Discussion
Hi there! I am going to Austrailia this summer (our UK summer that is) il be staying with relatives near sydney. i want to get a taste of the life out there because the way this country is going, i am seriously considering upping sticks and moving out perminantly in a few years when i finish uni!
But the one thing that concerns me is the fact that i will miss the roads here! Not the towns or the motorways or the bad surfacing but the quiet country roads and lake district lanes, but i don't know what the roads in austrailia are like which is why i am writing this
can anyone give me there opinion on your roads in terms of driving fun especially anyone who has emmigrated from the uk, how do the roads compare?
The other thing that worries me is getting ate by a man eating snake or something else sinister lurking in my bed at night! Is this an over reaction or is this the case? I don't like things that can hurt me
Thanks for reading!!!
But the one thing that concerns me is the fact that i will miss the roads here! Not the towns or the motorways or the bad surfacing but the quiet country roads and lake district lanes, but i don't know what the roads in austrailia are like which is why i am writing this
can anyone give me there opinion on your roads in terms of driving fun especially anyone who has emmigrated from the uk, how do the roads compare? The other thing that worries me is getting ate by a man eating snake or something else sinister lurking in my bed at night! Is this an over reaction or is this the case? I don't like things that can hurt me
Thanks for reading!!!
Been here a couple of weeks over 12months, here goes.............
You cant really survive without using a car at somepoint, even if you live in the 'burbs and commute into the CBD (Central Buisness District) of which ever city your in, all local facilities are accessed easier by car, local public transport is not good at all. Free carparking in shopping centres.
As for style of roads, nothing too much different from UK, plenty of areas to expplore with different kinds of driving conditions, fast, slow, hilly, bendy, motorway whatever you feel like. Depending on which state, cops/speeding supposedly varies with where you are, but generally not many fixed cameras, all mobile. Driving standards ??? OK, but a lot of sitting in lanes, no flashing of headlights to indicate your acknowledgement of anything like letting someone in, its just assumed if the opportunity is there they do it, they cant seem to get merging from the left, some roads merge from the right, pedestrians cross the same time as you turn left (like the states turing right) at most if not all junctions, spped limits are lower here, no MOT's but what they call a Roadworthy Cert is req'd if you sell the car, registration of your plate every 6/12 months includes compulsory 3rd party insurance (apart from your own Fully comp insurance, mines about 600AUD/yr for 3yr old Satria GTI).
What it comes down to in reality is, is that the UK is a sh1te whole with sh1tty weather, ASBO's, Labour Government, expensive housing, expensive cigerrettes and beer, in fact an all round depressing place. Leave as soon as you can organise a job or just leave and look for a job when your here.
Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
You cant really survive without using a car at somepoint, even if you live in the 'burbs and commute into the CBD (Central Buisness District) of which ever city your in, all local facilities are accessed easier by car, local public transport is not good at all. Free carparking in shopping centres.
As for style of roads, nothing too much different from UK, plenty of areas to expplore with different kinds of driving conditions, fast, slow, hilly, bendy, motorway whatever you feel like. Depending on which state, cops/speeding supposedly varies with where you are, but generally not many fixed cameras, all mobile. Driving standards ??? OK, but a lot of sitting in lanes, no flashing of headlights to indicate your acknowledgement of anything like letting someone in, its just assumed if the opportunity is there they do it, they cant seem to get merging from the left, some roads merge from the right, pedestrians cross the same time as you turn left (like the states turing right) at most if not all junctions, spped limits are lower here, no MOT's but what they call a Roadworthy Cert is req'd if you sell the car, registration of your plate every 6/12 months includes compulsory 3rd party insurance (apart from your own Fully comp insurance, mines about 600AUD/yr for 3yr old Satria GTI).
What it comes down to in reality is, is that the UK is a sh1te whole with sh1tty weather, ASBO's, Labour Government, expensive housing, expensive cigerrettes and beer, in fact an all round depressing place. Leave as soon as you can organise a job or just leave and look for a job when your here.
Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
Edited by Wanchaiwarrior on Friday 9th March 04:46
Edited by Wanchaiwarrior on Friday 9th March 04:47
Wanchaiwarrior said:
Been here a couple of weeks over 12months, here goes.............
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
Now if only i could talk the girlfriend into going, i'd stick the car in a container tomorrow and i'd be on the next plane !
Most fantastic country i've ever visited. Love the place, people, secneery, weather....i could go on and on.
You sir are a very lucky man to be already there.
M3John said:
Wanchaiwarrior said:
Been here a couple of weeks over 12months, here goes.............
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
Now if only i could talk the girlfriend into going, i'd stick the car in a container tomorrow and i'd be on the next plane !
Most fantastic country i've ever visited. Love the place, people, secneery, weather....i could go on and on.
You sir are a very lucky man to be already there.
As I have said MANY times... a holiday is NOTHING like actually living & working in a place...
The weather just about killed me this week, when you have to work 12 hours plus outside in the full sun at well over 40 degrees, it's definatly NOT great weather.
People; generally yobs IME
Scenery; great if you like dry dustbowls... want to see some thing different? OK drive for a day or 2 (at a STRICT 60mph) to see something worth maybe 10 minutes..
madazrx7 said:
M3John said:
Wanchaiwarrior said:
Been here a couple of weeks over 12months, here goes.............
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
Now if only i could talk the girlfriend into going, i'd stick the car in a container tomorrow and i'd be on the next plane !
Most fantastic country i've ever visited. Love the place, people, secneery, weather....i could go on and on.
You sir are a very lucky man to be already there.
As I have said MANY times... a holiday is NOTHING like actually living & working in a place...
The weather just about killed me this week, when you have to work 12 hours plus outside in the full sun at well over 40 degrees, it's definatly NOT great weather.
People; generally yobs IME
Scenery; great if you like dry dustbowls... want to see some thing different? OK drive for a day or 2 (at a STRICT 60mph) to see something worth maybe 10 minutes..
lol, Yes it was rather warm eh?
madazrx7 said:
M3John said:
Wanchaiwarrior said:
Been here a couple of weeks over 12months, here goes.............
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
....Hope this Helps.
PS I left uk in '96 and came to Queensland via Hong Kong. Miss my close family but Im gald I left. Wife and daugther like it here as well.
Now if only i could talk the girlfriend into going, i'd stick the car in a container tomorrow and i'd be on the next plane !
Most fantastic country i've ever visited. Love the place, people, secneery, weather....i could go on and on.
You sir are a very lucky man to be already there.
As I have said MANY times... a holiday is NOTHING like actually living & working in a place...
..
Ah yes i totally agree with you there matey. I've been to-and-from Oz enough times in the last 10 years more times than i care to remember, (at lest 15 times), and one things for sure i definatly know that i'd be able to settle in there. I've got plenty of friends (as good as family if i'm honest) in the state of Victoria, down in Geelong, Torquay, Melbourne and up in Swan Hill. And i'll still stand by my comment that if i could convince the girlfriend into going then the M3 along with my other chariots would be in a container tomorrow with me on the next avalable flight.
You are a very lucky lot to be living and working over there in that fantastic country
M3J.
M3John said:
Ah yes i totally agree with you there matey. I've been to-and-from Oz enough times in the last 10 years more times than i care to remember, (at lest 15 times), and one things for sure i definatly know that i'd be able to settle in there. I've got plenty of friends (as good as family if i'm honest) in the state of Victoria, down in Geelong, Torquay, Melbourne and up in Swan Hill. And i'll still stand by my comment that if i could convince the girlfriend into going then the M3 along with my other chariots would be in a container tomorrow with me on the next avalable flight.
You are a very lucky lot to be living and working over there in that fantastic country
M3J.
You are a very lucky lot to be living and working over there in that fantastic country
M3J.
OK I'll admit that the Eastern States generally have more going for them than Perth, the most isolated city in the world.
I also should admit that my current view of life in Perth is slightly coloured by an ex wife making life miserable for me
I still stick by my comment that if I didn't have kids here, I would be on the next plane back to that "green and pleasant land" that is England...
If you're "near Sydney" is a bit North of Sydney there are some top roads around the place, if you know where to look. Some of them are not all that well known, and I don't want to spoil them for others...
Just a warning. Drive at about 15-20mph over the limit and you loose your licence for 3 months. Which is pretty damm stupid
Just a warning. Drive at about 15-20mph over the limit and you loose your licence for 3 months. Which is pretty damm stupid
Im in the process of applying to emigrate to Brisvabe - should be there in about 12 months. I currently own a TVR Cerbera, which id love to take but seeing as it doesnt have aircon its a deffinite no no. What other sports cars are available over there?? Are there Lotus, TVR, Toyotas?? etc.... Is it more expensive to buy than shipping something over??
Colonial said:
Just a warning. Drive at about 15-20mph over the limit and you loose your licence for 3 months. Which is pretty damm stupid
Yes I can believe that. I was stopped a few years ago for speeding in Gingin, Western Australia. I was only doing about 75-80mph on an empty road when a police car going the other way did a U turn to come back and get me. After being remorseful and explaining I was on holiday and showing him my passport he eventually let me go.
stevo96 said:
Im in the process of applying to emigrate to Brisvabe - should be there in about 12 months. I currently own a TVR Cerbera, which id love to take but seeing as it doesnt have aircon its a deffinite no no. What other sports cars are available over there?? Are there Lotus, TVR, Toyotas?? etc.... Is it more expensive to buy than shipping something over??
Buy a Griff and go topless mate IMHO
Pasco said:
stevo96 said:
Im in the process of applying to emigrate to Brisvabe - should be there in about 12 months. I currently own a TVR Cerbera, which id love to take but seeing as it doesnt have aircon its a deffinite no no. What other sports cars are available over there?? Are there Lotus, TVR, Toyotas?? etc.... Is it more expensive to buy than shipping something over??
Buy a Griff and go topless mate IMHO
....but make sure you get yourself a good hat to wear to get protection from the sun. If you like the Cerb that much (which i expect you do
) why don't you look into having a retro-fit install fitted. Should be as good as the genuine article Dont make the mistake of assuming it is all sunchine and BBQ's here!!
It is getting increasingly difficult to enjoy your car...as has been mentioned speed limits are STRICT, the government has some rediculous laws in place to restrict the import of cars and if you want to modify your car it is a complete pain in the arse...Imagine having to go through an MOT just because you put a pod filter on your car, and then another when you put an exhaust system on (which they will fail anyway), if you want to stay legal and avoid attention from the police then you will need to jump through the hoops.
Road surfaces are in my experience generally poor. Out in the country the roads are built to withstand the summer heat and several hundred tons of road train...a hard run in some areas will shred your tyres very quickly, the roads are pretty bumpy in places to. In the suburbs the roads arent to bad but tend to be bumpy.
TVR's are around but pretty rare, Elises that are going for 8000pounds in the UK still fetch big money here. The local market is pretty average and is filled with crappy sedans so most people look to imports...I.E. an Evo.
Housing is becoming increasingly expensive especially in Perth. The average rental price is now about $300/week for a 2bedroom unit and the rental market is VERY competative so you will have to be patient in finding a place! I believe the average house price in Perth is up around $500,000 now which to most people is completely un-affordable. A lot of people are pretty wary of the 'boom' Perth is going through, personally I dont believe it can be sustained.
The hot weather is great when you are sitting out at a fine restaurant on a balmy evening but to be honest it is absolute crap for normal life...imagine going shopping/washing the car/doing DIY/gardening etc on a 40degree+ day and then when the sun sets it only drops to 28degrees but humidity stays at 80%...yep its pretty average!! Most houses have aircon but can get pricy to run and depending on the type you have may not cool you down much!!
I'm not trying to bag Australia as it is a good place to live (except perth) and has presented me with some great opportunities but there are some huge misconceptions about what life is like here...the government is still crap, the roads are crap, you still have to go to work and pay the bills and living expences arent always as cheap as people think they are..all I am saying is that dont assume that moving here will be the key to the life you want or fix any problems!!
Oh and as for things the local wildlife...
Red Backs live in my letterbox
House spiders are about 3times the size of English ones
The postman rides a Kangaroo
There are great whites just off our beaches along with blue ring octupus, stone fish and assorted rays
watch out for the shrieking spiders..they are 29inches across and can run at 38MPH while emitting a shrill whitstling noise that confuses its prey
Hoop snakes are terrifying...they hold their own tail and roll along like a hula-hoop
It is getting increasingly difficult to enjoy your car...as has been mentioned speed limits are STRICT, the government has some rediculous laws in place to restrict the import of cars and if you want to modify your car it is a complete pain in the arse...Imagine having to go through an MOT just because you put a pod filter on your car, and then another when you put an exhaust system on (which they will fail anyway), if you want to stay legal and avoid attention from the police then you will need to jump through the hoops.
Road surfaces are in my experience generally poor. Out in the country the roads are built to withstand the summer heat and several hundred tons of road train...a hard run in some areas will shred your tyres very quickly, the roads are pretty bumpy in places to. In the suburbs the roads arent to bad but tend to be bumpy.
TVR's are around but pretty rare, Elises that are going for 8000pounds in the UK still fetch big money here. The local market is pretty average and is filled with crappy sedans so most people look to imports...I.E. an Evo.
Housing is becoming increasingly expensive especially in Perth. The average rental price is now about $300/week for a 2bedroom unit and the rental market is VERY competative so you will have to be patient in finding a place! I believe the average house price in Perth is up around $500,000 now which to most people is completely un-affordable. A lot of people are pretty wary of the 'boom' Perth is going through, personally I dont believe it can be sustained.
The hot weather is great when you are sitting out at a fine restaurant on a balmy evening but to be honest it is absolute crap for normal life...imagine going shopping/washing the car/doing DIY/gardening etc on a 40degree+ day and then when the sun sets it only drops to 28degrees but humidity stays at 80%...yep its pretty average!! Most houses have aircon but can get pricy to run and depending on the type you have may not cool you down much!!
I'm not trying to bag Australia as it is a good place to live (except perth
) and has presented me with some great opportunities but there are some huge misconceptions about what life is like here...the government is still crap, the roads are crap, you still have to go to work and pay the bills and living expences arent always as cheap as people think they are..all I am saying is that dont assume that moving here will be the key to the life you want or fix any problems!! Oh and as for things the local wildlife...
Red Backs live in my letterbox
House spiders are about 3times the size of English ones
The postman rides a Kangaroo
There are great whites just off our beaches along with blue ring octupus, stone fish and assorted rays
watch out for the shrieking spiders..they are 29inches across and can run at 38MPH while emitting a shrill whitstling noise that confuses its prey
Hoop snakes are terrifying...they hold their own tail and roll along like a hula-hoop
Edited by deviant on Wednesday 14th March 05:40
deviant said:
Dont make the mistake of assuming it is all sunchine and BBQ's here!!
It is getting increasingly difficult to enjoy your car...as has been mentioned speed limits are STRICT, the government has some rediculous laws in place to restrict the import of cars and if you want to modify your car it is a complete pain in the arse...Imagine having to go through an MOT just because you put a pod filter on your car, and then another when you put an exhaust system on (which they will fail anyway), if you want to stay legal and avoid attention from the police then you will need to jump through the hoops.
Road surfaces are in my experience generally poor. Out in the country the roads are built to withstand the summer heat and several hundred tons of road train...a hard run in some areas will shred your tyres very quickly, the roads are pretty bumpy in places to. In the suburbs the roads arent to bad but tend to be bumpy.
TVR's are around but pretty rare, Elises that are going for 8000pounds in the UK still fetch big money here. The local market is pretty average and is filled with crappy sedans so most people look to imports...I.E. an Evo.
Housing is becoming increasingly expensive especially in Perth. The average rental price is now about $300/week for a 2bedroom unit and the rental market is VERY competative so you will have to be patient in finding a place! I believe the average house price in Perth is up around $500,000 now which to most people is completely un-affordable. A lot of people are pretty wary of the 'boom' Perth is going through, personally I dont believe it can be sustained.
The hot weather is great when you are sitting out at a fine restaurant on a balmy evening but to be honest it is absolute crap for normal life...imagine going shopping/washing the car/doing DIY/gardening etc on a 40degree+ day and then when the sun sets it only drops to 28degrees but humidity stays at 80%...yep its pretty average!! Most houses have aircon but can get pricy to run and depending on the type you have may not cool you down much!!
I'm not trying to bag Australia as it is a good place to live (except perth) and has presented me with some great opportunities but there are some huge misconceptions about what life is like here...the government is still crap, the roads are crap, you still have to go to work and pay the bills and living expences arent always as cheap as people think they are..all I am saying is that dont assume that moving here will be the key to the life you want or fix any problems!!
Oh and as for things the local wildlife...
Red Backs live in my letterbox
House spiders are about 3times the size of English ones
The postman rides a Kangaroo
There are great whites just off our beaches along with blue ring octupus, stone fish and assorted rays
watch out for the shrieking spiders..they are 29inches across and can run at 38MPH while emitting a shrill whitstling noise that confuses its prey
Hoop snakes are terrifying...they hold their own tail and roll along like a hula-hoop
Hello chaps I totally concur with the 'Deviant' I myself spent the Ashes series down under & it's really rather blooming hot & even more blooming expensive, even for me. It is getting increasingly difficult to enjoy your car...as has been mentioned speed limits are STRICT, the government has some rediculous laws in place to restrict the import of cars and if you want to modify your car it is a complete pain in the arse...Imagine having to go through an MOT just because you put a pod filter on your car, and then another when you put an exhaust system on (which they will fail anyway), if you want to stay legal and avoid attention from the police then you will need to jump through the hoops.
Road surfaces are in my experience generally poor. Out in the country the roads are built to withstand the summer heat and several hundred tons of road train...a hard run in some areas will shred your tyres very quickly, the roads are pretty bumpy in places to. In the suburbs the roads arent to bad but tend to be bumpy.
TVR's are around but pretty rare, Elises that are going for 8000pounds in the UK still fetch big money here. The local market is pretty average and is filled with crappy sedans so most people look to imports...I.E. an Evo.
Housing is becoming increasingly expensive especially in Perth. The average rental price is now about $300/week for a 2bedroom unit and the rental market is VERY competative so you will have to be patient in finding a place! I believe the average house price in Perth is up around $500,000 now which to most people is completely un-affordable. A lot of people are pretty wary of the 'boom' Perth is going through, personally I dont believe it can be sustained.
The hot weather is great when you are sitting out at a fine restaurant on a balmy evening but to be honest it is absolute crap for normal life...imagine going shopping/washing the car/doing DIY/gardening etc on a 40degree+ day and then when the sun sets it only drops to 28degrees but humidity stays at 80%...yep its pretty average!! Most houses have aircon but can get pricy to run and depending on the type you have may not cool you down much!!
I'm not trying to bag Australia as it is a good place to live (except perth
) and has presented me with some great opportunities but there are some huge misconceptions about what life is like here...the government is still crap, the roads are crap, you still have to go to work and pay the bills and living expences arent always as cheap as people think they are..all I am saying is that dont assume that moving here will be the key to the life you want or fix any problems!! Oh and as for things the local wildlife...
Red Backs live in my letterbox
House spiders are about 3times the size of English ones
The postman rides a Kangaroo
There are great whites just off our beaches along with blue ring octupus, stone fish and assorted rays
watch out for the shrieking spiders..they are 29inches across and can run at 38MPH while emitting a shrill whitstling noise that confuses its prey
Hoop snakes are terrifying...they hold their own tail and roll along like a hula-hoop
Edited by deviant on Wednesday 14th March 05:40
As for the comments by M3Johnny, I don't know when he was last over there as his remarks seem to be straight out of Wish You Were Here and not from an experienced globetrotter. Deviant has expressed a very valid honest appraisal of the place, i.e. Great holiday but don't live there as we Brits are totally unsuited to the climate.
To sum this up people should keep their uneducated opinions to themselves. It's not all sun, sea & cricket! Big it up 'Deviant' chocks away!
Edited by m3mcqueen on Saturday 17th March 02:25
deviant said:
watch out for the shrieking spiders..they are 29inches across and can run at 38MPH while emitting a shrill whitstling noise that confuses its prey
Pretty much sums it up mate, I've been here for nigh on 8 years now, at first it was a culture shock, but once you get settled, make friends etc and get out and explore, its a fantastic country. I was up Swan Hill last weekend and the drive was long but i saw not one speed trap or copper during my 200 kph run! Theres plenty of great driving to be found in every state, Victoria has got some superb drives, my favourite is the run up Mount Donna Buang through Warbuton and the drive to Hanging Rock, all twisties and fast dips and rises.
If you can get past the frankly hilarious government which is like watching a bunch of yobbo morons duke it out over whos got the bickest knob, you can live here quite freely. The speed laws are pretty strict, but theres plenty of places where its safe and pretty easy to do a bit of legal fun driving. Driving standards are pretty shoddy though so you become like the one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind.
Lifestyle is different here too, theres more emphasis on kicking back here than there is back in Blighty, I work longer hours due to my own business and my Panel Shop, but its well worth it in the end, when a quick 10 minute drive down to the beach for a meal on a balmy summers night more than makes up for the lack of Jaffa Cakes!
I found thanks to the internet that missing my family isn't so bad, they all have broadband in the UK and so do we and telephone calls are dirt cheap so i speak to them more than I ever did back home.
m3mcqueen said:
...chaps I totally concur with the 'Deviant' I myself spent the Ashes series down under & it's really rather blooming hot & even more blooming expensive, even for me.
As for the comments by M3Johnny, I don't know when he was last over there as his remarks seem to be straight out of Wish You Were Here and not from an experienced globetrotter.
Well MrQueen, I myself have never clamed to be an experienced globetrotter I’m afraid although I have seen a fair bit of the world. For your info, the last time I was over there now was 12 months ago and although I’m not trying to emphasise my point any more I do know however, that I do love the country and would happily move there tomorrow. I’ve seen enough of it to know in the last 10 years of travelling to-and-from, and working for the people that I do, I regularly visit the place for both business and pleasure.
Happy motoring !
..But, must admit that the brochure for my `package holiday` did make it rather appealing!
Colonial said:
It is a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK to live, especially outside of the Capitals.
Apart from decent cars that is.
Apart from decent cars that is.
European cars out there are horrendously expensive I believe ! My friends that live in Victoria have just bought a BMW and the cost of the thing was astronomical.
M3John said:
Colonial said:
It is a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK to live, especially outside of the Capitals.
Apart from decent cars that is.
Apart from decent cars that is.
European cars out there are horrendously expensive I believe ! My friends that live in Victoria have just bought a BMW and the cost of the thing was astronomical.
Yes European cars are VERY expensive here, but what is worse is that if you factor in the 'average wage', we paid more for a HSV GTO Monaro than the Poms paid for the VXR!
madazrx7 said:
M3John said:
Colonial said:
It is a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK to live, especially outside of the Capitals.
Apart from decent cars that is.
Apart from decent cars that is.
European cars out there are horrendously expensive I believe ! My friends that live in Victoria have just bought a BMW and the cost of the thing was astronomical.
Yes European cars are VERY expensive here, but what is worse is that if you factor in the 'average wage', we paid more for a HSV GTO Monaro than the Poms paid for the VXR!
Now that is suprising !
Gassing Station | Australia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff