Hi There,

My name is Mike and I have made the big committment. I will be retiring at the end of October (at age 61) and I am buying a Jayco Penguin 13 to tow behind my 2007 Kia Sorento. I am selling up (not that I have all that much to sell), and I intend to spend the rest of th time until I fall off the perch travelling around Oz. I will be heading up the Great Central Road in November to the Alice and then across the Plenty to Western Qld. from then on, who knows? North in the Dry and South in the wet, mostly bush camping until the urge for a hot shower becomes unbearable.

I do have a few questions which I would love experienced Nomads to help me out with. As I will be officially listed as "no fixed abode" - how does one handle things like vehicle registration and insurance, driver's license, bank accounts and so on. I have arrange with my brother in Brisbane to use his address as a "poste restante" but will this satisfy insurance companies and Motor Vehicle deprtments. What experiences have other Nomads had? Does any body know of a website which could help with some of these questions.

I have only just discovered this forum and so I will be looking through all the previous posts to get the good oil.

Hope to see you on the road.

Mike

Hi Mike and welcome. Some big decisions there. I am sure that you won't regret them. It is a big and wonderful country. We came up the Great Central Road last year and west across the Plenty earlier this year. Just note that there is no longer fuel available at Tobermorey near the NT/Qld border. I am not sure about your specific questions Mike, and although I understand your brother's address will be OK for most things, I won't speculate. Best to establish the facts. I do understand that you can register as "no fixed adress" for the purposes of the electoral roll, and once that is accepted you will have no need to vote (if that is your wish). One other thing that you may want to think about and get advise about is the State that your vehicle registration is addressed. Some States (like NSW and I think Queensland) require vehicle inspections on an annual basis. Others (like SA) don't. They can be an inconvenience (and unwanted expense) if you are somewhere else when it falls due. Cheers, Peter

g'day mike and welcome to you, congratulations on your "big decision" you are amongst many others that are also "selling up" and taking off, your brother in brissy will be indespensible as far as a postal address is concerned, so no fights now o.k., dont forget the crissy cards, birthdays and always bring him back a goody from your travels, in short "keep him sweet" he will collect ALL the rubbish that various government institutions require, vehicle registration, I would prefer you have that done in south aus. everywhere else is too complicated, we do ours over the net wherever we are, no inspections, but because you are using your brother in brissy then that I think will have to be your home address and you will have to return there every year for an inspection, drivers license home address will be your brothers place, as your bank account, you will be able to easily access your account on the road (we do all the time ) license renewal, over the net through ezyreg. INSURANCE, ken tame through cmca handles full timers, others will as well but make sure you tell them before you are accepted that you are full time or you simply live with your brother and travel a lot, that works for most, dont forget that you can get rent assistance as well through centrelink for c/park fees, when you SETTLE in an area for a couple of weeks ask your brother to forward the mail c/o the post office wherever you are. up the centre and across, did it ourselves a few years back, good trip but take a couple of jerry cans of fuel for the plenty, no fuel between alice and boulie, always pays to have a bit extra, top up your water tank at the alice and carry an additional 20 litre container somewhere else in the car or van in case you burst your main tank, dont want to be stuck out there with no drinkies, north in the dry and south in the wet, should be a grey nomads theme song in there somewhere, we used to stay out for one to two years at a time and all the above info I supplied worked for us and I'm sure it will work for you. all the best mate and dont fret, it all works out

Mike
There are NO annual vehicle inspections in Qld, just one when you first register. Outside of that, you can register via the internet, but check with your insurance company, for travel.

Also Qld, has ambulance cover, that has some reciprocal rights, but it is a mine field. Also if you have vehicle assistance cover, be sure it is also reciprocated in all states where you intend to travel

Hi Mike! I also sold up every material thing I owned (which wasn't much either) and came over from NZ to do the same thing, no fixed abode, and keep doing the big circuit until I drop! I have used my Sister's place here in Melbourne as my bone fide address or 'garaging address' when asked for one for ins purposes. I have a Winnebago Freeway and am heading off, probably to WA after Christmas. What's that 'rent assistance' thingy Dave? Don't think they would wear it if a Kiwi put their hand out!! Nice to hear from you Mike and welcome! Dianne

Dianne, if you are drawing a pension/ benefit from centrelink, you are eligible for rent assistance even if you are staying in a caravan park

Oh Dear ..... too young! LOL!!

you may still be eligible for newstart or whatever they get you on now, unless you are fully self funded, if you are on newstart then you are eligible for the rental subsidy

Hi Barb

Thanks for the good wishes. Hopefuully I should pick up the Penguin on Nov. 17 and I hope to pull up stakes on the 1st of Dec. (Brissie via Uluru and Boulia) then down to Tassie.

Only one trouble with heading to WA, You won't want to leave. Have a good trip and all the best.

Mike

Thanks Mike.  I know about WA, been there before, that's why I am going back. Take care and enjoy your trip.  Barb..

Hi Dianne and Barb, don't know if you have seen this sight but has some useful information on crossing the nullarbor.

www.nullarbornet.com.au/

hi mike
u are in the same boat as me  its like here i go and who knows where we will end up
where are u now and where will u be in march 2009  hope we can catch up along the way
mausie