13 Dec 08 Island Work

The Whitsunday Islands are thought to be one of Queensland’s top travel destinations. International and national travellers alike visit the islands, which enjoy fantastic weather all year round, the Great Barrier Reef on their doorstep and the mainland beaches just minutes away. Hence, the main source of island work is generated largely by the tourism and hospitality sector.

Travellers looking for work on the islands will find that wait persons, cleaners, chefs, dive instructors, kitchen staff, sailing hosts, lifeguards and tour operators are always in demand. Although holding a hospitality operations or retail certificate helps, there are a number of specific island jobs that don’t need qualifications.

On the mainland, employment opportunities are more readily available, with accommodation establishments, cafes and restaurants providing around 20% of the local job positions for the region’s employed workforce. This is closely followed by retail outlets that offer around 13% employment and the sugar cane industry. Employment rates on the Whitsunday mainland are high, and there is a good chance that travellers holding a current working holiday visa or valid tax file number will either find full-time, part-time or casual work quite easily.

Whether planning to work amongst the Whitsundays’ resort islands or on the mainland, there are plenty of working opportunities available for those with the will and enthusiasm to work amid paradise.

28 Nov 08 Undara Lava Tubes

Undara Volcanic National Park is a pleasant four hour drive (275 kilometers) south west of Cairns (also accessible by train and coach).  Undara boasts an average of 300 days of sunshine each year with little humidity and cool evenings, but the main attraction for visitors found here is not the climate but the Undara Lava Tubes.

The Lava Tubes were formed about 190,000 years ago when Mt. Undara erupted and oozed an estimated 23 billion cubic meters of lava over the plains of the Atherton Tablelands.  The molten lava traveled along the river bed for about 2 or 3 weeks where it formed a large cylindrical tunnel 100 kilometers long.  One continuous branch is up to 28 kilometers long, possibly the longest tube in the world and similar to the lunar ridges on the moon.  Time has seen weaker sections collapse and become covered with heavy vegetation and deciduous rain forest.  This, in turn, has left huge caves, some 21 meters wide and 10 meters high – heaven on earth for bats.

Undara captures the spirit and the essence of the ancient Australian outback, dwarfed by its magnitude it wraps itself around you and fills you full of wonder.

Old railway carriage accommodation, a lodge, a camping village and places to eat and have a drink, plus picnic areas and toilets all go to make a stay at Undara inviting.  Visitors can climb the volcano, bush walk and bird watch (over 120 species of birds including the endangered Red Goshawk).  However, a guided tour must be taken to inspect the lava tube.  A one day, or half day trek here is fun, participants are allowed to climb down into the tubes and take a glimpse at vulcanology, ecology, botany and bat life.  This is a fantastic experience, one of the wonders of Australia.

22 Nov 08 Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a small coastal town, located in the ‘Wet Tropics’ region of Northern Queensland. Known for its stunning natural beauty and as a perfect getaway point to some of the most elusive tropical islands off the Australian coast, Mission Beach is thought to be a haven for both international and national travelers.

In Australia, Mission Beach spans a tiny 22 kilometers and can be found approximately 150 kilometers south of Cairns and 230 kilometers north of Townsville, on the Cassowary Coast. Famous for its stunning beaches lined by World Heritage listed rainforest, Mission Beach also adjoins the Coral Sea, which encompasses island paradises like Dunk, Bedarra, Hinchinbrook and Orpheus, crystal clear waters and the most spectacular marine spectacle, The Great Barrier Reef.
Mission Beach is thriving with natural splendors and has everything necessary for an unimaginably magnificent travelers visit.

On the land, in the air and water, there is a fine selection of activities, attractions and entertainment opportunities awaiting Mission Beach visitors, both during the day and at night. A few popular enjoyment options, associated with Mission Beach and its surrounding areas include Tiger Moth scenic flights, white water rafting, fabulous fresh and saltwater fishing, the Babinda Boulders, National Park rainforest walks and a visit to Paronella Park.

Mission Beach is considered by many to be an appealingly quaint town, encompassing four welcoming communities. It  has a good variety of quality accommodation and terrific dining choices available to all travelers, on varying budgets.  Visitors to the area will also find public and private travel options are numerous and essential services, property information and employment facilities are readily available, in various locations throughout the township.

As one of Australia’s prime travel destinations, Mission Beach’s unique natural beauty has not been compromised due to its increasing popularity among visitors to Northern Queensland. Along with its surrounding mainland locations and exquisite collection of islands, Mission Beach has a lot to offer its visitors.

22 Nov 08 Diving and Snorkeling

The Great Barrier Reef right on the northern coast of Queensland. Diving and snorkelling off the coast provides every patron a truly unforgettable experience. Along with the spectacular reefs, snorkelling around the islands is fantastic and diving amongst a shipwreck is fascinatingly marvellous.

Novice and experienced divers or snorkelers can all revel in the under water beauty found anywhere along the Great Barrier Reef. There are a many professional dive operators in throughout the Great Barrier Reef region that rent appropriate equipment, take out dive tours and provide valuable training courses. Also, to find the best diving and snorkeling spots, talk with locals, inquire at the accommodation front desks and even try the Information Centers.

22 Nov 08 Mackay Coal Mine Tours

Located just 22 kilometres north of the well established Mackay town of Clermont, the first coal was discovered in Blair Athol, in 1864. Now, the western section of the Mackay region is known to lie over Australia’s largest coal seam and mining from the shire annually contributes over $1.6 billion into the regions economy. While visiting Mackay, head inland and participate in a coal mine tour, seeping with historical pioneering background.

Pre-booked coal mine tours launch from Clermont Tourist Office twice a week, at approximately nine in the morning. The two and a half hour tours take participants through the workings of the mine and help them comprehend how it’s Australia’s largest exporter of thermal coal. After the coal mine visit has concluded, the tour also includes a trip to the Clermont Museum and the Copperfield Store, for historical purposes.

16 Nov 08 Mackay, Australia

The Mackay region’s natural beauty is just waiting to be discovered. Otherwise known as Australia’s sugar capital, Mackay is a prosperous and friendly town offering a unique traveling experience. Everything necessary for an unforgettable visit to Mackay is readily available, plus a whole lot more.

In the country of Australia, the large Mackay region is centrally located on the Queensland coast, halfway between Brisbane and Cairns. It encompasses secluded islands, spectacular beaches, the southern tip of The Great Barrier Reef, several splendid National Parks, historical townships and indisputably stunning countryside merging onto outback plains. Nowhere on earth has such an impressive assortment of natural wonders on offer to travelers.

Mackay is an ideal location to enjoy an array of activities and entertainment on the land, in the water and in the air, both at night and during the day. Just a few popular activities among travelers to the region include 4WD adventures, gold fossicking, terrific saltwater fishing, diving amongst ship wrecks and taking a scenic helicopter flight over the network of colorful reefs. There is also a range of interesting attractions located around Mackay, like the Illawong Sanctuary and spectacular Eungella National Park.

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10 Nov 08 Employment Bureaus

There are approximately only nine inhabited Whitsunday Islands which either have small communities and/or small resorts upon them. Hence, there are no islands which currently have an employment bureau establishment present. For international and national Whitsunday Island travellers that are interested in working on the islands, there are a few employment bureaus open on the mainland. In and around Airlie Beach, employment services specialise in hospitality and tourism positions mainly and guarantee high quality service.

Employment bureaus have fully trained professional staff who aim to help all potential island workers gain a job quickly. Ranging from qualified chefs, resort housekeepers and dive instructors to contractors, restaurant wait staff and observatory scientists, there are a range of Whitsunday Island employment opportunities waiting to be filled. For the latest in available island employment positions and useful advice on interview and resume preparation, mainland employment bureaus are the place to visit.

Whitsunday employment bureaus on the mainland offer employment seekers expert knowledge and essential resources needed to gain employment on a Whitsunday Island. Employment bureaus don’t guarantee employment but staff try their utmost to increase a traveller’s chance of gaining employment in paradise.

04 May 08 Australian Working Visas for Whitsundays Holiday

The Whitsunday Islands are considered part of Australia, which is one of many countries that participate in the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa scheme. As well as increasing monetary funds, working allows travellers to develop new skills, meet interesting people and experience the Australian way of life. Working on any one of the resort islands in the Whitsundays will guarantee holidayers countless new experiences and cherished memories. Just make sure to obtain a working visa before leaving your home country.

The only way for international travellers to gain work is by possessing a current working holiday visa. Along with numerous minor regulations, the main criteria for obtaining an Australian working visa is that travellers are between the age of 18 and 30, and are without dependent children. Once issued, working visas usually last a maximum of one year and require that travellers only stay with a single employer for a maximum of three months. Along with Australia, other countries that participate in the WHM visa program include the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Citizens of the USA may obtain a short (4 month) working visa, under a similar working scheme program.

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28 Apr 08 Employment and Work

There are many work and career opportunities on the Whitsunday Islands and within Airlie Beach. Most of the opportunities are connected to the hospitality industry and give those seeking employment a chance to stay a little longer in this wonderful paradise setting. It is also an ideal way to learn new skills and meet new and interesting people, and really get the ‘feel’ of the place, while earning some money.

None of the Islands have employment bureaus of their own. However, Airlie beach, and other main centers have employment bureaus which offer recourses and information, availability of opportunities and accommodation and expert knowledge and training facilities available for gaining employment on a Whitsunday Island. These bureaus are a good place to start looking for work

Overseas travellers may need a working visa. Australia is one of many countries which participate in the Working Holiday Maker visa scheme. Two of the main criteria for obtaining an Australian working visa is that travellers are between 18 and 30 years of age and are without dependant children.

Temporary work is a great way to extend and expand your holiday, or even make your holiday your ‘way of life’.

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