Another Oz rookie arriving Darwin
 

Gidday folks

Norwegian overlander here. Will arrive Darwin 19. october to pick up my bike that is being shipped over from Dili. I know its not just to pick it up, it has to be inspected and get a thumb up and a stamp both here and there but hopefully that will go smoothly. (3-4 days on my knees with a toothbrush in Dili will hopefully pay off....:innocent:)

Anyhow - I have a few questions.

1. Cheap place to crash for a few days in Darwin?

2. Simcard for domestic calls - which company have the best coverage and best prices?

3. Whats the best way to be online while travelling in and through Australia?
Can I use a simcard in a Ipad for example and use that to be online for a reasonably price? Or is it better just to use wifi while in a place who have this? Or other options?

4. Routing questions - I will be travelling in Australia 6-7 weeks from the end of october to the middle of december and then go home for christmas and new year and come back probably in february and do some more travelling/leg 2.
I have a place to park my bike near Melbourne so thats where I will end leg 1 and start leg 2 of my journey.
Travel inland/outback in november is not so recommended I understand or?

I have figured out this route so far...

Leg 1 approx 25 october to 15 december:
Start from Darwin, then slowly ride towards Perth and taking in the interesting spots along the route. Then the Perth area for a while. Then riding slowly direction Adelaide taking in sights and interesting spots along the way. And from Adelaide to the storing place near Melbourne.

Then leg 2 from february-march-april:
East coast and the main cities there, maybe Tasmania, then inland/outback Alice Springs, Uluru etc before finding a way to continue my trip another place.

Any advice, comments and suggestions appriciated.

If someone have a free bed or a conveniant place to pitch a tent to offer me I have some good travel stories in exchange.... Can even do some household chores.... :smiliex:

Pm sent :-)

Is your bike coming in on a Carnet?

I've read previously that you cannot leave Australia without you vehicle if it comes in on a Carnet. You might want to check this!

1. Sorry, can't help there.

2. Phone company: Best coverage is Telstra or a reseller of Telstra. Unfortunately they are also the most expensive. next in like is Optus. A littrle cheaper, less coverage. Finally Vodafone, but they have shit coverage outside cities. When I was on outback adventures I took a Telstra 3G Wifi router as I had no coverage on my Vodafone mobile. Even in the main stopping places like Innaminka and Coober Pedy. It cost me $30 for 2GB last time I recharged my Telstra router.

3. If you can live with it, I'd use Wifi where you can. Otherwise a Simm in a iPad or phone is probably best.

4. Your route is okay, but you are travelling through some of the hottest parts of Australia during the hottest parts of the year. Definitely avoid Uluru and Alice until April. Take plenty of water, you will need it. :)

Thanks for answer bnicho.

Yeas my bike is on a Carnet.

So one cannot leave Australia without the bike if its imported on a Carnet? That would be a bummer as I have planned to go back home for christmas and new year. Have been on the road for 1,5 year at christmas time so kinda looked forward to that...

Are there anyone out there who knows more about this?

I do - as I've done it twice already in Oz (Melbourne and Darwin.)

I'll tell you all about the technical details, no problem. PM me if you're interested.

Keith

https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicl...ns/carnet.aspx gives brief outline of the requirements of the carnet system as applied in Australia. You can store a vehicle on a carnet in a customs bonded area so effectively (for paperwork) exported the vehicle whilst you are out of the country. Just make sure you have multiple pages for Australia if you take that route.


You are riding through some pretty harsh country at that time of year, bear in mind that maps may show entrances to cattle stations that have no facilities and can be 100kms off the Highways. Temperatures can and do kill a lot of people travelling in outback Australia, I doubt that a year goes by without 5 to 10 people dying from dehydration during the Summer months. To do any physically hard work you may need at least 2 litres of water an hour to remain healthy.


Telstra does have the best 4G mobile network, but there are satellite phone options if you want peace of mind and larger data downloads. Any of the sat phone suppliers will give you a price.


Not sure Darwin has heard the word "cheap" for quite a few years, accommodation is at a premium due to gas and mining activities. If it looks as though the bike wont clear customs for a while, I'd jump on the Ghan Train service to Alice and return when the bike is cleared.

If you make it to Adelaide send me a PM and we could offer you a place to stay for awhile in the Adelaide Hills, I owe a lot to other members on this sight and like to pay it back. Ride safe and take it easy in the outback, plenty of wildlife on the roads and the heat can also be dangerous.
Look forward to hearing about your adventures.
Jeffrey

Hi!

When you get to Alice let us know :-) drop a line to the comunity.
Allways looking for another excuse for a beer or a BBQ bier

Werner +Claudia from sunny Alice

Thanks Gummikuh and Jeffery G

I have arrived in Darwin and I am housed and fed well here by a very friendly Hubber, so all well so far. It seems though that it will take a few days to get the bike cleared, inspected and ready to go. So I just wait for that to happen.

And I might come your way later....:thumbup1:

Did the customs clearance go smoothly?

What about CTP insurance?


Cheers
Mark

Hi Mark

Sent you a pm.

Good luck!

Since the question about leaving a bike in Australia while temporary imported on a Carnet have been mentioned a few times in this thread - I have now been doing some research about the subject. I have been in contact with the right authorities as are called "National Temporary Import" and asked if it is ok or not to leave the bike in the country while oneself travel to another country.

And this "National Temporary Import" staff told me that it was perfectly fine and legal to leave a bike teporary imported on a Carnet while oneself travelled to another country. They just wanted a little e-mail notice about the case. With details of name of Carnet holder, bike details, Carnet number and expiracy and reason for leaving the bike. In my case to visit family/friends back home in Europe during christmas and new year was a perfectly fine and acceptable reason for The National Temporary Import.

Nice hearing you are back on another leg of your journey Kurt
All the best with it and ride safe

Wayne

Hi and thanks very much Wayne. Been on the road almost two weeks here in Australia. Its really great and I enjoy it - but its hot and expensive. My camping skills are getting better though....:mchappy:

All the best to you too....:thumbup1:

Just happened upon your thread SB….and you've help answer that same question about the Carnet for me as well. I have some very early thoughts about a bike shipment/trip to AUS - possibly March of 16' - and this CDP information is good to know.

Safe travels...bier