Any KBer's on the Gold Coast or lived there in the past?

[placidfemme]

Just some random questions for any KBer's that live or have lived on the Gold Coast...

Work has offered me a position in our Gold Coast office, and they want me to make my decision in the next few weeks to move over to Aussie on a Semi-Permanent type basis.

I was wondering, if I said yes, and partner said yes, and all the visa's are sorted with no problems... what is the biking scene like over there?

Would I need to sit new license tests? Does the Gold Coast have cc capacity restrictions like here in NZ?

Would it be best to buy a bike over there or take one from here?

Thanks in advance

PF

[ManDownUnder]

Ping Duckman - he moved over there about a month (or two?) ago.

edit - I see he's no-longer on the contacts list... duckman flew West for the Summer...
MDU

[NotaGoth]

They do have restrictions on CC rating. And on your restricted licence you have to display a P plate. Then again that was 20 odd years ago :blip:

[marty]

isn't google a wonderful thing?

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/index/learningtodrive_yourkeys

[Swoop]

isn't google a wonderful thing?

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/index/learningtodrive_yourkeys
Damn, beaten to it!

[marty]

there's a huge 250cc market over there. they seem to be everywhere!

http://bikepoint.ninemsn.com.au/

[placidfemme]

isn't google a wonderful thing?

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/index/learningtodrive_yourkeys

Thank you... that helps :)

The 250 market over there is a bit bigger than here...

*is nervous about moving to a new country*

[Sniper]

If they offer you the job, get them to pay ALL relocation costs, trust me its worth it and damn helpful.

[Big Dave]

18-28 degrees 360 days per year and a party that never ends.

Everyone should live a year or 2 on the gold coast. It wears off, but Orchid Ave and boats on the broadwater and always in shorts and a singlet is mighty nice.

[placidfemme]

Yeah, we're still negotiating about what they are prepared to pay for... new job decription and new pay rate...

Good news is that Sam is more than happy to move with me :) Just need to wait and see about my visa and all that carry on... if it's all good I might there as soon as next month...

[Keeper]

I'm leaving today! Moved to the Gold Coast after high school, and haved been back in NZ for the last year but we get back on a plane today!

The riding is great, there are so many roads about, the cops are more anal with higher speeds, but in general if you know the twisties you wont need too speed too much, give me a line via PM and I'll give you my e-mail if you come over.

The weather is great for riding unless its raining, then its POURING down, but then you dry in 5 minutes after anyway, there are so many bikes, and depending on how long you have held your license for here you may be able to go onto a full bike license right away.

Your license there is a bit different in the way it bases your license on your car one (thats where the L or P comes from(but P plates only have to be shown on NSW reg'd cars, L plates on all L platers)) and your bike is sort of an add-on class, bit you can sit a course to go on your open engine size for bikes, which is really good and well worth the time and money anyway.

[R1madness]

I have just come back from the Gold Coast. The best bike shops are in Nerang. The yamaha shop is great, honda shop huge, Paul Feeney motorcycles has 6 MV augusta Brutal and F4 1000s. What a place. Forget the haggling over a few cents. Just say yes and get on the plane. Houses are no dearer than here in CHCH, Bikes are about the same price as here. Riding gear is cheaper. People are friendly. The weather is hot and dry (or hot and wet buts thats good too). If you dont taske the jopb give them my number hahaha.
Yahoo free accomidation on the gold coast hahahahahahaha.

[placidfemme]

*is getting more excited now*

The free accomodation will only be for a month or so until I get on my feet and learn my way around... I just hope the whole work visa thing works out... I know I get get the work visa no problem... problem is with my return residents visa for NZ. It expires when I leave NZ, so thats the only issue right now...

[James Deuce]

No no no, you misunderstand. R1madness means we're coming to stay with YOU on the Gold Coast, for FREE. :D

[R1madness]

I actually meant FREE accomidation for ME next time i go to the Gold coast hahaha. I will bring my own sleeping bag. hahahaha.
Go for it. Get Australian citizenship then you dont need a visa to come and go from NZ to Aust.

[Keeper]

I have just come back from the Gold Coast. The best bike shops are in Nerang. The yamaha shop is great, honda shop huge, Paul Feeney motorcycles has 6 MV augusta Brutal and F4 1000s. What a place. Forget the haggling over a few cents. Just say yes and get on the plane. Houses are no dearer than here in CHCH, Bikes are about the same price as here. Riding gear is cheaper. People are friendly. The weather is hot and dry (or hot and wet buts thats good too). If you dont taske the jopb give them my number hahaha.
Yahoo free accomidation on the gold coast hahahahahahaha.

Second hand bikes are cheap as dog crap

[placidfemme]

lol oh... sweet as... at least I'll have friendly people to ride with :)

[R1madness]

HEy if ya decide to head over dont forget to keep in touch with us all. Post weather reports to annoy us when its cold and raining here, Send us pics of the beach when its summer and pics of the sky and thermometer when its winter. That way we might all move over. (hope thay give ya a big house).
No shortage of hooligans and bikers on the gold coast so a few more would not hurt.

[placidfemme]

Yeah "if" I go I'll deffinatley keep in contact... depending on how many KBer's are over there may even organise a Aussie Sect of KB ride haha

[janno]

I'm in the North of Brisbane and bikes everywhere here, though Melbourne wins the prize for bike saturation. If you are over 30 and have driven a car for more than three years you can go straight on to your full bike licence from scratch. If you have to do the full thing it's a year on a 250cc I think. Do a google for Queensland Transport, should bring up their website with what you need to know.

If you don't mind big cities then Aus is the place to be, if you like your own space and prefer not to be permanently roasting then maybe not. Snakes are around but hate people and bugger off if they can. Sharks are an ever present threat - suggest you go into the water with small children as they are an easier target . . . Cane toads are the most disgusting things ever but if you are in a central city environment won't be too bad.

I'm heading back to NZ after two years in Aus on Wed, but I am one of the wierd minority that likes cold and rain and hates too much heat. Also hate a million cars and bikes all trying to belt around the same twisty roads on the weekends, very hard to find peace and quiet here at times.

People are so friendly here, bike tolerant and a little bit more aware than other places but you can't let your guard down of course. They don't have the same levels of unemployment and it shows; many less young dickheads aimlessly looking for trouble because most of them are working. Do a search and introduce yourself on the Brisbane bikers website, hugely friendly bunch and will give you all the info you need. If you don't mind the crowds you'll love it here and probably end up staying as it is definitely biking weather all year round.

[zadok]

*is nervous about moving to a new country*
Don't worry, it's just N.Z's Western Island..........:laugh:
The roads around Surfers are caotic, from what I've seen. But then Auckland..............