Australia Blog

Memories of brutal treatment linger

FOR a young New Zealand backpacker, the trip was going to be an adventure of a lifetime.

Instead, it turned into a "living hell" that will deter him from visiting Australia again.

It was only legal necessity that forced the tall 20-year-old man to return to Brisbane briefly last week to give evidence in a six-day Supreme Court trial against one of five men accused of kidnapping, torturing and robbing him in Brisbane in June 2003.

Foreign tourists not heeding travel warnings, says Durano

NEGATIVE travel advisories on the Philippines will not affect tourist arrivals as foreigners do not follow them anyway, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said yesterday.

The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada had advised their nationals to be "cautious" when traveling in the Philippines following the Feb. 14 bomb attacks, and to skip the south of the country altogether because of sporadic clashes between government troops and insurgents.

"Travelers nowadays are very sophisticated. They don't accept these travel advisories hook, line and sinker. They also do the research," Durano told reporters in an interview at the US Embassy.

Gallipoli: from horror to national dazzle

Australians have turned the scene of a military rout into a shrine to nation-building heroism.

Age no barrier to 'gap year'

MILLIONS of workers are opting for student-style gap years to travel the world, swapping their six weeks� annual leave for longer sabbaticals to India, south-east Asia and the rainforests.

According to research by Direct Line Travel insurance, more than 6.2 million professionals have taken the opportunity to leave their day jobs for months at a time. Employers� groups say their members are being won round to staff taking gap years by the positive effect it has, broadening workers� perspectives and refreshing their enthusiasm.

The most popular destination for a career break is Australia and New Zealand with two-thirds (66 per cent) going halfway round the world, followed by Europe (48 per cent) and the United States (43 per cent).

L-plate surfers ride a rising tide

Learning to surf is the new "must do" on the list of backpackers, and women are hitting the water in unprecedented numbers.

According to Tourism Research Australia's Report on the backpacker market in 2003, 81 per cent of international backpackers who visit Australia experience our beaches (including swimming, surfing, and diving).

Transonic expects strong earnings

Transonic Travel Ltd expects an increase of at least 25 per cent in full year earnings after reporting a strong first half net profit.

"Outbound travel from Australia, which has been Transonic's main business, is expected to grow by at least six per cent per annum for the next four years, and this industry forecast is consistent with announced increases in airline capacity and new route development.".

Virgin's schedule now back on track

MELBOURNE - Virgin Blue flights in and out of Launceston were generally on schedule yesterday as the airline worked to clear a backlog of passengers in southern Australia after a gas leak closed its Melbourne terminal for most of Monday.

However, hundreds of passengers were inconvenienced when the airline cancelled a morning Hobart- Melbourne flight and a Hobart- Sydney service as it continued to seek the source of the leak.

Tourism stars shine in the Alice

If everyone else can have an awards show, why not have one for tourism, too! (Shakes head in bewilderment)

Over 700 high-flyers from the tourist industry gathered in Alice Springs for the Australian Tourism Awards proudly presented by Accommodation Finder. Celebrating the 'best of the best' the glittering evening provided a showcase for national talent.

Hot and bothered spiders head indoors

Australians have been warned: angry arachnids are heading indoors.

Scientists say Australia's hot, humid and wet summer has had a bad effect on common, but potentially deadly, redback spiders.

Hit the road, mate

Australia: a vast, bare, unblemished land where the highway goes on forever. Simon Calder buys into the legend by purchasing his first-ever car

Alice Springs offers Charles a 'dinky-di bucks night'

Councillors in Alice Springs have offered to take Prince Charles on an Aussie-style stag night when he visits next month, while promising the heir to the throne will not end up chained naked to a lamp post.

Best Deals

Australian airline Qantas Airways has reduced its Aussie AirPass fares by 37 per cent for travel in February, when it is hot and sunny Down Under.

Australia hunts down toxic toads

Authorities in northern Australia have launched a competition to find the most successful way of slowing the devastating spread of cane toads.

The poisonous amphibians have become one of the country's most dangerous pests and are advancing up to 50km (31 miles) every year.

Thanks to Joe E for this important announcement.

Cambodia Upholds Murder Conviction of Khmer Rouge Commander

Cambodia's Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a former Khmer Rouge commander for the murder of three western backpackers.

The five-member Supreme Court rejected Chhouk Rin's final appeal against his conviction and life sentence for his role in the deaths of the backpackers.

The three young men from Australia, Britain and France were captured in 1994 during a Khmer Rouge attack on a passenger train in southern Cambodia. They were held for several weeks at a Khmer Rouge mountain stronghold before being killed after ransom negotiations failed.

Virgin slams ACCC

VIRGIN Atlantic has launched a stinging attack on the competition watchdog for allowing Qantas and British Airways to continue a price-fixing agreement, saying the deal would be deemed illegal in other jurisdictions.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Tuesday approved the BA-Qantas joint services agreement (JSA) for a further five years after ruling it delivered an overall benefit for consumers. The deal allows the airlines to co-ordinate scheduling, marketing, sales, freight and customer service on the kangaroo route to Europe.

Mother bitten by travel bug

Jennifer Hancock returned home with a nasty surprise after a back-packing trip in Thailand and Australia.

A scorpion had stowed away in the 25-year-old speech therapist's luggage

Territory gains in backpacker push

The Northern Territory expects considerable benefit from a $500,000 campaign to promote travel to Australia by German backpackers.

The campaign is being run by STA Travel, with financial support from the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, three other state toursim organisations, Tourism Australia and Qantas.

Sydney lifeguard lives in bubble to find Valentine

A 29-year-old suburban Sydney lifeguard, fed up with the life of a bachelor, moved into a giant plastic bubble in hopes of attracting a Valentine.

Aboriginal community wants to restrict Barrier Reef access

Queensland tourism leaders have expressed concern at an Aboriginal community�s bid to have sole access to parts of the Great Barrier Reef and other World Heritage sites.

The move would give the Girringun people - whose traditional area extends within the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef - exclusive access to some of Queensland's premier tourist areas, including Hinchinbrook Island.

Odyssey of a lost soul

This is a story of official bungling, denial and cover-up. And the whole sorry saga happened for no good reason. David Marr with Mark Metherell and Mark Todd reveal the facts behind the imprisonment of one very troubled and confused Australian.

An interesting look at the Backpacker-turned-Australian saga. An important read for anyone intersted in the country's asylum/detainment policies.

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NZ picks up Irish tourism award

The luck of the Irish has blessed the tourist industry, following the announcement that New Zealand has won the best adventure destination in the world award.

Night travel spooks commuters

LESS than a quarter of Australians feel safe travelling on public transport after dark, but more than 40 per cent are comfortable jogging or walking at night near their home, an annual report shows.

International travel can be done on the cheap

Spacious accommodations at a luxurious beachfront resort in Jamaica: 450 bucks a night. Lobster and filet mignon dinners washed down with the appropriate wine: 100 bucks a person. Flying first-class anywhere: insert outrageous price.

So you want to travel and you have no dough?

UK visa blitz curbs backpacker travel plans

Young Australians planning a trip to Britain for a working holiday have been hit by the British Government's pre-election immigration blitz.

In a little publicised addendum to changes in the British immigration system Australian under-30s will now be permitted to work full-time for only one year instead of two.

Only those who are deemed to be highly skilled will be allowed to extend their full-time working rights for more than a year, and they will face increased permission to remain.

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Cloud falls over UK online bookings to Oz

The future of online travel bookings by British residents visiting Australia hangs in the balance as a consumer case works its way through the UK courts.

Many British visitors book elements of their trips directly with Australian suppliers, using credit cards via the internet. Some visitors book their whole trips with agents based in Australia.

The practice has been placed in jeopardy by a recent UK High Court ruling that consumers using credit cards to book goods and services from overseas suppliers are not fully protected.

Changes good for tourism

Aussie tourism officials are hopping mad over a new law which could bring backpackers to New Zealand in droves.

Changes to this country's working visa programme mean from July 1 British tourists can stay and work longer in New Zealand.

Restrictions are also being lifted for tourists from the US and some other parts of Europe.

LAN deals to 16 South American destinations

LAN Airlines is offering a series of discounted fares to 16 South American destinations until February 16.

The deals are available for departures up to June 30 on each of the four weekly LAN A340 flights from Sydney to Santiago, Chile, with onward connections to other destinations.

Prices start from $1,841pp (plus taxes) return from Sydney to Santiago, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Bariloche, Ushuaia, Montevideo or Mendoza.

Nepal Warning

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Nepal, after King Gyanendra dismissed the government and seized power earlier this week.

It is advising Australians to defer non-essential travel to the country, and says those who do travel there should exercise extreme caution, such as avoiding rallies and public demonstrations, which could become violent.

Tourism Australia takes international awards

Tourism Australia has been recognised with major awards in the UK and the USA for its international tourism marketing.

In the UK, Tourism Australia won the "Best Tourist Board (UK Office)" award in the Travel Weekly Globe Awards, which are voted by readers and members of the travel industry.

Minding everybody's business

Tourism has an impact on everyone in Vanuatu, either directly or indirectly. As we enter the year of tourism, the industry asks us to think, talk and plan for tourism.

A new breed of backpackers may soon be joining the romantic couples and snorkel-seeking families that have traditionally bulked up the tourist market in Vanuatu. Once pegged as long-haired, sandal wearing, shoestring-budget travellers trying to make their way across vast tracts of land and sea on six dollars a day, the definition of the humble backpacker is evolving into a broad category of travellers seeking to immerse themselves in local cultures.

Last Minute Hotels in Australia

We built a Aussie Last Minute Hotel section a while back - and we are in the process of updating it right now. You can book a hotel in Australia on this booker if it is less than 3 weeks out.

Good deals are to be had. Why? The hotels look at there reservations 3 weeks out and if they are not as full as they would like to be, they offer some inventory at a reduced price. Of course, you can't plan more than 3 weeks in advance though.

Here are the cities we have now:

1. Adelaide Hotels

2. Airlie Beach Hotels

3. Albany Hotels

4. Albury Hotels

5. Alexandra Headland Hotels

6. Alice Springs Hotels

7. Alphington Hotels

8. Armidale Hotels

9. Atherton Hotels

10. Atherton Tablelands Hotels

11. Avoca Beach Hotels

12. Ayers Rock Hotels

13. Ballarat Hotels

14. Ballina Hotels

15. Bargara Hotels

16. Barossa Valley Hotels

17. Barwon Heads Hotels

18. Batemans Bay Hotels

19. Bathurst Hotels

20. Battery Point Hotels

21. Bedarra Island Hotels

22. Beechworth Hotels

23. Bendigo Hotels

24. Berry Hotels

25. Bicheno Hotels

26. Blue Bay Hotels

27. Blue Mountains Hotels

28. Bonnie Doon Hotels

29. Bridport Hotels

30. Brisbane Hotels

31. Broadbeach Hotels

32. Broken Hill Hotels

33. Broome Hotels

34. Broulee Hotels

35. Brunswick Heads Hotels

36. Bullo River Hotels

37. Bunbury Hotels

38. Bundaberg Hotels

39. Burleigh Heads Hotels

40. Burnie Hotels

41. Busselton Hotels

42. Byron Bay Hotels

43. Cairns Hotels

44. Cairns - Northern Beaches Hotels
45. Cairns Outback Hotels

46. Caloundra Hotels

47. Canberra Hotels

48. Cape Jervis Hotels

49. Cape Tribulation Hotels

50. Casuarina Beach Hotels

51. Central Coast Hotels

52. Clear Mountain Hotels

53. Coffs Harbour Hotels

54. Coles Bay Hotels

55. Coober Pedy Hotels

56. Coolangatta Hotels

57. Coolum Hotels

58. Corlette Hotels

59. Cowra Hotels

60. Cradle Mountain Hotels

61. Dampier Hotels

62. Dandenong Hotels

63. Dandenong Ranges Hotels

64. Darwin Hotels

65. Daylesford Hotels

66. Deloraine Hotels

67. Denham Hotels

68. Deniliquin Hotels

69. Derwent Bridge Hotels

70. Devenport Hotels

71. Devonport Hotels

72. Dubbo Hotels

73. Dunk Island Hotels

74. Dunsborough Hotels

75. Echuca Hotels

76. Ettalong Beach Hotels

77. Far North Coast (NSW) Hotels

78. Fern Tree Hotels

79. Forresters Beach Hotels

80. Frankston Hotels

81. Fraser Coast Hotels

82. Fraser Island Hotels

83. Freycinet/East Coast (TAS) Hotels

84. Geelong Hotels

85. Geraldton Hotels

86. Gerringong Hotels

87. Gippsland (VIC) Hotels

88. Gladstone Hotels

89. Glen Innes Hotels

90. Gold Coast Hotels

91. Goondiwindi Hotels

92. Gosford Hotels

93. Grafton Hotels

94. Great Keppel Island Hotels

95. Great Ocean Road (VIC) Hotels

96. Green Island Hotels

97. Halls Gap Hotels

98. Hamilton (AU) Hotels

99. Hawkesbury Hotels

100. Heron Island Hotels

101. Hervey Bay Hotels

102. Heywood Hotels

103. Hobart Hotels

104. Howrah Hotels

105. Hunter Valley Hotels

106. Huon Valley Hotels

107. Innisfail Hotels

108. Kakadu National Park Hotels

109. Kalgoorlie Hotels

110. Kalorama Hotels

111. Kangaroo Island Hotels

112. Karratha Hotels

113. Katherine Hotels

114. Kiama Hotels

115. Kings Canyon Hotels

116. Kingscliff Hotels

117. Kooralbyn Hotels

118. Kununurra Hotels

119. Kuranda Hotels

120. Lake St Clair Hotels

121. Lakes Entrance Hotels

122. Launceston Hotels

123. Lizard Island Hotels

124. Lorne Hotels

125. Mackay Hotels

126. Magnetic Island Hotels

127. Mallacoota Hotels

128. Mandurah Hotels

129. Margaret River Hotels

130. Marysville Hotels

131. Maryvale Hotels

132. Melbourne Hotels

133. Mildura Hotels

134. Mission Beach Hotels

135. Montrose Hotels

136. Mornington Peninsula Hotels

137. Mount Baw Baw Hotels

138. Mount Beauty Hotels

139. Mount Buffalo Hotels

140. Mount Isa Hotels

141. Mount Roland Hotels

142. Mt Buller Hotels

143. Mt Hutt Hotels

144. Mudgee Hotels

145. Mudgeeraba Hotels

146. Mulwala Hotels

147. Murwillumbah Hotels

148. New England Hotels

149. New Town Hotels

150. Newcastle Hotels

151. Newman Hotels

152. Noosa Heads Hotels

153. Norfolk Island Hotels

154. North Coast (NSW) Hotels

155. Northgate Hotels

156. Ocean Grove Hotels

157. Orange (AU) Hotels

158. Orpheus Island Hotels

159. Palm Cove Hotels

160. Parkes Hotels

161. Pemberton Hotels

162. Perth Hotels

163. Phillip Island Hotels

164. Poatina Hotels

165. Pokolbin Hotels

166. Port Arthur Hotels

167. Port Augusta Hotels

168. Port Douglas Hotels

169. Port Hedland Hotels

170. Port Macquarie Hotels

171. Port Stephens Hotels

172. Queenscliff Hotels

173. Queenstown (AU) Hotels

174. Riana Hotels

175. Richmond Hotels

176. Rockhampton Hotels

177. Rolleston Hotels

178. Rottnest Island Hotels

179. Scamander Hotels

180. Scarborough Hotels

181. Seven Mile Beach Hotels

182. Seymour Hotels

183. Sheffield (AU) Hotels

184. Smithton Hotels

185. Snowy Mountains Hotels

186. Somerset Hotels

187. South Burnett Hotels

188. South Coast (NSW) Hotels

189. South Molle Island Hotels

190. Southern Highlands Hotels

191. Southern Tablelands Hotels

192. Springwood Hotels

193. St Albans (AU) Hotels

194. St Helens Hotels

195. Stanley Hotels

196. Stanthorpe Hotels

197. Strahan Hotels

198. Sunshine Coast Hotels

199. Swansea (AU) Hotels

200. Sydney Hotels

201. Tamworth Hotels

202. Taree Hotels

203. Taringa Hotels

204. Terrigal Hotels

205. The Entrance Hotels

206. Thredbo Village Hotels

207. Tom Price Hotels

208. Toowoomba Hotels

209. Townsville Hotels

210. Trinity Beach Hotels

211. Tugun Hotels

212. Tullah Hotels

213. Turners Beach Hotels

214. Tweed Heads Hotels

215. Ulverstone Hotels

216. Valla Hotels

217. Wagga Wagga Hotels

218. Warrnambool Hotels

219. Warwick (AU) Hotels

220. West Wyalong Hotels

221. Whitsundays Hotels

222. Wollongong Hotels

223. Yarra Valley Hotels

224. Yarrawonga Hotels

Tourism fearful of trans-Tasman lure

NOT content with snaring the Bledisloe Cup, New Zealand has devised a plan to lure away our backpackers.

Tourism bosses fear Australia's lucrative backpacking industry, worth $1.3 billion a year, is under threat from changes to New Zealand's working-holiday visa program that gives travellers greater flexibility to work.

From Tourism fearful of trans-Tasman lure

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70% increase in tourist visas to Brazil, from Australia!

The Brazil Trade Bureau in Sydney reports that the number of Australians travelling to and holidaying in Brazil has accumulated to an increase of 70% from 2002 to 2004. The number of tourist visas issued in 2004 has increased 26% in relation to last year.

Push for tourist levy

A LOCAL government consortium wants to slug international visitors to Australia a $200 levy to cover tourism infrastructure costs. Macroplan director Brian Haratsis said the consortium, known as the National Sea Change Taskforce, comprised 70 councils from tourism hotspots in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.

Travel agent told to drop misleading fare slogan

The Flight Centre has been banned from using its "lowest air fares guaranteed" slogan for five years because of complaints from the public.

The travel agency is one of the largest in Australia, with almost 600 outlets, and will be required to run corrective advertising in newspapers and stores across the country.

Scheme to boost tourists awareness of alcohol bans

The Queensland Government has begun a new campaign to advise tourists about alcohol restrictions in remote Indigenous communities.

Newspaper ads, to be followed later by radio commercials, advise travellers to familiarise themselves with the restrictions when planning a fishing or road trip.

Australian tourism prominent in tsunami help

Australia is well represented at two World Tourism Organisation (WTO) meetings on the tsunami disaster recovery being held in Thailand.

The WTO Emergency Task Force meeting yesterday and today's emergency session of the WTO Executive Council were called for WTO member states to review options for assisting recovery of the tourism industry in the countries affected by the disaster.

Whistler takes top spot in Luxury Travel Magazine's first ever GOLD LIST

Readers of Australia's Luxury Travel Magazine have rated Whistler as #1 in the "Best Overseas Ski Resort" category in its first ever GOLD LIST. Luxury Magazine's prestigious GOLD LIST covers 22 major categories from luxury hotels, resorts, spas and islands to airlines, cruise ships, ski resorts, cities and countries, and has been called the most comprehensive survey of Australian travellers ever conducted by an Australian magazine.

BUSINESS TRAVEL FROM AUSTRALIA UP SLIGHTLY SINCE TSUNAMI

Business travel from Australia had increased since the Boxing Day tsunami that devastated communities in South East Asia, a travel company said today.

The corporate division of travel agency company Flight Centre Ltd (ASX:FLT), FCm Travel Solutions, said business travel was up slightly in past weeks because some of its clients were involved in the clean up after the disaster.

Australia tops travel guide poll

Look up, Down Under, you're likely to see an increasing number of tourists heading your way soon.

A travel survey conducted by publisher Lonely Planet has revealed independent travelers rate Australia as the destination they would most like to see next.

Traveller duty free limits raised

The Federal Government has announced an increase in the value of duty free goods travellers can bring into and take out of Australia.

The changes will come into effect today and will allow people to more than double the amount of their duty free allowances.

Yeah!!!!

Longest flights will be to Australia

The longest direct passenger flights in the world will operate to and from Australia when the A380 aircraft comes into service in 2006.

The unveiling of the first A380 in France yesterday had airlines scrambling to lay their claim to aviation history.

Plastic traveller's cheques the future

Australians heading overseas have embraced the plastic traveller's cheque to such a degree that for the first time it outstripped sales of its paper counterpart last year, Travelex chairman and chief executive Lloyd Dorfman said.