Backpacker Essentials December 2014

BACKPACKER / ESSENTIALS / DECEMBER 2014

NZ FESTIVALS MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER

YHA DEALS TRAVEL AND SAVE LEGENDARY NSW NORTHERN RIVERS BIG CITY USA LOS ANGELES VS CHICAGO

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INSIDE BACKPACKER / ESSENTIALS

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AUSTRALIA/NZ

YOUR YHA ECO REPORT

Paul Hoelen Photogaphy

NEW IN MELBOURNE

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GLOBAL NEWS

ROCKIES TO THE ALPS

NEW ZEALAND FESTIVALS

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MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER

14 Cover: Adam Bryce Tourism NZ

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

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BIG CITY USA LA VS CHICAGO

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NORTHERN RIVERS NSW BORDER COUNTRY

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WHAT'S ON

AUSTRALIA/NZ EVENTS

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GETAWAYS

TOP DEALS IN OZ & NZ

VOL 18 / No 6 DECEMBER 2014 MANAGING EDITOR Janet McGarry DEPUTY EDITOR Elinor Sheargold NEW ZEALAND EDITOR Brindi Joy YHA CONTRIBUTORS Christina Harris Rachel Seymour Tanya Heuke Francois LaJoie ART DIRECTOR Dan Morley GRAPHIC DESIGN Elinor Sheargold 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 NEWS / EVENTS / YOUR YHA

GET SET FOR

Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema

R E M M U S Y T I C E H IN T

JUMP THE DITCH! WIN A TRIP TO NZ OR OZ FOR YOU & A MATE click here

Filipe Frazao, TK Kurikawa, Perig Shutterstock

/ NEWS

MELBOURNE MAKEOVER Melbourne Central YHA has relaunched following a major revamp, showing off a sleek new look that mixes the city's urban cool with nods to the heritage of this historic building.

The ground floor of the hostel now features a new 24-hour reception, TV room, spacious communal self-catering kitchen and dining areas, WiFi throughout, and a funky cafe/bar refitted with retro furniture and exposed brick walls.

Rooms here range from 3, 4 and 6-bed shared rooms, twin/ double rooms with optional ensuite and exclusive rooftop private rooms, inspired by the painted boat sheds and bathing huts of Melbourne’s Brighton Beach. Take in the panoramic city views while you're on the rooftop terrace.

As the name suggests, Melbourne Central YHA is smack bang in the city centre, only minutes walk to must-see attractions such as Federation Square, Southbank, Eureka Skydeck, museums and the street art, cafes and unique bars of the city’s hidden laneways. It makes the perfect base to visit to Australia’s cultural and sports capital, and with the summer events calendar going into overdrive (see our What's On pages), why wouldn't you?

Prices start from AU$33 per person per night multi-share, and from $125 per double room with ensuite.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL YHA u +61 3 9621 2523 u melbcentral@yha.com.au u yha.com.au

BOOK NOW

/ EVENTS

NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS Whether you’re feeling patriotic or just enjoy a good show, both Australia and New Zealand will be celebrating their cultural diversity and history during their respective national days in early 2014.

Take advantage of events, concerts, fireworks and a whole lotta action.

AUSTRALIA DAY

WAITANGI DAY, NZ

26 January 2015 Australiawide Click here for events

6 February 2015 Across New Zealand Click here for events

Waitangi Day ChameleonsEye Shutterstock

Book online at yha.com.au or yha.co.nz

OPENAIR CINEMA SEASON AUSTRALIA Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas are back for another bumper movie season, promising music by day and movies by night. Before the movie starts, you can expect to be graced by some of Australia's best acts and emerging local musicians. Past live acts have included The Cat Empire, Kate Miller-Heidke and Kisschasy.

Pack a picnic, hire a lounger and fill up on the delicious food at the full-licensed bar, then sit back and enjoy watching the film stars under the stars.

Plus, every Sunday is a 'Sundae Session' with FREE Ben & Jerry's ice cream for all! Tempted?

YHA members save $3 off tickets. Simply enter the promo code YHA when you book online at openaircinemas.com.au

Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema

Melbourne: Canberra: Sydney: Adelaide: Perth:

until 21 December 2014 18 January – 22 February 2015 22 January – 1 March 2015 1 March – 12 April 2015 19 March – 26 April 2015

Book YHAs in all these locations at yha.com.au

BOOK NOW

YOUR YHA YHA NEWS FOR MEMBERS IN AUSTRALIA

ECO REPORT When it comes to commitment to sustainability, YHA is putting its money where its mouth is, ceasing sales of disposable bottle water.

Instead, guests are encouraged to take advantage of eco-friendly re-fillable bottles now available at a number of YHA properties across Australia, along with newly-installed chilled water fountains. Why? If the average person drinking 2 litres a day drank tap water instead of bottled water they would save: u 1,825 litres of water a year (as water

is used to produce bottles) u 854.1KwH of electricity u 11.68kg of waste to landfill u Over AU$1,100 a year The environmentally and walletfriendly move follows the continued success of YHA’s ‘Sustainable Hostels Fund’ project, with Sydney's Pittwater YHA recently installing a solar hot water system thanks to the scheme.

YHA’s Sustainable Hostels Fund is funded by voluntary contributions from guests booking on yha.com.au, with YHA matching all contributions. To date, more than AU$50,000 has been raised to fund sustainability projects from Adelaide and Alice Springs to Byron Bay and Perth. www.yha.com.au/sustainability

YHA MEMBERSHIP

YHA LTD BOARD OF DIRECTORS As a not-for-profit organisation, YHA is governed by a Board of Directors that volunteers their time and skills to oversee the organisation’s strategic direction.

Each year, eligible and experienced members are invited to stand for election to the Board.

The YHA Ltd Board covers operations in the ACT, NSW, NT, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, and in 2014 two new Directors joined the Board; Dana Ghinzel (based in NSW) and Ross McDougall (based in South Australia). Also re-elected to the Board was Director David Neish (based in Queensland.) During the year, Directors met at a variety of locations around Australia, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, with a visit to Port Elliot YHA on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Thanks go to all the Directors, past and present, who so generously volunteer their services to YHA.

YHA Ltd Board of Directors, 2014, pictured, left to right: Leonie Thijssen, Ross McDougall, Cameron Quinten, Dana Ghinzel, Matthew McNeil, David Neish, Rob McGuirk (Chair), Julian Ledger (CEO), Tracey Powell, Euan Prentice (Vice-Chair), Helen Harms.

The 2015 YHA Australia Hostel Guide is now available! It’s your essential guide to all Australian YHAs and a bunch of member benefits around the country. Not sure what you get when you join YHA? Check out our animated video. Tap it to play.

GLOBAL

CANADA / SWITZERLAND / WINTER DEALS / GETTING THERE

O T S E I K C O R THE ALPS

The Matterhorn, Switzerland Shutterstock

/CANADA

EXTREME MAKEOVER, CANADA

CALGARY Get your Stetson, spurs and swagger on. HI-Calgary City Centre has reopened after an 11 month extreme makeover following the devastating Calgary floods in 2013, which saw the hostel’s basement under water and guests evacuated by boat to dry land.

The renovations have resulted in a snazzy new-look basement including new floors, paintwork, a rec room with large flatscreen TV, new furniture and lighting, pool table and popcorn machine.

It’s not just the basement getting a makeover, new private rooms have been added, each with queen size beds and ensuite bathrooms, while reception, guest kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities have also been upgraded and state-of-the-art security installed.

What hasn’t changed is the 24-hour hostel’s ideal location, in the hip East Village, within walking distance to the city’s best restaurants, shopping and the beautiful Bow River Walkway.

Whether you’re in town for the Calgary Stampede or need a springboard for adventures in the Rockies or the Alberta Badlands and Dinosaur Trail, HI Calgary City Centre makes a great stay. And they’ll throw in breakfast, WiFi/internet, tea and coffee, and parking for free.

Prices start from approx CA$30 per person 6-share, $72 per private room ($82 private ensuite).

BOOK NOW

HI CALGARY CITY CENTRE u

hihostels.ca

Calgary Stampede 2015

/CANADA Niagara Falls, near Tornoto Shutterstock

Toronto city skyline

St Joseph Oratory, Montreal

Shutterstock

Shutterstock

MONTREAL AND TORONTO Calgary is not the only Canadian HI hostel going under the knife recently. HI Montreal has been busily transforming its communal areas, rooms, bathroom facilities and even its activities program to give travellers a French-flavoured Québécois experience par excellence.

The modernised bistro now offers a delicious menu sourced from local products and range of microbrew beers to taste - great after the thirsty work of seeing the sights. Design fans will love the red brick and warm wooden walls of reception, though the real talking point is sure to be the feature mural, specially created for the hostel by local artist, Benjamin Tran, using his unique style to capture iconic symbols of the city.

Toronto-bound travellers can now take advantage of HI Toronto’s cool new Cavern Bar. Located underground (or just follow your nose), the bar serves belly-filling breakfast and dinners daily, drink specials each night, and guaranteed entertainment seven nights a week. Not into live music, karaoke, or comedy night at the bar? The hostel’s packed program of guest activities (think trivia/ movie/board game nights, walking tours, visits to Distillery District and Toronto Islands) means there’s never a dull moment.

BOOK NOW

HI MONTREAL u

hihostels.ca

HI TORONTO u

hihostels.ca

BOOK NOW

/SWITZERLAND It may not be the highest mountain in The Alps (that honour goes to 4810m Mont Blanc), but the toothlike pyramid of Switzerland’s Matterhorn, which stands sentinel over the swish alpine resort of Zermatt, is surely Europe’s most magnetic peak.

In 2015, Zermatt celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first ascent (and tragic descent) of this 4478m mountain. Anniversary action will see events, special offers, and open-air performances all year, peaking in July/August.

Adventurers still flock here to clamber up mountains, ski down them in winter, and hike them in summer, but the views can be enjoyed year-round with little effort or cost.

Whether you’re wandering the streets of traditional wooden chalets, window-shopping the flashy boutiques, or sitting back with a drink at Zermatt YHA, the Matterhorn’s profile is a blink away. Head up the Klein Matterhorn to the (quite literally) breathtaking viewing platform at the highest cable car station in Europe (3883m). Here there’s also a glacier palace with ice sculptures and tunnels, and summer snow tubing. No head for heights? Stay grounded on the rack railway up to the Gornergrat for dazzling panoramas of the Alps’ towering peaks and second longest glacier.

Zermatt is car-free except for electric taxis and buses. Train is the only way to get here. It’s also end-of-the-line for the Glacier Express, one of the world’s great train rides. Check out YHA Switzerland’s Glacier Express package from Davos to Zermatt.

Shutterstock

ZERMATT CELEBRATES

History: the first ascent of the Matterhorn

Click here to find out how to save 25% on Insight, Berlitz and Footprint travel guides

SWITZERLAND’S FIRST WELLNESS HOSTEL OPENS

BOOK NOW

WELLNESS HOSTEL4000 u

wellnesshostel4000@youthhostel.ch

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youthhostel.ch

Neighbouring Saas-Fee valley is also celebrating the pioneering spirit, with the opening of Switzerland’s very first sports and spa centre hostel.

Situated at the entrance to this outrageously pretty glacier village, right next to the imposing Fee Gorge, the eco-friendly wellnessHostel4000 is Switzerland’s very first sports and spa centre hostel.

Guests here are spoiled with hostel facilities including double and four-bed ensuite rooms, a stylish bistro, free WiFi, bar/lounge and TV rooms, and staggering views of the valley and its panorama of 13 peaks, each over 4,000m.

Prices include entry to the centre’s 25m indoor pool and guests can also take advantage of the gym, saunas, steam bath, spa, and massage treatments – a real treat after a day on the ski slopes of the Allalin Glacier or action-packed day in the epic Swiss scenery.

/WINTER DEALS

WINTER DEALS CANADA From skiing in Lake Louise, to dog-sledding in Mont Tremblant, and icewalking in Jasper, HI Canada has you covered with these winter deals. u Ski Lake Louise u Ski Banff u Mont Tremblant Winter Deals u Jasper Ice Canyon Walk Even better, hostel staff can direct you to the cheapest rentals, best ski instructors, most affordable winter gear and the prime places to get your party on. For more winter deals in Canada, including free night deals in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton visit hihostels.ca/winter

on the

slopes i

n Banff

SWITZERLAND Fancy an affordable winter in one of Switzerland’s top luxury ski resorts?

YHA Switzerland make it possible with these winter deals: u Davos Mid-Week Special u Zermatt Mid-Week Special

For more winter deals in Switzerland visit youthhostel.ch

snow rafting in Slovenia

SLOVENIA Lake Bohinj’s Hostel Pod Voglom boast its own on-site outdoor sports centre – your one-stop shop for multi-day ski passes, snow rafting, night sledding, snowshoe tours, and more. Visit pac.si

Shutterstock

KARST CALLING

Located in southwestern Slovenia, between the Alps and Adriatic Sea, the new Hostel Ociski Raj is set to open up a new side of Slovenia to intrepid travellers. Those familiar with the country’s cosmopolitan capital, fairytale mountain scenery, and Italian-influenced coastline can now discover Slovenia’s Karst wonderland of caves, canyons and underground rivers.

UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves are a mere 11km from the hostel in Ocizla village, or you could descend into Dimnice Jama (Smoke Cave), and visit the only underground church in Slovenia – Sveta Jama (Holy Cave). Above ground you’ll find clifftop Socerb Castle, the Tigr Memorial, and plenty of adventure sports that make the most of the landscape. Walk or hire a bike from the hostel and head across the Italian border to Trieste via an abandoned rail route through the Glinšcica š River valley and Botacš Canyon.

Did you know? The word Karst, referring to eroded landscapes of limestone caves, underground streams and sinkholes, comes from this region in Slovenia. There are around 8,000 registered karst caves here, though only 25 are open to tourists.

Shutterstock

/GETTING THERE

DEPARTURES Bound for the Big Apple? Vancouver may not immediately jump to mind as a gateway to New York, but Air Canada’s new direct services between the West Coast Canadian city and East Coast US metropolis have us excited about a North American adventure.

Jump on board the airline’s daily non-stop flights from Sydney. Arriving in Vancouver at 7.40am, you can now seamlessly connect with their new 9.15am flight onward to Newark Liberty International Airport. Homeward-bound flight connections have also been timed to avoid too much airport downtime. With flights operating daily it’s tempting to make it a two-nation vacation.

If you prefer Bali’s beaches to the Big Apple and British Columbia, AirAsia’s satellite carrier Indonesia AirAsia Extra (IAX) is set to launch direct flights on the busy Melbourne to Denpasar route, flying 5 times a week from 26 December 2014.

Brisbane is also getting in on the action, with Virgin Australia launching daily Brisbane to Los Angeles flights earlier this year in October.

Dubai isn’t short on mega attractions whether it’s the manmade wonder of Ski Dubai or Aquaventure, or the vast natural beauty of the expansive Arabian Desert.

Now comes news that this favourite long-haul stopover destination will open a Hollywood-inspired theme park in 2016. Motiongate Dubai, incorporating Sony Pictures Studio and Smurfs Zone, promises cutting edge technology and new generation rides to bring the little blue characters and Sony films such as Ghostbusters, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland and Hotel Transylvania to life.

It’s just one of a trio of theme parks, including LEGOLAND and Bollywood Parks, that will make up a mega entertainment development in the city’s Jebel Ali area.

While it may not be a theme park ride, visitors to the city’s 828 metre Burj Khalifa (aka the world’s tallest building), can now take in the views from the world’s highest observation deck - 148 floors (555m) above street level. The higher views come with higher prices (and an elevator change at floor 125), or you can stick with the equally stunning vistas from the existing observation deck on the still vertiginously high 124th floor. Book your ticket ahead.

Rahhal Shutterstock.com

STOPOVER DUBAI

Paul Hoelen Photography

FEATURE / NEW ZEALAND FESTIVALS

Summertime festivals BEYOND NEW ZEALAND’S REPUTATION FOR LUSH LANDSCAPES AND ACTIVE ADVENTURES SHANEY HUDSON DISCOVERS A FABULOUS FESTIVAL SEASON.

Get set to sizzle this summer with a showcase of the best of New Zealand’s culture, music and food. From buskers to bandstands, foodie feasts and thought-provoking films, get to know the country and its amazing culture a little better at these great events.

AUCKLAND & SURROUNDS THE FESTIVAL FOR CULTURE VULTURES:

SPLORE

Held in the Tapapakanga Park an hour southeast of Auckland, Splore has emerged as one of New Zealand’s best family-friendly festivals with an extensive visual arts programme and a big emphasis on community interaction and sustainability. Held from 20-22 February, there are five stages given over to art, performance and music for the three-day event. From $235NZD THE FESTIVAL FOR MUSIC MAVENS:

LANEWAY AUCKLAND

What started as a series of Sunday sessions in a small bar has turned into an Asia-Pacific festival phenomenon that had its inaugural run in Auckland in 2010. Held by the harbour in Silo Park on 26 January, this year’s Laneway Festival will feature big name acts including Angus and Julia Stone, Belle and Sebastian, Eagulls, FKA Twigs and Future Islands. From $144.80NZD THE FESTIVAL FOR APPRECIATING YOUR ROOTS:

PASIFIKA

The Pasifika festival in Auckland celebrates Pacific Islander heritage and diversity. Held at Western Springs Park on the weekend of 14-15 March, the festival is divided into 11 cultural villages and attracts an incredible 80,000 visitors who come to try traditional cuisine, watch performances and learn about each culture. Free

Pacifika

Splore

BOOK NOW Your nearest YHA?

YHA AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL ◆ +64 9 302 8200 ◆ auckland@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA AUCKLAND CITY ◆ +64 9 309 2802 ◆ aucklandcity@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

PLAY VIDEO

Splore Jason Burgess

BOOK NOW

Dance tent, Homegrown Aaron Moffit

Jennie Skulander, Homegrown Matt Evans

Bowls Club Jazz, Fringe Festival

WELLINGTON THE FESTIVAL FOR THOSE WHO LIKE IT LOCAL:

HOMEGROWN

With 57 acts, seven stages and born and bred local talent, Homegrown remains a celebration of Kiwis who have made it big and a platform for new Kiwi talent. This year, artists including Shapeshifter, David Dallas, Shihad, Six60 and Ginny Blackmore are scheduled to perform on the Wellington Waterfront on 7 March. A dedicated stage for emerging artists will be set up in Frank Kitts Park, free to the public.

From $109NZD Your nearest YHA?

THE FESTIVAL FOR SURPRISES:

YHA WELLINGTON

With over 100 self-produced events and shows, the New Zealand Fringe Festival is a daring open-access event held in Wellington each year.

Scheduled to run from 20 February to 14 March, last year’s event featured everything from hardcore bingo to fairytales on fire and aerial yoga, with 2015 acts set to push the envelope with innovative performances. Various prices

◆ +64 4 801 7280

THE NEW ZEALAND FRINGE FESTIVAL

Aaron Moffit

BOOK NOW

◆ wellington@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

BEST OF THE REST THE FESTIVAL FOR WILD CHILDS:

RHYTHM AND VINES

What began with a bunch of uni mates putting on a festival in the family vineyard has become New Zealand’s favourite way to ring in New Year’s Eve. Running from 29-31 December, the three-day festival near Gisborne attracts 30,000 people, with Bastille, Zane Lowe and Netsky Live performing. Little innovations make the festival unique with dress-up days and a Vintage Club upgrade available. From $330NZD PLAY VIDEO

Your nearest YHA?

YHA GISBORNE ◆ +64 6 867 3269 ◆ gisborne@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

BOOK NOW

Also worth checking out is sister festival Rhythm and Alps in the Cardona Valley in Wanaka (with bus access from Queenstown), on 30-31 December. Acts include Chet Faker, Just Ablaze and Team Dynamite. From $230NZD PLAY VIDEO

Your nearest YHA?

YHA WANAKA ◆ +64 3 443 1880 ◆ wanaka@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

BOOK NOW

From top to bottom: Festival fashion, Rhythm and Vines; cooling off in the pool, Rhythm and Vines; YHA Wanaka, Empire of the Sun on the Rhythm and Vines stage.

Paul Hoelen Photography

THE FESTIVAL THAT’S A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTRE:

WANDERLUST

It’s a curious thing when yoga gurus get top billing alongside international musical acts like Xavier Rudd, but the Wanderlust festival does things a little differently. The popular international wellbeing festival is running in the Great Lake Taupo area from 29 January-1 February and features a blend of yoga, music, meditation, workshops, hikes and inspiring lectures. Expect everything from medicinal native plant hikes to interpretive dance classes.

From $130NZD Your nearest YHA?

YHA TAUPO ◆ +64 7 378 3311 ◆ taupo@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

BOOK NOW

THE FESTIVAL FOR FOOD LOVERS:

WILDFOODS

You’ve really got to be a food lover to stomach what’s on offer at the Hokitika Wildfoods festival, held on 14 March on the West Coast of the South Island. The adventurous festival is aimed at sustainability and getting people to try things they normally wouldn’t.

15,000 visitors feast on everything from cow’s placenta pate to barbequed Huhu bugs and wildberry ice cream with cicada topping. $36NZD Your nearest YHA?

YHA HOKITIKA ◆ +64 3 755 7179 ◆ hokitika@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

Meditation, yoga and music are all part of the experience that is Wanderlust. YHA Taupo is within easy reach of the festival.

Brook Ready, Ali Kauas

BOOK NOW

FESTIVAL SURVIVAL STEP PLAN

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Main and inset: Captain Kidd in Buskers Burlesque; Mario, Queen of the Circus; Meredith Clare and Triebels Photography.

THE FESTIVAL FOR THE FREE AND FABULOUS:

WORLD BUSKERS FESTIVAL

Fabulous, fast paced and best of all, free to the public, the SCRIT World Buskers Festival has been held in Christchurch for the last 21 years and is one of the best celebrations of street theatre in the world.

Both local and international acts pan for your pennies during the ten-day event from the 15-25 January in Hagley Park. Free Your nearest YHA?

YHA CHRISTCHURCH ◆ +64 3 379 9536 ◆ christchurch@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA CHRISTCHURCH ROLLESTON HOUSE ◆ +64 3 366 6564 ◆ rollestonhouse@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

BOOK NOW

BOOK NOW

Book ahead for beds at the local YHA, tickets for events, flights into town, buses and parking at the venue.

Check the website, follow the festival twitter and download the app to plan your day and find out about delays.

Stash some cash in a safe place on your body BUT keep in mind most festivals are moving to special chipped wrist bands.

Check the rules before you go.

Hydrate: don’t get dehydrated.

Drink plenty of water and try to avoid too much booze.

Bring ID, you’ll need it to get into the venue or buy alcohol.

Pick a central meeting point: essential if you’re with friends or a larger group and you get separated.

Shoes: wear comfy shoes (avoid heels) and if it’s rainy consider investing in a decent pair of knee-high gumboots to help you through the mud.

Get covered: a simple poncho or rain jacket can protect you from the elements.

Clothes: stay away from anything too fancy. Rips, tears, stains and sweat are common festival clothing killers Be sun smart and use sunscreen, wear a hat and slip on your sunnies to protect yourself from the summer sun.

AS THE LEAVES TURN… As the sun goes down on the summer festival season, those still dreaming of warmer waters should head to the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival kicking off in March. The 7 week tour in surf towns nationwide will run a selection of classic films, award-winning documentaries and shorts about surf culture, the ocean and the environment.

BOOK NOW Get into the groove of a new season at Marchfest held on 21 March in sunny Nelson. The day-long event features homegrown musical talent, a beer line up of local, never-before-tasted-by-thepublic-brew, wine, cider juices and regional cuisine. Highlights include a gourmet beer-matching lunch, regular brew talks and indie/world music gigs.

Earlybird tickets from 1 December.

Your nearest YHA?

YHA NELSON Your nearest YHA? There are 10 YHA New Zealand hostels across the festival venues. Call or go online: ◆ 0800 278 299 ◆ yha.co.nz

Tickle your funny bone at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival held across venues in Auckland, Wellington and some regional cities from 24 April-17 May and featuring stand up, sketch, improv, theatre and musical comedy.

◆ +64 3 545 9988 ◆ nelson@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

Also worth a look is the more low-key Southern Lakes Festival of Colour based in Wanaka with satellite events in Queenstown, Luggate, Hawea and Cromwell. Running from 21-26 April, the music, theatre and dance festival bills itself as the best little arts festival in New Zealand.

Your nearest YHA?

Your nearest YHA?

YHA WANAKA

YHA AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL

◆ +64 3 443 1880 ◆ wanaka@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

◆ +64 9 302 8200 ◆ auckland@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA AUCKLAND CITY ◆ +64 9 309 2802 ◆ aucklandcity@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA QUEENSTOWN CENTRAL ◆ +64 3 442 7400 ◆ queenstown@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA WELLINGTON

YHA QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT

◆ +64 4 801 7280 ◆ wellington@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

◆ +64 3 442 8413 ◆ queenstownlakefront@yha.co.nz ◆ yha.co.nz

YHA GETAWAYS

DEALS

YHA DEALS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Wet n Wild, Gold Coast, Champagne Pool, Wai-o-Tapu ChameleonsEye, Shutterstock

GOLD COAST THRILLS

ROTORUA THERMAL WONDERLAND

Enjoy some of the best thrills, spills, and chills on the Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise YHA is offering guests:

Hot foot it to Rotorua. This deal combines two of the city’s best geothermal parks, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley, with their witches cauldron of steaming lakes, mud pools, hissing geysers, bubbling mud pools and mineral pools in an artist’s palette of colours with names like Devil’s Ink Pot, Emerald Lakes and Champagne Pool. Package includes:

The 3 for 3 Pass, giving you 1-day entry to each of the following favourite theme parks: Movie World, Sea World, and Wet n Wild - all for AU$89 u

If that’s not scary enough for you, the YHA has tickets to Oz’s longest running dinner show – Dracula’s Redrum Cabaret – from $90, guaranteeing a night of wicked fun after a day in the sun.

Stay 3 nights from AU$85.50 – that’s just $28.50 per night. Double/twin rooms from $72.50 per room per night.

Valid to 31 March 2015.

SURFERS PARADISE YHA

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2 nights at YHA Rotorua

Morning at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, afternoon at Waimangu Volcanic Valley u

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Rotorua highlights city tour

Transport Priced from NZ$164 per person multi-share and from $374 for two in a private room with ensuite bathroom. Exclusive to YHA members.

Valid to 12 February 2015.

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BOOK NOW

YHA ROTORUA

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+61 7 5571 1776

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+64 7 349 4088

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surfersparadise@yha.com.au

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rotorua@yha.co.nz

BOOK NOW

THREDBO SUMMER Who says summer is all about beaches? The Snowy Mountains are the perfect getaway this season - no crowds, warm weather and awesome scenery offering a backdrop to hiking, mountain biking, bobsled, abseiling, swimming, climbing, horse riding, white water rafting, and of course the walk to Australia's highest Mountain. Take advantage of these Thredbo deals and discounts: Thredbo Kosi Combo 1 night's 4 or 6-share accommodation at Thredbo YHA u 1 day Kosciuszko Pass offering unlimited scenic chairlift access Priced from AU$65.50 per person. Valid to 31 March 2015. u

2 nights at Thredbo YHA u Daily breakfast and first night BBQ u Daily photography workshops hosted by professional photographers u Certificate in Alpine Photography Priced from AU$199 per person. Valid for 20-22 February 2015. u

Shutterstock

Thredbo Alpine Photography Weekend 20-22 February 2015

10% off Thredbo Summer Passes YHA members save 10% on 1-7 Day Thredbo All Mountain Passes which include unlimited chairlift rides, bobsled, tennis, golf, Leisure Centre access. Purchase at Thredbo Info Centre. Valid to 31 March 2015.

NZONE Skydive

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THREDBO YHA u

+61 2 6457 6376

u

thredbo@yha.com.au

QUEENSTOWN FREEFALL Ever wanted to jump out of a perfectly good plane 15,000ft up for the ultimate IMAX experience? Harness up with your qualified jumpmaster and freefall at an exhilarating 200kph above some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery. Package includes: u u u u u

2 nights at YHA Queenstown Central or Lakefront 15,000ft skydive with NZONE Skydive Free gift for YHA members (NZ$15 value) Free WiFi at YHA and the dropzone Return transport to/from dropzone

YHA Queenstown Central: from NZ$507.40 per person multi-share, and from $640.60 p.p. private room.

YHA Queenstown Lakefront: from NZ$489.40 p.p. multi-share, from $592 p.p. private room.

Valid to 12 February 2015.

YHA QUEENSTOWN CENTRAL YHA QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT u

yha.co.nz

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With its friendly wildlife, spectacular scenery, pristine sandy beaches and sumptuous local produce, Kangaroo Island will transport you to another world. Enjoy a hassle-free KI Experience, with this 3-day tour from Adelaide including: u u u u

u

2 nights' shared accommodation at Kangaroo Island YHA Return coach from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island (departs Adelaide 3.45pm) Return Sealink ferry transfers to the Island from Penneshaw Full-day Island Highlights tour, taking in Seal Bay, Koala Sanctuary, Flinders Chase, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Includes lunch.

Plenty of free time on arrival to swim, relax and see the penguins

Priced at AU$291 per person. Valid to 31 March 2015.

KANGAROO ISLAND YHA

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Priced from AU$168 per person 4-share or $525 for two people in a double room. Valid to 22 December 2014.

SYDNEY HARBOUR YHA

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u

+61 8 8553 1344

u

+61 2 8272 0900

u

kangarooisland@yha.com.au

u

sydneyharbour@yha.com.au

BALLARAT BREAK Less than two hours from Melbourne by road or rail, Ballarat is a fantastic short break to suit all tastes. The spectacle, rides and history of gold rush town Sovereign Hill are top of the to do list, and conveniently located right next door, Sovereign Hill YHA is offering YHA members: u u

20% off Sovereign Hill admission 20% off Sovereign Hill Sound & Light Show tickets

Stay from AU$35 per person multi-share, and from $65 per double room.

SOVEREIGN HILL LODGE YHA u

+61 3 5337 1159

u

ballarat@yha.com.au

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Sovereign Hill

KANGAROO ISLAND MADE EASY

Coming to Sydney this season for Christmas parties, shopping or events? Take advantage of this deal including: u 3 nights in a 4-share or double room at award-winning Sydney Harbour YHA (all rooms ensuite) u Daily breakfast (continental, fresh start or DIY cooked) u One meal at The Australian Heritage Hotel - any small pizza/ salad + pint of beer/glass of wine/ soft drink

Leah-Anne Thompson DNSW

Matt Nettheim SATC

SUMMER IN THE CITY

Endless sunshine, uncrowded beaches and loads of adventure activities – hello Magnetic Island! Cuddle a koala, look a croc in the eye and get wrapped up in a python at the YHA’s onsite wildlife sanctuary. You can enjoy it all with package including: u u u u u u

MT LOFTY 3 FOR 2

2 nights at Bungalow Bay Koala Village Entry to wildlife koala sanctuary, plus koala cuddle and souvenir photo Full day snorkel equipment hire Welcome schooner of beer or cider 30 mins internet or WiFi Return ferry transfers Townsville to Magnetic Island

Retreat to the Adelaide Hills.

Only 20 minutes from the centre of Adelaide but a world away, Mt Lofty YHA is the perfect spot to switch off, or get away with friends or family this season. Surrounded by wildlife, bushwalking trails, and the beautiful forest of Cleland Conservation Park, the YHA is offering 3 nights for the price of two nights. You can have the whole place to yourself from just AU$198 for three nights – that’s just $66 per night (sleeps up to 10 people)!

Valid to 28 February.

Priced at AU$137 per person multi-share.

Contact the YHA direct to upgrade to private accommodation. Valid to 31 March 2015.

BOOK NOW

BUNGALOW BAY YHA

MT LOFTY YHA

u

+61 7 4778 5781

u

+61 8 8414 3014

u

magneticisland@yha.com.au

u

mountlofty@yha.com.au

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OAMARU PENGUINS PACKAGE

Travel Headfirst

Bungalow Bay Koala Village

MAGNETIC ISLAND EXPERIENCE

Want the best penguin viewing in all of New Zealand? Stopover in the small coastal town of Oamaru. After exploring the town’s historic heart, head to the beach as rare Yellow-eyed Penguins waddle home after a hard day’s fishing. For a double dose of cuteness, zip over to the Blue Penguin Colony for front row seats to see the town’s famous, and the world’s smallest, penguins bunk down for the night. This package bundles it all together (and then some). You get: 1 night at YHA Oamaru u Visit to Yellow-Eyed Penguins at Bushy Beach Reserve u Entry to Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony u Coastal views photo op at Oamaru lookout u Pre and post penguins town and historic precinct tours u Transport u

Priced from NZ$75 multi-share per person and $166 per private room. Exclusive to YHA members. Valid to 31 March 2015.

BOOK NOW YHA OAMARU u u

+64 3 434 5009 oamaru@yha.co.nz

FEATURE / USA

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

f11 photo Shutterstock

LOS ANGELES AND CHICAGO ARE NOT ONLY SEPARATED BY DISTANCE, THEY’RE ALSO WORLDS APART IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER WAY, WRITES JO STEWART.

Los Angeles skyline.

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LOS ANGELES

The Great Pretender ◆

The capital of the Golden State excels at glitz, glamour, froth and fantasy. Watch any television show set in LA and you’ll see enough fake teeth, fake tans and fake nails to believe that the city is made up entirely of plastic people. But it’s important to remember that there’s more to Los Angeles than the pretenders you see on ‘reality’ television shows. Beyond the Sunset Strip clubs and bars haunted by long gone rockers and spectres

from Hollywood’s Golden Age, there’s enclaves that are home to vastly different people. From the hip cafes and juice bars of Silverlake to the mansions and Maseratis of Beverly Hills and the ‘mom and pop’ owned Mexican restaurants of Highland Park, Los Angeles achieves true melting pot status.

You’d be wrong to think that LA is just for the rich people who shop on Rodeo Drive. For every luxury boutique in LA, there’s also a rundown strip mall

filled with medicinal marijuana outlets, clinics spruiking cheap Botox, greasy diners and dubious-looking dive bars.

While many visitors flock to Hollywood hoping for a celebrity-spotting, you’ve got more chance of seeing an A Lister while shopping at the Grove or hiking Runyon Canyon than anywhere near the tourist-riddled circus known as Hollywood Boulevard. Visitors who only spend time in the epicentre of Hollywood are missing out on some of the coolest experiences LA has to offer. Whether it’s catching a flick at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery during summer, heading downtown to see a cutting edge exhibition at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), cycling along the Venice Beach boardwalk or watching a band at Griffith Park’s outdoor theatre, the epic traffic snarls LA is known for don’t stop anyone having a good time around here.

When it comes to climate, the locals are a spoiled bunch, enjoying limitless sunshine in summer and exceptionally mild winters. Hiking, swimming, jogging, skateboarding and rollerblading are pursued with verve all year round. The weather rarely interrupts life in Los Angeles, so when the mercury drops a little, locals often lament having to put a jacket on (unlike their Midwest and East Coast cousins who trudge through bitter winters each year).

Perhaps due to the insidious influence of the movie business, Los Angeles has often unfairly been described as a shallow, soulless place occupied by vapid people obsessed with money and fame. With so much attention focused on the superficial, how do you find the genuine when in LA? Just remember that while this is the town that gave us shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, it also gave us The Doors, The Beach Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Charles Bukowski and Raymond Chandler, making it one mighty cool town with bucket loads of street cred.

The city is a contrast of glitzy avenues and greasy diners.

Shutterstock

Santa Monica Pier, Beverley Hills and Hollywood Shutterstock, Joerg Hackermann, CTTC

FOUR OF LA’S BEST BURGER JOINTS While the celebrity set prefer kale smoothies, the City of Angels is also responsible for many next level burger experiences. Here are five of the best to sink your teeth into: FATBURGER With a name like Fatburger there’s no doubt what you’re getting yourself into when you order a burger from this outlet. Operating since 1952, the premise of ordering here is super simple. Just choose your burger size (Small to XXXL) and add a side (Onion Rings, Fat Fries, Skinny Fries, or Chili Cheese Fat Fries if you’re feeling confident). Each burger is made fresh to order to the sounds of classic rock ‘n’ roll, just like they did back in ‘52.

IN-N-OUT BURGER This celebrated burger brand enjoys cult status among locals and visitors alike. Secret menu items are popular for those in the know, and include ‘Animal-Style’ fries which have been doused in melted cheese, sauce and onions.

BOB’S BIG BOY Favoured by local film director and resident weirdo David Lynch, the original Bob’s Big Boy in the studio-filled suburb of Burbank has fed everyone from Bob Hope to The Beatles. When it comes to ordering, a menu item called ‘Best Cheeseburger on the Planet’ explains all you need to know.

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THE OINKSTER Using top-quality ingredients (there’s no fake cheese here) The Oinkster has burgers for people of all persuasions. From gargantuan, Thousand Island dressing-infused beef burgers to animal-friendly vegetarian options, The Oinkster’s focus on quality makes it cut above the rest.

Chicago River at night.

Shutterstock

CH ICAGO The Natural ◆

Possessing a heady combination of tradition and innovation, the Windy City is often overlooked by travellers who get seduced by holiday heavyweights like Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas.

While the city brims with a sense of freshness, there are overtones of traditional, working class grit around every corner. Unlike in Los Angeles, the pleasures of Chicago are simple, readilyavailable and easy to find. This is the home of calorie-laden Italian deep dish pizza, cheap hotdogs and prohibition-era bars once favoured by the likes of Al Capone. While crowds of posers line up to get into overhyped Bar Marmont or lounge by the pool at The Standard in LA, Chicago’s scene appears to be varied, and open to all. Jazz clubs like the legendary Green Mill Cocktail Lounge keep American music traditions alive with jazz, swing and bebop shows going on until the wee hours, and the exceptional Art Institute of Chicago stands as one of the most serious dedications to the art greats of the world.

While the centre of Los Angeles is little more than concrete jungle, Chicago is a paradise for architecture-aficionados. Home to some of America’s (if not the world’s) best architecture, beautiful, inspiring buildings come in many forms.

From modern churches to historic office towers,

Downtown Chicago; a Chicago Bulls basketball player.

Debby Wong Shutterstock

heritage homes and some of the earliest skyscrapers, Chicago is one helluva beautiful city.

When it comes to getting around, Chicago has it all over Los Angeles.

Travelling within Chicago is a decidedly easy affair in comparison to the near-constant gridlock and confusing freeways Los Angeles is known for. With a reliable and affordable mass transit system (known to locals at the ‘L’), catching a train from one side of town to the other is easily done. But there are more options than trains, buses and taxis on offer. A relatively new addition to the transport scene is Divvy, a nifty bike sharing system suitable for locals and tourists keen on peddling. Visitors simply buy a 24 hour bike pass at a Divvy station kiosk to access a bike anytime within a 24 hour period. Unlike many other American cities, Chicago has a good network of dedicated bike lanes and cycle paths, making Chicago one of America’s more cycle-friendly cities – a real win for visitors who don’t want to hire a car or rely on taxis.

Hardened by having to regularly dig themselves out of their own homes during unforgiving winters, Chicagoans are resourceful, determined people who seem to take things in their stride. With much of Illinois lying in America’s ‘corn belt’, the city of Chicago is surrounded by small towns and Midwestern farming folk, and their influence may account for Chicago’s down-to-earth demeanour. Compared to stereotypical flaky LA types, Chicago locals appear natural and genuine. Chicagoans are passionate people who wear their heart on their sleeve, and if you doubt this just head to a baseball match at Wrigley Field to see their passion in action.

Interactive fountain in Millennium Park, Chicago Cubs baseball game, downtown Chicago waterfront f11 photo, Steve Broer, Shutterstock

FOUR MUST-VISIT CHICAGO NEIGHBOURHOODS From the boutique-lined gloss of Magnificent Mile to the bustling Downtown area, Chicago has enough to keep visitors enthralled for days, although heading further afield has its rewards. Here are four Chicago neighbourhoods with distinct personalities well worth getting to know: WRIGLEYVILLE Home to the second oldest baseball stadium in America, Wrigleyville is a small, energetic slice of the bigger neighbourhood of Lake View. Most flock to Wrigleyville to watch the long-suffering Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field. If you can’t catch a match, then join the festivities that spill out onto the streets before and after the match. Pro tip: If you want to make friends, leave your Boston Red Sox gear at home!

BOYSTOWN Another ‘hood within a ‘hood, Boystown is a small pocket of Lake View with its own groove going on. An epicentre of Chicago’s gay and lesbian community, follow the rainbow flags for top notch dining experiences, cool cocktail lounges, heaving nightclubs and half-decent coffee.

ANDERSONVILLE With Swedish roots, this pretty-as-a-picture neighbourhood is also highlywalkable. Swedish interiors stores, small boutiques, cute cafes, vintage clothing shops and friendly folk give this diverse neighbourhood an endearing, small town feel.

WICKER PARK AND UKRAINIAN VILLAGE If independent bookstores, live music, dive bars and cheap eats are your thing, then gritty Wicker Park is your go-to neighbourhood. A mix of old timers and hip newcomers, Wicker Park also encompasses the Ukrainian Village area, where you’ll find a mash up of old-school delis, urban boutiques and historic churches and homes.

From the scandinavian treasure of Andersonville to the country’s second oldest baseball stadium of Wrigleyville, Chicago’s neighbourhoods offer something for everyone . Jo Stewart

Shutterstock, Songquan Deng

HI Santa Monica

WHERE TO STAY Los Angeles: There are three HI hostels to choose from – Santa Monica, Fullerton in Orange County and South Beach at the southern end of the city.

Chicago: There is a large, popular HI Hostel in the college area of the city near the lake.

Book online HI Chicago

NEWS PART

THE

FEATURE /

THREE

Legendar�

PACIFIC COAST

The

Legendary

NORTHERN RIVERS OF NSW

Surfer, Byron Bay.

BY DAVID WHITLEY

IT’S NOT SO

much this leap, but the ones to come.

Standing on a rock ledge above a freshwater pool, mere metres from the crashing surf, the jump down is enough to make you think carefully about how to do it - but not enough to invoke terror.

But Shane says this one is the baby. The 12 metre and 18 metre cliff jumps are still to come.

Shane is the co-owner of the Yamba YHA, and he started up his somewhat infamous tour as a way of showing off the gorgeous surf town he’s unashamedly in love with.

Geography has made Yamba a bit special. It’s where the Clarence River meets the ocean, and the headlands combine to create beaches facing in almost every direction. If the surf’s iffy at one of them, it’ll probably be good at another. There are few better places to pick up the surfing bug – and it leads to people who originally planned on staying for a day or two settling in for weeks.

A large part of Yamba’s charm comes from being out on a limb. It’s not on the way to or from anywhere else, and you have to make the conscious decision to detour to it. There’s a solitary road in, which hops over bridges spanning the channels of the Clarence delta. Enormous pelicans swim unperturbed as the cane fields give way to wild greenery.

The easy-going spirit of the town is at odds with Shane, a maniacally energetic character who sticks his head into a cave to see if he’s right about a snake being in there, and confesses his colleagues make him stay off the Red Bull.

It would be churlish to spoil the many surprises in Shane’s tour, but suffice to say not everything is as it seems. And, on the way, Yamba’s prodigious charms become apparent – whether it’s the mobs of kangaroos on the golf course or the fish eager to be fed outside the tavern.

Taking the plunge on Shane's Tour, Yamba.

Jimi Richardson

Shutterstock

Jimi Richardson

David Whitley

Clockwise from top: Take your pick of Yamba's beautiful beaches; Nightcap National Park, Nimbin; Clowning around on Shane's Tour, Yamba.

Catch up with the rest of The Legendary Pacific Coast here: ◆ PART 1 – the Mid North Coast ◆ PART 2 – the Hunter & Port Stephens

Yamba arguably marks the point where the drive up The Legendary Pacific Coast enters a zone that’s altogether more relaxed and natureleaning. The Northern Rivers region at the top of New South Wales is tree-huggingly organic, occasionally lurching quite merrily into space cadet territory. Much of this was sparked by the Aquarius Festival in 1973, where students, hippies, ecological living devotees and a whole load of tie-dye got together in Nimbin to exchange ideas.

Many attendees stayed on, and the ideals certainly did.

Nimbin itself teeters on the edge of hemp and rainbows self-parody, although it has noticeably been spruced up in recent years. Once a little shambling and shabby (and renowned for particularly strong ‘herbal’ cakes), it now seems to be turning its attentions to what makes the region so refreshing. New cafés are serving up organic juices, fresh fruit from the surrounding farms, locally grown macadamia nuts and cookies with top quality regional ingredients.

There’s very little big business in these parts – just an awful lot of people nurturing small pockets of land in a way that allows them to live a simple lifestyle. It’s very much a place of forests rather than stripped back farmland. The Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area is all around, with the walking trails and waterfalls of the Nightcap National Park providing the most endearingly beautiful example of it.

Multiple aspects of the region come together in its best known town.

Byron Bay has no shortage of reiki practitioners and tarot readers, but it also has the surf culture. The Main Beach and Tallow Beach

NEWS MURWILLUMBAH MAGIC Murwillumbah is not only YHA’s most northerly hostel in NSW, but is also the gateway to Mt Warning with its stunning sunrise views, memorable forest and challenging walk to the top. The town, picturesque on the banks of the river, is also home to the new Margaret Olley Art Centre, celebrating the life and work of one of Australia’s best loved artists.

Last but by no means least, Tassie Duff holds the title of YHA’s longest serving manager, still always with a welcoming smile for guests at his unique small hostel.

MURWILLUMBAH YHA ◆ (+612) 6672 3763 ◆ murwillumbah@yha.com.au

WHERE TO STAY YAMBA YHA ◆ (+612) 6646 3997 ◆ yamba@yha.com.au

LENNOX HEAD YHA ◆ (+612) 6687 7636 ◆ lennoxhead@yha.com.au

NIMBIN ROX YHA ◆ (+612) 6689 0022 ◆ nimbinrox@yha.com.au

BYRON BAY YHA ◆ (+612) 6685 8853 ◆ byronbay@yha.com.au

CAPE BYRON YHA ◆ (+612) 6685 8788 ◆ capebyron@yha.com.au

Above: Taking in the views from Cape Byron, Byron Bay, Right: Surf kayaking with dolphins, Byron Bay. ayaks

Cape Byron K

are gloriously long stretches of sand (albeit a little more crowded than others in the area – Brunswick Heads and Lennox Head are particularly special). Off them, novices taking surf school lessons and gnarled veterans alike ride the breaks into shore.

BOOK They’re often not alone either. The walk along the NOW beaches, through the nature reserve and under the shadow of the mighty lighthouse on the Cape Byron headland, is a prime wildlife-viewing amble. Stare out to sea from the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, and you’ll often spot pods of dolphins elegantly flitting through the water and playing in the breaking waves. Cast the eyes a little further out between May and November, and they’ll often be joined by breaching humpback whales migrating up and down the coast.

It’s not just the surfers that can get close to them.

Cape Byron Kayaks runs paddling tours that battle through the crashing foam before riding the swells out to where the dolphins are hanging out. On the way, birds dive down to catch fish and turtles bobble along serenely. But when the dolphins are finally found, the extra special magic of being low to the water rather than peering from the deck of a boat becomes apparent. They leap out right in front of the kayak nose – it’s as close as you’re conceivably going to get without unfairly disturbing them. And even the least alternative lifestyle-inclined paddler is likely to start feeling at one with nature.

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

N SW

SYDNEY FESTIVAL 8-26 January 2015

It wouldn’t be summer in Sydney without the city’s biggest and boldest festival and its celebrated menu of music, theatre, dance, art, sights and sounds of all sorts. The program includes more than 18 world premieres, 11 Australian premieres and 22 Australian exclusives that will turn the city into an epic theatre of music and spectacle. Highlights include: free concerts in the Domain; eats, beats and treats at the Festival Village and Speigeltent; and a huge range of wild, wicked and out of this world performances in venues from the CBD to Parramatta Gaol (don’t miss Tex Perkins’ recreation of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison concert). sydneyfestival.org.au Get a taste of what to expect at Sydney Festival

BOOK NOW

Caroline McCredie Destination NSW

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Stay at Sydney Central YHA or Railway Square YHA

Click for more sizzling summer Sydney events

Lauren Cameo/Dreamstime.com

CRICKET WORLD CUP 13 February -29 March 2015 Zinc up, the cricket is coming to town. Pack a picnic, slap on your sunnies and sporting colours to catch 14 of the world’s best national cricket teams go head-to-head on the pitch as the World Cup makes its way around Australia and New Zealand. One billion people worldwide are expected to tune in to watch the round robin tournament, but you can see it live on home turf. Our top picks?

• Australia vs England - 13 February, Melbourne • India vs. Pakistan - 14 February, Adelaide • New Zealand vs. England - 19 February, Wellington • Australia vs. New Zealand - 27 February, Auckland • Final – 29 March, Melbourne For tickets and more information visit icc-cricket.com u

Z N & Z O

Book YHAs in all 14 host cities at yha.com.au or yha.co.nz

FlashStudio Shutterstock.com

AFC ASIAN CUP 9-31 January 2015

OZ

The Socceroos kick off Asia’s biggest football tournament – and the biggest event in Australia’s football history - when they meet Kuwait in Melbourne on 9 January. But which of the 16 competing nations, including defending champions Japan, will they make it to the final 22 days later? Football fans can catch the action live in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane or Newcastle with tickets available from AU$29 to149. afcasiancup.com u

Book YHAs in all all these destinations at yha.com.au

Neale Cousland Shutterstock.com

AUSTRALIAN OPEN SERIES 1 January - 1 February 2015 The world’s hottest tennis stars, including Nadal, Djokovic, Sharapova, Williams will be heading Down Under in the lead-up to the first Grand Slam competition of 2015 – the Australian Open. Get your green and gold on to support home-grown hitters Stosur, Tomic and rising star Nick Kyrgios.

For racquet action in a capital city near you click here.

BOOK NOW

NZ

CHINESE NEW YEAR, AUCKLAND & WELLINGTON 14 February - 1 March 2015

Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Sheep (also known as the Chinese Year of the Goat) at Auckland’s Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day on 14 February. Spend the day taste-testing from 200 specialist stalls selling traditional and exotic delicacies and then kick back to enjoy cultural music, dance, martial arts, tai chi and Chinese pop bands.

If you’re in the capital from 14-15 February, get ready for a showcase of colourful high street fashion, top-notch dance, an authentic Asian market, a street parade, and local talent headlined by performing artists from Xian, for the Wellington Chinese New Year Festival. Tacked onto the festival is a roster of extra events that run until 22 February.

Stick around for the spectacle of the Auckland Lantern Festival, from 26 February to 1 March, where 800 hand-crafted Chinese lanterns will illuminate the night sky, as a whole street transforms into a bustling Asian market peddling delicacies and crafts. Stunning performances of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture including martial arts, dance, drumming and live music are topped off with an auspicious fireworks finale.

BOOK NOW

u

Stay at YHA Auckland City or YHA Auckland International

u

Stay at YHA Wellington

u

0800 278 299 (NZ) or 1800 242 191 (Aus)

u

book@yha.co.nz

CAIRNS CHINESE NEW YEAR STREET FESTIVAL 21 February 2015

Auckland Lantern Festival

QLD

Take to the streets of Cairns’ Chinatown when revellers spill onto Grafton Street for a day of entertainment, markets and music, food and fantastic Chinese art and performances. cairnschinesenewyear.org

BOOK NOW

u

Stay at Cairns Central YHA

u

+61 7 4051 0772

u

cairnscentral@yha.com.au

BOOK NOW

SATC

ADELAIDE FRINGE 13 February - 15 March 2015

SA

The largest arts event in the Southern Hemisphere, Adelaide Fringe takes over the entire city with 900+ events staged in popup venues from parks, warehouses, and to theatres, hotels, art galleries and cafes. There’s comedy, cabaret, circus and physical theatre, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design and everything in between. Even better, it overlaps with the richly diverse Adelaide Festival, 27 February to 15 March. u

Stay at Adelaide Central YHA

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+61 8 8414 3010

PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 13 February 7 March 2015

u

adlcentral@yha.com.au

WA

ST KILDA FESTIVAL 31 January 8 February 2015

For over 60 years this festival has welcomed some of the world’s greatest living artists to Perth. Opening with world renowned Royal de Luxe’s Giants in the streets of Perth, this festival offers some of the world’s best in every genre of art you could possibly think of including theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, visual arts, film, and indigenous events. perthfestival.com.au

Soak up the summer vibes at this nine-day celebration of music and arts, which culminates in the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest one-day free street music festival! A Melbourne tradition, the program of performances, workshops and events kicks off with Indigenous arts and music event Yalukit Wilum Ngargee before the party hits the foreshore and people spill onto the streets of St Kilda as some of the country’s top talent performs for Festival Sunday. stkildafestival.com.au

BOOK NOW u

Stay at Perth City YHA

u

+61 8 9287 3333

u

perthcity@yha.com.au

SDP Media

Royale de Luxe

The Giants will walk the streets of Perth

VI C

BOOK NOW u

Stay at Melbourne Central YHA

u

Stay at Melbourne Metro YHA

TAS

TASTE OF TASMANIA 28 December 2014 - 3 January 2015

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

For seven days and nights Hobart’s waterfront will be filled with aromas, sights and sounds as the Taste Festival takes place for another year of fun, food and entertainment. Taste has become one of Australia’s most successful food and wine events, coinciding with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Best off entry is free! thetasteoftasmania.com.au Tourism Tasmania & Sean Fennessy

BUNBURY CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL 7 December 2014 Stay Bunbury YHA

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 13 December 2014 Stay YHA Auckland City or YHA Auckland International

SANTA FEST SYDNEY Until 24 December 2014 BOOK NOW

u u u

Stay Sydney Central YHA or Railway Square YHA or

Stay at Montgomery's YHA +61 3 6231 2660 montys@yha.com.au

THREDBO BLUES FESTIVAL 16-18 January 2015

Sydney Harbour YHA

N SW

Thredbo's hills will be alive with the sound of music for the 21st anniversary of this intimate 3-day festival. Jeff Lang, Rick Price, The Ray Beadle Ban and Minnie Marks are among the super smooth and artists who will take over various venues around Thredbo village for a celebration of Australian Blues. Festival Passes are available from the Festival Ticket and Information Booth on arrival and include all day chairlift access on the Saturday and Sunday. thredbo.com.au

u u u

Stay at Thredbo YHA +61 2 6457 6376 thredbo@yha.com.au

Shutterstock

BOOK NOW

BOOK ONLINE

YHA.COM.AU YHA.CO.NZ

BACKPACKER / ESSENTIALS

YHA.COM.AU YHA.CO.NZ NEXT ISSUE AVAILABLE 7 FEBRUARY 2015