Million-dollar backpacker views

PRICELESS: An artist's impression of the view from Sydney Harbour YHA, opening later this year.

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Parasols and petit fours On the right wavelength Outback drivers to the fore Glamping on Cockatoo Island Tall story starts with first step Cycle South Australia Islands in the sun Gold Coast is golfer's dream Surfers' new class of beach goer Boxing above the 'burb

As most of the tourist industry is holding its breath to see what this year will bring, YHA Australia is taking a bullish stand and is spending more than $50 million on three new properties.

The chief executive of YHA NSW, Julian Ledger, says he expects demand for quality budget accommodation to remain steady.

"Applications for Australian working holiday visas have increased from the UK and, traditionally, the backpacker segment is less adversely affected by economic downturn," he says.

The Sydney Central YHA got the nod for best backpacker accommodation at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. The hostel, opposite Central Station, is Sydney's only AAA-rated hostel and features a rooftop pool, cinema, bar and fast internet.

But it is going to have stiff competition later this year with the opening of the $25 million Sydney Harbour YHA. It will have all the attributes listed above, plus the 106-bedroom property will be the first budget accommodation with panoramic harbour views from its rooms.

But before that happens, YHA will open a new hostel on Melbourne's Flinders Street in April, which will be followed by another "deluxe" budget hostel in Brisbane in June.

At the other end of the market, SkyCity Darwin was named at the awards as Australia's best luxury hotel. The hotel has just opened Darwin's first beachside bar, overlooking Mindil Beach and the Arafura Sea. The management plans to present local and international music and comedy acts.

Crowne Plaza Alice Springs is claiming a first of a different kind, having installed Australia's largest building-mounted solar panel system. Depending on the time of the year, the $3.3 million installation will reduce the hotel's energy consumption by between 40 per cent and 80 per cent.