Aussie – It’s easier than you think!
There’s a whole new world of 4WD adventure waiting for Kiwis in across the Tasman. Gary Cooper outlines the options.
Want to plan an epic Australian 4WD adventure and need to convince the wife you actually know what you are doing? After our great Aussie 4WD adventure articles published in the Dec, Feb and March issues of NZ4WD magazine, I was asked by a number of people this question; how do you actually go about planning such an adventure from New Zealand? Well it’s much easier than you think, so here are some helpful hints on how to plan one. This article will explore some transport and accommodation options and the one you adopt will depend on the limiting factor we all face when planning our holidays, namely ‘time and money.’ We often have one but not the other! But if you are lucky enough to have both at the same time – go! Even if it’s for just a week you will never regret the experience. Let’s start with transport. Your options are to rent, buy, ship your own 4WD from NZ to Aussie or join a 4WD tag-along trip which sometimes supply you with the vehicle (however as this last option varies a lot I have not detailed it in this article). After a quick outline of each option I will do a cost comparison to assist you with your final decision.
Rent a 4WD
This is a great option if you have limited time. Some of the most amazing outback adventures generally only require a vehicle that has high ground clearance and low range to tackle most road conditions provided you stay on the main track. The Gibb River Road in WA is one such example where you can grab a Land Cruiser Camper from either end (Broome or Darwin) and drive one of the most iconic outback roads in Australia in only one to two weeks. I will outline some of the different track options in more detail in next month’s article.
Advantages
1. Easy, fast, well set up.
2. Modern and reliable.
3. Fly in, drive and drop off.
Disadvantages
1. Expensive for long term adventures.
2. Not insured on all tracks.
3. May not have the vehicle set up you want. Search the internet for a variety of options but a couple to get you started are: www.britz.co.au have two main options i.e. a 4WD camper or a 4WD loaded with all your camping gear. www.australian4wdhire.com.au have fully set up late model 4WDs i.e. bull bar, snorkel, winch and are located throughout Australia. They also provide rooftop tents, etc, and will offer any Kiwis renting a vehicle from them a five percent discount if you mention NZ4WD magazine.
Helpful Hint:
Check for relocation specials.
Buy your own 4WD
A lot of people sell very well set up rigs at the end of their journey very cheap so you can get a bargain if you have the time to wait or are flexible on pick up location. You can remove the risk of buying remotely by getting a local inspection company or 4WD shop to check the vehicle out for you. I found a fully- kitted 2000 Toyota Prado Diesel with 220,000km after a quick search for $ 13K AUD that someone has just used for the big lap and wanted to sell quickly in Broome. Websites to check when purchasing a car: carpoint.com.au carsales.com.au pickles.com.au ( Think Turners Car Auctions)
Advantages
1. Can set up what you want or need.
2. Can be cheaper longer term.
3. Can get great deals on already set up vehicles.
Disadvantages
1. Takes time to check out and purchase.
2. Risk of buying a dud.
Helpful hints
To insure your vehicle, do some research, but as an example, NRMA will insure a $ 40,000 4WD for third party ( which is compulsory) for $ 500 p.a. or full insurance ( including glass cover) for $ 990 p.a. ( very similar to NZ pricing). Don’t worry if you don’t have a permanent address in
Australia for registering and insuring your vehicle as they are generally relaxed on this front. You can provide a friends or relative’s address but if you don’t have either of these in Australia then the address you stayed at last night is sufficient provided it is in the state you bought the vehicle. Stamp duty is a state tax that you must pay in order to register your vehicle in your name, even if its second-hand. Unfortunately stamp duty is not refundable and is around three per cent of the vehicle’s purchase price. You can buy and sell in another state, the new owner just needs to pay the local state stamp duty tax which is the normal process so they can then put that state’s plates on the vehicle. Each state or territory has different rules around what vehicle modifications are acceptable. If you have an off-road monster best check out what’s considered legal in that state before you attempt to sell it. Some sales yards may offer a guaranteed buy back option which is worth investigating.
Ship your 4WD from NZ
This isn’t as crazy as it sounds! We met a couple of people that did this because they were comfortable with their vehicle setup and knew how everything worked. You can also put all your gear inside so once it arrives in Australia you can hit the road with confidence. Once your adventure is complete you simply ship it all home again. The first step in the process of getting your 4WD ready for shipping is to go to the AA and get them to issue you with a car passport called a ‘Carnet’ for around $ 600. This allows you to take your 4WD to Australia for up to one year without having to register it or pay any import duties or GST in Australia. The cost of shipping your car to Australia is around $ 2,500 each way and you will then need to insure it in Australia. Given the above costs you should consider shipping your own vehicle if your alternatives of renting or reselling a shortterm personally owned vehicle are greater than or the same cost as shipping your own vehicle return to Australia.
IMPORTANT:
You will need to pay a bond to assure the AU government that you will not sell your 4WD illegally whilst in Australia. The bond is refundable provided you ship your 4WD out of Australia within the one year time frame. The bond is held in an interestbearing account in your name until you provide proof of exporting your 4WD. The bond or indemnity amount is calculated by taking 15 percent of your vehicle’s current NZ value plus $ 13,000 then adding Australian GST! ( Please confirm this with the AA for your particular vehicle.) For example the Carnet bond due on a 4WD worth $ 30,000 is $ 19,250 ( see left for calculation), remembering you will get this back with interest providing you adhere with the rules.
Helpful hints:
If your car runs on diesel keep track of your mileage whilst out of the country so you don’t have to buy wasted road user charges on your return to NZ! Effectively your vehicle is using your NZ registration whilst it’s in AU so your registration cannot expire whilst you are away.
Cost comparison – rent, buy or ship
Note: 1. Buy cost of $ 6,000 allows for: insurance $ 1k, small loss on resale $ 3k, stamp duty $ 1k on purchase, one service at $ 500 and $ 500 to sort anything out immediately after purchase. But no major repairs, modifications or extras. 2. Ship cost of $ 7,100 allows for Carnet payment $ 600, shipping $ 5,000, Insurance $ 1k and 1 service $ 500. Renting a 4WD is clearly the most cost- effective for short term adventures of one month or less and allows you to try the experience before you fully commit to a longer trip. However after one month buying or shipping your 4WD becomes much more costeffective and whichever option works for you will depend on what you currently drive and how long you will be away.
Accommodation when on the road
This will be a matter for you ( or your better half) to decide and will very much depend on your planned route, budget and personal preferences. We towed a small Jayco Outback Camper that was very comfortable but really only suitable for soft 4WDing. When the tracks got too rugged we left our Jayco Camper at a camping ground, caravan park or hotel car park and continued with just the 4WD and our camping kit. We also stayed in cheap hotels or cabins to have a break from the camper and cabin fever!
Choosing a mobile home!
The best website is www. caravancampingsales.com. au. This site has thousands of camper trailers, caravans and off-road vans for sale across Australia ( and some amazing outback toys to dream about)! We purchased our camper in Sydney, used it for our trip and easily sold i t on the above website in Darwin for only $ 1500 less than we paid for it after months of hard use. We listed it a couple of weeks before we arrived in Darwin and had people calling almost immediately. It was paid for and collected within a couple of days of parking up in Darwin!
Helpful hints:
Camper Trailers. A hard floor camper trailer is very fast to set up and put down plus offers more flexibility on the terrain you can camp on. Towing regulations in AU are different; you will need electric brakes for all trailers over 750kg ( This also means you need an electronic brake controller fitted to your car). You must have wing mirror extensions so you can see the back corner of whatever you are towing from the driver’s seat. If you choose camping make sure you get an easy and quick set up or set down tent or camper trailer as this task will get very tiresome after you have done it every day for a couple of weeks. Also consider making each stop last at least t wo nights so you have time to explore the area. Canvas is much more important in Australia than NZ as it offers greater protection from the heat and will generally stand up to the harsh outback better than nylon tents. If you intend to move a lot and also camp in uneven or unsuitable terrain such as sand a roof top tent is a fantastic option and Australia has lots of brands to choose from.
Helpful hints:
The advantage of a roof top tent is that you can leave your bed set up. Many people change the mattress to a softer one for more comfort.
Summary
Once you are on the road your biggest expenses will be where you decide to rest your head, fuel and food. If you free camp and cook your own meals your expenditure will be comparatively low compared to eating out and staying in caravan parks but the main thing is if you are interested, definitely GO! Australia is close and offers something for everyone and has some iconic 4WD trips to conquer – more on this in the next issue.