Oz in winter
 

A few questions for my fellow travellers accross the ditch...

I plan to arrive in Sydney early May to spend between 4 and 6 months going around Australia before settling somewhere there. Given that winter will be starting what is the best route to travel. Plan to travel all the way around and see it all. Would like to stay as warm and dry as possible. Middle age bones don't like the wet and cold!

Also need some place to stay in Sydney for a week or so while I get everything ready. If you know of any reasonable accomodation I would be grateful.

Many thanks

Peter

I say you should head north first. The weather in Queensland at that time of the year is excellent. Then if there hasn't been too much rain, head for the Outback. Magic days and cool nights. I believe Victoria and South Australia is a bit brisk in winter. I can't comment on WA as I haven't ever been there in winter. Enjoy

As they say in the Westerns - "Head North young man, head North".

As you go North the weather gets drier and warmer. By the time you've got upto Darwin the weather down South will start to warm up.

Thanks Kenny & Roger

North it is! Any suggestions on where to stay in Brisbane. It is one of my permanent options and I would like to spend about a week there.

Peter

I would go to Broome in WA and ride to Cairns then to Brisbane then to Sydney & Melbourne as the outback is very hot and you definately would not want to attempt riding across it in Summer anyway.

The coldest parts in Winter would be the countryside between Sydney and Melbourne or areas around Tasmania however these places are VERY nice in summer time.

If I was going to be here you could have stayed at my place but I will be in the UK just starting my ride back to Brisbane. Just can't help bad timing I guess!!

Brisbane is pretty big and busy now so maybe you could just do a search on Accommodation to find somewhere to stay. Never ask a local- none of us has ever stayed anywhere except where we live!

Kenny

Off to Oz
 

Just registered..1st post.
I also are packing up and moving to Oz.
Dont know wether to take a bike from here,, or buy one in Oz
Iam into adventure riding,,so will be looking at a thumper.
XT 660 or similar.will be based in Gold Coast.
Will stay in Oz for a while..going to have to work..:(
Later on will take the bike into asia.
hope to ride into Malaysia..Thailand.etc.
anybody got any tips on importing a bike into Oz.
Regards...KEV

Thanks for the advice PocketHead.

Welcome to the site Kev - hopefully we'll meet somewhere in OZ. I guess you have two options - either buy the bike in NZ (I did) and get a carnet for OZ - not sure if you need a carnet for Asia. If you buy the bike in NZ you (from memory) need a carnet for 10% of the value of the bike. You can get all the info from the AA - they are very helpful. If you import the bike into OZ you need to pay the tax (again about 10 or 12%). I didn't research the buying in OZ option. I wanted to set the bike up here.

You will find all the info you need on this site.

I settled for a Suzuki DR650 and absolutely love it. I struggled with the bike choice and test drove them all. Th DR650 was the last on my list but she really is great to ride. Needed some modifications for OZ - a larger tank being the most important. Again, all the info you need on bike choice is here.

Have you travelled the South Island by bike yet? If not, I would suggest you do it before you go. Really stunning, especially by bike.

Good luck and see you in OZ!

Peter

There's plenty of accomodation - backpacker upto 5 star, usually not a problem getting somewhere. Personally I hate cities so would opt for staying North of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast - its still close enough to ride into Brisbane but far enough so that you wont want too!! South of Brisbane is the Gold Coast which is like a city but with more morons per square km. (sweeping generalisation) so avoid it, unless you are a moron that is!!:cool4:

Most caravan parks offer accomodation - either onsite caravans or cabins, they vary in price so a phone call is usually the best way to assess. Motels are getting exxy at over $110 a night - but I've seen a few flea pits advertised at $50 to $75 a night.

Pubs/hotels can be a good bet - meet locals, have a few beers, woo the barmaid with tales from exotic places.........or woo the barman if that is your bent - we're all very open minded nowdays!!

I moved to NZ for a few years and imported my campervan when I returned. If I had known what a pain Australian Customs were going to be, I would NEVER have done it! It ended up costing me almost $1800 more than I planned. There was a charge for this and a charge for that and so it went on. Took almost 2 months before I managed to get my hands on it. Then there was the other greedy hands wanting my money to get it registered. Cost me $200 for a bloke to come out, have a quick look at it then put a "Private Import" sticker on it. Registration is another story which I won't bore you with.

Insurance is another worry. Because of an "unofficial protection" system that Australian industry seems to have going, getting insurance is not too easy. Most insurance companies won't touch an imported vehicle, even though most of the so-called "Australian New" vehicles are also imported, by by Australian companies, not individuals.

If you are intent on doing it though, remember that you need to have owned and used your bike for at least 12 months before you can import it. Check out the Australian government websites on what the requirements are. Prior approval is needed before you ship it too.

Thats' just my spin on it, Kev.

Hi Peter,

I went across the ditch and worked in South west Western Australia in the forestry for May through August. The weather got a bit brisk in the mornings with the odd light frost. It rained real hard a fair bit too. I understand it to get quite brutaly hot in summer. Melbourne i found to be very similar to Wellington for winter weather. So as the others say, head north!

Have a good 'un !

Sort of puts a person off..about importing..will make some more inquires..
thanks for help.
Ride Safe...KEV

This was a real nice stay in Sydney:

Eva's Backpackers Budget Accommodation Sydney Australia | Australia backpacker and youth hostel accommodation (also recommended in the Lonely Planet). Not far from the city, clean & comfortable.

Hans

Just got of the phone to a guy from ...get routed..
transport bike company...
about a grand to ship it.then 10% ON THIS AND 12% on that.. also have to own the bike here for 12 months previous..<as someone has stated>
nah ..going to flag it and buy a bike in oz...
dont make it easy for us do they..
cheers KEV

Good thinking Kev!! The whole point is to make it as difficult as possible for you to import it. That way you get to support the local industry.

Hey Hornet
 

Im at Sydney now and intending to make bike trip of 2 month.
looking 4 partners?

Idan (Israel)

972-524-738018
baridan8@gmail.com

Hi Idan

Sadly my trip has been delayed. Will only be leaving at the end of the year. Hope you have a great trip, I am envious.

customs
 

we have ridden opur bikes through 49 countries and they are Australian registered bikes.
Hve to say that Australian customs and Quarantine services are the worst and most expensive in the world. Nothing short of a big rip off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!