Hmm your right harrypotter I never thought of what happens when I have a crash in oz lol.
I had to google “drop bears” haha very funny lads… The killer koala…!!!
And back to the subject, I need help please!
Neil.
Haha… good to see you have a sense of humour. On that note, be aware that Aussie jokes and language in general can be on the coarse side. Then again you’re in Ireland, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
General health tip, sunscreen and a hat are quite important. More sun and a lot more damaging than what a lot of people expect.
ChrisWaddle nailed the locations fairly well, all I’ll add is that Canberra is dead boring once you’ve been there for a few days (it’s an inland city where most of us are on the coast, and was only set up because Sydney and Melbourne couldn’t decide who’d be the nation’s capital). Adelaide isn’t that bad, bit slower/more relaxed than Sydney/Melbourne though.
Haha yea I’m used to the rough language and messing about, we’ll you know what us irish can be like 
Cheers for the heads up lads ill have a good look into the areas mentioned though I’m sure ill be have with a load of questions.
Thanks Neil.
Stick to the coastline. Weird things happen in the middle!
But then thats where all the money is with the mining… so your call.
Lol at the advice, haha.
Its expensive here.
Sydney 3rd, Melb 5th, Perth 10th most expensive places to live in the world. Everything is just bullshit expensive.
The east coast is pretty much where everything is. See the standard tourist things, you’ll work out what is good to see whilst you’re here in your first few weeks.
Oh, great barrier reef would probably be my only thing I’d recommend. But, being a local and having seen a fair bit, I guess it loses a bit of its wonder (Aus in general).
Welcome to Oz, little buddy.
We have had a few irishmen visit our shores lately, and I have learnt a few things about you guys. There is 2 of them that have joined my football team. One, Im disappointed with the football skills of your fellow country men, considering they are from Europe. Two, I cant understand a thing you country men say. I just nod and smile.
So be prepared for lots of nodding and smiling.
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[quote]irvs wrote:
Hey everyone, well I’ve totally changed my plans in life and decided to head off for Australia in April for two years. Ive got my working visa passed, a bank account set up so now I’m in the research stage of “things to do and see” and I’m looking advice and tips from people that’s been. Like what would you recommend I do or go to see? Anything you wished you had done or wished you hadn’t???
Thanks Neil.
[/quote]
Get a GPS if you don’t have one with updated speed camera warnings. There are also average speed cameras that measure the time it takes you to get from one point to the next. It effectively limits you to the speed limit for some legth of time. A good way around these is to take breaks between them at rest stops and service centres. Beware of Highway Patrol too. A high range speeding offence in Australia results in immediate impounding of your vehicle - 45km(28 mph) over the limit.
If you’re in for a road trip head around Australia on Highway 1(9000 miles.) It’s the longest national highway in the world.
Most people start in Sydney and head up the coast. The Myall Lakes is well worth a visit. It’s changed a lot since I was there last - development, people, resorts etc.
If you like fishing try the lagoon behind Foster beach - huge flathead.
Coffs Harbour is over rated. Just a bunch of motels and a giant ‘banana’ attraction. You can get some good bananas at road side stalls - they’re picked ripe not green.
Avoid Byron Bay, and the hinterlands(Nimbin, Mullimbimby.) Nothing but druggies, tourists and silvertail hippy dregs. Not a tradesman or farmer in sight.
If I were you I wouldn’t head any further north at the moment(monsoon season.) Before Coffs Harbour head inland to Dorigo, Armidale and maybe up to Glen Innes.
Heading South you can take the Hume Highway and visit Australia’s oldest country town(Goulburn.) It’s actually been ruined by demolishing and ruining heritage sites and building modern monstrosities. There’s also some interestig towns off this route(Bowral, Mossvale, Bundanoon.) You can then head back onto the Hume and further south there’s a town call Yass. It still looks like a country town.
You could also head down the South coast by the Princess Highway - Port Kembla, Nowra, Batesman’s Bay. You can head along the coast to Victoria or go inland. Melbourne - Mornington Peninsula, Dandenong Ranges and a great 30km road linking the Dandenongs to Marysville. 100+foot mountain ashes on both sides of the road.
This is not the time of year for heading up to Queensland(monsoon, road bloacks, heavy rain, flooding etc.) Nor NT(too hot), It’s also too bloody hot to cross the Nullarbor. Firstly, almost every day with 40c. Every night with be freezing. You have to carry your own fuel and water. (Service stations have signs saying “please don’t ask for water as refusal often offends.”
You’ll want a spare tire, jack, tire iron, tool kit, first aid, flares, warm clothing and a UHF radio as most Australian telecommunication providers don’t have coverage in most rural areas.
Warnings: Brown snakes(deadliest snake in the world) are very common and aggressive. Tiger snakes are even more aggressive and also deadly. Red belly black snakes are highly venonmous too.
Good luck.
Sexmachine you are a saint, that’s an awesome bit of advice you provided. I’ll get a good look at the places you mentioned.
Sadly thebird I’m not a football man myself and by football I do hope you mean Gaelic football and ozzy rules, real mans football. But I have been a fighter for most of my life judo, boxing, mma. Now the past year I’ve been racing mtb bikes.
Sexyxe the Great Barrier Reef is top of the list of things to do, I’ve my padi advanced licence so I’m hoping I could get a job there for a wile helping with the tourist dives.
Again everyone thanks thanks thanks for the help.
Neil.
Come to New Zealand bro.
Don’t worry man I’ll be over to New Zealand, once I get my 2nd year visa sorted I’m thinking of going for a month or so.
Neil.
Nah I mean to live mate. Screw aussie, the only reason people go over there is for the higher wages. And now there’s doubts about Australia’s future economic growth.
Haha I’d love emigrate but time will tell, I’m taking a good few years out of everyday normal life and am going to see the world, god knows where I’ll end up. Best bit is I’ve family in a few countries so that should help with my travils.
This whole thing is kinda like a mini mid life crisis lol, 29, was nearly married (I got dumped), car started breaking down. So it’s adventure time and foreign chick banging time lol.
Cheers Neil.
Not to turn this into an us vs them argument… But NZ being in a better financial position… Please.
I was only in Australia (Melbourne to be exact) for three weeks but while I was there I did do tour on the Great Ocean Road and saw the 12 Apostles. I do wish I had the cash to see them from the helicopter.
I saw another poster say Melbourne was full of hipster which I also thought… however the city has tons of Architecture to admire and many little “lane and arcades” in the CBD (Central Business District AKA Downtown)
Not to mention the AWESOME graffiti around the city is cool to see as well.
I did attend a footie game and LOVED that. I am a soccer player so I was able to appreciate it. The size of the stadium still has me at a loss of words. Nothing like that in Canada.
The metro is pretty convenient and can take you anywhere. Watch out for the trains that are “express” i missed my stop because the train went right past it and stopped at the next train station which was pretty far from where I needed to go AND I only purchased my ticket for a specific zone.
Keep in mind that if you do plan on working at restaurants that tipping is not expected however you wage probably covers for that unlike the minimum wage in America.
Just small things that I remember from 2 years ago. Hopefully some of it is useful!
Have fun!
[quote]sexyxe wrote:
Not to turn this into an us vs them argument… But NZ being in a better financial position… Please.[/quote]
Who said anything about New Zealand being in better financial position…? I just said that it is likely Aussie won’t enjoy the same level of economic growth they have been experiencing in recent times.
And OP, gotcha, I thought you were looking for a place to move to (as in permanently).
Regarding the biking, perhaps this site/forum might be helpful with research:
You know, about New Zealand, I’ve often told Europeans to go there instead of Australia. It’s cheaper, the fauna is less deadly, there’s plenty of adventure to be had and most of its land mass is taken up by Middle-Earth instead of endless fucking desert.
Best of luck, whatever you end up doing. Hope it works out for ya.
Lads I can’t thank you all enough for your info, you’ve been a HUGE help.
Thanks thanks thanks
Neil.
[quote]irvs wrote:
Sexmachine you are a saint, that’s an awesome bit of advice you provided. I’ll get a good look at the places you mentioned.
[/quote]
No problem. The Great Barrier Reef is great if you want to go scuba diving or snorkling. I don’t like the year-long extremely hot weather in North Queensland. I’d go in Winter - less tourists too.
I like to go to the mountains in the Summer and do some fishing, hiking, camping etc. If you’re heading South on the Hume after the Goulburn turnoff veer left onto Remembrance Driveway.
There’s quite a few things to do in Canberra like art galleries, museums, parliament house etc. I tend to avoid it and Queenbeyan and head on to Cooma. There’s a stretch of road(part of The Snowy Mountains Highway) that leads to Tumut. This section of road in particular is littered with roadkill - Roos, Wombats, emus and even wild brumbies. So be careful at night. As usual, you get crazy truckers coming at you on the wrong side of the road sometimes too. Or P plate kiddies who think they can drive. There are so many great stretches of road here where you get to know that the highway patrol and speed cameras aren’t around - the quieter roads of course. I try to stay off the Highways as much as possible because it can be boring and you can’t drive at a decent speed for fear of having your licence suspended(again) or even having your car immediately impounded.
So, just keep heading South. Cooma Road becomes Badja Road when it enters the national park. Follow Badja for a while then veer left onto Countegamy Road. Follow it all the way to Numeralla. Watch out for roos here.
Numeralla was where my grandfather grew up. They owned property there that is still in the family today. There’s no shops or anything at Numeralla. The family house looks much as it did nearly a century ago in some our family photos.
Follow the directions on to Cooma.
Now from the Snowy Mountains Highway you can stay on it or verge left onto Jindabyne Road. Jindabyne is a tourist town - it’s crap. There is some good fishing on Lake Jindbyne but you won’t get a cheap pub room for the night. You could head from there onto the Alpine Highway and up to Thredbo though. Thredbo and Perisher have the best skiing in Australia(but obviousy not now in the Summer.) There’s a lot places to fish, hiking trails etc.
You’ll have to pay a small toll for entering the national park on the Threadbo route. You can hike up Mount Kosciuszko(my dad made me do it in Winter when I was 8-years-old.)
Anyway, on to Khancoban then left onto Tooma Road. Follow the signs for Tumut and the Snowy Moutains Highway(turn left.)
That detour to the mountains can be avoided BTW, by just following the Snowy Mountains Highway all the way from Cooma to Tumut. You can also stop off on the way to fish Lake Eucumbene.
Anyway just before you come to Tumut there’s a turn off to a quaint little town on a lake(Talbingo). Don’t expect any food unless you catch it yourself.
It’s a much shorter root of course on the Hume Highway - Yass, Gundagai. But then you miss out on the Kozsciosko and the amazing scenery and you have to drive like a robot on endless highway with Highway Patrol Police around corners and cameras everywhere.
If you want to go west from Tumut(wouldn’t advise if you don’t like terrible heat) you could go on to Wagga Wagga and so on. I usually avoid Albury/Wadonga as I don’t like it. You can head on to Melbourne or Adelaide, Port Augusta and then the Nullabor. But as I said before I wouldn’t want to cross the Nullabor at this time of year unless I had to. I also wouldn’t go too far north at this time of year.
But if you like surfing, fishing and going to the Casino then heading north on to Townsville’s your best bet. Cairns is okay but I prefer to skip it, head west, get onto Highway 1(its different sections have different names) and on into the NT, Darwin via Kakadu and then on down to Broome, along the coast via Highway 1 to Perth.
Anway, I’ve driven around Australia many times and there’s heaps more wilderness areas and I haven’t even mentioned Tasmania. It would take pages. I’ve given you some of my favourite routes. If you’re not camping or want a night in a bed, you can get a ‘pub room’ with shared toilet/shower facilities for around $40/$50. Some pubs charge a bit less and bikies and truckers and railway workers often get their rooms cheaper as regulars. Get to know the staff before enquiring about the room. Great bistro food at some of them too. And try a mixed grill at a truckers’ roadhouse.
If you’re exploring country towns always sit at the bar and talk to the bartender. He’ll get the locals to accept you usually. Some small country town folk can be very rude to tourists.
Well, once again good luck. You should be able to make sense of my post with the aid of a map or GPS.
Your a legend sexmachine, some awesome info there. Though I have to laugh about the roadkill lol.
Cheers loads.
Neil.