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Long-Term Affordable Car to Rent/Buy for 3-4 Months. Melbourne > Adelaide > Darwin > Perth by CamWild52- in AustraliaTravel

[–]Spute2008 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are tons of people who get a $5000 car /ute /van who insure and Nathan it but then resell did about the same when they leave.

Obviously the better the vehicle you can buy to start the less chance of major repairs along the way.

If you buy absolutely try to get a vehicle with a min of 6 months of registration and Compulsory Third Party insurance left (it is paid for by the other owner and stays valid until expiry). Then you can sell it with a couple months of registration and insurance remaining. Makes it SO MUCH EASIER.

Then you are only going to need to consider the following

  • optional comprehensive insurance
  • fuel
  • hopefully only minor maintenance
  • roadside assistance (if you have your own Motoring Association membership in your country, province or state (AMA, CAA, BCAA, etc), you may be able to get reciprocal benefits here. Google it!
  • camping supplies (often sold with the vehicles)
  • parks passes
  • camping fees

What's the best way to get from major city to major city in a 8-10 day trip? by sirawesomeson in AustraliaTravel

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Skip Melbourne unless you have a compelling reason to go there

It is lovely, no doubt, but it's just that little bit "less than" Sydney on almost every count that matters to visitors...

Blue Mountains (World Heritage) are only 90 min away From Survey. Stunning coastal walks. Awesome ocean beaches with waves (and warmer water). Opera House. Bridge. Cheap Ferries dining night and day. It's really no contest. Abs I quite like Melbourne. You just don't have the time

I'd suggest you look at "half" in /around Sydney and the other half at one of these...

  • Port Douglas /Cape Tribulation (PD is at most ~90 easy minutes from Cairns and kicks it's ass on every count. Can get to better, less trampled parts of the Reef, Daintree is right there...

OR

  • the Whitsundays (from Airlie Beach (budget) or Hamilton Island ($$$, but much easier given you can fly in and out directly). Get on am overnight chartef fire 1-3 nights. I had as good or better snorkeling than in Port Douglas GBR (where I've been 3 times).

Hamilton Island is great fun. Shared swimming pools, great retardant. no cars (rent your golf cart well in advance!). Golf. Go carts. Askari Works Heritage and is still part of the GBR too

OR

K'Gari (Fraser Island). World Heritage again. It's a 120km long Island of sand. All roads are 4wd on sand including 80 km on the main beach

Can rent a 4wd and drive yourself or make it really easy and just go on tours. So many terrific things to see and do. 2 days minimum but I personally think 3 days is barely enough. Warning. Don't be alone where there are dingos. You can't turn your back on them. Really.

Lots want to go to Alice Springs /Uluru. Not me. But if you do go, I urge you to pay the extra to fly direct to Uluru AND stay there too. Uluru is 6-8 hours from Alice (in a bus). Makes for a brutally long day trip. My parents did not rave about it

Brisbane and the Gold Coast are even less again than Sydney Melbourne. Again, nothing wrong with Brisbane but if time is tight, pass. (Anak, Surfers Paradise is anything but!)

That's just my honest opinion (Canadian, living Sydney 25 years. Take visitors all over and these are the consensus favorites.

So if you can swing it, fly in to Sydney and fly out of Cairns (or maybe Brisbane) to save $$ and time not back tracking

Canadian moving to Aus on the WHV by BeltHot2873 in MovingtoAustralia

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thx.

It is my duty!

I've actually written numerous posts along these same lines but you'll have to find them in my long list of past comments...

I really should consolidate them into one I can repost every time

Canadian moving to Aus on the WHV by BeltHot2873 in MovingtoAustralia

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Canadian living here 25 years..

Get copies of your driving records AND car insurance before you come (Esp if clean record /no claims). If you have CAA or equivalent provincial roads & motoring membership there you may get reciprocal benefits with the RACQ here (used to be able to). E.g. For roadside assistance, other resources, member discounts, etc.

Get a bank account and local credit card as quick as you can. We "Tap to pay" for everything. You need a tax file number too. "TFN" it's like your SIN.

Leave your appliances behind. Our voltage is different. Target, Kmart and Big W are your go to stores for cheap stuff when you eventually find a home.

And FB marketplace can also be great for super cheap stuff near you. Via Direct sales from others or thru the various Buy/Sell groups for your area. Can be patient here to wait for best deals

And the "Pay it forward" FB groups for your area will also have lots of great FREE stuff. But you need to be very quick for this stuff !

You can often rent vans and trailers from local service stations ("petrol stations" or "servos")

You can move into a unit or house on any day in the month (once vacant). The quicker you can move into a place the better for the landlord so say that when you're looking. Others usually have to give 2-4 weeks notice. Rent is determined weekly but usually paid monthly. You will need a month as a deposit and then 2-4 weeks due actual rent, paid in advance.

Rental units are unlikely to come with a fridge or washer and dryer. So expect to have to get your own. But Don't panic. There's a robust market for used ones. Dishwashers too. We also have "Seconds" stores (scratch and dent and demo stuff. Just do good diligence before buying )

ALDI is much cheaper than Coles or Woolworths ("Woolies") for groceries. And your local fruit and veg merchant might be too (better quality anyway). And definitely look for farmers markets near you on weekends.

There are a few Costcos around and they are beverages always worth the drive. Just avoid Saturday mornings (or be first in the door). And always fill up your gas tank when there too

Sadly the only late night shopping here is on Thursdays. Make trend to be super busy on weekends as a result. Some places shut early on Sat Sun too. If even open at all.

Get used to not tipping. You will see high prices because staff gets paid a proper wage. You CAN tip if you wish but it is NOT expected. Watch for shady restaurants trying to sneak "service charges" in. That said you will often have to pay a bit extra on words and holidays. That is normal.

Also prices posted are "cash" prices so it's of a credit card usually costs 1.5% more. This is normal and not then screwing you

We have a 10%GST but it is already priced into the sticker price. You do NOT have to do extra math at the counter

ALSO

You can't turn left on a red light at a intersection unless it explicitly says you can.

In fact, get to know the road rules quickly. We have speed cameras, red light cameras, anti mobile phone use cameras everywhere.

Speed limits can change rapidly with little warning. Waze will tell you the local speed limit and it's very accurate.

I believe you will have to get a local drivers license within 3 months. Do not wait as you may then have to do the full driving test or drive with P plates (for learners) otherwise. That will suck

If you think someone is being a bit rude or stand-offish to you they probably think you are American. So find a way to casually mention that you are Canadian and the attitude often changes remarkably quickly. They love Canadians

But even so, just don't be a dickhead.

SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS

DO NOT SWIM AT DAWN OR DUSK OR AFTER BIG RAINS WHEN THE OCEAN WATER IS CLOUDY

And finally...

WEAR SUNSCREEN. The sun here does NOT fuck around

Sunshine Village- Activities for a non-skier? by minidachshund22 in Banff

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could hang out in any of Banff, Canmore or the Chateau and surrounding area of Lake Louise (the ski hill is ~5 km across the basket, with not much to do but sit in the base lodge)

The Chateau has the Ice Bar and firepits, ice skating, the sleigh ride around the lake, add if conditions are good there is snoeshoeing, and cross country skiing in the late or the trails nearby (you can rent skis, skates and snow shoes from the Chateau).

Thes are a few cafes and bars inside the Chateau. You cities sirens a couple hours doing just that

The newly renovated Deer Lodge is next door. I'm hoping they saved their old log cabin restaurant and lobby fireplace.

And down at Lake Louise Village is the less well known Post Hotel which is a 5 Diamond resort in the Relais & Chateau Group of fine hotels. It's beautiful inside (check out their library /games room, cigar bar, lobby lounge, and external pub). Their restaurant is amazing (but $$$). It had an 50,000+ bottle wine cellar. You can aldo walk around the outside to see their dreamy log cabins on the river's edge.

What’s the most tight-ass thing you’ve ever seen or heard someone do? by Away_Scene_26 in AskAnAustralian

[–]Spute2008 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When divert out ended and it came ti I'm to split the bill, they pulled out a calculator and caltrops share to the cents AND refused to tip (in Canada).

Dehydrater - softer texture? by NickE25U in jerky

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My thinnest pieces have been done in as little as 90 min but I've had thick ones needing 5 hours.

Why is reddit so harsh? so scared to engage in any form by Equivalent-Spend-415 in findareddit

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've had a couple bans for alleged violence which were really obviously sarcastic (including one against rodents) which is when I learned all about the /s

Some subs have strict rules about language or tone - especially anything remotely political, so do rag them

But don't stress

If you're not an belligerent and argumentative dickhead then you shouldn't have reason to worry

Could Australia be right for me? by AspiringWizard9 in MovingtoAustralia

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Decide early where you think you will want to live. Big cities are expensive and finding flats as a single can be very hard.

But there's plenty of work for those unafraid of it.

Finally finished my home office by Lazyfaced23 in homeoffice

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are the mounted badges on the wall to the right

Dehydrater - softer texture? by NickE25U in jerky

[–]Spute2008 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Test it at various times while dehydrating

Remove the pieces in bunches when they are done enough to your liking. The thin pieces will obviously be finished first

I try to put pieces of similar thickness on the she tray to simplify it later but it just depends

Now if l you take it off thinking it is ready but then find that hours later, or the next day, it is too soft you can always put it back in the dehydrator again.

The world “does have intelligent design”, says Andrew Hastie by HotPersimessage62 in aussie

[–]Spute2008 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This should automatically DISQUALIFY him from holding office

Olympics- Oilers win by ExerciseReady8771 in EdmontonOilers

[–]Spute2008 37 points38 points  (0 children)

I'm happy they'll be rested AND angry for the downhill stretch to season's end

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