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Are you planning a trip to Australia?  Take some time and do some research about the cities you are going to visit.  Did you know, for example, where did they get their names?

 

Canberra

 

It is widely known the fact that Canberra is the capital of Australia.  It is interesting to know that it was a debate because several other names were suggested: Paradise, Captain Cook, Sydmeladperho, Eucalypta, and Olympus.  Canberra is considered to be derived from the native Walgalu word kambera, which is believed to mean “meeting place.”

 

Sydney

Sydney was named after Lord Sydney, the Secretary of State for the Home Office. Lord Sydney was the person who had to decide where to send the convicts from England.  He opted for Botany Bay.  When the First Fleet arrived in 1788, Botany Bay was not considered to be a good location.  People found fresh water and a cove which was later named Sydney Cove after the lord.  It is said that Sydney was built up around the cove.  If you look for budget accommodation Sydney, you can stay at a Manly hostel.

Brisbane

Brisbane is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane. The city came to life in 1824, when the penal colony at Redcliffe was established.  Not too many people know that Brisbane was not the first name of the city.  On the contrary, the original name was Edenglassie (a combination of Edinburgh and Glasgow), but people liked more the name Brisbane after Sir Brisbane, the governor of New South Wales.

 

Adelaide

This capital city is named after Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, who was the wife of King William IV. Her full name is actually Amalie Adelheid Louise Therese Karolina Wilhelmina, but that would have been a bit of a mouthful for a city. Though King William was still reigning at the time the city was named (1836), he was considered to be a “buffoon” and people preferred his wife, who had helped people gain the vote in England, helped to abolish slavery, and stood up for the rights of children.

Melbourne

Queen Victoria named the city after William Lamb, the 2^nd Viscount Melbourne, who was a close friend.  Needless to say, lord Melbourne was the British Prime Minister from 1835-1841.

 

There are so many fabulous places in Australia you have to visit.  Spend at least a week at a Manly hostel, discover the Manly Beach and the spectacular landsape.

Australia is also named the “lucky country”.  Moving to this continent is a dream more and more people have.  Especially for people from Europe, becoming an Aussie citizen represents their main goal in their life.  The spectacular landscapes, the wide open spaces, the well-paid jobs are things to consider when it comes to moving to Australia.  Needless to say, Australia has also an extremely diverse population.  This multiculturalism attracts people like a  magnet.

One thing is for sure: more and more backpackers decide to spend some time in Australia and experience the Aussie lifestyle.  If you want to book budget accommodation Sydney, for example, you can stay at a Manly hostel.  This way, you can save precious funds, make new friends and work at the same time.  For example, at Manly Bunkhouse, the friendly staff has plenty of job offers for labors, construction and landscaping.  If you are looking for work, come stay with us and it won’t take long until you are making some money.

Give it a try!  Do not be afraid to make radical decisions!  There are times in life when you have to leave your comfort zone.  It is not easy, but, at the same time, great things can happen.

Trip Advisor recently made public its list of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.  It is true that it is almost impossible to name only 25 amazing places in the world.  Are you curious to discover top 25 most popular attractions in the world?  This list can inspire you when it comes to planning your future vacation.  One thing is for sure, Australia has to be on your list!

25.Panama Canal, Panama

24. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

23. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

22. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

21. Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand

20. The National September 11 Memorial, New York City, New York

19. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirate

18. Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

17. Great Wall at Mutianyu, China

16. Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

15. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

14. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

13. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France

12. Church of the Savior on Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia

11. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

10. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

9. Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

8. Alcatraz, San Francisco, California

7. Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy

6. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

5. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

2. Machu Picchu, Peru

1. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

As you can probably see, Sydney is also in this top.  There are so many attractions in Sydney beside Sydney Opera House.  Are you afraid that you will not find budget accommodation Sydney?  No problem, you can stay in Manly.  It’s only 30 minutes away from Sydney by ferry.  Needless to say, you will have the chance to admire spectacular landscapes from Manly Beach and Sydney Harbour.  In case you are a big fan of water sports, you should know that these sports abound in Manly.  In fact, there are so many things you can do in the “city of surfing”.  Families, young couples, backpackers, international students spend quality time in Manly.  There are so many events and concerts.  Deciding what to do during the weekend is sometimes a difficult mission.

Do you want to stick to a certain budget and, at the same time, spend more time in Manly?  No problem, we have the perfect solution for you: book accommodation at a Manly hostel and, at the same time, enjoy the advantages of staying at a hostel: making new friends, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, etc.

The Queen’s Birthday is a public holiday celebrated in most states and territories on the second Monday in June.  The good news is that many Australians have a day off work on the Queen’s Birthday.   This weekend is going to be a long weekend.   It is the perfect opportunity for the Australians to spend quality time with their friends and family.  For example, many people from Sydney take advantage of the three-day weekend to book accommodation at a Manly hostel and enjoy the spectacular Manly Beach.

The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated on a different date in Western Australia.  It is interesting to know that in Western Australia, the governor proclaims the holiday either at the end of September or the beginning of October.

Keep in mind that Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Needless to say, the official head of state is the Monarch of the Realms, Queen Elizabeth II. She is also the head of state of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. She was born on April 21, 1926.  Anyway, her official birthday is celebrated on a range of dates in the different countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Monarch’s Birthday was celebrated for the first time in Australia in 1788.  In that year, King George III was the Monarch and Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark his birthday.

On the Queen’s Birthday, her honors list is also released.  As the name perfectly suggests, this list contains the names of the new members of the Order of Australia and other honors issued by the Australian government or the Queen.

When it comes to discovering a country, you become definitely attracted by its people, history, geography, spectacular landscapes, customs and, why not, by its food.  If you decide to come to Australia, you will definitely enjoy the Aussie cuisine.  Needless to say, some restaurants from Australia are famous all over the world.

4 great Australian restaurants in top 100 restaurants in the world!  This is quite a performance!   The names of these restaurants have been mentioned in the prestigious S.Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants list.  The final list was created with the aid of 900 of the world’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and food media.

Find out more about these four great Australian restaurants!

Attica, Quay, Sepia, and Brae are the most popular restaurants in Australia.  Attica is a restaurant from Melbourne.  Believe it or not, for the second consecutive year, Attica ranked at number 32 in world’s 100 best restaurants list.  You can also find two restaurants from Sydney in this top: Quay and Sepia.  You can find Quay at number 58 and Sepia at number 84.  It is great to know that Sepia was also crowned the “one to watch” receiving the Fastest Rising Restaurant award.  This is definitely something.  Brae is located in Victoria.  You can find it on the 87^th position in the top.

If you decide to book budget accommodation Sydney, you definitely have to visit one of these restaurants.  It will definitely be a once in a time life experience.  Australia is definitely inspiring, even when it comes to meals.  Moreover, the landscape is going to be spectacular, if you decide to dine out at Quay.  The good news is that this restaurant provides a stunning setting with views of Sydney Harbour Bridge.  The menu is extremely exotic, with influences from Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisines.

What about Sepia?  If you like Asian cuisine and sophisticated foods, you definitely have to dine out at Sepia.

If you decide to spend some time in Australia, you definitely have to analyze the culinary customs from this country!  If you find Sydney too expensive, you can book accommodation at a Manly hostel!  You will not be disappointed.  Needless to say, there are great restaurants where you can dine out in Manly: Hugo’s, Chica Bonita, Papi Chulo, Le Kiosk, Out of Africa, Manly Ocean Beach House, Garfish, etc.

Dining out in Australia is different from dining out in France or in Scotland, for example.  Enjoy this culinary trip!

You still have 10 days to visit one of the most beautiful and colourful events in Sydney: Vivid Sydney!  It is great to know that Vivid Sydney totally transforms ‘downtown’ Sydney with Streets Ahead, a spectacular light show accompanied by an original music score.  This year comes with many changes.  For the first time, Central Park becomes a part of Vivid Sydney in 2015.   Vivid Sydney includes also Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House, Martin Place, Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay, Pyrmont and The Star, Chippendale, Carriageworks, Seymour Centre, Sydney University, on the actual Harbour .

If you want to attend this spectacular event, you should come every day, till June, 8th, from 6pm to midnight.  There are no costs involved, this is a free event.

Little known secrets about Vivid Sydney

It is interesting to know that Vivid Sydney is now in its seventh year.  Book budget accommodation Sydney and come to Australia’s major event in winter.  Needless to say, this is the largest event in the world when it comes to combining music, light and ideas.

Stick to your plan, even if it rains.  Luckily, Vivid Sydney is not a weather dependent event.  If you want to avoid the crowd, it would be better for you to come in the less busy nights.  Keep in mind that most people are expected to come each Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and every night of the June long weekend.

FUN!  This is definitely the word that defines best the atmosphere from the upcoming weekend in Manly.  Come and enjoy “Taste of Manly” – Food, Wine & Sustainability Festival!   Backpackers, international students and tourists all over the world come to Manly to attend this popular festival.  As the name perfectly suggests, this festival is “telling” a story, a great story about what Manly is about.  You will have the chance to feel like someone from the local community.  Look for budget accommodation in Manly and have a perfect weekend!

“Taste of Manly”, one of the most popular festivals in Australia

Not too many people know that “Taste of Manly” has a real tradition in Australia.  Believe it or not, this year, it is going to be the 29^th edition of the festival.  For two days, Manly will become the meeting place for all the food and wine enthusiasts.  The landscape is spectacular.  Drinking a glass of wine on the Manly Beach while listening your favorite music is a unique experience.

Live music

There is going to be a lot of live music on few different stages.

On BEACHSIDE BEER GARDEN you will have the chance to listen on Saturday to Gleny Rae Virus & the Playboys, Brad Johns, Tony Williams and Dorothy-Jane duo.  Sunday comes with new suprises: Zoe Elliot, Alex Gibson, Allan Caswell, Stuie & Camille and Glenn Cardier & Christian Marsh.

On MOONSHINE STAGE this weekend you can listen to Bell Weather Department, Nova & the Experience, Hattie Carroll, Winston Surfshirt, Black Bird Hum, Little Coyote, The Ruminaters, Twin Fires. There will be also concerts on the OLD MANLY BOATSHED STAGE and on the OCEANFRONT STAGE.

Many local restaurants like Bavarian Bier Café,  Benbry Burgers, Boilerhouse, Felix Halter, Fried Mammoth, Flavours of Spain, Hugo’s, Manly Grill have great surprises for the food enthusiasts.  Needless to say, the wine lovers have the chance to taste great wines from Jip Jip Rocks, Lindeman’s, Pepper Tree, Peterson’s House, RidgeView, Jacobs Creek, Tamburlaine Organic Wines, Wynwood Estate.

Location

The festival takes place in the heart of Manly along the Corso and picturesque Manly Beach.  It will be great to book accommodation at a Manly hostel located in the center of the town.  You can attend “Taste of Manly” between 11.30 am and 5pm.

When it comes to means of transport, the easiest way to the festival is to use buses or ferries.  Moreover, if you come with your car, you should know that a road closure will be in place between 4.00pm Friday 29 May till 7.00am Monday 1 June 2015 between the corner intersection South Steyne/Wentworth Street and the corner intersection North Steyne/Raglan Street.

Have a perfect weekend  and TASTE Manly!

This is not just a simple blog post…it is a “THANK YOU!” blog post to all our guests who left a review on our TripAdvisor account (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g552103-d3223973-Reviews-Manly_Bunkhouse-Manly_Greater_Sydney_New_South_Wales.html).  With your help, we ranked the third position on TripAdvisor when it comes to accommodation in Manly.  Moreover, we received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.  It is important to know that TripAdvisor awards a Certificate of Excellence to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers.  When it comes to traveler rating, 18 of our guests rated our hostel as “excellent” while 13 travelers rated it as “very good”.

What do our guests love more about Manly Bunkhouse?

It is interesting to know that our guests appreciated our location, the cleanliness from our hostel, the sleep quality and the service.  If you analyze the rating summary, you will see our guests loved most the location of our hostel.  How could they not love it?  If you look for budget Manly accommodation, you will definitely not find too many hostels with such a spectacular view.  Our hostel is located in the heart of Manly on Sydney’s Northern beaches.  We are about 250 meters from iconic Manly Beach and about 10 minutes walk from Manly Town Centre.

Our guests appreciated also the amazing hospitality.  Here is the review: “If you are looking to stay in Manly for the night and not in the city like most of the short term backpackers, the bunkhouse is the right place for you. Greg and Catherine are the nicest staff I’ve met during my trip to Australia. The hostel even let you grab a surf board for free to have a nice time at the beach”.  Keep in mind that the French owner, Cathy Carney and her friendly team speak fluent French, Portuguese and Spanish.  So, you will have no problem in communicating with the staff.  Moreover, you will have the chance to find out great things about the upcoming events in Manly right from the comfort of our hostel.  How is this possible?  Our guest guide and events board is updated periodically with upcoming events and information of things to do in and around Manly.

“This Place Looks Great!

We only popped in here to put an advert on the notice board, but we had a quick look around and what we saw was great, and the staff were really friendly.. It looks clean, and it has a cat! It’s only a short stroll to the beach. Far nicer than where we stayed!” is another great review from one of our guests.

In case you haven’t yet written a review, please leave one and help other international students, backpackers and visitors when choosing accommodation in Australia!

More and more international students and backpackers all over the world are extremely familiar with staying at a hostel. This way, they stick to a certain budget and, at the same time, they make new friends. One thing is for sure: the friendly atmosphere you find in a hostel is unique. Most hostels have common areas where you can spend quality time and meet people: a common room, commercial kitchen, an outdoor courtyard with BBQ facilities and, guess what… Manly Bunkhouse has its own herb’s garden. Needless to say, hospitality characterizes a Manly hostel.

Hostel culture is social all over the world. There are so many great events organized by the staff from Manly Bunkhouse: foosball competition, movie evening, playing cards competition or dinner offered by the staff of the hostel. It is really a great experience to eat with your friends.
The most important reason why you should opt for accommodation Manly is represented by the costs involved. Do you want to stick to a convenient budget? Manly accommodation is going to be more affordable than staying in Sydney, while you can easily take the ferry across to Sydney. There are great advantages: you can live the Aussie experience with minimal costs, make new friends and enjoy a spectacular landscape.