West Esplanade. oceanworld.com.au

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Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com

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Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com

Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au

The Annandale annandalehotel.com The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au

Skydive the Beach Wollongong. skydivethebeach.com Sydney Olympic Park Darling Harbour. sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au Sydney Tower and Skytour 100 Market St, CBD. sydneyskytour.com.au 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

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BLUE MTNS Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba.

02 4782 1416, yha.com.au

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02 4925 3544, yha.com.au Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal.

02 4384 1919, yha.com.au The Entrance Backpackers 2/56 The Entrance Road, The Entrance, 2261 02 4334 5005 theentrancebackpackers. com

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Skydive Central Coast Warnervale. skydivethecentralcoast.com.au

WAKE UP! 509 Pitt St, Sydney . Dorms from $34 Modern, clean, spacious and with a sense of fun at all times. You only need to visit their bar downstairs any night of the week to know why.

Sydney

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

Nomads Byron Bay Lawson Lane.

1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Byron Bay YHA 7 Carlyle St. 1800 678 195, yha.com.au Skydive the Beach Byron Bay Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina 1800 302 005 skydivethebeachbyronbay.com

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

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

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Brisbane City Backpackers 380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com

The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm.

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

26 Peninsular Drive, Surfers Paradise. Dorms from $27

Balmoral House 33 Amelia St, Fortitude Valley vipbackpackers.com

Sleeping Inn is a backpackers resort that has it all. enjoy the pool relax in your shared apartment or hit the strip and party.

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BRISBANE STAY

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

Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com

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Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com

Somewhere to Stay Cnr Brighton Rd & Franklin St somewheretostay.com.au

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+

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Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah.

07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au Gallery of Modern Art 07 3840 7303, qag.qld.gov.au

Gold Coast International BP 28 Hamilton Ave, Surfers.

1800 816 300, goldcoastbackpackers.com.au

GOLD COAST Aquarius Backpackers

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

XXXX Ale House Brewery tours. Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton.07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au

princeconsort.com.au

Innisfail North Queensland

Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise. 1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au

Story Bridge Adventure Climb 170 Main St, Kangaroo Point.

1300 254 627, storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au

Nomads Prince Consort Backpackers 230 Wickham St

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Tin Billy Travellers 462 George St tinbilly.com

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07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au

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1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au

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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

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1800 100 004, trekkersbackpackers.com.au

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

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

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FEATURES

FREECALL: 1800 000 541

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

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

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

FREE DAILY BREAKFAST

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Pippies Beach House 22 Spectrum St. 1800 425 356, pippiesbeachhouse.com Skydive Rainbow Beach 0418 218 358, skydiverainbowbeach.com

HERVEY BAY Aussie Woolshed 181 Torquay Rd 07 4124 0677 woolshedbackpackers.com Next at Hervey Bay 10 Bideford St. 1800 102 989, nextbackpackers.com.au Nomads Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade.

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

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

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Palace Adventures 184 Torquay St, Hervey Bay, 1800 063 168 palaceadventures.com.au Barefoot Lodge Long Island barefootlodge.com.au Colonial Village YHA 820 Boat Harbour Drive, Urangan, Hervey Bay yha.com.au Cool Dingo’s Rainbow Beach 20 Spectrum St dingosresort.com Flashpackers Hervey Bay 18 Spectrum Ave, Rainbow Beach frasersonrainbow.com Frasers On Rainbow Beach 195 Torquay Terrace, Torquay, flashpackersherveybay.com Kingfisher Bay Resort River Heads Road, Fraser Island kingfisherbay.com Koalas Hervey Bay 408 The Esplanade, Hervey Bay koalaadventures.com Fraser Coast Top Tourist Park 21 Denmans Camp Road, Scarness, Hervey Bay frasercoasttouristpark.com.au Fraser Island Backpackers Cathedral Beach, Fraser Island fraserislandco.com.au Fraser’s on Rainbow 18 Spectrum Av, Rainbow Beach frasersonrainbow.com The Friendly Hostel 182 Torquay Rd, Hervey Bay friendlyhostel.com.au Woolshed Backpackers 181 Torquay Road

woolshedbackpackers.com.au

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

07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au

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

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

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Gold Coast

Famous for fun

AdventureGoldCoast.com

facebook.com/AdventureGoldCoast twitter.com/AdventureGoldCoast

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

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

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

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

07 4783 1519, yongaladive.com.au

MAGNETIC ISL Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 1800 24 22 73, stayatbase.com Bungalow Bay Backpackers Horseshow Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay.com.au

NJoy Backpackers HostelHarbour 141 Sheridan St. 1800 807 055, njoy.net.au Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St. 1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com

CAIRNS DO AJ Hackett Bungy jumping & canyon swinging.

1800 622 888 cairns.ajhackett.com Pro Dive 07 4031 5255 prodivecairns.com Raging Thunder Adventures Whitewater rafting. 07 4030 7990, ragingthunder.com.au Skydive Cairns POBOX 105N Cairns 07 4052 1822, skydivecairns.com.au

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

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

Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788

Walkabout Motel & Backpackers 07 4061 2311

MISSION BEACH

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

jackaroohostel.com Mission Beach Retreat 49 Porters Promenade missionbeachretreat.com.au

CAIRNS STAY Bohemia Central Cairns 100 Sheridan St. 1800 558 589, bohemiacentral.com.au Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St. 1800 155 353, bohemiaresort.com.au Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St. 1800 815 628, calypsobackpackers.com.au

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

Hotel Arcadia 7 Marine Parade, Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177, magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm

Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road.

07 4068 8317, absolutebackpackers.com.au

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follow us on NOOSA Dolphins Beach House 14 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach dolphinsbeachhouse.com.au Nomads Noosa Backpackers 44 Noosa Dr nomadsworld.com Noosa Backpackers Resort 9-13 William St noosabackpackers.com

NOOSA INLAND Ride On Mary Budget Bush Retreat imbilkayakandbike.com

PORT DOUGLAS Dougies Backpackers Resort 111 Davidson St

dougies.com.au

Codge Lodge 63 Rankin St codgelodge.com Crown Hostel 25 Ernest St (07) 4061 2266 Innisfail Budget Backpackers 125 Edith St jobsforbackpackers.com.au

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

1770southerncross.com

ROCKHAMPTON

Global Port Douglas 38 Macrossan St globalbackpackerscairns.com.au/portdouglas

Emu Park Resort 92 Patterson St, Emu Park emusbeachresort.com

Parrot Fish Lodge 37 Warner St parrotfishlodge.com

Rockhampton Backpackers YHA 60 Macfarlane Street, Rockhampton yha.com.au

Port O’Call YHA 7 Craven Close portocall.com.au

INNISFAIL

STRADBROKE IS Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre 1 Eastcoast Rd mantalodge.com.au

MUST DO!

ATHERTON Kuranda Rainforest Park 88 Kuranda Heaights Rd, Kuranda.

07 4093 7316, kurandarainforestpark.com.au

PORT DOUGLAS Parrotfish Backpackers Resort 37 Warner St, Kuranda.

07 4099 5011, parrotfishlodge.com

GULF SAVANNAH Emu Creek Cattle Station 07 4094 8313

DAINTREE Koala Beach Resort Cape Kimberly Rd. 1800 466 444

MOOLOOLABA Mooloolaba Backpackers VIP 75 Brisbane Road mooloolababackpackers.com

MORETON ISLAND Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort tangalooma.com

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

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

CHECK IN

Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda.

1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond.

03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net Exford Hotel 199 Russell St. 03 9663 2697, exfordhotel.com.au 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 Nomads Melbourne 198 A’beckett St. 1800 447 762, nomadshostels.com Space Hotel 380 Russell St. 1800 670 611, spacehotel.com.au The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, hotelspencer.com Back of Chapel 50 Green St, Windsor nomadshostels.com College Lawn Hotel 36 Greville St, Prahran collegelawnhotel.com.au Claremont Guesthouse 189 Toorak Rd, South Yarra hotelclaremont.com City Centre Budget Hotel 22-30 Little Collins St citycentrebudgethotel.com Elephant Backpackers 250 Flinders St

THE NUNNERY 116 Nicholson St, Fitzroy. Dorms from $29 Minutes away from Brunswick and Smith Street and that whole groovy area, or a short walk to the city or Queen Victoria Market. The building is actually an old convent that has been converted into a hostel and is probably the most unique place to stay in Melbourne.

Melbourne

nunnery.com.au

490 Elizabeth St elizabethhostel.com.au King St Backpackers 160 King Street kingstreetbackpackers.com.au Hotel Discovery 167 Franklin St hoteldiscovery.com.au Lords Lodge Backpackers 167 Franklin St lordslodge.com Melbourne International Backpackers 204 Punt Rd, Prahran mibp.com.au

24 Grey St coffeepalacebackpackers.com.au

Oslo Hotel 38 Grey St oslohotel.com.au

Habitat HQ 333 St Kilda Rd, thehabitathq.com.au

The Ritz for Backpackers 109 Barkly St stkildabeachhouse.com.au

The Spencer Everything you want in a hostel!

Friendly and affordable

Melbourne Metro YHA 78 Howard St yha.com.au Melbourne Oasis YHA 76 Chapman St yha.com.au St Arnaud 99 Park St, South Yarra, starnaudguesthouse.com.au The Spencer City Central Backpackers 475 Spencer St spencerbackpackers.com.au The Nunnery 116 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy

nunnery.com.au Urban Central 334 City Road, Southbank urbancentral.com.au Victoria Hotel Backpackers Victoria Hotel, 380 Victoria St vichotelbrunswick.com.au

ST KILDA Back of Chapel Backpackers 50 Green St backofchapel.com

elephantbackpacker.com.au

Base St Kilda 17 Carlisle St stayatbase.com

Elizabeth Hostel

Coffee Palace Backpackers

Free Pick ups Free Parking Cable TV VIP Discounts Great bar Laundry Tour info Job search

Rooftop garden Modern,fully equipped kitchen Short walk from Southern Cross station Female dorms, mixed dorms, twins, doubles, ensuites

Free call: 1800 638 108

475 Spencer Street, Melbourne email: hotelspencer@hotkey.com.au www.spencerbackpackers.com.au Find us on Facebook ‘The Spencer Backpackers’ We are a VIP hostel!

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follow us on St Kilda Beach House 169B Fitzroy St ritzbackpackers.com

MELBOURNE DO

FREE UNLIMITED INTERNET

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Awards

Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square.

03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au Melbourne Aquarium Cnr of Flinders St & King St. 03 9923 5999, melbourneaquarium.com.au Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Av. 03 9657 8888 mcg.org.au

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Mildura City Backpackers 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura.

03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au

HEAPS OF ACTIVITIES!

FREE DAILY BREAKFAST

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

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Tourism Victoria Backpacking ideas. backpackmelbourne.com

Cambrai Hostel Maffra 117 Johnson St, Maffra.

1800 101 113 maffra.net.au/hostel

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

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

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GIPPSLAND Prom Country Backpackers 03 5682 2614

GREAT OCEAN RD

greenhouse@friendlygroup.com.au www.greenhousebackpacker.com.au www.northerngreenhouse.com.au

Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura.

04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au

Skydive the Beach Melbourne 1300 798 843 skydivethebeachmelbourne.com

Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea.

03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au

Level 6, 228 Flinders Lne Melbourne, VIC 3000

MURRAY RIVER

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

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

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

DANDENONG Emerald Backpackers 2 Lakeview Crt 03 5968 4086

Echuca Gardens YHA 103 Av, Mitchell St, Echuca.

03 5480 6522, yha.com.au

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

FREECALL: 1800 249 207

Tortoise Head Lodge French Island.

03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net

Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton.

13 11 02 melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au

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

FEATURES

Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St, Sorrento.

03 5984 4323, yha.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 Timâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place 44 Grampians Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288, timsplace.com.au

MILDURA Mildura City Backpackers 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura.

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

04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.a

STRATHMERTON Riviera Backpackers YHA 669 Esplanade yha.com.au

Stay. Play. Melbourne.

$28

Beds from $28 per night Monday to Thursday *Subject to availability

e),

UC103

Free breakfast Free pasta, rice, tea & coffee Free Weekly meal Free linen & towel Maximum spacious 4 bed dormitories Oversized locker with personal power point Public transport on doorstep 5 minute walk to city Short tram ride to St Kilda Less than 5 minute walk to supermarkets and shops Local discounts 24 hour security Large communal kitchen and laundry facilities Large bar with big screen (all major sporting events shown) Drink specials at the bar Unique value tour packages

Book Now 1800

urban_wrkfle711v2.indd 1

631 288 urbancentral.com.au

334 CITY ROAD SOUTHBANK MELBOURNE VIC 3006 AUSTRALIA 14/12/12 9:43 AM

SALISTINGS

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ADELAIDE STAY

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

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

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

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

KANGAROO IS

Adelaide Travellers Inn 220 Hutt St. 08 8224 0753, adelaidebackpackers.com.au Annie’s Place 239 Franklin St. 1800 818 011, anniesplace.com.au Backpack Oz 144 Wakefield St. 1800 633 307, backpackoz.com.au

CHECK IN

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

TATTS BACKPACKERS 17 Hindley Street, Adelaide. Beds from $22 Tattersalls Backpackers offers a variety of private, and dorm rooms, to accommodate international youth travellers.

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

Adelaide City

tattshotelandbackpackers.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

Adelaide Zoo Frome Rd. 08 8267 3255, zoossa.com.au Haigh’s Chocolates Factory tours.

153 Greenhill Rd, Parkside 1800 819 757, haighschocolates.com.au Temptation Sailing Dolphin swimming, Glenelg.

04 1281 1838 dolphinboat.com.au

BAROSSA VAL Barossa Backpackers 9 Basedow Road Tanunda.

08 8563 0198, barossabackpackers.com.au

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

@tnt_downunder 13 The Strand, Port Elliot.

08 8554 2785 yha.com.au

EYRE PENINSULA Coodlie Park Farmstay Flinders Highway, Port Kenny.

08 8687 0411 coodliepark.com

Kangaroo Island YHA 33 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw.

08 8553 1344 yha.com.au

Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience Sea lion and dolphin swims.

08 8626 5017 bairdbay.com

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

Calypso Star Charters Great white shark cage diving.

08 8682 3939, sharkcagediving.com.au

RIVERLAND Berri Backpackers Sturt Highway, Berri.

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

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

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

FLEURIEU PENIN Port Elliot Beach House YHA

Nullarbor Traveller Tours across to Perth.

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

08 8363 1788 rodneyfox.com.au

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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Photo: SATC

YORKE PENINSULA

62

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

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

08 9227 6000, perthbrittania.com Emperor’s Crown 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 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 The Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St. 08 9228 4228, witchshat.com Backpack City and Surf 41-43 Money St backpacker.com.au Beatty Lodge 235 Vincent St beattylodge.com.au Cheviot Lodge 30 Bulwer St cheviotlodge.com Coolibah Lodge 194 Brisbane St coolibahlodge.com.au Easy Perth Backpackers 4 Francis Street, Northbridge easyperthbackpackers.com.au

Hotel Bambu Backpackers 75 - 77 Aberdeen St, Northbridge bambu.net.au Mountway Holiday Apartments 36 Mount St

mountwayapartments.com.au Ocean Beach Backpackers 1 Eric St, Cottesloe woceanbeachbackpackers.com Perth Beach YHA & Indigo Net Cafe 256 West Coast Hwy, Scarbrough indigonet.com.au Planet Inn Backpackers 496 Newcastle St planetinn.com.au The Shiralee Hostel 107 Brisbane St, Northbridge planetinn.com.au Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St,

shiralee.com.au

Grand Central Hotel Backpackers 379 Wellington St (08) 9421 1123

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

Hay Street Backpackers 266-268 Hay St haystbackpackers.com

Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St ymcajewellhouse.com.au

YMCA Jewell House 180 Goderich St Witchs-hat.com 1201 East Backpackers 195 Hay St 1201east.com.au

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

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

08 9474 3551, perthzoo.wa.gov.au

PERTH MUSIC Amplifier amplifiercapitol.com.au Astor liveattheastor.com.au Mojo’s Bar mojosbar.com.au

The Bakery nowbaking.com.au The Rosemount Hotel rosemounthotel.com.au

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

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

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

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WALISTINGS WORD FROM THE STREET

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

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

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

Colette Sosinski, Germany WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN WA SO FAR? Kununurra, Derby, Broome, Port Hedland, Tom Price, Onslow, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Denham, Monkey Mia, Kalbarri, Geraldton, Perth, Fremantle.

FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Cape Range National Park. Because one evening we sat on a campsite at the beach. Suddenly we saw a huge splash appering on the horizon. Then I realised it were humpbackwhales jumping out of the water! I will never forget that!

FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? Perth, Northbridge. Some great bars!

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

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

rs is a n, a Backpacke 12:01 Eastse hostel offering calend n e n o lic ti l a a d n o io m tradit xed accom cation friendly, reulandings at the best lo st! fa k o a rr cosy su h. PLUS FREE bre rth in Pert y Street, East Pe 195 Ha 1201

800 00 Freeca.ll12101east.com.au www

u east.com.a info@1201

Explore over 12,000 kms of Western Australia’s coastline in just one day

Australia’s largest aquarium and underwater tunnel Giant sharks, stingrays and turtles Beautiful living coral reefs Interactive fun Licensed café and exclusive giftshop

Hillarys Boat Harbour | Open Daily 10am -5pm (08) 9447 7500 | www.aqwa.com.au

64

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Ningaloo Club Coral Bay 08 9948 5100, ningalooclub.com Excape Backpackers YHA Murat Rd, Exmouth.

08 9949 1200, yha.com.au

BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road.

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

CORAL BAY Ningaloo Club Robinson St ningalooclub.com

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

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

n and dge is a clea Coolibah Lo ensed hostel catering lic rt. comfortable ng and young at hea ge for the you smopolitan Northbrid el st co Located in rs and nightlife, our hoht ba ig n its e l th al ty with p. ough to par is close en get a good nite’s slee ill st d an thbridge or N away t, ee tr eS 194 Brisban 0000 1800 28co ll a c e m.au Fre e. g d lo ah www.coolib 28 9958 T: (08) 93

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEVONPORT

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

ARTHOUSE BACKPACKER HOSTEL 20 Lindsay Street, Launceston. Dorms from $23 Very clean and modern with a cute coutryard complete with herb garden and a free BBQ. Common room for watching DVDs too.

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

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

arthousehostel.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CRADLE MOUNTAIN Take a trip back in time to the untouched wilderness of Tasmania’s famous Cradle Mountain. Located in Lake St Claire National Park, Cradle Mountain is surrounded by ancient rainforests, alpine heathlands and pristine beaches. Home to the famous 6-day Overland Track, Cradle Mountain offers a huge range of bushwalking tracks and adventures. For those with limited time or stamina enjoy the brisk 2-hour Dove Lake Loop track and take in the clear waters of Dove Lake. Those who like a challenge can tackle the 65km overland track and amble through the glacially carved gullies and fragrant forests, with scenic stops at waterfalls and mountain summits. Or why not treat yourself to a luxurious getaway at Cradle Mountain Lodge, complete with a spa and fine dining.

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

KATHERINE STAY

CHECK IN

BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road.

1800 501 984, big4.com.au

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

Toddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

MELALEUCA ON MITCHELL 52 Mitchell Street, Darwin. Dorms from $25 Located on Mitchell Street in the heart of the city allowing for easy access to the best things Darwin has to offer. Multi award winning too!

Darwin

momdarwin.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 Annieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place 4 Traeger Ave. 1800 359 089, anniesplace.com.au

Haven Resort 3 Larapinta Drive.

1800 794 663, alicehaven.com.au

School of the Air Long-distance schooling museum.

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

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

MUST DO!

EDITH FALLS Nestled amongst sandstone escarpments and eucalypt wooodland, these often missed waterfalls, also known as Leliyn Falls, are part of the Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park. Sometimes inaccessible during the wet season (October to April), the impressive falls drop to a forest-encircled lower pool, which makes a great spot for a cooling swim. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the local protected animals, such as the black wallaroo. There is a campsite nearby. The falls are a 20km drive from the Stuart Highway. The more adventurous can try the three-day hike from Katherine Gorge.

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NZLISTINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BAY OF ISLANDS Great for catching some rays in the winter, the Bay of Islands is even better once summer for real kicks in. Northland’s most popular tourist resort attracts visitors from all over the world – and rightly so. It’s NZ at its best. With quiet coves, soft sandy beaches, sparkling waters and an interesting history, the Bay of Islands is a must-see. Situated 257km north of Auckland, this irregular and spectacular coastline has 144 remote and uninhabited islands bathed in sunshine year-round. It’s the perfect place to do a skydive, an overnight cruise, scuba dive, kayak or take a fishing trip. Paihia is the main take-off point for the many boat tours which cruise the islands for pleasure, fishing and dolphin swimming.

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

Backpacking just got easy as.

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

RENTAL FIRMS Ace Rental Cars 1800 140 026, acerentalcars.com.nz Backpacker Campervan & Car Rentals +800 200 80 801, backpackercampervans.com Bargain Rental Cars 0800 001 122, bargainrentals.com.nz Darn Cheap Rentals 0800 447 363, exploremore.co.nz Econo Campers +64 9275 9919, econocampers.co.nz Escape Rentals 1800 456 272, escaperentals.co.nz Explore More 1800 800 327, dcrentals.com.nz Jucy Rentals 0800 399 736, jucy.com.nz Rent-A-Dent 0800 736 823, rentadent.co.nz

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

AUCKLAND Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere. +64 9275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584, Base Auckland 229 Queen St. 0800 227 369, stayatbase.com Bamber House (BBH) 22 View Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9623 4267, hostelbackpacker.com Central City Backpackers 26 Lorne St. +64 9358 5685, backpacker.net.nz City Garden Lodge 25 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. +64 9302 0880 The Fat Camel (Nomads) 38 Fort St. +64 9307 0181, nomadshostels.com

Nomads Auckland 16-20 Fort St. +64 9300 9999, nomadshostels.com Oaklands Lodge (BBH) St. +64 5A Oaklands Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9638 6545, oaklands.co.nz Queen Street Backpackers (VIP) 4 Fort St. +64 9373 3471, enquiries@qsb.co.nz

bungibackpackers.co.nz

6 McDonald Cres. +64 4384 3041, backpackerswellington.co.nz

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

Rowena’s Backpackers (VIP) 115 Brougham St. 0800 80 1414 YHA Wellington City 292 Wakefield St. +64 4801 7280

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

CHRISTCHURCH

Surf ‘n’ Snow Backpackers 102 Albert St. +64 9363 8889, surfandsnow.co.nz

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

YHA Auckland City Cnr City Rd & Liverpool St. +64 9309 2802, yha.co.nz

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

YHA Auckland International 5 Turner St. +64 9302 8200, yha.co.nz

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

WELLINGTON Base Wellington 21-23 Cambridge Tce. +64 4801 5666 stayatbase.com Downtown Wellington Backpackers (BBH) 1 Bunny St. +64 4473 8482 db@downtownbackpackers.co.nz Lodge in the City (VIP) 152 Taranaki St. +64 4385 8560 lodgeinthecity.co.nz Nomads Capital 118 Wakefield St. 0508 666 237, nomadscapital.com Rosemere Backpackers (BBH)

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

Hippo Lodge (BBH) 4 Anderson Hts. +64 3442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz Nomads Queenstown 5-11 Church St. +64 3441 3922, nomadshostels.com Peterpans Adventure Travel 27 Shotover St Queenstown. peterpans.com.au

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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69

OZCAREERS

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Stay classy now Oz has a shortage of qualified teachers. So if you’ve got the paperwork, they need you to get stuck in and ruffle some papers

Despite all its benefits, travelling usually sets your savings account back a few decimals. A good way to reverse the trend, however, is to do your homework beforehand and secure yourself a job Working is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when travelling abroad. But taking on a casual teaching position in Australia is a smart idea for visitors looking to supplement their extended holidays.

“The teaching sector is generally always busy and in demand for teachers and assistants,” says Nicola Robertson, from Select Education’s Brisbane office. Rates of pay will usually start at about $20 an hour, however a casual teacher could expect to earn as much as $200 or more a day, especially in the bigger cities like Brisbane and Sydney.

Never worked in education or taught in the early childhood sector before? No worries. “We are looking for fun, flexible and passionate staff to work with children,” says Robertson. “While experience is preferred, it is not always necessary.” Although casual teaching in this country is easy to come by and prior experience is not always required, it’s best to arrive as prepared as possible.

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“All teachers and assistants are required to have full police clearance and working with children checks carried out,” adds Robertson. So be prepared to pay a fee and wait for the international post. There will also be no harm in being able to prove you’ve got qualifications such as a Bachelor of Education or equivalent, NNEB or Certificate 3 in child care studies.

There’s generally enough jobs knocking around for teachers to be able to find work just about anywhere in Oz, but if you’re planning on moving around a lot, be prepared to get used to filling out lots of forms.

“Australia does not have a national curriculum,” says Robertson, “therefore each state varies with registrations.”

Yep, that’s right. You have to re-register every time you want to work in a different state or territory. That involves submitting your qualifications and police checks, as well as CV, visa/passport and birth certificate.

But as long as get in there early and have all your paperwork, you should be good to get straight into the classroom and let the learning begin.

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71

OZINTERVIEW INTERVIEW WITH A TEACHER

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How long do you plan to teach in Australia for?

I plan to teach here for as long as I can! I am in the early stages of hopefully being sponsored by a school, so if it all works out I would like to teach here for a few more years.

Where have you worked so far?

I worked in the mines in Western Australia, as a Governess on a cattle station in the Outback in Queensland and in a law firm in Sydney. Now I’m teaching in Melbourne. I’ve have had a lot of wild and wonderful experiences, but I’m happy to be back in the classroom again. Other than seeing more of Australia on holidays, I’d like to make Melbourne my base for the foreseeable future, because I love it here.

BERNADINE CALLERY FROM IRELAND

What made you decide to teach in Australia?

I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my horizons and advance my career, also Secondary School Teachers are in demand in Australia so jobs are plentiful here, which is a plus.

How did you land your new job?

I went into the school in person with a copy of my CV and had a chat to the receptionist. The school was founded by Irish people and they love having Irish teachers work here. A few days later I got a call and I’ve been there ever since.

And what exactly is it that you do now?

I am working as a casual relief teacher at the moment, so I cover classes for teachers who are sick or are away on school activities. I teach students from year 7 through to year 12 and I cover whatever classes I am needed for, from year 7 woodwork to year 12 chemistry – I’ve done it all!

How does teaching in Australia compare to back home?

There are a lot more similarities than differences, but it still takes time to get used to the new system. Classes run for an hour and fifteen minutes each, almost twice the length they are at home, so keeping the students attention for that long can be tricky at times. All of my students have iPads and use them in class every day, which I never experienced before.

The exam system is quite different here – there is much more continuous assessment rather than one final state exam – which is a good idea, it means that students need to work consistently and it’s a good way of keeping them motivated. I have found that the staff support is excellent and there are plenty of people to help you understand how everything works if you’re having any problems.

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Want to share you best teaching experience?

It would have to be working as a Governess in the Outback.

I was teaching a child in a tin shed on a cattle station in a middle of nowhere! I helped him with his “On Air” lessons where he received instruction over the telephone from his class teacher who was in a school 120 kilometres away! Even his coursework couldn’t be delivered straight to the house, we had to drive 55 kilometres to the nearest town to pick it up from the post office! It was an amazing, experience.

Any days not so great?

No job is perfect, and working with teenage boys certainly has its moments! You get laughed at, cursed at and shouted at pretty much on a daily basis and there are days you wonder why the hell you ever chose to be a teacher! But then a student will tell you that they now understand something they didn’t before, or that they enjoyed the lesson that you just taught, and that makes it worthwhile!

How does the pay compare to your expectations?

I’m happy to say that the pay is better here for teachers than it is in Ireland!

Any advice for travelling teachers to be?

Bring all your original college transcripts and professional qualification documents with you from home, as you will need to have the originals to register as a teacher here.

You also have to register separately for each state in order to be eligible to teach in more than one place in Australia and the registration can take a while to come through, so be prepared for that fact that you may not be able to teach straight away.

Why would you recommend your job to others?

There are lots of great opportunities for teachers here and your skills and qualifications are in demand throughout Australia, so if you’re moving around you can teach wherever you go. The pay is good and you can get to visit a lot of different places during school holidays. I would highly recommend spending some time teaching in the Outback, it’s an experience not to be missed!

TNTDOWNUNDER.COM

G

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

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

The study will last for approximately 8-10 weeks.

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

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

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

For more info call 1800 475 475

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

GSK_689.indd 1

6/07/12 9:47 AM

TOTALLYTRIVIAL

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WHO TO BLAME

AND WHAT THEY WANT SANTA TO BRING THEM EDITOR

ALEX HARMON [Bruce Springsteen]

STAFF WRITER

HUGH RADOJEV (Bison grass vodka)

INTERN

CAITLIN STANWAY (A replacement laptop)

AUSSIE RULESWINE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Where in Australia produces the best Q Q 1.Champagne? a) Hunter Valley b) Adelaide Hills c) Nowhere, only France d) Yarra

DESIGN & PRODUCTION LISA FERRON (Tickets to Fiji)

which state is the Hunter Valley?

Q 2.a)InACT b) Queensland c) New South Wales

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOM WHEELER (Nice weather)

JUSTIN STEINLAUF (Bagel toaster)

b) Sovereign c) Magnum d) Melchizedek

a) Cab Sauvignon b) Zinfandel c) Pinot Grigio d) Pinot Noir

wine is likely to be ‘tannic’?

Q 8.a)Which White Wine

Q 4. Can red grapes produce white wine? a) No, only red wine c) No, only rosé

SALES EXECUTIVE MIKE RAMSDEN (72 virgins)

has the largest sized bottle?

Q 7.a)Which Piccolo

d) Tasmania

The Coonaware Region is most Q 3.famous for its what?

ACCOUNT MANAGER

b) Yes d) Sometimes

Q 5. What percentage of Australian wine bottles are screw capped? a) 50 per cent b) 85 per cent c) 30 per cent d) 100 per cent

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Which of these places is not an Australian appellation? a) Yarra Valley b) Temecula c) Orange d) King Valley

b) Sparkling Wine c) Red Wine d) Rosé

Q 9. Which best describes Sauv Blanc? a) Dry and oaky b) Green and grassy c) Heavy and tannic d) Soft and sweet

TRISH BAILEY

SUDOKU PUZZLE

WHAT WE DID THIS WEEK CAUGHT SOME WAVES AT BONDI WITH THE ‘LET’S GO SURFING’ GUYS. FOLLOWED UP WITH BEER AND TACOS. NOW THAT’S XMAS IN OZ! WENT TO THE DISAPPOINTING PRIMAL SCREAM GIG. EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AND GOT TROLLED ON TWITTER SAID THAT’S A WRAP TO ANOTHER YEAR OF TNT. THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

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4

6

5

AUSSIE-ISM

2 5

1

6

7

3

1

9 2

4

8 3 5 4

7

1

“STUNNED MULLET”

2

3

9

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

(Christmas cheer)

6

4 5

To be in a complete state of bewilderment or astonishment, utterly dazed and confused about something that has happened. E.g “He just sat there, staring into space like a stunned mullet.”

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