Re: planning a month is Oz

I've done the Nullarbor in a car, visiting various caves and doing
botanical surveys. Camping out in the open for the 'big sky' experience
is still something that resonates with me thirty years after the event.
Travelling across by train will at least give you that 'f.ck it's a big
country' feeling, providing you want to spend three days of your holiday
doing that. Another way would be to spend those three days flying
out of Perth using a regional airline to get to the Kimberley or
Pilbara, then continuing on to Darwin. From Darwin, it's easy to get
to Alice Springs, then hop a flight to Uluru/Ayers Rock, another place
that will leave a lasting impression.

The big six things most people want to see in Australia:

Ayers Rock/Uluru [and the Olgas]
Great Barrier Reef
Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Great Ocean Road [Victoria]
Kakadu
Bungle Bungles [Kimberley, Western Australia]

Other things that leave a strong impression for those that visit
them:

Blue Mountains
Flinders Ranges
Kalgoorlie Super Pit
Giles Weather Station [and the exerience of getting there]
Grampians [Victoria]
Mount Kosciuszko
Sovereign Hill and Ballarat Gold Museum [Victoria]
Cape Tribulation and World Heritage Queensland rainforests
Cape York Peninsula
Warumbungles [inland NSW]
Broken Hill [mullock heaps, underground mine tours and the Mundi Mundi Plain]
Wild Dog Ranges [NSW]

My interests tnd towards the natural and unspoiled, but the cities also have
plenty to offer.

Atom Egoyan

Yeah some of that does worry me a bit.  I'm fairly practicable, but I
think I could easily get out of my depth.

I'm gradually easing towards taking the train, I still fancy the road
trip, but like you say, its going to cost more.

It is helpful to get your advice - it gives me food for thought.

As far as driving goes, Perth-Brisbane is almost as long a trip as you could do in Australia, short of
going all the way round. You can go across the Nullarbor, via Adelaide, and then either via Melbourne
or Broken Hill. The other way is up the Western Australian coastline  and then through the Pilbara and
Kimberley. You could only really go that way in the dry season [March-October], because most of the
roads up north are impassable due to rains caused by cyclones, and it also starts to get insanely hot.
It's the kind of thing you might do as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Either way you are talking about extreme remoteness. Driving across the Nullarbor on the Princes Highway
is OK, but go off-road to, say, Forrest or Giles weather stations and you are talking total self-sufficiency.
At certain times of the year, the Gibb River Road [northern WA] probably only sees one car a week.

The other issue is cost. It's 7-8000 km. Even at daily rates, you will be paying a great deal more
for the experience of driving than you would just to fly. If you are driving a rental vehicle, they
often have prohibitions on going 'off-road', by which they mean gravel. You might be best to restrict your
driving to the east coast, where the distance between attractions is not so extreme. That's not to say
the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie isn't worth your attention, but it's the best part of a day's drive from
Perth. Some guys might drive that long for the brothels, but flying is cheaper and safer.

Atom Egoyan
Melbourne, Australia

Rudy,

Thanks for the tips.  I will enquire about car insurance this end, never
really thought about doing that.  I will check with my VISA card
supplied and see what deals they have.

Not sure they sell fly swatters here either to be honest, this is a cold
country. :)

http://www.apollocamper.com/

We rented from these guys..good prices, sometimes GREAT if they want some
vehicles "returned" to their home office.
Also have "cheapa" cars..about 4 years old,  in good shape for considrably
less that renting a NEW one.  Also good ONE WAY rates (no "penalty")
We used them when available. They also have locations in NZ.

You'll want car insurance.  We NEVER buy the insurance from the rental
outfit..its often almost as much as the rental.  Try and arrange insurance
from "home"-perhaps your house/car insurance carrier can set something up.
When we went to OZ, we had coverage on our "Signature" level Visa card.  I
contacted VISA in advance and they assured me I had full rental car coverage
"built in" to my Visa card.  Saved  $$

I 'd never  take Cash Advances on my CC..We went for 6 weeks.  Used our
Credit Union  ATM card (No fees) at Aussie Credit unions to take out $AU.
Never use the exchange booths at airports..they re a rip off !

Take a good quality FLY SWATTER  (or two)  They don't sell them over there
and the flies are very annoying.
Nextime, I'd consider replacing one piece of my luggage with a
"cooler"..just stuff my clothes inside(and take a folded up nylon bag for
the clothes on arrival) for the flight (make sure it doesnt exceed the
Airline baggage size requirements)  Coolers ("Esky") are quite expensive
over there and usually get left behind for the return trip.

I've been thinking month long stay in Oz.

I've just inherited a small amount of cash, which hopefully I'm going to
use to visit Oz and NZ this year.

I quite enjoy roughing it to be honest, I don't want anything fancy, I'd
be happy to use a tent.

I'd quite like to, either hire a camper, or, hire a car and drive from
Perth to Brisbane.  Driving the distance isn't an issues for me, I drive
a truck all day long.

Or, do the same road trip via bas or train.

Am I right in thinking I can get a visa waiver as I'm from the UK?

Do I need a place organised for my first night in Oz, as you do when you
fly to the US?

I'm going to mainly use credit cards to pay for things, I can draw cash
(maybe expensive) on my CC.  I will take a small amount of A$, but I
don't like to have too much on me.

Any other suggestions, or something I've forgot?

TIA