Australia News
Backpacker Army Rebuilds Thailand's 'Beach'
To the strains of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, a backpacker army of anybody from Australian computer boffins to Irish plasterers is rebuilding the tsunami-devastated Thai paradise of Koh Phi Phi.
Rumors swirl around the tiny island, made famous by cult Leonardo di Caprio movie ‘The Beach’, that government and big business are conspiring to annex the former tourist playground and turn it into a $1,000-a-night luxury resort. From Backpacker Army Rebuilds Thailand’s ‘Beach’
It’s nice to see that so many people are helping rebuild the area, but their presence has been hotly debated. Thoughts on whether or not …
Date: April 8th, 2005 | No Comments
Backpackers skip over Canberra
An international visitors survey suggests backpackers are giving Canberra a miss.
The survey by Tourism Research Australia shows the number of backpackers to visit Canberra in 2004 declined by 21 per cent, with a further fall of 6 per cent for all overseas visitors. From Backpackers skip over Canberra
To be honest - Canberra has some neat attractions and, being the capital, I’m sure it gets traffic on that merit alone. Also, the favorable location between Sydney and Melbourne no doubt helps. However, for anyone not spending a signifigant amount of time in Australia, why go there? There …
Date: April 2nd, 2005 | No Comments
Qantas and BA simplify Australia-Europe fares
Qantas and British Airways have restructured their economy class airfares for travel between Australia and Europe.
The airlines claim the new structure is more simple and flexible than the current model.
The new structure, to be introduced on April 26, will offer three fare types. From Qantas and BA simplify Australia-Europe fares
Date: March 30th, 2005 | No Comments
Dawn heralds new Australian cruising mark
The 77,000 tonne superliner Dawn Princess will next year become the biggest and most luxurious liner to be based in Australia.
Dawn Princess will offer a summer season of round-trip cruises from Sydney, sailing Australian waters, between October 2006 and March 2007.
The 1950-passenger Dawn Princess will offer almost three times as many beds as the 670-passenger Pacific Princess that she will replace. From Dawn heralds new Australian cruising mark
Date: March 25th, 2005 | No Comments
Have beard, will travel
Bill Bryson has been travelling the world for 30 years, and for half that time he’s been turning his experiences into the stuff of comedy and bestsellers. But is he losing his touch?
What is it about Bill Bryson these days? Is he mellowing with age, getting kinder and more forgiving? Is he - God forbid - getting less funny? From Have beard, will travel
Date: March 22nd, 2005 | No Comments
Virgin Blue big loser on government travel
Virgin Blue has been reportedly shut out of the market for federal government travel business.
Melbourne�s The Age newspaper reported yesterday that government departments were flouting orders to obtain the cheapest fares. From Virgin Blue big loser on government travel
Date: April 7th, 2005 | No Comments
Jobs go as backpackers work for beds
Backpacker hostels in Byron Bay are employing their guests, saying they are much keener to work than unemployed locals.
Only one in four young people in the Far North Coast community are employed,
and the town’s youth worker fears Byron Bay will lose many of them because they have to be paid the legal minimum wage.
“Young people are competing with backpackers who will work for less because they may not have a work visa,” Byron Youth Service director Paul Spooner said. “Young people are missing out on potential jobs because of that competition.” From Jobs go as backpackers work for beds
Oh, …
Date: April 1st, 2005 | No Comments
Cruising 'holds huge potential'
Cruising is not only one of the fastest growing sectors of Australia’s travel industry, but also holds huge potential.
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said that potential was behind the government’s commitment to developing the cruise shipping industry through a review process currently underway.
“The continued development of a sustainable and efficient cruise shipping industry is a priority for the Government,” she said. From Cruising ‘holds huge potential’
Date: March 26th, 2005 | No Comments
Riding the steel camel in Oz
ON BOARD THE GHAN - The sudden jolt that awakens you from your post-lunch slumber is a not-so-gentle reminder that you are riding a “steel camel” through one of the harshest environments in the world — the heart of Australia.
The bump comes courtesy of the slight rail buckling that comes with the intense heat of the day.
The Legendary Ghan railway, linking Adelaide in South Australia with Darwin 2,979 km away at the “top end” of this massive island continent owes its life to the real variety of camels driven by Afghanistan cameleers who first penetrated its harsh “red heart” 150 …
Date: March 22nd, 2005 | No Comments
Australia's Great Train Holidays to the Red Centre
Great Southern Railway today launched �Australia’s Red Centre Holidays’. The campaign is built around travel packages to Alice Springs this winter aboard The Legendary Ghan in Gold Kangaroo Service, for travel from 1 March until 31 July 2005.
Launched with 3 select holiday packages, the ‘�Australia’s Red Centre Train Holidays’ brochure features a diverse range of travel experiences to Alice Springs. From Australia’s Great Train Holidays to the Red Centre
Date: March 21st, 2005 | No Comments