ChrisArbuckle

So we have finally decided to just get everything booked. My cousin and his friend are currently working on farms in bundaberg staying. At the east bundy backpackers hostel ! we start our journey next Monday. Flying from Edinburgh to heathrow where were meeting another friend. We then mucked up our flights so we're travelling separate. Me and my friend fly from heathrow to China then China to Sydney. Our other friend is flying heathrow to Manila and Manila to Sydney. He's with phillipines airlines. We're woth Southern China. Any one any experience with either air line. So yeh we get to Sydney airport all us about 9am local time. And we have to get train from Sydney airport to Central. I take t this is well signposted etc ? Anyone know how much this is. Think I read 17 dollars. Long does it take ? so Yeh when we get to Sydney central we have to make our way to commonwealth bank and pick up our bank cards. This only seems a 5minutes walk as well so should be easy enough ! Next up is to get to bounce hostel Sydney. Again hoping its walking distance. Anyone any experience here ? Seems really good for the price. How far is it from the opera house for some photograph opportunities ? Anything else touristy do while we are there ? Also what's side bar Seems to be a night organised on the weds night at the hostel where they go there ? On Friday we are due to fly from Sydney to bundaberg Friday at 10am. What time do the trains start and will we be able to get to the airport in time ? Anyone any any pointers about our farm work. We're hoping that East bundy backpackers will be able to get us work. any comments welcome. Starting to get excited now ?

Hi guys. Due to get to Sydney on 13th may for 2 days. Leaving there on 15th travelling to Bundaberg. Does anyone know what's cheapest route. Looked online and found bus which costs about 170 dollars but takes like 27 hours I think roughy. Sounds horrendous. Thetes 3 of us travelling. Myself 25 years old driving almost 8 years. My friend 25 years old been driving just under a year. And 3rd friend who doesn't drive. we were looking at the possibility of hiring a car and driving the 14 or so hours to Bundaberg split over 2 or 3 days. Ideally what we want is a a company who will hire us a car in Sydney Central and then can drop it off in Bundaberg. Does anyone know a company what would do this cheap as poss ? Does the hire car come with insurance etc ? We just add fuel ? If we were to split this over 2/3 days to make it manageable anyone any advice on where to stop ? Nice hostels ? What to see along the way etc ? Any advice ? Chris.

So had a totally spur of the moment decision and decided I'm heading to Oz. My cousins currently in bundaberg. Working on a farm and living in a hostel. Says the money's good but the work is a bit exhausting but that's to be expected. I Have 1001 questions so if anyone can help with any them that would be great ! Going to apply for my WHV tomoz. Heard some people say it takes up to a month to come through n others have told me its a matter of hours. What's a more likely time scale. ? also my passport is due to expire in feb 16. I thought this was a bit dodgy as I intend staying there for the 2 years at least and that would maybe be a hassle trying to get a new one over there so would I be better just ordering a new one today. (Says on website takes 3 weeks for new one and im intending going 12th may so should be fine !) also would this effect my visa if I applied tomorrow but then got new passport issued ? accorodng to my cousin there's plenty work and beds available in bundaberg. Our intentions are doing the required 3 months on the farms then travelling up the coast eventually stopping at cairns to try that out for a bit ! Anyone any advice on that. Dos and donts ? Think the plan is just buying an old van and doing it that style ! My next question is for the more savvy people with regards to sponsorships. I fully intend on staying as long as I can. Hopefully forever. I have two recognised skills from the lists on the website but I don't know if my experience is enough. I completed a gas engineer apprenticeship. Which I always worked under an engineer. At the end of it I got my svq in domestic has engineering maintenance installs and repairs. I have more recently finished my cadetship within the merchant navy. I have not did my final exam to become an officer of the watch as I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do anymore but I have finished the academic side of it and have my Hnc in marine engineering. Are these qualifications enough to get me sponsored ? Even with a view of retraining or working as something else ? also how are the scots generally accepted out here ? A lot these posts seem from English people. Seems as with wverything in life were of the minority again. My cousins who's there just now is Welsh though and my friend I'm travelling with is English so we will be a diverse group ! Chris !