The Avon Descent – White Water Rafting

Saturday, 1 August 2009 to Sunday, 2 August 2009 Confirmed Event

The Avon Descent presents a serious challenge and is a prized trophy to those who have been victorious.

Participants challenge the Avon and Swan Rivers in a variety of paddle and power craft in an exciting two-day time trial over 133 gruelling kilometres.

The Avon Descent offers competitors conditions ranging from long stretches of flat water that can test the endurance of the fittest athlete through to rapids, sure to test the skills of all who attempt to navigate their unknown contours.

The Avon Descent passes through some of Western Australia’s most picturesque country, including the farming regions of historic Northam and Toodyay, forested national parks, steep gorges, the Swan Valley vineyard region and eventually the tidal waters of the upper Swan River.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay and want to follow this event, then why not visit us at Planet Inn Backpackers?

If you want to try your hand at this exciting sport, we can arrange it for you with our friends at River Gods, who teach people how to do it safely.

Contact us now via the enquiry form on this website.

Information and picture courtesy of www.westernaustralia.com

Details from : http://www.avondescent.com.au

Good Food and Wine Show

Demonstrating live at the Good Food and Wine Show in Perth are some of Australia’s best chefs including Matt Moran, Tobie Puttock, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, and Alastair McLeod & Anna Gare.

It’s a unique celebration of good food, good wine & great times!

This event is on in Perth 31st July to 2nd August, 2009 at Perth Convention Centre.

Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Australasian Safari

 

Saturday, 1 August 2009 to Saturday, 8 August 2009 Confirmed Event

More than 100 of the world’s best off-road four-wheel drive, motorbike and quad bike competitors will begin the 22nd annual Australasian Safari in Perth.

Considered the Paris to Dakar of the Asia Pacific region, the event is renowned as one of the toughest and most challenging motoring events in the world.

 Covering over 4’000 km, over seven days, the gruelling off-road rally event will travel across the Western Australian outback from the coastal shores of Perth, through the Midwest and finishing in Kalgoorlie. The event comprises of three competition categories – Auto, Moto and Quad.

Four-wheel drive and motor bike enthusiasts can follow the safari and experience the exhilaration of competitive off-road rallying or competition pressures by joining the fully-guided adventure tour component of the event. The Adventure Tour Auto and the Adventure Tour Moto are a great way to be part of the event, meet the teams, see some great Safari action and explore the amazing sights of Western Australia.

Motoring enthusiasts should not miss this exciting event and what better place to stay so you can see the start than at Planet Inn Backpackers!

Take advantage of our free pick up service (min 2 nights stay) and our friendly hospitality and warm welcome.

For futher details see http://www.australasiansafari.com.au

Information courtesy of www.westernaustralia.com

City of Perth Winter Arts Season

This June the City of Perth Winter Arts Season will return to the city, offering a rich tapestry of arts events that will keep Western Australians warm through the cooler months.

This year’s season will see a greater variety of participating arts organisations stage performances and exhibitions than ever before.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says that this year’s program is exceptional and a true reflection of WA’s growing arts scene. “We are seeing a renaissance of art and culture in the city. Over the last couple of years WA has continued to produce world class superstars in the arts field and programs such as this are where many of them begin to tread the boards,” Ms Scaffidi said. “Whether it is dance, drama or digital art this year’s program has something for all ages and tastes,” she said.

The City of Perth Winter Arts Season runs from 1 June to 31 August and includes stage productions, art exhibitions and musical entertainment.

Further details from http://www.perthwinterartsfestival.com.au

Information courtesy of www.westernaustralia.com

Latest News on Miss and Mr Club Red and Planet Inn Backpacker Contest

These lovely girls are featured in our Miss Backpacker Gallery.

L to R : Jane Strand, Claire Boardman, Sarah Arkell, Lynsey Moore.

This guy is our first handsome entrant and is featured in the Mr Backpacker Gallery.

Scott Hillis

The following have agreed to enter the contests and we are just awaiting the right photos to add them to the galleries : Richie Evans, Alysha Wearne, Aoife MacSharry, Jason Le Signe.

Come on people – don’t be shy! Especially the guys!!!

Mr & Miss Planet Inn Backpacker Contest!

We are very fortunate to meet so many nice people in our Industry and particularly so many attractive ones.

A lot of you will no doubt remember me waffling on in a drunken stupor at our bar that I have often thought we should shoot a Planet Inn calendar.

Why?

Politically correct answer: Because we all appreciate beauty!

Now of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we can all be beautiful on the inside, blah, blah, blah.

So it’s up to you guys – here’s the deal. Over the course of this year, let’s say by August 31^st, I would like you to submit a photo of your entry for the calendar. Yes OK we’ll have blokes as well as girls just to keep everyone happy. A panel of judges will then agree on the best shots.

No – better still… I have an idea! My website guru, Peter Butler, will probably shoot me for the logistics of this, but we shall let you guys, the former guests of Planet Inn, vote on the best ones to be included on the calendar.

I will then organize for the calendar to be printed and it will be available by mail order through the website for a minimal price to cover expenses plus a donation to a worthwhile charity.

The Rules: (There has to be a couple!)

1. Anyone can submit a photo but the person in the photo has to agree to the use of their image, so we will need their email address to verify this.

2. The person in the photo must have stayed at Planet Inn/formerly Club Red or Redbackpackers.

3. The person should be alone in the photo. Otherwise we would need you to obtain permissions from the other people in the picture.

4. Preference would probably be given to an image that depicts an Australian background or something typically Australian, so as to make the calendar more nostalgic, though of course if the photo is good enough, that might not have to apply.

5. Preference would be given to pictures of smiling (or pouting) people in bikinis or beachwear (or even lingerie), though again a classy shot with a nice dress, hiking gear etc might be just as appealing.

6. We will set up a gallery on the website so you can all keep track of the entries.

7. Contestants who feature on the calendar will receive a promotional pack including gift vouchers, souvenir items that can be mailed overseas, free Club Red Membership and of course a free calendar. (Total value will exceed $200). Entrants who don’t quite make it to the calendar will also receive a mystery consolation prize!

8. Images can be emailed or posted to us or posted on our facebook site and may be edited for resizing purposes.

9. Contestants may be from any of the 13 years for which we have now traded but entries for this competition will close at midnight on August 31^st, 2009.

Note that if we are flooded with entries, we may feature multiple photographs or even produce an accompanying booklet.

Let’s have some fun!

To see the latest entrants, go to our Gallery pages : Miss Backpacker of 2009
and Mr Backpacker of 2009.

 

Whalesharks at Ningaloo Reef

Whaleshark Season in Western Australia runs from late March until usually the end of June.
If you have the opportunity to snorkel alongside one of these gentle giants of the sea, believe me it is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
If you haven’t snorkeled before, don’t worry – as long as you can swim competently, the Instructors at the various Whaleshark Tour Operators in Coral Bay and Exmouth will look after you.
At the same time every year, these beautiful creatures visit the North-West Cape and feast upon the myriad plankton and krill that fill the waters of the Ningaloo Reef when the coral is spawning.
They are actually the largest of the shark family, but unlike the man-eating legends of Hollywood’s spin, these graceful fish are gentle and harmless to mankind. If only the converse was true as well. Certain countries are still known to commit barbaric acts towards them.
They can grow up to 18 metres (about 60’) in length, though the ones who visit Ningaloo each year are typically between four to twelve metres, and weigh up to 15 tonnes with a mouth that can be over a metre wide. If frightened they will usually dive and have been known elsewhere to achieve depths of 700 metres!
The various tour operators take you to the outside of the reef, and after testing your skills with a practice swim and snorkel, they give you a great lunch on board. Then they have spotter planes in the air, looking for whalesharks. When they find one, they radio the co-ordinates to the boats.
The skipper will position the boat so that the snorkeling group can enter the ocean directly in the path of the whaleshark. Imagine your excitement as a living creature the size of a small boat comes into your line of sight surrounded by a host of other smaller fish.
I had the joy of swimming alongside a whaleshark that measured around 8½ metres and looking it in the eye. The sense of tranquility is truly amazing.
Of course you will also see plenty of other wonderful creatures during the day in this very special marine park.
Don’t miss this spectacle. It’s not cheap but you won’t regret it. Call the Planet Inn staff and we can book ahead so you don’t miss out.
Tonaldo the “Inn Man”
22nd March, 2009