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Got It!

I've got a place at uni (subject to visa paperwork etc) starting 26th June 2013; doing a Masters in Economic Studies, specialising in Rural and Resource Economics with a bit of luck, up in Armidale, NSW.

Got a bit of time yet, but already have saved some searches for vehicles (and getting prices), and have been given a shopping list of car parts to bring out with me (a couple of gearboxes, some Lister stationary engine parts, and some RHD heater cores and hoses!) from some friends there... that's not counting the other friend who wants me to work out how to get 1960's British Motorbikes to him...
 
I've been busy the last few days sorting stuff out. :icon-cool:

With Aus being so strict with imports regarding everything being spotlessly clean, I put the winch rope and some strops in the washing machine and was impressed with how clean they came out. :icon-smile:

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Wont be using any cardboard boxes. Everything will be going in plastic retail crates. :icon-cool:

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Huge thanks to the kind club member who has donated a load of new ratchet straps for securing the boxes and my truck down in the container. :clap:

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Took all my scrap to the scrap yard today.

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Lead, brass, copper, old motors/alternators, copper radiators.

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Cable.

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Old CAT's.

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Stainless and aluminium.

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Steel.

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That lot along with 15kg's of old clothes netted me £495. :icon-biggrin:

So thats virtually paid my airfare. :dance:

Got loads more stuff to sort out, another 15-20 boxes to pack, and more stuff to photograph and list on ebay but im getting there.

Going to book my container tomorrow for the 28th. :icon-biggrin:

Oh and got about a weeks worth of work to do on my truck to get that ready. :icon-cool:
 
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It's amazing how much stuff we collect. I have 2 full skip bags in front of my house, and I need to rent a van to get rid of the rest.
 
Yes I know what you mean. :oops:

Trouble is I've had a few huge clear out's over the last few years and still theres loads of crap. :doh:

Are you having 2 containers then?

Obviously your truck went in a container weeks ago, are you now having another for the rest of your stuff? :think:
 
Yes, the 2nd container is being loaded on Tuesday. Wednesday can't come soon enough :)
 
You must be hugely excited! :icon-biggrin:

I am slightly envious of you moving over and then spending 12 months touring round in your cruiser.:clap:

I'm leaving behind an OK job, good home, good mates and family, and theirs so much uncertainty of whats going to happen and if I can find work and some where to live etc.

Pretty bloody scary if I'm honest. :think:
 
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We have wanted to do this for so long that it feels unreal now that it is actually happening.

From what I've learnt about Australia, people who have initiative, and don't mind getting stuck in when its needed, will thrive. So I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I'm looking forward to catching up in Vic.
 
Make sure everything stinks of Jeyes Fluid, supposed to be a good way to impress Quarantine.
 
Paul said:
Make sure everything stinks of Jeyes Fluid, supposed to be a good way to impress Quarantine.
Click to expand...

Then they should let me straight in because I reek of the stuff - I stopped noticing the smell days ago, but people in the shops look at me funny.
 
Booked my 20ft container today! :dance:

fridayman said:
We have wanted to do this for so long that it feels unreal now that it is actually happening.

From what I've learnt about Australia, people who have initiative, and don't mind getting stuck in when its needed, will thrive. So I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I'm looking forward to catching up in Vic.
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Thanks. :icon-biggrin:

Its been my dream for 10+ years to move to Aus, and since my last visit it has taken me 2.5 years to get to the point I'm at now. :icon-smile:

Must get some Jeyes fluid. :think:

Will be interesting to see how I get on with customs and quarantine as I dont think I'm being as thorough as some people are when they move. :oops:

Reading on the various forums theres mixed opinion. Some people say things have to be spotless and dont bother taking things like lawn mowers as you will never get them in. Then there's other people who say they took things in that hadnt been cleaned very thoroughly at all. :icon-confused:
 
Sounds a bit like my plan; at least you guys are going on GSM; I'm going in as a Student, and hoping to get sponsored at the end of it!

In all honesty Ben, as long as you are flexible, and not to tied up on working in one particular area you will find work. I know that you are tied to VIC for 2yrs, but there are plenty of opportunities there.

I'm aiming to stay in Regional NSW if I get my way, was talking with the GF last night about it a bit more, and we've come up with a plan of what our ideal is... it should be do-able in all honesty, it's just going to need a lot of work and to take a gamble...

Good luck to everyone who has got it all worked out!

FridayMan
If you're heading to NSW on your travels keep an eye out for the Explore Australia NSW Road Directory; it has a lot of the dirt roads (including in the Watagan's) in it. The discount books shops in NSW have it for about $10 for the previous edition, we found it brilliant used in conjunction with the Boiling Billy books. We also liked the free Cartoscope maps that you can pick up in Tourist Informations (also a good time to find out if the road is passable or not!)

Also don't forget to get Camps6 if you're touring; it'll be your best friend... still worth getting a HEMA road atlas (but the 4x4 one isn't that good I thought) as the stars etc tend to cover the roads up a bit! It's $60 or so, but will pay for itself in a couple of days of free camps and the contacts that you make doing that.

I will get round to doing a write up of our 4 day trip around Sydney; Gosford to Wombeyan Caves made up of a couple of the Boiling Billy routes and the Explore Australia NSW road book, as well as a bit of local knowledge :p 600km from memory we did, it was a bit mad!

Ben:
How much did you get for your Cats? I'm in the process of breaking my old Volvo, and I'm thinking of weighing them in separately to the rest of the car. Local Breakers here in S Shrops wanted to give me £100 for the whole car; I'm up to £450 breaking it myself!
 
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The place I took the CAT's to in Wolverhampton are apparently the main place in the country where CAT's go.

They actually process them there to remove the platinum.

I got £125 cash. :icon-biggrin:

£70 for the Peugeot 406 CAT I took off my dads old car before scraping it.
£50 for a Suzuki Vitara CAT I took off a car I was breaking.
£5 for a Vauxhal Vectra aftermarket CAT off my mums old car.

The guy who runs it who is about my age was telling me that diesel CAT's are the most valuable. He also said that original genuine CAT's are worth the most. Aftermarket ones are ceramic and dont have much platinum in them. :think:

The rest of the scrap was taken to EMR (European Metal Recyclers) theyve got yards all over the country and they generally pay the best prices because thats who most of the smaller scrap yards take their scrap to. :icon-wink:
 
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Found a Ute for you Ben...

Blame the GF; she's just been looking at Aus flight prices for us, and then mentioned that some Germans we met in Cairns want to go to Cape York when we're back over, so I decided I needed to look at 'Cruisers!
 
Cape York.

One of the places I want to visit most! :drool:

The Tele track looks awesome! :icon-twisted:

Spotted that cruiser the other day. If/when I spend that much buying a brand new cruiser I wont be getting a white one. :eusa-naughty:

I can see a lot of potential in those double cabs. :think:

A few small mods and it would be an awesome work truck all week and then be a great touring truck for weekends/months away. :icon-biggrin:
 
Paul said:
Make sure everything stinks of Jeyes Fluid, supposed to be a good way to impress Quarantine.
Click to expand...

fridayman said:
Then they should let me straight in because I reek of the stuff - I stopped noticing the smell days ago, but people in the shops look at me funny.
Click to expand...

God that stuffs evil! :wtf:

Only used a little bit of it this evening and now had a shower and washed my hands 6-7 times and still my hands stink of it. :x

Must wear gloves when i use it tomorrow. :think:
 
Our first container landed on Saturday. So now we wait up to 3 weeks for Aqis, valuation and customs. It will be very interesting to see if/what we get charged for cleaning. If it is the truck we will have to pay for cleaning and transporting the truck there and back on a flatbed.
 
Great news. :dance:

I take it your in OZ now? In sunny Brisbane? :icon-cool:

My container got confirmed today. I now know what ship it will be going on and when it should land in Melbourne. :icon-biggrin:

When I arrive in Melbourne in just over 2 weeks time I will then have a 6 week wait for my container arrive. :flags-australia:

Just trying to sort out container insurance and getting my money changed into dollars. :|
 
We arrived in the middle of the heat wave, temp was 39c! Luckily a bit cooler yesterday and today :)
 
Ben, have a look at these guys for your currency stuff; you can pre buy your currency (so at the moment the dollar is climbing upwards)

http://www.purefx.co.uk/

Hope that helps; I was recommended them by a Kiwi.
 
Thanks Ed. :icon-biggrin:

Was thinking of taking most of it in cash to be honest. :think:

Going to end up spending a load in the first few weeks getting a car etc. :icon-wink:
 
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