June 11-18 2012 Issue 685 tntdownunder.com
!T ILN W BRIL IAN
A ADVENTUREIE S ON THE AUS SLOPES
WE’LL DRINK TO THAT G Get et tto o grips griips with Sydney’s best bars
LAND OF THE RISING SUN
COUNTING YOUR FLAGS
Japan’s highlights will make you want to go
The guide to bonking and backpacking
A E S O OUT T
pered locals ip fl d n a d re athe lip Island’s fe il h P h it w d ainte We get acqu
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TOM STURROCK EDITOR editor@tntdownunder.com
EDITOR’S LETTER Picking up in exotic locales can be one of the joys of travelling and, this week, we speak to the author of a book about ‘flagging’ – which is, essentially, the art of hooking up with people from as many different countries as possible. We’d love to hear about some of your flagging experiences – have you had much luck when travelling? Or, more likely, any hilarious disasters? After all, they make the better stories.
THIS WEEK OZ DIARY
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CHATROOM
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FILM
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COMPETITION
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TRAVEL
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NEWS
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OPINION
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SPORT
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LISTINGS NSW
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LISTINGS QUEENSLAND
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LISTINGS VICTORIA
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LISTINGS SA
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LISTINGS NT
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LISTINGS TASMANIA
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LISTINGS WA
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LISTINGS NEW ZEALAND
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WORK
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TRIVIAL PURSUITS
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FEATURES BAR FLIES
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A small bar revolution has hit Sydney – check out our favourite pint-sized bars
FLAG POLE
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The author of a book about global shagging explains the art of ‘flagging’
KING PHILLIP
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March with the penguins and explore the wilderness of Phillip Island
SENSEI SAYS
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The sensory delights and the appetising frights from our tour of Japan
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OZDIARY EDITORIAL Editor Tom Sturrock Deputy editor Alex Harmon Editorial assistant Leigh Livingstone Contributors Andrew Westbrook | Jamie Lafferty
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Get your winter woolies on and keep them on until July 1, because King George Square will be transformed into a winter wonderland. There will be loads of things to do, like free ice-skating shows, cosy indoor wood fires, comfort food, and mulled wine. And don’t forget next week’s ‘Skate of Origin’ night, if you come down in your maroon or blue colours, you’ll get a free drink voucher whilst you watch the game on the big screen. FREE
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This long weekend is actually 10 days full of theatre, music, film, cuisine and more. Located at various locations in Noosa Heads, it’s a culture-packed program everyone can enjoy. There are even interactive workshops, so get involved. Ticket info from website.
This festival has the reputation of showcasing the best local and international cabaret acts. It’s not just all Liza and bowler hats though, there are wild and fabulous performances that will leave the audience wanting more. Ticket info from website.
It’s Game Two of the interstate war between the Cockroaches and the Cane Toads. Will Queensland grab their seventh Origin victory or can NSW stage an upset? It’s still anyone’s game and tickets are still available. Get in quick before they sell out.
June 15-24 Noosa Heads, Queensland noosalongweekend.com
Until June 8-23 Adelaide Festival Centre bass.net.au
June 13 ANZ Stadium, Sydney ticketek.com.au
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Small bars boom Sydney’s nightlife used to be a disaster but thanks to a change in the licensing laws, the city is awash with interesting new bars WORDS TOM STURROCK
For many years, it was the ace in the hole for Melbourne – in the battle for inter-city supremacy, the southern capital was always able to fall back on its superior nightlife, on its vibrant, thriving bar scene. Sydney, on the other hand, was wall-to-wall pubs – small ones, big ones, Irish runs, nicer ones crap, all the ones with pokies. But a change in the law means Sydney now boasts its own small bar scene. For so long, Sydney’s problem was that liquor licensing was simply to expensive – the only operators who could afford to enter the market were ones with the budget for enormous watering holes, or ones who already owned a string of such venues and therefore had no interest in departing
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from their tried and test formula. And, of course, none of them could afford to runs their places without having at least a few slot machines – the nicer places had the good grace to hide them, but they were still there, chiming away in a corner. Five years ago, Sydney mayor Clover Moore undertook to transform the city’s drinking culture by introducing the Small Bars Bill, designed to lower the barrier to entry for bar owners and encourage a greater variety of establishments. The results have been spectacular and, consequently, Sydney has become a far more liveable city. Whether you’re working in the city or looking for a place for a drink in the various
suburban enclaves, there’s now far more on offer than a steak and a schooner at the local. So we’ve put our heads together and come up with our favourites – whether you’re coming off Bondi Beach or glamming it up in the eastern suburbs or keeping it real in the inner west, there are more than a handful of places for you to unwind with a cheeky drink. And, of course, if you’re slaving aware in the city, there are an increasing number of hard-tofind places where suits and students socialise alongside one another. So there’s no excuse to keep going baxck to the same dodgy pub to prop up the bar – there’s a big world of small bars to explore.
LIL’ DARLIN’ DARLINGHURST
STICKY BAR SURRY HILLS
The main drag of Kings Cross might be a bit too rough around the edges – particularly on the weekends – but it’s next-door neighbour, Darlinghurst, is bursting with small bars and unique restaurants. And Lil’ Darlin’ is one of the best – combing tapas and cocktails to stunning effect. It’s laidback and inviting on a lazy afternoon but glams up on Friday and Saturday nights, when trendy young things from the east let their hair down. There’s a cracking selection of drinks – try the Lil’ Old Fashioned if you like to taste the booze on the way down – and some vastly superior bar food. The scallops and the calamari, in particular are worth coming back for. In an area renowned for its off-beat nightlife, Lil’ Darlin’ is one to remember.
This tucked-away speakeasy above the communal dining restaurant Table For 20, is said to be Sydney’s first small bar, having quietly opened its doors back in 2006. This was the bar that you’d take cocky Melbournites to, just to show them Sydney could kick it with the big boys. The bar is so exclusive you need to text the owner a password just to get in. It might sound a little ‘too cool for school’ but inside it’s a warm and inviting bar, with comfortable furniture and a killer cocktail list. Go on a Wednesday for the $15 roast served with a glass of wine at Table for 20 and then finish up at Sticky for a nightcap. The stickiness refers to the wine, rather than the floors that you’d be accustomed to in other Surry Hills establishments.
235 Victoria St
lildarlin.com.au
182 Campbell St
tablefor20.blogspot.com.au
THE CROSSING BONDI BEACH
JESTER SEEDS NEWTOWN
Nowhere in Sydney has the effect of the small bar revolution been felt as acutely or as flattering as Bondi. In the past few years, the beachside suburb, once the province of echoey backpacker pubs and beer barns, has become increasingly cosmopolitan. There are licensed cafes on every second corner and underlit wine bars popping up on the backstreets. The Crossing, a stone’s throw from the main drag of Hall St, is one of the snazziest additions – fusing a beachy, outdoor vibe with sleek, comfortable interiors. It’s one of Bondi’s most flashly designed bars but sacrifices nothing in warmth. And, most importantly, the food and drinks are top-notch – wet your whistle with a rockstar margarita, which combines Grand Marnier with tequila.
It’s taken Newtown longer than expected to ride the small bar train but finally, this year, the Jester planted its seed in north King St. Occupying a small, dark space with on-street views, the place has plenty of old furniture and bar-side real estate is ruthless – it reaches capacity with just a few drinkers. Luckily there’s a courtyard at the back with crates to sit on, suiting the moody inner-west crowd. There’s a couple of cheap ciders on the menu but cocktails are expensive. Make like everyone else and drink Dos Blockos. This is the beer that was created by an underground squatting fraternity in New York circa 1990. The pale ale comes in individually stamped brown paper bags. If that’s not the ultimate hipster drink of choice, what is?
13 O’Brien St
thecrossingbondi.com.au
127 King St
jesterseeds.com
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BLACK SHEEP NEWTOWN
MR FALCON’S GLEBE
Taking over where Funky Bar left off, this new wine and live music venue seems to get it right. We never did like the name – when you describe something as ‘funky’ you know it’s going to be bad. The Sheep has style, from the plush chesterfield furniture, fireplace, dark wood and chandeliers to the regal wallpaper you can see from the street. It oozes sophistication but because it’s in the heart of Newtown rather than hidden down a lane, it lacks the pretentious vibe. $15 gets you a Tequila Mockingbird served in a jar or if you like pyrotechnics, go for the Voodoo Doll with vodka, vanilla, and a flaming passionfruit. On the plate they do classic drinking food; sliders, pork rolls and mini corn cobs. Located opposite the Dendy, it’s great for a drink post-cinema.
If you’re planning a night out at one of the fantastic restaurants on Glebe Point Rd – which has fast become one of Sydney’s finest and most diverse restaurant strips – stop in for a drink at Mr Falcon’s beforehand. It’s basically an oldschool terrace with most of its original trimmings still intact. The ground floor is decked out like a plush living room, with vintage sofas and soft chairs scattered throughout. Upstairs, it’s even more homely, with a couple of spacious rooms perfect for groups that want to spread out and make themselves comfotrtable. The service area is basically an old kitchen, the menu scribbled up on its titles. Like most bars, it’s got a range of interersting concoctions but it’s the wine list that really sells the place.
256 King St
blacksheepbar.com.au
mrfalcons.com.au
GRANDMA’S BAR CBD
ASSEMBLY CBD
For so many years, the city was a wasteland when it came to quality bars, then clever old Clover sprinkled some love into the laneways and up sprouted this gem. You’ll find it in the basement underneath a guitar store. Walking in, you’ll be charmed by the astro-turf, rickety bricks and old-fashioned lampshades – if not the daily punch served in tin mugs – will win you over. Somehow the owners (they call themselves the grandkids) have created Nanna-chic. Perhaps the concept was a dig at Clover’s critics, who say she’s turning Sydney into a ‘Nanny state’. Or perhaps it’s just a nice way to get some good old-fashioned kitsch in a bar. The bowls of candy in the bathrooms and the Jaffles (toasted sandwiches) on the menu promise to warm even the most hardened of city drinkers.
This is one of the newest small bars to hit the CBD laneway maze, although you’ll find it underneath an escalator in what appears to be an office building. Nonetheless, Assembly isn’t like those horrible hour-long announcements you had to sit through every week. In fact, there’s nothing school-like about it. The decor consists of industrial products that have been given new life as furniture. From the cocktail list, try a Problem Solver, a whisky-based drink with hints of sweet maraschino cherry. The bartenders will tell you it’s “the solution to – and in some cases the result of – all life’s problems.” If that’s not your thing, stick with cider, they do Monteith’s by the bottle. Be warned, the twisting staircase should not be attempted after a few too many frosties.
Basement, 275 Clarence St
8
92 Glebe Point Rd
grandmasbarsydney.com.au
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488 Kent St
assemblybar.com.au
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Jeff Martin The Tea Party lead singer has set up camp in Byron Bay but is nonetheless planning new material after the Canadian rockers complete their reunion tour of Australia INTERVIEW LEIGH LIVINGSTONE
priority to us but I have my solo career and also my career as a producer which is very busy, then Jeff and Stuart have the same but different – they are very busy in their own solo affairs as well. I think the plan is that after this Australian tour, either if we do it here while we’re all together or immediately afterwards. Do you still have a studio in Ireland? I have a studio that is not being used. It’s just kind of sitting there but I have built a new studio here for my purposes, where my house is in Byron.
“We all felt we were at the top of our game” Where are you living now? Just outside of Byron, a beautiful spot. It’s like paradise, like living in paradise every day. Of course I have family and friends here now too. You’ve travelled a lot with The Tea Party – is there a place you would still really like to visit? We’ve travelled pretty much everywhere but I’d really like to see South America. I’m really interested in music from that part of the world. What prompted the Tea Party reunion? It’s been years so there has been a lot of water under the bridge, some time to heal a few things between the three of us. So I think collectively we just felt that if we were going to do it and do it properly, make it so that it is relevant again. Not just a reunion for the sake of a reunion now is the time to do it because the three of us also felt that we are at the top of our game. If the concerts in June and then November in Canada have anything to say about themselves, that’s exactly true.
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Who influenced you growing up? It started off with The Beatles, especially with Sgt Peppers, when they started experimenting with world music that was a big influence on me. The blues was a massive influence because my father was a big blues aficionado; he had a massive blues collection. As a seven- or eightyear-old little boy that’s what I started learning on the guitar, that was a great education from the onset, especially if you’re going to be a rock musician, you gotta have that background. Will there be any new music coming from The Tea Party? Absolutely. The only thing is with me living here, Jeff and Stuart living in Canada it’s just a case of all of our busy schedules. The Tea Party is a
What is the most unique instrument you’ve ever used? My girlfriend, Kate, got me a rabab, which is a stringed instrument from Afghanistan. She didn’t even know what it was. I had been looking for one of these ever since I had been searching for instruments, but they are very hard to come by. She just happened to get one thinking that it looked exotic enough that Jeff would love this, so that was great. I ended up putting it in a side project. I’ll probably use it more in the future, that’s a pretty peculiar one. I don’t think a rabab has ever been used in rock and roll music. She found it in Brisbane; there is an importer that has brought in Afghani rugs so it was actually smuggled into the country. The Tea Party play Melbourne, July 14; Brisbane, July 17; Sydney, July 21; Adelaide, July 24; Perth, July 26 teaparty.com
Photos: Getty Images
What do you think of the term ‘Moroccan roll’ used to describe your music? I think it’s justified – that’s what The Tea Party has been known for and will be known for if
there is a future in there. We are the rock band that successfully infuses Middle Eastern, EastIndian tangents into rock music. So much so that it’s quite a compliment now that if any rock band these days attempts to do something like that they immediately get compared to The Tea Party, that is quite a thing to achieve. When The Tea Party started out and our wings were wet with our influences, we were getting compared all the time. I was Jim Morrison singing in Led Zeppelin or whatever and then that went away quite fast.
What is your favourite Tea Party album? I am the main songwriter and also producer of The Tea Party so every record has its special place for me. I think there are bigger statements than others, like The Edges Of Twilight was a massive musical statement, and the same with Transmission. Whereas a record like Triptych was more accessible, so each record plays a different part. If I was a betting man I would kind of let the fans in on the fact that the way that my head space is and what I am thinking for the future of The Tea Party is a modern reboot of what The Edges Of Twilight and Transmission were.
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That awkward moment when Lindsay Lohan shows up to babysit
FRIENDS WITH KIDS FILM review by Alex Harmon STARRING: Jennifer Westfeldt, John Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Chris O’Dowd | M | 107mins
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FILM preview STARRING: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans | M | 95mins
The latest film in the franchise focuses on the untold story of Peter Parker’s journey to the tight-fitting red suit. This time around, Parker (Garfield) discovers a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. We also see him fall in love with brainy it-girl, Emma Stone. Will it attract an audience? Visually it looks promising but, more likely, the ‘action with teen angst’ genre should be left in the Michael J Fox time capsule.
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Believing that family planning doesn’t always go to plan, two friends decide to beat the system by having a child together. But what starts out as ‘Bridesmaids with kids’ sadly deteriorates into the well-worn romantic comedy formula. Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) are two friends living in Manhattan who have never been romantically involved. After watching their friends fall into the baby fold – which, for New Yorkers, means moving to Brooklyn and forgoing a social life – they decide to have a baby with no strings attached so they can date other people without marital strain bringing them down. Yes, the stellar Bridesmaids cast are there – the couples are switched around and it’s further twisted by the fact Westfeldt is married to Hamm in real life – but their talents are wasted. Wiig is tremendously disappointing as the bitter old drunk. She’s a mere secondary character, whose direction involves exaggerated facial expressions and wallowing in her wine glass. O’Dowd plays the honest, nice guy to his strength but his character is again too minor to be developed. A ski-trip crescendo has some great revelations and Megan Fox as the apathetic girlfriend caught up in the group’s mid-life crises surprises with her comedic skill. The outcome is obvious, which is fine if it were a Jennifer Aniston-at-the-helm kind of film, but fans of Saturday Night Live will be disappointed by their streetcred players selling out for rom-com fluff. GOOD FOR: The shitty-nappy reality check for films like Friends with Benefits
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ENTERTAINMENTFOCUS
Flying the flags Hooking up with people from other countries is a staple of youth travel and a new book delves into the world of ‘flagging’ WORDS TOM STURROCK
Casual sex and travel go hand-in-hand – young people bouncing form one corner of the globe to another, unattached and intent on expanding their horizons, can often find themselves sharing a bed with someone they met in a bar or a hostel the night before. For many, this kind of no-strings encounter is a highlight of any jaunt. Next time you fall into bed with a raunchy exotic, though, at least make a mental note of their nationality – that way, you can claim another flag. Yes, another flag – that’s the principle of flagging, the craze which involves ticking and bonking your way through an international checklist of various nationalities. And according, to Evan Smith, co-author of Destination Fornication: The Field Guide For Flaggers, some flags are easier to collect than others. “Your own flag doesn’t count but if you’re an Aussie, for example, then New Zealand, Canada and English are pretty easy,” Smith, known in the flagging community as The Hunger, explains. “And the English also rank top of the most promiscuous list, so there you go. “At the other end, the Vatican flag is basically uncapturable – no one is born there. Let’s say you had sex with the Pope – that would actually end up being the German flag. Then there’s North Korea, which is hard to get to; Saudi Arabia, there’s the religious factor; Bhutan, because of its geographical isolation; Swaziland, there’s a lot of disease.” Proof of The Hunger’s commitment, though, is the fact he has managed to claim one of these rare, sought after flags, although not without igniting some controversy. “I did actually capture the Saudi flag, although it is in dispute,” he says. “I was living in the Middle East and hooked up with a Saudi girl, but she was also British. Does it count? I’ll take it. You have to put yourself in an environment where that’s possible.” The Hunger, 28, hails from Sydney but has spent much of the past decade overseas, including a stint working in hostels in France and later teaching English in the Middle East – hence the Saudi conquest. Flagging, he says, is merely a neat
“
He unknowingly slept with a prostitute – paid for flags don’t count
”
name for the between-the-sheets adventures young, globetrotting travellers have been pursuing for years. “Backpackers like to party, travel and hook up – that’s a big part of it,” he says. “Whether you’re into a French guy or a French girl, there’s always an interest in the exotic. And, these days, the world’s more mixed up and more accessible. If you look at life in any hostel or on a Contiki tour, people are hooking up and it’s a way of learning about the world at the same time.” That said, The Hunger’s co-authour and partner-in-crime, a connoisseur of flagging known as Atlas Al, found himself in some hot water in his quest for the Vietnamese flag – it’s a cautionary tale that opens their part-memoirs, partinstructional guide. “He unknowingly slept with a prostitute,” The Hunger explains. “He thought he had picked up legit but then she asked for money. Prostitutes can be really visible in some parts of the world but we don’t want to encourage that – paid for flags don’t count. “Another time, we thought we were going to meet some nice Lebanese girls but we ended up with some of the local mafia. It just shows that you need to know the environment.” This immersion theory forms the bedrock of The Hunger’s guide to successful flagging. If you want to collect the hardto-acquire flags, you have to be willing to go the extra mile. Once you get past the easier flags, he insists, the rest require some hustle and determination. “You need to understand something about the country,” he says. “You’ve got to give yourself a chance – take the
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The Saudi flag is notoriously hard to get
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so don’t limit the possibilities by sitting around waiting for something to happen.” There are other rules as well, mostly designed to prevent cynical flaggers from inflating their haul without doing the hard work. “Well, it’s one flag per shag – if someone has two passports, you don’t get to claim both,” The Hunger says. “Blowjobs don’t count – you actually have to shag. And it’s not always about how many – if you’re obsessed with the quality will suffer. It’s more about an number, then the q interest in the world and in fine women. Is someone wo with 50 flags better bett than someone with five? No – it’s about the cool story.” sto It is this premise premis – that the adventure itself is the object – that underpins the ‘weighted flag theory’. un “Picking up u a Uruguayan in Uruguay, for worth more,” The Hunger says. “It example, is w balls, for a start, and it means you takes more b outside your comfort-zone. Are you have to go o going to be a tourist or an explorer? You don’t want to take the McDonald’s version of travel trave – stand here, take the same old picture. You don’t have to do what p everyone else does.” And, ultimately, flagging adds to the fun of travel. “Flagging is mostly for guys, I guess, but also for girls,” The Hunger g says. “We just want people to go out s there and have a look, have fun and enjoy the adventure.” Destination Fornication: The Field D G Guide For Flaggers is out now flaggingheadquarters.com
Photos: Thinkstock
pulse of these places, think like a local and adapt. You can’t expect to go where tourists go and pick up.” It’s a recurring motif in the flagging manifesto – to succeed, you need to be able think on your feet and roll with the punches. You need to be daring enough to improvise. If you sleepwalk your way through a trip, following the crowd, you’ll come home empty-handed. The Hunger has some plenty of sage advice for would-be flaggers. “I think, if you’re a guy in Sydney, y, hanging out at the Ivy or the Golden Sheaf – he might ght do well in that environment, but might then struggle gle overseas,” The Hunger explains. “For example, he goes to Argentina without bothering to learn Spanish – the point is that you have to recalibrate and adapt. The typical Aussie, for instance, might not ot do too well in a Parisian café – there’s no one style that works everywhere.” Of course, there are some slightly y more cut-and-dry guidelines, some handy hints gleaned from years of observation and sniffing around backpacker bars and hostels. “There are a few unofficial laws,” ” The Hunger says. “Generally, girls prefer to shag the night before they leave, because they want to avoid that walk of shame situation. If there’s a group of people in a hostel, you have to lead – don’t be passive, because nothing will happen. And if you go to a location, there will two or three hree hot girls who have guys hanging around ound them, and you can just waste so much ch time – it’s fine to have a crack but there’s a whole city,
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WINNER
WEEKLY WINNER ALARM BELLS Lisa Frankel, 25, from Australia LISA SAYS: “Sunset over Mount Warning in the Great Diving Range” WE SAY: “We love that the lush green roadside is in stark contrast to the dilapidated farmhouse on the left. Also the photographer has captured a great moment in the sunset, halfway in its descent behind Mount Warning.“ THE MONTHLY WINNER GETS THREE DAYS CAR HIRE FROM TRAVELLERS AUTOBARN Send high-res (300 dpi) jpegs with name, age, nationality and a description to: alex@tntdownunder.com. Photos are judged by the TNT team at their own discretion.
Weekly winner Lisa wins a free night’s stay at the award-winning Sydney Central YHA (yha.com.au). The monthly winner gets three days’ car hire from Travellers Auto Barn. The runner-up wins a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling adventure and cruise with Awesome Adventures Oz (awesomeoz. com).
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WIN
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OUR TROY’S PEOPLE ARE OUR BIGGEST ASSET. Working with Troys you can expect that you will have regular work with some of Sydney’s most reputable hospitality venues, events and establishments. We currently have work available for experienced and Qualified Chefs and Kitchen professionals, in a wide variety of establishments throughout Sydney. YOU WILL HAVE; For Chefs, Trade Qualifications and a minimum 2yrs post - apprenticeship experience • A valid Driver’s License and your own transport is an advantage • Professional attitude • Good Communication • Willingness to travel • Your own uniform For Kitchen staff, Food preparation experience • Experience in clearing tables and wash up • A TAFE Workplace Hygiene (Food Handlers) Certificate, equivalent or a willingness to acquire a certificate • A valid Driver’s License and your own transport is an advantage • Good Communication • Willingness to travel • Your own uniform IN RETURN YOU WILL BE: • Become a member of a great team of hospitality professionals • Able to work flexible hours to suit your availability
For the highest quality hospitality staffing solutions or for job opportunities call (02) 9290 2955 to speak to a Troys consultant AND if applying for work please email your resume to info@troys.com.au
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TRAVELCHAT
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Rocking the Cradle
A TRAVELLER’S TALL TALE
YOU ASKED FOR IT... WE ANSWER YOUR TRAVEL QUESTIONS
going to Tasmania and would like Q Itoamknow where you think are the best
Australia’s finest, a six-day jaunt through alpine moors, old growth forests and rocky landscapes.
places to visit. Suz Morgan, Canada
A
Lovely Hobart is an old seafaring city, surprisingly sophisticated and cultural for such a small place. The Tasman Peninsula is where you’ll find wild coastal scenery and one of the island’s premier attractions, the Port Arthur convict settlement. It’s hard to believe this beautiful, serene setting was once the scene of such dreadful acts. Along the north and east coasts are a string of small beach towns and the magnificent Freycinet National Park, famous for the beautiful Wineglass Bay. The rugged west coast is home to the almost impenetrable Southwest Wilderness and the quaint town of Strahan. The star of the whole Tassie show is Cradle Mountain, and the spectacular jagged peaks are the starting point of a number of excellent walks. The Overland Track is perhaps
got two days in Perth – what Q I’ve should I do? Ian Jones, UK ferry to Fremantle is the perfect way A The to explore the Swan River. Historic Freo is Perth’s port town, swallowed by the city’s suburban spread but still keeping its salty seaside persona. It’s home to some fine colonial architecture, with the old jail, market and Roundhouse all worth a gander, while the old pubs along South Terrace. Afterwards, down a cleansing pale ale at the Little Creatures brewery, a favourite among locals. Perth’s beaches are a great place to wind down at the end of a long day’s sightseeing, with Scarborough and Cottesloe particularly beautiful as the sun sets. After dark, taxi to Northbridge for a night of food, booze and frivolity.
CHECKING IN THE PICKLED FROG (TASMANIA)
OVERVIEW The bright green hostel in Hobart is pretty hard to miss. A converted pub, it has a friendly, social vibe. With $1 pool, table ball, board games, cheap Tasmanian beer and a
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hammocked “chill corner”. The hostel lives up to its ‘green’ name too, caring for the environment. ROOMS There’s three to 12-bed dorms, plus doubles. BILL PLEASE A bed in a 12-bed mixed dorm from $23/night. 281 Liverpool St, Hobart thepickledfrog.com.au
Rolling into Christchurch I rang up Kiwi Experience to get my journey on the road. Having the reputation of being the ‘big green sex machine’, the Kiwi bus is known for its partying – and it sure does live up to its reputation. On the first day, our driver organises a three-legged bar crawl. Me and my new ‘partner’ sprinted to the pub on a mission to win. But, a pint, some drinking games, and a couple of shots of Sambucca later he needs a toilet stop. Shockingly enough there’s no getting away for me. Shuffling through the crowd, heading toward the men’s, I know things are going to get intimate. People say that you’ll come back from your travels with millions of stories – I didn’t think one of mine would involve being in a small Kiwi town, in the gents, tied to someone I’ve just met while they pee. It doesn’t stop there. In between hiking glaciers, and throwing ourselves out of planes from 15,000ft in the air, swimming with dolphins and learning about Maori culture we continue partying hard – and that’s before we even reached Queenstown. Priyal Dadhania, UK
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Send us your scary, funny or embarrassing travel tale and, if published, you’ll win a $250 travel voucher redeemable on Oz Experience passes (ozexperience.com), ATA NT camping trips (adventuretours.com.au) and with Wayward Bus (waywardbus. com.au). Email your stories (700 words max), to alex@tntdownunder.com
TRAVELWEEKENDER
Life’s a beach This is Noosa in 48 hours WORDS ALEX HARMON
DAY 1:xIt was once a sleepy little surfer town, but over the years Noosa has grown into stylish resort town with a bustling hub of restaurants and bars. In the epicentre of it all, you'll find Hastings St, which will spoil you food-lovers with choice along the water’s edge. 8:00: The sun, the surf and the adventure on offer means a big breakfast is in order, head to Canteen and fuel up on their corn fritter breakfast with bacon and avocado. Wash it down with a banana milkshake –Queensland has the best bananas in the country, after all. 9:00: Take a short boat trip along the beautiful Noosa River to Jew Shoal for your Scuba Diving (divenoosa.com) adventure. Noosa is famous for its caves with several large swim throughs filled with marine life. As you dive, discover the coral trout, perch, and snapper, to name a few. 12:00: During June Noosa comes to life with the Noosa Long Weekend (noosalongweekend.com) which actually runs for 10 days. Try and catch the Street Beach Promenade Lunch – it’s a delectable seaside fare that starts in Noosa’s famous Hastings Street and ends at another famous place – the beach. 15:00: Spend your afternoon at one of Australia’s biggest animal farms – the Australia Zoo (australiazoo.com. au) about 30 minutes from Noosa. It’ll cost you $5 to take the shuttle bus and once you’re there, check out Australia’s biggest collection of wildlife. Get up close and personal with a koala (you can't do that in other states, you know), snakes,
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and even those charming little Tasmanian devils. 17:30: Nearby, get the blood pumping again at the Big Kart Track (bigkart.com.au) the biggest and fastest commercial go-kart track in the country. Test your skills and your friendships on the 1200m long racetrack 18:00: Back on two feet, make tracks to Burger Bar (burgerbar.com.au) indisputably the best burgers in town. Spice up your life with the Jamaican and chilli burger. They call themselves a non-robotic business, so expect burgers with heart and friendly service. 20:00: Treat yourself on one of Noosa’s balmy evenings at Laguna Jacks (lagunajacks.com.au). On Hastings St, it’s Noosa's newest bar and cellar, they have over 500 wines and 103 beers from around the world. Or, if you want to be a true backpacker, you can even buy a bottle of wine from their integrated bottle shop and drink it in the bar. 21:30: Once you’re in the mood, it’s time to check out your hostel bar: KB’s at Noosa Nomads (nomads.com.au) with live music most nights and drinking games galore. DAY 2: 9:00: Wash away the hangover at Noosa Main Beach, just a short stroll from your hostel. While you’re there, get boarded up for a Surfing lesson (learntosurf.com. au). In the soft, rolling waves become one with your board and learn the art of wave-riding with a qualified instructor. 12:00: Back on the sand, head inland to the world’s most photographed pub. The Ettamogah Pub(aussieworld. com.au/content/ettamogah-pub), is an iconic Aussie pub
What lies beneath
that was built in 1989. The word “ettamogah” is Aboriginal for “place of good drink”. It’s an impressive 18m in height and has a quirky shape and caricature appearance. You can get traditional Aussie pub meals and of course, ice cold beer. 14:00: While you’re there, check out the thrills and spills of Aussie World (aussieworld.com.au) the theme park that is more Aussie than Steve Irwin at an Australia Day BBQ. Jump on the giant slides, rollercoasters and mini golf while devouring weird and wonderful Aussie carnival food. 18:00: Back in town, watch the sunset over you gallop along beautiful Noosa River System on a Horse riding adventure (noosahorseriding.com.au). Throughout your ride, enjoy views of the famous Noosa Heads south to Sunshine Beach and down to Perigian Beach and Noosa National Park. Be sure to look out for stingrays and the abundant birdlife in and around the lake. 20:30: Unwind with a late dinner at Zachary’s (zacharys. com.au) a shabby chic pizza joint on Hastings Street. Try their famous Moroccan lamb with caramelised onion, hummus and spinach. Or if you want to try something a bit fancy, how about their award-winning Hoisin Duck Pizza with fresh chilli, cashews and cucumber? 10:30: Try and fit in one more drink at the Noosa Surf Club overlooking the beach. There are over 30 beers to choose from on tap an extensive cocktail list. On weekends they have live music and during the week there’s karaoke so, one way or another, you’ll leave Noosa on a high note.
Noosa’s own street art
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Phillip Island VICTORIA
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Heading back to the island If you fancy a short road-trip out of Melbourne, go and explore the beaches of Phillip Island, which teem with unique wildlife WORDS ANDREW WESTBROOK
The darkness is just about upon us when hushed whispers spread excitedly through the group – the telltale white bellies of the penguins have been spotted by the water’s edge. They waddle forwards and then backwards again nervously, unsure if any birds of prey still linger. And suddenly, as if reacting to a starter’s gun, they’re off, storming the open stretch of dangerous sand like a D-Day landing party, moving in groups of 10 or 20 for safety. Within a minute, they’re right by our sides and it’s party time. The little penguins, which, at under 50cm of charismatic cuteness, are the world’s smallest, have made it. They’ve survived the daily commute one more time and now stand together, preening, chatting and seemingly oblivious to us gawping at them like idiots from just a metre or two away – although I’m guessing there’s one or two penguin posers secretly loving it. Every few minutes, the group swells, another and then another platoon arriving, out of breath and jubilant, to join the nightly celebrations. Once fully preened and gossiped out, they begin the waddle back to their respective homes.
from Melbourne, is one of the most popular getaways from the Victorian capital. The island’s unbearably cute black and white locals are clearly its main draw. However, there’s much, much more to this 26km-long island. My first port of call on arrival is to head up to the island’s northern tip and have a gander at the enticingly named Nobbies. As I walking around the jagged rocks as waves dramatically crash into the shore as though they’ve been eagerly dreaming of the moment for 1,000km – and they probably have – walls of spray are created while blowholes er, blow, whichever way I look. Sealing the deal People made nervous by Hitchcock films should probably avoid the area, as the skies are filled with birds. Crested terns, hooded plovers, short-tailed shearwate – they are just three of the winged creatures that apparently love the area. And just off the shore lie the jutting rocks which are the
Featherweight friends Strolling along the network of boardwalks I follow their excited chatter, joining them for the final leg as the night fills with the sounds of hot pingu loving and babies demanding regurgitated fish. I can’t deny the fact I’ve always been a sucker for a cute bird, but this is something else. With a population of around 70,000 little penguins – 6,000 of which are in the penguin parade area – the Summerland Peninsula hosts one of the biggest penguin colonies on the planet. And it shows. Black and white bundles of feathers and fluff are everywhere I look. I see literally hundreds of them, jumping in holes, squawking in bushes or simply waddling contentedly down the track, while tourists “ooo” and “ahhh” like schoolgirls on every side. When I eventually dragging myself away, there’s only one thought on my mind, “I want a penguin”. I’m on Phillip Island which, less than a couple of hours drive
You’d be grumpy too if you had to eat leaves all day
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[Caption]
People lose their shit over fairy penguins Nobbies themselves. These slabs of stone rising from the I stroll into the Rhyll Trout and Bush Tucker Farm intent frothy waters are where 25,000 fur seals call home, giving on catching my lunch. I grab a rod, get shown how to put birth to over 5,000 pups a year. the bait on and cast it, before sitting back to bask in the The 25,000 seals all jostling for space on this tiny corner sun. Half-an-hour later and nothing has happened. At least of this small Victorian island are actually a quarter of the I don’t think it has. I mean, how hard does a fish pull? Maybe entire Australian fur seal population. This is great. I mean, I missed it. But then suddenly, I really know it’s on. Some seals, what’s not to love? Well, there’s one thing. Wherever water-sucking monster is trying to steal my rod! you get lots of seals, you get big sharks. And wherever you I get to work and within a minute or so he’s on the shore, get crazy big numbers of seals, you get crazy big sharks, my very own 450g trout. Okay, maybe not the giant I’d which kind of explains why some of the biggest Great Whites imagined, but the feeling of catching my first fish is strangely ever caught have been caught off Phillip Island. exciting. Better yet, I take it straight to the kitchen and within Again, that’s kinda cool. But right now I’m finding half an hour it’s been baked with Kakadu plum, lime it a very long way from cool. The reason? I’m and chilli. It’s truly delicious, even if I do pulling on my sexy seal-like wetsuit for a surf get disturbingly hyped about eating my lesson. Meeting my instructor Ash, I’m quick to own kill for the first time. raise my concerns. A thousand pictures later, I leave the “Ah, don’t worry,” he quickly reassures me. and head back to Melbourne, amazed Mount Mulligan: “The sharks are too big to worry about us.” that so much could be crammed into one We head north for “Great”, I think, taking a final fond look tiny island so close to the city. ❚ a spot of outback at my arms and legs. Very reassuring. cattle-rustling “But seriously,” Ash continues, “they’re definitely out there, but I’ve never seen one surfing here in all my years.”
NEXT WEEK
Man against beast And so, wetsuits donned and a few right hooks to a shark nose mentally rehearsed, we take to the water. Within a surprisingly short time, I’ve completely forgotten about looking for fins as I concentrate on keeping my footing on the longboard, whooping with joy every time I manage to briefly stay up and ride a wave. After a few hours, I’m exhilarated, hooked and still alive, but I’m exhausted, so crawl out of the water, all limbs still attached. By now, however, I’ve built myself up a serious hunger and so go in search of food.
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Why not stop for a bite?
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Tickets to the
Penguins and more
plus overnight accommodation Mention th at time of is ad booki and receiv ng ea
only $67
FREE $10 WIFI vouch
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ning dwin Awar 0 Best 201 entally nm v En iro ainable sust gn desi
S at Phillip Island’s newest Stay aaccommodation facility, The Island Accommodation and receive one Phillip Island Nature Parks Adult 3 Parks Pass, all for the one price of $67*
Mention this ad and receive a souvenir map or room upgrade (subject to availability
To celebrate the opening of the Phillip Island’s newest accommodation facility, this special offer has been developed for backpackers to experience everything that Phillip Island has to offer; we’re talking penguins, koalas, seals, farming activities, beaches and of course a brand new backpacker complex! To find out more or to book simply visit theislandaccommodation.com.au call 03 5956 6123 or email info@theislandaccommodation.com.au
Terms and Conditions *Offer valid until 15/12/2013, subject to availability. Transport and transfers not included. Offer not valid with any other offer. The Island Accommodation room provided is a 12 person multi-share room. Phillip Island Nature Parks 3 Parks Pass ticket is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase and includes admission into the Penguin Parade Standard Viewing, Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island (Nobbies free entry). *Pricing may change without notice.
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Japan
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What’s big in Japan? During an odyssey taking in all 47 prefectures in 100 days, we discover ice monsters, Little Britain and the joy of raw chicken WORDS JAMIE LAFFERTY
Although technically on a giant free holiday, my fiancée and I quickly discover that travelling through Japan is not as easy as it sounds. It’s huge – from north to south, it stretches further than London to Moscow – and simply covering the distance is a challenge. Pickled egg, marinated fish and fermented beans can be hard to stomach for breakfast some mornings, too. But between the generosity of the people, the vast brilliance of the countryside and the endless combinations of fantastic food, we’re wellcompensated. Among the strange, wonderful experiences of the tour were a handful of particularly memorable highlights. The best of British Fukushima
WHEN TO GO: January to April is generally dry and sunny in Japan. The famous cherry blossom season begins in late March and is in full bloom throughout April. The rainy season begins May to early July. August is hot and humid, and typhoon season is at its peak August to September. October to December is warm and a low season for tourists. CURRENCY: Japanese yen. $1 = 77JPY ACCOMMODATION: K’s House Tokyo does dorm beds from $36 a night, with 24-hour hot showers included. SEE: seejapan.co.uk
From the moment the car turns into the drive, something changes. We have, it seems, gone through a wormhole and ended up back in Britain – the buildings are British, the currency is the pound and everyone speaks English. Odd, very odd, especially as we’re in Fukushima, the now notorious prefecture north of Tokyo. The only un-British thing here is the radiation reading. While it’s unlikely you’d pick British Hills as a holiday destination in itself, it makes a great stop for those pining for the West: the buildings were all built in the UK first, disassembled and rebuilt here; roast beef and Yorkshire puddings are on the menu; and there’s an eerily authentic pub. The chicken or the horse Nagano Tucked away in an alley not far from the train station in Matsumoto, Nagano, lies Tori Shin, a small yakitori restaurant. It serves toriwasa: uncooked chicken. Or almost uncooked. Crucially, toriwasa isn’t absolutely raw – it’s boiled for 30 seconds to give it a millimetre of white coating, which is just enough to kill any bacteria. The opaque pinkness on
the inside is totally safe, and utterly delicious. Seasoned with wasabi, there’s a little sake, a little salt and a lot of tenderness. Don’t fancy it? Matsumoto’s other speciality is raw horse meat. The way of the wanko Iwate
There are various stories about how the practice of wanko soba came to be. One says that a feudal lord passing through Iwate on his way north stopped at a small inn and demanded something to eat. The humble owners produced one small bowl of cold noodles in the hope it would appease him – or maybe put him off altogether. Unfortunately, he loved it, and demanded more. Today that gluttonous spirit lives on throughout the prefecture: the idea is simply to eat as many small bowls of buckwheat noodles as you can. In the city of Hanamaki, this is done with a waitress standing over you, dishing out more and more until you surrender. The record for consumption stands at an impossible-sounding 250 bowls, but anything approaching 100 is disgustingly brilliant. Studio Ghibli Tokyo Yes, it’s the home of a massive studio that produces cartoons for children but comparing the Studio Ghibli museum to Disneyland would be like comparing Kobe beef to McDonald’s. Walking around this place on the outskirts of Tokyo is like walking around inside the brain of Hayao Miyazaki, the brilliant animator behind the studio – and, perhaps most famously, the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. Even if you’re not too familiar with his work, this museum is still magical: alongside the swathes of film memorabilia, there’s a gallery unlocking the secrets of animation, and a cinema screening original Ghibli work, just in case you’re not sure what all the fuss is about.
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Namahage Inc: Frightening children since feudal times Monkey see, monkey do Nagano Even if you don’t know the snow monkeys of Nagano, you know the snow monkeys of Nagano. Used in countless adverts and nature documentaries over the years, the redfaced, Japanese macaques are among the most famous simians in the world. Traditionally, the monkeys go for a bath in the onsen (hot-spring) water only in winter, when the snow in this prefecture is deep and lasting. But such is the popularity of the monkeys now, and the tourists’ desire to get those National Geographic shots of them bathing, that they are gently cajoled into the water with food any time from autumn. So an unnatural phenomenon has become more so, but for about six months of the year, you can watch them do their thing at the Jigokudani Park near Yamanouchi.
opportunities in Japan, and while there may be prefectures with better powder than Yamagata, there aren’t many that have anything quite so spectacular as the snow monsters. Fierce winds blow moist air up to the peaks of Mount Zao, which in turn clings to frozen pine trees near the mountaintop, and by January the weird creatures have arrived. Any hint that a tree lies underneath has been smothered completely, giving the impression of colossal white creatures lurching over you as you navigate the run. There’s good news at the bottom: the town of Zao has one of the warmest, most plentiful hot springs in the country.
The sensei’s boom stick Niigata In the south of Sado Island, in an enormous dojo – a gathering place for students of martial arts – we watch 56-year-old Sensei and Kodo veteran Shinichi Sogo demonstrate his formidable 30 years of experience on the traditional Taiko drums. Kodo is a drumming troupe, based on the island, that performs the traditional rhythms of regional Japan around the world. The sticks used are typically very light, but this Sensei wields a chunk of oak the size of a baseball bat and the weight of a bowling ball. You could bludgeon a horse to death with this thing. He invites us to put a hand on one side of the biggest drum, before he moves around the other side and, one-handed, attacks it like a deranged executioner. Our hands feel as if they are being scalded for being naughty as they jump off the leather. The ice monsters cometh Yamagata At the right time of year, there are almost endless skiing
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Riding in style
Devils in disguise, Akita When watching a video of Namahage, the traditional bogeyman, in action, it can be hard to know when you’re supposed to laugh, if at all. In the appropriately named Oga district of Akita prefecture, a museum dedicated to the marauding ogres shows them in action, trying to snatch screeching children from their homes. The parents play dumb, making half-hearted pleas with the monstrous raiders: “Oh no, Mr Namahage, I’m sure he’ll do his homework on time if you just spare his life!” The whole thing is hilarious for everyone – other than the kids, of course. You might have the smile wiped off your face, though, if you hang around for one of the daily Namahage re-enactments which, like all the best Japanese horrors, is made more scary by the fact that you can’t understand what they’re saying.
“
It’s scarier for the fact you can’t understand what they’re saying
”
Stand up sushi, Tokyo If you’re not careful with sushi, you can spend an awful lot for very little. But anywhere close to Tokyo’s vast Tsukiji fish market – one of the capital’s most popular attractions, and one of the largest wholesale food markets in the world – shouldn’t have any excuses for giving you substandard seafood. We can’t find anything better than Chiyoda Sushi. It might be a humble, unspectacular stand-up joint but everything we try is a winner – even stuff we’d normally avoid, like eel. Best of all, the money saved on seats is passed on to the punters: the superlative sushi is generally just Y80 ($1) per piece. ❚
The Insider’s guide Eric Demay is a French expat living and working in Kanazawa for The Real Japan, a tour company that builds itineraries for guests. What advice would you give to people who are thinking of coming to Japan? My advice is to come soon! Before the earthquake, because Japan was so popular with international travellers. Large tour groups could be quite noisy and disturb the experience of visiting a Zen temple. Those tourists have not yet returned and you should come before they do.
NEXT WEEK
What about those who are nervous about radiation? Radiation is scary because we, as Bolivia: We ride citizens, know so little about it. Everyone a motorbike across should check on the internet the levels the salt deserts of radiation in the main cities of the world and the place where they live. Many will be surprised to learn the radiation level in Kyoto is half as much as New York and a third as much as Hong Kong. Japan is a notoriously expensive holiday destination. How can travellers save money? The best way to visit on a budget is to avoid the Japanese domestic holidays – Golden Week in May and Obon Week in August – as hotels dramatically increase their rates. The other great way to save is the Japan Rail Pass, purchased outside Japan, that gives you unlimited travel on most trains on the JR network for a certain period of time. What is your favourite time of year in the country? Spring, from the end of March until May. Flowers and cherry trees blossom and the weather is warm without being too hot.
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Clearly Ray Bans weren’t consulted
GOGGLES WILL TRICK BUT WON’T TREAT JAPAN
Japanese scientists have developed a set of revolutionary new ‘diet goggles’ which trick over-indulgent eaters into eating less food. By wearing a pair of the bespoke glasses the consumer will “have eyes too big for their belly”, with the shades being specifically designed to make food appear up to 50 per cent larger than it actually is. The goggles can also convince people that they’re eating a sweet snack when they are eating something savory. Researchers at the University of Tokyo say the illusion tricks a person’s brain into thinking they are about to eat super-sized portions, while the wearer’s hand remains normal size. The glasses have not been released commercially yet.
Nice day for it: Sydney was last week lashed by wild weather with stirred up punished storns laong the coastline. Still, this is old dear wasn’t going to give up her morning walk. Although, heading out in her dressing gown seems a strange idea after allegations of corruption rocked the studio, the US pulled the $20m funding.
DOWN AND OUT ON SESAME STREET UNITED STATES
The US has withdrawn support from a Pakistani version of Sesame Street after allegations of corruption. The TV show, which includes Elmo and a host of new Pakistani characters, first aired last year and was supposed to run for at least three seasons. It’s led by a vivacious six-year-old girl named Rani who loves cricket and traditional Pakistani music. Her sidekick, Munna, is a five-year-old boy obsessed with numbers and banging away on Pakistani bongo drums, or tabla. Another regular character is Haseen O Jameel, a vain crocodile who lives at the bottom of a well. The creators hoped it would improve education and increase tolerance. However,
RENEGADE CHEESE ROLLERS RETURN UNITED KINGDOM
Hardcore cheese tumblers staged their own unofficial event after the worldfamous Cheese Rolling was officially cancelled in 2010. Competitors took part in four races down the 1:2 gradient slope – three men’s races and a women’s – with the final men’s race held with a ‘’Jubilee cheese’’. The annual Gloucester cheese rolling competition was banned on health and safety grounds two years ago. The unusual event has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
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THIS WEEK
IN NUMBERS 360
Height, in feet, of the saddle on a Cuban man’s homemade bike. Doesn’t sound like a very comfy way to get around
Why didn’t someone do this earlier?
ORVILLECOPTER REACHES NEW HEIGHT THE NETHERLANDS
The value of Orville, the dead cat turned helicopter, has increased almost tenfold after generating headlines around the world. Bart Jansen had Orville stuffed after he was hit by a car before enlisting the help of radio control helicopter flier Arjen Beltman to build the unique pet/machine. The Orvillecopter – “half cat, half machine” – is now on show at the Kunstrai art festival in Amsterdam. Jansen had originally put a $12,000 price tag on the cat helicopter but has now been valued at more $127,000. Jansen decided to turn Orville into an aircraft because his pet cat and its brother Wilbur, who is still alive, had been named after the Wright brothers who invented and built the world’s first successful plane. That makes sense, right?
FANGS FOR THE NEW BREED OF SPIDER
Photos: Getty Images
INDIA
An Indian village has been invaded by an army of ‘killer spiders’. Two people have reportedly been killed by the unknown variety of tarantula which began jumping at people during the Hindu festival in Sadiya. Ecologists have suggested the creatures’ unusual behaviour could mean that they belong to a new species of tarantula. “It appears to be an aggressive spider with its fangs more powerful than the normal variety of house spiders,” an ecologist explained. “It leaps at anything that comes close. Some of the victims claimed the spider latched on to them after biting.”
Weight, in kilos, of Susanne Eman, an American lady bidding to be the world’s heaviest ever bride
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Length, in feet, of a Japanese dock, destroyed in last year’s tsunami, that washed ashore in the US
Price, in pounds, attached to a recently discovered egg bearing a selfportrait of the late artist Lucian Freud.
What could possibly go wrong?
PLAYING SMOKE ON THE TOILET WATER
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100,000 101
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
BRAZIL
A new toilet allows men to play the guitar while they urinate. The Guitar Pee is an adapted urinal, which comes complete with frets, strings and amplifier. The users simply has to direct their flow at the six strings to trigger prerecorded riffs and solos for the duration of their toilet. The toilet also offers the chance for anyone particularly pleased with their performance to download and share it as an MP3. The Guitar Pee has been made especially for Brazil’s Billboard magazine and is currently drawing crowds while on tour in bars of São Paulo. Sadly, however, the urinal is only currently available in a male version, and budding female rockers have no equivalent version to use.
If spin doctors could design a politician, I suspect he wouldn’t look like me British Labour Party leader Ed Miliband admits he looks like he’s made of plasticine
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OUTSIDE THE FLAGS COMMENT: ALEX HARMON alex@tntdownunder.com
Gwyn rarely has her head screwed on properly
Forget about Sliding Doors, Twitter can change your life Wake up celebrities – in cyberspace everyone can hear you scream
» Do you think Gwyneth Paltrow went too far? alex@tntdownunder.com
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John Mayer, the man who coined the term “sexual napalm” when referring to ex Jessica Simpson, is upset that Taylor Swift dissed him through song. Mayer said he was “really humiliated” when he heard the song Dear John by Swift, which was allegedly about their 2009 break-up. “I didn’t deserve it,” he said. “I’m pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that. It was a really lousy thing for her to do.” In the song, which is as nauseating as the film of the same name, pop princess Swift accuses Mayer of “messing with the young girl in the dress”.
“
As nauseating as the film of the same name
”
Some may have thought this song was about Kanye West who stage-crashed her 2009 VMA acceptance speech. But she’d already had a dig at big bad West in the song Innocent, on the same album. You don’t want to get on Swift’s bad side – she’s the napalm of songwriters.
Photos: Getty
It doesn’t matter how tight you are with Jay-Z or how liberal you appear to be by naming your children after evil fruits and prophets from the Bible – dropping the N-bomb on Twitter is inexcusable. Gwyneth Paltrow, you may as well have blacked yourself up and demanded to be the fourth member of Dreamgirls. Last week, Paltrow snapped and tweeted a picture of herself on stage during rapper The Throne’s Paris concert with a caption that read, “Ni**as in Paris for real”. The internet erupted with shock and horror. People demanded an apology. Instead, Paltrow tweeted, “Hold up. It’s the title of the song,” which made things worse. The people of Twitter asked for her head. A metaphor to her stellar performance as a severed head in Seven, of course. Perhaps Paltrow hasn’t quite grasped the concept of Twitter. Or the use of offensive language for that matter. This isn’t the first time she’s been in trouble with the blasphemy police. A couple of years ago, Paltrow called her grandmother a c**t on The Chelsea Handler Show. Tourettes Syndrome is a cop-out. It’s more likely she has an inferiority complex from being a bland, insipid, privileged Hollywood daughter who will never be forgiven for her role in Duets. Imagine Twitter as a playground, Gwen shooting off offensive language is her way of trying to keep up with the cool kids. Although she’s successful and married to one of the biggest singers of the century, Paltrow is a wallflower when it comes to Hollywood. Actually, she’s one of those flower pots from the Eighties that dance when they hear music. She senses media attention and gets her dirty mouth ready. Throw in homophobia and she’ll have a Twitter frenzy trifecta. This is further proof that actors shouldn’t be able to speak without a script, a director, and a tightly clad studio. What Paltrow failed to realise is, that in cyberspace, it only takes a second for your damage to reach the entire world. There’s no “cut” in Twitter. Rather, there is “retweet” – and that’s a mass-scale pandemic of trouble you can’t undo.
MAYER GETS SWIFT KNIFE TO THE HEART
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Joe Hart
HART SAYS ENGLAND WON’T WALK OFF FOOTBALL
Joe Hart, the England goalkeeper, insists his side will not leave the field during the European Championships, even if subjected to racist chants. Uefa’s president Michel Platini confirmed that the rule preventing players from leaving the field without the referee’s permission would stand after Mario Balotelli threatened to walk off if he suffers racist abuse. “Our advice is to get on with it and see how the referee and Uefa deal with it. It’s not for us to do,” Hart says. “Hopefully the referee and Uefa will take it into their own hands if that problem does occur. Fingers crossed we won’t have to deal with anything like that. It’s down to the referee. We can’t take rules into our own hands.”
EVANS KNOWS THE HARD WORK AWAITS CYCLING
Cadel Evans admits he has work to do before his Tour de France title defence following a disappointing slide down the standings in the Dauphine Libere. Evans’ performance left him with plenty to ponder ahead of the June 30 start of the Tour de France. “I expected to do better,” Evans said. “Now I have to go back and have a closer look at things. I still have improvements to make before the Tour de France.” Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins, though, insisted: “Cadel is a champion and his form will be better. Last year he wasn’t 100 percent at the Dauphine and he went on to win the Tour.”
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Sport’s come a long way: Why watch normal football when this alternative is on offer? That’s right – the Lingerie Football League is in town, the made-for-TV code playing back-to-back All-Star games in Australia before the launch of a local league
D’ARCY AND MONK IN TROUBLE OVER PICS SWIMMING
Australian swimmers Nick D’Arcy and Kenrick Monk could face sanctions from the Australian Olympic Committee after posting photos of themselves on the internet posing with high-powered guns. D’Arcy and Monk posed with the weapons in a gun shop in the US where the Australian swimming team has been training and competing before the Olympics start next month. Australia’s chief de mission for the London Games, Nick Green, described their actions as foolish: “These postings today are foolish and clearly inappropriate for members of the 2012 Olympic team.”
BIG WEEK FOR ... After his outstanding season for Arsenal, Robin van Persie deserves to be regarded as one of the world’s top strikers and the Dutchman will need to be at his best this week when his side meets Germany in the group stage of the Euros. It’s the biggest match before the knock-out stage; the two sides, along with Spain, making up the top tier of contenders. If it gets tight, Van Persie could be the man to win it.
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QUOTES OF THE WEEK When a group of people are fighting so hard for understanding … the time for some kinds of laughs has not come Former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander apologises after describing cricket as being played on a “queer, gay pitch”
Australia will need to be switched on against Wales
PREVIEW The hostlities continue on the rugby pitch It’s another bumper weekend for rugby and the the cobwebs will have been blown out by the first round of Test matches. It will be fascinating to see whether the touring British sides have settled or whether the hosts manage to grind home an advantage. New Zealand, of course, will have been rapt to have superstar flyhalf Dan Carter back in an All Blacks jersey after his emotional exit at last year’s World Cup. Seeing Dan Carter back on the pitch provided a stirring reminder of New Zealand’s quality – they lost their best player and still managed to go through to become world champions, so they could
yet improve with him back in the fold. Touring the southern hemisphere is always a tough assignment for the British nations – the conditions are unfamiliar and the home nations are particularly keen to protect their superiority in their own backyards. But results are unpredictable at this point in the cycle so an upset or two could be on the cards.
NEW ZEALAND V IRELAND SATURDAY 5PM, FOX SPORTS 3
AUSTRALIA V WALES
It’s not a player, Mr Balotelli, who’s in charge. The referee takes these decisions Uefa chief Michel Platini warns Italian striker Mario Balotelli not to walk off if targeted by racist. Wrong call, champ
I feel the contract is too onerous and am in a stage of my career where I don’t wish to make this commitment Snooker maestro Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals that his days in the sport may be numbered due to increased demands
SATURDAY 7.30PM, FOX SPORTS 3
SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND SUNDAY 1AM, FOX SPORTS 3
THE CHAT | Murray’s annual challenge
TV HIGHLIGHTS FOOTBALL
Photos: Getty Images
Australia v Japan is around the corner – that means Q Wimbledon the Brits will be all over Andy Murray again. Has he got a chance of finally winning a major? is more likely to win in Melbourne or New York A Murray but that won’t stop the Brits whipping themselves into a frenzy. The Scot is among the best players of the modern era to have not won a Grand Slam and, at age 25, he’s still got a few years up his sleeve. But the intense focus on him, as Britain’s lone contender, probably isn’t helpful. And it’s hard enough winning majors right now – Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are as impressive a trio as the game has seen at any one time, so being the fourth man in can’t be much fun.
Bit of a trough for the Socceroos Tuesday 7pm, Fox Sports 2
BASKETBALL NBA Finals Game one – who will lift the trophy? Wednesday 11am, ESPN
AUSTRALIAN RULES West Coast v Carlton The Eagles will be keen to bounce back Thursday 5.30pm, Fox Footy
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Ready to rumble This weekend’s rugby Tests promise a glimpse of the future WORDS TOM STURROCK
Given their struggles against the French over the past decade or so, the All Blacks are probably happy that Les Bleus have stayed at home this winter. But we’ve still got the world’s top five rugby nations going toe-to-toe – poor old Ireland have slipped down the pecking order a little bit. Last year’s World Cup is long gone but these Tests are the first real hit-out for the southern superpowers since the big tournament – the Home Nations have had a Six Nations to experiment – so, beyond the result, the real interest will be in detecting signs of what's to come. Who will emerge? What combinations be be pivotal over the next cycle? Without further ado, this is what we’ll be looking out for during the second weekend of the mid-year Tests.
Australia What we might learn: The Wallabies made some giant strides in the lead-up to the World Cup but there was still a sense that the tournament came a year too soon. So, if all goes according to plan, Robbie Deans’ team are expected to continue on that upward curve as their younger players – he brought in a stack of new faces when he took over as coach – acquire further experience at the highest level. In the continuing absence of Quade Cooper, Berrick Barnes’ needs to deliver at flyhalf. The man to watch: Dave Pocock has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s best flankers and his ballistic, tireless work has made him a talisman for the Wallabies. He could be the next captain as well, so expect his meteoric rise to continue.
England What we might learn: Their World Cup campaign was a complete shambles but England recovered more successfully than many expected. Martin Johnson didn’t survive, the top job filled instead by Stuart Lancaster, who steered England
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to an impressive second place in the Six Nations. In the past, England have been guilty of chopping and changing in pursuit of a winning formula – the key for Lancaster will be to pick the young players he believes are capable and give them time to find their feet. The man to watch: The shoes of Jonny Wilkinson were always going to be hard to fill but Owen Farrell looks like he might be the man to do it. His development at flyhalf will be crucial to England’s chances of building a world-beating side.
Ireland What we might learn: A visit to New Zealand can be a bruising assignment for even the most battle-hardened sides but for an Irish team that failed to impress in the Six Nations, their current trip could be especially unforgiving. Ronan O’Gara and Brian O’Driscoll aren’t getting any younger so Ireland desperately need some younger players to step up and provide leadership. Irish club sides routinely dominate the Heineken Cup so there’s undoubtedly some talent there but the consistency at international level is sometimes lacking. Floggings against New Zealand would be bad news. The man to watch: Flanker Sean O’Brien starred in Leinster’s Heineken Cup win last month and, at 25, looms as one of the Irishman capable of stepping up and leading the team through to the next World Cup.
New Zealand What we might learn: Well, the All Blacks finally got the monkey off their backs by winning a World Cup. They nearly blew it against France in the final but, given they did it without Dan Carter, it was, overall, a pretty impressive effort. Steve Hansen is the new coach and it will be intriguing to see how he plans to improve a side that has just achieved the ultimate. Plenty of older heads have decided to play on
Clockwise: George North; Owen Farrell; Dave Pocock
but there must surely be a handful of retirements in the next year or so. How long do the squad’s 30-somethings have left? The man to watch: It’s got to be Dan Carter. The World Cup was meant to be his crowning achievement but he missed it through injury. Will he get back to his best? Can he hang on long enough to play in 2015?
South Africa What we might learn: The Springboks are yet another side who replaced their head coach after the World Cup, the sometimes provocative Peter de Villiers stepping aside as coach, replaced by Heyneke Meyer. It’s probably too much to ask for the Boks, even if they have a new coach, to depart from the dour style of rugby that has become their trademark, but there will likely be some turnover. John Smit, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez are gone so the Boks will need to replace that grunt and leadership. The man to watch: Francois Steyn has had a tumultuous relationship with South African rugby, dropping in and out as his commitments in France allow. He’s talented but can also be a whipping boy for fans. Needs to show his value.
Photos: Getty Images
Wales What we might learn: Wales are the feel-good story of the northern hemisphere, sweeping to victory in the Six Nations while playing some of the most attractive, innovative rugby around. There are a couple of older heads in the forward pack – as there generally are – but the rest of the side is noticeably youthful, suggesting that this group has a bright future. That said, they need to hold their own against Australia to justify the growing hype. The man to watch: Giant wing George North has already become a cult figure for Welsh fans and, at age 20, has as much upside as any young player in the game.
UNDER PRESSURE DOUBTS OVER DEANS Australian rugby supremos were chuffed when they poached Robbie Deans from New Zealand but, despite the Wallabies' improvement, there are plenty in the establishment who reckon they bought a dud. Certainly, last week’s surprise loss to Scotland would have emboldened the knockers, who criticise Deans’s selections – particularly his faith in Berrick Barnes – and his use of substitutes. There is also a complaint that Deans has failed to drill Australia effectively at the breakdown and, although he needed to introduce new faces, the whisper is that some of the older players resent the easy run afforded the young turks. A strong showing against Wales this weekend is unlikely to silence the doubters permanently but a loss would certainly have them gnashing their teeth more noisily than ever.
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OZLISTINGS TRAVEL AGENTS Adventure Travel Bugs 07 3236 3266, adventuretravelbugs.com Backpackers World Travel 1800 676 67 63, backpackersworld.com Peter Pans Adventure Travel 1800 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
Wilderness 4WD Adventures Top end tours 1800 808 288, wildernessadventures.com.au
Travellers Auto Barn 1800 674 374, travellers-autobarn.com.au
Bunyip Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 286 947, bunyiptours.com
Melbourne Australia Tours Victorian tours. 03 9016 9347 melbourneaustraliatours.com.au
Wildlife Tours Tours around Victoria 1300 661 730, wildlifetours.com.au
Wicked Campers 1800 246 869, wickercampers.com
Cool Dingos Fraser Island Tours 1800 072 555, cooldingotour.com
Mojosurf Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 113 044, mojosurf.com
Explore Whitsundays Whitsundays packages 1800 675 790, explorewhitsundays.com
Nullarbor Traveller Tours from Adelaide and Perth 1800 816 858, the-traveller.com.au
Groovy Grape Getaways Tours linking Adelaide, Alice Springs & Melbourne 1800 661 177, groovygrape.com.au Heading Bush Adelaide to Alice Springs outback tours 1800 639 933, headingbush.com
Ocean Rafting Whitsundays tours 07 4946 6848, oceanrafting.com Oz Experience Hop on-hop off Australia-wide tours 1300 300 028, ozexperience.com Surfcamp Sydney to Byron surfing tours 1800 888 732, surfcamp.com.au
Adventure Tours Australia-wide tours 1800 068 886, adventuretours.com.au
Jump Tours Tours around Tasmania 0422 130 630, jumptours.com
Airliebeach.com Whitsundays packages 1800 677 119, airliebeach.com
Kakadu Dream Kakadu tours 1800 813 266, kakadudreams.com.au
Autopia Tours Tours around Victoria 03 9391 0261, autopiatours.com.au
Kangaroo Island Adventure Tours Adelaide to KI tours 13 13 01, kiadventuretours.com.au
Under Down Under Tours Tours around Tasmania 1800 064 726, underdownunder.com.au
Awesome Adventures Oz Whitsundays packages 1800 293 7663, awesomeoz.com
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Adventures South Australia 1800 786 386, surfandsun.com.au
Western Xposure WA tours 08 9414 8423, westernxposure.com.au
The Rock Tour Red centre tours 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au Topdeck Tours covering all of Oz 1300 886 332, topdeck.travel
RENTAL FIRMS
TRANSPORT CO
Apollo Motorhomes 1800 777 779, apollocamper.com
Greyhound Australia Buses around Australia. 13 20 30, greyhound.com.au
Backpacker Campervan Rentals 1800 767 010, backpackercampervans.com.au
Jetstar Airline. 131 538, jetstar.com.au
Boomerang Cars 0414 882 559, boomerangcars.com.au
Premier Transport Group Buses along the east coast. 13 34 10, premierms.com.au
Explore More Rentals 1800 708 309, exploremore.com.au
Qantas Airline. 13 13 13, qantas.com.au
Hippie Camper 1800 777 779, hippiecamper.com Kings Cross Car Market For buying and selling vehicles. 110 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo. 02 9358 5000, carmarket.com.au
Regional Express Airline. 13 17 13, rex.com.au Spirit of Tasmania Ferries to Tasmania. 03 6336 1446, spiritoftasmania.com Tiger Airways Airline. 03 9999 2888, tigerairways.com
Spaceships 1300 132 469, spaceshipsrentals.com.au
Redline Coaches For getting around Tasmania. 03 6336 1446, redlinecoaches.com.au
Standbycars.com 1300 789 059, standbycars.com
Virgin Australia Airline. 13 67 89, virginaustralia.com
S S O R C KINGS RKET A M R A C NT BUY, SELL & RE WE ARE HERE s "59).' 3%,,).' 2%.4).'. Good selection of Cars, Wagons, Vans & Campervans. 7$ 30%#)!,)343. Over 50 vehicles in stock with up to 50% BUY BACK. All with camping gear. s All vehicles for sale have a Government approved Roadworthy Certificate (Pink Slip) issued by ).$%0%.$%.4 -%#(!.)#3, not company employees like most car dealers. s &2%% information with tips for buying, selling and travelling. Transfer & Registration forms for all States. s &2%% Advice on Registrations, Transfers, which States are cheapest/easiest to Transfer and Register. s &2%% 12 Months Australia Wide Warranty (guaranteee) with (2 2/!$3)$% !33)34!.#% available on most vehicles.* NOT a 5000km warranty which gets you about 25% of your way around Australia. *Conditions apply
INSURANCE CE FREECALL: LL 1800 808 188 We sell the only known ‘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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MUNGO NATIONAL PARK Perhaps the country’s least famous World Heritage-listed site, Mungo is where you’ll find the extraordinary, 33km-long Walls of China. It’s also where you’ll find the remains of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, skeletons dating back 40,000 years, making it the world’s oldest known ceremonial burial. Located in the far outback reaches of New South Wales, almost 900km west of Sydney, Mungo is a hell of a long way from anywhere. However, if you happen to be doing some harvest work in Mildura or hanging out with some miners in Broken Hill, the mission isn’t too great and the sight of the flaky 30m high lunettes known as the Walls of China at sunset is well worth the roadtrip.
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Van price based on Breezer Campervan, 3+ day rate, for travel 17/06/2012 – 23/06/012. Car price based on Economy Car, 1-6 day city rate for travel June 2012. Prices correct at time of print, rates change weekly so contact our Reservations team for the best daily rate. Minimum hire applies, offer subject to availability and liability reduction cover is additional. For full terms and conditions contact Backpacker Rentals.
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NSWLISTINGS SYDNEY STAY
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DON’T MISS
Base Sydney 477 Kent St. CBD. 02 9267 7718, stayatbase.com
Oxford Art Factory oxfordartfactory.com
Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St. CBD. 02 9267 7718, bighostel.com
Sydney Opera House sydneyoperahouse.com
Bounce Budget Hotel 28 Chalmers St. CBD. 02 9281 2222, bouncehotel.com.au
The Annandale annandalehotel.com The Enmore enmoretheatre.com.au
Easy Go Backpackers 752 George St. CBD. 02 9211 0505, easygobackpackers.com.au
The Gaelic Hotel thegaelic.com The Metro metrotheatre.com.au
City Resort Hostel 103-105 Palmer St. Woolloomooloo 02 9357 3333, cityresort.com.au
BLUE MTNS Blue Mountains YHA 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba. 02 4782 1416, yha.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
CENTRAL COAST
Westend Backpackers 412 Pitt St. CBD. 1800 013 186 nomadshostels.com
MERIVALE EOFYS Various. June. From 5-7pm It’s the end of financial sale you don’t want to miss. Merivale’s range of fine establishments in Sydney are offering a half price happy hour from 5-7pm, yes that’s two hours, every day in June. And when drinking at places like The Ivy (pictured) your wallet will be sure to thank you. There’s no excuse not to drink after work this winter.
Boomerang Backpackers 141 William Street, Kings Cross. 02 8354 0488, boomerangbackpackers.com Dlux Hostel 30 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross. 1800 236 213 dluxbudgethotel.com.au Kangaroo Bak Pak 665 South Dowling St. Surry Hills. 02 9261 1111 Avalon Beach Hostel 59 Avalon Pde, Avalon Beach. 02 9918 9709, avalonbeach.com.au Bondi YHA 63 Fletcher Street. Tamarama. 02 9365 2088, yha.com.au Lamrock Lodge 19 Lamrock Ave. Bondi. 02 9130 5063, lamrocklodge.com Lochner’s Guesthouse 8 Gowrae Ave. Bondi. 02 9387 2162, Aegean Coogee Lodge 40 Coogee Bay Rd. Coogee. 04 0817 6634, aegeancoogee.com.au
Various
merivale.com.au
Newcastle Beach YHA 30 Pacific St, Newcastle. 02 4925 3544, yha.com.au Terrigal Beach YHA 9 Ocean View Dr, Terrigal. 02 4384 1919, yha.com.au
BYRON BAY Coogee Beach House 171 Arden St. Coogee. 02 9665 1162, coogeebeachhouse.com Coogee Beachside 178 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee. 02 9315 8511, sydneybeachside.com.au Surfside Backpackers 186 Arden Street. Coogee. 02 9315 7888, surfsidebackpackers.com.au Glebe Point YHA 262-264 Glebe Point Road. Glebe. 02 9692 8418, yha.com.au Boardrider Backpacker Rear 63, The Corso, Manly. 02 9977 3411 boardrider.com.au The Bunkhouse 35 Pine St, Manly. 1800 657 122, bunkhouse.com.au Manly Backpackers 24-28 Raglan St. Manly. 02 9977 3411
manlybackpackers.com.au
Sydney Olympic Park Darling Harbour. sydneyolympicpark.nsw. gov.au
Backpackers Holiday Village 116 Jonson St 1800 350 388, byronbaybackpackers.com.au
Sydney Tower and Skytour 100 Market St, CBD. sydneyskytour.com.au
Backpackers Inn 29 Shirley St 1800 817 696, backpackersinnbyronbay.com.au
Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks. bridgeclimb.com
Byron Bay Accom 02 6680 8666, byronbayaccom.net
Manly Surf School Manly Beach. 02 9977 6977, manlysurfschool.com
Sydney Aquarium Darling Harbour. sydneyaquarium.com.au
Maritime Museum Darling Harbour. anmm.gov.au
Sydney Wildlife World Darling Harbour. sydneywildlifeworld.com.au
The Arts Factory 1 Skinners Shoot Rd. 02 6685 7709, nomadshostels.com
Cammeray Gardens 66 Palmer St, North Sydney. 02 9954 9371 sydneyboardinghouse.com Wake Up! 509 Pitt St, CBD. 02 9288 7888, wakeup.com.au
SYDNEY DO
My Sydney Detour Unique city tours. mysydneydetour.com Oceanworld Manly West Esplanade. oceanworld.com.au Powerhouse Museum Darling Harbour. powerhousemuseum.com.au Skydive the Beach Wollongong. skydivethebeach.com
Taronga Zoo Mosman. zoo.nsw.gov.au Waves Surf School wavessurfschool.com.au
SYDNEY MUSIC
Nomads Byron Bay Lawson Lane. 1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Byron Bay YHA 7 Carlyle St. 1800 678 195, yha.com.au
COFFS HARB Coffs Harbour YHA 51 Collingwood St. 02 6652 6462, yha.com.au
Hordern Pavillion
Petersham Guest House ARE DORMS GETTING YOU DOWN? Then come sleep with us! The place to stay in the Sydney Suburbs. Double room - $240 p/week Twin room - $240 p/week Single room - $200 p/week Ensuite room - $300 p/week
Phone Con
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100 metres to bus and train. 5kms from city centre. 23 Brighton St, Petersham.
0414 450 273
PALM BEACH Fans of TV soap Home and Away need to make their way to Sydney’s most northern beach, Palm Beach, aka Summer Bay. Make sure you head towards the lighthouse end of the sand to get your photo by Alf Stewart’s name at the surf club. Get there early on a weekday and you might even catch some filming in action.
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BRISBANE STAY Aussie Way Backpackers 34 Cricket St. 07 3369 0711,
aussiewaybackpackers.com Banana Bender Backpackers 118 Petrie Terrace. 07 3367 1157, bananabenders.com Base Brisbane Embassy 214 Elizabeth St. 07 3166 8000, stayatbase.com Base Brisbane Central 308 Edward St. 07 3211 2433, stayatbase.com Brisbane Backpackers Resort 110 Vulture St, West End. 1800 626 452,
brisbanebackpackers.com.au Brisbane City Backpackers
380 Upper Roma St 1800 062 572, citybackpackers.com
GOLD COAST
Beach, Surfers Paradise. 07 5571 1776, yha.com.au
Bunk Backpackers Cnr Ann & Gipps Sts, 1800 682 865, bunkbrisbane.com.au
Aquarius Backpackers 44 Queen St, Surfers Paradise. 1800 22 99 55, aquariusbackpackers.com.au
Trekkers Backpackers 22 White St, Southport. 1800 100 004, trekkersbackpackers.com.au
The Deck 117 Harcourt Street, New Farm. 04 3377 7061
Backpackers in Paradise 40 Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise. 1800 268 621, backpackersinparadise.com.au
Dreamworld Theme park. dreamworld.com.au
Tinbilly Travellers Cnr George and Herschel Sts. 1800 446 646, tinbilly.com
BRISBANE DO Australia Zoo Glasshouse Mountains, Tourist Drive, Beerwah. 07 5436 2000, australiazoo.com.au Gallery of Modern Art 07 3840 7303, qag.qld.gov.au Riverlife Adventure Centre Kayaking & rock climbing. Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point. 07 3891 5766, riverlife.com.au Story Bridge Adventure Climb 170 Main St, Kangaroo Point. 1300 254 627, storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au XXXX Ale House Brewery tours. Cnr Black & Paten St, Milton. 07 3361 7597, xxxxalehouse.com.au
GC DO
Coolangatta Kirra Beach YHA Pl, 230 Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga. 07 5536 76442, yha.com.au
Get Wet Surf School 07 5532 9907
Coolangatta Sands Hostel Cnr Griffiths & McLean Sts, Coolangatta. 07 5536 7472, coolangattasandshostel.com.au
Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World wetnwild.myfun.com.au
Gold Coast International BP 28 Hamilton Ave, Surfers. 1800 816 300, goldcoastbackpackers.com.au Islander Backpackers Resort 6 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise. 1800 074 393, islander.com.au Sleeping Inn Surfers 26 Peninsular Dr, Surfers Paradise. 1800 817 832, sleepinginn.com.au Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort 2837 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers. 1800 282 800, surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au Surfers Paradise YHA Mariners Cove, 70 Seaworld Drive, Main
Seaworld seaworld.com.au
Warener Bros Movie World movieworld.com.au Zorb 07 5547 6300
SUNSHINE CST Mooloolaba Backpackers 75-77 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba. 1800 020 120 mooloolababackpackers.com Nomads Noosa 44 Noosa Dr, Noosa Heads. 1800 666 237, nomadshostels.com Halse Lodge YHA 2 Halse Lane, Noosa. 1800 242 567, halselodge.com.au
RAINBOW BEACH Dingos Backpacker Adventure Resort 20 Spectrum St. 1800 111 126, dingosresort.com Pippies Beach House 22 Spectrum St. 1800 425 356, pippiesbeachhouse.com Skydive Rainbow Beach 0418 218 358, skydiverainbowbeach.com
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 Palace Adventures 184 Torquay St, Hervey Bay, 1800
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WEEKENDER
Each year, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire whale population embarks on its annual pilgrimage to and from the Antarctic, and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind an audience. July to November is whale-watching time, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go further north than Brisbane to catch these gentle giants breach, slap their tails and play around. Seeing whales up close and personal gives you a feeling of wellbeing and a sense of awe. Buses and trains run from Brisbane. Moreton Bay is only a 30-minute drive east of the CBD. Just follow the signs.
WORKERS WANTED
WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED
AYR NORTH QUEENSLAND
AYR BACKPACKERS stay at Wilmington House Working Hostel of the Burdekin District
s /PEN AND AIRY 1UEENSLAND STYLE FOUR AND SIX BEDROOMS s )NTERNET #AFĂ? s 0OOL ""1S AND TROPICAL GARDENS s 4ABLE TENNIS AND &2%% POOL TABLE s ,OCKERS s #LEAN COMFORTABLE QUIET AND FRIENDLY s 4RANSPORT PROVIDED TO WORK s &IVE MINUTE WALK TO MAIN STREET SHOPPING AND FAST FOOD STORE s &REE PICK UP FROM !YR BUS TERMINAL AND RAILWAY STATION s 6IDEO AND 46 ROOMS s &IVE FULL KITCHEN FACILITIES
WORKERS WANTED Call Mick & Daphne 07 4783 5837
WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED WORKERS WANTED
Photo: Tourism QLD
MORETON BAY
7/2+%23 7!.4%$ &RUIT AND 6EGETABLE PICKING JOBS AVAILABLE s 4RANSPORT TO FROM WORK s &2%% COURTESY BUS PICK UP s ,AUNDRY FACILITIES s )NTERNET FACILITIES s 0LEASANT AND FRIENDLY STAFF s "ISTRO AVAILABLE AT "ANJO S TAVERN NEXT DOOR
6!2)%49 /& 7/2+ !6!),!",% 9%!2 2/5.$ Y PLACE TO BE! THE ONL
Backpacker Resort
"REEZY 4ROPICAL VERANDAHS CLEAN FRIENDLY #LOSE TO SHOPS BANKS OLYMPIC POOL
&EDERAL "ACKPACKERS Innisfail North Queensland
"OURBONG 3T "UNDABERG 1LD
50 fruit pickers wanted NOW! Guys & girls
0HONE
s #ABLE TELEVISION GAMES ROOM SPORTING OVAL s !LL 4RANSPORT PROVIDED 30%#)!,)3).' ). !33)34).' 7)4( 3%#/.$ 9%!2 6)3! 7/2+
Phone: 07 4061 2284 52
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WWW FEDERALBACKPACKERS COM AU FEDERALBACKPACKERS HOTMAIL COM #OMPLIES WITH ALL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS QUANTITY DEPENDS ON SEASON
QLDLISTINGS 063 168 palaceadventures.com.au
BUNDABERG Federal Backpackers 221 Bourbong St. 07 4153 3711 federalbackpackers.com.au
Scotty’s Beach House 167 Reid Rd. 07 4068 8676,
GREAT BARR IER REEF MAR INE PARK
scottysbeachhouse.com.au
CAIRNS STAY Bohemia Central Cairns
Northside Backpackers 12 Queen St. 07 4154 1166
100 Sheridan St.
Bundaberg Bondstore Distillery tours. 07 4131 2999 bundabergrum.com.au
bohemiacentral.com.au
1800 558 589,
Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St. 1800 155 353, bohemiaresort.com.au Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St. 1800
1770 Backpackers 6 Captain Cook Dr. 1800 121 770, the1770backpackers.com
815 628, calypsobackpackers.com.au
1770 Undersea Adventures 1300 553 889, 1770underseaadventures.com
07 4051 7642,
JJ’s Backpackers Hostel 11 Charles St.
jjsbackpackers.com Harbour 141 Sheridan St.
AIRLIE BEACH
1800 807 055,
airliebeach.com 259 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 677 119
njoy.net.au
Airlie Beach YHA 394 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 247 251, yha.com.au
1800 229 228, nomadshostels.com
Backpackers by the Bay 12 Hermitage Dr. 1800 646 994, backpackersbythebay.com Base Airlie Beach Resort 336 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com Magnums Whitsunday Village Resort 366 Shute Harbour Rd. 1800 624 634 magnums.com.au
Nomads Beach House 239 Sheridan St.
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,
BOWEN Bowen Backpackers Beach end of Herbert St. 07 4786 3433 bowenbackpackers.net
ragingthunder.com.au Skydive Cairns 07 4052 1822,
skydivecairns.com.au
TOWNSVILLE Adventurers Resort 79 Palmer St. 1800 211 522, adventurersresort.com Adrenalin Dive Yongala diving. 07 4724 0600, adrenalindive.com.au Yongala Dive Yongala diving. 07 4783 1519, yongaladive.com.au
MAGNETIC ISL Base Magnetic Island 1 Nelly Bay Rd. 1800 24 22 73, stayatbase.com Bungalow Bay Backpackers Horseshoe Bay. 1800 285 577, bungalowbay.com.au Hotel Arcadia 7 Marine Pde, Arcadia Bay. 07 4778 5177 magnetic-island.com/arc-rsrt.htm Pleasure Divers 07 4778 5788
CAPE TRIB
heart of the reef Airlie Beach QUEENSLAND T HE WHI TSUNDAY IS L ANDS
are one of the world s most spectacular aquatic playgrounds ndss & encompass 74 tropical islands rising from pristine turquoise oise oi ssee waters, hosting lots of incredible marine and wild life.
WHI T EHAVEN BE 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 lus exhilarating sailing aboard Camira one of the world s fastest est sailing catamarans ‒ an awesome day out on the water!r! $145*pp SAVE $30
G R E AT B AR R I E R R EE F ADV EN T U R ES ES
The Great Barrier Reef is truly one of the great wonderss of the natural world. Cruise aboard Seaflight to Queensland annd s and most innovative reef pontoon featuring a giant waterslide lide and underwater viewing chamber. Explore the underwater waater wonderland with diving, snorkelling, semi-sub or glasss bottom boat rides. Includes morning / afternoon tea and nd 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
1800 232 333,
Start your holiday with a choice of either a Whitehaven ven ve Beach Camira Sailing Adventure, or a Great Barrier Reef Adventures. Overnight at Long Island. When you ou dream of an Island experience this is what you dream of! Spend the day enjoying the facilities at nd Long Island Resort or find your own secluded bay and buu take in the great outdoors. Great snorkelling. Ferry/ bus es. es departures back to Airlie available at a variety of times. You may just be tempted to stay another night! From $215*pp (Dorm accommodation)
pksjunglevillage.com.au
plus heaps of other great packages 3-6 days
Crocodylus Village Lot 5, Buchanan Creek Rd, Cow Bay. 07 4098 9166,
crocodyluscapetrib.com PK’s Jungle Village Cnr Avalon & Cape Trib Rd.
INNISFAIL
All day cruises and packages depart daily from Airlie Beach. For info and bookings see your travel centre or contact us: FREECALL1800 awesome
Innisfail Budget Backpackers Worker’s Hostel 125 Edith St.
MISSION BEACH Absolute Backpackers 28 Wongaling Beach Road. 07 4068 8317, absolutebackpackers.com.au
07 4061 7833 Walkabout Motel & Backpackers
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.
TNT675-677 AAO3374
TOWN OF 1770
07 4061 2311
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MELBOURNE STAY
MELBOURNE DO
All Nations Backpackers Hotel & Bar 2 Spencer St. 1800 222 238, allnations.com.au
Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square. 03 8663 2200, acmi.net.au
Base Melbourne 17 Carlisle St, St. Kilda. 1800 242 273, stayatbase.com
Melbourne Aquarium Cnr of Flinders St & King St. 03 9923 5999, melbourneaquarium.com.au
Central Melbourne Accommodation 21 Bromham Place, Richmond. 03 9427 9826, centralaccommodation.net
Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Av. 03 9657 8888 mcg.org.au
Exford Hotel 199 Russell St. 03 9663 2697, exfordhotel.com.au
BOOK NOW
Flinders Station Hotel 35 Elizabeth St. 03 9620 5100, flindersbackpackers.com.au
DANIEL MERRIWEATHER
The Greenhouse Backpacker Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane. 1800 249 207, greenhousebackpacker.com.au Habitat HQ 333 St Kilda Road, St Kilda. 1800 202 500, habitathq.com.au Home at the Mansion 66 Victoria Parade. 03 9663 4212, homemansion.com.au Home Travellers Motel 32 Carlisle St, St Kilda. 1800 008 718, hometravellersmotel.com.au
Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton. 13 11 02 melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au
Norcote Social Club. June 17. From $27 + booking fee Due to overwhelming demand, Dan the man is squeezing in an extra show at Northcote before he dashes back to the big apple (NYC).
Northcote, Melbourne
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 Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;beckett St. 1800 447 762,
northcotesocialclub.com
nomadshostels.com
National Gallery of Victoria Federation Square. ngv.vic.gov.au Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St. 03 8663 7228, oldmelbournegaol.com.au Official Neighbours Tours 570 Flinders St. 03 9629 5866, neighbourstour.com.au
Space Hotel 380 Russell St. 1800 670 611, spacehotel.com.au The Spencer 475 Spencer St. 1800 638 108, hotelspencer.com
MELB MUSIC Cherry Bar myspace.com/cherrybarmelbourne Corner Hotel cornerhotel.com
East Brunswick Club eastbrunswickclub.com Esplanade Hotel espy.com.au Northcote Social Club northcotesocialclub.com Palace Theatre palace.com.au The Hi-Fi thehifi.com.au The Tote thetotehotel.com
GREAT OCEAN RD Anglesea Backpackers 40 Noble St, Anglesea. 03 5263 2664, angleseabackpackers.com.au Eco Beach YHA 5 Pascoe St. 03 5237 7899, yha.com.au Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA 10 Erskine Av, Lorne. 03 5289 2508, yha.com.au Port Campbell Hostel 18 Tregea St, Port Campbell. 03 5598 6305, portcampbellhostel.com.au Surfside Backpackers Cnr Great Ocean Rd & Gambier St, Apollo Bay. 1800 357 263, surfsidebackpacker.com
Stay. Play. Melbourne.
$20
Accommodation from $20 a night (subject to availability)
Maximum 4 bed dormitories with linen and towel FREE all you can eat breakfast (cereal, toast and juice), weekly meal, rice and pasta, tea and coffee FREE in room oversized locker with personal power point 5 minute walk to city Large bar with big screen (all major sporting events shown) Drink specials at the bar Public transport on doorstep
UC103
Unique value tour packages
Book Now 1800
631 288 urbancentral.com.au
334 CITY ROAD SOUTHBANK MELBOURNE VIC 3006 AUSTRALIA
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DANDENONG
DON’T MISS
Emerald Backpackers 03 5968 4086
HOT GIG
MURRAY RIVER Echuca Gardens YHA 103 Av, Mitchell St, Echuca. 03 5480 6522, yha.com.au Mildura City Backpackers 50 Lemon Ave, Mildura. 03 5022 7922, milduracitybackpackers.com.au Oasis Backpackers 230 Deakin Av, Mildura. 04 0734 4251, milduraoasisbackpackers.com.au
KEW RECORD FAIR Kew Heights Sports Club. June 17. From $3 Search out that memorable record amongst all things vinyl at this fair. You can also nab a cool CD or DVD if modern is your mode.
Kew, Melbourne
kewrecordfair.wordpresss. 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
Sorrento YHA 3 Miranda St, Sorrento. 03 5984 4323, yha.com.au Tortoise Head Lodge French Island. 03 5980 1234, tortoisehead.net
GIPPSLAND Prom Country Backpackers 03 5682 2614 Rawsom Caravan Park Depot Rd, Rawson. 03 5165 3439, rawsoncaravanpark.com.au
PHILLIP ISLAND Amaroo Park YHA 97 Church St, Cowes. 03 5952 3620, yha.com.au
WORD FROM THE STREET
KING CANNONS The Toff In Town. June 21. $12 + booking fee It’s a gig guide full of Kings this week. Check out the Cannon variety at their funky Melbourne CBD gig. Cheap tickets, quality music.
Swanston St, Melbourne
The Island Accommodation 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road. 03 5956 6123 theislandaccommodation.com.au
GRAMPIANS Grampians YHA Eco Hostel Cnr Grampians & Buckler Rds,
moshtix.com.au
Halls Gap. 03 5356 4543, yha.com.au Tim’s Place 44 Grampians Road, Halls Gap. 03 5356 4288, timsplace.com.au
LANEWAYS
Amy Baker, England WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN VICTORIA? So far just Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Having coffee and cheesecake at one of the bakeries in St Kilda FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? Just a night out in the city in Melbourne. So many cool little bars tucked away just waiting to be discovered
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FITZROY This edgy little suburb in Melbourne boasts a higher density of pubs than anywhere else in the state. If that’s not reason enough to stay, the street art (pictured), bookshops, café culture and alternative music venues will keep you amused by day and long into the night. Brunswick Street is where you’ll find most of the action and it’s best to follow your nose and discover the suburb in your own time.
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ADELAIDE STAY
COOBER PEDY
Adelaide Backpackers Inn 112 Carrington St. 1800 24 77 25, adpi.com.au
Opal Cave Coober Pedy Hutchinson St. 08 8672 5028, opalcavecooberpedy.com.au
Adelaide Central YHA 135 Waymouth St. 08 8414 3010, yha.com.au
Radeka Down Under 1 Oliver St. 1800 633 891, radekadownunder.com.au
Adelaide Travellers Inn 220 Hutt St. 08 8224 0753, adelaidebackpackers.com.au
Riba’s Underground 1811 William Creek Rd. 08 8672 5614, camp-underground.com.au
Annie’s Place 239 Franklin St. 1800 818 011, anniesplace.com.au Backpack Oz 144 Wakefield St. 1800 633 307, backpackoz.com.au Blue Galah Backpackers Lvl 1, 52-62, King William St. 08) 8231 9295, bluegalah.com.au Glenelg Beach Hostel 5-7 Moseley St. Glenelg. 1800 359 181, glenelgbeachhostel.com.au Hostel 109 109 Carrington St. 1800 099 318, hostel109.com
KANGAROO IS
DON’T MISS BILL BAILEY - QUALMPEDDLER Thebarton Theatre. August 29. From $78.80 Bill Bailey’s 2012 show promises all the usual Bailey, zaney comedy, including musical mashups, some rants and raves and loads of humour.
Torrensville, Adelaide
My Place 257 Waymouth St. 1800 221 529, adelaidehostel.com.au
Memorial Drive. 08 8300 3800, cricketsa.com.au
Shakespeare Hostel 123 Waymouth St. 1800 556 889, shakeys.com.au
Adelaide Zoo Frome Rd. 08 8267 3255, zoossa.com.au
ADELAIDE DO Adelaide Oval Home to the Donald Bradman collection. War
Kangaroo Island YHA 33 Middle Terrace, Penneshaw. 08 8553 1344, yha.com.au
Haigh’s Chocolates Factory tours. 153 Greenhill Rd, Parkside. 1800 819 757, haighschocolates.com.au
thebartontheatre.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
Vivonne Bay Lodge 66 Knofel Drive, Vivonne Bay 13 13 01 seaink.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 13 The Strand, Port Elliot. 08 8554 2785, yha.com.au
EYRE PENINSULA Coodlie Park Farmstay Flinders Highway, Port Kenny. 08 8687 0411, coodliepark.com Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience Sea lion and dolphin swims. 08 8626 5017, bairdbay.com Calypso Star Charters Great white shark cage diving. 08 8682 3939, sharkcagediving.com.au Nullarbor Traveller Tours across to Perth. 1800 816 858, the-traveller.com.au Port Lincoln Tourist Park 11 Hindmarsh St. 08 8621 4444, portlincolntouristpark.com.au Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Great white shark cage diving. 08 8363 1788, rodneyfox.com.au
FLINDERS RANGES Angorichina Tourist Village 08 8648 4842, angorichinavillage.com.au
IN THE DEEP
By kayaking the spectacular Murray River you get to discover the beautiful lagoons and narrow channels and take in the small details. See the birds, wildlife and the colours that reflect the changes of season and river conditions.
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Photo: SATC
KAYAK THE MURRAY RIVER
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DARWIN STAY
KATHERINE STAY
Banyan View Lodge Darwin 119 Mitchell St. 08 8981 8644, banyanviewlodge.com.au
BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park 20 Shadforth Road. 1800 501 984, big4.com.au
Darwin YHA 97 Mitchell St. 08 8981 5385, yha.com.au
Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers Giles St. 1800 626 722
Elkes Backpackers 112 Mitchell St. 1800 808 365, elkesbackpackers.com.au
KATHERINE DO Airborne Solutions Scenic helicopter flights. 08 8972 2345 airbornesolutions.com.au
Frogshollow Backpackers 27 Lindsay St. 1800 068 686, frogs-hollow.com.au Gecko Lodge 146 Mitchell St. 1800 811 250, geckolodge.com.au
BOOK NOW JIMEOIN: LOVELY
Melaleuca on Mitchell 52 Mitchell St. 1300 723 437, momdarwin.com
Darwin Entertainment Centre. June 23. From $34.90 + bf Here comes the latest world-class comedy from the hilarious Jimeoin, he’s determined to leave you feeling “lovely”.
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
Mitchell St, Darwin
purchase.tickets.com
Fannie Bay Gaol Heritage prison. East Point Road, Fannie Bay. 08 8941 2260, nt.gov.au Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 19 Conacher St, Bullocky Point. 08 8999 8264, magnt.nt.gov.au
Oz Jet Boating Stokes Hill Wharf. 1300 135 595, ozjetboating.com.au Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise Adelaide River. 08 8978 9077, jumpingcrocodile.com.au Wave Lagoon Waterfront Precinct. waterfront.nt.gov.au
Nitmiluk Tours Gorge cruises and kayak hire. 1300 146 743 nitmiluktours.com.au
TENNANT CREEK Tourist Rest Leichardt St. 08 8962 2719, touristrest.com.au
ALICE SPRINGS Alice Lodge 4 Mueller St. 08 8953 1975, alicelodge.com.au Alice Springs YHA Cnr Parsons St & Leichhardt Tce. 08 8952 8855, yha.com.au Annie’s Place 4 Traeger Ave. 1800 359 089, anniesplace.com.au
@tnt_downunder Haven Resort 3 Larapinta Drive. 1800 794 663, alicehaven.com.au Toddy’s Resort 41 Gap Rd. 1800 027 027, toddys.com.au
ALICE DO Alice Springs Desert Park Larapinta Drive. 08 8951 8788, alicespringsdesertpark.com.au Alice Springs Reptile Centre Meet and hold lizards. 9 Stuart Terrace. 08 8952 8900, reptilecentre.com.au Outback Ballooning Hot air balloon rides. 1800 809 790, outbackballooning.com.au Royal Flying Doctor Service Base Museum and operations room. Stuart Terrace. 08 8952 1129, flyingdoctor.net School of the Air Long-distance schooling museum. 80 Head St. 08 8951 6834, assoa.nt.edu.au The Rock Tour Uluru tours. 78 Todd St. 1800 246 345, therocktour.com.au
WORD FROM THE STREET
Matteo Martello, Italy WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE NT? I’ve been to Alice Springs, and the surrounds including Uluru FAVOURITE DAY SPOT IN OZ? The rock Uluru because it’s a special, mystical kind of place FAVOURITE NIGHT SPOT? The desert around Uluru left me speechless during the night because there is no darkness behind it, just thousands of stars
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HOBART STAY
LAUNCESTON DO
DON’T MISS
Central City Backpackers 138 Collins St. 1800 811 507, centralbackpackers.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 Transit Backpackers 251 Liverpool St. 03 6231 2400, transitbackpackers.com
HOBART DO Cascade Brewery 140 Cascade Rd. 03 6224 1117 cascadebreweryco.com.au Mt Wellington Descent Bike tours. 03 6274 1880 mtwellingtondescent.com.au Salamanca Markets Every Saturday, Salamanca Place. salamanca.com.au Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery 5 Argyle St. tmag.com.au
DEVONPORT GUY SEBASTIAN Derwent Entertainment Centre. June 23. $67 + booking fee Go see the fro’ and his first headlining concert in two years. Sebastian has been a busy Guy lately but right now it’s all about the music.
Glenorchy
ticketmaster.com.au
PORT ARTHUR Port Arthur Historic Ghost Tours 1800 659 101, portarthur.org.au
LAUNCESTON Arthouse Backpacker Hostel 20 Lindsay St. 1800 041 135, arthousehostel.com.au
Launceston Backpackers 103 Canning St. 03 6334 2327, launcestonbackpackers.com.au Lloyds Hotel 23 George St. 03 6331 9906, backpackersaccommodation.com.au
GO LARGE
Photo: DiscoverTasmania.com
Cataract Gorge launcestoncataractgorge.com.au
Tasman Backpackers 114 Tasman St. 03 6423 2335, tasmanbackpackers.com.au
Mt Roland Budget Backpacker Rooms 1447 Claude Rd, Gowrie Park. 03 6491 1385
CRADLE DO Devils at Cradle Tassie devil sanctuary. 3950 Cradle Mountain Rd. 03 6492 1491. devilsatcradle.com Overland Track Six-day walk parks.tas.gov.au
FREYCINET Iluka Backpackers YHA Reserve Rd. 03 6257 0115, yha.com.au Freycinet National Park Brewery, Wineglass Bay camping. 03 6256 7000, wineglassbay.com
BICHENO Bicheno Backpackers 11 Morrison St. 03 6375 1651, bichenobackpackers.com Bicheno Penguin Tours 03 6375 1333, bichenopenguintours.com.au
CRADLE MTN Discovery Holiday Parks Cradle Mountain Rd. 1800 068 574, discoveryholidayparks.com.au
STRAHAN, Strahan YHA 43 Harvey St. 03 6471 7255, yha.com
STRAHAN DO Four Wheelers Henty Sand Dunes quadbike tours. 04 1950 8175, 4wheelers.com.au Water by Nature Extreme multiday whitewater rafting. 1800 111 142, franklinrivertasmania.com
WORD FROM THE STREET
Trish O’Callaghan, Ireland BRUNY ISLAND Bruny Island is famous for its scenery, rainforests, national park reserves, beaches and wildlife. This is the place to go to watch fairy penguins or the rare, white wallaby. Cloudy Bay is a popular surfing spot and fishing is good both in freshwater and in the sea. There are several walking tracks within the national park and reserves. The island is located off the south east coast of Tasmania, not far from Hobart. Geologically, the isle is comprised of two islands; North Bruny and South Bruny, which are joined by a long and sandy isthmus. Ferries go from Kettering to North Bruny In 20 minutes.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN TASSIE? We flew from Melbourne to Hobart and then drove around the island of Tassie FAVOURITE DAY SPOT? Port Arthur, we went on the night ghost tour and we were scared shitless WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO NEXT? We’re going to do Perth and Western Australia
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WALISTINGS
follow us on One World Backpackers 162 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. 1800 188 100, oneworldbackpackers.com.au
@tnt_downunder
HOT GIG
Perth City YHA 300 Wellington St. 08 9287 3333, yha.com.au The Old Swan Barracks 6 Francis St. 08 9428 0000, theoldswanbarracks.com Underground Backpackers 268 Newcastle St, Northbridge. 08 9228 3755, undergroundbackpackers.com.au
DON’T MISS SUPANOVA POP CULTURE FESTIVAL Claremont Showground. June 22-24. From $27.50 Release your inner fanboy or girl at this festival celebrating all things from the wonderful worlds of sci-fi, cartoon, tv and technology.
Claremont, Perth
supanova.com.au
PERTH STAY Billabong Backpackers Resort 381 Beaufort St. 08 9328 7720, billabongresort.com.au Britannia on William 253 William St, Northbridge. 08 9227 6000, perthbrittania.com
Emperor’s Crown 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
The Witch’s Hat 148 Palmerston St. 08 9228 4228, witchshat.com
PERTH DO Aquarium of Western Australia 91 Southside Drive, Hillarys. 08 9447 7500, aqwa.com.au Kings Park & Botanic Garden bgpa.wa.gov.au Perth Mint 310 Hay St. 08 9421 7223, perthmint.com.au Perth Zoo 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth. 08 9474 3551, perthzoo.wa.gov.au
BEACH BOYS Burswood Dome. September 6. From $132.50 + booking fee The Kings of the Kokomo show no signs of slowing down as they make their way down under for their 50th Anniversary tour.
Burswood Theatre, Perth
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
showbiz.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
FREAKY
WYCLIFFE WELL There’s no shortage of strange places to stop at when crossing the outback, but Australia’s UFO capital, about 380km north of Alice Springs, is definitely one of the oddest. Indeed, so often are flying saucers spotted in Wycliffe’s skies that it is supposedly the fifth most popular holiday destination for aliens in this world. Nobody’s quite sure why they like it so much (or who actually compiles that list), although being near the secretive Area 51-like American military base at Pine Gap might have something to do with it. Check out the permanent aliens, plus the Hulk and Phantom, at the holiday park.
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MONKEY MIA
Sundancer Backpackers Resort 80 High St. 08 9336 6080, sundancerbackpackers.com.au
Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort 1800 653 611, monkeymia.com.au
FREO DO
NINGALOO REEF
Fremantle Markets 08 9335 2515, fremantlemarkets.com.au
Blue Reef Backpackers 3 Truscott Crescent, Exmouth 1800 621 101, aspenparks.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
MARGARET RIV Margaret River Lodge YHA 220 Railway Tce. 08 9757 9532, yha.com.au
Ningaloo Club Coral Bay 08 9948 5100, ningalooclub.com Excape Backpackers YHA Murat Rd, Exmouth. 08 9949 1200, yha.com.au
BROOME STAY Cable Beach Backpackers 12 Sanctuary Road. 1800 655 011, cablebeachbackpackers.com
ALBANY Albany Bayview Backpackers YHA 49 Duke St. 08 9842 3388, yha.com.au Cruize-Inn 122 Middleton Rd. 08 9842 9599, cruizeinn.com
t accommodation. Stunning beachfront location. Quality budge able, world-leading activities and facilities. Unique, afford shpacker Voted top ten f la under $100 in Australia accommodation veller Magazine a r T n a li a r by Aust
Kimberley Club 62 Fredrick St 08 9192 3233, kimberleyklub.com
BROOME DO
Metro Inn Albany 270 Albany Hwy. 1800 004 321, metrohotels.com.au
Sun Pictures Carnarvon St. 08 9192 1077, broomemovies.com.au
monkeymia@aspenresorts.com.au t freecall 1800 653 611 t ph +61 8 9948 1320 t monkeymia.com.au
Aspen Parks Begin your re today... Darwin
u t n e v d A n e Asp
Nt
Qld
Wa
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Sa Perth
Nsw Sydney
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Visit our website for great accommodation specials and online bookings
Holiday Parks with a difference Australia Wide Western Australia Woodman Point Holiday Park Coogee Beach Holiday Park Perth Vineyards Holiday Park Exmouth Cape Holiday Park Blue Reef Backpackers Pilbara Holiday Park Cooke Point Holiday Park
1800 244 133 1800 817 016 1800 679 992 1800 621 101 1800 621 101 1800 451 855 1800 459 999
South Australia Port Augusta BIG4 Holiday Park 1800 833 444 Myall Grove Holiday Park 1800 356 103 Victoria Boathaven Holiday Park Geelong Riverview Tourist Park Golden River Holiday Park Yarraby Holiday Park Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village
1800 352 982 1800 336 225 1800 621 262 1800 222 052 1800 061 444
New South Wales A Shady River Holiday Park Maidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inn Holiday Park Magic Murray Houseboats Murray River Holiday Park Wymah Valley Holiday Park Twofold Bay Beach Resort Wallamba River Holiday Park
1800 674 239 1800 356 801 1800 356 483 1800 357 215 1800 776 523 1800 631 006 1800 268 176
Queensland Island Gateway Holiday Park
1800 466 528
aspenparks.com.au TNTDOWNUNDER.COM
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NZLISTINGS 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
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
Stray +64 9309 8772, straytravel.com
RENTAL FIRMS Ace Rental Cars 1800 140 026, acerentalcars.com.nz Backpacker Campervan & Car Rentals +800 200 80 801, backpackercampervans.com Bargain Rental Cars 0800 001 122, bargainrentals.com.nz Darn Cheap Rentals 0800 447 363, exploremore.co.nz Econo Campers +64 9275 9919, econocampers.co.nz Escape Rentals 1800 456 272, escaperentals.co.nz Explore More 1800 800 327, dcrentals.com.nz Jucy Rentals 0800 399 736, jucy.com.nz
AUCKLAND Airport Skyway Lodge Backpackers (BBH) 30 Kirkbride Road, Mangere. +64 9275 4443, skywaylodge.co.nz Auckland International Backpackers (BBH) 2 Churton St, Parnell. +64358 4584, Base Auckland 229 Queen St. 0800 227 369, stayatbase.com Bamber House (BBH) 2 2 View Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9623 4267, hostelbackpacker.com
follow us on The Fat Camel (Nomads) 38 Fort St. +64 9307 0181, nomadshostels.com
Nomads Capital 118 Wakefield St. 0508 666 237, nomadscapital.com
Nomads Auckland 16-20 Fort St. +64 9300 9999, nomadshostels.com
Rosemere Backpackers (BBH) 6 McDonald Cres. +64 4384 3041, backpackerswellington.co.nz
Oaklands Lodge (BBH) St. +64 5A Oaklands Rd, Mt Eden. +64 9638 6545, oaklands.co.nz
Rowena’s Backpackers (VIP) 115 Brougham St. 0800 80 1414
Queen Street Backpackers (VIP) 4 Fort St. +64 9373 3471, enquiries@qsb.co.nz Surf ‘n’ Snow Backpackers 102 Albert St. +64 9363 8889, surfandsnow.co.nz YHA Auckland City Cnr City Rd & Liverpool St. +64 9309 2802, yha.co.nz YHA Auckland International 5 Turner St. +64 9302 8200, yha.co.nz
WELLINGTON Base Wellington 21-23 Cambridge Tce. +64 4801 5666 stayatbase.com
Central City Backpackers 26 Lorne St. +64 9358 5685, backpacker.net.nz
Downtown Wellington Backpackers (BBH) 1 Bunny St. +64 4473 8482 db@downtownbackpackers.co.nz
City Garden Lodge 25 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. +64 9302 0880
Lodge in the City (VIP) 152 Taranaki St. +64 4385 8560 lodgeinthecity.co.nz
Less clicking and more member savings on the new, faster yha.co.nz.
Backpacking just got easy as. 62
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YHA Wellington City 292 Wakefield St. +64 4801 7280
CHRISTCHURCH Chester Street Backpackers (BBH) 148 Chester St East. +64 3377 1897, chesterst.co.nz Foley Towers (BBH) 208 Kilmore St. +64 3366 9720, backpack.co.nz/foley Jailhouse Accommodation (BBH) 338 Lincoln Rd. 0800 524 546, stay@kiwibasecamp.com
@tnt_downunder
QUEENSTOWN Base Discovery Lodge St. +64 Queenstown 49 Shotover St. +64 3441 1185, stayatbase.com Bungi Backpackers (VIP, BBH) 15 Sydney St. 0800 728 286, bungibackpackers.co.nz Cardrona Alpine Resort Between Queenstown and Wanaka. +64 3443 7341, cardrona.com Flaming Kiwi Backpackers (BBH) 39 Robins Rd. +64 3442 5494, flamingkiwi@xtra.co.nz Hippo Lodge (BBH) 4 Anderson Hts. +64 3442 5785, hippolodge.co.nz Nomads Queenstown 5-11 Church St. +64 3441 3922, nomadshostels.com
Kiwi House 373 Gloucester St. +64 3381 6645, kiwihouse.co.nz
Pinewood Lodge (VIP) 48 Hamilton Rd. 0800 7463 9663, rgrieg@xtra.co.nz
The Old Countryhouse (BBH) 437 Gloucester St. +64 3381 5504, oldcountryhousenz.com
Southern Laughter (BBH, VIP) 4 Isle St. 0800 728 448, southernlaughter.co.nz
Tranquil Lodge (BBH) 440 Manchester St. +64 3366 6500, tranquil-lodge.co.nz
YHA Queenstown Central 48A Shotover Street. +64 3442 7400, yha.co.nz
Rucksacker Backpacker Hostel (BBH) 70 Bealey Ave. +64 3377 7931, rucksacker.com
YHA Queenstown Lakefront 8890 Lake Esplanade. +64 3442 8413, yha.co.nz
WHEN YOU
JOIN YHA
yha.co.nz
Get paid to holiday! Make the most of your Aussie travel experience. Western Australia’s Challenger Institute of Technology offers a selection of hospitality short courses that will get you qualified and working in no time at all!
No need to give up long days at the beach. Challenger short courses are run on weekends or weeknights for minimum disruption to your itinerary.
CTA1612_Jan
These industry-relevant courses are run by highly qualified lecturers in a hands-on training environment.
Challenger Institute of Technology located in Western Australia is the preferred choice for more than 25,000 students studying a diverse range of careers, courses and subjects.
INTERESTED? Visit www.challenger.wa.edu.au or email stephne.ceicys@challenger.wa.edu.au
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Want to work in one of the best environments in Sydney?
Restaurant Associates at Taronga Zoo are looking for Hospitality Superstars for ongoing casual work. If you have a warm friendly outgoing personality and a minimum 2 years experience in hospitality then we want to hear from you! We are holding an open day on 12th June, 2012. Please call Namrita Sandhu on 02 9797 4980 or email NamritaSandhu@compass-group. com.au to register interest for the following positions: *HML HSS YV\UKLYZ :HUK^PJO HY[PZ[Z 2P[JOLU OHUKZ >HP[LYZ *OLMZ ^P[O I\SR WYVK\J[PVU L_WLYPLUJL 7HZ[Y` JOLMZ )HRLYZ You are required to have work rights in Australia & a valid NSW RSA
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OZWORK
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Propping up the bar Getting a job in a bar doesn’t mean giving up your life. It is a great way to keep the cash coming in while having a good time
If you think that drinking is an expensive form of entertainment in Australia, then working in a bar could be win-win for you. Sure, you’ll be forced to forgo all those pub crawls in the city with your mates, but more importantly, after you finish working, you’re entitled to what bartenders refer to as “staffies”. In English: free drinks. Most owners allow this, but it’s up to their discretion as to how generous they are with “free booze”. Oh, and you’ll also get a fairly decent wage. Bar workers get around $20/hr with penalties (usually time-and-a-half) after midnight and Sundays if you’re a casual employee. Tips vary from bar to bar and can be as little as none if you’re in a little pub or up to $200 per shift if you’re in a topnotch cocktail bar or nightclub. If you’ve had no experience with bartending then it’s best to start at the quieter pubs where training will be provided
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on the job. There are one-day bar courses you can attend, but the best way to learn is by diving in head first. Before you walk into a pub with your CV, make sure you’ve got your Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate (RSA). That’s a qualification most people will need before they can work with alcohol. It only takes a day to get and costs about $65-75. But beware, it often only applies to the state where you do the training. The best way to get a bar job is to walk in and speak to a manager. Experience isn’t mandatory – it’s personality that will seal the deal. Trying to keep that personality up when you’re dealing with pissheads is another story. If you work in a clothing store, you’re expected to wear the clothes, and in bars, once you finish your shift, you’re expected to drink. And there’s nothing more satisfying than that first sip of alcohol after you’ve clocked off – it really feels like you’ve earned it.
KINKY FUN, FETISH, FANTASY OR BDSM Play out your fun fantasies with Salon Kitty’s Professional Mistresses, Masters and Submissives Hetro, Bi-curious and gay-friendly All are welcome to come and play! Clean and safe environment Discreet service Worldwide reputation as a centre of excellence QU Only six minutes by taxi a OT from the Sydney city centre 10%nd re E TNT ce tow Partners welcome! a DIS ive of y rds a COUN our fan T cho tasy ice 310 Cleveland St, Surry Hills p: 0418 280846 or contact amanda@salonkittys.com Visit www.salonkittys.com for more information
Are YOU tired of lookin ng for work? Not making enou ugh to fund YOUR travels and living g expen nses? Do YOU need money and FAS ST!?!?
Experienced and good looking ladies required for sensual massage at Glebe. 15 mins walk from the Central Station. Previous experience will be an advantage but training will be provided. Wages according to your experience will be paid.
Let Suzen help you make the most of your precious time and earn the money you deserve! Flexible hours 7 days a week. Work as much or as little as YOU want
p: 0434 542 816
BIG $$$ can be all for YOU. Fantastic income as high as $1000 per day. 2 Convenient Sydney locations. Upscale and prestigious clientele. .L[ [V LUQV` [OL ÄULY [OPUNZ PU SPML HUK SPML [OL ^H` `V\ HS^H`Z ^HU[LK [V HUK KLZLY]L [VV >L WYVTPZL [V RLLW `V\Y WLYZVUHS SPML ZLJYL[ HUK JVUÄKLU[PHS HZ [OPZ is our most important thing. Please contact our friendly management to discuss an interview. We are more than willing to answer any enquiries you may have.
Call us on 0405 383 201 or email to suzenwu@hotmail.com
Paramour of Collins Street
SETTING A WORLD-CLASS STANDARD IN AUSTRALIA. Melbourne’s most exclusive escorts, models, dinner dates and travelling companions. Paramour is a Melbourne’s leading Escort Agency with over 40 beautiful women. Paramour provides the most outstanding outcall adult entertainment in Melbourne. Since the 1980s, we have been providing high class escorts in all Melbourne suburbs. Paramour is the only escort service agency located in the city area of Melbourne. Paramour girls are very highly paid, beautiful women for international executives. Our ladies are the elite of Australia and are treated as princesses. Our girls come from many different countries and speak many languages. We understand that the best clients deserve the very best, most feminine ladies and we are continually interviewing to keep our standards high - Paramour Girls are the pinnacle.
www.paramour.com.au 03 9654 6011 PCA 113E
Try us just once and you will not be disappointed! Call us now on
9212 1195 www.tiffanysgirls.com.au
Tiffany’s has Sydney’s largest selection of immaculately groomed, stunning girls who are specialists in the art of making a man feel totally at ease and relaxed. Easily found in a peaceful central location, spread over five large terraces, Tiffany’s boasts a number of beautifully appointed self-contained spas, double bedrooms and private waiting lounges.
Work with us:
Unlimited earning potential Shifts to suit Full training provided Quality accommodation provided 99 Albion Street, Surry Hills
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MYTHBUSTERS PEST OR PET?
THIS WEEK’S QUIZ
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Q
c) A third
d) A half
a) The Humpback Highway b) The Sperm Cycleway c) The Blue Lagoon d) The Whale Way
Wadjemup meaning ‘place across the...’ a) Road b) Rat’s nest c) Highway d) Water
Q 5. A quokka, found in WA, is a what? a) Spice b) Marsupial c) Alcoholic drink d) Hangover
SUDOKU PUZZLE 7
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grow to? a) About 5m b) About 9m c) About 13m d) About 17m
Q 9. The world’s oldest outdoor cinema is found in which WA town? a) Broome b) Fremantle c) Albany d) Margaret River
AUSSIE-ISM “A ROOT”
2
2
3
4
4
4
a) Unemployed people b) Employed actors c) Self-made billionaires d) Self-made millionaires Roughly how big can regular Q 8.Ningaloo Reef visitors, whale sharks,
Q 4. Rottnest Island was originally called
5
6. Broome’s Shinju Matsuri Festival celebrates which local speciality? a) Kung-fu b) Sunsets c) Pearls d) Opals
has the highest number Q 7.of Perth what in the world?
Because of the whale pilgrimage Q 3.from June, the WA coast is known as...
2
WEEK
8 9
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Why do Aussies hate cane toads? Some muppet back in 1935 thought it would be a great idea to bring the American toad over to Oz to eat the beetles that were ruining sugar crops. One problem: beetles love chillaxin’ at the top of plants, while cane toads are big fat bastards that aren’t too good at jumping. The feral species is, however, damn good at breeding and killing other animals. The toads are packed full of poison that leave hungry snakes, mammals and even crocs dead. They’ve since made it into the NT, becoming the biggest threat to Kakadu’s biodiversity. Game of toad cricket anyone?
ANAGRAM-ARAMA
When someone asks if you “pulled a root” they are not talking about gardening. It’s slang for sex. So next time you need a pick-up line, “fancy a root?” is sure to get a response. Most likely a slap.
THIS WEEK IT’S... TENNIS STARS 1. WIN SLIM VALUES 2. REFERRED OGRE 3. DO RANDY DICK 4. SMILES A REAL WIN ANSWERS: 1. Venus Williams 2. Roger Federer 3. Andy Roddick 4. Serena Williams
occupies how much of Oz? Q 2.a)WAA quarter b) An eighth
OF THE
ANSWERS: 1. b 2. c 3. a 4. d 5. b 6. c 7. d 8. c 9. a
Q
1. Perth is closer to which city than it is to Australia’s capital Canberra? a) Madrid b) Jakarta c) Cairns d) Auckland
MYTH
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