I was thinking of popping down to Aus, doing the Big Lap and popping back home after my fortnights relaxing holiday…
I then thought about a month or two more with a hire 4x4.
Then about buying a 4x4 and selling at it the end of year or so.
Looked at shipping my own HZJ75 in a 20ft box.
Now maybe buy a 4x4 there, starting out with no real timetable, getting some cheap bucket shop flights back to the UK now and again as needed and carry on like that.
I’m retired now, and although far from rich, I do have some money and do not intend leaving it all to Battersea Dog’s home.
So, I have little time restraints, but do want to keep my house in order, rather than sell up.
As a guide it looks like 4x4 rental for 30 days is 11,000 $Aus. If doing 30 max that might be OK but not really for longer.
20’ box is £6,000 and 40m days, each way. Temp import should be OK, but there is possibility of issues there.
Buy a 4x4 for ? 50k$Aus? Sell a year or two later for 30 or 40$Aus? That is better than rental by a lot and probably cheaper and more convenient than shipping in out my existing vehicle.
I have been looking at various Aus sites for vehicles but am not really sure which are the best ones?
AutoTrader Aus, eBay Aus, Gumtree.
This is still very early days, but with so many variables I need to try to get one or two tied down so I have a start point.
Assume arrive Sept 2025.
IF buying a vehicle to sell on later, where is best place to start? Are big cities best for choice?
And if I get rego from there as a non resident will I be OK on that for how long? Test every year or what?
What are buyers rights like from dealers? Or take a punt at a private sale?
Look for a ready to roll 4x4 or get a trademan’s truck and bolt a roof tent on? Or
Or
Thinking at loud at the moment, but all input welcome.
Is a big place 2 weeks is no good for it
First time I went flew to Sydney had relatives in Brisbane hired a car and drove there on map doesn’t look far but took almost a day to get there. Granted was going slow stopping off etc.
Said to them wouldn’t mind seeing ayres rock was told that was a 2 day drive just to get there so never went.
Maybe better idea hire buy camper van but need go for longer than 2weeks
First off, I emigrated here decades ago, so take whatever follows with as much salary (salt) as you like.
Secondly, you don’t “pop down” to anywhere this far away: it’s not a week-end in Ibiza or fortnight in Crete, it’s a long way here and back and you might as well make the most of it (if you can spare the cash, hop the ditch and go to NZ too).
When I arrived here in 1988 the backpacker thing was still big, there were dozens of Holden Kingswood/ Ford Falcon wagons (estates) and saloons for sale that had gone round the big island half a dozen times. Those times are long gone and I can’t say very much about the modern scene here but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get yourself around this place without spending a fortune (after all HubNut (Ian Seagrove) did NZ and a slice of Oz on a limited budget and filmed it too).
FWIW I’d say buy here and sell here: you’ll make a loss in dollar terms but you factor that in, it’s a holiday after all. When it comes to selling, if you’ve been travelling long enough the chances are you’ll meet up with someone (or someone who knows someone whose friend they met last Wednesday) who wants something like you want to sell.
Get your visa sorted, have a rough plan, have some back-up cash. The rest of it will work itself out.
Well one of us will. My experience of Australia is over 50 years old and I wasn’t holidaying/backpacking (though I did have little more than my Mathilda (bedroll)). I was working my way around in the halcyon days when they wanted people like me and we entered freely, wandered freely and worked freely. I travelled by foot/hitching/bus/train and never actually owned a vehicle 'till the last year or so when I bought a Humber Hawk and sold it before leaving in an auction at a loss.
I never got to go back, which was my intention, and if things were different would do so in a heartbeat, so at least go for it @franglais and enjoy it on my behalf.
The only advice I can give is, stay there as long as you are allowed by modern visas etc… Your time will not be wasted and, if you come back (or even if not ) return here and tell us all about it.
I am not kidding myself that I am going to do the Big Lap in one sitting, nor sleep in a rough blanket with a rock for a pillow every night, those days are gone. I am not a hard-core youngster, but can still get around a bit.
I’m think more of a 4x4 with some comforts, such as a roof tent. Maybe I could evict the moths from my purse and stretch to a “slide on”.
I’m not thinking of selling up my home-stead, but am OK with going for a couple of months at a time. I’m too old for them to want me as an immigrant, but I daresay they will allow me to stay a while.
Not sure I have more or better knowledge than PR or Spardo, different maybe.
First, two weeks is silly, two months, viable.
Second; vehicle, importation is difficult, for a short time not worth the effort. Look up the biosecurity conditions.
Why a 4x4? Unless you’re coming to do some off roading specifically, a two wheel drive will take you anywhere. Consider Toyota Kluger or Rav4, use SUV, crossover and/or (station)wagon. There is a healthy Land Rover community here who will gladly help in any way, to ensure you get the most out of your stay.
PM to follow.
Always up for a coffee!
I have done some off roading in the The Pyrenees and Morocco. I am not much of one for big towns or crowded beaches for too long.
I am happy to be a vehicle smaller than a motorhome, and want to get away from the beaten track without getting myself stuck in the middle of nowhere. An odd night in an hotel is fine, but happy enough cooking out a simple meal most nights, (so long as I have a proper heater available if needed)
The 4x4 bit is an insurance and occasional use thing rather than rock crawling with winches every day.
I have seen that many do just get in a self converted Transit van and clear off with no issues, but I am after summat a bit more refined, although not a film star Winnebago.
It is all compromise after all. Having freedom and flexibilty of a smaller 4x4 vs economy of a normal car or van vs set-up of a big motorhome.
Buying and selling means no hire contracts set in stone, so more flexibility to get cheaper flights.
A long way from buying any tickets yet, and further yet from buying any vehicles, but these look summat about right to me.
Dig’s your man for advice on that kind of kit but sadly he is no longer of this parish, but I could get him to contact you if you don’t already know how.
Just out of interest because it will never happen for me, what is the longest visa a Brit can get for Oz these days?
They look good but expensive.
Consider timing, it gets hot and humid here either side of Christmas, some of you blokes with milk bottle legs find that hard to deal with.
Thank you all, a good start to giving me more to consider.
Yep, I have read about the “right” seasons to go North or South due to weather. My knees aren’t quite milky white, but not far off it. I will say that I do like the look of snow covered mountains etc, but after 5 minutes of being in the actual stuff in real life and chucking two snowballs I have had enough of that.
Some of the NWT roads are closed to all traffic if it gets too wet I believe. If it is that bad it is a chore rather than an interesting drive. I’m not for cruising on smooth m-ways, a bit of mud/rock/sand is good, so long as it isn’t everlasting.
If I start in Sept, then head South for 2 months?? Take a break from the hols back in the UK for Xmas? Back for a couple or so months through the middle and up to the North?
If I do buy then the timing is all very flexible. See how it all develops.
Looks like 12month as a visitor for Aus$195. No part time working or anything allowed. I don’t intend doing such but I wonder whether or not there is much casual work done out in the sticks?
The 79 and 75/76 series Toyotas are rare over here, but look at the price of this 'un compared to the ones you called expensive. I do need to get myself more atuned to your prices I think.
Of course adverts are asking prices not necessarily selling prices, but a 2010 4.2 cab/flat for more money than a 2009 4.5 fully equipped.
The one thing you have to remember Fraggers is work your trip in to suit a 4 on, 3 off rota 'cos I’m sure there is someone on here who will want to go with you
My experience of Australia is over 50 years old and I wasn’t holidaying/backpacking (though I did have little more than my Mathilda (bedroll)). I was working my way around in the halcyon days when they wanted people like me and we entered freely, wandered freely and worked freely. I travelled by foot/hitching/bus/train and never actually owned a vehicle 'till the last year or so when I bought a Humber Hawk and sold it before leaving in an auction at a loss.
