BACKPACKER

/ ESSENTIALS /DECEMBER 2016

TOWNSVILLE
& MAGNETIC
ISLAND
TROPICAL
TREATS

MELBOURNE BREAK
MAKE THE MOST OF 48 HOURS
BANGKOK AND SINGAPORE
MORE THAN JUST STOPOVERS
CALL OF THE MILD
QUEENSTOWN MINUS ADRENALINE

/ ESSENTIALS

/ ESSENTIALS

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INSIDE
BACKPACKER / ESSENTIALS

GLOBAL NEWS
BEST OF NEW YEARS

Tourism and Events Queensland

AUSTRALIA/NZ
GREAT WALLS OF YHA

10
u

17

GETAWAYS
TOP DEALS IN OZ

TOWNSVILLE

AND MAGNETIC
ISLAND

21

NEW ZEALAND
NO THRILLS QUEENSTOWN

VOL 20 / No 6
DECEMBER 2016
MANAGING EDITOR
Janet McGarry
NEW ZEALAND EDITOR
Brindi Joy
DEPUTY EDITOR
Tom Smith
YHA CONTRIBUTORS
Leah Kmiec
Lauren Walker
Di Caught

28

ART DIRECTOR
Justin Thomas

Backpacker Essentials is the member magazine for YHA Australia. Opinions expressed are not necessarily
those of the Association. No material may be reproduced without prior permission from the editor. All travel
prices are subject to change and conditions apply. All hostel prices are YHA member rates and are subject to
change. YHA Australia ISSN 1328-6749. YHA Australia, Hostelling International and YHA house and tree
logos are Registered Trademarks of YHA Australia Inc., PO Box A2462, Sydney South NSW 1235

36
u

MELBOURNE
48 HOUR ESCAPE

43

SOUTH EAST ASIA

BANGKOK & SINGAPORE

51
u

WHATS ON
AUSTRALIA/NZ EVENTS

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Nicolas Chua

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
The Editor,
Backpacker Essentials,
GPO Box 5276,
Sydney NSW 2001.
T: +61 2 9261 1111
F: +61 2 9261 1969
E: backpackeressentials@
yha.com.au

AUSTRALIA/ NZ
FROM THE EDITOR / MURALS / NEWS / YOUR YHA

FROM THE EDITOR

It was nearly 20 years ago that YHA launched a
new national member magazine, Backpacker
Essentials, in Australia. A glossy print travel
publication, it aimed to inform and inspire on all
things budget travel. Right from the beginning, it
was about encouraging YHA members to see the
world whether for a weekend, local holiday or
that big overseas adventure.
Backpacker Essentials also informed members
on what was happening with their organisation
new hostels opening, member discounts and
services, ways in which our mission is brought
to life such as a strong sustainability ethos, and
how our volunteer Board of Directors represent
and work for the members.
By 2010 it was clear that more and more
members wanted to receive communications
from YHA electronically. YHA.com.au has been
invaluable as the online front door to access
YHAs services as well as facilitating hostel
bookings, and email has become the premier
communications channel replacing the post
box. YHA launched a digital version (via iPad
and online) of Backpacker Essentials and, in
2013, YHA New Zealand joined Australia in a
joint publication.
I have had the honour and privilege of being
the Editor of Backpacker Essentials from the
first issue in 1997. Choosing what destinations
to feature, experiences to highlight and hostels
to showcase has been a pleasure but it has
also been a team effort with the support of YHA
staff and members over the years, as well as
excellent travel journalists and photographers.
Now the time is right for a new direction
changing from Backpacker Essentials in its
current long form format to more frequent,
up-to-the-minute travel inspiration ezines sent
direct to your inbox.

The first issue, Winter 1997

Starting early in 2017, Australian YHA

members and guests will receive ezines which
will be more relevant to what you are up to. If
you are a current traveller, youll hear all about
ways to expand your trip as well as the best
specials and offers to help your travel budget
go further. Between trips? Well continue to
inspire with monthly travel emails with short
tips and ideas as well as longer destination and
experience features. You will have the option
to tailor YHAs messages to your preferences
through the My YHA section on the website.
The last ever issue of Backpacker Essentials
finishes where we started offering a host of
travel ideas for summer. Wherever you are
heading, well see you there!
Janet McGarry
Managing Editor

Autumn 1998

Spring 1999

Spring 2001

Spring 2003

July 2005

March 2007

November 2009

November 2010

THANK YOU FROM NEW ZEALAND

Being part of Backpacker Essentials has been
an epic journey. Wed like to celebrate all the
wanderlust and itchy feet weve inspired over
the years, and to thank the good folks who made
it possible.
Thank you YHA Australia for welcoming your
NZ cuzzies into the fold. We joined forces in
October 2013 and broadcast the first joint YHA
Australia and YHA New Zealand edition of
Backpacker Essentials. That meant 20% more
inspiring content from, and all about, New
Zealand.
Thank you to our contributors feature
writers, photographers, hostel managers and

event co-ordinators we wouldnt have been

able to inspire all that wanderlust and all those
itchy feet without your insightful, rousing and
quirky content.
Rest assured this isnt adieu, auf wiedersehen
or goodbye. You can still catch up with YHA
New Zealand in our regular, digital newsletter,
YHA HorizoNZ. Click here to subscribe and we
promise the travel inspiration will keep flowing.
Happy travels,
Brindi Joy
New Zealand Editor

/ NEWS

GREAT WALLS OF YHA

Urban art is popping up on walls all over Australia and YHA is no exception to the street art
craze, with Sydney Harbour YHA unveiling a freshly painted masterpiece just weeks ago. Check
out these seven YHA hostels that treat their bricks and mortar as a blank canvas for some of the
countrys most talented contemporary artists.
5. Brisbane City YHA
Drapl is one of Brisbanes most in-demand
graffiti artists and Brisbane City YHA is lucky
enough to boast one of his murals at its
entrance: a portrait of a backpacker with a
tropical frangipani in her hair.

1. Sydney Harbour YHA

The paint has barely dried on this mural in
Sydney Harbours games room, which was
whipped up by globe-trotting designer Jeffery
Laine in October. The vibrant cartoon shows
off the best the Harbour City has to offer.
2. Melbourne Central YHA
It wouldnt be downtown Melbourne without
graffiti on the walls and 90 Degrees Graffiti
founder Dan Wenn produced a mural featuring
all the unique aspects of life Melburnians
cherish: autumn leaves, pots of beer, Flinders
St station and, of course, Aussie rules footy.
3. Adelaide Central YHA
Big is beautiful! Flower is a three-storey
epic by Vans the Omega, smiling down from
Adelaide Centrals red-brick faade onto
backpackers arriving below.
4. Railway Square YHA
Legendary Sydney painter Beastman has left
his mark in the UK, USA, Germany, Israel,
Hong Kong, New Zealand . . . and Railway
Square YHA, with this entrancing geometric
mural.

6. Bondi Beachouse YHA

As if the jaw-dropping rooftop views werent
beautiful enough, eastern suburbs local Kelli
Twinkle whos also painted pieces on the
iconic Bondi Beach Graffiti Wall added this
kaleidoscopic artwork in 2016.
7. Canberra City YHA
The brief for ACT artist Dai Cameron was
something fun and funky, with a bit of an
adventure/travel flavour thrown in. This epic
ground-floor mural certainly achieved that!
Canberra City

/ NEWS
Skydiving Newcastle
Destination NSW

WIN A TRIP TO SYDNEY

AND BEYOND
YHA has teamed up with Destination New
South Wales to give you the chance to win a
week-long road trip of a lifetime for you and
a mate. Simply tell us which activity youd
love to experience in New South Wales and
youll go in the running to win return flights
to Sydney, five nights accommodation at
YHA, seven days car hire, an overnight Blue
Mountains tour and your chosen experience
for you and your buddy. But hurry! Entries
close 15 December 2016.

HOW TO MAKE THE

MOST OF YOUR
YHA MEMBERSHIP
. . . AND SAVE!
HERTZ CAR HIRE
Planning a road trip this
Shutterstock
summer? Hertz is waiving
their young renter surcharge for YHA members
because you shouldnt have to worry about being
stung at the rental desk just because youre
under 25. Thats a saving of $16.50 per day you
can put towards petrol money! YHA members also
receive great deals with Ace, Alpha, Avis, Budget
and Europcar.

COTSWOLD
Explore Australias great outdoors in
comfort and style with Costwolds huge
online range of outdoor apparel. YHA
members receive a 15% discount when
they use the code AF-AUYHA-M7 at check
out, so you can afford to stuff a few extra
goodies in your Christmas stocking.
QBE INSURANCE
YHA members enjoy 25% off travel
insurance when you book online with
QBE. This is one of hundreds of exclusive
discounts YHA members enjoy across
Australia click here to check out more
special offers at YHA.com.au.

FIND NEW FRIENDS WITH YHA AND TRAVELLO

YHA is teaming up with social networking
app Travello to make your next trip
even better. With thousands of fellow
travellers at your fingertips, the app is
the perfect way to find friends, share tips
and advice, and join events on the road.

And now that YHA has partnered with

Travello, the app also unlocks a world
of amazing special offers just
download the app, click on the discover
tab and then the deals tab to save big!
Click here to download the app.

/ NEWS

GOING SOLAR IN WINDY WELLY

YHA Wellington's
solar panels

Wellington is known as the Windy City but YHA New Zealand

knows the Kiwi capital gets a whole lot of sunshine, too.
So weve installed a solar system at YHA Wellington to tap
into those sunshine hours and reduce the hostels carbon
emissions by 1.4 tonnes per year. Thats a lot less carbon in
the air. It took a helicopter navigating wind and rain and coordinated manpower to drop the panels into place, but the
system is now GO and generating a steady supply of clean
and renewable energy.
YHA New Zealand has definitely set a benchmark in the
accommodation sector this is the largest combined solar
photovoltaic and solar hot water system in New Zealand.
And with the help of a handy monitoring system in the foyer,
guests can observe the staff monitoring and controlling the
hostels resources.
To further cement our commitment to our beautiful
backyard, weve also signed up to the Certified Emissions
Measurements and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS), a
globally recognised certification programme that will certify
our carbon busting efforts throughout the hostel network.

WIN A WEEKEND AT WOMADELAIDE WITH YHA

Summertime means festival season (woohoo!) at Adelaide Central YHA, and four-day
and because YHA loves festivals just as much
Womadelaide passes for you and a mate.
as you do, weve teamed up with Womadelaide Click here to read more.
to give you the chance to win a weekend for
Centre Tree at
two at one of the worlds most colourful and
Womadelaide
diverse festivals. Five hundred artists from
Steve Trutwin
more than 30 countries will showcase their
music, dance and art talent in Adelaides
Botanical Gardens between 10-13 March
2017 and if you want YHA to shout your trip,
simply upload your favourite festival photo to
the Backpacking Mate Facebook page, or your
own Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag
#YHALovesFestivals, before 14 December 2016.
The most creative entry wins return flights to
the SA capital, three nights accommodation

YOUR YHA
YHA NEWS FOR MEMBERS IN AUSTRALIA

Cradle Mountain
and Dove Lake
Olga Kashubin

YHA TASMANIA TO MERGE

Moving towards one national YHA organisation in
Australia just got a step closer with members in
Tasmania voting overwhelmingly to merge with YHA
Ltd (the operator of hostels in the ACT, NSW, NT,
QLD, SA and Victoria).
At a Special General Meeting held on 18 October
2016 in Hobart, 97.3% of members of YHA Tasmania

THE FINAL PIECE IN THE PUZZLE

who voted were in favour of the merger. The

decision is another significant landmark in YHAs
decade-long process to become a single national
association, with the YHA Tasmania merger to
take effect on 1 January 2017. YHA memberships
held by Tasmanian residents will continue to be
valid, not only in Australia, but around the world.
Credit goes to the outgoing YHA Tasmania State
Council, led by Chairman Andrew West, for their
pro-active approach and recommendation to
members to approve the merger. The combined
organisation will celebrate the union at the annual
YHA Hostel Managers Conference to be held in
Hobart in May 2017, the first time the event has
been held on the Apple Isle.

Memorandum and sent to Western Australian

members. The matter will be voted upon at an
The Boards of YHA Western Australia and YHA Ltd
Extraordinary General Meeting convened for that
have unanimously agreed to sign a Memorandum
specific purpose.
of Understanding to work towards a merger, with
Meanwhile, YHA WA also has a high profile on
a target date of no later than 1 January 2018. If the
the global stage, with long-standing Director Alex
merger goes ahead, it would complete YHAs 10year journey towards becoming one national entity in Zilkens (as a representative of YHA Australia)
Australia, with the benefits of savings and increased currently serving as a Vice-President of Hostelling
International, developing and advocating for the
effectiveness that brings to members.
hostelling movement across the world.
YHA took its first steps towards integrating into a
national body when YHA Northern Territory merged
THE ROAD TO ONE NATIONAL BODY
with YHA New South Wales in 2007, before YHA
Queensland (2010), YHA Victoria (2012), and YHA
2007: YHA Northern Territory merges with
South Australia (2014) followed suit. In 2016 the
YHA NSW
national body, HI-Australia, is being wound up as
2010: YHA Queensland merges with YHA
its functions have been taken up by YHA Ltd which
NSW to form YHA Ltd
trades as YHA Australia.
2012: YHA Victoria merges with YHA Ltd
Following YHA Tasmanias merger taking effect
2014: YHA South Australia merges with YHA
at the beginning of 2017, it is planned to engage
Ltd
with members of YHA WA with information on
2016: YHA Ltd becomes the national
the proposal at the 2017 AGM in Perth. Subject
organisation trading as YHA Australia
to satisfactory outcomes from due diligence
2017: YHA Tasmania to merge with YHA Ltd
conducted by both parties a proposal to merge will
2018: Target date for the merger of YHA WA
subsequently be developed by the YHA WA Board.
with YHA Ltd
The proposal will be summarised in an Explanatory

GLOBAL
NEW YEAR / NEW HOSTELS / ENGLAND AND FRANCE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

You have to wait 365 days for this party, and when
the countdowns over, you have to wait 365 more
so make the most of your celebrations by ushering
in the New Year at one of these hotspots.

SYDNEY

You could scour every

corner of the globe and
struggle to find a better place
to spend December 31 than
the Harbour City. More than
a million people line the
foreshore to watch dazzling
fireworks shows at 9pm and
midnight but the real star of
the show is the harbour
backdrop, carpeted with boats
enjoying the best seats in the
house. Head to Bondi for an
all-night dance party if you feel
like shimmying your way into
2017 instead.

Stay at Sydney YHAs

Shutterstock

/BEST OF NEW YEARS

HONOLULU

Bringing down the curtain

on 2016 a full 21 hours after
Sydney, Hawaiis biggest city revels
in being late to the party. Huge
bashes are thrown all over the island
but the downtown Aloha Towers
raging events are legendary, while
the fireworks show on Waikiki
Beach is a calmer but no less
impressive display.

Honolulu
Shutterstock
Edinburgh
Shutterstock

Stay at HI Honolulu or HI Waikiki

EDINBURGH

Scots dont need much

encouragement to enjoy a
wee dram of whisky at the best of
times, but the Scotch flows a little
more freely than usual over this
three-day festival of epic street
parties, which kicks off with a pagan
torchlight procession on December
30. When six tonnes of fireworks
ignite the icy sky above Edinburgh
Castle the following day, enjoy
the worlds heartiest rendition of
beloved Scottish ballad and New
Years staple Auld Lang Syne.

Stay at Edinburgh Central SYHA

/BEST OF NEW YEARS

Hong Kong
Shutterstock

HONG KONG

Park yourself in a rooftop bar

looking across the harbour
from the Lan Kwai Fong district or
score a spot on a boat for a front
row seat of the wild pyrotechnic
display that explodes off Victoria
Harbours towering skyscrapers at
midnight. Then Honkers double-dips
a few weeks later with an even bigger
fireworks show for Chinese New Year,
which falls on 28 January in 2017.

Stay at YHA Hong Kong

NEW YORK

Staving off frostbite in sub-zero

temperatures waiting for a fivetonne crystal ball to descend at a
glacial pace mightnt be everyones
cup of tea but no New Years list could
possibly leave off New York City.
Revellers are squeezed into Times
Square like sardines for the worlds
most famous New Years party, which
attracts more than one billion pairs of
eyeballs on TV.

Stay at HI New York City Hostel

New York
Shutterstock

/NEW HI HOSTELS
DORDRECHT,
NETHERLANDS

Wikkelhouse

Wikkelhouse interior

INUYAMA,
JAPAN
Wikkelhouse interior

DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS
Dutch HI association Stayokay are known for their different
hostels the Netherlands are peppered with peculiar cube
houses in Rotterdam, 13th Century castles in Domburg
and Heemskerk, and an 18th Century manor in Scheemda.
But the latest edition to Stayokay Dordrecht, on the edge
of De Hollandse Biesbosch national park, takes the
cake. The Wikkelhuis in the hostels camping grounds is
made entirely of corrugated cardboard stuck together by
environmentally friendly glue, offering both great design
and cutting-edge sustainability. A weather-resistant coating
makes the lodge durable for 100 years, and pieces can be
added to make it bigger to suit guests needs. Plus, the
cardboard and its interior is all recyclable. The Wikkelhuis
can accommodate four guests plus a kitchen and a space to
sit and relax, with bathrooms outside . . . it is a campground,
after all! Although the cardboard house closes over winter
you need a bit more than cardboard between you and the
elements to brave the chilly Dutch winter the rest of the
Stayokay Dordrecht is open year round, providing a great
base to explore one of the Netherlands most historic cities.

BOOK
NOW
HOSTEL STAYOKAY
DORDRECHT
u

stayokay.com

dordrecht@stayokay.com

Dordrecht
Shutterstock

/NEW HI HOSTELS
DORDRECHT,
NETHERLANDS

Inuyama Castle
Shutterstock

INUYAMA,
JAPAN

INUYAMA, JAPAN
Just a half-hour train ride from Nagoya but a world away
from the hustle and bustle of Japans third-largest city,
tranquil Inuyama promises a taste of authentic Japanese
culture. Take in sweeping views of the Kiso River from
the hilltop Inuyama Castle, a postcard-perfect four-storey
fortress that claims to be the oldest in the country, dating
back to 1440, and now displays samurai swords and armour
for visitors. The Japan Monkey Centre and Meiji Mura, an
open-air museum preserving 19th Century architecture, are
also popular nearby attractions while its only a five minute
stroll from the Inuyama International Youth Hostel to the
maple leaf-covered gardens of the idyllic Jakko-in Temple.
Its a bit nippy at this time of year but visit in summer to
go rafting down the Kiso River and witness the traditional
fishing method of Ukai, where fishermen harness trained
cormorant birds a technique thats survived for 1300
years. The hostel doesnt offer multi-share rooms but does
provide twins, singles and Japanese-style rooms, if youre
the type of traveller who wants to absorb the local culture
right up to the moment your head hits the pillow.

Inuyama International
Youth Hostel

INUYAMA INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH HOSTEL
u

jyh.or.jp

inuyama@jyh.gr.jp

BOOK
NOW

/ENGLAND AND FRANCE

A HOSTEL OF OLYMPIC PROPORTIONS

YHA England and Wales have submitted

an application to build a mammoth super
hostel in Londons Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park. The 30-million purpose-built hostel
will boast 850 beds almost three times
as big as any other property in the England
and Wales network as well as ensuite
bathrooms, bars, restaurants, cafes, meeting
facilities, a modern self-catering kitchen
and trendy communal spaces. YHA lodged
the plans in October and expects to start

construction next year, hoping to cut the

ribbon on the shiny new hostel by early 2019.
The new YHA will be located just next to
Stratford tube station and just a short bowl
of chalk (that means walk, if youre not
fluent in East Londons Cockney rhyming
slang) from the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

In the meantime, theres already seven

YHA hostels around London click here
to check them out!

48 HOURS OF FREEDOM
And YHA England and Wales arent just
modernising their portfolio of properties
theyre targeting young travellers with their
48 Hours of Freedom campaign, too. YHA
in Britain has long been associated with
bushwalkers in their woolly socks enjoying
a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit after a
day exploring the countryside but these
videos featuring travel hotspots London
and Cornwall send young people the

London Olympic Park

Shutterstock

message that hostels are also for them, as

an affordable launching pad for a weekend
escape. The raw, fast-paced videos look
more like something from your mates
Snapchat story on a Saturday night than
a carefully crafted ad, carrying the YHA
England and Wales brand into the social
media age.
Check out the videos here.

/ENGLAND AND FRANCE

STEP INTO THE VOID

Step into the Void
Lucie Aidart

Aiguille du Midi
Shutterstock

If the views of Mont-Blanc from mountainside

resort Chamonix werent breathtaking enough,
heres an attraction that seriously will take your
breath away. Catch the cable car up to Aiguille
du Midi then Step into the Void (Le Pas Dans Le
Vide in French), a glass room with nothing but a
kilometre of fresh air under your feet. Theres
also a newly opened 32-metre tube nicknamed

Chamonix
Shutterstock

Le Pipe wrapped around the summit and you

dont need us to tell you what those 360-degree
views are like. Book your stay at the eco-friendly
HI Chamonix Youth Hostel, the perfect place for
a cheese fondue after a long day on the slops . . .
or after scaring yourself stupid by jumping into a
bottomless glass box.
Stay at HI Chamonix Youth Hostel

DEALS

YHA DEALS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

YHA
GETAWAYS

Hall of Mirrors, Versailles

Shutterstock

FRENCH CULTURE IN THE CAPITAL

GOLD COAST ADVENTURE

A little slice of French luxury is being transported

17,000km to Canberra for the National Gallery
of Australias blockbuster summer exhibition,
Versailles: Treasures from the Palace. The NGA
will display more than 130 paintings, statues,
tapestries and pieces of gold-plated furniture
from Louis XIVs luxurious chteau and even
though the collection is worth a fortune, you dont
need to break the bank seeing it with Canberra
City YHAs great-value
deal. Package includes:

Discover the beautiful World Heritage listed

Moreton Bay Marine Park and stunning South
Stradbroke Island on this sailing and camping
adventure. Set sail along the Nerang River,
camp under the stars on South Straddie and
discover Break Island upon your return. These
hidden gems on the Gold Coasts doorstep will
take your breath away.

2 nights
accommodation
Versailles exhibition
ticket
Breakfast both
mornings

From AU$99 p.p.

Valid until 17 April 2017.

Queen Marie-Antoinette
RMN-Grand Palais
Chteau de Versailles

CANBERRA CITY YHA

u
u

+61 2 6248 9155

canberracity@yha.com.au

Package includes:
u

 nights multi-share accommodation at

2
Surfers Paradise YHA

1 night camping on South Stradbroke Island

All meals included

Camping equipment supplied

From AU$159 p.p.

Valid until 31 January 2017.

SURFERS PARADISE YHA

u
u

+61 7 5571 1776

surfersparadise@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

Rottnest Island
Tourism Western Australia
Sand Dunes at
Lake Wabby
Shutterstock

FRASER ISLAND ADVENTURE

Stay at Hervey Bay YHA and travel to the World
Heritage listed Fraser Island, where you will
discover a world of natural wonders on a fully
guided 4WD adventure. Explore the stunning
white sands of Lake McKenzie, cruise along
Seventy Five Mile Beach and discover the historic
heart of Central station. Package includes:
u

u
u

ROTTNEST ISLAND SPECIAL

1 night multi-share accommodation on Fraser

Island

Hop on a ferry, grab a bike and find out why

Rottnest Island is on everyones must-do list. If
you like incredible white sandy beaches, sparkling
seas, amazing scenery and loads of marine life
and wildlife, then this is the deal for you! Package
includes:

2-day guided 4WD tour of Fraser Island

u 2

Meals on Fraser Island (two lunches, one

dinner and one breakfast)

u Return

2 nights multi-share accommodation at

Hervey Bay YHA

nights accommodation in a multi-share or

double/twin room at Fremantle Prison YHA

Return transfers from Hervey Bay YHA to

Fraser Island

u Bike

u
u

+61 7 4125 1844

herveybay@yha.com.au

hire on Rottnest Island

From AU$115 p.p.

From AU$370 p.p. Valid until 31 March 2017.

HERVEY BAY YHA

ferry to Rottnest Island

Valid until 31 March 2017.

BOOK
NOW

FREMANTLE PRISON YHA

+61 8 9433 4305
u fremantle@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

Perth City YHA

Planning a couple of nights away in the West?

Take advantage of this three-night break to save
more to explore everything Perth has to offer.
Package includes:
u 3

nights accommodation (private or multi-share

room)

PERTH CITY ESCAPES

Be one of the first to sink your teeth into breaky at
Perth City YHAs brand new in-house caf with this
bed and breakfast deal! Package includes:

u2

continental buffet breakfasts

u1

dinner, including a burger and a drink

u3

days premium Wi-Fi

From AU$99 p.p. Valid until 31 March 2017

u 1

night accommodation in a private or multishare room (you can book multiple nights)

u Breakfast

at the cafe

From AU$31 p.p. Valid until 31 March 2017.

Not available Sunday mornings.

PERTH CITY YHA

+61 8 9287 3333
u perthcity@yha.com.au
u

BOOK
NOW

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS AT BONDI

Bondi Christmas
Shutterstock

Nothing says traditional Aussie Christmas quite

like the sizzling sand of Bondi Beach and there
wont be a winter woolly in sight this festive season
at Bondi Beachouse YHA, just a five minute stroll
from the beach. Kick off your stay with a Christmas
Eve welcome BBQ and lap up the sun and surf
until New Years Eve, when Sydney comes alive
with the worlds most famous fireworks display on
the harbour. Package includes:
u

9 nights accommodation

Six hours of surfboard hire at Bondi Beach

Great hostel events

Unlimited premium Wi-Fi access

BONDI BEACHOUSE YHA

From AU$405 p.p. Valid 24 December 2016 to

2 January 2017.

u
u

+61 2 9365 2088

bondi@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

MURWILLUMBAH CYCLE AND CULTURE

PORT FAIRY SUMMER ESCAPE

Make the most of your stay in NSWs picturesque

Northern Rivers region by exploring the stunning
hinterland on bike. Cycle through the scenic
countryside and visit the Margaret Olley Art
Centre, which opened in 2014 with 76,000 objects
belonging to the late, great Australian painter.
Special includes:

Port Fairy in the summertime is the ideal

seaside escape for your family or group of
friends. Whether you love the great outdoors
and Australian wildlife, relaxing on a beach,
immersing yourself in history or just want to
escape everyday life, Port Fairy is the place to
visit! Special includes:

2 nights multi-share accommodation

Bike hire

From AU$60 p.p. Valid until 30 September 2017.

Murwillumbah YHA also offers a two-night special
on climbing Mt Warning-Wollumbin (from AU$82
p.p.) and a three-night deal including a relaxing
Tweed River cruise, plus kayak and bike hire
(from AU$123 p.p.).

MURWILLUMBAH YHA
+61 2 6672 3763
u murwillumbah@yha.com.au

3 nights accommodation in a 4 bed family

room, 6 bed family room or 5 bed self-contained
apartment
u

BOOK
NOW

From AU$360 per room. Valid from 26 December

2016 to 29 January 2017.

PORT FAIRY YHA

u
u

+61 3 5568 2468

portfairy@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

Chris McLennan

Griffiths Lighthouse
Shutterstock

ADELAIDE CENTRAL 7 DAY SPECIAL

Adelaide Central YHA

Youll need at least seven nights to fall in love with

everything Radelaide has to offer from the muchloved Adelaide Central Market to the hip bars on
Rundle Mall, a dip at Glenelg Beach and wine-tasting
in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Enjoy
this special price on a weeks accommodation at
Adelaide Central YHA so youve got time to do it all!
Deal includes:
u 7

nights accommodation in a spacious 6-share

room

u Premium

Wi-Fi all week

u BBQ

dinner on Wednesday night, and free

pancakes every Tuesday and Friday morning

u Great

activities: ping pong comp, pub night,

walking tour and more

From AU$206.50 p.p. Valid until 31 December 2016.

ADELAIDE CENTRAL YHA

+61 8 8414 3010
u adlcentral@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

FREMANTLE COTTAGES PAY 2, STAY 3

Stay a little longer in charming Fremantle with this
great-value Pay 2, Stay 3 Special on our historic
Fremantle Colonial Cottages. Get a group of up
to six friends together and stay in one of these
self-contained cottages with fabulous views of the
picturesque port city of Fremantle. Special includes:
u

 nights accommodation at Fremantle Colonial

3
Cottages for the price of 2

From AU$167 per night. Valid until 31 March 2017.

FREMANTLE PRISON YHA

u
u

+61 8 9433 4305

fremantle@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

FEATURE / NEW ZEALAND

Queenstowns
call of the mild

Adam Bryce

EXPLORING THE ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF NZ

WITHOUT INDULGING IN EXTREME SPORTS,
QUEENSTOWN DIDNT GET DAVID WHITLEYS
HEART RACING AND HE WAS OKAY WITH THAT.

Hiker above
Wakatipu Basin
Destination
Queenstown

FROM THE CENTRE OF

Queenstown, the Tiki Trail is an hour-long uphill slog through the

woodland. It would, of course, be a lot easier to take the gondola up. But
that feels a bit like cheating.
Coming down the other way are mountain bikers, nimbly leaping the
jumps on tracks that range from toe-in-the-water to frankly terrifying.
They dont stop to admire the wheezing hikers coming up the other way.
At the top of the hill, there is the luge. To the uninitiated, its essentially
a very basic go-kart which can be steered down a hill along one of two
twisting, turning tracks. The simpler, less speedy track is for first timers
but once youve shown you can handle that its all about taking racing
lines, hurtling over steep dips and accelerating through corners.
In a city best known for hair-raising skydives and bungy jumps, the
luge is a slice of hugely entertaining fun that doesnt ramp the fear
factor up too high.
Queenstown built its reputation on the ski fields and high octane
thrills, but these can overshadow an extraordinary setting and a wealth
of activity options that are far less petrifying.
Its easy to overlook Lake Wakatipu, the cartoon thunderbolt-shaped
glacial lake that Queenstown sits on the edge of. The mountains rise up
from it on all sides, and a walk or cycle along its shore in any direction
is generally time well spent.

TSS Earnslaw leaving on

a trip to Walter Peak
YHA New Zealand

But heading out onto the lake in a boat allows a different perspective,
with the town dwarfed by the Remarkables range.
Boats dont get too much more storied than the TSS Earnslaw, which
has been connecting settlements on the fringes of the lake since 1912.
It is now used purely for tourism purposes, but is still powered the old
way. Down below, unlucky crew members still put their backs into it,
shovelling coal to power the steamship.
The cruise across the lake docks in the shadow of Walter Peak, a 1,800m
imposing rock wall named after the son of Queenstowns first European
settler, William Rees. In its heyday, the Walter Peak Station had 170,000
acres, 40,000 sheep and 50 full time staff. Since then it has been subdivided,
and the farming comes a distant second to entertaining tourists. That
means sheep shearing shows, hand-feeding animals and masterful
performances from the sheepdogs as well as a few tall stories.
The stories these parts are most associated with, however, come
courtesy of JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson. Nomad Safaris runs a Safari
of the Scenes trip to some of the key filming locations from Lord of the
Rings and The Hobbit, heading north along the lake to Glenorchy and the
Dart River Valley.

Nomad Safaris visits the

gold-mining town of Macetown
Sara Orme

Skyline Queenstown
Gondola
Skyline Queenstown

This may sound utterly tedious to any orc-phobic fantasy fiction haters,
but you dont need to have seen the films to appreciate the scenery.
While the guide is pointing out Dimrill Dale, where the Fellowship
escapes Moria, there are still fabulous mountains to look at. Similarly,
when talking about the spot where Boromir dies, youre surrounded by
glorious, lush forest.
The little tidbits of insider filming info help bring places to life, too.
For example, while in the Dart River Valley, Mt Earnslaw is pointed out.
Sean Bean (who played Boromir) has a fear of helicopters, so refused to
get in one to film his scenes on the side of the mountain. So every day
he had to hike up for hours in full costume.
That makes tackling the Tiki Trail in shorts and a T-shirt feel somewhat
tame. But taking the time to explore Queenstown and its surrounds rather
than plummeting through at breakneck speed shows a different side.
And its that natural beauty that drew the thrill-seekers in the first place.
Skyline Queenstown Luge
Skyline Queenstown

Winter Wonderland
Skyline Queenstown

SKYLINE QUEENSTOWNS
GONDOLA AND LUGE PACKAGE
If you dont want to haul up
the hill on your own steam,
Skyline Queenstowns gondola
and luge package costs NZ$47
for two rides up to NZ$59 for
seven.
YHA members get a 10%

discount on the TSS Earnslaw

C r u i s e s w i t h R e a l J o u r n e y s,
which otherwise costs NZ$59.
Nomad Safaris offers two
different half-day Safari of the
Scenes tours, which run twice a
day and cost NZ$185.

RUNNING THE RIVER

Rafting down the Shotover River is something of a high
stakes dance. The slows of the slow-slow-quick-quickslow are beautifully relaxing. The chance to take in the
high canyon walls, remarkable rock layers and miners
huts dating back to the 19th century gold rush is blissful.
But its also the calm before the storm. While the twohour journey starts off with gentle practise rapids, the
intensity increases as you blunder downstream. The
Mother section soon approaches. The origin of the name
is it because it gives birth to the rest of the river? What
you call for as youre going over? A polite abbreviation of
a crude-but-accurate description? is left unexplained.
Its a ride and a half battling through. Theres the vague
pretence of steering through the hairy bits, but its really
a case of hanging on and hoping for the best as the river
attacks the raft like a rogue pitbull in a playground.
The big beast is yet to come. A waterfall at the end of a
flooded miners tunnel makes the raft lurch all over the
place as it floats down, bouncing off rocks and tipping
precariously. But the passengers make it intact and
the drift back to base is completed with huge grins and
clanging paddles of congratulation.
The Shotover trip with Queenstown Rafting costs NZ$229.
Taking a dip in
the Shotover River
Queenstown Rafting

Rafting from Deep Creek

towards the rapids
Queenstown Rafting

IN THE PINOT
At a latitude of 45 degrees south, you may be forgiven for
thinking that all Queenstown is fit for growing is icicles.
But the Central Otago region that surrounds the South
Islands resort town is not-so-quietly gaining a reputation
as one of the worlds best niche wine regions. The odd
individual winery in obscure parts of Chile or Argentina
may like to argue the toss, but by all realistic measures,
Central Otago is the worlds southernmost wine region.
The climate means that if youre looking for a big, beefy
shiraz, you can go to a bottle shop and buy one from
somewhere else. That sort of grape just isnt going to
survive in these conditions.
But some grapes can and combined with expert
winemakers and up-to-date technology they are being
turned into some world class wines. The key player here
is pinot noir, which accounts for nearly 80% of production.
The climate and soils suit it perfectly and world wine
experts acknowledge the Central Otago pinots as being
amongst the best on the planet.
For travellers who prefer the mellow glow to adrenalin
shots, taking a few hours out sampling the wares of Central
Otagos wineries is rather idyllic. Queenstown Wine Trail
offers YHA members a NZ$5 discount on its NZ$160 or
NZ$182 half-day tasting tours.

WHERE TO STAY
STAY AT YHA
QUEENSTOWN CENTRAL

BOOK
NOW

+64 3 442 7400

queenstown@yha.co.nz

STAY AT YHA QUEENSTOWN

LAKEFRONT
+64 3 442 8413
queenstown.lakefront@
yha.co.nz
YHA Queenstown Central

Lake Hayes
Queenstown
Julian Apse

Wine tasting in wine cave

Destination Queenstown

NEW ZEALAND

NORTH ISLAND

QUEENSTOWN'S CALL OF THE MILD

SOUTH ISLAND

CHRISTCHURCH

QUEENSTOWN

FEATURE / TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Backpacker
Magnets

Tourism and Events Queensland

ITS NO WONDER TRAVELLERS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE

TROPICAL TREATS OF TOWNSVILLE AND MAGNETIC ISLAND,
WRITES JOANNE BROOKFIELD.

IF THERES

one thing worse than being looked

at by a crocodile who appears to be
memorising your DNA details for
later use (i.e. Ill remember you, Ill find you, Ill eat you), its being
openly mocked by one.
Like the vast majority of people, Ive lived a pretty croc-free life up until
this point. But Im in Far North Queensland now and, on this afternoon,
literally surrounded by them. Im at Billabong Sanctuary, a wildlife park
10 minutes out of the centre of Townsville, on 11 hectares of tropical
bushland setting. Its hot as hell, but masses of towering gums create
shade and fringe the turtle-filled lagoons, while various birds and
kangaroos wander free range.
The crocodiles, you might be pleased to know, are not similarly
roaming the grounds however you can get up close to them, as
interactive experiences are what they do here. Shows run back to back
throughout the day. Wed already seen the koala one, and been offered
the opportunity to touch lizards, snakes and even hold a three-year-old
crocodile in the following presentation and we head next to The Swamp
enclosures to see some big crocs in action.

Billabong
Sanctuary
Joanne Brookfield

Blue tongue lizard

Joanne Brookfield

NEWS
Snappy Tom, an enormous estuarine crocodile, has emerged from his
murky pond to park himself on the bank, barely centimetres from what
suddenly feels like the structurally-dubious fence that separates us.
This beast, so clearly intelligent, so adaptable, comes from a species
that has outsmarted and outlived pretty much the rest of their prehistoric
counterparts. With 120 million years of evolution behind him which
allows him to be able to live in both salt and fresh water, to survive
underwater or on land, to swim and to run he sits there now, watching
us intently, like the bad-ass boss that he is. Soon, we will see how they
jump when they are fed, a vertical leap, like a basketball player, so Im
glad in our close encounter he simply slipped back into the shallows,
demonstrating how truly menacing a creature of that size is when it
moves almost imperceptibly through water and then submerges just
far enough so a few of his exposed scutes take on the appearance of a
harmless, drifting branch.
Theres also the smaller freshwater crocodiles here and unlike the
salties, which are fed by the rangers, we can do this ourselves. Were
instructed to make the crocs work for their meal, by dangling the chicken
neck attached by string on the end of a long stick in front of them,
but reeling it back, getting them to stretch or jump a little before letting
them take it. My croc has taken one look at me and decided I can go to
hell. Hes going to sit back and let me dangle and jiggle as much as I like
and refuse to move, that is, until Im momentarily distracted by asking
the ranger a question (oh, I don't know, I think I might have been asking,
Why is my one just staring at me like that?) and bam! Chomp! He takes
the lot in one swift, defiant bite. And then, he smirks at me. A big, smug
crocodile grin: Gotcha, lady. One to me. Again . . .

Snappy Tom emerges

from the murk at
Billabong Sanctuary
Joanne Brookfield

Crocs getting a feed at

Billabong Sanctuary
Joanne Brookfield

As well as Townsville, a popular destination for backpackers transiting

up the east coast to Cairns, or down the other way to the Whitsundays, I
also spend time on Magnetic Island, which is 8km offshore. Townsville is
an emerging destination, so it still has a sleepy seaside feel to it (although
locals will tell you that come weekends, Flinders St the main drag for
bars and clubs comes alive with a party atmosphere). Its impossible not
to feel relaxed here, given everyone else is especially the backpackers
using it to rest and recharge after their farm stints but Maggie, as
locals call it, takes the concept of laid back to an almost horizontal level.
The island, more than half of it national park, boasts 320 days of
sunshine a year and more than 20 bays and beaches, some accessible
only via hiking or by boat. The mountainous scenery is a mix of tropical
palms, classic Aussie gumtrees and hoop pines, which proliferate around
the granite boulders that form the islands ruggedly beautiful coastline.
And with all this comes the wildlife. If youre wanting a fix of Australian
fauna and marine life for your Instagram feed, then youre in the right
place. On the Forts Walk, I spot a mother and baby koala napping in the
trees. At Geoffrey Bay, a Marine National Park Zone prohibiting fishing,
the fish are visible through the crystal waters and if you sit on the old
Arcadia ferry landing, you can feed them. Its also here that the rock
wallabies live, wild but tame enough to eat from your hand, and it was
thrilling to see a mother with a baby poking its tiny face out of her pouch.

Mother and baby koala in

the wild along the Forts
Walk on Magnetic Island
Joanne Brookfield

Coastline at Bright Point,

Magnetic Island
Tourism and Events
Queensland

Of course, theres reefs and plenty more marine life around here, so
snorkelling and diving are popular pastimes. I take a half-day cruise with
Aquascene, which circumnavigates the island. Visually, Magnetic Island
has got it all, says our captain Adam, and hes not kidding, as we stay
close to the shore to make the most of all the stunning landscapes. We
stop to snorkel in a sheltered bay, and I see my first cowtail stingrays
in their natural habitat, plus schools of brightly coloured fish zipping
over the coral below. Adam has some pilchards on board for the birds of
prey who nest along here, and he gives one to a man on board and within
seconds a kite has swooped past the boat and taken it from his hand.
Theres more bird feeding every day at Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA
in Horseshoe Bay at 4pm, where hundreds of lorikeets come screeching
over, happy to use your head as a helipad and wander along your limbs
to eat from your hands. Here at the wildlife park next to the hostel, you
can also have plenty of interactive animal experiences as part of their
wildlife presentations, which happen three times a day. You can hold
lizards and crocodiles, have pythons draped over you, have a cockatoo
kiss you as it takes a seed from your lip, or you can pat and hold koalas.
Theres currently a baby koala there, Claudia, and youd need the cold,
hard heart of a crocodile to not think shes one of the most adorable
things you'll ever see.

STINGER SEASON
While the beaches here are
undeniably beautiful, and inviting
as a result, this is a tropical part
of the world so the sea is shared
by magnificent marine life and a
few nasties, mainly jellyfish. Also
known as stingers, swimmers
and snorkellers need to take them
seriously, as a sting will require a
hospital visit and, in some cases,

can be fatal. December to March

is Stinger Season so several
beaches have stinger nets in
place, creating safe places to
swim, and lifeguards on duty.
Tour operators will also provide
you with stinger suits if youre
getting in the water with them and
plenty of outlets offer stinger suit
hire as well.

Magnetic Island Beach

Shutterstock

THREE THINGS YOU MUST DO IN TOWNSVILLE

The Strand Take a stroll along

The Strand. This stretch of the
foreshore has a long walking
path, taking you through the
shade of curtain fig trees (which
look like something straight
from the imagination of Salvador
Dali), manicured parkland, the
waterpark and up to the retail
strip, where you can shop, drink
and dine, looking across the
glittering sea and golden sand to
Magnetic Island. Along the 2.5km
thoroughfare popular with
runners and cyclists alike you
can also check out the rock pool or
try stand-up paddle boarding.

of whats out there without having

to put a stinger suit on. This is the
Australian Governments national
education centre for the Great
Barrier Reef and the living coral
reef there is housed in a 2.5 million
litre tank, with an underwater
viewing tunnel, so you can watch
all kinds of marine life swim about
above and beside you.

Castle Hill,
Townsville
Tourism and Events
Queensland

Rambutan Townsville YHA

For backpackers looking for
a little bit of luxe, Rambutan
is the place to stay. Offering a
mix of dorms, private rooms
and villas, you dont need to be
staying there, however, to enjoy
the stylish rooftop entertainment
Reef HQ The Great Barrier
area. Opening last year and
Reef is the worlds largest
coral reef. At 2,300 kilometres channelling a coastal Hamptons
meets Palm Springs laid back chic
long, it is visible from space and
ranks as one of the seven wonders vibe the pool, cabanas, bar and
restaurant provide the perfect
of the natural world. If youre not
place to spend an afternoon or kick
able to get out to the reef itself,
Reef HQ gives you an up-close idea off an evening on Flinders St.

Townsville reef
Tourism and Events
Queensland

MOVING ABOUT MAGGIE

NEWS

Horseride
Horseshoe Ranch take
guided tours through
the bush (bonus: plenty
of wallabies to see) and
then along the beach
at the appropriately
named Horseshoe Bay,
culminating in a bareback
ride in the Coral Sea.

Hiking The island

boasts many walking
tracks. Forts Walk, for
instance, is dotted with
wartime relics and takes
you up to the Command
Post, which gives
panoramic 360 degree
views. Also popular is
hiking from Picnic Bay to
West Point, where scenery
is quite different to the
rest of the island and you
can catch the sunset.

Theres plenty of ways to

explore the natural beauty of
Magnetic Island . . .

Electric Bikes
Maggie is so small
theres pretty much
only one main road which
curves along the coast in
parts, offering great views
of the bays. With a bike
path running alongside it,
you can feel the sun and
sea breeze on your skin
and if cycling gets too
much, flick the switch to
power assistance to cruise
along.

Topless Cars
You'll see them
buzzing all over the
island: tiny convertible
cars called mokes, with
some even referring to
them as Barbie cars due
to their bright, candy-pink
colours. You can hire these
fun cars to get around but
if youre wanting to access
some of the more remote
beaches, youll need to
hire a 4WD instead.

WHERE TO STAY
STAY AT RAMBUTAN
TOWNSVILLE YHA
+61 7 4771 6915

BOOK
NOW

townsville@yha.com.au

STAY AT BUNGALOW
BAY YHA
+61 7 4778 5577
magneticisland@yha.com.au

Magnetic Island YHA

Magnetic Island,
Topless cars
Tourism and Events
Queensland

CAIRNS
AUSTRALIA

MAGNETIC
ISLAND
TOWNSVILLE

FEATURE / MELBOURNE INSIDER ATTRACTIONS

48 H URS

IN MELBOURNE

Shutterstock

Flinders St Station & Federation Square

PLANNING A WHIRLWIND WEEKEND ESCAPE? TOM SMITH

DISCOVERS HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF TWO DAYS IN MELBOURNE.

DAY ONE
BREAKFAST
Start your day with a coffee at Dukes Coffee Roasters, just a 15-minute stroll
down Flinders Lane from Melbourne Central YHA. Located in the communityowned Ross House, home to more than 50 small non-profits, Dukes takes
sustainability as seriously as they take their coffee the caf is fitted with
elegant recycled tiles and reclaimed timber, and a portion of their profits goes
back to the organisations they neighbour. Seating is limited but try to snag a
spot by the charming green-framed windows so you can watch the world go by
with a speciality coffee in one hand and a scrumptious pastry in the other.
SHOP
As soon as youre caffeinated, head to two of Australias most historic and
photogenic shopping precincts: the Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade.
Linking retail hub Bourke St Mall with Little Collins St and Elizabeth St, the
Royal Arcades Renaissance Revival style has remained virtually untouched
since 1870, making it the oldest surviving arcade in the country and dont
forget to snap a pic of the mythical Gog and Magog guarding the clock at the
southern entry. Youll find the Block Arcade on the other side of Little Collins St,
boasting an ornate glass canopy that floods the intricate mosaic floor with light.

Dukes Coffee Roasters

The Royal Arcade

Shutterstock

LUNCH
Sink your teeth into a taste of Paris at one of La Petite Crperies three
locations across the CBD, each offering a self-proclaimed arrogantly French
attitude. Youd be arrogant, too, if your food was this delicious savoury
galettes, fresh baguettes, classic crepes and plenty more finger-licking fare is
dished up from a sit-down caf in Hardware Lane and a converted newsstand
on the footpath on Swanston St, a kiosk the owners describe as an exquise
crpe btiment, or an exquisite crepe building. A new caf in an alleyway off
Gallaghers Place is also open on weekdays.
VISIT
Have your phone charged and your Instagram filters at the ready before you
head to Federation Square, an eye-catching mass of geometric architecture
that contrasts with the stately Flinders St Station and St Pauls Cathedral
across the road. Museum buffs can pop into the Australia Centre for the
Moving Image (ACMI) or the National Gallery of Victorias Australian collection
in the Ian Potter Centre both free while theres art of a very different kind
on display in the nearby Hosier and Rutledge Lanes, dazzling outdoor galleries
of street art caked in graffiti as far as the eye can see.
DINNER AND DRINKS
The murals of Hosier Lane are your backdrop for dinner at MoVida, the Spanish
restaurant that sparked Melbournes tapas craze when it opened in 2003.
Theres a long waiting list for a table but there are no bookings at its little brother
MoVida Next Door, a more casual and affordable setting to sample the
tastiest tapas this side of Madrid. After polishing off your body weight in chorizo
and calamari, scale Curtin House on Swanston St for an evening of Rooftop
Cinema, which screens films from December to April for those who can drag
their gaze away from the lofty views of the Melbourne skyline. Fans of classic
cocktails with an air of old-school refinement think Mad Men, mahogany and
Manhattans should head north to The Everleigh in Fitzroy, voted No.25 in
Drinks International Magazines list of the Worlds 50 Best Bars for 2016.

MoVida Next Door

Tourism Victoria

Hosier Lane
Shutterstock

Seven Seeds Specialty

Coffee Roaster

DAY TWO
BREAKFAST
Melbournes famous coffee scene means youre spoilt for choice when it
comes to breaky options, but the pick of the bunch might only be a 10-minute
stroll from Melbourne Metro YHA in a converted warehouse in Carlton.
Seven Seeds is a coffee nerds idea of industrial-chic paradise an on-site
coffee roastery, retail space selling carefully sourced beans and cutting-edge
brew gear, and specialty coffees imported from the Americas and Africa but
you dont need to know the difference between a macchiato and the fabled
magic to appreciate whats on the menu. Check out sister cafes Brother
Baba Budan and Traveller if you need a caffeine fix in the CBD.
DO
Wander down to Queen Victoria Market the largest open-air market in the
Southern Hemisphere and a Melbourne institution since 1878 to check out
the fresh produce, gourmet food and hand-made handicrafts before heading
south of the Yarra. If the suns out, explore 38 hectares of landscaped gardens
in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a tranquil green oasis in the shadow of the
citys skyline. But if Melbourne turns on some of its notorious four-seasonsin-a-day weather, seek shelter in the National Gallery of Victoria Australias
oldest, largest, most visited and cheapest (free!) museum.
LUNCH
When shopaholics dream about heaven, chances are it looks a little
something like Chapel St a vibrant four-kilometre stretch of nearly 1000
shops, cafes, bars and restaurants running between South Yarra and St
Kilda. Theres no shortage of eateries to refuel after an afternoon of highend boutique window shopping, but two gems are located just off Chapel
St itself: the food stalls at the 120-year-old Prahran Market 200m away on
Commercial Road, and Leonards House of Love on Wilson St, which dishes
up a feast of mouth-watering American-style burgers, hot dogs, chicken
and vegetarian options.
VISIT
Leave room for desert, though, because St Kildas Acland St is renowned
for its cake shops the oldest is Monarch Cakes, which has been baking
traditional Eastern European sweets since 1934. Owner Nikki Laski runs the
business with her brother Danny, sticking to the same recipes that made
the trip from Poland to Australia 80-plus years ago their cheesecake and
gooey chocolate Kooglhoupf cake have a cult following among locals. Take
your treat down to St Kilda Pier not far along the Esplanade from Luna
Park to spot a little colony of penguins that appear 12 months a year in
the breakwater after sunset.

Queen Victoria Market

Tourism Victoria

St Kilda Pier
Time Out Australia

DINNER AND DRINKS

Boasting a mammoth menu and a funky, uniquely Melbourne vibe on a
street corner in the heart of St Kilda, Iddy Biddy Bar is the perfect place to
end a busy days sight-seeing with a pot of cool beer, some live music, and
a parma so big it looks like its come from an emu rather than a chicken
take your pick from inventive flavours like Mexican, tandoori and roast
pumpkin. Sister establishment La Roche an atmospheric venue with
comfy leather booths surrounded by graffiti-covered exposed brick is
just a two minute walk away if youre in the mood to unwind with pizza
and a monstrous milkshake, before the door-to-door No.96 tram back to
Melbourne Central YHA.

Milkshake at La Roche
Iddy Biddy Bar mural

Mexican parma at Iddy Biddy Bar

THE FIVE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE

PLACES IN MELBOURNE

Centre Place

Close your eyes and imagine the

quintessential Melbourne laneway trendy
locals sipping their coffees at Parisian cafes,
buskers strumming their guitars for spare
change, street art plastered across every spare
inch of wall space and thats Centre Place.
Cross Flinders Lane for more of the same in
Degraves St.

Ponyfish Island

Descend the single staircase curling down

from the Southbank Pedestrian Bridge to
this picturesque bar floating in the middle of the
Yarra River a haven from the hustle and bustle
of the city and a stunning spot for a snap with a
bottle of Pony Fish Unlikely Lager in hand.

Brighton Beach

Melbournes beaches cant compete with

Bondi, Bronte or Burleigh Heads in the

Ponyfish Island
Shutterstock

beauty stakes, but Brightons bathing boxes

provide just as good Instagram fodder. The 82
colourful wooden huts have stood for well over a
century, retaining their original Victorian features
behind a contemporary splash of colour.

Street art in Fitzroy

The bohemian streets of Fitzroy just ooze

that unique Melburnian essence, right down
to the striking murals peppered throughout
citys trendiest neighbourhood. The backstreets
between Brunswick and Smith Streets is
particularly fertile soil for admirers of urban art.

Eureka Skydeck

Towering 297m above the streets of

Melbourne, the Eureka Tower literally
provides a birds eye view of the Victorian capital
from the 88th floor of the citys tallest building.
Flash your YHA member card for 15% off entry,
which starts at $20.

FIVE SPORTING PILGRIMAGES

EVERY FAN MUST MAKE TO MELBOURNE

Melbourne Central YHA

Daniel Ricciardo in action

Shutterstock

WHERE TO STAY
AFL
If theres one thing Melburnians
take more seriously than coffee,
its football the citys cultish
sporting obsession that fills
the Melbourne Cricket Ground
every weekend from March to
September. Youll certainly know
if youre in town for a big game,
when thousands of fans pour out
of Flinders St Station donning
the colours of their footballing
tribe before worshipping at the
altar of the G. afl.com.au
Cricket
When the weather warms up
its time for cricket to move
into the 100,000-seat sporting
cathedral and the biggest
day of the season comes on 26
December, when Melbourne
hosts the Boxing Day Test.
This year Pakistan shares
the stage with the Australian
team, while the burgeoning Big
Bash tournament and other
MCG
Shutterstock

international games will also

rock the MCGs foundations.
cricket.com.au
Tennis
The eyes of the sporting world
turn just next door to the G
for two weeks each January
when Melbourne Park holds
the Australian Open, bringing
a galaxy of stars to Rod Laver
Arena to duke it out for their
share of US$50 million prize
money at what is now the
richest tennis tournament on
the planet. event.ausopen.com

M
 elbourne Central YHA
+
 61 3 9621 2523
m
 elbcentral@yha.com.au
M
 elbourne Metro YHA
+61 3 9329 8599
melbmetro@yha.com.au

Daniel Ricciardo will aim to

toast a win on home soil with
one of his famous shoeys.
grandprix.com.au

Spring Racing Carnival

With all the fashion, food and
frivolity that fills Flemington,
Caulfield and Moonee Valley
Formula One
each October and November,
Melbourne comes alive with
its easy to forget there are
the sweet, sweet smell of
horses running around on the
burning rubber for one weekend track but the Spring Carnival
each March as the F1 Grand
in Melbourne brings together
Prix roars into town for the
the finest thoroughbreds from
season-opening event around
around Australia and the world
Albert Park Lake. In 2017, the
for the enjoyment of hundreds
GP takes place on 26 March,
of thousands of punters.
when knock-about Aussie star
springracingcarnival.com.au

BOOK
NOW

FEATURE / BANGKOK & SINGAPORE

ONE NIGHT
IN BANGKOK

Shutterstock

OR ONLY A BRIEF SINGAPORE FLING IS BARELY

ENOUGH TIME TO SEE THE BEST OF THESE TWO
STOPOVER CITIES, WRITES STEVE MCKENNA.

OF ALL THE BUZZING

traveller-friendly metropolises in South-East Asia, two really stand out. And it's
not just because they usually have the best flight connections between Australia
and Europe. Whether you're after a stopover or a city break, Bangkok and
Singapore are both full of enchanting possibilities. But if push comes to shove,
which one should you choose? Well, that depends on your priorities . . .

Singapore skyline
Shutterstock

IN A NUTSHELL

Singapore Chinatown
Singapore Tourism

In some ways, the two are pretty similar. They're both huge urban sprawls
(Bangkok has 8 million people, Singapore 5.7m). Their humid tropical
climates can turn a five-minute walk into a sweaty ordeal. And they're both
packed with superb (often air-conditioned or fan-cooled) places in which to
eat, sight-see and shop.
But while the Thai capital is noisy and chaotic, with ridiculous levels of traffic
congestion, Singapore is comparatively calm, clean and orderly. Bangkok
offers more bang for your buck, however, and has more of a carefree, anythinggoes vibe with fewer everyday rules and regulations (you don't have to worry
about being fined for chewing gum here, like in by-the-book Singapore). Yet the
city-state, a former British colony with vivid Chinese, Malay and Indian flavours,
is an absorbing melting pot. Its neighbourhoods are more culturally diverse
than those of Bangkok, which, despite some glaring Chinese and Western
influences, feels distinctly, exotically Thai. That said, most Thais you'll meet
will speak at least some English. In Singapore, English is one of four official
languages (alongside Malay, Mandarin and Tamil).

Singapore Night Market

Twenty20

Bangkok tuk-tuks
Steve McKenna

Singapore city skyline at night

Shutterstock

ICONIC VIEWS
Bangkok has a glut of modern, neon-adorned sights (from glossy malls to gaudy
nightlife strips), but it's the centuries-old temples on the banks of its mighty,
cruise-friendly river, the Chao Phraya, that make the greatest impression.
The most dazzling cluster lie in and around the Grand Palace, a royal riverside
residence characterised by its gleaming gold spires, ornate Buddha monuments
and saffron-robed monks. Although popular with tourists and worshippers, this
incense-scented complex is a soothing, spiritual place to linger (giving respite
from all those overbearing touts, tuk-tuk drivers and exhaust fumes).
Singapore has heaps of visually-arresting heritage buildings notably Chinese
shophouses, Hindu temples, British colonial landmarks and Arabian mosques
but they're overshadowed by the jaw-dropping 21st Century architecture on its
revitalised waterfront. As well as the lotus flower-shaped ArtScience Museum
and the Marina Bay Sands resort whose rooftop straddles its three towers and
resembles a giant's surfboard there are the futuristic 'supertrees' of Gardens
by the Bay, a green-yet-glitzy attraction that is free to stroll around. It's best to
come at night, when the temperatures have dipped (slightly) and everything looks
marvellous all lit up.

THE MARINA BAY SANDS

RESORTS ROOFTOP STRADDLES
ITS THREE TOWERS AND RESEMBLES
A GIANTS SURFBOARD
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Twenty20

EATING AND DRINKING

Almost everywhere you go in Bangkok and Singapore, fragrant cooking smells
spike the air. Both cities have thriving hawker cultures, with vendors wokking-up
tastebud-tickling street food, often using recipes passed down the generations.
Many do business in the sleek food courts housed in the cities' myriad multistorey malls. But it's more memorable to dine outdoors.
Singapore, for instance, is dotted with hawker centres. Open-air hubs like
Maxwell Road Food Centre where beneath whirring fans you'll rub shoulders
with hungry locals and order typical hawker fare like char kway teow (a wok-fried
noodle affair), Hainanese Chicken Rice (strips of tender boiled chicken on oily
rice) and laksa (spicy seafood noodle soup). Expect to pay AU$3-6 per dish.
You'll eat for less in Bangkok, where hawkers have more of a free reign on
where they can set up shop. Pavements and back alleys are cluttered with
wheeled food stalls that ply punters with the likes of pad Thai (stir-fried prawn
noodles), kaao laad kaeng (curry on rice), oyster omelette, and seafood and meat
skewers. Bangkok's alfresco hotspots include Yaowarat (Chinatown) and on and
around Khao San Road (that legendary backpacker enclave).
Looking to drink? Both cities have hip rooftop venues, intimate jazz haunts and
speakeasy-tinged basement joints and in Bangkok especially, bars ranging
from the seedy to the stylish spill onto the streets. Alcohol in Singapore is about
three times as expensive (in bars, a beer costs about AU$8-12, cocktails AU$20).
Freshly-made tropical fruit juices are better value for money.

Wat Phra Kaew,

within the Grand
Palace, Bangkok
Shutterstock

Bangkok street eats

Steve McKenna

BANGKOK UPDATE
There is presently 12
months of mourning in
Thailand following the
death of King Bhumibol
Adulyadej. This may include

some changes to normal

events and has sedated the
nightlife somewhat but all
tourism facilities are open
as usual.

Bangkok street eats

Steve McKenna

NATURAL RETREATS

Pulau Ubin, Singapore

Steve McKenna

When Stamford Raffles claimed Singapore for Britain in 1819, it was a sparselypopulated, heavily jungled island riddled with Malayan tigers and swamps.
Despite turbo-charged development, an abundance of green lungs lie within
easy reach of the CBD. The Botanic Gardens are particularly alluring, boasting
the world's largest collection of tropical orchids and a rainforest boardwalk
that snakes through lush, primeval jungle (don't expect to encounter any tigers;
they're long extinct). Even more rustic is Pulau Ubin, one of Singapore's 60 or so
offshore islands. Cycle the forest-fringed dirt tracks of this sleepy backwater and
you'll pass traditional Malay kampong (village) houses, down-to-earth Chinese
eateries and birdlife-rich wetlands.
Bangkok isn't as blessed with verdant escapes, but Lumphini Park in the
city's built-up business and embassy districts is lovely, especially if you come
before breakfast, when joggers, walkers and tai chi practitioners exercise before
temperatures start to soar. Watch out for the park's monitor lizards. They're
harmless but might give you a fright some are two metres long!
Whichever city you choose, get out and explore to make the most of your trip.
These are cities to wander amok.

The Botanic
Gardens, Singapore
Shutterstock

Lumphini Park, Bangkok

Steve McKenna

Fort Canning

FIVE TIPS FOR SINGAPORE

The Singapore Tourist Pass

saves time, money and
energy. It allows unlimited
rail and regular bus travel for
one day (S$10), two days (S$16)
or three days (S$20).

If you're here on a
Singaporean public holiday,
admission to many cultural
attractions, such as the swish
new National Gallery of
Singapore, is free.

Shutterstock

Arguably Singapore's
quirkiest attraction,
Haw Par Villa is a theme
park that celebrates Chinese
mythology and folklore, with
over 1000 colourful sculptures,
plus temples and pagodas, to
peruse. It's free to enter.

Four MRT stops from

City Hall, Tiong Bahru
is a laid-back, low-rise
slice of Singapore, with
art deco architecture, cool
Nestled atop a hill behind the neighbourhood cafes, funky
CBD, Fort Canning Park is
boutiques and an atmospheric
a relaxing, green oasis with
market and hawker centre.
spice gardens, birdsong, British
military relics and the sacred
shrine of Singapore's last sultan.

Haw Par Villa

Shutterstock

FIVE TIPS FOR BANGKOK

Taxis are inexpensive

but because of traffic,
only use them when your
destination can't be reached
on the fast, elevated BTS
Skytrain or the underground
MRT Metro.

Complementing
Bangkok's countless
malls and night and day
street stalls is Chatuchak
Weekend Market. Its
8000-plus stalls sell a
mindboggling range of
souvenirs, antiques and local
fashions.

You'll be offered plenty

of AU$10 massages.
But it's worth treating
yourself to a good one. A
90-minute herbal body

massage is about AU$40 at

Asia Herb Association. It has
a branch at Sukhumvit 24,
near Phrom Phrong BTS.

At 8am and 6pm daily,

the national anthem
plays from speaker
systems across the capital.
Thais stop what they're
doing. Foreigners aren't
expected to follow suit, but
it's appreciated.

For a different
perspective of Bangkok,
ride the ferry on Khlong
Saen Saeb, one of the city's
copious canals. You whizz
past wooden homes, flashes
of greenery and eye-catching
graffiti.

WHERE TO STAY
Singapore: There are two
HI Hostels in the city that
offer good value places to
stay. See more and book
here.
Bangkok: There are 10
HI Hostels in and around
the city, including one at the
airport. See more here.
Ferry on Chao Phraya
Shutterstock

WHAT'S ON
HERES OUR PICK OF EVENTS COMING UP IN YOUR REGION

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

December 2016 to March 2017

AUS

If theres a better way to spend a balmy summer evening than under the stars with a glass of wine
in one hand, a box of popcorn in the other, and a great movie on the big screen, then we havent
heard about it. As the weather gets warmer, outdoor cinemas come out of hibernation to show the
latest Hollywood blockbusters, indie releases and cult classics to huge crowds enjoying picnics
in the moonlight. Heres the pick of the bunch this summer visit their websites to check out the
program in your city:
u B
 en & Jerrys Open Air Cinema Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra,
Gold Coast
u M
 oonlight Cinema Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Port Douglas
u S
 unset Cinema Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Wollongong
u St George Open Air Cinema Sydney

BOOK
NOW

Stay at YHA Australias network of 80-plus hostels around the country

Ben & Jerrys Open Air Cinema

VINTAGE, ART DECO, NOSTALGIA, OH MY!

January and March 2017

Art Deco Festival

Art Deco Trust Napier

NZ
SYDNEY FESTIVAL
7 29 January 2017

Foxtrot back in time with

these festivals that revive
the good ol days. Riverside
Whanganui celebrates
everything vintage for a
weekend (21-23 January
2017) of jazz river cruises,
flea markets, banquets,
classic car cavalcades and
classic films on the outdoor
screen. Then throw on
your feather boa and step
back into Gatsby time for a
u
u
u

weekend (15-19 February

2017) in the Art Deco Capital
of the World when Napier
relives the mystique of the
1920s and 30s. Christchurch
also gets nostalgic by
combining the citys indie
culture with a quaint 1900s
replica township for a day of
revelry on 4 March 2017.
vintageweekend.co.nz,
artdeconapier.com,
nostalgiafestival.co.nz

BOOK
NOW

S
 tay at YHA Whanganui, YHA Napier, YHA
Christchurch or YHA Christchurch Rolleston House
0
 800 278 299 (NZ) or 1800 242 191 (Aus)
b
 ook@yha.co.nz

N SW

A colourful reflection of the

Harbour Citys kaleidoscopic
diversity, this cultural celebration fills Sydneys
summer nights with almost 400 performances
by 700 of the worlds best performing and visual
artists. Now in its 41st year, the Sydney Festival
lights up 30 of Sydneys best venues, including
Hyde Park, Sydney Town Hall, The Domain
and the Sydney Opera House, with affordable
tickets to every event available for $25 or less
including many free shows.
sydneyfestival.org.au
Sydney Festival
Destination NSW

FRINGE FESTIVALS
February and March 2017

NZ

Find yourself on the fringes

for all the eccentric, odd, funny and wonderful
things fringe festival lovers expect. Local
theatre shows, performance poets, sidesplitting comics and more bring the wacky to
Wellington and Auckland. Wellington promises
a Festival for Surprises and proffers over
100 self-produced events.
Auckland Fringe espouses
Art on Every Corner, and
those corners include rooms,
street corners, parks,
beaches and forests.
Both festivals guarantee
serious envelope-pushing.
fringe.co.nz ,
Wellington
aucklandfringe.co.nz
Fringe Festival

BOOK
NOW

u
u
u

Stay at Sydney Central YHA

+61 2 9218 9000
sydcentral@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

u
u
u

S
 tay at YHA Auckland International,
YHA Auckland City or YHA Wellington
0800 278 299 (NZ) or 1800 242 191 (Aus)
book@yha.co.nz

VI C

PORT FAIRY JAZZ

FESTIVAL
10 12 February 2017

The first ever Port Fairy Jazz Festival is the

perfect reason to visit the historic seaside
town this February. More than 100 bands will
pile into Port Fairy to put on performances to
suit all jazz fans traditional, mainstream,
contemporary and much more. Enjoy a
weekend of jazz music, dancing, the Saturday
parade, markets and Port Fairys famous
seafood.
portfairyjazz.com.au
Port Fairy Jazz Festival
Shutterstock

u
u
u

S
 tay at Port Fairy YHA
+
 61 3 5568 2468
p
 ortfairy@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

FOMO FESTIVAL
7 January 2017
One stage. No clashes. This Brisbane-born
festival which has expanded to Adelaide
(6 January) and Sydney (8 January) after its
killer debut in 2016 returns to Riverstage for
the second year running to bring you an epic
line-up featuring both local and international
acts, including Empire of the Sun, Peking Duk
and Flosstramadus. Fight your fear of missing
out this festival season by snapping up your
tickets fast!
fomofestival.com.au
u
u
u

ST JEROMES LANEWAY FESTIVAL

5 February 2017
Since it was first held in a tiny Melbourne
laneway in 2005, this celebration of indie
music has exploded in popularity, now taking
place in Fremantle, Adelaide, Auckland,
Brisbane and Sydney each summer. The
towering pine trees of Esplanade Park provide
the scenic backdrop to the West Australian
event, which features Gang of Youths, Nick
Murphy (aka your old mate Chet Faker), Tame
Impala and plenty more in 2017.
lanewayfestival.com
u
u
u

Stay at Fremantle Prison YHA

+61 8 9433 4305
fremantle@yha.com.au

QLD

FOMO Festival
Shutterstock

Stay at Brisbane City YHA

+61 7 3236 1004
brisbanecity@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

WA

BOOK
NOW
Fremantle Laneway Festival
Daniel Boud

TASTE OF TASMANIA
28 December 2016 3 January 2017

TAS

Boutique beers, cool-climate wines, handcrafted cheeses, freshly-caught seafood the

Taste of Tasmania dishes up the Apple Isle
on a plate. The Hobart waterfront comes
alive with food stalls from every corner of the
state, as well as a jam-packed entertainment
program that especially caters to the kids,
including family movies on an outdoor screen
every night plus fireworks on New Years Eve.
thetasteoftasmania.com.au
u
u
u

BOOK
NOW

Stay at Hobart Central YHA

+61 3 6231 2660
hobartcentral@yha.com.au

PORT LINCOLN
TUNARAMA FESTIVAL
25 29 January 2017

SA

Its a good thing that

Tunarama runs for five days, because theres
so much to see and do . . . and eat! Participate
in the tuna-throwing competition, watch the
boat-building and watermelon-eating contests,
check out the market stalls, see the sand
sculptures, parade and live music, and eat
some of the freshest seafood in the world.
Phew, were exhausted just thinking about it!
tunarama.net

TWILIGHT HAWKERS
MARKET
Every Friday night until
28 April 2017

WA

The biggest street food market in Perth

is back for another summer, filling balmy
Friday nights with the aroma of street food
from all over the world. Grab a drink in the
city before heading to Forrest Place smack
bang in the middle of town and just a 600m
stroll from Perth City YHA to spend the
evening trawling the market for the tastiest
morsels you can get your hands on.
twilighthawkersmarket.com
u
u
u

Stay at Perth City YHA

+61 8 9287 3333
perthcity@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

Tunarama
Shutterstock

u
u
u

Stay at Port Lincoln YHA

+61 8 8682 3605
portlincoln@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

Twilight Hawkers Market

Events and Beyond

VI C

AUSTRALIAN OPEN
TENNIS
16 29 January 2017

Burleigh Heads
Shutterstock

Melbourne becomes a sport-lovers paradise

each January when the Australian Open comes
to town. Tennis fans from across the globe
flock to Melbourne Park for the chance to see
Federer, Nadal, Murray and Serena Williams
dominate the big stage in the first Grand Slam
tournament of the year. Tickets to see the big
names on Rod Laver Arena are pricey but you
can lap up the carnival atmosphere with a
ground pass to the outside courts, which start
at just AU$25. event.ausopen.com
Stay at Melbourne Central YHA
u +61 3 9621 2523
u melbcentral@yha.com.au
u

BURLEIGH PRO 2017

26 29 January 2017
The iconic Burleigh Headland on the Gold
Coast boasts some of the worlds best waves
and for four days this January, itll boast some
of the worlds best surfers, too. Its free to
watch this World Surf League event involving
both men and women from the natural
amphitheatre of Burleigh Heads, and you
can expect breathtaking views of the Surfers
Paradise skyline at dawn and dusk.
worldsurfleague.com

BOOK
NOW

Australian Open
Greg Elms Tourism Victoria

u
u
u

TOUR DOWN UNDER

14 22 January 2017
Australias version of the Tour de France . . . just
swap the Alps for the Adelaide Hills. Watch the
cyclists as they power through each stage of the
first event on the UCI World Tour calendar, marvel
at the amateur riders on the Bupa Challenge Tour
tackling exactly the same route the pros traverse
just a couple of hours later, or get involved in all
the other events surrounding the tour.
tourdownunder.com
u
u
u

Stay at Adelaide Central YHA

+61 8 8414 3010
adlcentral@yha.com.au

QLD

Stay at Coolangatta YHA

+61 7 5536 7644
coolangatta@yha.com.au

BOOK
NOW

SA

BOOK
NOW
Tour Down Under
Shutterstock

AUSTRALIA DAY
26 January 2017
There arent too many corners of Australias
wide brown land that arent decked out in
green and gold on 26 January but Sydney
Harbour is the life of the party. Take a picnic
down to the foreshore and watch the Tall
Ships Race, the Ferryathon, the Cruising
Concerts on floating barges, a military
aircraft flyover, plus the oldest continually
conducted annual sailing event, the 181st
Australia Day Regatta. And that doesnt
even cover half the Australia Day events
around the city. australiaday.com.au
u
u
u

N SW

MORE
EVENTS
BOXING DAY TEST
CRICKET
26 30 December 2016
Stay Melbourne Central
YHA

Australia Day Ferrython

Sydney Festival

Stay at Sydney Harbour YHA

+61 2 8272 0900
sydneyharbour@yha.com.au

WORLD BUSKERS FESTIVAL

January and February 2017

BOOK
NOW

NZ

The buskers are coming! The buskers are

coming! And theyre coming this summer
from all corners of the globe to descend on
Christchurch, Nelson and Auckland for three unique, iconic,
celebrations of street theatre. There will be laughter, chaos,
comedy, circus, acts of daring, juggling, acrobatics, fringe theatre,
contortionism and it all adds up to a heaving, brash street party.
Be sure to bring spare dosh to top-up their hats.
worldbuskersfestival.com, nelson.govt.nz,
aucklandbuskersfestival.co.nz

SUMMER CITY
1 January 31 March
2017
Stay YHA Wellington

SUMMERNATS CAR
FESTIVAL
5 8 January 2017
Stay Canberra City YHA

EVOLVE FESTIVAL
20 22 January 2017
Stay YHA Nelson

THREDBO BLUES
FESTIVAL
20 22 January 2017
Stay Thredbo YHA

u
u

S
 tay at YHA Christchurch or YHA Christchurch
Rolleston House, YHA Nelson, or YHA Auckland
International or YHA Auckland City
0800 278 299 (NZ) or 1800 242 191 (Aus)
book@yha.co.nz

BOOK
NOW
Christchurch
Busker
Festival, Pants
Down Circus

TAMAKI HERENGA
WAKA FESTIVAL
28 30 January 2017
Stay YHA Auckland
International or YHA
Auckland City
BOOK ONLINE

YHA.COM.AU
YHA.CO.NZ

KEEP IN TOUCH
BACKPACKER ESSENTIALS MIGHT
BE ENDING, BUT THE GREAT
CONTENT KEEPS ON COMING
As we explained earlier in this issue, this will be the last ever
edition of Backpacker Essentials.
But dont worry! Youll still be able to find more of the same
great content at YHAs website, which is jam-packed with
plenty of awesome Traveller Stories, news stories and bigname events.
Plus, YHA Australia will continue to keep our loyal members
up-to-date with all things YHA through our regular ezines,
which will be loaded with all the great stuff you used to find in
Backpacker Essentials. Keep your membership details up to
date including the best email address to reach you through
the My YHA section of yha.com.au.
Not a member? Click here to become to join and make sure to
opt in to our regular updates.
For our New Zealand audience, YHA New Zealand will continue
to add stories and local destination content in the Inspire Me
section of yha.co.nz.
Just like YHA Australia, New Zealand also produces regular
ezines and our deals will continue to be referenced here, as well
as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Thanks for keeping in touch!