Backpackers Hostels Blog

Are you ready for this?

2012-02-06T20:18:39Z

270 metres above sea level, climbing the highest external building walk in Australia… that’s just a sample of what Skypoint Climb, the newest attraction in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast is all about.

So this 90 minute adrenaline pumping adventure captures the most AMAZING 360 degree views of the Gold Coast and its beaches, mountains, broadwater and cityside. This is simply the best spot to see the Gold Coast from, and you’ll walk away thinking it’s one of the most beautiful city’s you’ve ever been too.

I went on this tour with a few of the team and the General Manager from Islander Backpackers resort Surfers Paradise and to get us started each person has to have a quick briefing and get a full body harness put on with a very stylish looking grey jumpsuit. You can’t wear jewellery, take a camera and your sunnies even need to be strapped to your head so they don’t fall off. Then… It’s time to launch!!!

The journey starts on level 77, where you begin the journey of 298 stairs. Fully attached to the rail system we arrive at the very top with a 360 degree view of the coast. Everyone gets a picture taken and most people who see the photos just think it’s photoshopped because the view is too good to be true. After taking in the scenery for about 15-20 minutes it’s time to descend back down to the observation deck where we started.

It’s a really great feeling knowing that you’ve just walked around the outside of a building 270m above the sea but at first it was a daunting thought. For anyone afraid of heights I would say this would be the perfect activity for you to overcome your fear as the team are so patient and accommodating and you really are as safe as safe can be.

This attraction is only a few weeks old so next time you visit the coast come and stay with us at Islander Backpackers resort Surfers Paradise and add this to your list of things to do. Oh yeah and there is also a Twilight Tour too so you can see all the city lights. Can’t wait to give that one a go.

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Byron Bay baby!

2012-02-06T19:00:03Z

It’s the best place to be. Summer season is coming to a close, there are less backpackers around, so now it’s more about meeting the locals, enjoying the weather, experiencing the surf and living the dream!

Go out at night and see how the town comes alive! Visit the beach after sun rise and appreciate the nature of this beautiful place. Getting stuck in your room at Nomads Byron Bay Backpackers hostel is not an option. No matter how much your head hurts, or how much your legs ache from dancing, or if you still feel like cuddling the toilet for the 5th time that day, you have to force yourself to get out and meet those new people, see those beautiful things and do something daring, stupid and completley insane. After all, you are traveling… you are allowed!!!

So make some memories here in beautiful Byron Bay! (and of course if you need a place to stay Nomads Byron Bay backpackers hostel has got your back!

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Wellington Movie Tours: Geeking in Middle Earth.

2012-02-02T19:18:59Z

I like to think I am cool and hip, but deep down inside I am an über geek. Especially when it comes to anything medieval, fantasy, and of course, Lord Of The Rings. Todays review is an all inclusive pass into the Lord Of The Rings movie tour I went on, the embarrassing reenactments I jumped at the opportunity to be in, and my visit to the Weta Cave.

Of course you get scooped up in one of those standard tour buses, but the man behind the wheel is the real key to this tour. Ted, our driver, is the founder and owner Wellington Movie Tours. He also happens to be the brother of a designer at Weta Workshops, which means he has stepped foot inside of Minis Tirith and other movie sets. Sick!

The entire time you are driving around Wellington and the surrounding areas, Ted treats you to behind the scenes footage, interviews and hilarious videos of the actors. There is never a dull moment between locations. Since Ted has been exposed to the industry so much, you get heaps of information and commentary as you drive from the Shire to Gondor that would be hard to find anywhere else.

Living the experience is the real fun of the trip. While we were stopped off for a quick bite in Rivendale located in Kaitoke Regional Park (I can’t believe I am saying that). I got to live my dream of pretending to be Orlando Bloom as Legolas! Alright, that’s a lie, I have never had the desire to be Orlando Bloom… but I can still throw on some elf ears and a blonde wig to recreate the iconic poster right? Ladies, who is the better looking Legolas?

Some, well actually most of the group, didn’t volunteer much when Ted pulled out the props. It’s a shame really. If you are paying money to explore the locations where Peter Jackson shot the epic Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and something that helped revolutionize the New Zealand movie industry, why not get into it?!

Each stop, Ted brings with him photos of the exact scene that was shot there, and takes the time to show you the angles at which they were filmed. Have a stroll by the Tower of Orthanc. Lay in the river bed where Aragon washed ashore. Recreate the scene where the hobbits are hiding from the Ring Wraith beside the road. Don’t be shy, it’s all in good, dorky fun! Having Clarence the Camel, the mascot from Nomads Fat Camel backpackers Hostel along helped as an icebreaker though, everyone seemed to dive right in to the scenes he decided to star in.

Towards the end of the tour, Ted takes you amongst the warehouses and studios of Weta workshops. Sure, I’ve taken some studio tours around Universal and the likes, but they never seem to honestly know what they are talking about, or seem to enjoy it. You don’t actually get to go in the studios, but learning about each building, the history of Weta and how much the company has evolved is awesome.

In the Weta cave you can chillax with Gollum, marvel at the handmade props and sculptures by the same artists that worked on the films, and find literature from every video project they have worked on. My eyes were locked on the behind the scenes movie we check out in the Cave. It was fascinating exploring every branch of the workshop, watching the artists’ creations come to life, and seeing how the company grew from an apartment reeking of plaster and silicone, to the World’s foremost special FX company.

Sure, you can go to the Weta cave free if you want. But going on the whole trip and having Ted there with his passion and knowledge of the Lord Of The Rings Films, and the New Zealand film industry, is a no brainer now. The tour was more like a really good friend aching to take us to some place secret he couldn’t wait to share with all of his other friends.

I booked my trip at Nomads Capital backpackers hostel Wellington and I highly recommend it. Clarence has now left my side and returned to his home in Auckland at Nomads Fat Camel backpackers Hostel but I know we’ll meet again my friend!

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This Time Around

2012-02-02T18:41:51Z

So after spending a year traveling Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Laos, I had to go home to Canada… In December. If you are unaware of the city I am from called Winnipeg, I’ll give you a quick catch-up. Winnipeg is the exact centre, longitude and latitude-wise, of North America. It is in the middle of the Canadian Prairies, which means that in December, the wind is blowing full force and temperatures are around -20 to -50 with wind chill. Ouch.

I came to this after surfing all summer in 28 degree heat and getting sunburnt in Byron Bay every day. As I sat in my living room Boxing Day, hungover, I said f**K it, got on the phone to my travel agent and booked a flight back to Australia. I landed in Sydney January 24, spent Australia Day in Surry Hills and in the airport, where I flew to the Gold Coast.

Our shuttle cancelled on us so we had no way to get to Byron Bay. It was 10pm and I wanted to get back to celebrate the big day with all my friends back in the Bay. Only option: taxi. After downing a bottle of Jack Daniels in the cab and $180 later, we arrived with open arms in Byron Bay.

Being back feels amazing. As soon as we got back home to Nomads Byron Bay backpackers hostel, I was a little worried, as it was raining and very windy. A day after the storms, it has been nothing but sun and heat. The surf is pumping, the beach is packed and the vibe in this beautiful town is so amazing. Aside from drunken post-bar fights, everyone gets along here and is so friendly. Simply walk from Nomads Byron Bay backpackers to Woolworths,and you will be greeted by at least 5 people.

Moral of the story, if you haven’t been to Byron Bay or you plan on coming to Australia in the future, make it a priority , whatever you do, visit beautiful Byron Bay and if you want to really remember it stay at Nomads Byron Bay backpackers hostel.

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1 day Fraser Island trip

2012-02-01T18:54:52Z

If you don’t have the time to do the 3 day 2 night Nomads 4WD Fraser Island Tour then do what I did and go on a day trip with the Discovery Group. Of course you don’t get to see as much (there are so many beautiful places on Fraser Island its impossible to see them all in one day) but what you do get to see is the most beautiful lake on the Island, a whole heap of wildlife and amazing landscapes that you’ll only ever see on the largest sand Island in the world.

The day starts early but it’s all worth it, especially if there’s a low tide in the morning like there was on the day I went. When there is a low tide it means you can travel up the beach the whole way to Rainbow before you catch the barge across to Fraser Island. If there’s a high tide you have to do a trip up the good old highway.

My morning started at 615am and as I was the last pick up in Noosa we headed straight to the Noosa Northshore where we crossed the river on a barge. From there we drove along the beach through an area called the Cooloola Beach Great Sandy National Park. It’s along this beach where we stopped to see the Red Canyon. The picture says it all in that it’s so red you can’t believe its sand!

After that the adventure began as we headed back towards Rainbow Beach via Freshwater Road. This involved one hell of a bumpy ride through the dunes and into the forests along rugged tracks that certainly get your heart pumping. There were soooo many times we wondered ‘how the hell are we going to get through that!”. Actually the whole day there were many times we wondered that so thank god for our Fourby (as we aussies like to call our 4WD’s)

The vehicles you spend the day travelling in are amazing purpose built 20 seat 4WD’s but they look more like monster trucks. They are brand new and have the comfiest seats and most importantly nice cold air-con. Our driver was super skilled to get us to the places he did that day. He was also the provider of heaps of information on all the different environments we travelled through and all the different trees that are unique to Australia.

Our main destination for the day was Lake Mackenzie which is an amazing freshwater lake that is made up of pure silica and one of the cleanest lakes in the world. You can’t even take food and drink down there nor put sunscreen on just before you go in the water. You cant take food and drink because because of the sneaky little Dingo’s who steal your stuff if they sniff it out.

After a refreshing swim and relax, it was sad to leave this precious place. Lunch was calling though and we had a massive Aussie BBQ back up at the picnic ground. Can’t get any better than a ‘tato salad’ (potato salad), coleslaw and fish, steak and snosages (sausages). That was just a bit of whats on the menu along with the beer, wine and soft drinks.

Was great to get a little visitor during lunch although a lot of the people from overseas were a little freaked out by the beautiful little goanna (have you ever looked closely at their skin? Such pretty patterns).

After that we visited Central Station for a walk through the rainforest and along the creek. You just can’t believe how clean the water is in here. You can barely see it its so clean. This area was once the centre of the forestry industry when there was logging on Fraser Island. Thank god they don’t do that anymore and it’s now just a few old houses and picnic area that also has displays explaining the development of Fraser Island and its various flora and fauna.

Eventually we had to make our way back to the barge and back to Noosa. The tide was rising which means the beach cuts off the track to the barge. By now me and my new friends were a little exhausted but so happy we got to travel back along the beach one last time. We got home at about 530pm but the day was so worth it. Not only did I make some new friends I also got to experience one of the most special places in Australia. I can’t wait to rave to you all about it I love it so much and hope that you’ll all have the opportunity to go there at some point in your life.

The team at the Discovery Group know their stuff and do it damn well so keep them in mind when you’re planning your time up the coast.

You can find out about this 1 day trip by talking to me, Crystal, at Islander Backpackers resort Surfers Paradise. If you have more than one day to visit this special place then I highly recommend a 3 day, 2 night Nomads Fraser Island Tour, because not only will you get to see the magnificent Lake McKenzie and Central Station but you’ll have enough time to explore much more of the Island including the famous Champagne Pools, Indian Head and the Maheno Shipwreck.

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Cassowaries, Crocodiles and Kangaroos. Oh My!

2012-01-31T19:06:01Z

It has been a little over a month since my partner Francis and I came from New Zealand to Cairns and we arrived at Nomads Cairns Backpackers Hostel and one of our favourite day trips so far was with Active Tropics Explorer to Cape Tribulation.

Our day started at 7am when we hopped on a bus with our friendly tour guide. Our first stop was the Daintree village where we bought delicious bacon and egg sandwiches with BBQ sauce and took pictures with a life sized statue of a cassowary (a large flightless bird we didn’t know existed until coming to Australia that sounded like something urban legends are made of… like the infamous drop bear).

For our first adventure, we combed the Daintree River on a wildlife cruise searching for crocodiles hiding in the shade of the trees along the water. Next we headed to the Daintree forest where our tour guide taught us natural herbal remedies using various plants in the forest. Then we were on our way to Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the reef. We worked up an appetite walking along the water and had some yummy fish and chips for lunch.

Our favourite part of the day was our stop at the Daintree Wildlife Sanctuary where we were surprised to see cassowaries, crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, dingos, emus, parrots and other Australian wildlife all living together in one place.

The day was nicely finished with a quick dip in the water at Mossman Gorge and a mango smoothie.

At the end of the day, our tour guide dropped us off at Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel and as we waved goodbye to the tour guide from Active Tropics Explorer I thought to my self that this is what Dorothy must have felt like after her first day in OZ… except this is OZ is a horse (or large bird in this case) of a different color!

We can’t wait to book our next OZ adventure through the Mad Travel Desk at Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel.

Victoria.

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Fat Boy Slim tour Australia March 2012.

2012-01-31T18:53:54Z

Cover of Norman Cook

For those who grew up like me exploring my adolescence in the early 00′s, you too would really appreciate a good dose of Bomfunk MC’s B-boys and fly girls. Cause lets face it that’s what we were ya’ll! Remember having your first house parties and probably the coolest stuff going around was the Daft Punk’s Discovery release and FAT BOY SLIM Mixes! woo.

Well FatBoy Slim is coming to Australia to a town near you!

FatBoy Slim Australia 2012

03/03/12 – Doomben Racecourse – Brisbane
04/03/12 – Arena Joondalup – Perth

Fatboy Slim 2012 Australian side show dates:
Wednesday 7 March – The Palace, Melbourne
Thursday 8 March – The Enmore, Sydney

10/03/12 – Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney
11/03/12 – Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne
11/03/12 – Breath Of Life Festival – Launceston, Tasmania
12/03/12 – Ellis Park – Adelaide

He is hitting Melbourne, the man himself Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), for a Future Music Festival Sideshow. Great tracks such as “Praise You” and “Right Here, Right now” will be blasting into your ears SOON! Not to mention one of Australia’s finest house Dj’s Ajax will be supporting! Get on it!!

For your chance to catch this amazing musical genius, Grab your tickets from Ticketmaster. He’s playing at Melbourne’s Palace Theatre on Wednesday 7th March 2012.

Lots of Love, Bree @ Nomads Melbourne Backpackers Hostel

Tickets for Fatboy Slim’s side shows are on sale now at Ticketek (Sydney only) and Ticketmaster (Melbourne only).

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Funny Aussie slang!

2012-01-30T21:03:28Z

Being in Australia (Strayla) for a few months can give you a new perspective on the English language… Coming here for the first time made me question if I knew english at all! Here at Nomads Noosa Backpackers Hostel we made a list of our top fave Ozzie gentleman’s phrases! And to avoid any further misunderstandings we give you their meaning too!

G’day Mate. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

He’s blotto. Inebriated beyond the capacity to stand up.

You little ripper! Words of praise fail me.

Rack off. Your presence is no longer required.

Fair dinkum. Of course I’m telling the truth.

Pull ya head in. You may be correct in your assertion but shut up.

Wanna rage? Would you like to drink large amounts of alcohol with me until we both drop?

Bloody oath! I’m in total agreement with you.

Your shout. If you value your well being you should buy the next drink.

Go on. I’m not entirely convinced you know what you’re talking about.

You pong. Dear me, we do smell don’t we.

Whadayawant? Might I enquire about your needs?

Have a chunder. The delicate act of regurgitation.

Give it a go ya mug. Are you perhaps incapable of preforming this act?

Howya goin? May I enquire about your wellfare?

You drongo. You really are a rather dimwitted person.

So safe travels mate and see you in Noosa!

Barbie : barbecue (noun)

Billy : teapot. Container for boiling water.

Bogan : person who takes little pride in his appearance, spends his days slacking and drinking beer

Boomer : a large male kangaroo

Booze bus : police vehicle used for catching drunk drivers

Boozer : a pub

Brekkie : breakfast

Brick shit house, built like a : big strong bloke

Budgie smugglers : men’s bathing costume

Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also roo bar)

Bush bash : long competitive running or motorcar race through the bush

Bush telly : campfire

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Falling from the sky at 16500ft

2012-01-26T19:01:55Z

Last night myself and several other people who work for the backpacking industry in Auckland were invited out to Parakai to visit the site where Skydive Auckland throw people out of planes. What many of us didn’t know was that out in Parakai (which is just a short drive away from Auckland CBD) there are heaps of other things to do, but more on that in a different post!

As we were driving out to Parakai, Stacy from Skydive Auckland announced that 5 people were being thrown out of a plane from 16500ft when we got there. And how were these people chosen? It all depended on which seat they were sat in on the bus. Being one of the last to get on the bus I’d headed to the back seat, like a naughty schoolchild. Turns out that was one of the hotseats! What, just what? I thought I was going out to Parakai for a presentation and to enjoy a few beers and nibbles with everyone. No! I was being thrown out of a plane!

The minute we arrived I asked if I had time for a quick cigarette to calm my nerves, nope, I had to go straight in, sign the form and then I was in the jumpsuit and harness before I knew it. We were led straight outside to the plane without a minute to really think about what was happening. A quick photo before we got on (look at how small the plane is!), and then we were off.

It was around this time that the nerves were setting in, but Lottie (1 of only 4 female tandem-masters in the whole of New Zealand) kept me occupied by pointing out Muriwai Beach, Woodhill Forest and Auckland city. You could even see Auckland skytower apparently (I wasn’t wearing glasses so I can’t confirm or deny this!).

The view over Parakai was amazing, the scenery was beautiful and you could see both The Tasman Ocean on the West Coast and the Hauraki Gulf and Pacific Ocean on the East Coast. Wow! Lucky for us it was also late in the day and the sun was just beginning to set meaning that the view was just that little bit more spectacular! At this point I’d become calmer thanks to Lottie and the view but then I noticed that several people from the front of the plane had gone missing…

Aaargh… my time had come… we were moving towards the open door and I knew the time had come for me to die! We sat in the doorway, my legs dangling out of the plane, head back and then suddenly we’re falling. The weird thing about freefalling is that you actually don’t feel the sensation of falling at all, and somehow every bit of fear you were feeling disappears almost immediately you’re out of the plane. Anyone who has been skydiving will probably agree with me that it’s hard to describe the experience, except to say that it’s truly amazing and for some reason a very calming feeling.

We were freefalling for a long time (75-80 seconds from 165000ft!!!) and I even saw the plane we’d jumped out of in the distance. Then the parachute was opened and we floated gently towards the Skydive Auckland base enjoying being spun around and from left to right.

It’s weird though how the ground approaches extremely fast at the end of the skydive when it seems so far away! Thank goodness the instructors are so good at what they do, I have no idea how they manage to land exactly where they planned to land!

Fear is healthy, but don’t let fear stop you from having this amazing experience. The view during this skydive over Auckland is spectacular and the team who work at Skydive Auckland are all really lovely people who know how to calm your nerves and help you have an unforgettable freefalling experience. I’m still buzzing from it… what a rush…

I’m not going to deny it I work in an incredible industry… who wouldn’t want to work in an industry that’s all about helping people have the craziest, unforgettable experiences on their holiday of a lifetime? And occasionally I get to have these experiences too!

Kate – based at Nomads Auckland backpackers hostel.

To book a 165000ft freefall experience with Skydive Auckland, come and see the staff at the Mad Travel Shops at our Auckland hostels both on Fort Street in downtown Auckland.

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From New Zealand… to Cairns!

2012-01-25T19:36:25Z

Image via Wikipedia

It’s been about a month since Victoria and I have arrived in Cairns and started working for Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel.

It has certainly been an interesting experience.

Coming from New Zealand, where Victoria and I were both the Managers of several small (50 bed) independent backpackers, we were very interested to see how things worked at a BIG backpackers such as Nomads Cairns!

It turns out that most of the procedures are the same and the key factor remains the staff!

Without happy, helpful staff, you can’t have an excellent and “homey” feeling hostel!

Luckily the staff at Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel is fantastic and the wonderful amenities such as the Serpent bar (with cheap and delicious meals), the HUGE pool, the A/C in all of the rooms, and all of the fun activity nights (Including pub quiz on Sundays hosted by ME!) truly make this hostel a welcoming “home away from home”

Image by Nomads Hostels

One of the benefits of working at Nomads Cairns is working on the MAD travel desk. Here you can book discounted tours, travel, and other Nomads Hostel accommodation nights! You can also get an awesome MAD CARD that will save you HEAPS of money off of your Nomads accommodation! The Mad Travel guide that it comes with also has HEAPS of coupons for cheap and free drinks and meals throughout Australia!

Sometimes we get the opportunity to go on trips when we are working on the travel desk and I have been lucky to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Freedom a wonderful company that made my first dive very memorable! I plan to do more diving in the future and possibly get certified before moving on from Cairns…

Victoria and I also got to travel up to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rain-forest with Active Tropic Explorer this is a great day out that last almost 12 hours. You visit some amazing Rainforest areas and also the beautiful Cape Tribulation where the “Rain forest meets the Reef”

It’s been a great first month in Cairns and Victoria and I are excited to meet more travelers in Cairns, and get to experience this fantastic part of Australia known as FNQ

-Francis Kulaga at Nomads Cairns backpackers hostel

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