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Post Info TOPIC: Solo traveller with dreams from the UK
tropical459


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Solo traveller with dreams from the UK
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I was last in Australia approximately 2 years ago when I attended a wedding.  For a week I hired a camper van and toured the Northern Territories.  Well, I say toured but we spent a couple of nights here and there and soon the week was over.
It was on this trip that we met Gray Nomads and found out about the adventures they had when they retired and I remember saying to my brother at the time what a great way to spend a retirement having adventures all over Australia!
I can't go to Australia for 6 months but I could certainly managed 2 months just to get a little taster of the experience, I thought that I would start in Sydney and go up the Gold Coast.  I still have a bit of confidence though as I get older it dwindles and I have to force myself to be brave and try things.  I had an idea of buying a trailer for 2 months and selling it afterwards but then I wondered how I would tax and insure it?  Would it be worth buying one?  At the moment I will be on my own as both my brother and sister in law work.  I am hoping I might be able to persuade one of my daughters, good grief I would have jumped at the chance when I was young
Any advice people who read this forum can give me would be gratefully received.
Best wishes, Vicki


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dave06


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bloody pommies coming over here and eating all our mudcrabs, should be a law against it,

anyway Hi Vicki, welcome to the forum, sounds like you have your feet firmly on the ground and you know what you're doing, if it was me I would look at buying a vehicle whilst over here and selling it back at a later date, most cities have a "backpacker" type vehicle that is going cheap

also speaking of backpackers in those places there is a noticeboard that has items for sale, usually vehicles that others have used to do the same thing that you are about to do

the rego and insurance I cant see as being a problem but you may have to buy 12 months but only use 2 months



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tropical459


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Dear Dave,

Thank you for your advice.  Do you know how much tax and insurance is?  It would upset me to pay 12 months and just use 2 months.  In the UK you can buy tax for just 6 months, and wouldn't I get a refund on the insurance?
Also, buying a second hand vehicle is it dodgy?  And how much would I be expected to pay.  Sorry to bombard you with all these questions but you seem to know what you are talking about.
Never tasted mud crabs!
Best wishes, Vicki


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jimricho


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Hi Vicki and welcome to our forum

Vehicle registration is done on a state by state basis so I've provided a few links that I hope may be useful. I think 3 month registrations are available in NSW, better check before taking my word for it, don't know about other states. Usually when you purchase a second-hand vehicle here it includes the remaining registration but in NSW at least there is a stamp duty to be paid, also I think NSW is the most expensive state to register a vehicle.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/index.html

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Registration/

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Registration/

http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Transport,+travel+and+motoring/Motoring/Vehicles+and+registration

Many overseas visitors rent a campervan and despite the cost this may be a better way to go for a short term stay such as a couple of months, only you can decide this when you weigh up all the options. Be wary of some of the cheaper rentals that are more targeted to the younger backpacker market.

These links may be worth checking:

http://www.britz.com.au/campervan-hire-australia

http://www.campertravel.com.au/index.asp

http://www.maui.com.au/

cheers,

Jim



-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 8th of January 2010 06:18:26 AM

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Firefly


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Hi Vicki and welcome to the forum.  smile

You could always hire something as well mate depends a lot on the cost though. It might work out cheaper to buy and then re sell at the end of the trip.

Mud crabs are horrible things, you don't wanna try them, we will be the martyrs for you and consume what you don't want.  winkwink

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dave06


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hey Vicki, the questions seem to be answered for me so I'll just say take the advice, hiring the thing would probably cost you more than a puschase, but anyway do the studys from the above answers and you will be fine,

if I can help you further just ask away

fly thats just nasty, stop telling lies, you know they are fine once you empty all the poop out of them and remember to take the antidote first, oh and throw all the green stuff away!

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tropical459


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Thank you everyone
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Dear Jim and everyone,

Thank you very much for your helpful information now all I need is a big dose of confidence to follow through on what I would dearly love to do and save the money of course.
You don't half make me laugh you Australians and your sense of humour, that's what I loved about my visit last time was the way you poked fun at us I could never tell when you were serious!
Still haven't a clue whether those mud crabs are edible!

Best wishes, Vicki


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Ma


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RE: Solo traveller with dreams from the UK
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That's one thing that you MUST NOT leave behind when you come to Oz, your sense of humour.

We not only poke fun at you poms, we poke fun at ourselves.  All in good fun though.

As for the confidence side of things, just remember there are any number of us out there and most likely some not so very far from where you are at any given time and we would be only to pleased to give you a helping hand should you need it.

Most of us are just a phone call away.

Elaine

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jimricho


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tropical459 wrote:

Dear Jim and everyone,


Thank you very much for your helpful information now all I need is a big dose of confidence to follow through on what I would dearly love to do and save the money of course.
You don't half make me laugh you Australians and your sense of humour, that's what I loved about my visit last time was the way you poked fun at us I could never tell when you were serious!
Still haven't a clue whether those mud crabs are edible!

Best wishes, Vicki

 


We're always serious and we never tell lies disbelief, although many of us are descended from villains (convicts)

Re the mud crabs you'll have to do your own research when you arrive here. One warning though, eating mud crabs and table manners are mutually exclusive.

One consideration with the buy versus hire option on the vehicle is the possibility of being stranded with an unsold vehicle or having to accept a "fire sale" price for it due to being committed to return to UK at a given time.

You will find having your own vehicle gives you much more independence than relying on public transport. The caravan parks here are quite friendly places and I have noticed in the tourist areas (including the "outback") there are almost always overseas visitors in camper vans, many from the UK.

 



-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 9th of January 2010 07:16:29 AM

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dave06


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Vicki dont listen to this mob of lying villians, to get to the truth just weigh up the pro's and con's, now to give you a head start to do that most pro's are found in Kings cross late at night in sydney and to find some con's have a look in melbourne, they may not like to be weighed but just persist and keep telling them it's all in the interest of science

now that you are a member of this persisitantly mongrelised bunch please just ask away, there are hands held out from all directions,........................ some are even helpfull!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure if you found yourself in strife then someone here would be able to lend a hand!

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jimricho


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Some more links for you to check....

http://www.big4.com.au/index.aspx

http://www.toptouristparks.com.au/

http://www.familyparks.com.au/

These are the main caravan park groups and will give you an idea of the facilities in the parks. There would be at least as many more parks that are not members of any of these groups. The amenities (toilets, showers etc) are usually very good and thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis. Almost all the parks have a laundromat and a camp kitchen with cooking facilities, a fridge, and a microwave. These can be good places to meet fellow travellers.

It may be worth checking with your travel agents to see if they offer any "fly-drive" package deals that include campervan hire.

As Dave says don't be afraid to ask more questions and remember the only dumb questions are the ones that aren't asked.

Jim

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dave06


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free camping is also a big thing here in gondwana land! we are safe and once you learn to dodge the drop bears it is reasonably comfy, dont forget to try the wallaby stew and crocodile pattys

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tropical459


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Researching your ideas
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Dear Elaine, Dave and everyone,

I can't begin to tell you all how much your comments have meant to me, the friendly banter and the genuine offer of help.  Knowing that some of you would just be a telephone call away if I do get over there is so helpful.
I am not planning to take the holiday until 2011 probably January 2011 so there is plenty of time to research all the leads you have given me.  One last question how much will a small second hand camper van cost approximately?

Best wishes, Vicki


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dave06


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RE: Solo traveller with dreams from the UK
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given the current exchange rate of 1 pound buys 3 bags of chook pelletts which can be traded for a wheelbarrow full of spoggy poop which in turn will buy three white slaves then allowing for cartage and the constant shifting in the numerical lottery picker it should work out to roughly around #105,000 coconut shells

or $10,000 for one like mine (an 84 model) up to $30,000 for a later one with a few more bells and whistles, average I guess would be $20,000.00

now if you want one that has bells whistles and a tooter then that will cost more,

stickers are extra of course, and the big one in the back that says....... "if this vans a rockin, dont come a knockin" ..........well that is a rare bird indeed and could cost $45,000

or a simpler one such as......... "dont laugh, it could be your daughter inside" ...........they are a bit cheaper

now for an inside sticker something like ............N.R.N.R.H............. well they are almost impossible to find now! and can be quite expensive!

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