It is, however, aparently the most expensive waterway in the world to ship freight across...Originally Posted by SuperDave
Wearing Hi-Viz Black.
It is, however, aparently the most expensive waterway in the world to ship freight across...
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
One hell of a ride.
I took the FJR1300 back to Kiwi Rider this lunchtime and re-acquainted myself with the XB12X.
Absolutely loved the FJR. One sweet bike and extremely capable at 'everything'.
Jumping back on the buell was like strapping a motor to your body and flying around because there is so little of it compared.
It's the best fun bike I've had - ever.
The 17" front wheel means it's not as quick as the dedicated chook chasers off tarmac - but it excels on it.
I'm big and ugly enough to ride it like a motard - I jump it and wheelie and ....you know.
Where's the ride?
When I moved over here 9 years ago, the stats were 600,000 Kiwis in Aus, and 65,000 Aussies here. Most Aussies I know over here are either motorcyclists or "great outdoors" kinda people. But statistically that probably doesn't mean much because they're the circles I move in.
What lots of Aussies say about Aus. The grass is always greener yada yada yada...
They have, a long time ago, just like NZ. Yes it's pretty dire and getting worse; my brother works in that arena and my wife studies it, father-in-law set policy on it. They already have industrial companies leasing farmland with water-drawing rights on the river, simply sucking up the water and trucking it to their factory. My big prediction is that in 50 years there will be 'water barons' the way we have oil barons today.
Dunno 'bout that. Most surveys I've seen put Australia & NZ pretty close together. Triumph's advertising in AMCN was usually thousands cheaper than here. The significant difference is that there are fewer models available new due to the prohibitive costs of ADR compliance, and virtually no used jap imports.
As many as NZ, just that they are connected by longer straights.
What he said.
For motorcycling or outdoor recreation, NZ is much better. That's why I'm here.
Cheers,
Colin
kiwi biker Double D (dirt div)
thats all the more to stay for a bit,
get a student loan learn somthing you want learn then piss off like all the other uni students with out paying it. hahah
thats what i was going to do but stayed and paid it off first then pissed off on an O.E
Hardcore Biker
OK - reality time!!
1: NO FREE DOCTORS OR MEDICAL CARE!!! With a medicare card, you pay a doctor (GP) between $50 AUD and $85 AUD per 15 min consultation!! You then have to go to your local Medicare centre with the receipt and clasim back 30% of the bill. Prescriptions average $25 per item. The bonus though, is that you get 6 months worth of repeats. However, you have to pay the full price each time you fill a prescription.
2: CHEEPER FOOD AND PETROL - DEFINITELY! The price for regular 91 octaine at the moment in NSW is around $1.34 AUD a litre. However, there aere no subsidies for Diesel, which is almost as the same price as petrol.
3: TAX STRUCTURE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! The tax structure for PAYG (Pay as you go) is:
- $0 - $6,000 - 0%
- $6,000 - $21,600 - 17%
- $21,601 - $58,000 - 30%
- $58,001 - $$70,000 - 42%
- $70,001 and over - 47%
4: SLIGHTLY LOWER GST GST is charged on some items and not others. The rate is 10%.
5: HIGHER WAGES - DEFINITELY! The minimum adult wage is currently set at $12.85 AUD! A Waiter earns aound $16 - $19/hr weekdays, $22/hr Saturdays and $26/hr Sundays. There's an "award" system here which scales pay according to qualifications, experience etc. The pay rates are leagally enfoecable - no individual contracts, although Mr Howard wants to change all that!
6: MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES - DEFINITELY! However, if you want to start a business, get ready for the red tape!
7: TRUE ABOUT THE LPG SUBSIDY Not sure about the solar heating. It'll vary from state to state.
8: ONLY FROM A LINE JUST BENEATH SYDNEY! It gets bloody cold in the southern states! Also, in the Northern States, it's humid. WA and NSW seem to have the best all round weather. I live in Lake Maquarie, and as I type this it's 25 degrees, and tonight it'll be 14.
9: AYE THAT'S TRUE! Nothing to add there.
10: THAT'S TRUE TOO! It's such a big and diverse country that there's always something to do.
Now a bit of culture shock. In spite of what people believe, Australia is not one contry, but a Commonwealth of Sates. Each state is completely sovreign and independent with it's own laws and judicial system, taxation system and so on. That's why criminals in say SA need to be extradited to NSW. Laws governing licences etc are different state to state. For example, the SA governemnt has now increased licence fees for new riders to $296 for the L's. Same with the P's. It's only $68 here in NSW.
Seeing as you're from the UK, you'll need a VISA as well. Best thing to do is come and visit, check out each state, and see where you like it best.
Forum whore
We go over there regularly once or twice a year, as we have family there. Spend most time between Brisbane and Gympie. Winter is great weather there and the shopping is good.
Went over in Summer and at 42 degrees, you didn't want to step outside! NEarly fell over, it was so oppressive, but even the Aussies were complaining!
Every living creature wants to kill you and you check your shoes and beds before getting into them. Can't swim in the sea because of the jellyfish, can't walk in the paddocks and bush because of the snakes and spiders. My Bro-in-LAw has 22 acres and you can only walk around his lawn or drive in the flat paddocks. Too hot for biking in Summer, see lots of bikers in shorts and T's!
Secondary roads around the area are crap - I don't enjoy driving on them.
They reckon Brisbane will run out of water in ten years, so the comments about water are very valid.
HAving said all that, the in-laws are very happy there and one Bro-in-Law will probably come back at some future time, maybe.
We love going over for visits and my wife wants to spend the Winters there and the Summers here. I could live on the Gold Coast, up Mt Tambourine! A Dr. mate and his family have moved up there, Gorgeous! and Hervey Bay is beautiful too.
Horses for courses and it depends what you're looking for but I prefer NZ, especially the scenery and the riding. Here you can ride pretty freely all year round and the country is truly stunning. We really don't tend to appreciate what we have here.
There's money to be made here, as many in this forum can attest. My new Son-in-Law is about to launch his own business and the prospects are a little scary as to the potential success! He's going to train me p to help him and I am quite excited about it. He's from Germany and is very happy to have discovered NZ! He says he simply wouldn't even try what he's going to do here, in Germany! The business is net based but he says it is unbelievably easy here to start a business by comparison with Europe.
We complain about a "Nanny State" here, you should try unravelling the maze of rules and regulations in Germany! Aus is much freer though of course, but just trying to provide a bit of balance with comments from someone who is VERY happy to be here. (Got nothing to do with my daughter, of course...!)
Last edited by Edbear; 15th September 2006 at 19:53. Reason: spelling
You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!
Anti static spray
Sorry, I meant the like of jap bikes and cars, I was looking at getting for example a corolla, about $1000 here, they are $2500-$3000 for the equivalent over there, I was checking out bikes to, and on average they are $1-2000 more than what they are here, i'm talking second hand japs tho
http://thenc30project.blogspot.com/
Popping wheelies on sj50's since 2003
Code:if (user.postcount > user.yearsriding*user.ccrating) { user = kiwibiker.postwhore}
Hardcore Biker
I know an importer who bought a mint 1990 Mistubishi GTO twin turbo for $6,000 AUD in Japan. After gettting compliance, it sold two days later for $24,000 AUD.
BTW, It cost me $7,000 NZ to ship a container from Auckalnd to where I live now. plus cutoms fees and duty!
Scotsman on a German
I originally intended moving to Australia.
What changed my mind? Lived in London for 5 years - met loads of Australians and they helped me decide against moving or even visiting Australia ....ever.
Funny though - the Australians I've met in New Zealand are a bit more subdued - maybe the kiwis keep them under control.
In space, no one can smell your fart.
Hardcore Biker
It really depends on where they're from. The Aussies where I live are warm, helpful and really friendly. They're also polite. However, they agree that the Sydney siders are real prats! The people in Newcastle are always either on speed or depressed because the steelworks shut down and the whole world owes them. Really nasty people. Mind you, there are plenty of Kiwis like that too.
Where's the ride?
I don't reckon you can pigeon-hole Aussies at all. The people vary so much, to whit my experiences:
- Newcastle folks I've met have been comparative chill-outs 'cos they don't live in Sydney.
- Sydney seems absolutely normal to me; lived in & around Sydney for 10 years after growing up in a rural city.
- Melbourne people seem a bit up themselves. Melbourne is considered more arty/stylish/cosmopolitan than Sydney (a bit like the Wellington/Auckland thing) and it seems to me that if you're not from Victoria you're immediately second-class. You don't get that in any other state.
As to not being able to go out because of all the critters: complete rubbish! That is such a kiwi scaredy-cat attitude. It doesn't stop most Aussies doing whatever they want, when they want. You just gotta learn to deal with it. Even riding the bike has critter-danger you don't get in NZ (another plus): roos, emus and wombats.
I'd rather it was 40 degrees and dry, than 15 degrees and raining sideways every bloody day. But then, where I grew up has about 30% of the rainfall of Auckland, and the typical summer peak is 45 degrees plus for a fortnight. Sure it's hot enough to complain about, but you're always getting too much weather, or too little.
Last edited by warewolf; 21st September 2006 at 16:08. Reason: spellun
Cheers,
Colin
Forum whore
Hmmm, just got back after 15 years in Oz. I lived in Bendigo (Victoria), Mt Isa (Queensland), 10 years in Perth (Western Australia) and seen most places in between travelling and working at various mine sites etc.
The longer I lived there the more I realised how different they are, even from state to state. The grass is not greener, it's just a different type of grass (yep, plenty of THAT type around too!).
The boom state is WA due to the demand for resources. You can certainly make a quid if you have a trade or quals that might be in demand. The problem is that you are competeing with the rest of the migrants (internal and external) for somewhere to live. This has pushed the average price of a house to over $435k AUD in Perth and you can't get tradesman for love nor money to build you one.
On top of the house price you've got stamp duty which is in the tens of thousands depending on how much you spend.
You also have to pay stamp duty when you purchase a car, also dependent on the price of the car. Rego is more expensive, but depending on where you live you might not have to get a roadworthy (WOF).
It's hard to compare grocery prices 'cos they vary from state to state but not a huge difference in main centres. If you're out bush, think again....
Brisbane has changed heaps in the last few years and turned into quite a vibrant city.
Melbourne is great, a favourite of both of us.
Adelaide is great too, but it's a bit more isolated.
Sydney didn't do much for me simply 'cos it takes so frikkin' long to get anywhere from somewhere you can afford to live.
Darwin is a shithole (don't get me started on how I really feel) with a transient population but good prospects for development VERY soon.
Perth is nice but very isolated and pricing itself outta the market, although the best work prospects.
Riding your 150 it won't bother you but the cops in the eastern states are like locusts, devouring everything. Hence while there are decent roads they are hard to enjoy on a bike.
Out west the cops aren't quite as voracious but the bendy bits are few and far between. (I had to ask 'Poos what the funny lookin' thing at Manfield was, and he explained that it was a C-O-R-N-E-R, I hope I got the spelling right)
Aussie cars are cheap but Japanese and European stuff is expensive in Oz. Bike wise new stuff seems slightly cheaper, used European is far cheaper in NZ thanks to the imports. Immobilisers are compulsory in some states and must be fitted if selling a car. It's dropped the car theft rate but forced crims to break into houses to pinch keys.
Yep, lots to see in Oz, but it's all frikkin' days away, and air travel is expensive when it's a 4000km's one way.
The education and health systems are just as rooted, with huge waiting lists. Racial problems are just as prevalent in Oz.
You can't really compare via a blanket statement: here or there is better. You have to weigh up your lifestyle, or the kind of lifestyle you'd like to have and compare more specifically. What things are important to you, bearing in mind that EVERYTHING comes with a price tag attached (not necessarily meaning money).
Just faidin away!
I am thinking of going over to Aussie for the winter months, leaving after the Brass Monkey and coming back in September.
I want to buy a bike and leave it over there at a friends place in Sydney.
If we get a bike the same as we have got over here, all we will have to do is pack our bike boxes and take them with us as luggage and put them on the bike over there and we are on our way again.
Stay a couple of days with our friends then piss off for a while and come back every now and then, so that we don't outstay our welcome.
We have got friends and relations all over the place over there now and they are always saying come over for a spell, If we keep it short and lace it in with other places to visit as well it should work out OK.
Australia's a big enough place to keep us going for a few winters I reckon.
Should be able to pick up a reasonable TransAlp over there for a reasonable price.
What do you reckon about that idea you guys? Any comments, thoughts or Informed opinions? Cheers John.
Forum whore
My experiences with Aus.
Moved over there in 1984 [21yrs old] and flatted with a bunch of people. As we where drinking at least 40oz of bunderberg rum between 4 of us every day for nearly a year I can only assume a good time was had, understandably memory of my sojourn is stilted.
Fast forward to 1997 and after many years of nagging, my wife young daughter and I arrived in Townsville. Well it was hot, hot and dry and to be honest with the exception of the flora and fauna pretty bloody boring!
So after 8 months we moved to the Gold Coast [not before buying a 10 foot long water python as a pet-seemed like a good idea at the time]
Gold coast yeah liked the Gold Coast, transient type of place but plenty to do. Lots of great beaches, amusement parks, wide open spaces ETC. Bought myself a Ducati Monster and discovered the countryside, there are some brilliant roads and rides around GC.
Work however for a specialist like myself was not that easy, and when I finally scored myself an appropriate postion it came with high wages, and lots of time away from home flying in and out of industrial sites all over Queensland.
The people I met totally changed my perception, warm and forthright would be an apt description and to a large degree indistinguishable from Kiwi's. The creepy crawly 'thing' is bullshit this adds to the experience not detracts. Aus has so much going for it that N.Z will never have and frankly coming home felt like leaving Auckland to visit Coromandel township in the 1970's.
N.Z has some fine attributes as well and will always be home.
Where's the ride?
oldrider,
You are obviously not a skier! Don't have anything to add except that I've considered doing the same thing myself, except in reverse (leaving a bike in NZ when we go back to Aus) so I'm very interested to hear how it works out.
slowpoke, we looked at Perth before we came to NZ. Figured Auckland was 'closer' to home than Perth!! You don't have the option to drive but the flights are way cheaper.
Cheers,
Colin
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