Backpackers youth hostels blog

Want a change of pace from all the regular activities around Cairns, then join the backpackers from Nomads Esplanade Backpackers for some fun half-day tours.

One option you can book at this Cairns backpackers hostel is to go driving at Go Karts- located just off Captain Cook Highway. It won’t be a big budget strain either, as they offer a special price for backpackers on Thursdays.

Another great option is Billabong ATV riding! Its a great chance to spend some time outside of Cairns. I put two bored boys from this Cairns youth hostel on an afternoon ATV ride and they came back saying that they had had the best day ever. Instead of big groups of tourists, they really enjoyed a more individualised day of being picked up in a fancy Ute and have their own private tour guide. Fun Fun Fun!

See us now at Nomads Esplanade Backpackers now and we will put you on one of these amazing tours. Go for it guys!!!

Cheers,

Anne

Nomads Fat Camel Backpackers Hostel & Bar in Auckland has a full weekly activity schedule with loads of opportunities to WIN fantastic prizes…

Sundays - WIN yourself 3 days Spaceship hire when you book 15 or more days hire in Australia.

Mondays - WIN 2-4-1 trips with Explore NZ, choose from a Whale & Dolphin Safari or a trip on an America’s Cup Yacht. All you have to do is win the boat race; every Monday from 8pm in The Fat Camel Backpackers Bar.

Tuesdays - WIN a 2-4-1 Bungy off the Harbour Bridge with AJ Hackett and a trip to Paihia with Kiwi Experience. Play Killer Pool from 8pm; every Tuesday in The Fat Camel Backpackers Bar!

Wednesdays - WIN trips with Stray around the North Island, come first and win a Tom pass (5 day trip from Auckland to Taupo and back with stops at Hahei, Raglan and Maketu!!!) or a Jack pass (overnight trip to Paihia!). Wear your best beach gear in The Fat Camel Backpackers Bar and play silly games to WIN these incredible prizes!

Thursdays - Take part in the Thursday night Brain Baffling Quiz to WIN discount vouchers for any Magic Pass around New Zealand, or WIN yourself a $50 bar tab!

Fridays - FREE Bubbles for the Ladies every Friday night from 5.30pm - 6.30pm!

If that’s not enough The Fat Camel Backpackers Hostel has HAPPY HOUR every day from 5pm - 7pm; get yourself a pint of cold beer, a glass of wine or a house spirit for only $4!!! If you’re staying at our Auckland Hostel then you’ll also receive a 2-4-1 drink voucher when you check-in and every night you stay with us you’ll get a FREE entree meal!!

Click here book your stay at Nomads Fat Camel Backpackers Hostel

Or give us a call on 0800 220198 (within NZ) or +64 9 307 0181

You should be prepared when you stay at Nomads Serpent Backpackers in Cairns. You might walk in to our bar, just heading there to grab a nice cool beer. Before you know it, you run in to backpackers in their speedos, boys in suits showing girls underwear or people doing the YMCA on the bar! Don’t say we didn’t warn you……

If you have a great picture taken in our hostel, email it to Nomads Serpent Backpackers Hostel Cairns

Serpent Backpackers Hostel in Cairns has quite a few Dutch people in house, including the interns. The excitement to celebrate Sinterklaas is growing slowly. Sinterklaas is bigger than Christmas… I can hear some of you think; bigger than Christmas? I have never even heard of this Sinterklaas….. Well, I’ll tell you all about it!

On 5th December, the Dutch traditionally celebrate Sinterklaas. The children are told about a very old Spanish bishop called Sinterklaas, who is fond of children. This Iberian prelate visits the Low Lands every year by the end of November and leaves quietly after December 5th.

On the evening of 5 December the children will sing special Sinterklaas songs. When the tension has built up sufficiently, a big sack or basket is brought into the home filled with presents for the children who have behaved themselves.

Needless to say that all this is organized by the parents. A neighbour knocking on the door, running away and leaving away a sack with presents.

Sinterklaas is reputed to ride on top of the roofs on a white horse. He is accompanied by one or more black men, who are all named Zwarte Piet.

When riding on the roofs Sinterklaas and his black servant throw presents into the chimneys and children who put their shoes in front of the stove will find their footwear in the morning filled with sweets and other presents.

Quite a few Dutch cities organize a Sinterklaas arrival. Traditionally, Sinterklaas arrives by boat accompanied by a host of Zwarte Pieten.

Grown-ups celebrate Sinterklaas as well, but in a different way from the children: adults make rhymes for each other in which the other person is the subject, if not to say: the victim. Often less favourable habits of the victim are dealt with in a humorous way. The presents are usually packed in home-made contraptions, frequently made of cardboard, which they call a “surprise”.

So now you know what Sinterklaas is all about. I bet you wished you had this awesome tradition as well.
We, at Nomads Serpent Backpackers Hostel can’t wait till it’s the 5^th of December and unwrap our presents. Hopefully the poems won’t be too harsh:D

All Nations Backpacker Bar, Melbourne, has got to be a contender for best bar in the world. It was only a couple of weeks ago, that the entire Australian Rugby League team got hammered in our little bar. Then this weekend, we had some of the Central Coast Mariners’ players drink in the bar after they played Melbourne Victory. Then Later in the same evening who should walk in, but the Sexpo Showgirls. A few dominatrixes also joined the party and I received a decent spanking, free of charge!

The fact that these premium strippers came back 3 nights in a row, says something about this backpackers bar, the bar staff, and the atmosphere. The venue may look a bit grungy, a bit worn down. But nearly every night people feel the need to personally meet the Melbourne Backpackers Hostel & Bar staff and express their gratitude for having the bar like it is. This was no more apparent when on Sunday night, in walked the worlds number 1 porn star, Jessie Jane, and her workmate Rylie Steele. Thats right, they didn’t go to the sexpo after party, they came here to hang out with Melbourne Backpackers, at the All Nations bar, Melbourne. LOVE.

-el gRInGO

ps.  photos will be up soon…

Last week at Nomads Capital Backpackers Hostel we said good bye to two of our fav’s. Gavin, our super fantastic Night Auditor, and Déborah the best kitchen WFA and fill in cook we’ve ever had. On their last night Déborah managed to break a light fixture not 30 seconds after walking into the bar, and then while doing Blend Bar’s infamous Jägermeister Shot Ski (provide by our other fantastic Night Auditor Jo) she managed to drop and shatter the shot glass. Maybe 30 minutes after that she got really excited by, well I’m not sure what but you know those French ladies and talking with their hands. Well she managed to fling a drink out of someone else’s hand and smash that one too. Words of wisdom from yours truly… Gavin don’t let Déborah near any more glass items. Oh and Déborah don’t let Gavin near your wardrobe, we know how he likes to dress up. I already miss them and I’m sure everyone else at Nomads Capital Backpackers in Wellington does too.

And we can’t forget the other wicked Nomads Capital staff members and regulars that have left us in the past month. In this photo all but one (Marian) have left us… to go wander the world and try new things. From all of us at Nomads Capital Backpackers Hostel good luck and have fun!

Back From Left: Nichol (Bar Staff- Christchurch), Tom (Bar Manager – Cruise Ships), Marian (She’s staying – Yippee!), Damon (Chef Spectacular – Movie Sets), Scott (Regular Crazy – Canada)

Front From Left: Gavin & Déborah

We at Nomads Capital Backpackers Hostel in Wellington are getting our Mullet wigs and leather pants ready for the Rock n Roll party this Friday night (28 November) at Blend Bar. I’ve dusted off the leopard print tights and have been rocking out to my favourite “Hair Bands” in preparation for a night that is to be truly fantastic! Best Costume wins a FREE Stray Travel Pass

Our Latin Party at Nomads Capital’s hostel bar Blend last Friday night went long and loud. We got more noise complaints than we ever have and frankly I’m quite proud of that. Even the non Latin folk came out for the fun.

People were partying into the wee hours of the night in the bar, and then dancing in the streets long after that. A great party was had by all. We found Lenny in the Lounge at Nomads Capital Backpackers the morning like this.

This week, Nomads Esplanade Backpackers, had to say goodbye to two of its favorite backpackers, Stuart and Holly. These two have been great at meeting all the buses coming into Cairns and bringing back backpackers to our Cairns hostel everyday. That being said, Holly was always better at this than Stu- apparently at 6:30 in the morning girls trust another girl more than a bloke

Well, while they are on the return trip to England, to set up housekeeping- we thought we would give Stu a special farewell. He always liked to keep us on our toes, and we’d thought we would repay the favor. On a dare, we offered Stu a free skydive if he would do it wearing his famous leopard mankini. Of course he took the dare. He even upped the ante by offering to skydive while holding a Mad Backpacker Discount card the whole way down.

Well, last Sunday, we all had breakfast then sent Stu off with a couple of spectators. The leopard mankini did not do a lot to make Stu feel less nervous, but definitely helped his fellow skydivers relax. He survived, Mad card intact. So come spend a few weeks here at Nomads Esplanade Backpackers Hostel, we guarantee to make it an experience you’ll never forget. Just ask Stu

Can you feel the summer sun creeping up on you? Well the folks down at the Fat Camel Backpackers Hostel can!

Come down and join the Camel gang, plus backpackers and pals to play some silly beach games like limbo. Be into win a Tom or Jack Stray Bus pass, which gives you the chance to travel to some beautiful NZ beaches for free! Also, free drinks to be won for those who dress up in costume.

20% off all Dark Dog drinks plus some other sizzling drink specials in our Central Auckland Backpackers Bar! - However this may change due to availability.

See you there!

Nomads Odyssey Backpackers Hostel is so new it’s not even open yet! So why not be one of the first to stay at this purpose built “flashpacking” hostel in the beautiful Byron Bay! Nomads Odyssey will feature a variety of backpacker dorms and seriously flash private rooms in this town that is understandably so popular with backpackers and holidaymakers….

Find out more about Nomads Odyssey Backpackers Hostel by visiting their website here!

Book Nomads Odyssey Backpackers here!!!