Page 60-The Canadian Jewish News,;Thursday, December 21, 1989
Draws tourists from around the
SYDNEY -
Backpacking can be an ordinary experience; iiow-ever. in Australia, il becomes extraordinary. - Imagine ! . T you're rid- ■ ing through rainforest to an empty coral- sand beach where you canter bareback along the'-'beach into the
' sea. As the horse starts swimming, you hold on the marie -and let your body fre'e-Hoat thtough the tropical water above the lunging horse. . Alter rid'ing back be-
Tfdath the vast rainforest canopy, you can sit on your cabin veranda and pluck bananas from a bunch, drink fresh juice from green coconuts, and watch peacocks strut and qUiyer fanned feathers in a courting display a few metres.....
away.
This is obviously one of the best $10-a-dav ex-
periences in Australia — if not the world.
And it's drawing'international backpackers: Scandinavians, Germans, French, Americans. Canadians. English, Dutch. Japanese — the new-wave travellers who know more about the best places to go and the best bargain travel in Australia than Australians do
The entire backpackiers bcx)m has been one Of the best-kepLS-ecrets in,Austra-lia. But the news is spreading that tens of thousands of international backpackers stream continuously from.one hostel to the next, paying from $8 to $12 a night. '
The most popular route :isSydney to Cairns and on to Cape Tribulation. Everyone seems to be going up or down The Route,
Air Canada starts
executive
on
TORONTO-
Air Canada has in-V trbduced Executive class servree on its Torptito-Miami flights.
The separate business cabin is available on the airiine's three daily week--day flights, and on two of the three daily weekend flights. V ° ,
"Air Canada decided to take this initiative in view of strong customer demand for a business service," says Michael De Wilde, Air-Cahada's Senior~;Pirector, South and Charters. "Our research shows; that an increasing proportion of Miami-bound passengers are now travelling on business."
In recent years, Miami . =has evolved as;a4nain connection point and North American 'gateway to the Caribbean and South America.: resulting in . steady growth of business , travellers, the airline says.
Executive class passen-sengers flying between ( Toronto and Miami will benefit from all of Air
Canada's customary Executive class amenities such as access to Maple Leaf lounges, priority baggage delivery and separate check-in counters;
In addition. Executive class also offers hot towel and beverage service / and a Ghoice. of two meals including NutriCuisine.
Executive class piasseng-ers wishing to take advan-= tage of Air Canada's on-board entertainment system have access to high audio quality electronic headsets.
Until the end of the year, members of Aeroplan, Air Canada's frequent flyer program, will receive an introductory bonus of 1,000
miles in addition to the 35 per cent premium usually granted on each flight. Members of Aeroplan are also able to redeem their mileage points on Air Canada's new. Executive class to Miami.
Air Canada's Executive class is available on Toronto-Miami flights for $34 more than the full Economy Tare (one way).
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swapping information about the best places to stay. see. eat. shop, godiv- ; ing, white-water rafting, hang gliding and surfing.
Although most Australians have yet to discover the joy of backpacking, one important crowd is riding high on this wave of adventure, Groups of bus^iness-men are racing to buy up hostels, conven motels or luxury apartments that don't sell into hostels, and set up franchised, hostel groups.
In TownsvUle, Queensland, 550 new backpackers' beds have recently been created by two consortiums which flgured that the luxury, end of the travel market, was 4)ver-
supplied. A local plastic surgeon, car dealer and financier jointly built the $5.6 million (Aus.), 300-bed computerized Adventurers' Resort — "The Backpackers' Hilton" — and two Tpwns-ville brothers buih the ^ $11.5 millioiti Jransit Centre, a 250-bed air-conditioned hostel above a coach terminal.
In Cairns, which jnow has 4,000 licensed and unlicensed •'lyacJcpackers:--
beds. The Esplanade running along the waterfront has been transformed into Backpackers' Strip, with hostels, bargain restaurants, jiightspots. toiir agencies, sidewalk shops and cafes bustling with backpackers 24 hours a day. '. ■
Sydney has 5.000 back.-, packer beds, licensed and unlicensed; in Kings Cross, Bondi. Googee. Manly and Avalbn.'
Backpackers' hostels, it is claimed, are an Australian.invention now being;"' copied overseas. The word "backpackers" 'has become a generic term. An unwritten code of facilities provided, considerate communal behavior'expected, and the $8 to $ 12 tariff, applies to any "backpackers."
I^he self-professed father of the term is Michael Hig" ginson, 4l. a Master of Economics and fellow-adventurer. "Backpackers are an updated version of youth hostels." says Hig-ginson.. "They cost jhe Same, provide a lot more, don't have ridiculous old-fashioned rules, and there is no membership system. Backpackers stay open all
day and all night, allow alcohol, and mixed dofmito-
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OPEN SUNDAYS 10 AM-1 PM
nes. provide tour agencies, information, a counesy bus pick-up from train, plane or coach terminals, a shop, and many take credit cards." >'
The good ones are as good or better than many
a ski<lub, iQdge^iTheVjJiay^^ two. four and six-bed rooms, new pine bunk-beds, kitchens equipped with everything from microwave ovens to electric woks, lounge riwms with TVs. videos, stereos and libraries, and gardens with pool and spa. Many
offer free use of pushbikes and surfboards, and free meals or a weekly S5 barbecue.
Backpackers the people — are mostly from. 20. > to 40; with-Toriie~gTeat' characters in their 70s. .Most have completed a degree or course, worked for a few years, then set off to travel. Most have money but spend carefully.
For more information, please contact: Australian Tourist Commission. 2 Bloor Street W.. Suite #1730, Toronto. Ontario M4W 3E2 or telephone (416) 925-9575.
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PASSOVER 1990
omat
RESORT AND CXXJNTRY CLUB ■ HOLLYWOOD. FLA
APRIL 9-APRIL 17.1990
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