How it all started...

Madame Tussand was born in France and opened a museum to celebrate the accomplishments of people who represented prominent amongst leaders in the world. The museum underwent several attempts to destroy the art work, neither through war or natural disasters, yet it survived. The museums eventually began to gain enough popularity and admiration that they opened several more throughout the world. Extending beyond France helped the museum maintain popularity throughout the tourism industry.

Famous Darling Harbour

Special events host parties and exhibit newly sculptured displays. Attractions of young, elderly, artistic, and curious people lead wax sculptures from a non-life form into the image of a living person. The museum offers close observation and explanation of the creations. A tour of the museum costs a fee, and there are plenty of things to see.

A walk-by the Darling Harbour helps you experience the natural setting of the city and other museums. The wax museum is easily accessible and open everyday. The harbour is on the inner part of the main Sydney Harbour. There is a walkway near the harbour where you can eat and drink at the loud restaurants and café.

If you have the time, you might try to catch an exhibit at the museum when they introduce new displays of people, who have just gained popularity. Though she has been in the talk and everyday lives of Australia, the Queen of England is a favourite of most people who visit the museum.

The museum directors will show you behind the scenes constructions of wax sculpture and how the designs are put into displays. The displays will allow you to see the history and list of names that have been exhibited. Memories of war, feudalism, revolutions of art and politics are shown throughout the museum.

How to get there?

The backpacker’s hostels in Sydney have information to direct you to the museum. The Funkhouse will give you bus routes, maps, prices, and walking directions to help you see an amazing exhibit of wax.

Sculptures have extended beyond the popularity of regular media channels, and the wax images of familiar people change the perspective of everyday media.

Opening time is 9:00 AM and the museum closes at 8:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. The Funkhouse in King’s Cross can help you arrange a visit to the museum and let you stay in a place where the parties and nightlife goes all day long.

Sydney is a great city, but there are plenty of things to do outside the central area. Backpacker’s hostels in Sydney can give you information to help you discover places out of the city. The Funkhouse Hostel in King’s Cross has advice for a way to see places outside the city. Usually, it takes a day trip to get out of the city, and you can always feel rested once the day is done. Below is a list of places to see outside the city.

4. Manly: Take the ferry across the harbour to see the city of Manly. It is full of parks, beaches, shops, cafes, and pubs. The beach on the east side gives you a great place to swim and lay out in the sun. The public wharf has kayaks, sailboats, and skiffs for rental. There are plenty of walkways along the harbour and beaches to spend a whole day seeing the city, harbour, and ocean. You can find a ferry along most of the harbour on the Sydney side.

3.Hawkesbury River: The Hawkesbury River is a beautiful waterway that leads from the inner highlands leading to the ocean. The river is also near Brisbane Waters National Park. The train from Sydney will take you to Brooklyn where you can find a small town with restaurants, pubs, and cafes. The marina has water taxis and tour guides who can take you up river. There are also walkways leading to other sites in surrounding parklands.

2. Cronulla and Botany Bay: If you have the time and want to spend the extra money. Botany Bay and Cronulla are two places that will enlighten any visitor to the origins and foundation of colonial governance. It is where the first boats arrive from Europe and the place has a lot of history. There are plenty of pubs and cafes in Cronulla to check out. A train leaves from King’s Cross and goes through the Central station where a direct train to Cronulla leaves regularly.

1. Blue Mountains: The mountains above Sydney offer walking tracks, cafes, pubs, music venues, arts exhibits, and important Aboriginal sites of history. A train will take you from central Sydney to the town of Katoomba. A day trip will let you walk some tracks, see the views overlooking the mountains, and grab a bite to eat. This trip is definitely worth your while. A train from Central station travels directly to Katoomba.

The Funkhouse can give you all of the information you need to see these places. Backpacker’s hostels in Sydney will be able to give you a place to stay and plenty of help to get you to where you need to go. Outside of the city may be a good place to see something different. The Funkhouse backpackers in Sydney will be ready to let you stay and help you out. The staff at reception will be happy to give you brochures, internet addresses, maps, train routes, and other information.

Sydney has lot to offer any day or night of the week. Besides spending time on the beach or in the centre of the city, options to visit Sydney’s top attractions are cheap, close-by, and easy to access. The following list of Sydney’s top 5 attractions will help you discover the most memorable places in Sydney.

5.  Sydney’s Beaches: Australia and Sydney have beautiful beaches that have great places to swim, lay out in the sun, and barbeque. The walkways between towns, i.e. Coogee and Bondi give you great views of awesome coast line with little pocket of secluded beaches. The commerce along the way offers a chance to have some beers or a bite while overlooking the ocean. Maps of the walkways and beaches are available at any backpacker’s hostel.

4. The Rocks: Located beneath the Harbour Bridge, the Rocks is a place where you can see the edge of the harbour along with some of Sydney’s best cafes, pubs, and shops. Australia’s earliest settlements are found here, and there are plenty of options for visits throughout the day and into the night. Walkways in the Rocks area lead to other attractions, and tourists can find more information about the city and Australia here.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens: The gardens offer diverse plant life and a serene atmosphere in the middle of the city. It overlooks that harbour filled with sail boats, and the walkways with comfortable sitting areas provide a relaxing chance to see urban nature. There is a small fee for taking a tour of the garden, and anyone can take a walk for free. The park closes at night, so plan for a day visit.

2.  Sydney Harbour Bridge: This historic bridge that towers above the Sydney Harbour offers the breathtaking views of the city, harbour, outer regions of the city, and the ocean’s horizon. A walk across the bridge in the night time gives you awesome views of the city lights. In the mornings, a sunrise while crossing the bridge is a spectacular way to capture the beauty of the harbour. If you’re willing to spend the money, you can pay for a walking tour that gives you an opportunity to hear from a local guide about the significance of the bridge.

1.  Sydney Opera House: The monumental structure built with a modern design sits on the side of harbour shore. It can easily be seen from any side of the harbour. There are tours of the music venue, and regular shows happen with world famous performances. If you are on a budget, a walk-by the opera house is worth the time.

The Funkhouse offers accommodation for backpackers within walking distance of all the listed attractions. Sydney is a great place to travel, but if you are walking it makes the views and sites much more enjoyable. 

Backpacking hostels in Sydney will have plenty of information to help travellers see these top 5 sites. Come and see the reception staff of the Funkhouse Hostel and they're happy to help you find your way around Sydney!

Most backpackers in search of work will find it can take a while to start work, get paid, and rest peacefully. Every traveller who tries to work in Australia needs permission from the government. When you applied for a working visa, you may have read that you need a tax file number (TFN), but if you prefer to work in a bar or a certain trade, you may need other qualifications. Bar workers, waiters, and waitresses need to earn a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification. This can be done in courses held throughout the Sydney area. Tradesmen and labourers may need to earn certifications depending upon the work. Qualifications are important to find work and maintain work without any hassles. Let the Funkhouse Hostel help you apply for these courses. 

Work opportunities in the Sydney area

Sydney is a huge city with a ton of opportunities for work. There are always jobs available in every part of the city. It is a place that offers employment in every industry. Backpackers may find the most opportunities in Sydney- especially if they have experience in restaurants, clubs, cafes, and pubs. Australians are welcoming towards backpackers who work in hospitality, because they enjoy hearing the foreign accents and stories of other countries.

Beyond hospitality employment, cultural groups and organisations are appreciative of the diversity that backpackers bring to the city and country. Arts, music, festivals, cultural events and charitable organisations are always in need of people to promote events and help them run smoothly. Working in arts and music will you also give you nights, weekends, or weeks at the events for a good time. Sometimes people who work the events will get free tickets to concerts or festivals, free food and drinks, or free camping at festivals. If this type of work interests you- it may be possible to volunteer to get your foot in the door- usually paid work will follow if you are serious.               

'Green' Jobs around Sydney

Sometimes you may feel to city hustle and bustle a little too much- so it may be a good idea to plan an escape from the city for a while. Farming, nature work, or volunteering outside of the city is a good way to escape. There are several types of farms located near Sydney and beyond. Some farms will pay at least minimum wage and others will pay for how much a person picks. Daily transport can be arranged through the hostel or through the farms. The Harvest Trail website can steer you in the right direction (harvesttrail.com.au).

Conservation groups and environmental agencies in the government hire people as volunteers to plant trees, restore natural areas, and protect natural areas. They are usually available for weekends, yet a lot of times they’ll hire people for pay to work on a weekly basis.

How do I prepare for Working in Australia?

Every backpacker in need of work should prepare a resume that includes their name, address, contact information, education, employment experience, and any skills or qualifications that are relevant to the job they are seeking. The resume should be kept on paper and electronic formats.

Employers may ask for cover letter that introduces an applicant’s interests to become employed. There may be formal applications in paper or online formats in addition to a resume and cover letter.

Websites can give you some help to complete a resume, including format, necessary information, and language barriers, for example jobsearch.gov.au has information to help job seekers across the country. Employment agencies are located through Sydney, and they usually have references to jobs or job seeker assistance.

Let Funkhouse Sydney Hostel help find you work

A great way to find work is by word of mouth. The Funkhouse Backpackers Accommodation in Sydney has hundreds of travellers who have been through job searches in Sydney and throughout the world. They will offer information to anyone in search of jobs. If the Backpackers Hostel gives you the name of an employer or a place of a job- usually all you have to do is show up, be ready to work, and be willing to work hard for the pay.

Remember, when backpacking through Sydney, try to find employment in something you enjoy to help you have fun while you’re here.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Many of the ceremonies held on ANZAC day are close to the Funkhouse Backpackers Hostel and it's an opportunity for backpackers in Sydney to learn more about the history of Australia and New Zealand.

Remembrance Services and Parades

There are church ceremonies to remember the lives of the soldiers that participated or got lost in the war. A 'gunfire breakfast' (coffee with rum) is often served after the services.

In Sydney, there is a memorial service and a big parade of current and past military personnel. The parade will start at 9 am and proceed along Pitt Street and Martin Place, through George Street, Bathurst Street, Elizabeth Street and Liverpool Street. The parade ends at the ANZAC War Memorial in Hyde Park South. Around 1 pm, a commemoration service will be held at the memorial, open for public.

Make sure you check the current timetables for any public transport, because there can be some disruption, especially on route of the parade and around the memorial services.

Two Up

A popular game that is usually played after the formal services are over, is 'Two Up'. This gambling game (using two coins) is officially banned in most states, but during ANZAC day the authorities turn a blind eye to it.

Home Recipe for Anzac Biscuits

You can't have an ANZAC day without ANZAC biscuits. During the war, women used to make these biscuits to send to the soldiers. The biscuits are very nutritious and you can keep them for a long time. And they are very easy to make at home:

Recipe (35 biscuits)

-          1 cup rolled oats

-          1 cup plain, sifted, flour

-          1 cup sugar

-          ¾ cup coconut

-          125g (4oz) butter

-          2 tablespoons golden syrup

-          ½ teaspoon bicarbonate (or soda)

-          1 tablespoon boiling water

1) Combine the oats, flour, sugar and coconut. 2) Combine the butter and golden syrup, stir over gentle heat in a saucepan until melted. 3) Mix bicarbonate (or soda) with boiling water in a teacup, add to melted butter mixture, pour into dry ingredients and stir. 4) Place tablespoons of mixture on oven trays (on baking paper) and cook in a slow oven for 15-20 minutes. 5) Once the biscuits cool, they will go harder and you can store them in a container.

What happened on 25 April, 1915?

The First World War was raging in most of Europe, including in the Ottoman empire, the area that we now call Turkey. The Russian troops were particularly fighting against troops from Germany and the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. When forces from France, Great Britain and the British Empire (including Australia and New Zealand) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, they aimed to open up new fronts for the Allied forces and a trade route to Russia.

But they did not succeed. There were many casualties on both sides, mostly because there was a 6 weeks delay before many of the troops arrived from Britain, allowing Ottoman forces time to prepare for a land assault.

Also, the conditions at Gallipoli were very bad for both sides. In summer, the heat was killing and together with the bad sanitation, led to many flies that made eating extremely difficult. Corpses were left in the open and a dysentery epidemic spread through the Allied trenches. Because the bases were poorly situated, it caused supply and shelter problems as well. In Autumn and Winter, it wasn't much better: gales, flooding and frostbite were common.

The last ANZAC forces withdrew from Gallipoli by December 20. The campaign was the first major battle undertaken by the ANZAC and is often considered to mark the birth of National consciousness, an ANZAC spirit that is based on the mateship and cheerful suffering by the forces in both countries. 

Please share with us your experience with ANZAC Day in Sydney. Please feel free to post any stories and/or photos of the events on our Facebook Page.

The trip from Awesome Adventures OZ was a welcome change from the usual backpacker trip. Whilst there was a healthy number of backpackers aboard, there were also a lot of families about, giving the boat a lovely holiday feel.

Unfortunately though your writer forgot to buy some sea sickness tablets, and the choppy waters meant that the drive out to Knuckle Reef was not a pleasant one. The staff on board were very supportive and helpful though, and sea sickness was obviously nothing new to them.

Knuckle Reef Pontoon 

Once we arrived at the Knuckle Reef pontoon though things were alot calmer. There was an array of activities on offer - scuba diving, snorkelling, an underwater boat ride with a see-through glass side. There is also a helicopter ride available, but the weather was unfortunately not good enough for this on our day. And if you want a quick bit of fun there's even a slide into the sea!

I choose a scuba dive and was very pleased with the decision. I did a couple of dives off the Atlantic Clipper in the Whitsundays but they didn't compare to this one. The marine life was plentiful and the visibility was still good despite the rain. The coral was impressive too. The further out you go in the reef the less damaged and more impressive it is, and the lengthy trip in the morning was definitely worth it.

Under the Sea

After the dive we had a lovely buffet lunch, then jumped on the underwater boat. This was impressive also. There was a qualified marine biologist who came along and explained about the Reef history and life. His talk was very interesting, and the coral and fish came out to play as well.

After some more snacks it was time to head home, and with tablets ingested and the seas calmer, it was a much more pleasant journey home. A throughly enjoyable day was had.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places on the world to get a glimpse of the wonderful world under the sea. Want to experience it yourself? See our Reception Staff for more information about the trip Johno made and book yourself   an unforgettable experience!

Fraser (or, to give it it's original name, K'gari) is in southern Queensland, and is the largest sand island in the world. It is usually located by leaving from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bey. I went with Frasers on Rainbow, an experienced company who friends had recommended. They didn't disappoint.

Ready for Take-Off

On the Friday before you go you do a safety briefing. Whilst the videos are both boring and comical in places, it does offer some important advice, and provide an opportunity to meet and socialise with your group. After all, they are your family for next few days.

It was an early get up the next morning (especially for those who had a few drinks the night before), but the bleary eyes quickly give way to excitement at the upcoming trip. The sun was shining which certainly helped. After checking our gear and cars we packed our eskies full of bags and bags of goon. We met our tour guide Geoff, a Californian/Australian hybrid who looks like he probably has never spent a day away from the beach in his life. He tells me he has; I remain unconvinced. Geoff gave us a quick few words of wisdom and we were on our way, a 4 car convoy, Geoff driving the lead.

Human Pyramids in Paradise

It's no more than a 10 minute drive to the barge, where the boat commander was an expert in rounding up 4x4's. He may have been a shepherd in a past life. The boat ride is about another 10 minutes, and then you are driving along the Fraser beach, the 4x4's dodgy speaker system blasting out someone's Ipod. After a quick toilet stop at a campsite it was on to Lake MacKenzie, which looks like paradise on a sunny day - white sand and turquoise water. Much fun is there to be had, be it swimming, playing frisbee, building human pyramids...

...or even sunbathing. Make sure you've got suncream on though - this white boy didn't put his on, and was still peeling days after.

Setting up Camp

After a chaotic lunch, which would have made a fascinating psychological study in group dynamics, we were on to a second lake, Lake Birrabean. We were told by Geoff that doing 2 lakes in a day is good work, but as Fraser has well over 100 you'd need a good few trips to get close to seeing a good sample. The drive to Birrabean was our first go at off road 4x4ing, and yours truly got behind the wheel. Whilst the drive is not easy, if you have paid attention in your briefing and to your guide you should have no problem. Birrabean wasn't as pretty as Mackenzie, in fact as you enter first bit of the water looks like it could be where they produce goon, such is the yellowy colour. Still is a fun swim though, and soon enough we were back in the cars on the way to set up camp.

We camped at Wongai right by the beach, as with the amount of goon on board we didn't want to bother any trying to get some sleep. Putting up the tents was an interesting study in European efficiency - the German tents all up in 5 minutes, whilst the English were still discussing what pole went where. But we got them all up and then moved on to dinner, which, after a quick discussion beforehand, was a lot better organised than lunch. Our group made a lovely stir fly, and with washing up done we were free to goon the night away. Which we did. An excessive amount. Fortunately someone woke me as I had passed out on under the main cover, or I may have woken with dingo and mozzie bite marks all other me.

Dodging Dingo's

The group looked decidedly less fresh faced the following morning. Geoff had given us three options at start of trip - 1) party group, 2) adventure group, or 3) both. We choose both, but from the looks on a few people's faces they may have wanted to reconsider. Still breakfast was served and it was onwards and upwards. We also saw our first dingos in the morning, and we knew how to keep them away – DO THE DINGO SAFETY POSE! :

Floating in the River

Fraser is about 75 miles long so is a far size, and that morning we drove a good way along the beach northbound to Eli Creek. The glorious weather of the day before had given way to rain unfortunately, but as Geoff reminded up, rain was the life blood of this unique island. We came to Eli Creek, and Geoff announced he had only one rule on his trips - every one must get in Eli. After we wondered down the ramp to the Creek, everyone jumped in, and there were various levels of yelps/screams owing to the cold water. Once we moved a bit further down though it was easy to see why Geoff was a fan - Eli is deep enough that you can just lay back, float and let it carry you to the end. I did it 3 times, such was the peacefulness of floating down there.

We then drove to the Champagne Pools, which is about as close to getting in the sea as you can get without actually being in it. (Fraser's sea is very dangerous due to sharks, jellyfish and the worse rip tides in oz). These 2 pools have formed next to a rock formation that blocks (some) of the seawater, and were lovely despite the rain, although would probably have been paradise without.

The History of K'gari 

Then we went for lunch and after Geoff told us the story of K'gari. He went into some detail and it was most enjoyable listening to it. Geoff doesn't like calling K'gari Fraser Island, and it became apparant why when he told us about Eliza Fraser, not a very nice lady.

Next up we were on to Lake Allom, and the drive there was the toughest on the island, straight up off road 4x4ing. Everyone arrived safely though and we were at Allom, which Geoff explained was the healing lake. It's known as the healing lake because people who spend time there tend to be healthy, and this is likely due to the fact that there are plenty of amazing plants around and there nutrients and vitamins seep into the lake. He said it had great value to the Aboriginals as a mystical place, and it was easy to see why.

A dark mysterious lake presented itself, but seemed so still and out of place in the middle of a rainforest. The water was beautiful, and it was a funny sight to look under the water and see your body look orange. I was last out and noticed everyone waiting up by the water's edge, and wondered over.

Geoff said once we were out and the lake got calm we would probably see turtles. It was staggering watching a loud group of 30 all go quiet and at peace in the rain, and remains a very memorable part of the trip for me. Soon enough turtles heads started popping up and Geoff managed to coax many other with some flatbread in his hand. Once he caught them, we managed to get pictures with the turtles. Those who stayed in the car were all disappointed they had missed the turtles.

One lesson to take from Fraser - in the words of Aerosmith 'DON'T MISS A THING!' The island is too beautiful and fun to worry about weather. The way my group bonded over toughing it out through rain (that apparently was a mini-cyclone) was brilliant.

Shipwrecked and Soaking Wet

Last part of the day we got to the Maheno shipwreck on the beach. The severely rusted ship was still an awe inspiring site, although due to the danger of collapse and sharp edges you cannot walk on it. We drove back in the rain/dark which was not easy. Back at camp we had a decision to make - stay in a nice warm hostel or stay in the potentially soaked tents. There was much debate, but eventually the 'it's part of the experience' argument won, and we were staying. Goon was the only thing that was going to make this fun, and so we piled in. We also had 32 people cooking in a very tight space which was interesting, part the meals still tasted fabulous. Goon carried on till late when most people took the decision to sleep in the cars. Apparently my car didn't appreciate snoring...

We woke early again to find a newly formed lake at our own campground! We packed up quickly and moved to a drier spot for breakfast. Everyone was in agreement that we made the right move in staying at the camp - everyone pulled together and battled through the weather to have a great time, and a real bond was formed.

Last up: Lake Wabby

This involved a 40 minute walk to get to. Even with the hangovers it wasn't the most challenging of walks, and you again went from being in a forest to suddenly looking like you were in the desert as you reached a sand blow. You walk along this till you come to the lake at the bottom of the hill. They're various ways into the lake, but the funniest one which lots of us did was rolling in - the challenge being trying to stand up when you hit water. I was so dizzy standing up wasn't even in consideration.

To the Mainland

And that, unfortunately, was that - we drove back to the barge and headed to the mainland to return the cars and unload. We were all sad it had come to an end, but the group met for a meal that night and went to the local club and carried on the party. And due to nearby floods no-one was able to leave the next day and we had another day spent together, which actually turned out as a blessing as we had another great day.

I will always hold the fondest memories of Fraser, and I have to say it was down to the great group I was fortunate to end up in, and the top class guide we had in Geoff, whose advice, experience and energy were invaluable.  If you have half a good time as I had, it will be an experience up there with anything you have done. Don't miss out on K'gari, you'd be a fool too!

Got Excited about Fraser Island? See our Reception Staff for more information about this amazing trip and book yourself this unforgettable experience on the biggest sand island in the world. 

Here are some of the events to watch out for, so start planning your Sydney getaway and come visit us.

• Entertainment
  • The Lion Kingis back!
    • Yes, this successful musical that entertained 1.35 million people in Sydney for two years closed its curtain on the Sydney stage in 2005.  But it’s set to return in December 2013 to run for about eight months.  It will reopen its curtain at the Capitol Theatre for a new generation of young families to enjoy. 
    • Thomas Schumacher, Disney's president of theatrical productions, said that since the show’s opening in America in 1997, there has been a continued demand for it worldwide.  There have been 19 productions of the musical around the world, seen by 63 million people and grossed more than $4.7 billion.
• Exhibits
  • Art Gallery of NSW’s PicassoShow brings Paris to Sydney.
    • This offers a great opportunity for art lovers of the Renaissance to see these Italian paintings up close and personal.  The gallery anticipated the influx of people who would come and see these masterpieces, that’s why they offer timed tickets for this blockbuster exhibition.
    • It features 150 important works, including paintings, sculptures and drawings created by Pablo Picasso, from the Picasso Museum in Paris.
    • Exhibit ends on March 25.
  • Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum celebrates Pottermania
    • It exhibits artefacts from the worldwide sensation, Harry Potter. Showcasing the flying car, Hogwarts Express, costumes, props, models and other memorabilia from the film franchise, this exhibition takes you to the magical world of the most-loved young wizard.
    • The show is setting the museum’s record for exhibition attendance and daily average, way before its closing date.  With the museum’s timed-entry ticketing, visitors don’t have to worry about long waiting queues.
    • Exhibit ends on March 18.
  • The Museum of Contemporary Art reopens with Recorders
    • After nine months of construction works, the Museum of Contemporary Art reopens with a series of artistic performances and draws crowds to its free interactive exhibition Recorders. 
    • Shows include:
      • “Celestial Radio” – UK artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich sail over the seas on the Celeste, a sailboat converted to a radio studio, decorated with 60,000 little mirrors, into Sydney harbour.
      • “Val, the Invisible” – highlights the encounter of art and daily habits
      • “Preceded by a tour of the show by artist Stuart” – artist and visitors go naked to explore the topics of fear, embarrassment, and the border between artist and audience
      • “The Experts Project” – aims to reveal the ability to perceive and analyse artistically in each visitor
      • “Physician” – an artist fights against the anxiety and stress caused by museum visits through individualised consultations, on a poetic and humoristic tone
      • “i_Land X-isle” – ice blocks hanged in the air through a Tongan rope technique, melting above the visitors outside the museum, to evoke the water drop torture on the Polynesian islands
      • “Dachshund U.N.” – an amphitheatre on four levels
• Wildlife
  • Breakfast with koalas
    • Visitors can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience as they share a hot buffet breakfast with koalas at Wild Life Sydney in Darling Harbour.
      • An exclusive access to the koalas’ rooftop bush garden and a warm meal before opening hours   
  • Tree kangaroos at Taronga Zoo
    • Yes, there are kangaroos that live in trees and you will see them live at Taronga Zoo.
      • Tree kangaroos can barely hop when they are on the ground, but they can jump 9 metres from branch to branch and drop 18 metres to the ground without hurting themselves.  
• Architecture
  • Sydney Opera House lights up at night
    • $520,000 worth of light posts will help tourists get better photographs of the Sydney Opera House at night.
      • The new lighting reinforces the architectural form and improves the look of this Australian icon.

We have so many exciting events and sites waiting for you to experience.  Come and visit our city to enjoy.   If you’re worried about your stay, we offer budget accommodation in Sydney.  Contact us today for reservations.

Air Asia X starts flying to Sydney in April 

After receiving the green light from the Malaysian Government, the budget airline Air Asia X will finally launch its first flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney on April 2.  This new route is on top of the airline’s existing flights to Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth.  To cater to this new demand, Air Asia X will operate two-class Airbus 330-300s.

Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) CEO John Lee welcomes this significant inbound tourism boost for Sydney.  “These daily flights will eventually bring an additional 55,000 visitors to New South Wales every year, contributing almost AUD$140 million to the state’s economy and creating business and employment opportunities statewide,” Lee said.  “In addition, AirAsia X connects to 80 destinations in 20 countries, giving Australia yet more access to tourists from emerging markets in Asia, as well as providing travel options for Australians.”

Virgin Australia to launch daily Sydney-Darwin flights in April

For our friends in Darwin, good news is: starting April 2 (yes, the same day as Air Asia X’s launching of their Kuala Lumpur-Sydney flight), Virgin Australia will begin daily flights between Sydney and Darwin, which will run on a Boeing 737.  Jim Parashos, director of Airline & Airport Services for Northern Territory Airports, said, “The Virgin Australia schedule is very much focused on domestic traffic, as well as US and NZ connections.”

Virgin Australia has recently partnered with Singapore Airlines, boosting their network for domestic and international routes.  More code sharing of flights mean better connections and more gateways into our city.  “Singapore Airlines has commenced code sharing on Australian domestic flights operated by Virgin Australia, allowing a single booking to be made for flights feeding into or on from SQ's international services via Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney,” Australian Business Traveller reported.

Tiger Airways plans to add more domestic flights in April

The budget carrier Tiger Airways announced its plans to fly additional services between Melbourne and Sydney starting April, using their A320 air crafts.  These extra flights will push up the domestic network of Tiger, which means more local tourists coming our way.  This also gives international tourists entering Australia through Melbourne more chances of visiting Sydney.

Scoot to fly the skies in June 

This June, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary Scoot will fly between Gold Coast and Singapore five times a week and plan to start daily flights between Sydney and Singapore, via their fleet of B777-200 aircraft.  The Australian reported, “Scoot chief Campbell Wilson has flagged other destinations in Australia and another Singapore Airlines subsidiary, SilkAir, is launching services to Darwin next month.”

In Herald Sun, Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said, “Singapore is one of our biggest and fastest growing inbound markets, and Scoot's low cost model will undoubtedly give us greater exposure to new customers within the wider South East Asia region, which continues to demonstrate strong growth and a big appetite for travel to Australia.”

Qantas airlines increase airfares          

With more competition in the field, air travellers now have more options.  The influx of budget airlines may provide a stiff rival for premium airlines, like Qantas, but the competition doesn’t stop Qantas from raising their fares.

Qantas has increased fares on all domestic and international flights in response to higher fuel costs and carbon pricing scheme.  Its international fares will increase as much as $60 and domestic fares $3-$6.  Jetstar will increase domestic fares by $10 in July.

 It looks like the flying kangaroo is on a critical position, especially with the much lower airfare rates of their foreign competition, such as Emirates, Etihad and China Southern Airlines.  With Virgin Australia, Delta Airlines, and other US-routed airlines slashing down their prices as well, Qantas is faced with a tough game to play this year. 

If all these new and additional inbound flights are pushing through this year, plus the very competitive airline fares luring tourists in, then we expect a great boost in our number of visitors. 

For those who are looking for a cheap accommodation in Sydney and other tour packages, you may contact us today for enquiries and reservations.

Both The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC News feature backpackers who are trapped in Sydney and can’t travel to other parts of Australia because of the high costs.  Most of them are forced to work immediately to pay for their sleeping quarters and personal consumption.  Instead of spending the first few weeks or months visiting the city’s beautiful sites, immersing in the local culture, and familiarising with the community, Sydney backpackers have to start job hunting immediately to keep their budget in order.  The news stories call for some action to drive our tourism industry back on track.  We heed this call by providing budget accommodation to backpackers in Sydney.  We give our guests the opportunity to save on living costs and tours.  In our hostel, we have a full-time travel operator who can help you with a budget travel suited to any backpacker’s taste.  We see to it that you get the best of Sydney and other out-of-city tours without scrimping your budget. 

Visitors to Sydney

If you’re wondering why we strive to be the hostel of your choice, it’s because we support the Australian Government’s commitment to promote tourism.  Our country has so much to offer and we aim to keep our millions of visitors satisfied during their stay with us.  In the September 2011 quarterly report by the Tourism Research Australia (TRA), statistics show the share of domestic and international visitors to Sydney:

• Domestic market
  • State of origin
    • Intrastate – 51.2% (Regional NSW – 42.7%, Sydney – 8.5%)
    • Victoria – 18.8%
    • Queensland – 14.9%
    • ACT – 6.1%
    • Other interstate – 8.9%
• International market
  • Country of origin
    • Mainland China & HK – 13.9% (China – 10.8%, Hong Kong – 3.1%)
    • New Zealand – 12.8%
    • United Kingdom – 12.4%
    • USA – 10.0%
    • Korea – 5.7%
    • Japan – 5.3%
    • Germany – 3.7%
    • Singapore – 3.4%
    • Canada – 2.8%
    • India – 2.5%
    • France – 2.1%
    • Indonesia – 1.9%
    • Scandinavia – 1.9%
    • Taiwan – 1.7%
    • Malaysia – 1.7%
    • Thailand – 1.4%
    • Italy – 1.4%
    • Ireland – 1.1%
    • Middle East and North Africa – 1.1%
    • Switzerland – 1.0%
    • Netherlands – 1.0%
    • Other Asia – 2.3%
    • Other Europe – 2.7%
    • Other countries – 6.1%

Tourism 2020 Goals

To keep these numbers growing, maximise emerging opportunities in the tourism industry, and keep Australia’s competitive edge in today’s dynamic global environment, TRA released its Tourism 2020 National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.  Below is a summary of this strategy’s key points.

-          Integrates the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy’s reform agenda with the growth aspirations of the 2020 Tourism Industry Potential

-          Refocusses and sharpens the emphasis on six identified areas that must be addressed to allow the tourism industry to achieve its maximum potential

• Grow demand from Asia, while maintaining investment of a balanced market portfolio
  • to convert new business in growing markets, particularly China and India
  • Build competitive digital capability
    • to promote tourism businesses and win new business online
  • Encourage investment and implement the regulatory reform agenda
    • to encourage new investment in tourism assets
  • Ensure tourism transport environment supports growth
    • to grow transport capacity to allow an increasing number of visitors to travel to and within Australia
  • Increase supply of labour, skills and Indigenous participation
    • to address the significant labour and skills shortages that exist in particular areas of Australia
  • Build industry resilience, productivity and quality
    • to encourage the uptake of valuable support programs such as T-QUAL grants, the T-QUAL accreditation program, and Enterprise Connect for improved business capability

We value your interest in our city, that’s why we will do our best to make your stay with us as worthwhile and enjoyable as possible.   Contact us today and check out our funky, affordable rooms.