[Brommie]

Hi, i have just joined the forums in a hope to gather information on things i need to do before i go travelling in Australia. I anticipate to leave in september 2008, after my A level exams and at the moment do not have a clue on what i will need to do before going! My godfather lives in Brisbane so i will use that as my base, but like everyother visitor, i want to be out there and exploring what you cannot see in the UK.

If anyone could help me on the information and documents i will need to get prepared before i go i would be very happy.

Things like insurance and discount cards etc.. would be helpful to know about and any links to the sites that i could purchase these would be very useful.

Baring in mind i am only 16 (18 when i leave) im not sure how premeture i am to be investigating these things! The prices for insurance etc. would be helpful so that i can begin to save for them and attempt to get all of the legalities out of the way, meaning i have a clear run in an attempt to save sufficiently for my travels.

Thanks in anticipation, Ben.

P.s. Any ideas on what a good starting fund would be for when i go over there??

[Matthew Counsel]

Hey guys, i was looking for a discount card that i can use when i go around around and they all seem to be the same, eg.. yha nomad vip. i reckon that i will be staying in backpackers most of the time, but i have been recommended this one ww.aussietravelsaver.com.au my mates used it earlier and said it is brillant.
have a look it might be worth your while
cheers

[gregausti]

Ben, an old unanswered post MC has brought up, and if you're back re your questions:
. Insurance for a UK person going to australia on a WHV is it? is something that can be considered optional for Australia/UK have reciprocal agreement on basic medical coverage.
. Officially you're supposed to have A$5000 + enough for a return airfare but a lot come with less and if you can get a credit card account organised, a $5000 limit on that can be used to show funds.
I'd have at least a few thousand but staying initially with your Godfather will help to keep initial costs down and September/October is a good time to pick up some seasonal work north of Brisbane.

Also posted this on Oz in Sept 08 thread - travelling companions section

Some general info and answers for you lot.

Buttons, would S.A.Y.I.T. - SAYIT Student, Youth and Under 26 travel specialists in Ireland. Young Peoples travel company. be your Irish STA equivalent?
As to the nerves, that's all just natural excitement building for a bit of an adventure to the unknown but Oz is a great place to travel in and other than people meeting up or making arrangements as they discuss their travel here, you'll find that there will be thousands out in Oz just like you all.

Romy, for the three months seasonal work, have a look at www.jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail as you can get info there on where work is at various times of the year for agricultural stuff but also have a look at the information in www.immi.gov.au WHV section as it tells you about the work needing to be in particular regions and it is not just fruit picking work now, but even construction work, maybe working as a labourer or driver or whatever.
You can also do your three months via www.wwoof.com.au and whatever you do it does not need to be done in the one place or all at the one time but do get your record form and get it filled in as you go.
Good move too on making use of stopover to stop and see if you can get yourself up to the high country tea plantations - supposed to be great and it could be getting damp over that way too, but make a longer stop for all of Asia on way back - be a huge shopping complex in Beijing birds nest by then.

And wherever you go, because of wet season in north Qld. NT and northern WA and the associated storms, possible flooding and humidity etc. (and tropical sea stingers - can be fatal), use a rule of thumb of staying further south between November and April, also giving NT a miss in October because they have what is called the build-up period - very oppressive!, maybe using April/May and September to November as transit transitional timing between south and north, Cairns being more reasonable up to November but it will start to get warm and humid.

Most WHVers head direct for Sydney and no real reason not to but just beaware it can be an expensive place to stay, so make good use of the BUG guide to find cheap digs, Alfred Park looking good at about $25/dorm, and I stayed there very briefly one noght recently, in late and out early and so not a good chance to look it over but seems clean and comfy, some dorms being in what was an old motel set-up and seeing as I was only one in the dorm that night, it was like a single with ensuite, fridge and tele for $25 - check it out.
For longer stayers, on travel branch www.sleepingwiththeenemy.com is also mentioned and a good move too as something like www.sydneyterraces.com is if you meet someone to share with, both having 4 week minimum stays.

Claire,
Australia btw has been having a much cooler winter this year despite the global warming pundits and been good dumps of snow down south so if anyone wants to try some skiing on arrival in September/October, still a good chance for it but if you want some warmth, head to Cairns for a bit.

Another thing WHVers might want to be aware of as it can have a big effect on money in pocket - taxation - and you can read this on www.ato.gov.au - australia taxes WHV visitors at a higher rate unless they get themselves classed as resident for taxation purposes and that means hanging in one place for six months, getting a share place of residence more so than a hostel and joining some clubs etc., general stuff that a resident might do - all easy enough and it could mean you save $3000-5000 or more in taxation.
Joining clubs like a surf life saving club for those interested in beach life will give you all sort of water activity training opportunities and may even lead to good accomodation and work opportunities not normally so available to a visitor.

Also with your taxation, be aware of taxation agent sharks who can be full of promises re getting tax back for what has been alleged they do is put in a taxation return for you on the basis of you being a resident when you did not qualify - you might get a refund less their 12-20% commission or whatever but you as a taxpayer are ultimately responsible for validity of info on tax return.
It has been reported that some people have received less than wanted letters from the ATO after they have been home for a while.

But relax on getting yourself out here and make yourself up something of a checklist if you want to but most things you leave behind you can get out here cheap enough.
You will find a heap of advice on travel and tours in all hostels, and if you get a hostel type membership card - YHA or VIP, discounts are available with www.greyhound.com.au who have travel passes and there are also lots of point to point travel/backpacker tours, but ozexperience ain't necessarily everyones' cup of tea.

I suspect MC may be flogging his aussietravelsaver card.

[Matthew Counsel]

I am not flogging the aussie travel saver, merely trying to help out another traveller. ben wanted to now about discount cards, i gave him a couple of options.

[gregausti]

But Matthew
Why do you say on this thread you had the card recommended to you and then on another thread you say you have used it.

And I've asked you there to give examples of where your savings were for one example is if you put backpackers accomodation for Cairns in, you get zilch and there are something like close to 40 backpackers in Cairns.

Of course you're on a good flogging mission in quite a few ways one could say, and bringing up a year old post at that to do the flogging.

[musicdisciple]

Originally Posted by gregausti

But Matthew
Why do you say on this thread you had the card recommended to you and then on another thread you say you have used it.

And I've asked you there to give examples of where your savings were for one example is if you put backpackers accomodation for Cairns in, you get zilch and there are something like close to 40 backpackers in Cairns.

Of course you're on a good flogging mission in quite a few ways one could say, and bringing up a year old post at that to do the flogging.

You're not an admin. Leave him alone. If I was worried about him spamming I would have deleted his posts. You're just drawing more attention to them.