Backpack Network - Official Newsletter
Oceania, March 2004
Volume 1, Edition 1

Dear Travellers,
Warmest wishes for the new year to all our readers. And it is warm if you are heading to the Oceania region right now even with summer just finished and autumn beginning! We are happy to announce that shortly we will have an entire website dedicated to this region - http://www.backpackoceania.com which should be online in the next few months. In the meantime you can prepare to pack your boogie board, surfboard, snorkel and swimming costume as you read this newsletter. We hope you will encourage your travelling friends to also join up and get some useful tips for travels in the new year.

In this edition we detail:
- accomodation reviews
- tales and expeditions
- destination ideas
- language tips
- plan your trip
- food guide: Pacific Islands
- feature: driving tips for outback Australia
- upcoming festivals
- jobs + useful links
- helpful travel websites

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ACCOMODATION REVIEWS
We suggest you look at our booking engine for more ideas - http://reservations.bookhostels.com/backpackglobe.com
Thanks to all readers who have sent in recent reviews particularly our own site editor Jo (Australia) and James Hemetsberger (Australia / Papua New Guinea). Here are the latest hostel reviews from our sites:

Lazy Fish, Marlborough Sounds, South Island (New Zealand)
by Joanne Lane
We went here after a full-on tour with Kiwi Experience in the south island and just needed a few days to relax and enjoy some of the quiet Marlborough Sounds. The Lazy Fish is exactly as it sounds, quiet, peaceful, easy days. One friend was sick so she just lay in a hammock by the beach most days while we explored the island or hung out at the cafè with other travellers. The rooms were all in little cottages and we had our own balcony right on the waters edge. To get there you need to book ahead and they pick you up by boat from Picton.

Loloata Island Resort, Loloata Island, near Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)
by Joanne Lane (site editor)
Loloata Island Resort lies just off the mainland and within half an hour I had left the capital Moresby and was basking in the wonderful marine paradise of the island. They offer a fantastic deal for full board (all meals inclusive) and you get free tea and coffee all day. The other guests were an unusual mix of business people, backpackers relaxing after hiking the Kokoda trail or day trippers from Moresby. You can snorkel, dive, kayak or walk on the island. The activities do cost but it's worth exploring. The water is incredibly clear, blue and remains warm all year round. The friendly owner Richard is very welcoming and even joined us for lunch.

Jais Aben Resort, Madang
by James Hemetsberger
I think the best time we had was in Madang. We stayed in Jais Aben Resort and it's one of the best places around and it was very affordable for that quality! We had a few dives as well and that was just magnificent! I've never seen a more clearer and colourful ocean. We dived to 30 m and we saw amazing fish, coral and marine life it was just incredible. And the best thing was we dived without wetsuits! The water temp was 29 degrees! So it was just paradise! We spent 5 days in Madang.

We welcome all accomodation reviews. To read or add them click here

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TALES AND EXPEDITIONS

Australian Road trip - Australia
This travel tale is a little old now but good for new time readers. Join Jo and Mark as they drive through the Australian outback from Brisbane (Queensland) to Kununurra (Western Australia) in a 4x4 over 2 months. To read the tales click here. There are 4 pages online all accessible from this url.

If you have a recent tale (and pics) that you would like to share please email us at editor@backpackglobe.com

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DESTINATION IDEAS

Oodnadatta, South Australia (Australia)
You need a car to reach this little gem of a town but it's worth it, especially if you want to get off the beaten track a little in outback Australia. Oodnadatta is a town on the Old Ghan Railway that passes from Adelaide to Alice Springs many hours north. It has become renowned for the Oodnadatta roadhouse, the pink Mecca of food, travel information and fuel known fondly by all outback Australia travellers. The owner of the guesthouse, Adam Plate, has plastered Australia's outback roads with helpful pink signs indicating directions, road conditions and so on. The town does not have much to boast besides the roadhouse but you are guaranteed to meet a lot of interesting locals.

Madang, (Papua New Guinea)
Unfortunately few tourists venture across to the island paradise of Papua New Guinea. There is violence and problems but if you stick to travel in daylight hours and always check your route of travel before and don't venture out alone, you should be fairly safe. Madang is a 2 hour plane flight from Port Moresby and is the only way to get there unless you like hiking the impossible terrain. Described as one of the South Pacific's most beautiful harbours, it is a feast of islands, corals, WWII ship wrecks, excellent diving and snorkelling.

Franz Josef Glacier, Franz Josef, South Island (New Zealand)
This is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing every year and the great thing is that not only can you go right up to the base of it, but you can also hike, walk or ski on the glacier. Tours are organised from town for half or full day hikes and they provide all the appropriate gear as well. For skiing you actually need a helicopter drop onto the higher passes.

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LANGUAGE TIPS
The entire Oceania region speaks predominantly English even if people have their own mother tongue. This is true on all Polynesian and Melanesian islands. People on the islands may predominantly speak pidgin English but it can vary from country to country. French is also commonly spoken.

In Australia and New Zealand the only thing that may throw out even native English speakers is the accent and the local slang. In New Zealand the vowel sounds for the "i's" and "e's" can be confusing eg. "fish and chips" can sound like "fush and chups". In Australian rural areas people will speak slower and drawl their vowels with long "a" sounds.

Here are some popular New Zealand slang words which are often interchangeable with Aussie slang:
Bit of a dag - hard case, comedian, joker
Bugger all - not much, very little
Candyfloss - cottoncandy
Cheers - goodbye or thanks or good luck
Choc-a-bloc - full to overflowing
Chook - chicken
Fancy - hanker after someone
Flog - steal, nick
Get off the grass - exclamation of disbelief eg. stop pulling my leg
Good as gold - a job well done
Kiwi - New Zealander
Naff off - get lost

Here are a few popular Australianisms:
G'day mate - hello
Strewth / strike / blast - exclamation or mild oath
Spit the dummy - get very upset at something
Fair Dinkum - true, genuine
Stoked - very pleased
Exy - expensive
Fair Go - a chance or opportunity
Bludger - lazy person
Blue - fight
Never Never - outback Australia
Back of Bourke - a very long way away
Arvo - afternoon

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PLAN YOUR TRIP
The Oceania region is a large area and even if you're just planning to visit Australia it's a huge continent that needs some forward planning for a more effective visit. Here's a few tips to help you plan ahead. Please contact us at info@backpackglobe.com if you have any unanswered questions.

Packing
This region is sub tropical and all regions enjoy very moderate winter temperatures. However winters in New Zealand and some regions of Australia can be very cold so pack accordingly. And there are also areas in the summer that do not get so warm eg. Hobart, Dunedin, Adelaide etc. If you are doing serious beach visits then you will need very little more than a towel, swimming costume, sunscreen and shorts. Have a look at our packing guide for more ideas.

When to Go
There is no bad time to visit Oceania as the climate offers the chance for every activity year round. When the winter months hit you can go skiing in New Zealand or the southern parts of Australia. Or you may wish to avoid the cold and head to the Northern Territory to some of the wildlife parks or do a spot of diving in Papua New Guinea. Just remember months with an "r" like January, March, September, December etc are considered dangerous for stingers in the northern parts of Australia. Months like June with no "r" are considered safe.

Length of Time
A visit of less than a month to Australia will not give you much time to see and appreciate the vastness of this country whereas a month in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji would be reasonably adequate. For a shorter beach holiday a few weeks on the other islands should be sufficient.

Climate
To adequately prepare for packing you should check the weather conditions before you go. Winter in southern parts of Australia can be very cold and in Tasmania even the summer's are not that warm. Try a weather site like Weather Hub for more informaton on seasons and weather predicitions.

Book Tours
Many companies now offer tours that are suitable even for those who prefer to be a little more independent. We have a number of partners we work with that you can research with and book online. Try some of these links:
Hostelworld.com - worldwide tours, including Africa
Info Hub Specialty Travel Guide - specialty tours
City Tours - specific city tours

Cheap Flights
Travelnow.com

Car Rental
Hertz and Budget are some car rental options for Australia and New Zealand.

Accomodation
Options for accomodation throughout New Zealand and Australia are numerous. The backpacking scene is well developed and many consider the OZ/NZ hostels as the industry standard. Bed and breakfasts, vacation homes and quality apartments are also available. If you want to book online we have a booking engine built into every page of our websites. Search through it via city and date to see a selection of guesthouses, camp grounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and hotels available.
Hostelworld.com - hostels, hotels, camping grounds, bed and breakfasts
Travelnow.com - discount hotels
Travelnow.com - vacation homes

Travel Consultancy
If you can not find what you are looking for we do offer a consultancy service to help you choose specific types of establishments. We have long term contacts in this region and can usually find something that caters specifically for your needs. Contact us for more information info@backpackglobe.com

Ask Us
If we have not answered any of your questions about travel to Oceania or you need specific advice feel free to contact us at info@backpackglobe.com


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FOOD GUIDE: PACIFIC ISLANDS
If you're planning a trip to any of the Pacific Islands you can rest assured to find good quality, often home-grown food in copious qualities. Food is always cooked, not eaten raw, and is almost never spiced or heavily peppered.

Traditionally foods consist predominately of fresh fish, root crops, coconuts and leafy vegetables. Taro, breadfruit, sweet potato or banana and fruits, yams, rice and potatoes are common staples. If you've never eaten or even heard of these foods here is a brief description:

Yams - these are similar to sweet potatoes and often confused with them, although they are different plants. They contain more sugar and have a higher moisture content, grow very large at times and there are over 150 species of them. They can be all colours - off-white, yellow, purple or pink, and the skin anywhere from off-white to dark brown. They tend to be fairly mealy.

Every year festivals are held to celebrate the yam harvest throughout the Pacific. Papua New Guinea's Trobiand Islands possibly hold the most famous of these in June-July. Special yam houses are built to store the yams and the entire islands have a bit of a "free-love" period during the festival.

Taro - this is a starchy, potato like vegetable but it has fibrous skin and gray-white (sometimes purple-tinged) flesh. It can be boiled, fried or baked and is eaten in the Polynesian Islands. It is a little nutlike when cooked but easy to digest.

Breadfruit - this is actually native to the Pacific. Breadfruits are quite large, about 8-10 inches in diameter and have a bumpy green skin. The centre tastes rather bland and is cream in colour. It is usually eaten before it ripens and becomes too sweet. It can be baked, grilled, fried or boiled and served sweet or savoury.

Sweet Potato - very similar to the normal potato but usually reddish in colour or light-yellow with a sweeter flavour. Not to be confused with yams above.

Cassava - the skin of the cassava is tough and brown, whereas inside it is crisp and white. There are both sweet and bitter cassava's but the bitter cassava's are poisonous unless cooked. Cassava is used to make Tapioca.

Tapioca - this starchy substance is extracted from the root of the cassava plant. It can be used as a flour or starch as a thickening agent for soups, glazes etc.

Kava - This is used as a natural stimulant, herbal medicine and recreational drug. You chew the roots and spit into a bowl and drink. It is bitter and medicinal and can give you a bit of a buzz. It is used in Tahiti, Polynesisa, Fiji and Micronesia.

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FEATURE: DRIVING TIPS FOR OUTBACK AUSTRALIA
Driving around Australia is without doubt the best way to see the country, meet locals and give you the greatest freedom for your travels. Fortunately buying a car and petrol is less expensive than European and American countries so is affordable. However many foreigners are scared of the outback and its dangers for travellers. While dangers are real and people do run into trouble each year we hope it will not deter you from exploring one of the world's greatest continents. Read on for more tips.

What kind of vehicle?
This depends largely on the kind of travel you want to do and where you want to go. If you plan to stick to major roads then a normal 2WD vehicle will be perfectly suitable. Station wagons are a popular choice among travellers as the tray area in the back is large enough to store tents, sleeping gear and other equipment. You may even be able to sleep in there.

If you want to do any off-road driving a 2WD vehicle can also be adequate, but you may just prefer to get a car with a higher wheel base for best clearance problems. Many of the outback tracks are conditioned dirt roads where speeds of up to 80 km/hour are possible and a conventional robust vehicle could manage. However after rain the road can be closed or conditions radically different. If you're doing serious off-road driving then you absolutely must travel in a 4WD with a high wheel base.

Where to buy it?
Buying a car is a lot less expensive in Australia than in Europe and you can get good quality second hand cars. Visit used car lots or car auctions or check advertisements in newspapers, trading posts, car magazines or even with a sign on the car by the side of the road. Coastal areas are a good place to pick up used cars. However a lot of East coast cars can be affected by rust.

To drive in Australia you need a current national driving license and an international permit which should be easily accessible from your main car controlling agency in your country. To purchase a car in some states it must have a current road worthy certificate. Laws change from state to state but you must get the appropriate documentation to buy and purchase.

What to bring?
Again this depends largely on where you are going. Food, fuel and basics are usually available everywhere however prices get more expensive the more remote you travel. In some places only LPG petrol is sold. It is best to have a spare jerry can for fuel of at least 20 litres in outback areas, some travellers even fit long range fuel tanks under their cars. Try to fill up fuel in less expensive regions to save money.

It is also wise to carry an additional 20 litres drinking water as water is not always available or drinkable along the outback routes. Additional food supplies are also adviseable in case you are delayed anywhere by weather or vehicle malfunction.

Accommodation is available in the major towns but most people bring their own caravan/tent/swag. Many campgrounds can be very basic so do not expect wood stores, gas cookers, flush toilets and drinkable water.

Spare tyres, tools and a basic knowledge of mechanics are essential. A lot of people now travel around Australia with a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) to get their position, although this is of little use if you can't communicate the information to others if you become lost. Always carry a mobile phone as 112 works to contact emergency services even without a signal.

Safety
Aim to phone in with someone every few days with your itinerary. Satellite phone and/or radio are advisable but not essential. Some vehicles have global positioning. Check the conditions prior to your trip and at each town on the way. Each roadhouse/hotel is responsible for keeping up to date with road information. If they have officially closed the road it is for good reason. Driving on closed roads can incur penalties and if you become stranded can cost a minimum of $1000 per tyre to get you out.

When to go?
Winters are the busiest and best times to travel with warm days and cool nights in the outback while summers are uncomfortably hot. Spring and Autumn are generally the best particularly for the Northern Territory, and the northern parts of Queensland and Western Australia.

Driving advice
It is best to check the condition of the roads immediately prior to your trip and continually ask as you drive the route. Publicans in bars and restaurants will usually be up to date and even responsible for road advice. If you come to a creek crossing make sure you check the depth before proceeding. This may mean walking through it first - watch out for crocodiles! If the water is deep some petrol car drivers may consider rigging up a tarpaulin across the front of their car to stop water from splashing into the engine. Likewise they can even disconnect the fan belt prior to the crossing and reconnect it immediately afterwards.

Drivers should slow before entering water, switch to low range if deemed necessary and choose a gear that will take care of the roughest part of the drive. Through the water maintain revolutions and speed, try to avoid changing gears unless necessary. On the soily floodplain let out the pressure in your tyres to prevent getting bogged. You should always let out your tyre pressure on soft ground or sand. Avoid the soft saline edges of lakes and rivers to avoid getting bogged and on corrugations either drive slowly to avoid a painful ride or faster to coast (somewhat) over the corrugations.

If you do become stranded somewhere do not leave your vehicle. The water in the radiator can be drunk and cars are more visible by potential air search parties.

For more information
Most national parks or wildlife offices will have maps and details of road conditions. Here are some helpful phone numbers and websites:
Batchelor NT Parks and Wildlife Commission office - Tel. 08 8972 0282
The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin - Tel. 08 8999 5511

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UPCOMING FESTIVALS
Here are some selected highlights from around Oceania. For more details email us at info@backpackglobe.com

March
Holi Festival, (all over Fiji)
12-14, Backpackes and Adventure Travel Expo (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
13-14, Christchurch National Dragon Boat Festival (Christchurch, New Zealand)
19-April 9, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

April
Ram Naumi (Birth of Lord Rama) festival, (Suva Bay, Fiji)
9-11, Ulladulla's Blessing of the Fleet Festival (Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia)
10-12, Fremantle Buskers Festival (Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia)
17, Flag Day - boat racing and festivities (American Samoa)

May
Early May, Tourism Week - traditional sports and festivities (American
Samoa)
1-22, NZ International LAUGH! festival (Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand)
14-15, PNG Coffee Festival and Trade Fair (Goroka, Papua New Guinea)

June
11-25, Sydney Film Festival (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
11-14,Top Half Folk Festival (Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia)
14-17, National Masks Festival (Rabaul, ENBP)

July
Miss Heiva i Tahiti contest (Tahiti)
Month long, Heiva i Tahiti festival (Tahiti)
14, French Bastille Day (Tahiti)
July 27-August 8, 13th Brisbane International Film Festival, (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Dates tba, Milamala Yam Festival (Alotau, Milne Bay)

August
Miss America Samoa - fashion show (American Samoa)
Polynesian Dive Fest (Samoa)
13-15, Mt Hagen Cultural Show (Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea)
24-29, Gympie National Country Music Muster (Gympie, Queensland, Australia)

For more details go to some of these links:
Worldwide Festivals
Festivals.com
2camels.com

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JOBS AND USEFUL JOB LINKS
Work Links
TNT magazine - advertises jobs mainly in the UK but occasionally on the European mainland - http://www.tntmagazine.com.au
The EduFind ELT Job Centre - for teaching English Abroad - http://www.jobs.edufind.com
Working Abroad - http://www.workingabroad.com/
Teaching English as a Foreign Language - http://www.tefl.com/
Bug Pacific - http://www.bugpacific.com

Bulletin Boards
We regularly list new jobs on our bulletin boards. Check out the link below for details or to add your own bulletin:
Worldwide - http://www.backpackglobe.com/ask_bp_for/tbboard.asp

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HELPFUL TRAVEL WEBSITES
As usual we are pleased to get you to check out our European sites:
BackpackItaly - independent travel in Italy
BackpackFrance - independent travel in France
BackpackSpain - independent travel in Spain
BackpackOceania - coming soon!
BackpackGlobe - independent global travel

Other good sites we've come across recently include:
Visitedplanet.com - features photos of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and other destinations
BugPacific - backpacking guide to the Oceania region
Oz Experience and Kiwi Experience - bus company with tour options for Australia and New Zealand
Australia.com - Australian Tourist Commission's website
PNG Tourism - Official tourism website
NZ Tourism -

If you have found an excellent travel website send us the link - editor@backpackglobe.com

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We hope you found our newsletter interesting and helpful. We plan for the editions to become more regular in 2004. If you would like to make any comments or see something different in the newsletter email us at editor@backpackglobe.com

If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter go to this url:
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For more information on travelling around the globe check out our sites:
http://www.backpackitaly.com
http://www.backpackfrance.com
http://www.backpackspain.com
http://www.backpackglobe.com
http://www.backpackoceania.com - coming soon!

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