Blog

Set for a reported 1.7 million dollar makeover the Gatton Imperial Hotel is set to become a backpacker hostel that will service, travellers, working holiday makers and harvest workers that need accommodation in the area for short and long periods of time. Mr Eskander Alokaily, a local business was quoted saying “As Australia’s premier food growing region, the Lockyer Valley has a large number of transient worker; and the longer they stay, the more they spend money locally which is a great boost for local tourism and businesses,” “There will be increased job opportunities throughout the construction phase and again Read more

If you’ve travelled down the east coast you would have surely seen one of the many Wicked camper van rentals that are sure too grab your attention with their bold statements. Some are parked outside of hostels or even camping sites. Well now there’s more then 100,000 people that think Wicked have taken it a step too far, with a petition that has been forwarded to the Australian Senate. The Van with Slogan …”..In every princess there is a little sl*t who wants to just try it once…** What do you think, have you encountered any of these vans while Read more

  An 80 hectare property in Hope Vale, north of Cooktown, were toppled when Ita made landfall as a category four cyclone near the town on Friday night. Late Friday night just north of Cooktown, an 80 hectare banana farm in Hope vale has been wiped out by cyclone Ita. Various reports are suggesting different damage bills but we’ve heard the bill could reach the million dollar mark. Hope Vale Mayor Greg McLean was quoted saying ” theorchard, which was expected to produce 100,000 cartons of Cavendish bananas this year, had employed 30-40 workers in a region plagued by unemployment. Read more

Ever had that feeling at the airport, thinking you’ve left something behind, well you probably have! Every year thousands of Working Holiday Makers leave Australia and forgot to claim their super. According to the Australian Taxation Office ( ATO), a whopping 540 million dollars of backpackers money is unclaimed, with an additional $20 million being forgotten each year. Now that’s a few buckets in Thailand! Superannuation money becomes “unclaimed” and moves into the hands of the tax office, when an individual reaches 65 years of age, dies, or is a temporary resident has left Australia, which is what will happen Read more

Spectacular Sydney   Think you’ve been to Sydney, stayed in a backpackers hostel, been to the harbour bridge and Bondi and seen it all, think again! Fillipo Rivetti has shot a short film, ” Tiny Sydney” capturing sydney from a different view, a must see for all Harvest Workers & Working Holiday Makers. What’s your favourite place in Sydney?   Tiny Sydney from Filippo Rivetti on Vimeo. You may also like, 10 Facts you didn’t know about Australia   Wicked Campers, too Wicked?   Backpackers Leave Their Money for Australian Government  

Ever been confused about a fruit picking or harvest job advertisement, well you’re not alone. Over the past years there’s been many reports of fake / scam fruit picking jobs on sites such as Gumtree and www.rossovineyards.com.au is the latest one to surface. It’s reported that Consumer Protection is investigating the “ rosso vineyard” which was set up using an ABN from a legitimate business registered in Perth’s south eastern suburbs. Two Working Holiday Makers claim to have been scammed, depositing $200 each into a Victorian Bank account after responding to a gumtree advertisement. There could be many more that Read more