The city of Bendigo in Victoria was completely changed when it became the epicentre of the gold rush of the 1850s attracting thousands of prospectors looking for their fortune. It was seventh richest gold field in the world, producing more than nine billion dollars worth of gold between 1850 and 1900.

Bendigo is only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne so it is easy to get to, either on a tour or by driving there yourself. Gold transformed Bendigo into a grand 19th century city with wide streets, stately Victorian sandstone buildings and beautiful gardens.

You can travel beneath the surface at The Central Deborah Gold Mine on a Mine Experience tour, taking the 61-metre elevator trip down to follow a 400-metre circuit. For an even more hands-on experience, take the Underground Adventure tour to 85 metres, dressing in boots, overalls, miner's hat and lamp to climb ladders, work a mine drill and search for gold yourself.

Back on the surface, take a scenic tour on Bendigo's Vintage ‘Talking’ Trams with their one commentary which you can hop on and off to take a closer look at attractions or stop for a coffee break or lunch. Trams are such a feature here that you can even have lunch on board one! Bendigo ninesevensix is a converted 1952 Melbourne tram that combines tours with a four-course menu.

There are also self-drive and walking tours in the area with maps and guides as well as Podtours and films showcasing Bendigo, Castlemaine and the Maldon region with MP3 players for hire at Visitor Information Centres.

Bendigo’s Chinese legacy from the gold rush time can be seen in the Joss House Temple, the Golden Dragon Museum and the Chinese Gardens. The Chinese population alone in 1857 was said to be 26,000.

- Search for gold or find golden beaches with an Australian working holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Over 70 per cent of the world’s opal is chipped out of the ground in Coober Pedy, so if you are keen to have a go at finding your own gem (and it’s easy!) head out to South Australia.

Opal was discovered in 1915 but it wasn’t until the 1960s that hundreds of enthusiastic young men from Europe headed to Coober Pedy to mine small parcels of land with the hope of striking it rich.

One miner certainly did! The largest opal in the world was found in the town in 1956.  

The “Olympic Australis” weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams and is valued at AUD$2,500,000! It is housed in a special security safe at Altmann & Cherny’s showroom, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, and you can see it during showroom hours.

After decades of mining the opal fields are covered with mounds of debris from prospecting shafts and the hills are a warren of underground dwellings – it looks a little bit like the surface of the moon.

Over half of the town’s 4,000 or so residents live underground with homes that range from one-room hand-dug bedsits to rambling subterranean mansions with swimming pools and fancy fixtures.

In summer, when outside temperatures can reach a sizzling 50˚C, these underground homes keep cool (around 22-26˚C), while in winter the homes are warm without the need for artificial heating. You can even stay at an underground hostel in Coober Pedy.

Opal mining is pretty good fun, and you can try your hand at it by taking the Down ‘n Dirty Opal Tour. On the tour visitors are given hard hats, torches and hand picks and a chance to hack at the walls of the Quest Mine to find opal.

And when you do find it, the rivers of light are unmistakable.

- Australian working holiday visa will allow you to work and travel your way around Oz!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The biggest festival in the Southern Hemisphere will kick off pretty shortly, turning every nook and cranny in Adelaide into one giant party.

The festival completely takes over the city with all things quirky, fun and frivolous with the legendary opening night party and the Adelaide International Buskers Festival being two highlights.

The opening night of the Adelaide Fringe 2011 will see a cast of thousands, led by the alternative King and Queen, parade from the corner of Dequetteville Tce down the streets of the East End. As the sun sets, the Parade will dance into Wonderland (the transformed Rymill Park) for a night of soul, funk, reggae, jazz, new folk, calypso, indie, pop and world music. And it’s free!

The Adelaide Fringe began as an alternative to the Adelaide Festival and has become an enormously popular event. There are hundreds of cabaret, comedy, dance, theatre, music, film, circus and visual arts events all around the city for the 24 days and nights of the festival. Best of all, there are lots of free events.

More than a million people attend the free and ticketed events at the festival, and the opening night party alone attracts more than 80,000 people.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival kicks off on Friday February 18 until Sunday, March 13. Visit www.adelaidefringe.com.au for more information.

- Apply for an Australian working holiday visa and get started on the trip of a lifetime!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Most people know of the Great Barrier Reef, but there is another reef off the west coast where you can swim with whale sharks in turquoise waters.

Ningaloo Marine Park is also one of the only places in the world you can swim with whale sharks; gentle giants that have wide mouths designed to filter the water for plankton, small plants and animals.

Despite the huge size of the whale shark, they are docile and pose little danger to humans, and it is possible to swim quite close if you are careful of their tails. If you join a snorkel or dive tour they will be able to get you up close to the whale sharks safely.

The main time to view and swim with the whale shark is from March to June.

The reef is a little over two hours by plane from Perth (or two days drive) on Western Australia’s mid north coast, and it stretches 260 kilometres from Bundegi Reef near Exmouth to Amherst Point near Coral Bay in the south and encompasses a massive 5,000 square kilometres of ocean.

If you wade into the water at Turquoise Bay you will be floating within a few metres of a reef that is home to dolphins, dugong, manta rays and turtles, 500 species of tropical fish and 220 species of coral.

There are plenty of snorkelling or dive tours you can join, as well as glass bottom boat tours, boat trips or quad bike tours. There are even 4WD tours that will take you to some spectacular locations in the national parks in the region.

Parts of Ningaloo Marine Park have also recently been nominated for World Heritage status.

The Western Australia official tourism website has more deets to help you plan your trip: http://www.westernaustralia.com/uk/Destinations/Australias_Coral_Coast/Pages/Australias_Coral_Coast.aspx

- First step for an Australian adventure: Apply for an Australian working holiday visa!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Summer is in full swing for Christmas and New Years Eve in Australia – and along with the warm weather there are outdoor events all around the country.  Candle-lit carol singing in city parks, sporting competitions, vibrant New Year’s Eve celebrations and cultural events continue right up until February. Here are a few of the events you can look forward to.

NEW SOUTH WALES For many, Christmas Day in Sydney means a day in the sun on Bondi Beach swapping gifts, feasting on fabulous food like large tiger prawns, and swimming. Carols in the Domain: 18 December 2010 The annual Carols in the Domain is one of Australia’s largest Christmas events held in the centre of Sydney in the Royal Botanic Gardens. There is a huge line-up of talented performers for this year’s event, so take your picnic blanket and some snacks along with a couple of mates. Take a look at http://www.carolsinthedomain.com.au/ for more info. New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour: 31 December 2010 Sydney Harbour’s New Year event is one of the largest free public events in the world – usually more than one million people join in the celebrations on and around the harbour. There are many vantage points along the 65 kilometres of foreshore land for people to gather with friends and family.  And in the final seconds before midnight on 31 December, a billion eyes focus on Sydney to celebrate one of the first fireworks display of the New Year. Sydney Festival: 10 - 31 January 2011 Sydney Festival brings together an incredible outdoor program including the Domain concerts, the very best international and national performing and visual artists, and events held in most of Sydney's theatres, galleries and concert halls. Visit: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2011/ for more info. Medibank International Tennis Tournament 2011: 9 - 15 January 2011 Tennis fans will love the Sydney International Tennis Tournament to see some of the world's top tennis stars but there are also plenty of off-court action with bands, roving entertainment, theme days, prizes and interactive games. Check out: http://www.medibankinternational.com.au/. Chinese New Year Festival 2010: 12 February 2010 – 28 February 2010 All the noise and excitement of the Chinese New Year Festival begins with an exciting Launch Celebration at the first night of the Festival Markets in Belmore Park. With firecrackers scaring away the previous year’s misfortune, the clash of cymbals and gongs as lions and dragons come to life, visiting performers from Hubei in central China, as well as all the sights, colours and flavours of the New Year Markets, the Launch is a night for everyone. Visit: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cny/

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VICTORIA Vision Australia Carols By Candlelight: 24 December 2010 One of the most spectacular Carols by Candlelight events is held in Melbourne, in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve.  Take a picnic basket and blanket and relax on the grass during the entertainment.  Visit: http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/ Australian Open Tennis Championships: 17 - 30 January 2011 The Australian Open tennis tournament is the biggest sporting event in the world to take place in January.  Five hundred of the world’s top tennis players will compete at the first grand slam event of the year.  http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html Melbourne Chinese New Year Festival:  6 February 2011 This Chinese New Year Festival features a variety of street activities, lions and dragons, fireworks, food stalls, cultural entertainment, karaoke, and children's events to celebrate the start of the new year.  The 2011 Melbourne Chinese New Year Festival will feature traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural activities, including Chinese opera and singing, food stalls, arts and crafts, Chinese chess competitions, lion dances, dragon parades, and children's events. Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival:  13 March 2011 The Dragon Boat Festival has long been one of the most important and internationally renowned events of its kind anywhere in Australia. The rich multicultural flavour of the event brings enormous excitement to the event and retains a powerful connection to the traditions of dragon boating. Teams come from around Australia and overseas to compete and to enjoy the spectacle. http://www.dragonboatsvictoria.com.au/

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QUEENSLAND Carols in the City: 4 December 2010 A host of activities in Brisbane throughout the Christmas season include Carols in the City on 5 December featuring a range of artists including Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian and jazz virtuoso James Morrison on the Brisbane River Stage in the Botanic Gardens. http://www.ourbrisbane.com/ Summer Solstice Light Spectacle - Capricorn Caves: December 2010 - January 2011 This brilliant spectacle is unique in the Southern Hemisphere and occurs when a beam of dazzling bright sunlight penetrates through a 14m vertical shaft into the darkened Capricorn Caves. This natural phenomenon can be viewed through December and early January and is a special experience and a delight for photographers. http://www.capricorncaves.com.au/. Woodford Folk Festival - Woodford, north of Brisbane: 27 December 2010 - 1 January 2011 The Woodford Folk Festival is an event of international standing which is held over six days and six nights. Around 2000 performers and 400 events are held throughout the festival including concerts, dances, forums, street theatre, writers' panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue, a children's festival, art and craft workshops, late night cabarets and more. http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/ Rocky New Year Festival: 29 December 209 - 1 January 2010 Rock into the New Year Festival in Rockhampton - this town knows how to throw a party and for four days this Central Queensland town celebrates in style. Frock up for the black tie ball and boots ball or head to the picnic race day, watch a bull ride or take a boat cruise. http://www.ballevents.org.au/

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TASMANIA Carols by the Bay: 19 December 2010 The City of Hobart Carols by Candlelight has in recent years been recognised as one of the State’s biggest community events. It is held at Sandown Park, Sandy Bay in Hobart. Taste of Tasmania (The Taste): 28 December 2009 – 3 January 2010  One of the state's best-known summer attractions, the Taste of Tasmania showcases a variety of celebrated wine and food. The Taste of Tasmania presents a range of international cuisine based upon Tasmania's renowned local produce and provides a forum for entertainers from around the world.  You can herald the New Year at The Taste New Years Eve Celebrations, where patrons can enjoy the finest Tasmania has to offer by way of food and wine and get a front-row seat to Hobart's New Years Eve Fireworks display.   http://www.tastefestival.com.au/ Cygnet Folk Festival: 14 –16 January 2010 The Cygnet Folk Festival is a premier folk and world music event.  This sleepy town of Cygnet, situated in the beautiful Huon Valley and nestled in the picturesque bay of Port Cygnet, comes alive with music with events the pubs, halls, cafes, parks and streets. http://www.cygnetfolkfestival.org/

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA In Western Australia, Perth’s Cottesloe Beach is a favourite destination for a Christmas Day barbeque; or a picnic by the Swan River is a popular choice. City of Perth Christmas Festival: 12 November 2010 – 6 January 2011 Perth’s Christmas Festival gets underway with the Turning on the Christmas Lights in November and the festival continues with a range of activities including; Friday Night Christmas Concerts, Santa Train, and Christmas Nativity.   SOUTH AUSTRALIA Carols By Candelight: 19 December 2010 Head down to Elder Park on the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide to be part of the 63rd Carols by Candlelight. Light a candle and sing along to your favourite Christmas tunes with some of Australia’s best-known celebrities and performers. New Year’s Eve at the Bay: 31 December 2010 The popular seaside destination of Hodfast Bay hosts a huge party and celebration on the foreshore and midnight fireworks.

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NATIONAL Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: 26 December 2010 – 1 January 2011 On Boxing Day, thousands of spectators take ringside seats along Sydney’s harbour foreshores to see the start of Australia’s largest ocean race. Over the past 62 years, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart has become an icon of Australia’s summer sport, attracting a huge range of yachts of various sizes each year. The race kicks off from Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour and takes the fleet 628 nautical miles to the finish line in the Derwent River, Hobart. Cricket Across Australia, the Christmas Holiday period is synonymous with cricket. Aussies love nothing better than sitting back on a hot summer’s day, watching our teams battle it out against the best in the world. This year The Ashes series of test matches will be played around Australia. Australia vs England: Brisbane Cricket Ground or the "Gabba" in Brisbane from 25-29 November 2010. Adelaide Oval in Adelaide from 3-7 December 2010. Western Australian Cricket Association Ground or the "WACA" in Perth from 16-20 December 2010. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 26-30 December 2010. Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from 3-7 January 2011.

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- Apply for your Australian Working Holiday Visa and you could be travelling around Australia in the very near future.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Australia is well known as one of the world’s premier surfing destinations – and its 37,000km of coastline means there are plenty of beach, reef and point breaks to challenge the most experienced board-rider or easy-rolling swells that beginners can paddle onto safely. Your own magic surfing experience could happen just about anywhere ... but these are some of the best places to catch a wave.

NORTHERN BEACHES (NSW) Beginning at Manly Beach and running 20km north to Palm Beach, Sydney’s northern peninsula has a succession of surf beaches that have some great waves ... and you can have a coffee on the beach afterwards! Manly has great beach breaks and punchy barrels, as well as the offshore Queenscliff “Bommie” (bombora) that is joy for big wave riders. Nearby Freshwater Beach is loved by bodysurfers and youngsters on body-boards, and this is actually where surfboard-riding was first introduced to Australia by Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku, on 15 January 1915. Up a bit further north, the 6km coastal corridor between Dee Why Beach and North Narrabeen is widely considered Sydney’s blue-ribbon surfing belt, with the legendary Long Reef bombora (known locally as “Butter-box”) situated smack in the middle. Mona Vale Beach, Newport Beach, Whale Beach and Avalon Beach all are great beaches, but if you can’t choose a fav you could try all four beaches in a lazy half-day. Finally, Palm Beach marks the end of the peninsula, and despite it being less well known its 1.5km of sand and beach breaks nevertheless offers plenty of thrills and spills.

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SEAL ROCKS & PACIFIC PALMS (NSW) Lighthouse Beach and Treachery Beach at Seal Rocks are south-facing and get epic waves on south swells. Just 22km up the road at Pacific Palms, Boomerang Beach and Bluey’s Beach have with their own postcard waves from the prominent headlands, and are a favourite place for dolphins to swim. This part of the NSW coast is still quite undeveloped too, so there are few high-rises, nightclubs or casinos in sight. CRESCENT HEAD (NSW) The coastline just north of Port Macquarie through to Crescent Head is accessed via Point Plomer Road, which goes up along the coast for 25kms. Along this route are four perfect right-hand point-breaks, tailor-made for long-board riders, grommets and beginners and capable of generating miracle rides of 200 metres. The point break at Crescent Head itself is revered by long-boarders, and some of the sport’s best have been filmed here. Halfway between Crescent Head and Point Plomer is the brilliantly named Delicate Nobby, a wedge-shaped rock formation that starts just off the beach and spears out into the Pacific, creating beach breaks on either side.

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MARGARET RIVER – YALLINGUP & PREVELLY PARK (WESTERN AUSTRALIA) Around 260km south of Perth, the tiny resort village of Yallingup marks the beginning of the famed Margaret River winery region, where wine enthusiasts and ‘waxheads’ (board-riders) have long converged in equal numbers. With several breaks that range from mild to monstrous depending on the swell, Yallingup is considered the best all-round surfing destination on Australia’s west coast. Further south, Prevelly Park is the heart of serious Margaret River surfing territory, where swells up to six metres get spun into perfect barrels across the treacherous offshore reef. No place for beginners or the faint-of-heart, “Surfers Point” at Prevelly even attracts the big-name big-wave lunatics from the US and Hawaii, and it’s one of the few places in Australia where board-riders wear helmets and nobody laughs at them.

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NORTH COAST – ANGOURIE TO BYRON BAY (NSW) When the surfing counter-culture took hold in Australia in the late 1960s, the NSW north coast quickly became the place for surfers. “Discovered” in the early 1970s, the point break at Angourie remained relatively still local knowledge for the next two decades, but it’s world famous nowadays as home turf of Aussie surfing legend Nat Young. Endlessly filmed and fawned over, the right-hand point-break at Lennox Head rates a mention in any discussion of Australia’s best wave. Whether your preferred spot is Tallow Beach, Watego’s, Main Beach, the wreck at Belongil or elsewhere along the Byron Bay coast, the compelling factor here has always been the vibe. Kombi vans, dreadlocks, hippie gatherings, communal drumming and a collective feeling that there’s nothing to do tomorrow but get up and do it all again.

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NOOSA – POINT BREAK (QUEENSLAND) One of the best and most photogenic long-board breaks in the world, the point at Noosa is capable of producing a genuine 200 metre ride on its best days. In a decent swell there’s always a big crew of locals riding it but when it’s smaller it’s perfect for beginners – a long, easy-rolling cruise. TORQUAY – BELLS BEACH (VICTORIA) Historically and spiritually, Bells Beach is the home of Australian surfing and today is still the site of the country’s oldest and most prestigious professional surfing event; nowadays named the Rip Curl Pro, the winner still receives the traditional clanging bell trophy. Swells from the Southern Ocean slow down and steepen over the shallow reefs to produce outstanding surf that can rise to five metres or more, so when it gets big, most of us are best advised to think of surfing Bells as a spectator sport.

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SNAPPER ROCKS (QUEENSLAND) Snapper Rocks is a sand bottom point break considered as a world renowned surfing spot on the Gold Coast. Snapper, located at Rainbow Bay, is home to the world-famous ‘Super Bank’, regarded in surfing circles as the longest, most consistent and most hollow wave in the world. The swell here often reaches six to eight feet, and one good, clean wave can transport you from Snapper to Kirra, a distance of almost two kilometres. Snapper Rocks hosts elite international surfing events such as the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, Rip Curl Masters, and MP Classic. It is also a favourite surfing spot of local world champs, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore, who enjoy nothing more than surfing their own ‘local’ break when they’re at home.

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- Surf around Australia with an Australian working holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

There are a number of Australian sites that appear on every gappers “must do’ list – and most likely to appear somewhere at the top of the mix is the Great Barrier Reef. The good news is the reef is getting easier to access with the rise of low-cost domestic carriers. So go pack your swimmers!

By far the largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef extends over 2,600km off the coast of Queensland. Believe it or not, it is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space.

The reef comprises over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands which are home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

It’s an enormous, ancient, living organism, composed of live coral gardens growing on inert coral dating back as much as 20 million years. Many generations of coral have built themselves into great walls of stone covered in a diverse range of living coral, algae and an extraordinary array of thousands of species of plants, seal life and animals. This includes a gathering of more than 400 different kinds of coral, coral sponges, molluscs, rays, dolphins, over 1,500 species of tropical fish, more than 200 types of birds, around 20 types of reptiles including sea turtles and giant clams over 120 years old.

So you can imagine that the reef is also a very popular destination for tourists – it’s a beautiful place to snorkel or scuba with the fish, sleep under the stars like on Lizard Island, sail or just chill out.

The most common places to base yourself so you can experience the reef are Cairns (which is also a great party town) and the Whitsunday Islands. Both destinations are extremely easy to get to by plane, train and automobile. Many cities along the Queensland coast offer daily boat trips as well out to various islands in the reef.

WHEN TO GO

June through October is ideal if you don’t like intense humidity. However, you might still find during November to January the weather is hot but bearable with the possibility of picking up bargain flights and accommodation.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Fly! Virgin Blue and Jetstar offer cheap flights from major cities and towns to Cairns, Airlie Beach and Proserpine airports in Far North Queensland. Subscribe to their newsletter for first dibs on sale flights.
• Drive! It is a great trip up along the East Coast if you have a few days or a week up your sleeve, and stopping along the way you can see some pretty nice beaches (that you will most likely have to yourself).
• Coach! Coach travel can be long, but they are very cheap way of getting there too and you may make friends along the way. Visa Bureau Platinum Card Holders get 20 per cent off an Oz Experience pass – and you can hop off and on when and where it suits you! Check out the full information on the discount here.

- The Visa Bureau Platinum Card site has more great offer details to help you make the most of your Australian working holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is Australia’s largest national park: and nothing makes you feel like an adventurer than exploring 20,000 square kilometres. To give you some idea, the Kakadu is the size of Israel, a third the size of Tasmania and nearly half the size of Switzerland  so you’ll need plenty of time to explore it fully.

The place to start is at the Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre on Beatrice Hill, approximately 60 kilometres from Darwin. You'll easily see the upswept line of the Visitors Centre roof, and there is plenty of information there to give you some idea of things to do.

The Arnhem Highway takes you across five of the eight rivers as you travel between Darwin and Jabiru, the main township in Kakadu and the gateway to the national park.

The name Kakadu comes from the Gagudju Aboriginal people who once lived here. They left a rich heritage and with more than 50,000 years of heritage, this land has one of the longest historical records of any people in the world. There are more than 5,000 recorded rock art sites along and ancestral trails known as Dreaming Tracks across the landscape.

Kakadu National Park was first inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1981 so it has impeccable environmental creds as well. Around one-third of all Australia’s bird species can be found in the Kakadu!

Jim Jim and Twin Falls are among the most spectacular natural sights in the top end but you’ll need 4WD to get there and it’s only accessible in the dry season.

If seeing a crocodile in the wild is on your ‘to-do’ list – this is probably your best chance, as both ‘salties’ and ‘freshies’ live in here, so take notice of the signs! And you can’t miss the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre - it’s built in the shape of the local pig-nosed turtle.

From Jabiru you could take a scenic flight for a bird’s-eye view; or take a boat trip on the East Alligator River and experience the ever changing palette of nature’s best scenery. See the land through the eyes of the local Bininj people by spending the night at the Kakadu Culture Camp.

The Mary River region is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the Top End and a day should be set aside to explore it fully. Other areas to visit are Yurmikmik in the wet season or Gunlom in the dry. Ubirr, the most famous of Kakadu’s art sites is not to be missed; while Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu’s second greatest art site, has the image of Namarrgon, the lightning man.

The Kakadu has six seasons, not four, with each revealing its own wonder – from torrential rain to mud-cracking drought. That’s just one of the reasons Kakadu is a must-see Australian destination.

- Happy and safe travelling on your Australian working holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

If you are planning a trip to Australia, there is a good chance one of your first stops will be the cosmopolitan Emerald city: Sydney!

So what better place to base yourself to explore the city than at the legendary Westend Backpackers, easily one of Sydney's most famous backpacking hostels.

Westend is in a great central location, with all the best of Sydney on your doorstep, plus a great vibe, friendly staff and clean and secure surroundings.

There are heaps of things to do in Sydney, like see the Sydney Opera House and climb Harbour Bridge (with a professional outfit, not on your own). Get a photo taken with a Koala at the Sydney's Taronga Zoo, check out Luna Park, bask on any one of 40 beaches or see the lot from the top of Sydney Tower.

Westend also have some great free stuff for your stay: you'll get a FREE airport transfer (minimum three night stay), FREE job advice, FREE travel talks / travel advice, FREE quiz nights, FREE games & fun, FREE linen and blankets, FREE use of their pool table and more!

Platinum Card holders also get  more freebees: book four nights in a four share room with a private bathroom and you get one night FREE plus a FREE airport transfer to Westend!

Book your stay with Westend  and get your free nights here.

- The Visa Bureau Platinum Card can help you make the most of your Australian Working Holiday with free nights in hostels, discounted tours and heaps more!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Big Day Out, Australia’s largest and most enduring music festival, has announced its headline acts with Tool, Rammstein and Iggy And The Stooges all to rock next year’s festivals.

Tickets will go on sale in the next few days, so if you are keen to grab a spot for you and some mates at one of the best music festivals in Australia now is your chance.

Bloody Beetroots, Death Crew 77, MIA, Primal Scream, and The Black Keys are other acts announced, along with a strong showing of Australian artists including the John Butler Trio, Wolfmother, Angus and Julia Stone, Birds Of Tokyo, Bliss N Eso and Gyroscope.

The festival will play in Auckland, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth across dates in January and February. Tickets go on sale via bigdayout.com and ticketmaster.com.au on October 6, with a limit of four per person.

But if you are watching the pennies, and spending some time in Melbourne, you can check out the epic summer line up of live music at Federation Square. Fed Square Live Presented by The Push is a series of free, all-ages gigs every second Thursday at Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne from 7 October 2010 to 21 April 2011.

There are varied genres with indie, blues and roots, world music, dance and rock performances by top independent acts and emerging local and national talent.

Over the coming months, there will be the funk and soulful sounds of Kylie Auldist; the theatrical rock fusion of [ME] and indie pop-radio darlings, The Naked and Famous, and The Lajamanu Teenage Band from Lajamanu near the top of the Tanami Desert in central Australia with fresh, fast and furiously fun talents.

- Have a summer of music and fun on an Australian Working Holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2013

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.