Hi All
I thought that it was about time I posted my first message.  

My husband, Jeff, and I live in the UK and are hoping to spend a year doing the 'Big Lap' starting this June or July.   We are both retired and want to do this trip before we get too old and decrepit   Our 12-month Tourist Visas have been applied for and we're impatiently waiting, hoping that they've been granted.

Our intention is to buy a motorhome as soon as we can after arrival (probably in Sydney, Newcastle or Brisbane) and after spending a couple of weeks fitting it out (or however long it takes) we'll head out.   Not fussed as to which direction, but I think heading for Darwin before your winter is over would probably be a good idea.   We certainly want to cover as much of the country as we can, but we don't want to rush, and intend staying more than a couple of days in most places.  

We have both lived in Australia (4 years back in the '60s) and have had a couple of holidays in more recent years touring NSW, Victoria, Northern Territory and Queensland - so we have a fair idea of what to expect.    .

I've bought and am reading Cindy & Jeremy Gough's very helpful "The Grey Nomad's Guidebook" and have joined several Forums.   But on a venture like this one can never have too much help.   Any words of wisdom and advice will be very gratefully received.   

Regards

Lesley

G'day lesly & Jeff,Im a newbe to the nomads but have traveled OZ near on 3 times around.I was a full colored BROWN nomad at the time,very young and footloose.I was wondering what price range ya were looking at for ya motorhome?We plan to do it all again and have been researching very hard from every angle,just to choose the right option(read cheapest way to achieve the trip with the best comfort) Seeing we live here,fitting out a motorhome to our needs would be easier than your senerio because we have more than 12mths to do it and go see it all again if ya get my drift.If ya could give us an idear on "What size M home you were after and/or what ya think your basic requirements were(read comfort zone).WE might be able to help in some way,there are a lot of options either way you want to go.Depending on $$$,ready to go M Homes can be bought for as little as $12,000 AUD up to $28,000.I guess it's all up what ya need to do the deed. With no disrespect,you wont get a million replies here to soon.I would say it's because most G/Nomads are on the road most of the time,great life heh?,I usually check in nightly as at the moment we arn't on the road.Fip one back soon and we will reply the same day.Glenn.

Hi Lesley & Jeff, and welcome. You might consider joining the CMCA, http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/index.php, they have some good member benefits (and a good forum too). Also check ou their Members Market for second hand motorhomes. Cheers, Peter.

Lesley, if you want a wreless broadband service with good coverage you will need to go with Telstra NextG. This is the only network with decent coverage across the country. You can do it with some mobiles as modem or with a dedicated wireless modem, either Telstra or Bigpond (both Telstra, actually, but different plan styles). Very hard to work out the best plans, good luck! Cheers, Peter.

Lesley & Jeff,out of curiosity have you googled "motorhomes for sale australia" or "busses for sale australia"?.Heaps of stuff to look thru and it will definately give you both a better perspective of prices.I assume ya have two youngens as by "4 Berth",then ya have to have a vehicle with leagle provision for 4 seats,a lot of M/homes in that price range seem to only have 2 seats.Mind you,there are a few small busses for sale at the moment for under 25K that are leagle for 4. I actually have a thought on how ya could afford something in the higher price range and a way to get around selling it on and paying less in the long run.It all has to do with others in the UK who are thinking of doing the same thing.Basicly you would have to net work someone like minded who would do the tripp after yourselves."Scenario"Ya buy something for around 35K that is suitable do the trip and sell it on for say 20K to the person you have networked in the UK.This will work the same if you are talking URO's or AUD. As for the best place to buy,well,I guess it's like everywhere around the world.And whats on the market at what time ya ready to buy is about the bottom line.I've done ozz in VDubs and found it great,but,that was mainly on my own and ruff as guts.This time we are taking a M/home (small bus,35ft or close,with a car trailer an small topper dingy).Nothing worse than parking up and having to go shopping or sightseeing without alternative transport.Duel fuel is the best(read cheapest) way to go.Diesle is dearer than LPG or ULP.Well I have waffled on a bit so I'll bid ya all a good night.Glenn.

Thanks Peter - have made a note of that advice. Yes, Glenn - I've googled that and all sorts of combinations, and found lots for sale. Hopefully we won't have to hang about for too long after arrival. Nope, no young 'uns - we just like to have plenty of room, especially as we intend to spend a year in our 'wagon'. I know we'll have 'The Great Outdoors' to play in, but I have no doubts that we will experience a fair few rainy days, and I like me home comforts. I have been looking out for Pommie Grey Nomads just to have a 'chat' with them, but none so far. There are a couple mentioned in an article in the Grey Nomads site, but I can't see a way of getting in touch with them - David and Veronica Taylor. And another couple who should be arriving in Oz soon. You waffle on all you like, mate - I'm all ears - or should that be eyes as I'm reading what you write Thanks again guys, back to the 'Search engine' Ooroo

Ok here we go,busses have a 25yr lifespan in service.To get a bus to the 30yr life span of service it takes a whole lot of requirments(read the vehicle needs to be worth the cost of the extra 5yrs)So a bus thats 30yrs at end of service is better than a bus on it's 25th year and comming out of service.Mileage isn't the worst factor with thier big diesle engines,I load a truck every few days that has 1.2 MILK's on the original motor with no major overhaul.It by the way is only 5yrs old. Having said that,I will allways advocate for a bus with a duel fuel system and conversion to a big V8.There are a few reasons which seem apropriate for this.Duel fuel/no brainer!But the bottom line I feel is,if the brown matter hits the fan,you can rebuild a V8 for around 6K,a diesle about 15K AND up to 25K.There are heaps of busses out there that are converted like this and that should be a priority.Gas is hard to find sometimes in the outback,not impossible,but in the populated areas is where it comes into it's own I think.Slower speeds/traffic ect...50c a litre,ULP $1.45,Diesle $1.35/up to $1.60? If you are serious about decking one out for your own needs,piece of cake,8k should be shear luxury.Ever wonder why some folks build a full length kitchen?So do I.Wasted space.If ya want room,what better to have than a yacht style galley kitchen?Compact and versatile.Most RV stoves and sinks/fridges,are about the same size,and,ya don't need 10ft of bench tops to prepare food.A friend of mine traveled around OZ with a very,very,very small potbelly heater.Warmed the bus up super,just remember to ventillate,and the small amount of wood needed to get it going was everywhere he went.Sorry,waffling again.Get the right rig and fit it out to your rec's.Maybe you will get lucky and find one part done for 12k,I have seen them.Glenn.

Hi Glenn - are you answering the right person, mate? We won't really have the time to outfit a bus. We's looking something that, once it's been checked out, all we have to do is head for the hills We won't want to spend too much of our precious year waiting for it to be ready. I guess the safest would to go to a dealer - what about ex-rentals? Am I right in assuming that they should have a good service history? I guess they're likely to be a bit more expensive, but they should be more reliable, eh? Regards

http://www.kea-rv-sales.com.au/Search.aspx Cheers, Peter

Ummmmm - mebbe not!!! Thanks anyway, Peter

I have been spending a little time looking at various slightly (!!) cheaper motorhomes, and I keep seeing Toyota Coasters. One of those might do quite nicely. Are they to be recommended?

Regards

-- Edited by LesleyW at 09:46, 2008-05-04

Sorry,in ya first post ya mentioned taking a few weeks to fit out a motorhome.Got me terms mixed up.www.rvpoint have motorhomes listed for 20k and under,some with rego.There is a Bedford S20 bus for sale all decked out and ready to roll for 20k its a private seller as well.I have been trying all morning to cut/paste the add here but to no avail.If LWB coaster is what ya after,there around but not to many under 20k.If ya don't mind a LWB poptop,there are a lot of those for under 20k.Busses like the one above offer the best room to move though.Glenn.

Lots of Coasters out there on the road. Very popular. Vary from one extreme to the other in quality and price. Cheers, Peter

Sorry Glenn, by 'fitting it out' I really should have said getting it ready for us, like stocking up with food and bits and pieces, and getting ourselves kitted out. We thought that we would only be able to bring one piece of baggage each on the plane, and as we'll be bringing a fair bit of our craft stuff, we thought we'd use this as an excuse for some new clothes. Now we've actually found that Emirates Airlines allow two pieces so we can bring more. That RVPoint site looks good, thankyou kind sir. I've added it to my 'Favourites' and will keep checking it now and again, especially when we get closer to departure. Now all we have to do is wait for our Visas, hopefully we should hear sometime this coming week. All the best

Hi folks,went to your web site.Very interesting,read heaps and learned a lot.We are doing the same thing as yourselves.Haven't finnished renovating yet but as soon as we have it's motorhome time.Hopefully by the end of the year.Luck with ya visas.Glenn.

Our Visas have arrived, so its all systems 'Go'. We're busy sorting out the house ready for renting out - getting rid of 25 years accumulated 'stuff'. We're aiming at leaving at the end of June but will just have to see how we get on.

Regards

Hi Lesley,  how exciting for you!   We're completely new to vanning, haven't yet bought ours, but hope to get away to "the mainland" in November.  We're in Tasmania...are you thinking of coming here?   If so, and if I can help, let me know.  

Hi Karli

Oh but of course Tassie is on our itinerary If we can work things out, we want to be there in February for the Wooden Boat Show. We have a friend living in Hobart who is very much involved in the show, as well as friends who will be attending, one from Sydney and a couple from the UK.

Many thanks for the offer

Regards

-- Edited by LesleyW at 20:19, 2008-05-13

Into wooden boats? Check out Duck Flat Wooden Boats, near Adelaide. Also the Paddle Steamer 'races' they have on the Murray River and Goolwa. Cheers, Peter.

Not particularly - Jeff is a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers (an educational charity) and we're hoping to meet up with other members who are taking part in the show. If you'd like to see the sort of things that he does there are some photos on our website www.wydon.co.uk . The Guild has a website too - www.igkt.net

Hi all

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The link above is for anyone that would like to look.

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