Looking for experience with travelling long term Australia and New Zealand
 

Hello,

Me and my boyfriend (we’re both Belgian) have been travelling through Africa for over a year and planning to go to Australia in February 2015.

We’re planning on buying a car in Australia and travelling/working around for 1-2 year and going over to New Zealand.

Now for this we have a few questions, hope to find some travelers who did a similar trip.

1. We’re planning on flying into Sydney to buy a car there as we think that a lot of backpackers go there, so there would be a good market to find a good car. Good idea or not?

2. We’ve been looking around for a car and we’ve seen a lot of option, but as we’re planning on travelling through whole of Africa we recon we need a 4x4 for that, no?

3. Anyone know if it’s easy to get your working/holiday visa extended? Or is it only a small percentage who can get it extended? (we tried to find out, but we don’t have an Australian embassy in our country we’ve to contact the one in Malta, but only reachable by phone and as we’re in Africa that is not so easy….)

4. From where is the cheapest connection to go to New Zealand (from Australia) and back.

5. How much time do you need to see New-Zealand on a proper way?
That’s it for now we think 

If anyone can help us with some experience that would be great!

Thanks a lot,
Eef and Dries

Feel free to have a look on our website Home to have a look what we’re doing in Africa (website not up to date, but working hard on it)
Or follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/waarisworteltje where you can find up to date info

Hello Eef and Dries.
I am Belgian as well,and have been in Australia a few times.
Buying a car is easy in Australia. Just get to a backpackers hostel in Sydney,or the YHA(central in Rawson Place),or Railway Square YHA,and at the message wall,you can find cars and vans from other travellers who sell there car,to fly back home,or look at the internet at Gumtree,and look for cars,and campervans.
Insurance on this cars? The former owners can tell you all abouth it.
I shipped my motorcycle to Melbourne,and if you get an adres in Australia(even an YHA adres,is fine)you can get insurance(I shipped my bike under Carnet de Passage,and had insurance from the RACV)
Hope you can get something wit this information,and enjoy your stay in Australia,it,s a wonderful country,and friendly people.
So long.
Chris.
P.S Doe worteltje de groeten.

My two bob's worth (see you are already learning new Australian expressions).


New South Wales is not a good place to buy a vehicle if you will be travelling around Australia as you will have to return to NSW to obtain a vehicle inspection to renew the registration. Queensland and Victoria only require a vehicle inspection when the vehicle is sold, after that you just renew registration online. Plus buying off other travellers is not always the bargain that you had hoped for. Australia is a federation of states - much like the EU - and each state has slightly differing laws about vehicle registration, eg; buying a Victorian registered vehicle in NSW can be very risky and become a nightmare.


Its nice to have a 4x4 but not essential, places like Fraser Island have plenty of 4x4 hire available. Having a 4x4 and not being trained how to drive it usually means that you get stuck further down the road, in a conventional vehicle you'd probably stop and turn around. That said I've been on beaches with old VW Kombis where 4x4s were stuck.


Buy a campervan and have your home as well as your wheels. Wildcamping is plentiful, safe and easy to do. Do a weblookup Camps Australia Wide: camping & tourist Park guide books and app which is pretty well the bible. Plenty of towns encourage campervans to use their rest areas (not caravan parks) and as long as you only stay a few nights everyone is happy.


The visas can be extended if you have worked for a period of time for a farm or (I think) fisheries, upto an additional year. Overview I think you have to have your work/tourist visa sorted before entering Australia, otherwise its just a tourist visa on entry.


There a specials going to and from NZ almost all year round, Flightcentre often have some good deals.


To see NZ, for some it can take years, others find that two weeks is enough. Just buy single tickets and see how you like it. It is a fantastic country so a year would not be hard. Weather can be a limiting factor in the winter months - there will be a kiwi along soon to give better details.

I spent 3.5 weeks touring the South Island of NZ and that wasn't enough to see all of it but we did manage a lot. It involved travelling almost every day, we only had a few 2 nights in 1 location. My daughter now lives in NZ and I've been back a few more times & each time see something different. As Roger suggested, it could take years to see it. Each island is different and each corner provides a different view.
Nevertheless, 2-3 months should provide a reasonable view of the whole country. The ferry from North to South can be expensive so consider this in your plans or consider taking a cheap domestic flight between islands.

We spent 3 months in South Island, did 9800km and have not seen everything.
Ono year in OZ, 44000km and we are going back for another year.

Hi Eef and Dries,

As suggested by RogerM, I would not recommend purchasing a vehicle in NSW due to the annual vehicle inspection required when renewing registration. Victoria (where I am located) and Queensland will have ample second hand vehicles that suit your needs.

Secondly, having seen the state of a lot of the old bangers that travellers buy and sell to each other - and the prices asked - I would recommend looking elsewhere. carsales.com.au is generally the best place to buy a car. Generally sellers on carsales will provide more information about the condition and service history of the cars.

As for which vehicle, it will be generally cheaper to buy a 2WD car that will take you most places in Australia. Although you can buy cheap 4WDs, you increase the risk of breaking down with an older vehicle which may not be properly equipped. Campervans are obviously good options but will generally cost a bit more. Vans can be a good and cheap alternative. I would also consider Holden Commodore stationwagons or Ford Falcon stationwagons. These two models are reliable, very plentiful and very good value (being made in Australia). I travelled extensively around Australia in an old Holden Commodore and even slept in the back.

Good luck for your travels. If you need help in Melbourne, look me up or other members from the HU network here in Melbourne!

Carsales.com.au is a good place to start.try to get dual fuel as gas is cheaper. Melbourne and Sydney are cheaper than up north for vehicles.

If buying in Melbourne, try to get something with an "RWC" or in Brisbane a "Safety Certificate". This is the Road Worthy Certificate that is necessary to register or transfer the car into your name. The RWC can be expensive to pass. Generally dealer cars have an RWC where older private cars (10-15 years plus) do not. As above, RWC is only necessary when transferring, not annually.

As above Gumtree and Carsales are your best sources. Gumtree is probably better for the cheaper stuff, say under $5000 AU. 4WD is handy but only really necessary if you want to go to really remote locations. If we had an idea of your car budget we could recommend something.

Cheers,
Brett.

In Queensland its obligatory for the seller to provide a safety certificate when the vehicle is sold if the number plates are still on the vehicle or still registered. Not sure how that works in Victoria.

Yes, exactly the same for Victoria.

Id suggest go to Perth, and buy a car there. WA has the easiest registration (road tax) system both to renew on the road and to tranfer when you sell it. So long as the tax is up to date you will have no problem. I would suggest NOT to buy from another traveller as the prices are often vastly inflated. Sell to a backpacker at the end of the trip though ;)