Skippy1

We used this house short term in Coolum http://www.coolumholidays.com.au/accommodation/5060 but just checked and it seems to be booked in July but you might find something similar on their website if you have not got something yet.

CurrencyFair is the best from what i can see with the best rates and easy to use once set up. $4 transfer fee but best rate and no charges from NAB. Use them all the time

In a similar situation as you and used Etihad............Simple answer do not use them ..............had a terrible experience in Abu Dabi ...corralled like cattle in a tiny space and no communication. We were not the only ones, loads others of all nationalities, totally chaotic. Got the feeling this was standard in Abu Dabi. Emirates are good. Check at your checkin that it is all organized on the forward flights and remind the hostess before your flight lands you have a wheelchair booked. There is no charge. Enjoy your flight, if you are business class should be ok.

Hi Doc Re Noosa Civic I suppose it depends on what type of business really. There is a lot there as in variety of shops, banks, insurance companies etc. We were there during the week and just noticed they have big plans to expand the centre and make it more eco friendly with walkways and cafes etc so that should be all positive and if they are expanding it must be doing ok. I did think that the footfall seems a little slow at times but we go for specific things and pick the quieter times just because we can and to avoid the busier times so that probably explains that. There are only a few centres/areas for shopping as such and dont know what the cost per sq/m is but must be cheaper in civic than on some of the main streets where you are paying for the privilege. Hastings street you pay for the location and not sure if you can make the return there always seem to be places changing hands. Noosa Junction has a few empty places also and they seem to be making big efforts to try to attract people so you get the feeling things might be a bit tough but again a lot probably depends on the business. Hope this helps but im sure you'll find out more once you get here. I think i saw only one place closing in Civic on our last visit and that was going to be taken over by something else straight away from what i could see

in noosaville and use Vodafone and find them good Generally get the $30 or $40 month package you get 1 or 2 GB data and $450 or $750 call credit towards the end of the month you can use any credit left to make direct calls abroad this works ok if you have wifi at home so you use that when home and only use the mobile data when out and about they also have a 365 day package can be handy if you have a phone not used much but still need credit on it hope this helps we use Telstra for BB and have found them very good in getting connected and follow up different packages available

You really need to be here as you cannot rent without actually seeing. Once you get here just sit on realestate.com.au every day to see what comes up. We found most of the new properties are uploaded around midday. Don't waste your time going around to agencies as everything more or less gets put up online very quickly. We were here two weeks before we found something suitable size and budget wise in Noosaville/ Noosa Waters. There is only two of us but wanted DLUG for storgage etc. Just sitting here now in the middle of a pile of boxes :-) familiar feeling for many..... Download the rental docs from the relevant agency website and have them ready to hand in should you see the place you want. We just emailed all the backup files for the applications. Noosa Heads / Sunshine beach was also an option but Noosaville is a lovely spot. Noosa Heads has a few different areas and you can find some lovely streets and quite close to everything. Visit the agency if you see the place you think you want before viewing. We found just getting to chat with them then while organizing a viewing gives an opportunity to get a feel for each other. Helps when you are here you can drive around and check out the places beforehand and do a driveby as this will help eliminate places pretty quickly so you dont waste your time. If self employed might need details from accountant etc, bank account statements to back things up. Best of luck if i see anything will let you know

Never pay your Bank for transferring money. We use Currencyfiar on a regular basis $4 transfer fee and best rates you can get. Once you set it up its very easy to use. Highly recommend them

Do you know anyone in with a SKY account then you can get their access to SKYGO and watch online if you have a good Broadband connection. Works a treat for me. I think they can have up to three devices online..............Go Ireland tomorrow :-)

"getting a tourist visa is not a good idea as it may cancel his permanent visa but I'm not positive about that" no maybe it will But if you apply for an RRV you can i think then get a tourist visa as your RRV application is now in process but i would get confirmation of that from Immi first. You should be able to get an RRV quickly either way

Be careful........... "If they let their PR visas lapse, then your children would have to apply for electronic visitor visas to travel to Australia. This should not affect their ability to apply for a RRV" if you apply for a Visitor Visa this will automatically cancel any other visa they may have had........ so they would not be able to apply for an RRV on the back of a PR Visa after getting a Visitor Visa I would imagine they would get an RRV on the back of the fact that their parents live in australia and they were not here for the reason of finishing their education.

We only passed through for one night on our way up and down to Sydney from Brisbane. We are still looking for "the" place settle down. We both liked Coffs, nice sized town not too big not too small. If they bypassed it would be nicer as main road through town is crazy busy but such is life, probably will at some time Seemed to have a nice community feel about it, nice selection of shops etc and nice hinterland nearby But depends on what you want at the end of the day....................best of luck

I would suggest at this stage you should get citizenship before you go back if you are entitled to it. Otherwise you have wasted 4 plus years. Spend the little extra time and sort it out if you have to go and then at least you have options

Currency fair.....have not got a better rate anywhere else and only a $4 transaction fee..........

No you do not have to declare in Australia as you have indicated. But also depends on when you become tax resident in Aus and when the interest is credited to you. Tax year ends the End of June You are also still tax resident in UK........so you may have to declare there :wink: if you earn the interest in your UK tax year

Once you submit the application for your visa, they will then contact you and tell you what the required documents are for your particular case. This is why you cannot do it at this stage.

Just use a temporary address from where you are staying on the day you go for rego. Thats what we did and we were only there for a week. Give that address a forwarding address if you get any post, you probably wont. They just want an address, and dont care where it is, ask insurance to correspond by email, most do. Nothing wrong with changing address, everyone does at some stage

They do love the sound of their own voices................... Read recently one has an interesting history with an AVO i think its called registered against him and then withdrawn. Makes you think after listening to some of their rants on radio........... 2GB might need to look at their retirement policy and if they dont like your view,opinion you just get cut off, so much for "talk" radio.................... Anyone any suggestion for other talk radio. we live on sunshine coast and like to listen online to to keep up to date on what is happening in the country

Try Apex at Brisbane Airport we found them ok to deal with and price was ok. Check your spare tyre as they tried to charge us for a damaged one when we returned the car. Needless to say we had not checked or used ours but they eventually paid back the money they deducted for this. you can book direct on their website. They pick you up at the airport and take you to the depot nearby brisbane@apexrentals.com.au

I'll answer my own question here for anyone else who may be in the same situation it might be of some help Will we get another 12 month one or is it possible they could give us only a 3 month one as that would cut things a little tight We got a 12 month one as we thought we would. Less than two years in Aus you should get a 12 month RRV More than 2 years in Aus you should get a 5 year RRV Will the travel facility be from when you leave Aus or from the date of grant. I gather its the date of grant Travel facility is from the date of grant. Suggestion to others leave as late as possible to apply maybe to get the most from the Visa if you are pretty sure you will get it. You only need it for getting back in not for leaving but a good idea to apply just before you go...... not too far in advance On the website is says if applying from inside Australia it takes one day .........is that correct Depends on what information they will need you to supply. Ours was processed and granted in two business days, very impressive turnaround and efficient service. They needed some docs and clarification but we had them all to hand and were able to respond pretty quick with them I have filled in the online application and it says its ready to submit but not sure if to wait till the week before we leave or not. Once you submit the form they will then get back to to you let you know what docs they need so it could take longer for other people. You submit the application and pay the fee first :-) They then get back to you and let you know what docs they might need We need to book tickets now and just a little concerned they might only issue a 3 month RRV. If anyone has done this from inside Australia any advice appreciated................Many thanks Our original RRV was granted from London so they did not have access to all our originally submitted docs from here, must not be linked up in that respect, so just bear that in mind. But i think from here on in if we are applying for another RRV from inside Aus it should be even quicker. Hope it helps someone else on the same route.........................

Hi, maybe someone can advise as we have spent three days trying to ring Immi and have not been able to get through yet We have returned to Aus on a 12 month 155 RRV after a long absence. The travel facility was up in March 2014. We arrive just before the travel facility expired in March We now need to leave for about 10 weeks late October for extended visit to other family over Christmas and need to apply for a new RRV Will we get another 12 month one or is it possible they could give us only a 3 month one as that would cut things a little tight Will the travel facility be from when you leave Aus or from the date of grant. I gather its the date of grant On the website is says if applying from inside Australia it takes one day .........is that correct I have filled in the online application and it says its ready to submit but not sure if to wait till the week before we leave or not. We need to book tickets now and just a little concerned they might only issue a 3 month RRV. If anyone has done this from inside Australia any advice appreciated................Many thanks

Regularly use Currencyfair.com and find their rates and service excellent once you have it setup. All very convenient and pretty quick when you have the facility of also doing things overnight from UK

Hi M Approx €6k for 40ft with car and stuff we did not fill the container by any means approx 650 cu ft. Extra Cu ft would have been charged more. Packed ourselves and was picked up and bought to container. Were going to try and fit in 20ft, by racking and stacking etc but no way was it going to fit so just went for the 40ft and put in a few bits extra. Bedding very expensive here so if they are good bring them or buy new mattresses etc...Where r u going to as it might be cheaper. We got some prices but nothing as good as that and not very helpful at returning calls/emails from other companies etc This was door to door for furniture - over 2 hours from port - car pick up from port once you have it cleared etc. Whole other drama there.............. Try to negotiate a bit when you get a quote AUD 870 on top for quarentine fees for the furniture Hope this helps

Hi there We used Nat Ross based in Cork. But they do nationwide. We packed ourselves to save money but we did not have much stuff really and had a car. Used a 40ft. Couple of crockery items broken but we did the packing so that was ok I guess. The crowd they used in Brisbane were not as efficient at getting our car released and messed us around a bit I think but when you are not used to the system you go with the flow. We got a great guy in Brisbane to deal with our car could not have been more proactive. Hope this helps. Unit 14 Southside Industrial Estate Pouladuff Road Cork Ireland Tel: + 353 (0)21 4968539 Fax: + 353 (0)21 4312418

As a diver I have seen other much smaller reefs suffer from a lot less interference by man. This has nothing to do with politics in one sense. The politics come in when there is money to be made by someone. Greed never changes and the only thing the Queensland Government and Tony Abbott will be remembered for is for letting it go ahead. The coal will run out at some time The price will change and people will no longer want it even in India or China The Reef could be there for the rest of humanity to enjoy for ever but it looks like a select few in Australia with blinkered visions will destroy it for everyone Tourism and the Reef in Australia are unique and will provide more jobs over the long term in Australia than any Coal mine will ever produce. I am no scientist or anything but if the coal proposal goes ahead on the Reef you better book your trip because it will die and anyone who thinks otherwise has their head in the sand When diving you realize just how fragile the ecosystem is and it is only frightening what they seem to be proposing. No amount of studies or environmental conditions attached to this will protect the reef. The mine owners are only interested in one thing and that is money. They don't care about Australia or its reef and truly sad to see Australia being sold out like this.

The only one who will probably win here is the Lawyer...............They have a vested interest in you fighting any case so if you feel the need to go that route you should be sure you want the bill the at end.