Flight Booked!!

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:47

just booked 1 way ticket to Oz via Kuala lumpar for Working holiday visa. Go next February , thats all really , just so excited had to tell someone

Just need to save up some spending money now !! Anyone else done anything similar or plan doing it ??

Cosmic182 · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:48

yep, going to oz in sept for 5-6 months

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:57

WHV or just one long holiday ?? Nervous ??

Sankari · 1 Jun 2008 at 14:58

Which parts of Australia are you planning to visit?

You've got a country that's 3x the size of Western Europe, so spoilt for choice really!

Clipsey · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:03

Did that a couple years ago. Was awesome fun!!! Save as much cash as possible before hand though - it is not cheap doing all the amazing trips!!

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:07

Evangelion said:
Which parts of Australia are you planning to visit?

You've got a country that's 3x the size of Western Europe, so spoilt for choice really!

Well the plan is :-

Perth > Broome > kimberlydrive > darwin > alice springs > Cairns > whits island >Xmas and NY Sydney then down to Melbourne

Can' wait just need to save some cash up now

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:08

Clipsey said:
Did that a couple years ago. Was awesome fun!!! Save as much cash as possible before hand though - it is not cheap doing all the amazing trips!!

How much cash did yo take , any places you can recommend or anyway where you thought it was overrated??

jas72 · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:12

sydney was overrated coral reef was fantastic for me

Sankari · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:12

divaboy said:
Well the plan is :-

Perth > Broome > kimberlydrive > darwin > alice springs > Cairns > whits island >Xmas and NY Sydney then down to Melbourne

Can' wait just need to save some cash up now

Geez, you're game! Expect to see some pretty rugged countryside out in the Kimberley and Alice. :eek:

Keep an eye out for the Japanese graveyard in Broome.

Unluckyalf · 1 Jun 2008 at 15:20

Wave as you drive past!

Oh and come through Darwin after the end of April and you wont get wet.

Plus you might actually be able to see stuff in the surrounding area, ie Kakadu (unless you plan on taking one of the scenic flights).
Many places in the Top End are cut off due to flooding in the wet season and only open April/May time. Depends on how bad the wet is really. Plus the beach market on starts up in the dry season

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:07

Evangelion said:
Geez, you're game! Expect to see some pretty rugged countryside out in the Kimberley and Alice.

Keep an eye out for the Japanese graveyard in Broome.

Thats the plan ,only certain thing is i'll landing in Perth on 15th. Not 100% sure about Kimberly yet lot of money but the sights are meant to be fantastic.

Unluckyalf said:
Wave as you drive past!

Oh and come through Darwin after the end of April and you wont get wet.

Plus you might actually be able to see stuff in the surrounding area, ie Kakadu (unless you plan on taking one of the scenic flights).
Many places in the Top End are cut off due to flooding in the wet season and only open April/May time. Depends on how bad the wet is really. Plus the beach market on starts up in the dry season

Planning on getting to Darwin roughly end of may sort of time. hopefully when your wet season has ended

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:08

Evangelion said:
Geez, you're game! Expect to see some pretty rugged countryside out in the Kimberley and Alice.

Keep an eye out for the Japanese graveyard in Broome.

Are you speaking from experience?? What was it like , been googling but much prefer 1 st hand experience ,how "rugged" is the Kimberly drive experience??

Marky · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:11

When you say working holiday do you mean just go out there for 6 months or so and find work whilst your out there and chill out? That sounds awesome

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:13

Sort of , plan on been there for 12 months , hopefully taking bare minimum 4 k and then work work when I have to.

Unluckyalf is there plently of work out in darwin for backpackers when its the Dry season??

Sankari · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:19

divaboy said:
Are you speaking from experience?? What was it like , been googling but much prefer 1 st hand experience ,how "rugged" is the Kimberly drive experience??

Not from experience, no; but I have mates who've been up that way.

There's some great photos here, which will give you some idea of what to expect. I should warn you that sealed roads are a luxury up there!

dantheman213 · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:40

Best of luck!!

I'm looking at getting a working Visa and heading out there next year.

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:42

Evangelion said:
Not from experience, no; but I have mates who've been up that way.

There's some great photos here, which will give you some idea of what to expect. I should warn you that sealed roads are a luxury up there!

did they enjoy it ??

I have to admit I
m not 100% certain the Kimberly drive is for me. will no doubt decide once i'm in Perth.

Mega excited about going. talking about it makes me worse

Sankari · 1 Jun 2008 at 16:51

divaboy said:
did they enjoy it ??

They did, but they also said it was a pretty hard slog. You really need to be well prepared if you're going anywhere near that sort of territory. Plenty of people have died out there because their cars broke down and/or they ran out of water, etc. Not a place to take chances.

I think it's important to realise the true scale of the distance we're talking about here. It's a total of 1,384 miles from Perth to Broome by road. Have you ever driven that distance before? You need guts, stamina, and intelligent preparation - to say the least.

I've driven from Perth to Adelaide (1,672 miles) and back again (a total of 3,354 miles). In fact, I've done it twice. It's a hell of a slog - but I am willing to bet that it's still easier than the Perth-Broome run.

I have to admit I'm not 100% certain the Kimberly drive is for me. will no doubt decide once i'm in Perth.

Mega excited about going. talking about it makes me worse

I would advise you to fly up to Broome if you can afford it, or take a coach if your budget is tight. Arguably cheaper than hiring a car and driving. Certainly safer. And hey, in true backpacking fashion you could make some new friends on the way!

Jimbeam3678 · 1 Jun 2008 at 17:10

Evangelion said:
They did, but they also said it was a pretty hard slog. You really need to be well prepared if you're going anywhere near that sort of territory. Plenty of people have died out there because their cars broke down and/or they ran out of water, etc. Not a place to take chances.

I think it's important to realise the true scale of the distance we're talking about here. It's a total of 1,384 miles from Perth to Broome by road. Have you ever driven that distance before? You need guts, stamina, and intelligent preparation - to say the least.

I've driven from Perth to Adelaide (1,672 miles) and back again (a total of 3,354 miles). In fact, I've done it twice. It's a hell of a slog - but I am willing to bet that it's still easier than the Perth-Broome run.

I would advise you to fly up to Broome if you can afford it, or take a coach if your budget is tight. Arguably cheaper than hiring a car and driving. Certainly safer. And hey, in true backpacking fashion you could make some new friends on the way!

My plan was to fly from perth to broome, then book a organised tour through Kimberly ,defin not trying it driving myself what do you think I am crazy

That link you posted earlier has some great pictures.

Thanks again

Sankari · 1 Jun 2008 at 17:28

divaboy said:
My plan was to fly from perth to broome, then book a organised tour through Kimberly ,defin not trying it driving myself what do you think I am crazy

That link you posted earlier has some great pictures.

Thanks again

My pleasure.

Yeah, the photos make me quite homesick, as I am a WA boy born and bred. Looking forward to moving back home in March next year (though I'll be settling in SA, not WA).