La Vie en Roam

Trading Wheels for Water in Cairns

smarkas — Tue, 4 Aug 2009 15:56:00 GMT

We made it! After ten days of a whirlwind roadtrip up the east coast, Geoff’s Van-Tastic Adventures promotional tour has reached its final destination – Cairns!

We dropped Geoff off at the Traveller’s Auto Barn so he could get all shiny and new for the big launch party at Calypso Backpackers and for his introduction to Adam and Hamish, the Van-Tastic Queensland winners. In only a few short days, he will be off again with the Kiwi boys on their Queensland adventures!

When we arrived at Calypso, owner Brett Claxton was ready and waiting with Adam and Hamish, eager to show us all around Cairns for the night. The guys were just as their submission video suggested – quirky, entertaining, and charming. Having just stepped off a plane from Athens, they already seemed ready for everything Oz was about to throw at them. Brett made sure that we experienced all that Cairns nightlife had to offer from the oceanfront lounge to the casino and live salsa bar to the backpackers club – needless to say, it was quite a welcome and a warm-up for the launch party the following night.

The big Van-Tastic launch party and Queensland roadtrip send-off was held at Zanzibar Bar & Grille at Calypso Backpackers. Adam and Hamish debuted their orange Van-Tastic T-shirts, and as usual, Geoff sat outside, inviting passers-by to join in the party. Hot appetizers were passed and cold drinks were poured as the Cairns tourism industry kicked off the night. It seemed that every adventure activity in the area (and there are lots!) was represented and was keen to meet the guys. Lucky them!

Backpackers started pouring into Zanzibar as the night wore on and soon it seemed the room was glowing in orange and buzzing about the Van-Tastic roadtrip. A DJ was on hand to entertain the guests and only stopped so that we could premiere Adam and Hamish’s Van-Tastic Adventures application video, which was met with rave reviews. The boys were then officially “crowned” Van-Tastic Queensland winners as Katrina from World Nomads introduced them to the crowd and presented them with leis. Not that you could miss them before!

The evening was a great success as the Kiwi guys got their first tour of Geoff and a glimpse of what the next six weeks had in store for them. They seemed at home with Geoff right away! So, we handed over the keys, thus ending the promotional roadtrip and starting the Van-Tastic Queensland Adventure!

We were up early the next morning for our excursion out to the Great Barrier Reef with Pro Dive Cairns. Trading wheels for water, we hopped onto the boat for the hour and a half long journey off the coast to the reef. A quick bout of seasickness could still not curb our excitement as we prepared to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. We geared up and leapt off of the back of the boat to check out the famed underwater playground we’d heard so much about. Schools of vibrant fish, towers upon towers of coral, and even a few sea turtles surrounded us as we explored the reef. It was quite easy to see that the Great Barrier Reef really does possess a magical quality. While the gray skies threatened above, a whole other world below was lit up with life…a truly amazing afternoon and a great way to end our journey!

Now, let the Van-Tastic Adventures begin! Watch out for stories, photos and videos from Adam and Hamish as the Van-Tastic Queensland Adventure takes off! These two crazy travellers are off and running on August 3^rd! Can’t wait to see what they get up to!

Think you’ve got what it takes? There are still five legs of the Van-Tastic Adventures up for grabs! For more information and to apply, check out http://vantastic.worldnomads.com.

See ya on the road!

Anchor's Away in Airlie Beach

smarkas — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:32:00 GMT

When we pulled up to Beaches Backpackers, we knew that we were in the center of the action in Airlie Beach. The chunky tables that lined the café and bar of Beaches were teeming with sun-kissed travellers, fresh off of their sailing trips to the Whitsundays.

As we joined them for dinner, we heard snippets of their aquatic adventures, as they chatted about their snorkelling trips, the sandy white beaches and the beauty of the Whitsundays. We enjoyed the live music and a tasty meal alongside our new friends at Beaches, where we were throwing our Van-Tastic Adventures launch party the next night.

We spent the next day exploring the Airlie Beach lagoon, a trendy little hangout along the bay with picturesque views of the sail boats. The boho crowd seemed to be relaxing around the lagoon, soaking up the sun and being entertained by an acoustic guitar or two.

We headed in to prepare for the launch party and the new wave of travellers hopping off the yachts. We met up with Gabby from Explore Whitsundays to see what these sailing tours had to offer. She explained that there was a tour for everyone, ranging from backpackers trips to luxury cruises, each varying in length and activities. The sailing tours are all-inclusive and boast snorkelling trips by day and stargazing by night, at some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Now we understood what all of the buzz was about last night - where do we sign up?

The visions of the stunning islands were still dancing in our heads as the hordes of boaters began to pour into Beaches Backpackers for a nice cold brew and a bite after their day on the water. We made our rounds to play some Aussie trivia with the crowds and answers got creative as drink vouchers were up for grabs. Geoff, our karmic campervan, also was open for tours, hanging out in front of the bar, loving all the attention. Quite a few travellers seemed keen on taking him on their own roadtrip after a peek inside! It was a great night filled with live music, T-shirt giveaways, and a dose of Van-Tastic fun with our new friends!

Onwards and upwards...the Van-Tastic Queensland guys from New Zealand will be arriving in Cairns soon! We can't wait to meet them!

The Australia Zoo: The Irwin Initiatives Live On

smarkas — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:49:00 GMT

From Brisbane, we headed over to THE Australia Zoo. We’ve been to a lot of zoos in our days, but the Australia Zoo is the brain child of Aussie icon, Steve Irwin. We grew up with Steve Irwin’s shows, watching while he conjured up ideas of adventure and Australia in our young imaginations. Ten years later, we were on our way to see where his magic began…

When we arrived at the zoo, the “Wildlife Warriors” show was about to begin in the Crocoseum. So of course we headed over to see the show and kick off our morning with a croc feeding. After a parade of elephants, a flutter of exotic birds, and a bit of snake wrangling, the crocs took center stage. Now this is what we remembered from childhood TV! As Stormin’ Norman entered the Crocoseum you could feel the adrenaline running through the crowd as the trainers captivated the audience by their daring brushes with the menacing croc.

After our croc encounter, we strolled the zoo to spend some time with the less daunting of the animal kingdom. We visited camels, dingoes, tortoises and skinks, but perhaps out most impressive sighting was Bindi Irwin herself, just wandering around the zoo with her friends too.

The day before was her 11^th birthday, and she invited all kids to visit the zoo for free, hosted a Masquerade party, and even featured Jessica Mauboy on stage in the Crocoseum. Seems like a pretty good party! Clearly, today she was just unwinding with her animal friends after all the excitement.

To conclude our tour of the Australia Zoo, we met up with Michael in the kangaroo pen to feed a few of the friendly ‘roos and learn a bit more about how the Steve Irwin legacy lives on. Steve’s focus on conservation of wildlife and education of the public is still the priority of the Australia Zoo as evidenced by the many projects and programs they support. We visited the memorial to Steve Irwin on our way out, and it was easy to see that he is still the most prominent figure and influence at the zoo. The Crocodile Hunter lives on in the hearts of many, both man and beast.

Well, we're off again, tomorrow to Airlie Beach to check out the sailing scene and host a Van-Tastic Adventures launch party at Beaches Backpackers! See ya there!

BUNKin' in Brisbane

smarkas — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:46:00 GMT

Well, we think it is safe to say, that after spending eight months in hostels in southeast Asia, the backpackers in Australia really take things to a different level.

We bounced into BUNK Backpackers this afternoon to meet with Ben and check out the digs. Ben gave us the grand tour of the hostel that feels more like a cool hotel hangout. As we chatted in the back deck bar, Birdee's, we learned more about the history of BUNK.

The decor was retro and funky, with birdcages of Barbies intertwined with the light fixtures, thanks to the remnants of the former art house that filled the space. A pool with a performance deck runs along the side of the seating area and gazebos are nestled into each corner of the bar.

BUNK is also working to create a football league, hosting matches each weekend for the risiding backpackers and awarding the winning team with a bar tab at Birdee's. Even if you don't win, $3 steak nights quickly cure the sting of defeat!

Lest we forget about the sleeping arrangements, BUNK has managed to make the communal eight person dorm room feel like a four person room by adding a wall in the middle. And if privacy is what you're craving, just check into the penthouse loft suite...like we said, not your typical hostel.

So, we're thinking of moving in, or at least coming back for a long stay and a steak!

But, we're off to the Australia Zoo tomorrow - we heard it was Bindi's birthday...think we'll have a celebrity sighting?

Ay, Currumbin!

smarkas — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:45:00 GMT

After a beautiful morning drive up the Gold Coast, we really didn't think our day could get much better. But as we pulled up the the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, located only a few short blocks from the beaches, we knew that we were in for a "wild" experience.

As we walked in, through the lorikeet feeding arena, there were no traces of a typical zoo. Surrounded by lush greenery and shaded paths, we set out on our first Australian animal encounter. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a not for profit organization that only houses wildlife native to Australia - we couldn't wait to see the koalas!

As part of their public education program, the sanctuary hosts aboriginal history chats, which we stopped by first. We sat in with a local school group to learn about aboriginal music, tools and way of life - all topped off with a digiridoo performance!

Next, we headed over to...the koalas! We got up close and personal with the sleepy, but cuddly creatures that we have been so keen to hold. As Americans, it was a true Aussie experience, one that ended in Kirsten with her hands filled with a special "gift" from the koala she had been cuddling.

While walking through the park with Ken and getting the insider's look at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, we checked out the kangaroos, crocs, reptiles and bird aviary. However, the most exciting animal of all was just around the corner...the Flying Fox!

Currumbin had just added The Green Challenge, a high ropes adventure course winding through the park. We suited up, climbed up and maneuvered our way across rope bridges, swinging towers, and shaky ladders. The Green Challenge ends up at the giant zipline The Flying Fox that propels you over the croc and kangaroo exhibits. Luckily, our harnesses did their jobs and we did not end up hanging out in the croc pen too! What a rush!

After we reluctantly came down from the ropes course, we jumped back in Geoff to get to Brisbane for the night. Can't wait to see if the rumors are true about BUNK!

The Gold Coast: An Interview with Jo-Anne Wilkie

smarkas — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:18:00 GMT

As we drove along Queensland’s famous Gold Coast on the Van-Tastic promotional roadtrip, windows down, warm sea air blowing through our hair, sun brightly shining, it was easy to see what attracts the masses to the area. The sky was cloudless, the waves were pumping and the surfers were flocking to the golden sands for their fix.

However, we wanted to get an insider’s perspective on the Gold Coast, and find out if it was really too good to be true. We caught up with Jo-Anne Wilkie, Treasurer of Backpacking Queensland, owner of Aquarius Backpackers, and Gold Coast resident to have a bit of a chat about the area and its attractions.

So, Jo-Anne, what is the allure of the Gold Coast?

Many travellers think they know what to expect on Australia’s Gold Coast; the brilliant beaches, the Surfers Paradise nightlife, dozens of theme parks and the best looking talent in the country. But there’s much more to explore than the traditional travel guides are willing to admit.

Sure our city sits on a 70 kilometre stretch of fine sandy gold beaches washed by the South Pacific Ocean. But what about the subtropical rainforest, real Australian wildlife, mountain climbs, tree-top walks, island getaways and all the adventure activities you can cram into such a naturally spectacular place.

The Gold Coast really seems like a place where you could spend a lot of time. What are the best places to see or things to do along the Gold Coast for backpackers?

There are more attractions on the Gold Coast than any other city in the southern hemisphere. If you want anything in the way of theme parks to indigenous kayak tours, wreck diving to bungee jumping, swimming with the sharks to cuddling koalas; you can do it on the Gold Coast - and it is all within 40 minutes drive.

So after an action-packed day at the Gold Coast, what’s the best way to unwind at night?

After all that daytime adventure, you might just want to relax in you room listening to the waves wash upon the shore. No chance! You must experience the Gold Coast wildlife as the city’s bars, clubs, restaurants and attractions draw locals and visitors out into the sparkling night. Big Night Out operates every Wednesday and Saturday night - just buy a ticket from the reception of Aquarius Backpackers - and it’s sure to unleash the party animal in you. Its big-city nightlife 365 nights a year, but if you’re craving something different, there is always a touring international act, football game or music festival happening, so you can join the carnival when events arrive in town. The possibilities are endless, really!

Sounds like an awesome time! Do you have any off-the-beaten track roadtrip ideas for travellers?

If you can peel yourself off the beach, The Balunjali Interpretative Cultural Kayaking Tour has a fantastic new experience on the Gold Coast. Explore, encounter and connect with the land and the sea – you can see the world through Aboriginal eyes whilst immersed in the natural beauty of the Gold Coast's waterways and wildlife. You journey by kayak across the tranquil blue waters encountering wildlife: dolphins, stingrays, reptiles, wallabies, native birds and colourful sub-tropical fish. Participate with your guide in the journey from past to present and leave with a deeper understanding of the Aboriginal's role as caretakers of the land. It’s a great way to mix in a bit of culture with your adventure.

Well, we’re sold. Looks like the Gold Coast really does live up to its hype. Time to book our next adventure to the Gold Coast!

Byron Bay: Backpacker's Bohemia

smarkas — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:08:00 GMT

When we arrived in Byron Bay, the BBQ was just heating up and the travellers were milling about on the courtyard deck of Nomads Byron Bay Backpackers chatting. The sausages were put out, the goon started flowing and the first Van-Tastic Adventures launch party was underway!

Throughout the night, clad in our retro orange Van-Tastic T-shirts, we mingled with the nomadic crowd, as they were quite keen to learn how to land the ultimate Aussie roadtrip and pocket $10,000. We tested the knowledge of the crowd with Aussie trivia and soon the spots of sunshine orange in the party started growing as winners donned their new Van-Tastic gear (a welcome addition to any backpackers wardrobe).

Geoff was also open for tours as he proudly sat perched outside of Nomads and Global Gossip for the night - clearly beckoning passers-by to take a peek! The night only ended as the goon and Aussie trivia were reduced to a trickle - a great success!

From the sounds of things, Byron Bay is a bit a Bermuda triangle for the backpacking crowd, as most travellers we talked to throughout the night seemed to have planned on 2 days in Byron and are headed towards their third week.

We just had to see what the bohemian buzz was all about! The next day we headed to chat some of the local tour operators to see what was going on in Byron. Go Sea Kayak offered bay tours with the playful dolphins worked to sustain eco-friendly tourism. We then dropped into Byron Bay Dive Center where Dave and Ken couldn’t stop gushing about all the whales, turtles, and sea life they get to encounter on a daily basis. Ah, what a place to do a novice dive – wish we could stay longer!

After a stroll along the beach and a peek into a few of the town shops, we kept being told to head up to the Byron Bay lighthouse to catch a gorgeous sunset over the coastline. We followed the advice of the locals and made our way up the winding cliffs to join the rest of the romantics camped out for the view. It was the perfect end to our time in Byron Bay as the orange glow bathed the city and all our new backpacking friends.

Hope to see you all on the road! Maybe in Brisbane tomorrow?

(Trying to) Hang 10 in Yamba

smarkas — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:29:00 GMT

We arrived at the Yamba YHA late at night and got the tour of the "mansion" before bed. You could hardly classify this hostel as a backpackers, as it is fully equipped with a full-service restaurant (that the locals love!), a pool, a table tennis room, and a rooftop deck that will soon double as an outdoor cinema. No wonder Yamba got voted #1 tourist destination in Oz!

The next morning, feeling well rested from our posh little bunks, co-owner of the Yamba YHA, Shane, took us out for a morning surf lesson. We hopped into our wetsuits and headed straight for the water, clearly learning on the spot. Talk about diving right in!

Shane got us onto the boards, set us up with the waves and instructed us on how to get up. Two hours later, after a slew of shaky attempts and wipeouts – we happily were standing up and riding the waves, even if only for a few triumphant moments.

We we’re hooked, big time. The time seemed to fly and the freedom of the ocean rushed into our blood like the salt water into our lungs after a spill. Looks like Brenda at Let's Go Surfing might be getting a few more surfers in the water when we get back to Bondi!

After our first surf, we headed out on Shane’s famous tour of Yamba. Yamba is surrounded with 13 beaches and littered with countless picturesque views, overlooks, and bays -not to mention a saltwater lake, a river and freshwater pools – complete with cliff diving holes.

As part of the tour we visited most of these stunning sights and concluded at the jumping holes, where we really couldn’t let down the 10 eight-year-olds watching nearby – who were eager for a show. So up we went, climbing the cliffs and leaping hopelessly from the top – a feat that won us a standing ovation from our enthusiastic audience, making it totally worth the cold shock!

We again too quickly bid farewell to our lovely Yamba hosts and sped off towards Byron Bay where a group of hungry backpackers were eagerly awaiting the free goon and sausage sizzle we were hosting at Nomads Byron Bay Backpackers to promote Van-Tastic Adventures and show off Geoff!

Outdoor Adventures in Port Stephens

smarkas — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:19:00 GMT

When we arrived in Port Stephens it was dark, and through the rural jungle of bamboo, Melaleuca trees and gardens we discovered Melaleuca Surfside Backpackers – a community of beautiful hand-crafted wooden cabins that welcomes you to settle right in. We were warmly greeted by Jeanette and Pete, two of the owners of Melaleuca, followed closely by their onsite kangaroo, Josie, and owl, Froggy – who weren’t keen to miss out on the fun either!

A barbeque was already underway as we pulled up and joined the group of local tour operators, backpackers and friends of Melaleuca. With a spread of BBQ chicken, sausages, salads, and Aussie brews, we were introduced to not only the wide array of activities that Port Stephens has to offer, but also their owners and managers, each just as passionate and excited about their businesses and their jobs as the next.

We were educated about the 300kilo stingray currently hanging out at the Shark and Ray Center, the art of camel racing down the beach by the Camel Tours operators, and the allure of the humpback whales cruising around the bay by Frank from Imagine Cruises. And if we could tear ourselves away from the wildlife and hit the sand dunes with sand boards – that was also a Port Stephens must-do!

As if the friendly kangaroo and rustic cabins weren’t enough, we could try all of these activities! We spend the rest of the chilly evening all sitting around the fires on the back deck chatting about Port Stephens, the importance of travel and exchanging cultures, and stories from the road. Such an amazing beginning to our roadtrip!

After a night spent cuddled up in the “Dirty Sanchez” Kirsten and I awoke early to hit the dunes for a few sand boarding runs with Pete before anyone else was even up for morning coffee. The cold sand, the adrenaline rush of flying downs the dunes, and the views of whales gliding across the bay were the perfect way to wake up and start the day – who needs coffee after that!

We then met back up with Frank from Imagine Cruises to get a more up close and personal encounter with the whales migrating past Port Stephens. The catamaran was equipped with a sonar system, a staff that saw whales a majestic and awe-inspiring creature rather than a job, and even a didgeridoo player that was brought onboard to coax the whales to the surface. With this combination aboard, we knew we were gonna see some action!

As the didgeridoo bellowed in the background and the captains sailed us out of the bay, the first spotting was of a whale breaching in the distance, spinning out of the water to reveal her enormous presence. We quickly caught up to a few teams of whales and joined their journey, watching as they surfaced, played and showed off their massive tails. Not to be outdone of course, dolphins also showed up and swam right along the boat, almost racing us back to the shore.

It was our first time seeing whales in their natural habitat and they did not fail to impress! Three hours, 6 whales, a pod of dolphins, and a sleepy seal later, we regained our land legs and bid farewell to the wildlife and our new friends aboard.

When we got back to Melaleuca Backpackers, Geoff was there waiting (in all his glory), courtesy of Katrina, who brought him out of Sydney to meet us. We sent the “Dirty Sanchez” packing and loaded our gear into our van-tastic buddy on wheels.

Off to Yamba! Let's see if it lives up to its rep of being the #1 tourist destination in Oz!

Surf and Sun in Sydney

smarkas — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:13:00 GMT

So here we go!

Today we leave Sydney and head off to Port Stephens. There is one catch though, Geoff the karmic campervan is not quite ready for his big debut – he still has a bit of primping to do!

So we headed over to Traveller’s Auto Barn to pick up Geoff’s stand-in for the day – who just happens to be called “Dirty Sanchez”. Now, Dirty Sanchez does live up to his name, a big white camper with a Mexican mouse clad in a sombrero and a poncho – and we thought Geoff got us some looks!

Our first stop of the day was in the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney to check out Let’s Go Surfing surf school. When we arrived we were swarmed with eager to-be surfers bundling themselves up in their neoprene outfits and trying to maneuver their new boards.

When the sea of surfers parted we met with Brenda, the founder and owner of Let’s Go Surfing to have a bit of a chat about surf tips and safety and the magic of Bondi Beach. Her love of the sport and her enthusiasm about teaching others was evident as she spoke about her business and the “surfer-cool” atmosphere and lifestyle on the water. Can’t wait to get in the water and test out our surfing skills to see if we can hang!

Next stop: Port Stephens! We're keen to check out the outdoor adventures we've heard so much about!

Meeting Geoff

smarkas — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Drum roll, please...da da da da da da!

He has arrived! Yes, Geoff the much-anticipated karmic campervan has been suited up, souped up and hit the streets of Sydney yesterday afternoon. As he zipped through the CBD down to Circular Quay and the Opera House, onlookers stood gawking at the flash of sunshine that lit up the otherwise gray afternoon. Dressed in orange and yellow with classic Aussie symbols down his side (think Vegemite, a surfboard, a kangaroo), Geoff really is, well, hard to miss. He’s pretty hott, if I do say so myself.

Once we got acquainted, and he opened up a bit to me, I got to see the real Geoff, and figure out what really is inside the gentle giant. He really does care about your well-being – he’s fully stocked with a microwave, a stovetop, a mini-fridge – for when you have a hankering for a ‘rooburger and a cold one. He’s also very open – with enough space to comfortably seat 3 in the front and easily a party of 6 in the back. The thing that most people don’t know about Geoff is that he has depth – I knew he had one level for beds, but after spending some time with him, discovered a top tier of bunks! But, most importantly, as you well know, Geoff is very friendly and out-going; he is currently looking for mates to travel through Aus with him for the next eleven months!

My name is Alicia, the Marketing Assistant at World Nomads (and resident American backpacker), and my friend Kirsten and I are fortunate enough to spend a few weeks with Geoff as he travels up the coast from Sydney to Cairns. We will be stopping along the way to meet backpackers, check out the sights, and show Geoff off!

When we arrive in Cairns we will be handing Geoff off to his first team of new mates, Adam and Hamish, the two lucky Kiwi buggers who will be adventuring through Queensland for six weeks with Geoff (check out their winning video).

So, check in with us here to follow the Van-Tastic Adventures promotional roadtrip and our adventures with Geoff.

For more information about Van-Tastic Adventures and to apply for the ultimate Aussie roadtrip (and some quality time with Geoff, of course), visit http://vantastic.worldnomads.com.

Hope to see you on the road!

Cheers

Alicia

Gallery: Australia

smarkas — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:43:00 GMT