M005

Hi MT I've decided not to take my camper as on our recce at Easter we changed from aiming for Melbourne to Brisbane - I would have taken it to Melbourne but up in Brisbane will be most probably heading into the outback and on gravel roads, so a 4x4 is needed. However, I spoke at length to PSS and others and discovered the following; 1) Don't bother spending £££'s on this, they will do it again anyway, so just make sure it is as clean as you can get it with a pressure washer / jet wash and save the money for the Aus quarantine charges. 2) Don't think you can drive on the roads until it has its test and registration, unless you are driving it to the test station - bit like MOT's in the UK. There is a user on here 'ArrowsEng' who is based in Melbourne and is a vehicle tester - I exchanged loads of messages with him and it is most likely him who will test it. 3) See above 4) Never got a final answer on this, even from Iron Lady Imports despite lot sof chasing; suffice to say the import tax is a % of it's perceived value over there and mine was a 2011 4 berth worth £30k here, so I was working on the assumption it would have cost me ~£8-10k at least to import. This is based on a figure of £3-4k I was given for my 2007 Audi A3 tdi worth ~£6k, so may not be 100% accurate for the camper, but was going to be a lot. Good luck with it all, have you been over to Melbourne before?

I had a quite in a 40ft to include my camper, new forest to Brisbane of 5700 excluding customs fees (so just over 6000). This also didn't include any costs of importing the vehicle (tax, testing, certification etc)

Just ask if they'll do summary reports for free & review them to see if you think they are sufficient, can then decide whether worth paying for more.

Wondering how your quotes are all so cheap? PSS quoted us 3800 for a 20ft and 5400 for a 40 ft both plus quarantine fees (700) the other end?? Also don't forget they all then want insurance on top of about 1-1.5k Ended up signing on the dotted line with Crown

I've just got 'summary' reports from our GP ahead of flying out next month. They said if I wanted comprehensive copies of medical records it would cost, but a summary was free - contains details of last few years consultations, medication, inoculations for the children etc. Getting the same from the dentist next week too.

Thanks for all the replies and hope your shipment arrived OK Marisa. Weighed our cases today and the large one is 9kg empty - so they will go in the container and I've ordered some big holdalls which weigh 1kg each. It's 23 days until we move out the house so going to start collecting stuff together for a trial pack and weigh session :err:

Hi Lucy Yes, that's the plan; we'll look at both schools whilst term is still on & decide which one for them to start at on 6th October. What ages are your children & what schools so they go to?

Hi Lucy We do have some friends in Aus and my sister lives down in Melbourne. Visa is a 189, so will give the airlines a call and see what they will offer. Our Son is 9 and Daughter is 5 (6 in November). I'm an accountant - a commercial accountant rather than an auditor - looking for finance manager, business partner type roles. Cheers Mark.

WOW - thank you so much LoopyLu. :notworthy: We need to buy a new double bed for the guest room so would only need something for the children, and duvets , plates etc would would all be very useful. Thank you. Still trying to get a final weight allowance from the airlines; Singapore offer 30kg, but I can't get confirmation whether this is standard or enhanced migration allowance. Weighed our cases yesterday and a couple are 8kg empty - so they will be going in the container and I'll buy some huge holdall bags which weigh only 1 kg each. Thanks for the facebook group links - I'll join those now. I've read mortgage statements and a copy of our UK Property sale brochure are all useful things to have when trying to secure a rental as a new migrant, in addition to offering to pay a couple of months up front as I most likely won't have secured a job by then - is there anything else I can do to improve success? Feel like I have a million questions as the moment.......:confused:

Sold our house and we fly to Brisbane on the 24th August. We're considering the two primary schools in Albany Creek, albeit that one is zoned. Bit concerned that the children will prefer the zoned one and that as shipping won't arrive until early November, we will be in furnished accommodation which won't be in the zones area until then. Anything with availability is vv expensive - is there anywhere to rent / buy cheap furniture to tide us over in a non furnished rental property? Seem to recall people on the forums from Melbourne mentioning places down there, but not seen anything for Brisbane.

We're flying out to Brisbane on the 24th August - which is rapidly approaching. Is there a list anywhere or can anyone help with the less obvious bits to take in luggage rather than shipping. I've made a list of what I think we'll need (family of 4) but obviously don't want to take what we won't need and forget what we will. Thanks.

WOW - that was fast - called at 02h55, emails received at 03h06..........WE HAVE OUR VISAS It seems it definitely pays to call. Got to try not to wake everyone now to tell them & get some more sleep (not much chance of that ) before breakfast. Can't quite believe it has finally happened & assuming house sale doesn't fall through we'll leave on 24th August - this all just got very real & feel like I have Everest to climb in terms of stuff to organise & plan; not least accommodation & job.

It's 02h55 and I just called to chase my application. I was asked for the visa reference number and was told that nothing else is required and that she will look at finalising it when she got off the phone, or would send me an email detailing what it is they will have to do their end if not. Fingers crossed when I get up later I have the visa grant emails. Hope everyone else waiting gets theirs too, I see from the May thread that some have had theirs already.

Accepted offer on house last week & they want to complete 1st wk in August, so we'll see family for a couple of weeks & look to fly to Brisbane on 24th August. Assuming we get the visas soon.....will try & call tonight . Currently looking for cheap flights with good baggage allowance for people migrating. Who did you book flights through & what is your baggage allowance?

Congratulations everyone. Thanks for the phone number; I'll try and call them and see if that hurries thins along.