Entries by Bernie Augstein

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The Benefits of UltimateOz for your Working Holiday in Australia

UltimateOz is the perfect way to kick off your Working Holiday in Australia. Moving to a new country can be exhilarating, but it can also leave you with a lot of questions. ‘Where will I find a job?’, ‘How will I meet people?’, ‘Where am I going to live?’ UltimateOz is the answer to all of these questions. This 8 day tour will allow you to explore the amazing city of Sydney while the Ultimate team sets up everything you need in order to live and work abroad.

20/01/2020 /0 Comments/by
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7 Reasons You NEED To Do Surf Camp Australia

Is it just me or is “surfing” one of the first things that pops into your head when you think about Australia? Not that Australia is the only country where you can surf, not even close! But it just has that vibe, you know? Warm weather, tropical beaches, blue water, blonde-haired surf dudes and chicks, Rip Curl and Billabong… Surfing is just Australian culture.

11/05/2017 /0 Comments/by
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Changes to Backpacker Tax in Australia

Okay so backpacker tax isn’t the most exciting thing to read about on the internet, especially when there are so many other ways to spend your time…like planning your next adventure and watching compilation videos of cute kittens, but if you’re a backpacker planning a gap year in Australia there have been some recent and important changes that you should be aware of.

05/10/2016 /2 Comments/by
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Thailand’s Songkran Festival: A Survival Guide

Thailand’s Songkran festival, also known as the largest water fight on Earth is well under way in the streets of Thailand this week! The festival runs from the 13th-15th April to celebrate Thailand’s New Year (following the Buddist/Hindu solar calendar.) The 3 day festival is also celebrated in other South East Asian countries such as Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

08/04/2016 /0 Comments/by
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20 Travel Experiences to have in Your 20’s!

If you’re anything like me, your travel wish list is full of amazing travel destinations, some of which might have to wait a few years (they don’t do commercial flights to the moon yet do they?!) but there are some things I believe every 20-something person should experience. Here are some (very achievable!) travel experiences to add to your bucket list!

16/02/2016 /0 Comments/by
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6 Things I Learnt Travelling

I love travelling! I travel to meet people and experience new things in interesting and beautiful places I’ve never been to before. Every time I pack my bags and head off for an adventure, I also end up learning a few things along the way. Here’s a list of things travelling taught me this last year..

05/02/2016 /0 Comments/by
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8 Reasons it’s better to travel with a partner

Having just written a blog on why it’s better to travel single, I’ve done a full 360 and thought why not think about the pros for travelling as a couple too! Having experienced both, I know that there are definitely pros to travelling with a partner, not including the obvious reasons like having a shoulder to sleep on during long journeys and having someone to take photos of you! Here are some reasons (in my opinion), it’s better to travel as a couple rather than going it solo:

05/08/2015 /0 Comments/by
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How to travel Southeast Asia on a budget

Southeast Asia is awesome! With friendly locals, great food, beautiful beaches, bustling cities, an exciting culture and so much to see any do, no wonder it’s high on the bucket list for so many of us! Luckily for us, Southeast Asian countries are generally cheap to travel in so your travel budget will stretch a lot further than most other gap year destinations! Despite Southeast Asia already being cheap, it’s always nice to nab a bargain so read on for tips on how to save your hard earned cash and travel through Southeast Asia on a budget..

15/07/2015 /0 Comments/by
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8 Things to do during Sydney’s winter months

Winter is coming. In fact as of 3 days ago, winter is officially here! It’s that time of year again where we dig out our coats, gloves and scarfs from the bottom of our cupboards. BBQ’s by the beach become a distant memory and we start swapping cold beer for mulled wine and hot chocolate. Luckily for us, Sydney has got heaps of activities to offer to keep us busy in the colder months.

04/06/2015 /0 Comments/by
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How Travel can help you land your dream career

Whether you’re planning a gap year between studying, a career break or just an extended holiday away, there’s no doubt that your travel experiences will boost your career opportunities. Travel broadens the mind, and gives you a whole load of good personality traits that employers look for when hiring. Read on to hear some of the many valuable lessons you can learn from travelling:

20/05/2015 /0 Comments/by
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East Coast VS West Coast Australia

The East Coast (between Sydney and Cairns) and the West Coast (Perth to Broome for the sake of this blog) offer two completely different travel experiences. If you have to decide between the two (sob), keep reading to decide for yourself which side of this massive country you’d like to explore more!

10/04/2015 /1 Comment/by
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Alex does the East Coast!

Say Hello to the newest member of our Ultimate family…Ultimate legend, Alex (Swit-Swooo!!) Alex is currently sunning himself in Cairns after doing what looks like an EPIC trip from Sydney all the way up the East Coast of Australia over 4 weeks! He’ll be joining us as of next week as an UltimateOz tour leader […]

02/04/2015 /0 Comments/by

Travel is…

Travelling isn’t about getting from A to B using the quickest route possible, it’s about (as corny as it sounds) the journey. It’s about experiencing that countries culture, eating their food and trying out local specialities (scorpion in Thailand anyone!?!), chatting to the locals, meeting fellow backpackers, using public transport, learning their language (at least […]

19/02/2015 /0 Comments/by
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Protect Yourself With Travel Insurance

If you’re one of the many that have decided to leave both the UK and its rubbish weather far behind you, to hit the road and take a backpacking holiday to Oz – the country that gave us Ugg boots, Neighbours and Wolverine’s sideburns – it’s important to make sure you stay protected whilst trekking across the outback.

19/06/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Local’s Guide to Exploring Sydney

While you’re exploring Sydney, the guidebook will give you a great map and show you the way to the icons of the city but it will not share the secrets. For that, you need to get a local to whisper in your ear. We know, we know, easier said than done. How do you know you’re asking the right local? How do you know what you need to know? What are even the right questions?

12/05/2014 /0 Comments/by
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The Full Moon Party

The Full Moon Party –a party that takes epic to a whole new level! We’ve all heard of it, we’ve seen the pictures, listened to the stories and we want to be a part of it! An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 party goers descend on to Sunrise Beach of Haad Rin, Koh Phangan for the most famous party in the world, which makes for an incredible atmosphere in the area!

14/04/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Monkeying Around…

If you’re coming to Thailand with the hope of new experiences then I’ve got just the thing for you taking place in November. In a little town called Lopburi, just under 4 hours away from Bangkok, you can witness a particularly special feast. Eat before you come however, as unfortunately this feast isn’t for you […]

31/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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1430 islands of Thailand

It’s no secret that Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But did you know that Thailand is home to about 1430 islands? The idea of choosing which ones to visit can be pretty daunting! With Ultimate Thailand we take you to some of our favourites, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Phangan, but after your 10 day adventure, we can recommend some other fantastic islands to check out on your onward travels through South East Asia. Feel free to get in touch with our crew for some travel tips from us!

28/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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What Makes Melbourne So Great?

If you’re backpacking around Australia, you’re very likely to find yourself in Melbourne at some point. Or maybe you’re arriving in Melbourne with our Ultimate OZ Great Ocean Road Package. Voted as the world’s most ‘liveable city’ for the third year running in 2013, there are plenty of reasons why Melbourne should be on your list of places to visit.

16/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Ultimate Thailand Checklist

So you’ve booked your Ultimate Thailand trip and are now eagerly awaiting your arrival! It can be daunting travelling to a new place, especially if you’re going alone, and it’s sometimes impossible to decide what essentials to pack. I’ve put together an Ultimate Thailand checklist of top priorities:

13/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Head to the Northern Territory

Do you want to visit one of the world’s best tourist destinations? Head to the Northern Territory! National Geographic has just listed the NT as one of the 20 Best of the World for 2014. Ultimate Oz could not agree more and there’s too many reasons why to mention, so we’ve picked just a few for you:

12/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Things to do in Queensland

So you’re thinking of coming to Australia – great! When you’ve finished your UltimateOz Sydney package, you may want to make your way up to Cairns (especially in Winter … that’s where the hot weather is!) You may be asking yourself, “What is there to do in Queensland?”  But, what you should be asking, is what isn’t there to do?! And the answer is simple – there’s not a lot that you can’t do in Queensland! Queensland offers some of the most beautiful things you could ever hope to see … and here is just a few of our favourites!

08/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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Make The Most Of The Great Ocean Road

If you’re heading to Victoria, you might be thinking of doing our UltimateOz Great Ocean Road package! The Great Ocean Road is a must for those travelling Australia, it’s one of the most popular activities amongst travellers who make their way to Victoria. With 250km of road to travel, from Torquay to Warrnambool, you’ll see some of our famous landmarks (the Twelve Apostles/ the London Arch), you travel through some awesome surf towns, equally awesome National Parks and much more! Be sure to make the most of your trip with the following tips:

04/03/2014 /0 Comments/by
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5 Things To Do Before You Go Travelling

Sort out what you’re going to do with all your belongings! If you’re lucky, you may have wonderful parents, or friends, that can store your stuff for a while. If you do, that’s awesome! If not, you need to search for an alternative. You can find a good storage option for a reasonable price these days, you just need to look around!

24/02/2014 /1 Comment/by
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Bangkok… What’s in a name?

Did you know that Thai people don’t refer to their Capital as Bangkok?  The name Bangkok is actually thought to have derived from the Chinese, and adopted by us Westerners, as we were struggling to remember its 169 character original name.  But if you’re up to the challenge you will be sure to impress the […]

20/02/2014 /0 Comments/by