Hello all just joined the forum and my husband and I are just about to embark on a working holiday around Australia in our 48 Bedford bus and was wondering for any tips that you may have that may help us on our adventure.
Thanking you
Hotrodbus

-- Edited by hotrodbus on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 02:25:56 PM

Hi christine and welcome to you, look from one well seasoned traveller to another soon to be just take it easy, dont fret about things, and enjoy the trip, everything will work out grab a copy of "the bible" (camps australia book current issue no 5) sit and have a read and be sure and always take "the scenic route" dont be afraid to aproach another camp and be sure and say G'day to all you meet if you see a couple in a blue toyota Hi-ace sopru conversion camper (as shown in picture to left) MAKE SURE you come and say G"DAY dont piddle into the wind or uphill or amongst stinging nettles if female and dont come out of the camper backwards with no undies on

Hi, welcome to the forum. I used to get to school on a bus exacary the same as yours..... Fez, Fez please, move down the centre please...

Thank you for your replies. We are planning to leave Tassie on the 12th May to escape our Tasmanian Winter and at this stage we are going to the northern part of New South Wales (Casino) as we have come across a great caravan park where we can base ourselves and get our bearings. Hubbie is giving up work after working at the same place for 40 YEARS so I thing he deserves a break. We are a little frightened of not finding work but I guess we will have to see what is about. Any suggestions anyone please. We also traveled to school in a bus like ours Brings back lots of memories, Hotrodbus

Welcome Christine , we who sit here can also learn from you and others who visit and stay awhie There is an unloved vehicle same as yours just down the track from us and I am still working on my piece -de -resistance to resume our sojourn At this time of the year this place gets visitors from all over oz, and you can stay at the Gem caravan park (pet friendly and takeaway tucker) as you come into town, or the freebie at the lions park a bit further on, 5th wheelers, buses vans and campers, be sure to let me know if you decide to arrive Party at my place on the 22nd lots of birthdays and visitors, maybe even some G/N

dont be scared of not finding work, there is always plenty about just put the word around that you are looking and it will find you!! try local papers, the harvest trail found here http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx and notice boards, we have never had a problem finding work when we were doing it, just the opposite we had too much

Thank you for your posts. I guess it is a little bit scary as we have never done this before and am looking forward to it and we are willing to do anything that will bring in a little cash flow.Lots of other people do it and I guess it is now our turn.At our stage of life I am going to not be too fazed about anything and go with the flow. Kind Regards Christine

thats the way, just ease into it

Hi Christine, I guess we are all a bit worried on that first trip I know we were Bill kept saying suppose we can't live on the pension on the road in the end I just said well if we can't we just turn round and come back, but we travelled all over W.A and had a ball. Go for it. The only thing we regret is that we didn't do it sooner. Helena.

I know of quite a few people who travel and do very well travelling on the pension even the single pension when the dough runs out for one fortnight they just "sit" now this is not as horrid as it sounds, we have come across a lot of people "sitting" waiting for the next pension payment and they pick fantastic spots, very scenic and pleasant the last one we found was in Tassie at lake burbury, she had a great outlook on life and we enjoyed her company enormously, I asked her how long she had been here and she said "only a couple of days, I'm sitting you see" I asked if she ever got sick of just "sitting" her response was "pigs bum, all I would be doing at home is sitting and waiting" "waiting for what" I stupidly asked "the grim bloody reaper" she said, "what else is there at our age, this way I'm out having a ball, if he wants me then he's got to find me, dont know where I am myself half the time" hmmm!! she's got a point!!!!

Great minds think alike.  Guru and I have the same attitude and we said exactly the same words long before we even heard of the GN's.  Way to go!

makes me very happy to see an attitude like that from people, beats the hell out of that "I give up look"

Hi Christine, We are on the ferry 3 days before you and have exactly the same thoughts! We are also planning on heading north along the coastal highways . However, the only real doubts we hold at the moment are: where the hell do we go to get away from the rain!! Just as has been said previously - if we can't move on for some reason we will sit and wait. We will keep a weather eye out for you both. Cheers Lynds

hotrodbus wrote:

---

Thank you for your replies. We are planning to leave Tassie on the 12th May to escape our Tasmanian Winter and at this stage we are going to the northern part of New South Wales (Casino) as we have come across a great caravan park where we can base ourselves and get our bearings. Hubbie is giving up work after working at the same place for 40 YEARS so I thing he deserves a break. We are a little frightened of not finding work but I guess we will have to see what is about. Any suggestions anyone please. We also traveled to school in a bus like ours Brings back lots of memories,
Hotrodbus

---

Bugger the work just go for it  and as they say if money gets tight then sit till it builds up .  Bring a fishing rod for both beach and estuary fishing .

A feed of fish off our local beaches or out of our creeks  is a go way to supplement the living expenses.

As for work  just ask around or put a notice of the park notice board you never know there may be someone in the park that's looking for jobs to be done.

Mate got a job in a nursery  potting seedlings  about 5 years back , still there and loves it,  another does odd jobs around the van park to pay the site fees , there are heaps of people out there doing the same .

Bite the bullet and get on the road  it will work out .   

 

I am in my 70s and am still in demand for my labour, if you are fit and able you can get work on the Harvest Trail, because oz has many seasons over its lenght and breadth,you can time your arrival to coincide with any season, The local Centrelink office can tell you what and where, if you dont want them to know your income drive around the backblocks of the town and look for roadsigns check with other nomads while stopped , In the wine and fruit areas of oz a lot of the caravan Parks act as employment egents for the local growers to get the backpackers in, grey nomads are in demand all over the place for picking and all the other facets of getting fruit and veg to the market

Yep when we were in W.A. pulled into a caravan park stayed a couple of days and the owner asked us if we would clean the amenities block and water the lawn in return he would give us a free site and all our food unfortunately it was for a four month stay and at the time couldn't stay that long so the work is out there and you don't have to look very hard for it. Good luck and enjoy. Helena.

Thanks everyone for you posts makes us feel very positive about what we are going to do.We are not old enough to get the pension but in ten years will be so I guess we have done this a little early.Life is just too short and work is not the be all and end all but you still have to have money to live.We will be ok I know as Hubbie has a Trade and I have worked in the hospitality industry so we both have a few skills and are willing to do anything to help pay the bills. Safe and happy travels to everyone and hope to see some of you in your travels around this beautiful country. Kind Regards Chris and Robbie