Visiting Australia

[heavy-fuel]

The wife and I are thinking about taking a four to six week vacation in Australia. We have looked into different vacation packages online but they like to keep you on a tight schedule, so the wife and I were thinking of flying there and then rent a motor home and drive it around to the different sites. Have any of you ever tried this before? We have never been outside of the US, must less Texas, so we are looking forward in visiting Australia and I can not wait to see Broken Bow.

I tell y’all something funny: Until I started looking into visiting Australia, I did not realize how big it was. I always thought it was about ½ the size of Texas. I guess that is my red-neck thinking “Everything is Bigger in Texas”.....LOL

I have a couple of questions about Australia that I could not find online and was wondering if y’all can help me out.

1. What is the speed limit in Australia? I did find this: “In most States the maximum speed limit on freeways and major highways is 100 kph (approx. 55 mph) and local urban limits range from 50 – 80 kph (approx. 30 - 45 mph).” This sure seems slow. How tuff are the police about speeding?

2. We were thinking about coming in Jan-April. Is the wether nice this time of year?

3. We are looking forward in trying some Australia food. Since we are going to be there for a period of time, I might get homesick for my type of vittles, so I know this question sounds a little strange, but do ya’ll have food like chicken fried steak, texmex, or grits?

4. Since I have done most of my research on line and have not gone through a travel agency, Maybe one of y’all knows a web site I should check out that might have better travel packages

5. What are the laws on guns? Do y’all get to carry guns around? Is there a hunting season? Since I do not play golf do ya’ll have any trap or skeet ranges?

6. Is Bud or Bud light available?

Any additional help y’all could give me that you think might be beneficial would be great.

Thanks,

Fred

[Bozz]

Howdy Fred.

I took my fam and pulled up stakes and moved to AU for a year.

It was an astounding experience to be sure, and we miss it very much now that we are back.

A few quick notes:

1. Yes 100 - 120 KPH is slow by Texas standards, and the local cops where I lived were hell bent on enforcing it. Blind speed traps everywhere and they can legally set up speed cameras there. No speeding by and large (unless you are out in the desert, and then common sense kicks in. No cell phone coverage, no other people = don't do ANYTHING dumb as you can end up dead so fast it would amaze most yanks!

2. The food there is good. Not like home, but good. No mexican anywhere though. Also bear in mind that in most places a burger with everything includes a big ol slice of beet (they call it beetroot) which is a bit of a shock for the typical yank.

3. Au is BIG. DAMN BIG. And the highway system is pretty sad compared to north america.

4. Bear in mind that AU is every bit as big as the US with only the population of NYC. LOTS of distance between civilization!

5. Also, bear in mind that when out in the boondocks there are likely at least 5 different species of deadly animals around, and at least one is going to at least think about crawling into your boots.

6. Driving on the left side of the road may freak you out for a day. I was fine after about an hour, but individual results may vary. Stick shift vehicles can also take some adjusting to.

7. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE JETLAG. You are going to be basically trading your day for night. It takes about 3 days before you feel even remotely decent. Sleep on the plane as much as possible. Sleeping pills are not cheating, they are recommended.

8. Australia is so beautiful it is hard to put in to words. The folks I met there were beyond awesome and I count all of them as friends for life. In short, it is worth it and then some.

Enjoy Fred!

[Bozz]

A few more things Fred,

No guns. Period.

Jan-April is Summer there. Capitol-H-hot in Jan, April is getting livable again.

They have Bud, but it is a costly import there. The local brews are generally better in about every way.

Cheers, mate!

[heavy-fuel]

Bozz,

Thanks for the info. Since you lived there for a little while, whould you say the cost of living is the same at the US?

Thanks for taking the time to reply to this post, it was very helpful.

Thanks again,

Fred

[Bozz]

The cost of living when I was there was a little more expensive than an average US city. Property values were extravagant by US standards. The Aussie dollar was only around 70 US cents then. Now it is approaching parity so that will make things more expensive there.

Gas is a touch more expensive than here, grocery prices are fairly comparable.

Think of it like a vacation here. When you eat every meal out, it is more expensive. If you camp and cook for yourself it gets cheaper.

Cheers,

-Bozz

[bluddyangus]

hi heavy fuel..i moved to indianapolis for a while when i married an american..but found that it wasnt really any difference than living in australia..except the usa snow..your better coming in the cooler months because your going to hate the heat..hunt around online for cheap airfares...theyre out there..back packer hostels are cheap and plentyful..i found driving in the US i got the hang of it by the end of the day,so you shouldnt have any trouble..at the time $1000. AU only got me $500 us..with the rates as they are you will get $1000 Au for $900 us..
most deadly species live outside so u wont even notice them..but what ever food you buy there..you will find here somewhere.the only thing i find unjust is theres only 3 hooters and a mcdonalds every 100 feet.
have fun

[RickH]

I think I remember seeing Clay Pigeon Shooting on Sydney Weekender once, and that was open to the public without need for a gun license. But generally speeking, shooting and guns aren't maintstream sports here.

Aussie foods are similar to American foods, but we don't fry as much, hehe. We have McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, all that stuff. Here, Wendy's is an ice cream parlor, not a fast food restaurant. And we don't have Carls Jnr, Denny's, or anything like that. If you ever get the chance to eat at the Meat & Wine Company, it's AWESOME. There's one in Melbourne and two in Sydney. Slightly expensive, but really nice food.

Have fun in Australia!

[.MAD MAX.]

The McDonalds in Australia was top notch as far as that type of food goes. The burgers actually lookedlike the ones in the adverts and there was NO grease dripping off of them either. I have since ceased going to a McDs here.
Doug

[Bronze21]

You didn't have a "dripping with grease" Quarter Pounder, because there wasn't ANY beef in it at all. HAHAHA! I loved that! So does that mean you went vegan?

[doode]

hey ,just watch out for the Kangaroos,,their everywhere!.....
all over the cities,,actually cars must give way at intersections!.....Roos have right of way here!.......& Koalas!....

Macdonalds??........make sure you order Blubber !.....& double chins!.......with th chips........ahh........

& watch out for cars with blowers attached!.......lol,,....& Lord Humumgas is our Priminister!.......lol
&beware of th Bronze!.......